第1章

PREFACE

In\"TheNewRevelation\"thefirstdawnofthecomingchangehasbeendescribed。In\"TheVitalMessage\"thesunhasrisenhigher，andoneseesmoreclearlyandbroadlywhatournewrelationswiththeUnseenmaybe。AsIlookintothefutureofthehumanraceIamremindedofhowonce，fromamidthebleakchaosofrockandsnowattheheadofanAlpinepass，IlookeddownuponthefarstretchingviewofLombardy，shimmeringinthesunshineandextendinginonesplendidpanoramaofbluelakesandgreenrollinghillsuntilitmeltedintothegoldenhazewhichdrapedthefarhorizon。Suchapromisedlandisatourveryfeetwhich，whenweattainit，willmakeourpresentcivilisationseembarrenanduncouth。Alreadyourvanguardiswelloverthepass。Nothingcannowpreventusfromreachingthatwonderfullandwhichstretchessoclearlybeforethoseeyeswhichareopenedtoseeit。PageviThatstimulatingwriter，V。C。Desertis，hasremarkedthattheSecondComing，whichhasalwaysbeentimedtofollowArmageddon，maybefulfillednotbyadescentofthespiritualtous，butbytheascentofourmaterialplanetothespiritual，andtheblendingofthetwophasesofexistence。Itis，atleast，afascinatingspeculation。Butwithoutsocompleteanoverthrowofthepartitionwallsasthiswouldimplyweknowenoughalreadytoassureourselvesofsuchacloseapproximationaswillsurelydeeplymodifyallourviewsofscience，ofreligionandoflife。

Whatformthesechangesmaytakeandwhattheevidenceisuponwhichtheywillbefoundedarebrieflysetforthinthisvolume。ARTHURCONANDOYLE。

CROWBOROUGH，July，1919。

PageviiCONTENTSITHETWONEEDFULREADJUSTMENTS……11IITHEDAWNINGOFTHELIGHT……29IIITHEGREATARGUMENT……52IVTHECOMINGWORLD……87VISITTHESECONDDAWN？……113APPENDICESA。DR。GELEY’SEXPERIMENTS……141B。APARTICULARINSTANCE……152C。SPIRITPHOTOGRAPHY……156D。THECLAIRVOYANCEOFMRS。B……162

Page11Chapter1THETWONEEDFULREADJUSTMENTSIthasbeenourfate，amongalltheinnumerablegenerationsofmankind，tofacethemostfrightfulcalamitythathaseverbefallentheworld。Thereisabasicfactwhichcannotbedenied，andshouldnotbeoverlooked。Foramostimportantdeductionmustimmediatelyfollowfromit。Thatdeductionisthatwe，whohavebornethepains，shallalsolearnthelessonwhichtheywereintendedtoconvey。Ifwedonotlearnitandproclaimit，thenwhencaniteverbelearnedandproclaimed，sincetherecanneveragainbesuchaspiritualploughingandharrowingandpreparationfortheseed？Ifoursouls，weariedandtorturedduringPage12

thesedreadfulfiveyearsofself—sacrificeandsuspense，canshownoradicalchanges，thenwhatsoulswilleverrespondtoafreshinfluxofheavenlyinspiration？Inthatcasethestateofthehumanracewouldindeedbehopeless，andneverinallthecomingcenturieswouldtherebeanyprospectofimprovement。

Whywasthistremendousexperienceforceduponmankind？

SurelyitisasuperficialthinkerwhoimaginesthatthegreatDesignerofallthingshassetthewholeplanetinaferment，andstrainedeverynationtoexhaustion，inorderthatthisorthatfrontierbemoved，orsomefreshcombinationbeformedinthekaleidoscopeofnations。No，thecausesoftheconvulsion，anditsobjects，aremoreprofoundthanthat。

Theyareessentiallyreligious，notpolitical。Theyliefardeeperthanthenationalsquabblesoftheday。Athousandyearshencethosenationalresultsmaymatterlittle，butthereligiousresultwillruletheworld。

ThatreligiousresultisthereformofthedecadentChristianityofto—day，itssimplification，itspurification，anditsreinforcementbythefactsofspiritcommunionandtheclearPage13

knowledgeofwhatliesbeyondtheexit—doorofdeath。Theshockofthewarwasmeanttorouseustomentalandmoralearnestness，togiveusthecouragetotearawayvenerableshams，andtoforcethehumanracetorealiseandusethevastnewrevelationwhichhasbeensoclearlystatedandsoabundantlyproved，forallwhowillexaminethestatementsandproofswithanopenmind。

Considertheawfulconditionoftheworldbeforethisthunder—boltstruckit。Couldanyone，tracingbackdownthecenturiesandexaminingtherecordofthewickednessofman，findanythingwhichcouldcomparewiththestoryofthenationsduringthelasttwentyyears!ThinkoftheconditionofRussiaduringthattime，withherbrutalaristocracyandherdrunkendemocracy，hermurdersoneitherside，herSiberianhorrors，herJewbaitingsandhercorruption。ThinkofthefigureofLeopoldofBelgium，anincarnatedevilwhofrommotivesofgreedcarriedmurderandtorturethroughalargesectionofAfrica，andyetwasreceivedineverycourt，andwaseventuallyburiedafterapanegyricfromaCardiPage14

naloftheRomanChurch——achurchwhichhadneveronceraisedhervoiceagainsthisdiabolicalcareer。ConsiderthesimilarcrimesinthePutumayo，whereBritishcapitalists，ifnotguiltyofoutrage，canatleastnotbeacquittedofhavingcondoneditbytheirlethargyandtrustinlocalagents。ThinkofTurkeyandtherecurrentmassacresofhersubjectraces。

Thinkoftheheartlessgrindofthefactorieseverywhere，whereworkassumedaverydifferentandmoreunnaturalshapethantheancientlabourofthefields。Thinkofthesensualityofmanyrich，thebrutalityofmanypoor，theshallownessofmanyfashionable，thecoldnessanddeadnessofreligion，theabsenceanywhereofanydeep，truespiritualimpulse。Think，aboveall，oftheorganisedmaterialismofGermany，thearrogance，theheartlessness，thenegationofeverythingwhichonecouldpossiblyassociatewiththelivingspiritofChristasevidentintheutterancesofCatholicBishops，likeHartmannofCologne，asinthoseofLutheranPastors。Putallthistogetherandsayifthehumanracehaseverpresentedamoreunlovelyaspect。

WhenwetrytofindthebrighterPage15

spotstheyarechieflywherecivilisation，asapartfromreligion，hasbuiltupnecessitiesforthecommunity，suchashospitals，universities，andorganisedcharities，asconspicuousinBuddhistJapanasinChristianEurope。Wecannotdenythattherehasbeenmuchvirtue，muchgentleness，muchspiritualityinindividuals。Butthechurcheswereemptyhusks，whichcontainednospiritualfoodforthehumanrace，andhadinthemainceasedtoinfluenceitsactions，saveinthedirectionofsoullessforms。

