and made it ready to do men’s bidding, if it reverences those who with
audacious hands have taken the lightning from heaven and sent it to
carry tidings between the ends of the earth, so will it one day surely
reverence and honour the many spiritual workers who have toiled bravely
to make it evident that there is no death. “He that walks with humble
men,” says a wise teacher, “often stumbles over masses of unsunned gold
where men, proud in emptiness, looked only for common dust.”
Why should intelligent men mock at small beginnings like the rise of
the modern spiritual movement? The great institutions which have done
the best work for mankind have had to face the same kind of sneer and
ridicule. History repeats itself all the time. As Lecky eloquently
points out, the Christian religion, which was surely a potent force
for good or evil, was unseen by the leading minds who made up the
intellectual force of the Roman empire. No single man of weight saw in
it a conquering power, but glanced at it as something weak and ignoble.
Carlyle regrets that the wise and penetrating Tacitus could only see
in it a weak superstition, while he (Carlyle) held somewhat similar
views about Spiritualism (which, according to Theodore Parker, has more
evidence for its wonders than any other historic form of religion), as
the best word he could offer was that it was “the religion of Dead Sea
apes.”
That the idea of spirit communion will grow and find a place in the
people’s hearts is as certain as that the sun shines each day. The best
of minds have welcomed it, even those who could not tolerate it at first.
It is indeed a choice revelation of higher import than all physical
science has yet given. Elizabeth Barrett Browning wondered how the
world, weeping for its dead, did not accord it warm welcome. She found
in Spiritualism the richest consolation. This age has almost witnessed
the abolition of slavery, and to-day there is not more antagonism to
Spiritualism than sixty years since there was towards the anti-slavery
party. Lloyd Garrison, afterwards a pronounced Spiritualist, was indeed
bold for conscience sake, for truth and justice, when he started the
_Liberator_. It did not seem as if the idea which possessed him could
take root. When his enemies made inquiry as to Garrison’s movements in
1831, they reported that his office was in an obscure hole, his only
visible auxiliary a negro-boy, and his supporters a few insignificant
persons of all colours—and yet in spite of this early report his idea
shook the world. The man and the negro-boy were pretty vigorous, and
there was a great truth promulgated from that obscure hole.
Spiritualism, through the brave advocacy of heroic men and women,
is at last becoming credible; more toleration is now shown for its
claims. Phenomena once considered trivial now receive attention. Many
are awakening to the new thought, and becoming better able to read the
mystery of their past lives through what it teaches. The influence of a
noted journalist like Mr. Stead is sure to keep the flame alight, and
divert the thought of those who want rest on this most important of
all problems that concern us. Thanks to such men as Wallace, Crookes,
Stainton Moses, Taylor, and others, who have collected and verified facts
so patiently, and demonstrated so surely that our dead live on, and take
an affectionate interest in our goings out and comings in.
MISCELLANEA.
_By_ ANDREW GLENDINNING.
“Wherever a road opens, and I am moved to examine and
experiment, there I shall most surely go.”—REV. GEORGE W. ALLEN.
Either the discoveries made by Mumler, Stainton Moses, Beattie and
others, have now been confirmed, or a very eminent man, specially trained
in rigid investigation, and an acknowledged expert in optics and the
chemistry and manipulation of photography, has been the victim of a
marvellous and inexplicable delusion.
To say that, notwithstanding all the precautions arranged, and carefully
carried out by Mr. Taylor, he was time after time deceived, is to make
a statement entirely opposed to probability and common sense, yet that
is the false refuge to which some fly from whom better things might be
expected. It exhibits strongly the credulity of incredulity, and an
ability to strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. To print insinuations
against the characters of those who investigate new and important facts,
and to air the superior wisdom of the critics in what are apparently
intended as witticisms, may serve the purpose of a day, but truth remains
unsoiled and unassailable.
