Spiritualism and Psychical Research are to the fore just now, and there
is much newspaper and vocal discussion, based for the most part on
ignorance, particularly as regards the violent attackers of these
things. It is desirable that exact knowledge of the subject should
become more general, and in a recent volume I have tried to review the
whole subject impartially.[2]
[2] _Spiritualism: Its History, Phenomena, and Doctrine_ (Cassell &
Co., Ltd.).
But there are many who in these stressful days have no time for even
one volume on this kind of thing, and for them, or such of them as may
read this, I have tried in the present article to give an idea of what
psychical research is, on the spiritualistic side, omitting the medical
side which concerns itself with suggestive therapeutics. The article was
first written as a paper which was read before a society of clergy in
Bradford, whose request for it was a significant and pleasing indication
that ministers are aware of the importance of the subject. They are
realising that psychical research is a powerful support to religious
faith, and that its results provide comfort for the bereaved. We live in
a scientific age, and the sorrowing heart asks for more than a text and
an assurance that it is God's will and all for the best; it asks whether
it is a fact that the departed one still lives and knows and loves,
whether it is well with him, and whether there will be reunion "over
there". Psychical research enables us to answer these questions in
the affirmative. Science is now backing up religion, and is providing
ministers with by far the best weapon against materialism and so-called
rationalism. It meets these negative 'isms on their own ground, and does
not need to take cover under intuition or personal religious experience,
which are convincing only to the experient. I am not belittling these;
I am only saying that the phenomenal evidence is more potent for the
scientific type of mind, and that a knowledge of this evidence is useful
to those who are defending religion.