Thisisnotanover—colouredpicture。Canwenotsee，then，whatwastheinnerreasonforthewar？Canwenotunderstandthatitwasneedfultoshakemankindloosefromgossipandpinkteas，andsword—worship，andSaturdaynightdrunks，andself—seekingpoliticsandtheologicalquibbles——towakethemupandmakethemrealisethattheystanduponanarrowknife—edgebetweentwoawfuleternities，andthat，hereandnow，theyhavetofinishwithmake—beliefs，andwithrealearnestnessandcouragefacethosetruthswhichhavealwaysbeenpalpablewhereindolence，orcowardice，orvestedinterestshavenotobscuredthevision。LetPage16

ustrytoappreciatewhatthosetruthsareandthedirectionwhichreformmusttake。Itisthenewspiritualdevelopmentswhichpredominateinmyownthoughts，buttherearetwoothergreatreadjustmentswhicharenecessarybeforetheycantaketheirfulleffect。OnthespiritualsideIcanspeakwiththeforceofknowledgefromthebeyond。Ontheothertwopointsofreform，Imakenosuchclaim。

ThefirstisthatintheBible，whichisthefoundationofourpresentreligiousthought，wehaveboundtogetherthelivingandthedead，andthedeadhastaintedtheliving。Amummyandanangelareinmostunnaturalpartnership。Therecanbenoclearthinking，andnologicalteachinguntiltheolddispensationhasbeenplacedontheshelfofthescholar，andremovedfromthedeskoftheteacher。Itisindeedawonderfulbook，inpartstheoldestwhichhascomedowntous，abookfilledwithrareknowledge，withhistory，withpoetry，withoccultism，withfolklore。

Butithasnoconnectionwithmodernconceptionsofreligion。Inthemainitisactuallyantagonistictothem。TwocontradictorycodeshavePage17

beencirculatedunderonecover，andtheresultisdireconfusion。TheoneisaschemedependinguponaspecialtribalGod，intenselyanthropomorphicandfilledwithrage，jealousyandrevenge。TheconceptionpervadeseverybookoftheOldTestament。Eveninthepsalms，whichareperhapsthemostspiritualandbeautifulsection，thepsalmist，amidmuchthatisnoble，singsofthefearsomethingswhichhisGodwilldotohisenemies。\"Theyshallgodownaliveintohell。\"Thereisthekeynoteofthisancientdocument——adocumentwhichadvocatesmassacre，condonespolygamy，acceptsslavery，andorderstheburningofso—calledwitches。ItsMosaicprovisionshavelongbeenlaidaside。Wedonotconsiderourselvesaccursedifwefailtomutilateourbodies，ifweeatforbiddendishes，failtotrimourbeards，orwearclothesoftwomaterials。Butwecannotlayasidetheprovisionsandyetregardthedocumentasdivine。Nolearnedquibblescaneverpersuadeanhonestearnestmindthatthatisright。Onemaysay：\"Everyoneknowsthatthatistheolddispensation，andisnottobeactedupon。\"Itisnottrue。ItiscontinuallyPage18

actedupon，andalwayswillbesolongasitismadepartofonesacredbook。WilliamtheSecondacteduponit。HisGermanGodwhichwroughtsuchmischiefintheworldwasthereflectionofthedreadfulbeingwhoorderedthatcaptivesbeputundertheharrow。ThecitiesofBelgiumwerethereflectionofthecitiesofMoab。Everyhard—heartedbruteinhistory，moreespeciallyinthereligiouswars，hasfoundhisinspirationintheOldTestament。

\"Smiteandsparenot!\"\"Aneyeforaneye!\"，howreadilythetextsspringtothegrimlipsofthemurderousfanatic。FrancisonSt。Bartholomew’snight，AlvaintheLowlands，TillyatMagdeburg，CromwellatDrogheda，theCovenaintersatPhilliphaugh，theAnabaptistsofMunster，andtheearlyMormonsofUtah，allfoundtheirmurderousimpulsesfortifiedfromthisunholysource。Itsredtrailrunsthroughhistory。EvenwheretheNewTestamentprevails，itsteachingmuststillbedulledandcloudedbyitssternerneighbour。Letusretainthishonouredworkofliterature。Letusremovethetaintwhichpoisonstheveryspringofourreligiousthought。Page19

Thisis，inmyopinion，thefirstclearingwhichshouldbemadeforthemorebeautifulbuildingtocome。Thesecondislessimportant，asitisashiftingofthepointofview，ratherthananactualchange。

ItistoberememberedthatChrist’slifeinthisworldoccupied，sofaraswecanestimate，33years，whilstfromHisarresttoHisresurrectionwaslessthanaweek。YetthewholeChristiansystemhascometorevolveroundHisdeath，tothepartialexclusionofthebeautifullessonofHislife。Fartoomuchweighthasbeenplacedupontheone，andfartoolittleupontheother，forthedeath，beautiful，andindeedperfect，asitwas，couldbematchedbythatofmanyscoresofthousandswhohavediedforanidea，whilethelife，withitsconsistentrecordofcharity，breadthofmind，unselfishness，courage，reason，andprogressiveness，isabsolutelyuniqueandsuperhuman。Evenintheseabbreviated，translated，andsecond—handrecordswereceiveanimpressionsuchasnootherlifecangive——animpressionwhichfillsuswithutterreverence。Napoleon，nomeanjudgeofhumannature，saidofit：\"ItisdifferentwithChrist。EveryPage20

thingaboutHimastonishesme。Hisspiritsurprisesme，andHiswillconfoundsme。BetweenHimandanythingofthisworldthereisnopossiblecomparison。Heisreallyabeingapart。ThenearerIapproachHimandthecloserIexamineHim，themoreeverythingseemsaboveme。\"

Itisthiswonderfullife，itsexampleandinspiration，whichwastherealobjectofthedescentofthishighspiritontoourplanet。Ifthehumanracehadearnestlycentreduponthatinsteadoflosingitselfinvaindreamsofvicarioussacrificesandimaginaryfalls，withallthemysticalandcontentiousphilosophywhichhascentredroundthesubject，howverydifferentthelevelofhumancultureandhappinesswouldbeto—day!Suchtheories，withtheirabsolutewantofreasonormorality，havebeenthemaincausewhythebestmindshavebeensooftenalienatedfromtheChristiansystemandproclaimedthemselvesmaterialists。Incontemplatingwhatshockedtheirinstinctsfortruththeyhavelostthatwhichwasbothtrueandbeautiful。Christ’sdeathwasworthyofHislife，androundedoffaperfectcareer，butitisthelifewhichHePage21

hasleftasthefoundationforthepermanentreligionofmankind。Allthereligiouswars，theprivatefeuds，andthecountlessmiseriesofsectariancontention，wouldhavebeenatleastminimised，ifnotavoided，hadthebareexampleofChrist’slifebeenadoptedasthestandardofconductandofreligion。

Buttherearecertainotherconsiderationswhichshouldhaveweightwhenwecontemplatethislifeanditsefficacyasanexample。

