Encouraging results obtained--The problem must be solved.
And now, can there be a conclusion to this work? It does not allow of
any conclusion. The most I can do in terminating is to record certain
facts. Dr Hodgson, Professor Hyslop and others, who, though
unprejudiced, began these studies as sceptical as anyone, have ended,
after long years of hesitation, by giving their adhesion to the
spiritualist hypothesis. But, as they are careful to point out, they
accept this hypothesis conditionally, and not definitely. New
experiments and new facts may turn their minds in quite another
direction.
Should we follow them? Should we each admit conditionally the
spiritualist hypothesis? Not at all; it is not thus that knowledge is
attained. Whoever believes that he has excellent reasons for preferring
any other hypothesis should remain unshakable in his convictions till
the time when new facts may oblige him to abandon them. Science does not
ask that we should prefer this or the other explanation; it only asks
that we should study the facts unprejudiced, that we should be sincere,
and not shut our eyes childishly to the evidence.
If a future life is to be, I will not say proved, but admitted by a
majority, a great number of experimenters, or, if you please, observers,
working independently of one another in all quarters of the globe, must
reach identical conclusions. Again, it must be possible for any
intelligent man willing to make the effort, and retracing the path
followed by the first observers, to arrive at the same conclusions. The
_magister dixit_ is out of date. Teachers in the present day must show
their disciples the path of truth, and not try to impose upon them what
they themselves regard as truth. Modern science knows no infallible
Pope, speaking _ex cathedra_.
Further, we must not confine ourselves to the study of one side of
mediumship only. The phenomena produced in the presence of mediums are
various. All the phenomena classified as "psychical" must be carefully
considered and thoroughly investigated. The grain must be separated from
the chaff; it must be decided which among these phenomena appear to be
due to spirits, which, according to the evidence, are due to incarnated
minds, and finally, which (if there are such) have only ordinary
physical causes. The new workmen who are entering the field of science
have before them a long task of clearing the ground, but the ground
seems to be of unexampled fertility; with a very little goodwill we
shall reap such a harvest as has never been seen.
No doubt, though mediums able to produce certain second-rate phenomena
are not rare, good mediums are not easy to discover; they are less rare,
however, than the bones of _Anthropopithecus erectus_. When a good
medium is discovered it is not necessary to call a committee together
and put the value he may have for science to the vote. If the "other
world" exists, it appears that no "missing link" exists between it and
our own.
Thus the general conclusion to be drawn from the work described in this
little book, and from the other work of the Society for Psychical
Research, is that devotion to these studies is far from being fruitless.
Even official science might turn in this direction, if only in order to
defend the doctrines dear to it. It will come to that, without doubt,
but will it be soon? Humanity is but poor stuff, though the monists do
not hesitate to hold it up to us as the highest expression in our corner
of space of the consciousness of their great god Pan. The great majority
of human units is composed of minds in first childhood, eager only for
childish things.
By slightly modifying Plato's allegory it is easy to arrive at an
understanding of the state of humanity at the present time. Imagine very
imperfect, very undeveloped beings, possessing, however, an infinity of
latent potentialities; imagine them born in a dark cavern where they
swarm pell-mell, passing their time chiefly in devouring one another.
Every moment this cavern is entered, and a certain number of these poor
beings are taken out of it and carried into the light of day, that they
may enjoy a higher life, and admire the beauties of nature. Those
remaining in the cavern weep for their companions and think that they
have for ever vanished. But in the vault of the cavern there are
fissures through which a little light filters. A few inquisitive beings,
a little more developed than their brothers, climb up to these
fissures; they look out, and believe that signs are made to them from
outside. They say to themselves, "Those who are making signs to us are
perhaps the companions who are constantly being carried off from amongst
us; in that case they cannot be dead; they must be continuing to live up
there." And they call to their brothers below, "Come and see; it looks
as if our companions who go up yonder every day are making signs to us.
We are not sure; but if we unite our efforts and intelligences perhaps
we shall end by being certain." Do you suppose that the swarms on the
ground of the cave will run? They have quite other things to do. They do
not stone the importunate seekers, but they look on them askance and
heap annoyances upon them. But we will drop allegory; and merely say how
deplorable it is that psychical studies do not inspire more enthusiasm.
The doctors at first declared that mediumship was a form of neurosis.
Nothing is less certain; I will even say that nothing is less probable.
Educated people of independent social position when by chance they
discover that they possess mediumistic gifts hide them carefully,
instead of offering them spontaneously for study; they do not wish to be
supposed to be diseased; nobody likes to proclaim his defects in public.
This is why well-known mediums are nearly all recruited from the lower
classes and the poor; they are obliged to make merchandise of their
gifts; they are paid to produce phenomena, and, when these do not occur
spontaneously, they cheat. Mediums should be sought for in the class of
educated people who are not obliged to work for their daily bread.
There are as many or more in this class as in any other if we would only
look for them. What should such mediums fear? Do not Mlle. Smith and Mrs
Piper, when they allow competent persons to study their mediumship,
render more valuable services to society than do so many social
encumbrances, so many flies on the wheel who deafen us with their
buzzing? Have they any reason to be ashamed?
Finally, in order to attain to any result in these studies, money is
needed--why not say so? Interesting subjects must be paid when they need
payment, and competent investigators must be paid when they need a
salary. If a thousandth part of the sum devoted in a year to the art of
killing were devoted to the solution of this problem, before ten years
were over we should have settled the question, and humanity could boast
an unexampled victory.
In America and all the Anglo-Saxon countries many persons, as noble as
they are generous, give for science, for universal instruction, for
founding universities and colleges. May they be blessed! They make a
noble use of their money. But it is regrettable that as much money as is
needed can be found for the search after--let us say--the
_Anthropopithecus erectus_, and that it cannot be found for Psychical
Research.
If I am not mistaken, a prize has been offered to whoever can find the
means of communicating with the planet Mars. If this communication were
ever established, I do not see how humanity would benefit by it, beyond
the satisfaction of its curiosity; which is, however, a noble and
legitimate curiosity. But how much more helpful and interesting it
would be to communicate with the world beyond the grave, if such a world
there be, the world whither we are all bound. Perhaps some time mankind
will realise this fact.
Edinburgh
Colston and Coy. Limited
Printers