Year: 1874

| itualism involves a qualification OF what
| are considered the most certain and fun
| damental conclusions of Science. 1t de
| nies the conservation of matter and force
| it demands a reconstruction of our chem
| istry and physics, and even our mathe-
| matics. 1t processes to create matter
and force out of nothing, and to annihi-
late them when created. If the preten-
sions of spiritualism have rational
| foundation, no more important work has
been offered to men of Science than
their verifcation. A realization of the
dreams of the elirir UitG, the philosopher s
| stone, and the perpetual motion IS OF
less Importance to mankind than the
verifcation of spiritualism.


But some may say that we eXaggerate
the pretensions of spiritualism, and that
spiritualists, in the ratio of their intelli-
gence, make claims which are modest
and moderate; and perhaps the average
man says that, although a great part OF
spiritualism is deception and imposture,
yet there is something about it which is
new and true. To such we say that If
there is any truth in it, of interest to
Science, however small, it is worth while
to seek for it with great diligence and
labor; its discovery will surely bring an
abundant reward. If we positively knew
that there was contained in spirituallism
scintilla of new fact about matter,
though it were as the needle in all the
haystacks or as the grain in all sands of
the sea, we would not discourage the
ambitious man of Science in his search
for it. Mr. Crookes, as the. discoverer of
thallium, has achieved great eminence
in Science, and he is now nobly employ
ing his talent in the investigation of spir-
itualism. if he find in it, positively, some
thing new to Science. He does not need
to be told that, if he really discovers his
psychic force or any other unknown
force capable of acting on matter, all the
and Newton. Finally, say we emphatic
ally if there be truth in spiritualism, in
whole or in any part, let it be investiga-
ted. But concerning such inves LEGATIONS,
in view of very serious harm which here
tofore has often been caused by shallow
and superficial dallyings with the subject,
we thoughtfully and solemnly advise
that no investigation is worthy of the
name unless it is inspired by the passion
less common sense of Science. Also re-
member this: The evidence required to
establish a fact is proportioned to the
improbability of the fact.


We come now to what with many
readers will be reckoned the gist of the
whole matter: How to investigate spirit
ualism We name the plan which we
are to propose, the scientific method of
investigating spiritualism, and we thus
name it, while feeling the most exalted
respect for Science and knowing that
some will discover in it only what they
call horse sense.


These two theories, and these only,
are tenable regarding most of the spirit
ual manifestations They are real, and
true, and honest, or they are culpable
fraud. The mediums in these cases are
either the most worship-worthy of NOR
tails, or they are cheats and liars. The
raps and the materializa ton, the first
and the last of the spirit exhibits, are
surely of the sort in question. (And
here we venture to suggest that if we
take away from spiritualism all the al
legged phenomena which belong to the
same category, almost nothing is left
Concerning raps and materializations,
there is question of fraud or no fraud;
and this is a question of such funda-
mental character that the answer to it is
conclusive of the whole matter. 1t may
seem to some that the case ought to be
referred to the police detective rather
than to the man of Science; and we are
obliged to confess that a detectives ad-
vice may be as good as ours. The me-
thods of Science are direct, logical, and
on the shortest path to the truth; the
man of Science always aims at the bulls
eye. The method of the skilled and in
telligent detective is, without doubt,
identical with the scientific. Cases
somewhat similar to that of the fraud or
no fraud of raps and materializations
have often come up for decision; an allu
sion to some of these throws clear light
H. j a..
tors believed in ghosts, and they fired
stones and bullets to test their faith. The
proceeding was scientific, but suited only
to an age ruder than ours. We warn the
over-zealous scien tist that although
bullet could not harm a materialized
spirit, no medium or his confederate is
bullet-proof. An action for murder or
manslaughter would probably lie in a
case wherein any one was killed in a scien-
tifc investigation of naturalization. The
well known story of Fulton investigat-
ing the motive power of a perpetual mo-
ton by means of a hatchet is fine illus
tration of the application of the princi-
pies of Science. Lampblack, printers
ink, and green paint have been slyly
smeared on the trumpets, ropes, etc, of
the dark seance, and the truth was speed
ily declared in the unconscious ornamen-





best of all, strong lights have been turn
ed on to the supposed spirits performing
tomfooleries, and it was instantly mani
fest whether they were genuine or not.
In all these cases it was a touch and
go, and the truth declared itself beyond
any mans cavil. Devices which were so
simple, and yet so sufficient, were surely
scientific, and they indicate, and perhaps
sufficiently describe, our notion of scien-
tiic investigation of one class of spirit
manifestations. But we add a. few hints
especially touching the investigation of
materializations. Let the tests be applied
directly, if possible, to the materialized
spirit, with the intent to determine who
or what it is. A dark lantern, or some
other appliance for turning on light, is
likely to be useful. A lasso would be
very serviceable in the hands of one
skilled in its use; it is said the Mexicans
can lasso anything that runs or stands
A little squirt gun loaded with few
ounces of ink, or even the boys blow
gun charged with Scotch snuff, might be
available in eliciting truth where more
pretentious instruments would fail. If
the investigator, from doubts of his skill
or other reasons, prefors to discard all
the apparatus and appliances of art let
him, in the non-resisting spirit of Qua
ker and in the name of Science, suddenly
lay a strong and firm hand on the dress
or the body of the spirit, and hang on
like Tartar till the whole truth comes
to relieve him.


We repeat Our Scientific plan is sim
pie, direct, conclusive. We commend it
to Mr.. Crookes and Colonel Olcott and
especially to all those who are in the
road which leads to faith which has
lost its senses and is idiotie. To us, the