OneoftheseisthattheveryessenceofitwasthatHecriticallyexaminedreligionasHefoundit，andbroughtHisrobustcommonsenseandcouragetobearinexposingtheshamsandinpointingoutthebetterpath。Thatisthehall—markofthetruefollowerofChrist，andnotthemuteacceptanceofdoctrineswhichare，uponthefaceofthem，falseandpernicious，becausetheycometouswithsomeshowofauthority。Whatauthorityhavewenow，savethisverylife，whichcouldcomparewiththoseJewishbookswhichweresobindingintheirforce，andsoimmutablysacredthateventhemisspellingsorpen—slipsofthescribe，weremostcarefullypreserved？ItisasimpleobviousfactthatifChristhadbeenPage22

orthodox，andhadpossessedwhatissooftenpraisedasa\"child—likefaith，\"therecouldhavebeennosuchthingasChristianity。LetreformerswholoveHimtakeheartastheyconsiderthattheyareindeedfollowinginthefootstepsoftheMaster，whohasatnotimesaidthattherevelationwhichHebrought，andwhichhasbeensoimperfectlyused，isthelastwhichwillcometomankind。Inourowntimesanequallygreatonehasbeenreleasedfromthecentreofalltruth，whichwillmakeasdeepanimpressionuponthehumanraceasChristianity，thoughnopredominantfigurehasyetappearedtoenforceitslessons。Suchafigurehasappearedoncewhenthedayswereripe，andIdonotdoubtthatthismayoccuroncemore。

Oneotherconsiderationmustbeurged。ChristhasnotgivenHismessageinthefirstperson。IfHehaddonesoourpositionwouldbestronger。Ithasbeenrepeatedbythehearsayandreportofearnestbutill—educatedmen。ItspeaksmuchforeducationintheRomanprovinceofJudeathatthesefishermen，publicansandotherscouldevenreadorwrite。

LukeandPaulwere，Page23

ofcourse，ofahigherclass，buttheirinformationcamefromtheirlowlypredecessors。Theiraccountissplendidlysatisfyingintheunityofthegeneralimpressionwhichitproduces，andthecleardrawingoftheMaster’steachingandcharacter。Atthesametimeitisfullofinconsistenciesandcontradictionsuponimmaterialmatters。Forexample，thefouraccountsoftheresurrectiondifferindetail，andthereisnoorthodoxlearnedlawyerwhodutifullyacceptsallfourversionswhocouldnotshattertheevidenceifhedealtwithitinthecourseofhisprofession。Thesedetailsareimmaterialtothespiritofthemessage。Itisnotcommonsensetosupposethateveryitemisinspired，orthatwehavetomakenoallowanceforimperfectreporting，individualconvictions，orientalphraseology，orfaultsoftranslation。Thesehave，indeed，beenadmittedbyrevisedversions。InHisutteranceabouttheletterandthespiritwecouldalmostbelievethatChristhadforeseentheplagueoftextsfromwhichwehavesuffered，evenasHeHimselfsufferedatthehandsofthetheologiansofHisday，whothen，asnow，havebeenacursetotheworld。Page24

WeweremeanttouseourreasonsandbrainsinadaptingHisteachingtotheconditionsofouralteredlivesandtimes。MuchdependeduponthesocietyandmodeofexpressionwhichbelongedtoHisera。Tosupposeinthesedaysthatonehasliterallytogivealltothepoor，orthatastarvedEnglishprisonershouldliterallylovehisenemytheKaiser，orthatbecauseChristprotestedagainstthelaxmarriagesofHisdaythereforetwospouseswholoatheeachothershouldbeforeverchainedinalifeservitudeandmartyrdom——alltheseassertionsaretotravestyHisteachingandtotakefromitthatrobustqualityofcommonsensewhichwasitsmaincharacteristic。

Toaskwhatisimpossiblefromhumannatureistoweakenyourappealwhenyouaskforwhatisreasonable。

Ithasalreadybeenstatedthatofthethreeheadingsunderwhichreformsaregrouped，theexclusionoftheolddispensation，thegreaterattentiontoChrist’slifeascomparedtoHisdeath，andthenewspiritualinfluxwhichisgivinguspsychicreligion，itisonlyonthelatterthatonecanquotetheauthorityofthebeyond。Here，however，thePage25

caseisreallyunderstated。InregardtotheOldTestamentIhaveneverseenthemattertreatedinaspiritualcommunication。ThenatureofChrist，however，andHisteaching，havebeenexpoundedascoreoftimeswithsomevariationofdetail，butinthemainasreproducedhere。Spiritshavetheirindividualityofview，andsomecarryoverstrongearthlyprepossessionswhichtheydonoteasilyshed；butreadingmanyauthenticspiritcommunicationsonefindsthattheideaofredemptionishardlyeverspokenof，whilethatofexampleandinfluenceisforeverinsistedupon。InthemChrististhehighestspiritknown，thesonofGod，asweallare，butnearertoGod，andthereforeinamoreparticularsenseHisson。Hedoesnot，saveinmostrareandspecialcases，meetuswhenwedie。Sincesoulspassover，nightandday，attherateofabout100aminute，thiswouldseemself—evident。

AfteratimewemaybeadmittedtoHispresence，tofindamosttender，sympatheticandhelpfulcomradeandguide，whosespiritinfluencesallthingsevenwhenHisbodilypresenceisnotvisible。ThisisthegeneralteachingoftheotherworldcommunicationsPage26

concerningChrist，thegentle，lovingandpowerfulspiritwhichbroodseveroverthatworldwhich，inallitsmanyspheres，isHisspecialcare。

Beforepassingtothenewrevelation，itscertainproofsanditsdefiniteteaching，letusharkbackforamomentuponthetwopointswhichhavealreadybeentreated。Theyarenotabsolutelyvitalpoints。

Thefreshdevelopmentscangoonandconquertheworldwithoutthem。Therecanbenosuddenchangeintheancientroutineofourreligioushabits，norisitpossibletoconceivethatacongressoftheologianscouldtakesoheroicastepastoteartheBibleintwain，layingonehalfupontheshelfandoneuponthetable。NeitherisittobeexpectedthatanyformalpronouncementscouldeverbemadethatthechurcheshavealllaidthewrongemphasisuponthestoryofChrist。Moralcouragewillnotrisetosuchaheight。Butwiththespiritualquickeningandthegreaterearnestnesswhichwillhavetheirrootsinthisbloodypassionofmankind，manywillperceivewhatisreasonableandtrue，sothateveniftheOldTestamentshouldremain，likesomeobsoleteappendixPage27

intheanimalframe，tomarkalowerstagethroughwhichdevelopmenthaspassed，itwillmoreandmoreberecognisedasadocumentwhichhaslostallvalidityandwhichshouldnolongerbeallowedtoinfluencehumanconduct，savebywayofpointingoutmuchwhichwemayavoid。SoalsowiththeteachingofChrist，themysticalportionsmayfadegentlyaway，asthegrosserviewsofeternalpunishmenthavefadedwithinourownlifetime，sothatwhilemankindishardlyawareofthechangetheheresyoftodaywillbecomethecommonplaceoftomorrow。ThesethingswilladjustthemselvesinGod’sowntime。Whatis，however，bothnewandvitalarethosefreshdevelopmentswhichwillnowbediscussed。Inthemmaybefoundthesignsofhowthedrybonesmaybestirred，andhowthemummymaybequickenedwiththebreathoflife。Withtheactualcertaintyofadefinitelifeafterdeath，andasuresenseofresponsibilityforourownspiritualdevelopment，aresponsibilitywhichcannotbeputuponanyothershoulders，howeverexalted，butmustbebornebyeachindividualforhimself，therewillcomethegreatestreinforcementofPage28

moralitywhichthehumanracehaseverknown。Weareonthevergeofitnow，butourdescendantswilllookuponthepastcenturyastheculminationofthedarkageswhenmanlosthistrustinGod，andwassoengrossedinhistemporaryearthlifethathelostallsenseofspiritualreality。

