The phenomena of spiritualism scientifically explained and exposed

Preface

ERHAPS we cannot better introduce the reader to the treatise before him, than by giving a short statement of the circumstances which led us to adopt the views therein developed in regard to Spiritualism, jince the year 1850, our residence has been in several >f the grand centres of this movement, and where, consequently, the mysterious phenomena were con- .nuously forced upon our attention. One of the circumstances which first impressed our mind as we reflected upon what was passing before us, was the utter incompatibility of the fundamental characteristics of these facts, as reported even by spiritualists themselves, with the supposition that they are the intended results of intelligent minds who are communicating with us from the heavenly or infernal world. By no laws of mind known to us could we account for the facts by a reference to such an origin. When they were referred to good spirits, our reply was : good spirits cannot falsify as these do ; for these vi

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falsify when spirits, if present, cannot but know the truth ; profess knowledge when they must know themselves ignorant, and make positive affirmations when they must know that they are only guessing. Good spirits cannot thus act. When they were referred to bad spirits, our reply was : these spirits do not lie like men in the flesh, nor as any spirits would do whose conduct is governed by any laws known to us. There is a certain "method" even in lying, wherever it appears, and here is lying which has no such method, or any method at all which can properly be ascribed to spirits aiming at some intelligent end, good or bad. When individuals told us that they had had communications with their spirit friends, our reply was : the spirit here speaking says some things that that of your mother, if present, might and no doubt would say. Your mother, however, when alive and with you, never falsified as this spirit does, and would not thus falsify, if now present. We therefore rejected the ab extra spirit hypothesis, as wholly incompatible with the facts.

We were first led to refer the facts to tricks of the mediums. Soon, however, we were confronted with phenomena wholly incompatible with such a supposition. We met, for example, with evidences, which we could not resist and maintain our integrity, of the reality of physical manifestations of a very startling and impressive character. We ourselves personally

Preface.

witnessed such facts as we could account for by no reference to conscious or unconscious muscular action- We also met with individuals of the first intelligence and integrity, and who utterly repudiate the spirit theory, who had themselves witnessed such phenomena. In the Congregational Society's Rooms in Boston, for example, an orthodox Congregational clergyman, of unquestionable intelligence and integrity, affirmed to us, in the presence of several other clergymen, that on one occasion he saw a medium place her hands gently upon a marble-topped table, no other person being near ; that after holding them there awhile, the object began to move after her around the room, that he himself got under the table, and taking hold of its legs, attempted to hold it still, and that he was, with the table, drawn quite a distance over the floor, all his efforts to the contrary notwithstanding. From many others we received precisely similar and equally credible statements. We found, then, that we had to admit the facts, or take the ground that no strange events can be established by testimony. How, then, could we ask the world to believe in Christian miracles ? We found equally valid evidence for the reality of the facts of Spiritualism, as far as the intelligent communications are concerned.- We found ourselves necessitated, therefore, in moral honesty, to admit the facts, and then to seek an explanation of them on some mundane hypothesis, viii

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as their character precluded any other supposition than their exclusively mundane origin.

As we reflected upon the facts under consideration, we were forcibly struck with this suggestion, that they seemed evidently to imply the existence in nature of a polar force not yet distinctly recognised in philosophy, a force having, when developed, very strong attractive and repulsive power ; a force, the direction of whose action, when certain conditions are fulfilled, accords with mental states, and is determined by the same ; a force, finally, through which the mental states of one mind may be reproduced in others, and thus embodied, as in these communications. The existence of precisely such a force seemed demanded by the facts, whether we supposed it governed, in the production of these manifestations, by spirits in the body or out of the body. We were also deeply impressed with the obvious correspondence of these manifestations, physical and mental, with the phenomena of mesmerism and clairvoyance, on the one hand, and those of another class which from time to time have, in all ages, startled and troubled mankind, and which philosophers now refer to a power in nature denominated the Odylic Force, on the other. This led to a careful examination and classification of each of these classes of phenomena, and to an equally careful comparison of the results thus obtained with the spirit-phenomena, physical and intellectual.

