The Washington times., 1922-08-25

They have to be encouraged
helped. not opposed mentally or
physically. ... 49,.
many men OF the stage using such
many men fthe stage using such
methods to amuse. Only ! 10
regard you the cleverest OF all. but
In view of what have seen ana
come through for the sake OF In
vestigation, I cannot realize now
the subject has evaded you as
has. or one thing I. am certain
absolutely, your present-day opin.
ION OF the subject Of spiritism Is
DR. DR. JAMES w. cALpERwooD.
Answer--The most casual pernsal
Of your letter would show me ina!
you are q most earnest student and
tolerant of other students. fou say
that am hypercritical and you inIei
that ] have pursued my invespsa'
tions with my tongue III my cheek.
Most solemnly I assure you that this
has not been the case. Al q seance'
allow me to affirm, none has a mort
open, q more sympathetic mind than
!. Because, doctor. my purpose IL
not to say spiritualism In snare
and q delusion. I am mining for the
truth, and hoping to strike II. despite
long years Of disappointment ana dis
iilusionment.
In the meantime. believe myself
entitled to publish the results OF my
Investigations; to publish the truth
full results, uncoiored by prejudice.
Perhaps you think that my train
ing as q magician has untitled mt
mentally to be O studious observer
Of the psychic. admit that In the
first years OF my work, the mechani'
cal and other material means known
to me in the practice Of magic tended
to close my eyes and ears to onSn'
minded study. ] have overcome this
fault, realizing that my work would
be lost labor II did not do 30.
The crystallised result Of my re.
search 10 that can give . definite
material reason for every spiritual.
istic phenomenon witnessed BY me.
! cannot truthfully claim to be able
to explain everything l have seen
during my study, or to duplicate
everything.
stiil I am unconvinced OF the abil.
ity Of spirits to communicate with the
living world. Believe me. this 10 no
cause for pride In me. ] do not re.
gard the results of my work In the
light Of an achievement. On the con.
trary, I assume q negative viewpoint:
Namely, I have failed to find spirit
ualism what It's proponents claim
II II. My hopes have been raised
again and again as spirftualists hall
a new medium az the living vindlca.
ton Of their cause. One by one. ]
have seen these mediums, exposed a.
frauds, drop from public esteem and
from public notice. Is II not then re-
markable, doctor, that I am still
open to conviction?
Mr.. Houdini today accepted
challenge, sent to him through The
Washington Times, purporting to be
from the General Assembly Of Spirit
ualists of New York State. Offering
IS, 900 TO any person duplicating
eight alleged manifestations Of spirit
power, or producing them through
trickery. fraud or deception.
The manifestations are materializa-
tion Of etheric or astral forms while
confined In a Wire enclosure: writ.
ing of ineligible messages on the
inside of sealed slates; correct play.
ing Of the piano by one who has
never played and has no instruction:
correct writing and Of speaking
foreign language by one who has
never known or been instructed In
that language; levitation Of ponder.
able bodies without mechanical or
physical force: production OF indie.
pendent voices. and the correct and
accurate description Of the dead by
one not knowing the dead.
''I accept the challenge. through
The Washington Times" announced
Mr.. Houdini today. and would pre-.
fer that the test be made as soon az
possible. as I would desire TO In.
corporate the results In my book on
spiritualism, now In preparation. !
am very anxious to see clear proof
of communication with spirits, and
cnnYicfinn on this acorA would be