Page29Chapter2THEDAWNINGOFTHELIGHTSomesixtyyearsagothatacutethinkerLordBroughamremarkedthatintheclearskyofscepticismhesawonlyonesmallclouddriftingupandthatwasModernSpiritualism。Itwasacuriouslyinvertedsimile，foronewouldsurelyhaveexpectedhimtosaythatinthedriftingcloudsofscepticismhesawonepatchofclearsky，butatleastitshowedhowconscioushewasofthecomingimportanceofthemovement。Ruskin，too，anequallyagilemind，saidthathisassuranceofimmortalitydependedupontheobservedfactsofSpiritualism。Scores，andindeedhundreds，offamousnamescouldbequotedwhohavesubscribedthesamestatement，andwhosesupportwoulddignifyanycauseuponearth。Theyarethehigherpeakswhohavebeenthefirsttocatchthelight，butthedawnwillspreaduntilnonePage30

aretoolowlytoshareit。Letusturn，therefore，andinspectthismovementwhichismostcertainlydestinedtorevolutionisehumanthoughtandactionasnoneotherhasdonewithintheChristianera。Weshalllookatitbothinitsstrengthandinitsweakness，forwhereoneisdealingwithwhatoneknowstobetrueonecanfearlesslyinsistuponthewholeofthetruth。

Themovementwhichisdestinedtobringvitalitytothedeadandcoldreligionshasbeencalled\"ModernSpiritualism。\"The\"modern\"

isgood，sincethethingitself，inoneformoranother，isasoldashistory，andhasalways，howeverobscuredbyforms，beentheredcentralglowinthedepthsofallreligiousideas，permeatingtheBiblefromendtoend。

Buttheword\"Spiritualism\"hasbeensobefouledbywickedcharlatans，andsocheapenedbymanyasadincident，thatonecouldalmostwishthatsomesuchtermas\"psychicreligion\"wouldclearthesubjectofoldprejudices，justasmesmerism，aftermanyyearsofobloquy，wasrapidlyacceptedwhenitsnamewaschangedtohypnotism。Ontheotherhand，oneremembersthesturdypioneerswhohavefoughtunderPage31

thisbanner，andwhowerepreparedtorisktheircareers，theirprofessionalsuccess，andeventheirreputationforsanity，bypubliclyassertingwhattheyknewtobethetruth。Theirbrave，unselfishdevotionmustdosomethingtocleansethenameforwhichtheyfoughtandsuffered。Itwastheywhonursedthesystemwhichpromisestobe，notanewreligion——itisfartoobigforthat——butpartofthecommonheritageofknowledgesharedbythewholehumanrace。PerfectedSpiritualism，however，willprobablybearaboutthesamerelationtotheSpiritualismof1850asamodernlocomotivetothebubblinglittlekettlewhichheraldedtheeraofsteam。Itwillendbybeingrathertheproofandbasisofallreligionsthanareligioninitself。Wehavealreadytoomanyreligions——buttoofewproofs。

ThosefirstmanifestationsatHydesvillevariedinnowayfrommanyofwhichwehaverecordinthepast，buttheresultarisingfromthemdifferedverymuch，because，forthefirsttime，itoccurredtoahumanbeingnotmerelytolistentoinexplicablesounds，andtofearthemormarvelatthem，buttoestablishcommunicationwiththem。Page32

JohnWesley’sfathermighthavedonethesamemorethanacenturybeforehadthethoughtoccurredtohimwhenhewasawitnessofthemanifestationsatEpworthin1726。ItwasonlywhentheyoungFoxgirlstruckherhandstogetherandcried\"DoasIdo\"thattherewasinstantcompliance，andconsequentproofofthepresenceofanintelligentinvisibleforce，thusdifferingfromallotherforcesofwhichweknow。Thecircumstanceswerehumble，andevenrathersordid，uponbothsidesoftheveil，humanandspirit，yetitwas，astimewillmoreandmoreclearlyshow，oneoftheturningpointsoftheworld’shistory，greaterfarthanthefallofthronesortheroutofarmies。Someartistofthefuturewilldrawthescene——thesitting—roomofthewooden，shack—likehouse，thecircleofhalf—awedandhalf—criticalneighbours，thechildclappingherhandswithupturnedlaughingface，thedarkcornershadowswherethesestrangenewforcesseemtolurk——forcesoftenapparent，andnowcometostayandtoeffectthecompleterevolutionofhumanthought。Wemaywellaskwhyshouldsuchgreatresultsarisefromsuchpettysources？SoarguedthehighPage33

browedphilosophersofGreeceandRomewhentheoutspokenPaul，withthefishermanPeterandhishalf—educateddisciples，traversedalltheirlearnedtheories，andwiththehelpofwomen，slaves，andschismaticJews，subvertedtheirancientcreeds。OnecanbutanswerthatProvidencehasitsownwayofattainingits，results，andthatitseldomconformstoouropinionofwhatismostappropriate。

Wehavealargerexperienceofsuchphenomenanow，andwecandefinewithsomeaccuracywhatitwasthathappenedatHydesvilleintheyear1848。Weknowthatthesemattersaregovernedbylawandbyconditionsasmuchasanyotherphenomenaoftheuniverse，thoughatthemomentitseemedtothepublictobeanisolatedandirregularoutburst。

Ontheonehand，youhadamaterial，earth—boundspiritofaloworderofdevelopmentwhichneededaphysicalmediuminordertobeabletoindicateitspresence。Ontheother，youhadthatrarething，agoodphysicalmedium。

Theresultfollowedassurelyastheflashfollowswhentheelectricbatteryandwirearebothproperlyadjusted。Correspondingexperiments，Page34

whereeffect，andcausedulyfollow，arebeingworkedoutatthepresentmomentbyProfessorCrawford，ofBelfast，asdetailedinhistworecentbooks，whereheshowsthatthereisanactuallossofweightofthemediuminexactproportiontothephysicalphenomenonproduced。

