South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-11
Confident Views Are Right,
Sir Oliver Lodge Content
To Wait for Vindication

NEW YORK. Feb. 1O.-when Sir
oliver Lodge. now in New York be-
ginning a national lecture tour, first
began his INVESTIGATION OF psychic
phenomena. it was with the view TO
expose fraud and hallucination He
was far from a believer.
He is now a confirmed spiritualist
Born in Stanordshire in June.
1851, he received an average educa-
ton until at the age Of fourteen he
started 10 work in his fathers bust
ness in the potteries. He very soon
found this embarrassing and after
attending a course Of six science lee
lures by Prof Tyndale, he began to
study the subject at home and at
evening classes.
Disappointed. but deeming il best
TO let him follow his bent. his father
sent him 20 University College, Lon
don. 20 continue his studies. Sir
oliver became demonstration in ply
sizes at the college and before long
his name was continually before the
public and the scientific world.
His great gift is that of making
smaller intellects understand thor
oughly the subject on which he is
speaking. Despite his own master
ful grasp of science, he is able TO de-
fer 20 the viewpoint of his hearers
so that after his remarks their in
sight into the particular phase under
discussion is probably as clear as his
own
His interest in psychic matters ex-
tends over a period of 80 or 40 years,
and now in protesting himself be-
lever in spiritualism while acknowl-
edging that there is always a danger
in recounting experiences or in draw
ing differences from them he pro-
claims that lin matter OF bare fact
he is able TO give a verdict
eff "A man gives 80 or 40 years OF
his life to investigating a thing" he
says. "he is entitled TO state the re-
suit that he has arrived AT. My con
clusion Is that we are surrounded by
beings working with Incorporating.
helping such as people in visions
have had some perception of. That
which religion tells us-that saints
and angels are with us believe is
literally true"
For the present at least. Sir oliver
is not in favor of the practice of
spiritualism by the masses. In this
ne differs from Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle. who is touring Britain with
view 90 converting his fellows 10 a
practical belief i'm spiritualism. Sir
oliver considers that practical appli-
cation of discoveries viii have TO re-
main I'm the hands of experts. as they
cannot be absorbed by.the multitude
without danger
An Unassuming SaVant.
Everyone who has heard or known
| Sir oliver agrees that he is essential
/ ly a man i'm earnest simple thor
ough and fearless. His status as
\ president of mathematical and ply
/ steal section Of the British associa.
I tion-th highest possible British
\ test of attaiument-procla him
| beyond doubt a great savant' and
/ yet his looks belle this description
4 There is a humorous twinkle i'm his
I deep-set eyes. around his mouth ar,
\ lines which denote his human sensi-
/ tiveness. and i'm talking with sceptics
| there is a note of kindly toleranc,
/ i'm his bell-like voice
The learned professor of physica
/ science is an ardent upholder Of
| psychical research Having satisfied
himself as to the results of this re.