When George Cruikshank was preparing his pictorial _brochure_ against
Spiritualism, he was asked what he knew of the subject; he replied he
knew nothing, and did not intend to inform himself till he had finished
his book. That is the position of many in regard to spirit photography;
the less they know about it, the more they feel qualified to judge; and
a man who, for the first time, deigns to consider it, will, with the
utmost confidence in his own opinion, condemn as fraudulent a genuine
spirit photograph; yea, he will even profess to discover the mark of the
scissors and the grain of the paper from which he imagines the photograph
has been cut and copied.
Other objectors profess to have looked into the subject, but because
_they_ saw nothing they thought worth following up, therefore they
practically conclude it is impossible any one else can be more fortunate.
That there are, and will continue to be, honest doubters goes without
saying. There are scientific men who cannot believe in the possibility of
this new thing—their minds are in old grooves. Others say the consensus
of opinion of photographers is against it. Granted; and what of that? Any
mere opinion as to whether spirit photography be possible does not in any
way affect the question. Opinions do not alter facts. The facts in this
matter are entirely in favour of the reality of spirit photography.
There need not now be any question as to whether spirit photography
is possible. That was settled thirty years ago. There is nothing in
the whole range of psychic phenomena for which the evidence is more
conclusive. Had there been no other proof, the sworn evidence of
scientific men, bankers, merchants, lawyers, photographers, and others,
at the Mumler trial was overwhelmingly abundant. And since that trial
there has been an accumulation of evidence from various quarters,
yielding proof upon proof that spirit photography is a fact, and must be
recognised as such. Contradicted it can be; that is easy to do. Sneered
at it may be; that, too, is not difficult. A man may sneer at a fact
which he is unable to comprehend, but a sneer proves nothing. Neither
does an unsupported contradiction, whether the contradiction be made by a
single person, or be made as a formal resolution by a society.
Some of the witnesses who were examined on oath at Mumler’s trial were
experts, such as Samuel K. Fanshaw. That gentleman was one of the
best miniature painters and facial experts in New York, and was also
familiar with photographic manipulations. He said he went to Mumler an
entire stranger, sat for a picture, witnessed the whole process, and
received a likeness of his mother, which he said was more like her than
the one he had painted from memory. Mr. Livermore, banker, had three
negatives, in which his wife appeared in three different positions. He
was accompanied by Mr. Hitchcock, of the _New York Sun_, and Mr. Gurney,
a leading photographer. When Judge Dowling asked Mr. Livermore if he
recognised these pictures as likenesses of his wife, his answer was,
“_Unmistakably_.”
The spirit photograph of Abraham Lincoln has often been referred to. My
copy of it is now too faint for reproduction, but it may be stated that
when Mrs. Lincoln visited Mr. Mumler, she wore a thick crape veil, so
thick that no one could distinguish a feature of her face. She travelled
under an assumed name from Springfield (Illinois) to Boston, went direct
from the train to Mumler’s house, gave her name as “Mrs. Lindall,” and
did not remove her veil till the prepared plate was in the camera ready
to be exposed. She obtained an excellent picture of her husband, standing
behind her, with his hands resting on her shoulders, and looking down
with a pleasant smile.
Prominent Americans, whose names are well known in this country, received
through Mumler’s mediumship test spirit photographs of friends whom they
recognised. Amongst these may be mentioned the Hon. Henry Wilson, then
Vice-President of the United States, Judge Edmonds, and William Lloyd
Garrison.
[Illustration: THE HON. MOSES A. DOW, OF BOSTON, U.S.A., AND THE SPIRIT
OF MABEL WARREN, HIS LITERARY ASSISTANT AND ADOPTED DAUGHTER.]
As a fair specimen of spirit photographs obtained through Mumler, I
submit one (see opposite) got by the Hon. Moses A. Dow, who was editor
and proprietor of the _Waverley Magazine_, Boston. The portrait was fully
recognised by Mr. Dow as that of an amiable and accomplished young lady
who had been his assistant editor. Before sitting for the portrait Mr.
Dow had a séance with a lady medium, and received from her a message,
which purported to be from his late assistant editor, instructing him
when to go to Mumler’s for the picture, stating that she would appear
with a wreath of lilies on her head, would stand by his side, would
put her hand on his shoulder, and would bring him beautiful flowers.