Note：\"TheRealityofPsychicPhenomena。\"\"ExperiencesinPsychicalScience。\"（Watkins。）Thewholesecretofmediumshiponthismaterialsideappearstolieinthepower，quiteindependentofoneself，ofpassivelygivingupsomeportionofone’sbodilysubstancefortheuseofoutsideinfluences。Whyshouldsomehavethispowerandsomenot？Wedonotknow——nordoweknowwhyoneshouldhavetheearformusicandanothernot。

Eachisborninus，andeachhaslittleconnectionwithourmoralnatures。

Atfirstitwasonlyphysicalmediumshipwhichwasknown，andpublicattentioncentreduponmovingtables，automaticmusicalinstruments，andothercrudebutobviousexamplesofoutsideinfluence，whichwereunhappilyveryeasilyimitatedbyrogues。Sincethenwehavelearnedthattherearemanyformsofmediumship，sodifferentfromeachotherthatanexpertatPage35

onemayhavenopowersatallattheother。Theautomaticwriter，theclairvoyant，thecrystal—seer，thetrancespeaker，thephotographicmedium，thedirectvoicemedium，andothers，areall，whengenuine，themanifestationsofoneforce，whichrunsthroughvariedchannelsasitdidinthegiftsascribedtothedisciples。Theunhappyoutburstofroguerywashelped，nodoubt，bytheneedfordarknessclaimedbytheearlyexperimenters——

aclaimwhichisbynomeansessential，sincethegreatestofallmediums，D。D。Home，wasablebytheexceptionalstrengthofhispowerstodispensewithit。Atthesametimethefactthatdarknessratherthanlight，anddrynessratherthanmoisture，arehelpfultogoodresultshasbeenabundantlymanifested，andpointstothephysicallawswhichunderliethephenomena。

Theobservationmadelongafterwardsthatwirelesstelegraphy，anotherethericforce，actstwiceaswellbynightasbyday，may，corroboratethegeneralconclusionsoftheearlySpiritualists，whiletheirassertionthattheleastharmfullightisredlighthasasuggestiveanalogyintheexperienceofthephotographer。Page36

Thereisnospacehereforthehistoryoftheriseanddevelopmentofthemovement。Itprovokedwarmadhesionandfierceoppositionfromthestart。ProfessorHareandHoraceGreeleywereamongtheeducatedminoritywhotestedandendorseditstruth。Itwasdisfiguredbymanygrievousincidents，whichmayexplainbutdoesnotexcusetheperverseoppositionwhichitencounteredinsomanyquarters。Thisoppositionwasreallylargelybasedupontheabsolutematerialismoftheage，whichwouldnotadmitthattherecouldexistatthepresentmomentsuchconditionsasmightbeacceptedinthefarpast。Whenactuallybroughtincontactwiththatlifebeyondthegravewhichtheyprofessedtobelievein，thesepeoplewinced，recoiled，anddeclareditimpossible。Thescienceofthedaywasalsorootedinmaterialism，anddiscardedallitsownveryexcellentaxiomswhenitwasfacedbyanentirelynewandunexpectedproposition。Faradaydeclaredthatinapproachinganewsubjectoneshouldmakeupone’smindaprioriastowhatispossibleandwhatisnot!Huxleysaidthatthemessages，eveniftrue，\"interestedhimnomorePage37

thanthegossipofcuratesinacathedralcity。\"Darwinsaid：\"Godhelpusifwearetobelievesuchthings。\"HerbertSpencerdeclaredagainstit，buthadnotimetogointoit。Atthesametimeallsciencedidnotcomesobadlyoutoftheordeal。Asalreadymentioned，ProfessorHare，ofPhiladelphia，inventor，amongotherthings，oftheoxy—hydrogenblow—pipe，wasthefirstmanofnotewhohadthemoralcourage，afterconsiderablepersonalinvestigation，todeclarethatthesenewandstrangedevelopmentsweretrue。Hewasfollowedbymanymedicalmen，bothinAmericaandinBritain，includingDr。Elliotson，oneoftheleadersoffreethoughtinthiscountry。ProfessorCrookes，themostrisingchemistinEurope，Dr。

RusselWallacethegreatnaturalist，Varleytheelectrician，FlammariontheFrenchastronomer，andmanyothers，riskedtheirscientificreputationsintheirbraveassertionsofthetruth。Thesemenwerenotcredulousfools。

Theysawanddeploredtheexistenceoffrauds。Crookes’lettersuponthesubjectarestillextant。InverymanycasesitwastheSpiritualiststhemselveswhoexposedthePage38

frauds。Theylaughed，asthepubliclaughed，attheshamShakespearesandvulgarCaesarswhofiguredincertainseancerooms。Theydeprecatedalsothelowmoraltonewhichwouldturnsuchpowerstopropheciesabouttheissueofaraceorthesuccessofaspeculation。Buttheyhadthatbroadervisionandsenseofproportionwhichassuredthemthatbehindallthesefolliesandfraudstherelayamassofsolidevidencewhichcouldnotbeshaken，thoughlikeallevidence，ithadtobeexaminedbeforeitcouldbeappreciated。Theywerenotsuchsimpletonsastobedrivenawayfromagreattruthbecausetherearesomedishonestcampfollowerswhohanguponitsskirts。

AgreatcentreofproofandofinspirationlayduringthoseearlydaysinMr。D。D。Home，aScottish—American，whopossessedpowerswhichmakehimoneofthemostremarkablepersonalitiesofwhomwehaveanyrecord。Home’slife，writtenbyhissecondwife，isabookwhichdeservesverycarefulreading。Thisman，whoinsomeaspectswasmorethanaman，wasbeforethepublicfornearlythirtyyears。Duringthattimeheneverreceivedpaymentforhisservices，Page39

andwasalwaysready，toputhimselfatthedisposalofanybona—fideandreasonableenquirer。Hisphenomenawereproducedinfulllight，anditwasimmaterialtohimwhetherthesittingswereinhisownroomsorinthoseofhisfriends。Sohighwerehisprinciplesthatupononeoccasion，thoughhewasamanofmoderatemeansandlessthanmoderatehealth，herefusedtheprincelyfeeoftwothousandpoundsofferedforasinglesittingbytheUnionCircleinParis。Astohispowers，theyseemtohaveincludedeveryformofmediumshipinthehighestdegree——self—levitation，aswitnessedbyhundredsofcrediblewitnesses；thehandlingoffire，withthepowerofconferringlikeimmunityuponothers；themovementwithouthumantouchofheavyobjects；thevisiblematerialisationofspirits；miraclesofhealing；

andmessagesfromthedead，suchasthatwhichconvertedthehard—headedScot，RobertChambers，whenHomerepeatedtohimtheactualdyingwordsofhisyoungdaughter。Allthiscamefromamanofsosweetanatureandofsocharitableadisposition，thattheunionofallqualitiesPage40

wouldseemalmosttojustifythosewho，toHome’sgreatembarrassment，werepreparedtoplacehimuponapedestalabovehumanity。