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IX

The following are some of the conclusions to which we were thus conducted : I. There is in nature a force having the identical properties above specified, and which we denominate the Odylic Force. 2. This force is identical with the cause of all the mesmeric and clairvoyant phenomena, on the one hand, and with the immediate cause of these manifestations, on the other. 3. By a reference to the properties and laws of this force as developed in the spirit-circles, and to its relations to the minds constituting the same, we can account most fully for all the spirit-phenomena, of every kind, without the supposition of the presence or agency of disembodied spirits. Consequently, the hypothesis of Spiritualism is wholly unsustained by any valid evidence whatever. 4. The entire real facts of Spiritualism demand the supposition that this force in the production of these communications is controlled exclusively, for the most part unconsciously, by the minds in the circles, and not by disembodied spirits out of the same. 5. We finally found, what we did not at first expect, that we had developed facts and principles which gave an equally ready and satisfactory explanation of the phenomena of witchcraft, necromancy, fortune-telling, etc., etc., phenomena which from time to time have been the wonder and terror of mankind in all ages. 6. Other consequences of equal and far greater importance seemed undeniably to follow from our facts

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and deductions. The results of our investigations the reader will find embodied in the following treatise.

Facts of recent occurrence have fully prepared the public mind, as we judge, to receive a scientific explanation of the real phenomena of Spiritualism, the impositions of the system having been so fully exposed. Since the following treatise was put into the printer's hands, in every remaining place not therein referred to, where ghosts have been professedly exhibited — in the United States, for example — the impositions have been fully exposed, " the spirits" having been caught, and demonstrated to be men or women in the flesh. With these suggestions the work before us is commended to the careful and candid examination of the reader.

THE AUTHOR.

London, April 2>]th, 1875.

Introduction

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The Diverse Theories pertaining to these Phenomena, and the Methods of Inquiry, and Laws of Evidence, by which any one of them can be Verified (The Humbug Theory, The Satanic Agency Theory, The Spiritualistic Theory, The Mundane Theory) ; The Affirmed Visible, Tangible, and Audible Manifestations of Spiritualism ; Photography and Spiritualism ; Levitation ; Concluding Remarks, and Plan of the Treatise ..... . ... I— 77

Chapter I. Electricity, Magnetism, And Animal Magnetism Distinguished

Effects of Animal Magnetism upon the Human System . . 78 — 94

CHAPTER IL

THE ODYLIC, ODIC, OR PSYCHIC FORCE.

Physical Manifestations ; The Odylic Force identical with that which is the immediate cause of the Spirit-Manifestations ;

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The immediate cause of these Manifestations identical with that from which result all the Phenomena of Mesmerism and Clairvoyance . 95 — x43

Chapter III. Physical And Intellectual Manifestations Elucidated

The Exclusively Physical Phenomena; Affirmed Intellectual Communications ; The Three Classes of Mediums ; A Large and Essential Portion of these Affirmed Spirit-Communications have an Exclusively "Mundane Origin . . . 144 — 185

Chapter IV

POSITIVE AND CONCLUSIVE PROOF THAT ALL THESE COMMUNICATIONS AND MANIFESTATIONS ARE THE EXCLUSIVE RESULT OF MUNDANE CAUSES, AND NOT OF THE AGENCY OF DISEMBODIED SPIRITS.

The Admitted Fact, that an Essential Part of these Phenomena are Undeniably Originated by Exclusively Mundane Causes, Requires, without absolute proof to the contrary, that they all be Referred to the same Causes ; No New, and none but Exclusively Mundane, Truths are Represented in these Communications ; All these Communications take Specific Form from the Known Sentiments in the Particular Circles in which said Communications Originate ; Known Exceptions Confirm the Deductions under Consideration ; The Character of the Affirmed Spirit-thoughts, as Contrasted with the Known Life-thoughts of Individuals, Evince the

