Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-06
NOW MY IDEA IS THIS!
Daily Talks With Thinking Phiadephians Subjects They
Kno,U Best

telligent and reputable witnesses (often cor.
rObOrated by several such) tends to show
that these same happenings appear to be
relatively common, even in the critical pres
ent: and. furthermore: that very definite
beliefs are entertained in some quarters
&c. g.. the spiritualists) concerning these
phenomena.
1T has pointed out that there Is strik-
ing similarity in the nature Of these alleged
manifestations among people widely sepa-
rated by time, space and degree Of educa-
tion; it has wisely cautioned against the
danger and worthlessness of preconceived
opinions either In the way of bias for or
prejudice against these allegations; 1t has
insisted that II upon examination these
claims have no foundation in fact, even the
worth, the study. If, on the other hand,
there be an element Of truth underlying this
great mass of allegation, this constitutes
fact of nature and as such places claim
with us to be observed. Investigated and
studied
Appeals to Scientists
chical research has appealed to experts in
scientific methods to gather and examine the
alleged facts and in time to pass Judgment
upon them There has now been forty years
OF work IN this complex field much has been
accomplished. but the end is not yet The
impatient may consider this slow, but we
did not have wireless forty years after
Franklin labored over his influence machine
nor trolley cars forty years after Faraday
wound his first coil Of wire.
furthermore, psychcal research ia in
rests Godhd d% to produce any
proving anything; 1t has been unaiterably
committed to method, and that method is
the scientific one Of careful record. imDar.
tiai observation, comparison and i,terpre.
tatlon OF TINS mass of psychological phe.
nomena Which was completely outside the
pale of all established and orthodox dcnart.
ments of science.
am free to confess that I was a ma
terlallst by medical training and collateral
study, But then came the opportunity for
rather intimate friendship with DR.. Rich.
"In Mho lioagsGm h ana Prof. James II. Hyslop,
psychical research In this country. Hoda.
son was man of great attainments and n
cold ,blooded skeptic, fully versed in nrss' :"
Ialgltatlon, especially with relation TO the
tricks OF so,called medumship' and many
eisVer splritualistic medium went to a
finish under his critical eye " 4"
A Remarkable Psychic
Finally Prof. William James of uou-
vard turned over to his tender mercias m sf :.
remarkable psychic, II woman living in Mas
sachusetts. This psychic told some rrmarL
able things In my personal sttings with her
some OF which | knew to be true and nthars
u "hich had no RnoWledge but which were
later verified. 1t was my privilege ~ haue
access to the records made by Dr Hodaann
of this psychic and to know of ali his cisuor
cunning In devising experiments to eliminata
both conscious and unconscious fraud IT, =
my estimate of DR.. Hodgson is NOT basaJ nai
upon any personal consideration. 7 NAV "eGI nGi
that there is now established nm enSo"ad "aJ
chair for psychical research at HsrvSs5 Hu"msJ
University as a mcmorial to Dr.. Hodssau
for his splendid work in this newest ofson of oil
sciences. ''' VI all
prof. James II. Hyslop 0ate y, n.
lumbia) continued the work interruntodS ~ ~,
the death OF DIR. HodgsOn. Other psv"h Dy o
in public and private life Yielded py'ntts \" w.
inexorable conditions of observat,on .ns
study, and during his life the mass ~ .!i anu
mulated evidence for survival constituaeSSu deSu =.
large recorded literature. Since tba S a 2
OF Prof Hyslop the work has beer ueasn oaV.
timed in competent hands, and ther. .oh- M
exists In the recorded and still TO be raeo now
proceedings OF the American Sociat' ioraed yea
Psychical Research a mass of msteriaIy Tor
ing to establish the verify Of the snru,vsi .end.
the individual after the death OF tba kui kvai OF
Since much of this material ex i;ouS' ;S,S'
record, open to all public, critical anS on
tile inquiry. all further denial of rho " nos nos
OF psychical phenomena brands the Iv ons verify M
offers 1t, not as sksptic, but as an UnG VINO
ramus, no matter what may be his "a ousliS' ana
cations otherwise" f"ai'h-