New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-01
Psychic Phenomena


THE SEVEN PURPOSES BY Margaret Cameron.
Syo-. up. 3lf. Harper * Bros.
This is no ordinary book that Marga-
ret Cameron has put out-we cannot
say that she has written 1t in the sense
in which those words are commonly
used. 1t is not n composition but
record. Margaret Cameron IS well
known as writer of fiction, and con-
tinues, although married, to use her
maiden name even when giving seri-
GUS work to the reading public. The
subtitle OF this book is "An Experience
in Psychic Phenomena"-ass a
most remarkable experience. The rec
ord is unique. The book containing it
is one to be read and pondered, and
then re-read and again pondered. 1t
is suggestive, stimulating, gripping. 1t
has the fascination of the best fiction
and more. By many it will doubtless
be accepted as convincing.
Until March 3 of the present year
Margaret Cameron had no interest in
psychic phenomena and had read moth
ing on the subject except an occa-
slonal magazine article. She had never
been student of philosophy. She had
never been convinced that individual
she had played with q planchette, and
after the United States entered the
world war she decided to experiment
with one again. The instrument lay
almost year untouched in its box, and
when finally put to the test there was
no success. However, beginning on the
date named the use of the planchettc
began with results that cannot be de-
scribed by any less emphatic word
than amazing Ut may be noted here
that the names and initials used in
the record are in the main fictitious,
for obvious reasons, but as the re-
corder is called "Margaret" through
out the book we will use that name
when mentioning herr
At the request of a friend who was
grieving over the recent death of her son
Margaret tried through the planchette
to get in touch with Frederick, whom
she had never seen, although she knew
intimately his sisters and others of the
family. She ANTICIPATED no success; in
fact. looked upon the experiment as in
sense mirth-p provoking. She was
alone at the time "For some minutes"
but almost Immediately | felt the curl
Gus sense Of vitality, very difficult to
describe, that precedes movement. 1t
is like touching something alive and
feeling its latent power. Presently it
began to move" The message vas not
from Frederick, however, but from Il
friend called Mary H." who had been
dead sixteen years or more. ON
Mary x. came the most important part
of the book, but communications Of
great interest were received from
Frederick and from Mary Kendall as
well as from others, among whom may
be named William james.
No intelligent reader can doubt the
sincerity of Margaret in making REG
ord of the messages transmitted
through her, or the truth Of her eXpe-
riences as written down. Not few
things were communicated to her of
which she says she had no previous
knowledge; ana the philosophical part
of The book, the so-caled lessons"
transmitted by Mary X. is entirely out
side the range of her reading or knowl-
edge. In week or less after March 3
she was able to dispense with the
planchette board and thereafter all
the messages were written with pen
Gil held in Margaret's hand.
Not the least remarkable thing about
some Of the communications from
Frederick is the fact that they were
written upside down'-that is, from
right to left, so as not to be legible
to The holder of the pencil while per
fectly clear to his mother sitting on the
other side of the table Writing in
this way was not easy for Margaret.
In fact. the recorder of the messages
frequently remarks upon her physical
wearir IS, and it appears that she was
virtually obliged to give UP all other
activities during the period from
March 3 to June Is, when she was re
at Atlantic City, and at e.
To not few readers the messages
concerning the great war Will be Of
uncommon interest We cannot refrain
from making few quotations.
Most significant is the fact that the
project of publishing book contain
ing the communications sent through
Margaret Cameron, was talked over with
several of those on "the other plane ,
including Professor James, to whose
interesting message we can only refer.
When asked, May we publish this as
coming from you ?" he answered {:
"Certainly. | am here for that pur-
pose. Light and Progress are
my purpose, and teaching still my
work"
There is nothing trivial about any
Of the messages, albeit there are bits
Of humoK and some slang; the whole
scheme of existence on "the Other
plane" is so rational. locical, and com
monsensible as to make a strong APP.
peal even to those who, like the writer
of this review. approach the question
of personal conscious continuance of
life beyond the grave in spirit OF
reverent agnosticism. AS we have
said. this record is unique; and it
cannot be brushed aside as inconse-
quential. The reader who takes it IN
hand with an Enclosed mind will lay it
down with a strong feeling that there
is Something to it" after all
Scant space cemains for mention OF
the twelve Lessons conveyed by Mary
K. which form Part II of the book
and set forth the seven purposes which
give the book its title. The seven con.
structive purposes are: Light Justice
Truth Production, Healing Building
Progress CAL are parts of the Eter
nal Purpose. But the Great Purpose
is unity" There is. material for many
sermon in the thirty-fve pages de
voted to "Thc Lessons"
A. Z. P
Camp Lewis
rIIL NIA-l,I,v- IcIn ct rILL I,racn NJ. -. A,,r