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xiii former as having none but a Mundane Origin ; Revelations . which do not, as Contrasted with those which do. Originate in these Circles, Confirm the same Conclusion ; The General Intellectual Character of these Communications Demonstrate their Non-Spirit Origin ; Fundamental Facts Developed by Individuals through Inquiries made for self-satisfaction in regard to the Origin and Cause of these Phenomena, Individuals who had Formed no Definite Theory upon the Subject ; The same Responses and the same Evidence of Spirit-presence, can be Obtained from the Spirits of Individuals yet alive, but supposed to be dead, as from the Spirits of Persons actually dead ; Similar Responses are Obtained in these Circles, by devoted Spiritualists, from the spirits of persons actually alive, but supposed to be dead ; Most Decisive Observations and Experiments made by Individuals of the highest intelligence and integrity, for the specific purpose of Determining the Nature and Location of the Cause of these Phenomena (Very Interesting and Decisive Facts furnished by one of our former Pupils ; Facts which occurred at the house of the Rev. Starr King ; Important Facts furnished by Dr. Bell ; The Statements of Dr. Bell confirmed by kindred ones from N. I. Bowditch, Esq. ; Important Facts furnished by a New England Congregational Clergyman ; Interesting and Illustrative Facts furnished by a Pastor of one of the Churches in the City of Cleveland, Ohio) ; A Peculiar Class of False Answers continually Obtained in these Circles Evince the Exclusively Mundane Origin of these Phenomena ; Enquiries made for the Specific purpose of Determining, not only the Location of the Controlling Cause of these Phenomena, but of the Extent of the Control which could be Exercised over these Phenomena ; Important Evidence Obtained from the Observations and Testimony of Individuals who have themselves been Mediums ; Disagreements and Contradictions in these Communications Incompatible with the idea of their Extra-mundane Origin ; False Communications which can be accounted for but upon the Mundane Hypothesis ....... 1S6 — 326 xiv

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Chapter V. Tendency Of Spiritualism

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Section I. Tendency of Spiritualism to the Good or 111 of Mankind Physically ; Section II. Tendency of Spiritualism to Benefit or Injure Mankind Intellectually (Spiritualism not a Reliable Source of Information ; Spiritualism has not Benefited the World, as far as Science is Concerned; Spiritualism itself utterly wanting in all the Characteristics of a truly Scientific Movement, Spiritualism has done nothing to Improve the Literature of Humanity) ; Section III. Moral Tendency of Spiritualism (Summary Statement of the Tendencies of Spiritualism) .... 327 — 37

Chapter VI. Miscellaneous Topics

Section I. Special Facts connected with Spiritualism (Copying the Voice, Manner, and Handwriting of Individuals, Tactual Impressions, Seeing Spirits) ; Section II. Phenomena of Dreaming, and Premonitions of Future Events (Analagous Facts of Common Occurrence in Every-day Life) ; Section III. Phenomena of Ghost-seeing and Haunted Houses ; Section IV. Witchcraft, Fortune -Telling, Manner in which Mysterious Events are Commonly Treated ; Section V, These so-called Spirit-Manifestations and Scripture Miracles, Bearing of our previous Discussions upon «the Doctrine of a General and Particular Providence, Conclusion . . 372 — 42

SCIENTIFICALLY EXPLAINED AND EXPOSED.

INTRODUCTION.

A GENTLEMAN, while in Egypt, asked an intelligent citizen of that country what he really thought of their most celebrated necromancer. The reply received was this : " I regard him as pretty much of a humbug. Yet, I think that there is something real in the art which he practises. " If we will carefully scrutinize the public sentiment of Europe and America, we shall find, we judge, that the above answer most correctly expresses the popular conviction in respect to modern Spiritualism. That the great mass of phenomena presented under that name is gross humbuggery and imposition, no well-informed individual, who would maintain his self-respect, will question. That, at the basis of these phenomena, there are important facts requiring a scientific ex-

