The invisibles : an explanation of phenomena commonly called spiritual

Preface

Spiritualism, or the doctrine designated by that title, has been prominently before the public for the past fifteen years, or more, during which time it has attracted much attention, and has gained thousands of converts from all classes, the educated and uneducated, Christians and unbelievers in Christianity.

It is a fact, admitted even by many Spiritualists, that very little — beyond the important truth that we continue to exist after the death of the present body, and that those who have departed into another world can still communicate with us — has been learned or demonstrated by this intercourse with the other world — or what is believed to be such. Not even the laws governing the intercourse have been fully or rationally explained ; and most of the communications purporting to come from the other world, are false, as well as illiterate and unmeaning.

The silliness of the communications, and the trifling character of other phenomena — performed usually under a table, or in a darkened room — have induced many — probably a majority of the most intelligent — who have investigated the subject, to come to the conclusion that what are called "disembodied spirits" can have no agency in the matter ; although it is now generally con^ ceded that all other explanations which have been given are unsatisfactory.

To explain the laws governing this intercourse, and the several phenomena commonly called spiritual, or supernatural, and thus to show why it is that the communications, and the performances in the presence of "mediums," are of so silly and trifling a nature, and why so little has been learned by the intercourse, is the main object of this work.

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6 PREFACE.

Extraordinary and improbable as the contents of the volume may seem to those not previously convinced of the ultramundane nature of the phenomena described, the writer would ask the reader to lay aside all prejudices, or pre-conceived notions as to the other world and our future condition, so far as he is aware that they are merely the effects of education, or association, and are unsupported by any known facts ; and to weigh the theories set forth, with an unbiassed mind, precisely as he would those relating to any other subject.

And the writer would especially ask the literary reader, who is competent to discriminate between a narrative of facts and a work of fiction, to consider whether it is probable, or even possible, that this work can be entirely the product of the writer's own brain.

The word "spirit" is not used in the work, because there is no more propriety in applying it to those of the other world than to the men and women of our own. Webster's definition of the word is, "Literally, breath; hence an immaterial intelligent being, as the soul of man, &c." The definition is somewhat vague, but as the inhabitants of the other world have bodies composed of the same matter, and as substantial as our own, the word, if used, would convey a false idea to the mind of the reader.

The words "death" and "died" are retained, as every one understands that what is meant by the use of them when applied to a human being, is simply the death of the present body. The expression "Left the form" which Spiritualists have substituted, has no meaning whatever as applied to the phenomenon.

The initials of individuals, given in the work, are, for obvious reasons, mostly fictitious.

New York, March, 1867.

The Invisibles.