Thegenuinenessofhispsychicpowershasneverbeenseriouslyquestioned，andwasaswellrecognisedinRomeandParisasinLondon。

Oneincidentonlydarkenedhiscareer，andit，wasoneinwhichhewasblameless，asanyonewhocarefullyweighstheevidencemustadmit。IalludetotheactiontakenagainsthimbyMrs。Lyon，who，afteradoptinghimashersonandsettlingalargesumofmoneyuponhim，endeavouredtoregain，anddidregain，thismoneybyherunsupportedassertionthathehadpersuadedherillicitlytomakehimtheallowance。Thefactsofhislifeare，inmyjudgment，ampleproofofthetruthoftheSpiritualistposition，ifnootherproofatallhadbeenavailable。Itistoberemarkedinthecareerofthisentirelyhonestandunvenalmediumthathehadperiodsinhislifewhenhispowersdesertedhimcompletely，thathecouldforeseetheselapses，andthat，beinghonestandunvenal，hesimplyabstainedfromallattemptsuntilthepowerPage41

returned。Itisthisintermittentcharacterofthegiftwhichis，inmyopinion，responsibleforcaseswhenamediumwhohaspassedthemostrigidtestsuponcertainoccasionsisafterwardsdetectedinsimulating，veryclumsily，theresultswhichhehadoncesuccessfullyaccomplished。

Therealpowerhavingfailed，hehasnotthemoralcouragetoadmitit，northeself—denialtoforegohisfeewhichheendeavourstoearnbyatravestyofwhatwasoncegenuine。Suchanexplanationwouldcoversomefactswhichotherwisearehardtoreconcile。Wemustalsoadmitthatsomemediumsareextremelyirresponsibleandfeather—headedpeople。Afriendofmine，whosatwithEusapiaPalladino，assuredmethathesawhercheatinthemostchildishandbare—facedfashion，andyetimmediatelyafterwardsincidentsoccurredwhichwereabsolutelybeyondany，normalpowerstoproduce。

ApartfromHome，anotherepisodewhichmarksastageintheadvanceofthismovementwastheinvestigationandreportbytheDialecticalSocietyintheyear1869。ThisbodywascomposedofmenofvariouslearnedprofessionswhogatheredtogethertoPage42

investigatetheallegedfacts，andendedbyreportingthattheyreallywerefacts。Theywereunbiased，andtheirconclusionswerefoundeduponresultswhichwereverysoberlysetforthintheirreport，amostconvincingdocumentwhich，evennowin1919，afterthelapseoffiftyyears，isfarmoreintelligentthanthegreaterpartofcurrentopinionuponthissubject。Nonetheless，itwasgreetedbyachorusofridiculebytheignorantPressofthatday，who，ifthesamemenhadcometotheoppositeconclusioninspiteoftheevidence，wouldhavebeenreadytohailtheirverdictastheundoubtedendofaperniciousmovement。

Intheearlydays，about1863，abookwaswrittenbyMrs。

deMorgan，thewifeofthewell—knownmathematicianProfessordeMorgan，entitled\"FromMattertoSpirit。\"Thereisasympatheticprefacebythehusband。Thebookisstillwellworthreading，foritisaquestionwhetheranyonehasshowngreaterbrainpowerintreatingthesubject。Inittheprophecyismadethatasthemovementdevelopsthemorematerialphenomenawilldecreaseandtheirplacebetakenbythemorespiritual，suchPage43

asautomaticwriting。Thisforecasthasbeenfulfilled，forthoughphysicalmediumsstillexisttheothermoresubtleformsgreatlypredominate，andcallforfarmorediscriminatingcriticisminjudgingtheirvalueandtheirtruth。Twoveryconvincingformsofmediumship，thedirectvoiceandspiritphotography，havealsobecomeprominent。Eachofthesepresentssuchproofthatitisimpossibleforthesceptictofacethem，andhecanonlyavoidthembyignoringthem。

InthecaseofthedirectvoiceoneoftheleadingexponentsisMrs。French，anamateurmediuminAmerica，whoseworkisdescribedbothbyMr。FunkandMr。Randall。Sheisafrailelderlylady，yetinherpresencethemostmasculineandrobustvoicesmakecommunications，evenwhenherownmouthiscovered。Ihavemyselfinvestigatedthedirectvoiceinthecaseoffourdifferentmediums，twoofthemamateurs，andcanhavenodoubtoftherealityofthevoices，andthattheyarenottheeffectofventriloquism。

Iwasmorestruckbythefailuresthanbythesuccesses，andcannoteasilyforgetthepassionatepantingswithwhichsomeentitystrovehardtorevealhisPage44

identitytome，butwithoutsuccess。Oneofthesemediumswastestedafterwardsbyhavingthemouthfilledwithcolouredwater，butthevoicecontinuedasbefore。

Astospiritphotography，themostsuccessfulresultsareobtainedbytheCrewecircleinEngland，underthemediumshipofMr。HopeandMrs。Buxton。

Note：SeeAppendix。Ihaveseenscoresofthesephotographs，whichinseveralcasesreproduceexactimagesofthedeadwhichdonotcorrespondwithanypicturesofthemtakenduringlife。Ihaveseenfather，mother，anddeadsoldierson，alltakentogetherwiththedeadsonlookingfarthehappierandnottheleastsubstantialofthethree。Itisinthesevariedformsofproofthattheimpregnablestrengthoftheevidencelies，forhowabsurddoexplanationsoftelepathy，unconsciouscerebrationorcosmicmemorybecomewhenfacedbysuchphenomenaasspiritphotography，materialisation，orthedirectvoice。Onlyonehypothesiscancovereverybranchofthesemanifestations，andthatisthesystemofextraneouslifeandactionwhichhasalways，forseventyyears，heldthefieldforanyPage45

reasonablemindwhichhadimpartiallyconsideredthefacts。

Ihavespokenoftheneedforcarefulandcool—headedanalysisinjudgingtheevidencewhereautomaticwritingisconcerned。Oneisboundtoexcludespiritexplanationsuntilallnaturaloneshavebeenexhausted，thoughIdonotincludeamongnaturalonestheextremeclaimsoffar—fetchedtelepathysuchasthatanotherpersoncanreadinyourthoughtsthingsofwhichyouwereneveryourselfaware。Suchexplanationsarenotexplanations，butmystificationsandabsurdities，thoughtheyseemtohaveaspecialattractionforacertainsortofpsychicalresearcher，whoisobviouslydestinedtogoonresearchingtotheendoftime，withouteverreachinganyconclusionsavethatofthepatienceofthosewhotrytofollowhisreasoning。Togiveagoodexampleofvalidautomaticscript，chosenoutofmanywhichIcouldquote，Iwoulddrawthereader’sattentiontothefactsastotheexcavationsatGlastonbury，asdetailedin\"TheGateofRemembrance\"byMr。BlighBond。Mr。BlighBond，bytheway，isnotaSpiritualist，butthesamecannotbesaidofthewriterPage46