I planation, the most intelligent men, who have made the nearest approach to these facts, do not entertain any doubt. The celebrated juggler, Signor Blitz, for example, after the most careful scrutiny of these phenomena, affirmed, that there were facts there which the art he practised could never explain. Such has been the result of our researches after a correct knowledge of the real character and cause of these phenomena. As a teacher of youth, and president of important colleges, we ever regarded it as an important duty to be well informed on our part in respect to all subjects of public interest, that we might be qualified so to instruct our pupils that they should be able to distinguish between truth and error. Discerning, as we early did, the fact, that the so-called spirit-phenomena would become objects of even world-wide interest, we at once commenced a careful inquiry into their real character and causes. We commenced our investigations with the distinct and avowed impression, that all these phenomena were the exclusive result of trickery and imposture. We had not proceeded far in our investigations, however, before we found ourselves confronted with palpable facts which admitted of no such explanation. We found, for example, that individuals could go into these spirit-circles, and there obtain specific answers to any number of purely mental questions, and that, too, when the questions pertained to facts so remote and foreign to all minds but their own in the circles, as to preclude the possibility of trickery or deception. We will, for example, go into any circle in any part of England, a circle which can, by no possibility, know anything whatever of us or of our place of residence. When the proper conditions have been fulfilled, we will ask the question : Is the spirit we are now thinking of present ? the spirit being that of our mother. On receiving an affirmative answer, we will request the spirit -to answer the question which we now mentally put, the question being: Will you designate the names of your children, and that in the order of their birth ? These specific names, in the order mentally designated, will be given. Facts of a precisely similar character, as will be rendered demonstrably evident in the progress of this treatise, are being repeated in thousands of circles, the world over. In regard to the so-called physical phenomena, " deeds of darkness" excepted, we found that wre could produce them ourselves, and that upon objects of our own selection, and when alone in our own room ; and we obtained undeniable evidence of the existence of precisely similar facts wherever proper experiments were tried. From such undeniable facts, the existence of which will be hereafter abundantly verified, we deduced two inferences :

that there is a power, or force, in nature — a force not yet generally recognised by scientists — a force which, when developed from any cause, occasions these wonders ; and that, in the spirit-circles, this force is so controlled, and that by some intelligent cause, as to secure specific responses to our most secret thoughts.

From these facts spiritualists infer that it is spirits outside of this mundane sphere that control this force in the production of these phenomena. With this exposition in mind, we return to the case of our mother. In answer to a purely mental question, the real names of all her children have been given, and that in the specific order above designated. For the purpose of self-satisfaction in regard to the question whether it is, in fact, the spirit of our mother, or any extra-mundane spirit, that is communicating with us, we, mentally as before, request a second answer to the question previously put, mentally suggesting, at the same time, that great care shall be used to give the right answer, as important deductions may be based upon the answer received. The answer received in the first case, the correct one too, was, Asa, Polly, Betsey. The response, in this second case, is, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. We here state cases which, as we shall show hereafter, are perfectly parallel to facts everywhere occurring in these circles, whenever and wherever thinkers visit them, and put questions there with wise discretion and full self-possession. In reflecting upon these cases we call to mind the conscious fact, that at the time wrhen each name was designated, our thought was directed to that specific name, and so directed in the first three cases without reflecting upon any inferences to be deduced from the answers received, and in the last three for the specific purpose of obtaining facts for the solution of an important problem in science. The facts strictly common to these two cases are these : that, in each case alike, there was a definite response to a purely mental question, of the character of which none but we could be conscious ; and that the name given, in every instance, accorded with the identical one upon which our thought was, at the moment, definitely fixed. Hence the question arises, to wit: Did our mental states determine the action of the force through which these responses were obtained, or was the determining cause the mental states of a spirit from another sphere ? Here, on the hypothesis that such facts do exist, we have the question imposed upon science to settle. All must agree, as we have said, that the action of this force in the production of these phenomena, supposing them to be real, is determined by the mental states of minds within these circles, or by those of spirits from another sphere. The question for science is : Which of these hypotheses is the true one ?

It may be a matter of interest and profit to the reader, perhaps, should we here indicate the method of inquiry in conformity to which we have endeavoured to obtain a scientific answer to this question. Several years ago, an instrument, or machine, called Planchette, was very extensively sold and used throughout the United States. The instrument consisted of a thin piece of board fixed upon a frame that moved upon wheels or rollers, so arranged that the instrument could be readily moved in any direction. When a pencil was so fixed to the end of the instrument, that the point of the pencil would touch a sheet of paper upon the table, all was in readiness for the desired experiments. When individuals place their hands upon the top of the instrument and hold them there for a time, it begins to move, and letters, sentences, and answers to questions mental and verbal, are written out upon that sheet of paper. What ' is very peculiar about the Planchette is, that by no acts of will can it, by any possibility, be made to move the pencil so as to write a single letter, word, or sentence. It is only as the ends of the fingers touch the surface of the board referred to, and all volitions are suspended, that any letters, words, or sentences will be written out. Here, spiritualists exclaim, is palpable evidence of

Scientifically Explained and Exposed. J the agency of spirits in moving the instrument so as to produce these results. A company of educated minds formed themselves into a circle for the purpose of discovering the specific cause of these phenomena. After the most careful and extended investigation, they found that the most fixed relation existed between every one of these phenomena and a specific, and corresponding, mental state pre-existing in some mind, or minds, within the circle. So it was found everywhere, when corresponding inquiries were made, and Planchette took its place among the abortions of the past.