The photograph has lost some of its intensity; but in the original
negative the wreath of white lilies is very distinct, and the spirit is
holding between the thumb and forefinger of the left hand an opening
moss-rosebud, the exact counterpart of one which Mr. Dow placed between
the thumb and forefinger of her left hand, while her body lay in the
coffin just before the funeral.
Similar tests have been obtained in photographs by other mediums. On
one occasion Mr. Parkes had a visit from a friend who had promised to
spend a forenoon and try experiments, but he was unwilling to sit for a
portrait owing to sudden and severe illness, which he said would prevent
any success. He was induced by his wife to try. While Mr. Parkes was
preparing a plate with collodion his friend sat down to compose himself,
and at once he became conscious of the presence of a spirit form by the
kindly way passes were made over his head, curing him entirely of his
painful illness. On the plate being developed there was a graceful female
form standing beside him, with her head bent downwards towards him,
and behind her—extending outwards and upwards from her shoulders—there
was a patch of light seemingly intended to represent wings. The sitter
afterwards solved the enigma by stating that the influence from the
spirit was of such a sweet and delightful character, that it led him to
hum to himself his favourite hymn:—
“How delightful the thought that the Angels in bliss,
Daily bend _their bright wings_ to a world such as this,
And leave the sweet songs of the mansions above,
To breathe on our bosoms some message of love.”
The imagery of the hymn found an embodiment in the photograph. “I have no
wings—nor do I require wings,” subsequently explained the spirit, “but
the appearance of wings was assumed to please father.” Her father was the
sitter. Little thought he when waiting with a sad heart at the dying bed
of a loved daughter, and trying to sing the children’s hymn, that the
time would arrive when she would come from her spirit home to cheer him
in hours of sorrow and give him her portrait, or that she would be able
to render herself visible to normal sight, and with her arms round father
and mother, kiss them both and speak to them both. Such are some of the
secret blessings which come to those who wait, work, and pray.
“Thank God for this! oh, minist’ring angels, thanks!
My grateful heart
Shall through my lips proclaim the truth. Our dead
Do not depart—
To some far city, never to return.
They often come
To aid, to comfort us, till we too reach
That brighter home!”
* * * * *
The difficulties and discouragements which arise in trying to photograph
unseen forms do not exist to the same extent in photographing what are
called “materialised forms.” Some excellent results in the latter have
been obtained by various persons. The most notable instances are those
by Mr. Wm. Crookes, F.R.S., recorded in the last chapter of his valuable
book, _Phenomena of Spiritualism_, on the photographing of the spirit,
Katie King, by the electric light. At these experiments Mr. Crookes had
five complete sets of photographic apparatus fitted up, all of which
were used at the same time at each séance, and some excellent negatives
were obtained. “But,” adds Mr. Crookes, “photography is as inadequate
to depict the perfect beauty of Katie’s face as words are powerless
to describe her charms of manner. Photography may, indeed, give a map
of her countenance; but how can it reproduce the brilliant purity of
her complexion, or the ever-varying expression of her most mobile
features, now overshadowed with sadness when relating some of the bitter
experiences of her past life, now smiling with all the innocence of happy
girlhood when she had collected my children round her, and was amusing
them by recounting anecdotes of her adventures in India?
‘Round her she made an atmosphere of life;
The very air seemed lighter from her eyes,
They were so soft and beautiful, and rife
With all we can imagine of the skies;
Her overpowering presence made you feel
It would not be idolatry to kneel.’”
