"Here is a complication I know not how to solve and unravel. Three
different persons in equally quiescent condition, and equally good
'subjects,' are placed in a comatose state by the same operator, who
leaves them unbiased by his personal opinions, thinking to obtain in the
mesmerized condition, (with their material bodies completely subjugated
and inactive,) truth, upon a subject that man in his normal state cannot
positively ascertain nor agree upon. Each of these 'subjects' gives a
different opinion, and as all can be argued with more or less fluency,
there are, seemingly, reasonable points in all. How can the
discrepancies be reconciled? That is the question.
"I have thought the subject over seriously ever since the experiment,
and the only way I can see is to mesmerize other persons, until two are
found who do agree. It is a scientific problem of which we need an
explanation.
"There must be a law of uniformity governing the Universe; otherwise
such perfect order would not exist. But who can determine what that law
is?
"I cannot understand the cause of so much variance in the answers. If I
had held any preconceived ideas upon the subject, it would be different
entirely, as I would then know my personal opinion upon it had colored
the minds of my subjects. In such a case, however, there would be
uniformity of opinion and avowal, while now there is almost utter
variance.
"There seems to be logical reasoning on the part of each of them, but it
is impossible to reconcile their statements. One says practically the
opposite of the other. Which is right? Are any of them right, and what
is the cause of this diversity of opinion? I confess I am as much
interested in the cause of their disagreement as in the question itself.
"I believe myself to be a true student of life; that is, a person
desirous of obtaining and mastering a true knowledge of the exact laws
of existence, and hold myself aloof from all such preconceived plans of
my own brain's concoction as may prejudice me, looking always for
reasons and facts which teach me methods better than I know.
"My soul sickens at the word 'consistency.' Some of my colleagues seem
to regard consistency as the essence of wisdom, but I cannot understand
it that way. To me, consistency implies a clinging to old ideas and
customs, and is therefore a symbol of negativeness instead of
progression. I want to advance:--to grow in wisdom and knowledge,
though that advancement means the abandonment of every past idea,
however choice and excellent that idea may have seemed, either at the
time of its acceptance or now.
"A true student aspires to gain truth however much it may wound his past
thoughts, and I can only regard life as a school of experience, wherein
what to-day we consider precious, may tomorrow become valueless. There
is where I differ from my colleagues. I am willing to admit that two of
them at least are far beyond me in technical knowledge, but it seems to
me the further they advance in technical knowledge, the less pliable and
elastic are their ideas.
"Somehow, I cannot comprehend advancement or progression without
change,--'change,' of course, means the adoption of new ideas. If I
believe the same as when a mere child, how can I have gained in wisdom?
I cannot rid myself of the idea that consistency, that is, always
believing what you used to believe, instead of being the essence of
wisdom, is rather a pronounced indication of ignorance.
"Everything, so far as I am able to distinguish facts from that (to me)
inestimable book, Nature, tells me to continually search for and demand
new complications and expressions of types of life.
"The same law must hold good with man. How can I plan and work
successfully under the same conditions that would have furnished my
father success? I cannot do it, for the forces necessary and sufficient,
at even that recent date would be totally inadequate and impotent to
meet and overcome conditions the present produces. Advancement in
science, invention and education has made a corresponding advancement in
thought and methods of achievement imperative. Strict consistency to my
father's methods might, it is true, bring me some degree of success, but
if I wish to be found among the successful men of the present, I must
study existing conditions as closely as he did those of his time,
striving to keep my methods up to present advancement, appreciating the
value of his labor and methods, and knowing the suitability of them as
compared to the conditions he was called upon to operate. As he strove
to improve upon the methods of his predecessors, so must I strive to
improve upon his, adopting those which he demonstrated to be successful,
and applying them as stepping stones to higher accomplishment.
"Such a procedure cannot be called 'consistency,' but I know despite
what my colleagues say, that my own deductions upon this subject are
correct, for all nature bears me out in the assertion.
"Strict consistency to past methods never led any life to the goal of
higher understanding. I am not a man to be satisfied with what others
say or have said, though they may have acquired a reputation of
infallible authority, beyond whose assertions no man ought to seek
confirmation. I want to know personally; I want to know the exact truth,
though I renounce every idea men have in the past asserted.
"I am convinced after my experience of to-day, that there are scientific
as well as spiritual martyrs, but I shall, nevertheless, express my
opinions if it means social and professional ostracism.
"Lacking much wisdom and many graces my colleagues possess, I have one
quality which they lack, that is, absolute fearlessness of any person's
opinion. I am acknowledged by so-called experts (I use the term
advisedly) to be in advance of their most wisely proficient selves in
power, and for that reason I am growing extremely doubtful of their
expertness: possibly that is the very reason I doubt their wisdom, for I
realize how ignorant I am.
"All I know are facts gained by experience, and the longer I experiment,
the more non-plussed and doubtful I become, regarding even the efficacy
of that science I once declared infallible. If these so-called experts
acknowledge my supremacy over them, always calling upon and consulting
me when they know not how to proceed, surely they must have less
knowledge than I and they have no right to be called experts, for such a
term implies proficiency, and here are several experts completely
defeated by these mesmerized subjects whom they consider negative and
weak. It does not speak very forcibly for their expertness--this rebuff
they have received.
