Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-06
DR.. WESTON q. 9AYLEY
On PsvchIcaI Research


TINE problem of the personal survival OF
i bodily death has been the subject OF
graet human interest in every age, ana IN
none more than in the present one. according
to DR.. Weston D. Bayley, one OF the trus
tees Of the American Society for Psychicai
Research.
.'The immortality of the soul constitutes
the basic principle of innume.able theolo-
ries," said DR.. Bayey. ut is the founda-
tion of the optimistic systems of philosophy
great poets have accepted 1t as the theme Tor
their lyric inspirations; learned churcninen
and some of the greatest scientific minds
have gravely pondered over it as an un-
solved psychological problem:
"'If man die, shall he live again?' has
been burning question alike with the studi-
ous thinker and the man of the street who
commonly accepts most Of his thinking at
second hand. All who have mourned the loss
of loved ones have yearned for restive
solution of the mystery OF life and death.
With many the mere asseverations OF some
particular form of religious belief or the
exalted convictions of poet and philosopher
are all sufficient; yet from the numerous
pathetic letters l have received and inter-
views granted during busy hours OF profess
sional work, it Is certain that there are
many who accept the solace Of religion
ocademically, as it were, but when it comes
to personal narrowing loss they are not
fully consoled, much less convinced, and
yeorn for more concrete evidence of the sur.
vival Of their beloved dead.
What Mind Really Is
''The history of modern theology and
other considerations equally cogent lift the
nrohlem of life and mind out of theological
hands and place It where it properly be-
longs. in the psychological laboratory. Mind
Is either the product of an intricate chemi-
cal activity in the cells of the brain or else
it is a separate and distinct entity which
merely utilizes the physical organism during
the material conditions of this life. Ac-
cOrding to one view, we may speak OF the
brain as having a productive function; ac-
cording to the other transmssive function.
If mind is produced by the brain as bile is
produced by the liver, then the concept of
"On the other hand, II mind is a distinct
psychological entity, merely utilizing the
brain as an organ for its earthly expression.
then 1t may be possible for this personality
to survive bodily death, and furthermore
flor all we know. this surviving personality
NAV be able (under rare and unusual con
ditions) to manifest itself and even to give
satisfactory proofs of such continued exist
ence
''Whether or not evidence Of such sur
yiyal is actually in our possession at the
present time Is not question to be settled
by mere ipse dixit medical, theological or
otherwise. No matter how proficient one
may be in some other department of knowl-
edge, IL he is not entirely familiar with the
problems and accomplishments of psychical
research his opinions concerning survival are
of no value. Quite recently at a meeting of
a medical society several of our most tai
ented neuroogists discussed and settled all
OF the problems Of so called spiritualism
with a yigor which revealed amazingly their
| total ignorance Of the whole literature of
psychological research 1t Is, indeed, hard
70 say which Is the greater offender, the un :
critical spiritualist who swallows all alleged
nbenomena with sublime credulity or the
learned scientist who, with magnificent
wave Of his hand. dismisses the whole sub.
| ject as unworthy Of serious attention.
Many "Magic" Cults
"In all ages of the past and among all
neoples there have been many instances of
| alleged supernormal or unusual happenings
| which have led to innumerable maggie cults
The Society for Psychical Research has no
preliminary beliefs or preconceptions what
ever. 1t has simply called attention to tba
fact that there have always been actyounts
| Of mysterious and uncomprehe nded han
penings which are and have, been belisued
in as realities in spite Of the common. |. senss'
dlctum a. to their utter impossibility that
7 Il be, carefully inspected evidence of many ~