* * * * *
Amongst the important papers contributed to the Psychical Congress at
Chicago, one was sent, at the request of the Committee, by Dr. Alfred
Russel Wallace, F.R.S. In it he says:—
“What are termed spirit photographs, the appearance on a
photographic plate of other figures besides those of the
sitters, often those of deceased friends of the sitters, have
now been known for more than twenty years. Many competent
observers have tried experiments successfully; but the facts
seemed too extraordinary to carry conviction to any but the
experimenters themselves, and any allusion to the subject has
usually been met with a smile of incredulity or a confident
assertion of imposture. It mattered not that most of the
witnesses were experienced photographers who took precautions
which rendered it absolutely impossible that they were imposed
upon. The most incredible suppositions were put forth, by
those who only had ignorance and incredulity to qualify them
as judges, in order to show that deception was possible. And
now we have another competent witness, Mr. Traill Taylor, for
many years editor of the _British Journal of Photography_, who,
taking every precaution that his life-long experience could
suggest, yet obtained on his plates figures which, so far as
normal photography is concerned, ought not to have been there.”
Dr. Wallace has given a great deal of thoughtful consideration to this
subject, and has a large collection of genuine spirit photographs. In
his book, _Miracles and Modern Spiritualism_,[14] he devotes sixteen
pages specially to the topic. These pages—like everything else from
Dr. Wallace’s pen—are worthy of careful study, the following sentences
particularly so:—
“It may be as well to clear away a popular misconception. Mr.
G. H. Lewes advised the Dialectical Committee to distinguish
carefully between ‘facts and inferences from facts.’ This is
especially necessary in the case of what are called spirit
photographs. The figures which occur in these, when not
produced by any human agency, may be of ‘spiritual’ origin,
without being figures ‘of spirits.’ There is much evidence to
show that they are, in some cases, forms produced by invisible
intelligences, but distinct from them. In other cases the
intelligence appears to clothe itself with matter capable of
being perceived by us; but even then it does not follow that
the form produced is the actual image of the spiritual form.
It may be but a reproduction of the former mortal form with
its terrestrial accompaniments, _for purposes of recognition_.
Most persons have heard of these ‘ghost pictures,’ and how
easily they can be made to order by any photographer, and are
therefore disposed to think they can be of no use as evidence.
But a little consideration will show that the means by which
sham ghosts can be manufactured being so well known to all
photographers, it becomes easy to apply tests or arrange
conditions so as to prevent imposition.
“The following are some of the more obvious:—1. If a person
with a knowledge of photography takes his own glass plates,
examines the camera used and all the accessories, and watches
the whole process of taking a picture, then, if any definite
form appears on the negative besides the sitter, it is a
proof that some object was present capable of reflecting or
emitting the actinic rays, although invisible to those present.
2. If an unmistakable likeness appears of a deceased person
totally unknown to the photographer. 3. If figures appear
on the negative having a definite relation to the figure
of the sitter, who chooses his own position, attitude, and
accompaniments, it is a proof that invisible figures were
really there. 4. If a figure appears draped in white, and
partly behind the dark body of the sitter without in the least
showing through, it is a proof that the white figure was there
at the same time, because the dark parts of the negative are
transparent, and any white picture in any way superposed would
show through. 5. Even should none of these tests be applied,
yet if a medium, quite independent of the photographer, sees
and describes a figure during the sitting, and an exactly
corresponding figure appears on the plate, it is a proof that
such a figure was there.
“Every one of these tests have now been successfully applied in
our own country.”
Dr. Wallace gives minute details of some experiments which resulted
in his obtaining photographs which he recognised as _unmistakable
likenesses_ of his mother.
* * * * *
When Mr. Duguid was first asked to come to London to give test séances
to Mr. Taylor, it was hoped that Mr. Stainton Moses would have so far
recovered strength as to be present at the experiments. He took great
interest in the subject, and many of his photographs have been reproduced
by Mr. Arthur Maltby and Mr. Acton. On March 19th and 26th Mr. Maltby
gave lectures in the Athenæum Hall, and exhibited on the lantern screen a
number of spirit-photograph transparencies. Here are a few notes made at
the meeting on March 19th, by Mr. Burns, jun. Mr. Maltby said:—
“This lecture is given in memory of the late Mr. Stainton
Moses, better known as ‘M.A., Oxon,’ editor of _Light_, writer
of many valuable books on Spiritualism, and one of the best
friends the cause ever had. Most of you have either read or
heard of his marvellous book called _Spirit Teachings_, one
of the grandest series of spirit controls ever published. It
teaches a higher Spiritualism than is generally understood.