oftheautomaticscript，anamateurmedium，whowasabletoindicatethesecretsoftheburiedabbey，whichwereprovedtobecorrectwhentheruinswereuncovered。Icantrulysaythat，thoughIhavereadmuchoftheoldmonasticlife，ithasneverbeenbroughthometomesocloselyasbythemessagesanddescriptionsofdearoldBrotherJohannes，theearth—boundspirit——earthboundbyhisgreatlovefortheoldabbeyinwhichhehadspenthishumanlife。Thisbook，withitspracticalsequel，maybequotedasanexcellentexampleofautomaticwritingatitshighest，forwhattelepathicexplanationcancoverthedetaileddescriptionofobjectswhichlieunseenbyanyhumaneye？Itmustbeadmitted，however，thatinautomaticwritingyouareatoneendofthetelephone，ifonemayusesuchasimile，andyouhave，noassuranceastowhoisattheotherend。Youmayhavewildlyfalsemessagessuddenlyinterpolatedamongtruthfulones——messagessodetailedintheirmendacitythatitisimpossibletothinkthattheyarenotdeliberatelyfalse。WhenoncewehaveacceptedthecentralfactthatspiritschangelittleinessentialswhenleavingthePage47

body，andthatinconsequencetheworldisinfestedbymanylowandmischievoustypes，onecanunderstandthattheseuntowardincidentsareratheraconfirmationofSpiritualismthananargumentagainstit。PersonallyIhavereceivedandhavebeendeceivedbyseveralsuchmessages。AtthesametimeIcansaythatafteranexperienceofthirtyyearsofsuchcommunicationsIhaveneverknownablasphemous，anobsceneoranunkindsentencecomethrough。Iadmit，however，thatIhaveheardofsuchcases。Likeattractslike，andoneshouldknowone’shumancompanybeforeonejoinsinsuchintimateandreverentrites。Inclairvoyancethesamesuddeninexplicabledeceptionsappear。Ihavecloselyfollowedtheworkofonefemalemedium，aprofessional，whoseresultsaresoextraordinarilygoodthatinafavourablecaseshewillgivethefullnamesofthedeceasedaswellasthemostdefiniteandconvincingtestmessages。YetamongthissplendidseriesofresultsIhavenotesofseveralinwhichshewasacompletefailureandabsolutelywronguponessentials。Howcanthisbeexplained？WecanonlyanswerthatconditionswereobPage48

viouslynotpropitious，butwhyorhowareamongthemanyproblemsofthefuture。Itisaprofoundandmostcomplicatedsubject，howevereasilyitmaybesettledbythe\"ridiculousnonsense\"schoolofcritics。IlookattherowofbooksupontheleftofmydeskasIwrite——ninety—sixsolidvolumes，manyofthemannotatedandwellthumbed，andyetIknowthatI

amlikeachildwadingankledeepinthemarginofanillimitableocean。

Butthis，atleast，Ihaveveryclearlyrealised，thattheoceanisthereandthatthemarginispartofit，andthatdownthatshelvingshorethehumanraceisdestinedtomoveslowlytodeeperwaters。Inthenextchapter，IwillendeavourtoshowwhatisthepurposeoftheCreatorinthisstrangerevelationofnewintelligentforcesimpinginguponourplanet。Itisthisviewofthequestionwhichmustjustifytheclaimthatthismovement，solongthesubjectofsneersandridicule，isabsolutelythemostimportantdevelopmentinthewholehistoryofthehumanrace，soimportantthat，ifwecouldconceiveonesinglemandiscoveringandpublishingit，hewouldrankbeforeChrisPage49

topherColumbusasadiscovererofnewworlds，beforePaulasateacherofnewreligioustruths，andbeforeIsaacNewtonasastudentofthelawsoftheUniverse。

Beforeopeningupthissubjectthereisoneconsiderationwhichshouldhavedueweight，andyetseemscontinuallytobeoverlooked。

ThedifferencesbetweenvarioussectsareaverysmallthingascomparedtothegreateternalduelbetweenmaterialismandthespiritualviewoftheUniverse。Thatistherealfight。ItisafightinwhichtheChurcheschampionedtheanti—materialview，buttheyhavedoneitsounintelligently，andhavebeencontinuallyplacedinsuchfalsepositions，thattheyhavealwaysbeenlosing。SincethedaysofHumeandVoltaireandGibbonthefighthasslowlybutsteadilyrolledinfavouroftheattack。ThencameDarwin，showingwithapparenttruth，thatmanhasneverfallenbutalwaysrisen。Thiscutdeepintothephilosophyoforthodoxy，anditisfollytodenyit。Thenagaincametheso—called\"HigherCriticism，\"showingallegedflawsandcracksintheveryfoundations。Allthistimethechurcheswereyieldingground，andeveryretreatgavePage50

afreshjumping—offplaceforanewassault。Ithasgonesofarthatatthepresentmomentaverylargesectionofthepeopleofthiscountry，richandpoor，areoutofallsympathynotonlywiththechurchesbutwiththewholeSpiritualview。Now，weintervenewithourpositiveknowledgeandactualproof——anallysopowerfulthatwearecapableofturningthewholetideofbattleandrollingitbackforeveragainstmaterialism。

Wecansay：\"Wewillmeetyouonyourowngroundandshowyoubymaterialandscientificteststhatthesoulandpersonalitysurvive。\"ThatistheaimofPsychicScience，andithasbeenfullyattained。Itmeansanendtomaterialismforever。Andyetthismovement，thisSpiritualmovement，ishootedatandreviledbyRome，byCanterburyandevenbyLittleBethel，eachofthemforonceactinginconcert，andincludingintheirbattlelinesuchstrangealliesastheScientificAgnosticsandthemilitantFree—thinkers。

FatherVaughanandtheBishopofLondon，theRev。F。B。MeyerandMr。Clodd，\"TheChurchTimes\"and\"TheFreethinker，\"areunitedinbattle，thoughtheyfightwithverydifferentbattlePage51

cries，theonedeclaringthatthethingisofthedevil，whiletheotherisequallyclearthatitdoesnotexistatall。Theoppositionofthematerialistsisabsolutelyintelligentsinceitisclearthatanymanwhohasspenthislifeinsaying\"No\"toallextramundaneforcesis，indeed，inapitiablepositionwhen，aftermanyyears，hehastorecognisethathiswholephilosophyisbuiltuponsandandthat\"Yes\"wastheanswerfromthebeginning。Butastothereligiousbodies，whatwordscanexpresstheirstupidityandwantofallproportioninnotrunninghalfwayandmoretomeetthegreatestallywhohaseverintervenedtochangetheirdefeatintovictory？Whatgiftsthisall—powerfulallybringswithhim，andwhatarethetermsofhisalliance，willnowbeconsidered。