About this time, another instrument was invented, and called Planchette Out-done. On a thin board circles were drawn, circles within one another, and circles from the centre of which lines were drawn to such words as Yes and No, to the days of the week, and to numerals from one to one hundred, etc. Taking between the fingers the end of a silk thread, to the other end of which a small metallic ball was affixed, and holding the ball over the centre of these circles, we might put any questions we pleased, and the motion of the ball would be in the directions which would indicate specific answers to said questions. Here, as before, spiritualists affirmed the demonstrated presence of spirit-agency. Wishing to determine the real character and cause of these facts, we approached the instrument in this manner : withholding vision totally from the location of any words and figures upon the circles, we held the ball as required, and asked the question : Am I about to take a journey ? it being my purpose to do so. Under these circumstances, the ball absolutely refused to move in any direction. We willed it to move, and entreated the spirits, if any were present who had the power to do so, to move that ball in some direction. There it remained, however, utterly motionless. At length, wTe looked out the locality of the term Yes, and then repeated the question : Am I about to take a journey ? Instantly the ball moved in the direction which indicated the right answer. In utter ignorance of the locality of the name of any day of the week, I then put the question : On what day of the week shall I start on this journey? In this state of things, no action of my will, nor any " spirit from the vasty deep," would move that ball. When the inquiry was repeated, after the location of the right day was known, the right answer was obtained. The same identical facts attended the inquiries : How long shall I be absent from home ? What is my age ? and many others. We from hence drew the following deductions : that there may be in nature a force whose activity is determined by mental states — a force not yet, as before stated, generally recognised by scientific men ; that in the cases under consideration, the mental states deter-

Scientifically Explained and Exposed. g mining the action of this force were undeniably mundane, and not extra-mundane ; and that we may have here a key which will unlock all the mysteries of Spiritualism, a principle which will enable us to explain all these so-called spirit-phenomena. With this specific inquiry distinctly in mind, namely, Is the cause of these phenomena mundane or extra-mundane ? we have investigated these phenomena, These investigations we have pursued after having clearly determined what the essential characteristics of these facts must be — if their cause is mundane, on the one hand, or supra-mundane, on the other. Of this fact we are absolutely assured, that when these phenomena shall be investigated in accordance with a strictly scientific method, all mystery about them will disappear, and they will be found to be as readily reducible to fixed laws of nature, and as explicable by said laws, as are any other classes of known facts ; and that, admitting all spirit-facts that can, with any show of reason, be affirmed to be real, we have no more occasion to call in the agency of extra-mundane spirits to explain these facts, than we have to do the same thing to explain the facts pertaining to the transit of Venus.

io Phenomena of Spiritualism

THE DIVERSE THEORIES PERTAINING TO THESE PHENOMENA, AND THE METHODS OF INQUIRY, AND LAWS OF EVIDENCE BY WHICH ANY ONE OF THEM CAN BE VERIFIED.

Before we can proceed intelligently in the investigation of any class or classes of facts, we must, first of all, settle definitely the proper method of inquiry to be observed, and the specific laws of evidence applicable in such cases. We propose now to do this relatively to the phenomena under consideration. All the theories which have been put forward for the explanation of these facts may be classed under the following denominations, namely, the Humbug Theory, that which refers all these phenomena to trickery and imposition ; the Satanic Agency Theory, that which admits the facts to be real, and their determining cause supra-mundane, but affirms that cause to be the Father of Lies ; the Spirit Theory, that which, not only admits and affirms the facts to be real, but refers, for their causes and explanation, to the agency of disembodied spirits who have left this world ; and the Mundane Theory, that which also admits the facts, and refers, for their explanation, to mundane causes exclusively. We propose to consider each of these theories in the order stated ; our present object being, not to prove or disprove any one of them, but to fix and determine the proper method of inquiry in each case, and the immutable conditions on which each can be scientifically verified, provided such verification is possible. We begin with

The Humbug Theory.