"My whole life since I entered manhood, has been one long study and
experiment; I never allowed any condition to elude me without finding
some logical reason for its existence, and this problem shall not escape
me without my having determined the principles which underlie the
phenomenon. How long it will take, I have no idea, but that is an
immaterial point. What am I living for, but to learn?
"Dr. H----, next to myself, the most powerful mesmerist, suggests that
we impress the minds of the 'subjects' with the theories so far
generally accepted, concerning the questions we ask, but I do not
approve of such an idea. There must be some way to determine the truth.
This experiment was planned and entered into for the express purpose of
trying to discover facts confirmative of old opinions, coming through
the organisms of persons totally ignorant of the subject, whose minds
must, therefore, be uncolored by past opinions.
"So far, we have met with blank failure, but that fact, instead of
discouraging me, as it has some of the others, only adds zest to the
work, and though they should all relinquish the task we have begun, I
shall go on, alone if need be, until I reach some conclusion that
satisfies me.
"The 'subject' whom I chose for this experiment is the best I have ever
used, and I felt positive he would answer the question better than any
other, but I am not cast down nor discouraged by this most unlooked for
result. Unlike the rest, I look not so much to present satisfaction
(especially to the confirmation of my preconceived ideas), as to the
acquirement of truth and knowledge.
"My 'subject' really gave less than some of the others, while I expected
him to give more, but I am convinced that the cause of this is the fact
I left his mind entirely unbiased. Knowing nothing, he could give
nothing, in the negative (by his unusual dumbness) he answered the
question which I so strenuously advocated, that the soul of man, in
whatever stage of unfoldment, contains all knowledge, and all that is
necessary to bring this knowledge into material manifestation, is to
mesmerize the body allowing the soul to speak forth, untrammeled by the
physical influence.
"I am proven to be wrong by this day's work. Of course my pride suffered
a little as the truth became apparent that my public teachings and
deductions were erroneous, but I hope I am too thoroughly sincere in my
quest for truth, by which I may help humanity, to permit any more than
transient disappointment to influence me.
"Strange to say, there was not one other operator present who seemed to
notice the great discrepancies between the assertions made in our
investigations of mesmerism, and the proofs before us. Had any one of us
been teaching a class of students in psychology, he would unhesitatingly
have said 'subdue the consciousness of your subject, and he will
intelligently answer any question you may give him.' We should have
believed it too, but our science, faith and belief has not changed one
iota the disappointing result.
"I realize I am entering a sphere of investigation where new revelations
are in store for me. I rejoice in the prospect, but earnestly wish I
knew precisely the conditions that would be most propitious to usher in
the new wisdom. How gladly would I comply with them, even though they
should call for much sacrifice on my part. I have consecrated my life to
the search for truth, and I will conform to whatever conditions those
powers who so zealously guard the realm of wisdom may demand.
"I shall never be satisfied to use any but the subject I chose myself
for this experiment, as I am inclined to believe the minds of the
others had been somewhat impressed regarding the subject before they
came this time.
"Possibly I made a mistake in selecting my subject after all my care and
deliberation upon the work. I know that women are considered the best
subjects, but it seemed to me that a man's brain was better suited to
receive and transmit scientific problems than a woman's; theirs seeming
fitted especially for spiritual work.
"I confess I am at a loss how to proceed, but longer reflection will
probably give me some clue to work upon. There is no use lingering over
it longer now, for all new suggestions will come to me as the old ones
have, unexpectedly and suddenly.
"I will take some recreation. Music always soothes and rests
me,--especially singing. There is a renowned singer here, and I will go
and hear her, giving my undivided attention to the witchery and
enchantment of the human voice.
"I will take Merle with me; he needs the change after having been held
so long in the trance condition. I noticed he seemed quite exhausted,
and he felt sincere sorrow to learn that our experiment had not been a
success, seeming to think our failure might be due in part to some
defect in him or his development. I think differently and want him to
know I am perfectly satisfied with him as a subject.
"He is a pure, clean fellow, one whose place it would be hard for me to
fill. He is always ready to be used for any of my experiments, and every
signal success has pleased him even more than myself. It is singular how
attached he has become to me. He has unlimited confidence in my powers,
thinking no feat too extravagant for me to perform. Every soul hungers
for pure love, and his love for me affords me a degree of pleasure I
would be loth to admit to anyone. Were he my own boy, I could feel no
greater pride in him.
"There is nothing that affords him so much pleasure as for me to invite
him to join me in some excursion where we go alone. It seems to make no
difference where we go or what we do, if we are by ourselves. He knows I
dislike crowds and empty compliments, and that I only attend social
functions when the call seems imperative. We are both happier alone. I
will send him word to be ready when I call for him. We shall have a rich
treat in music, and forget the work and disappointment of the day.
Somehow we will work out the problem as we have others before. Au
revoir, care and perplexity, I go to court pleasure and harmony."