“My object in giving this lecture is to try to convince you
that it is possible to obtain photographs of friends who have
passed away. I shall also endeavour to explain the conditions
necessary, how they are attained, and for what reason. This
lecture was suggested by Mr. Stainton Moses, and the pictures
I am about to show you were his. I knew him for over fifteen
years, and have been favoured with particulars of the most
remarkable events ever experienced.
“One morning last spring I called on Mr. Moses, and found him
busy reading proof-sheets of Mr. Stead’s _Real Ghost Stories_.
Whilst discussing these, the subject of spirit photographs was
introduced, and he informed me that he had a collection of
nearly 400, which he offered to lend me if I thought they could
be suitably converted into lantern slides. After examining
the photographs, I found it impossible in so short a time to
select out of so many sufficient for a lecture. I therefore
begged the loan of them all, and we are indebted to my friend
and co-worker, Mr. Acton (who is now manipulating the lantern),
for his patient efforts in converting so many photographs into
lantern transparencies. It was a most laborious task.
“Three months later, when I returned the photographs, Mr. Moses
kindly offered to take the chair at this lecture, but that was
not to be. The day I was to submit my notes for his approval,
with the promise of a further and more complete description of
the spirit photographs, he had passed to the higher life.
“Many present to-night, who are aware of the reality of life
after death—a life ever progressive, and as real as life on
earth—can feel with me that this noble worker is not dead, but
lives, continuing his efforts for the good of humanity as when
on earth; ever with us in our efforts to spread this glorious
truth, which is like the sunshine, dispersing the fog and mist
of orthodoxy and ignorance.
“All the sittings he attended were under strict test
conditions, so there could be no possibility of fraud or
deception. These conditions were, that he purchased his own
plates, marked each with his initials, put them in and took
them out of the dark slide, not allowing them out of his sight
until they were fully developed.”
Mr. Maltby then showed on the lantern screen about forty spirit
photographs, and other pictures connected with the subject, all of which
he explained. Many of the photographs of spirits had been recognised
by the sitters and other relatives. He then spoke of the spiritual
advantages to be derived from spirit communion, and after an invocation
he thus concluded:—
“Should this lecture induce any present to seek communion with
their departed friends, let me beg of them to seek only for
spiritual aid in an earnest and prayerful manner, in their own
homes, amongst friends who desire to know the truth and will
investigate with unbiassed minds. To such success must come,
sooner or later; but those who try to use God’s spiritual gifts
for worldly and selfish ends will bring disaster on themselves
and discredit on the cause.”
* * * * *
At a séance held twenty-nine years ago, the following question was put as
to spirit photographs: “We do not comprehend how these are produced. Can
you give us any information as to the process gone through?” The answer
given through the medium, Mr. Peter A. Chesser, marine engineer, may be
of interest to some. It was this: “Spirits impress their image on the
plate by depositing thereon repeated layers of magnetism. According to
their respective powers of affording this, so is the impression more or
less distinct. The magnetism must be of the same texture or affinity as
that possessed by the operator; it is accomplished by a rapid vibration
of the spirits’ magnetic emanation in depositing layer after layer, and
the process is this: The operator by frequent manipulation saturates
his materials with his aura—I do not mean the animal aura of mesmerism,
but his spiritual aura; this, by repeated impression on his part from
repeated manipulations (which require considerable time, since he is
still in the body and has, therefore, more difficulty in, as it were,
filtering this spirit-aura through the pores of his body than have
the spirits, who are not trammelled in like manner), at last leaves a
positive viscidity on his materials which serves to retain the first
impressions thrown by the spirits upon it. When they from affinity
cohere, the image is rapidly built up on this superstructure. Any person
through the pores of whose body-material this spirit-aura can readily
pass is in a condition to take photographs of the kind to which you
refer. Much passiveness, however, is requisite.”
This reply refers, of course, to the photographs in class No. I.,
mentioned in the Preface, not to pictures which are produced by spirit
precipitation.