All the other theories, it will be borne in mind, admit, that among the so-called spirit-phenomena there are real and important facts — facts which have no connexion with trickery and imposture, facts which require a scientific scrutiny and explanation. On what conditions can this Humbug Theory be verified ? It is no verification of this theory, we reply, to prove that very many and very important classes of these so-called spirit-phenomena are deliberate impositions, or even that all of these " dark room showings " are of this character. If we grant all this, as we readily do, a large residuum of essential facts will be left — facts against which no such charge has ever yet been sustained. What gave Spiritualism its chief influence in America was the fact, that, for a long time, its claims were opposed on the hypothesis that it was either true, or was, in all its facts, a gross and intentional imposition upon the public ; the mediums being everywhere able to convince all who entered their circles that their leading facts were no impositions. The first medium we ever personally knew was one of our own pupils, who utterly repudiated Spiritualism in all its claims. In circles in which he was the medium, all the phenomena which appeared in any of the spirit-circles were developed, and that when all present with him utterly repudiated the system under consideration. One of the best table-movers I ever saw was an aged and venerable member of my own church. At any of our houses, or in any circle, he would take a stand or table, and after laying his hands or fingers gently upon its surface for a little time, the object would begin to move, and perform antics which no one could induce by any manipulations controlled by the will.

I can affirm, without fear of contradiction, that no well-informed American will deny, that in our country all the essential physical and intellectual phenomena of Spiritualism have been, not only witnessed, but produced, in many circles in which no single spiritualist was present, and where the exclusive object was to determine by experiment what phenomena can be developed by the means employed in the spirit-circles. Individuals, under such circumstances, have no motives for imposing upon themselves or others. It is a well-known fact, that in America, in England, and on the Continent— in France especially — all the essential physical and intellectual spirit-phenomena have been produced in circles formed for no other purpose than determining by experiment what is and is not true in respect to these phenomena. To charge such persons with the intention to practise deception upon the public, is but to evince that we ourselves are too much the creatures of prejudice to discern facts as they are in the world around us. Those who would verify this Humbug Theory, must not adduce mere admitted deceptions, but take into account the facts affirmed by spiritualists in common with intelligent non-believers in this system — individuals whose judgments are based upon independent experiments of the most reliable character, and whose veracity is unimpeachable.

The Satanic Agency Theory.

This theory admits and affirms the phenomena of Spiritualism, the phenomena generally claimed to be real, and refers them to satanic agency as their determining cause. On what conditions can this theory be verified ? On three conditions, we answer, exclusively : proof that the cause of these facts must be extra-mundane, in the first instance ; in the next, that this cause cannot be spirits from this world, but must be of an exclusively satanic character ; and, finally, that these phenomena are controlled in accordance with the revealed character of the devil as the arch-deceiver of the race. Will any thinker attempt to verify all the above propositions ? each of which must be proven^ or this theory must be abandoned. That Satan desires that Spiritualism should become the accepted faith of the race, we have no doubt. To prove that even the mass of these accepted facts are the exclusive results of his direct and immediate agency, is quite another matter. If it shall be shown, as we believe it will be, that the cause of these phenomena is exclusively mundane, then this sa)|tanic hypothesis becomes a demonstrated error. If, granting the supra-mundane cause of these facts, it should appear that we have as good evidence of their being produced by departed spirits, as wre have of their satanic origin, then the theory under consideration cannot be verified. Finally, if it should appear that the revelations of Spiritualism are uniformly of an order so low, inane, and so palpably self-contradictory, as to preclude the idea of their origin with such an intelligence as Satan undeniably is, the dogma that he is the immediate and exclusive author of these revelations becomes absurd. Satan may "transform himself into an angel of light." He is not, however, a fool. A system of error originated by him for the people of this century, it is quite safe to say, would bear a character for greatness in some respects corresponding to the intelligence of this century. Satan must be aware of facts in the universe in advance of scientific discovery, and events in the world around us in advance of our present knowledge. How easy it would be for him, in his sovereign control over