Page52Chapter3THEGREATARGUMENTThephysicalbasisofallpsychicbeliefisthatthesoulisacompleteduplicateofthebody，resemblingitinthesmallestparticular，althoughconstructedinsomefarmoretenuousmaterial。Inordinaryconditionsthesetwobodiesareintermingledsothattheidentityofthefineroneisentirelyobscured。Atdeath，however，andundercertainconditionsinthecourseoflife，thetwodivideandcanbeseenseparately。Deathdiffersfromtheconditionsofseparationbeforedeathinthatthereisacompletebreakbetweenthetwobodies，andlifeiscarriedonentirelybythelighterofthetwo，whiletheheavier，likeacocoonfromwhichthelivingoccupanthasescaped，degeneratesanddisappears，theworldburyingthecocoonwithmuchsolemnitybytakinglittlepainstoascertainwhathasbecomeofitsnoblerPage53

contents。Itisavainthingtourgethatsciencehasnotadmittedthiscontention，andthatthestatementispuredogmatism。Thesciencewhichhasnotexaminedthefactshas，itistrue，notadmittedthecontention，butitsopinionismanifestlyworthless，oratthebestoflessweightthanthatofthehumbleststudentofpsychicphenomena。Therealsciencewhichhasexaminedthefactsistheonlyvalidauthority，anditispracticallyunanimous。Ihavemadepersonalappealstoatleastonegreatleaderofsciencetoexaminethefacts，howeversuperficially，withoutanysuccess，whileSirWilliamCrookesappealedtoSirGeorgeStokes，theSecretaryoftheRoyalSociety，oneofthemostbitteropponentsofthemovement，tocomedowntohislaboratoryandseethepsychicforceatwork，buthetooknonotice。Whatweighthasscienceofthatsort？ItcanonlybecomparedtothattheologicalprejudicewhichcausedtheEcclesiasticsinthedaysofGalileotorefusetolookthroughthetelescopewhichheheldouttothem。

Itispossibletowritedownthenamesoffiftyprofessorsingreatseatsoflearningwhohaveexaminedandendorsedthesefacts，Page54

andthelistwouldincludemanyofthegreatestintellectswhichtheworldhasproducedinourtime——FlammarionandLombroso，CharlesRichetandRusselWallace，WillieReichel，Myers，Zollner，James，Lodge，andCrookes。

Thereforethefactshavebeenendorsedbytheonlysciencethathastherighttoexpressanopinion。Ihavenever，inmythirtyyearsofexperience，knownonesinglescientificmanwhowentthoroughlyintothismatteranddidnotendbyacceptingtheSpiritualsolution。Suchmayexist，butIrepeatthatIhaveneverheardofhim。Letus，then，withconfidenceexaminethismatterofthe\"spiritualbody，\"tousethetermmadeclassicalbySaintPaul。TherearemanysignsinhiswritingsthatPaulwasdeeplyversedinpsychicmatters，andoneoftheseishisexactdefinitionofthenaturalandspiritualbodiesintheservicewhichisthefinalfarewelltolifeofeveryChristian。Paulpickedhiswords，andifhehadmeantthatmanconsistedofanaturalbodyandaspirithewouldhavesaidso。

Whenhesaid\"aspiritualbody\"hemeantabodywhichcontainedthespiritandyetwasdistinctfromtheordinarynaturalbody。ThatisPage55

exactlywhatpsychicsciencehasnowshowntobetrue。

Whenamanhastakenhashishorcertainotherdrugs，henotinfrequentlyhastheexperiencethatheisstandingorfloatingbesidehisownbody，whichhecanseestretchedsenselessuponthecouch。Soalsounderanaesthetics，particularlyunderlaughinggas，manypeopleareconsciousofadetachmentfromtheirbodies，andofexperiencesatadistance。I

havemyselfseenveryclearlymywifeandchildreninsideacabwhileI

wassenselessinthedentist’schair。Again，whenamanisfaintingordying，andhissysteminanunstablecondition，itisassertedinverymanydefiniteinstancesthathecan，anddoes，manifesthimselftoothersatadistance。Thesephantasmsoftheliving，whichhavebeensocarefullyexploredanddocketedbyMessrs。MyersandGurney，ranintohundredsofcases。Somepeopleclaimthatbyaneffortofwilltheycan，aftergoingtosleep，propeltheirowndoublesinthedirectionwhichtheydesire，andvisitthosewhomtheywishtosee。Thusthereisagreatvolumeofevidence——howgreatnomancansaywhohasnotspentdiligentPage56

yearsinexploringit——whichvouchesfortheexistenceofthisfinerbodycontainingthepreciousjewelsofthemindandspirit，andleavingonlygrossconfusedanimalfunctionsinitsheaviercompanion。

Mr。Funk，whoisacriticalstudentofpsychicphenomena，andalsothejointcompilerofthestandardAmericandictionary，narratesastoryinpointwhichcouldbematchedfromothersources。HetellsofanAmericandoctorofhisacquaintance，andhevouchespersonallyforthetruthoftheincident。Thisdoctor，inthecourseofacatalepticseizureinFlorida，wasawarethathehadlefthisbody，whichhesawlyingbesidehim。Hehadnonethelesspreservedhisfigureandhisidentity。Thethoughtofsomefriendatadistancecameintohismind，andafteranappreciableintervalhefoundhimselfinthatfriend’sroom，halfwayacrossthecontinent。

Hesawhisfriend，andwasconsciousthathisfriendsawhim。Heafterwardsreturnedtohisownroom，stoodbesidehisownsenselessbody，arguedwithinhimselfwhetherheshouldre—occupyitornot，andfinally，dutyovercominginclination，hemergedhistwoframestogetherandPage57

continuedhislife。Aletterfromhimtohisfriendexplainingmatterscrossedaletterfromthefriend，inwhichhetoldhowhealsohadbeenawareofhispresence。TheincidentisnarratedindetailinMr。Funk’s\"PsychicRiddle。\"

Idonotunderstandhowanymancanexaminethemanyinstancescomingfromvariousanglesofapproachwithoutrecognisingthattherereallyisasecondbodyofthissort，whichincidentallygoesfartoaccountforallstories，sacredorprofane，ofghosts，apparitionsandvisions。Now，whatisthissecondbody，andhowdoesitfitintomodernreligiousrevelation？

Whatitis，isadifficultquestion，andyetwhenscienceandimaginationunite，asTyndallsaidtheyshouldunite，tothrowasearchlightintotheunknown，theymayproduceabeamsufficienttooutlinevaguelywhatwillbecomeclearerwiththefutureadvanceofourrace。Sciencehasdemonstratedthatwhileetherpervadeseverythingtheetherwhichisactuallyinabodyisdifferentfromtheetheroutsideit。\"Bound\"etheristhenamegiventothis，whichFresnelandothershaveshowntobedenser。Now，ifthisfactPage58

beappliedtothehumanbody，theresultwouldbethat，ifallthatisvisibleofthatbodywereremoved，therewouldstillremainacompleteandabsolutemouldofthebody，formedinboundetherwhichwouldbedifferentfromtheetheraroundit。Thisargumentismoresolidthanmerespeculation，anditshowsthateventhesoulmaycometobedefinedintermsofmatterandisnotaltogether\"suchstuffasdreamsaremadeof。\"