Aswehaveearlyindicationsofbishops，deaconsandotherofficials，itisdifficulttosaywhatelsethe"angel"couldhavebeen。This，however，mustremainapurespeculation。
Anotherspeculationwhichis，perhaps，Page122
rathermorefruitfulisuponwhatprincipledidChristselecthistwelvechieffollowers。Outofallthemultitudeshechosetwelvemen。Whytheseparticularones？Itwasnotfortheirintelligenceorlearning，forPeterandJohn，whowereamongthemostprominent，areexpresslydescribedas"unlearnedandignorantmen。"Itwasnotfortheirvirtue，foroneofthemprovedtobeagreatvillain，andallofthemdesertedtheirMasterinHisneed。Itwasnotfortheirbelief，forthereweregreatnumbersofbelievers。Andyetitisclearthattheywerechosenonsomeprincipleofselectionsincetheywerecalledinonesandintwos。Inatleasttwocasestheywerepairsofbrothers，asthoughsomefamilygiftorpeculiarity，mightunderliethechoice。
Isitnotatleastpossiblethatthisgiftwaspsychicpower，andthatChrist，asthegreatestexponentwhohaseverappeareduponearthofthatpower，desiredtosurroundHimselfwithotherswhopossessedittoalesserdegree？ThisHewoulddofortworeasons。Thefirstisthatapsychiccircleisagreatsourceofstrengthtoonewhoishimselfpsychic，asisshowncontinuallyPage123
inourownexperience，where，withasympatheticandhelpfulsurrounding，anatmosphereiscreatedwhereallthepowersaredrawnout。HowsensitiveChristwastosuchanatmosphereisshownbytheremarkoftheEvangelist，thatwhenHevisitedHisownnativetown，wherethetownspeoplecouldnottakeHimseriously，Hewasunabletodoanywonders。ThesecondreasonmayhavebeenthatHedesiredthemtoactasHisdeputies，eitherduringhislifetimeorafterHisdeath，andthatforthisreasonsomenaturalpsychicpowerswerenecessary。
ThecloseconnectionwhichappearstoexistbetweentheApostlesandthemiracles，hasbeenworkedoutinaninterestingfashionbyDr。AbrahamWallace，inhislittlepamphlet"JesusofNazareth。"
Note：PublishedatsixpencebytheLightPublishingCo。，6，QueenSquare，London，W。C。ThesamefirmsuppliesDr。EllisPowell’sconvincinglittlebookonthesamesubject。Certainly，nomiracleorwonderworking，savethatofexorcism，isrecordedinanyoftheEvangelistsuntilafterthetimewhenChristbegantoassembleHiscircle。OfthiscirclethethreewhowouldappeartohavebeenthemostpsychicwerePeterandthetwoPage124
fellow—fishermen，sonsofZebedee，JohnandJames。Thesewerethethreewhoweresummonedwhenanidealatmospherewasneeded。ItwillberememberedthatwhenthedaughterofJairuswasraisedfromthedeaditwasinthepresence，andpossibly，withtheco—operation，ofthesethreeassistants。
Again，inthecaseoftheTransfiguration，itisimpossibletoreadtheaccountofthatwonderfulmanifestationwithoutbeingremindedateveryturnofone’sownspiritualexperiences。Here，again，thepointsareadmirablymadein"JesusofNazareth，"anditwouldbewellifthatlittlebook，withitsscholarlytone，itsbreadthoftreatmentanditspsychicknowledge，wasinthehandsofeveryBiblicalstudent。Dr。Wallacepointsoutthattheplace，thesummitofahill，wastheidealoneforsuchamanifestation，initspureairandfreedomfrominterruption；thatthedrowsystateoftheApostlesisparalleledbythemembersofanycirclewhoarecontributingpsychicpower；thatthetransfiguringofthefaceandtheshiningraimentareknownphenomena；aboveall，thattheerectionofthreealtarsismeaningless，butthatthealternatePage125
reading，theerectionofthreeboothsorcabinets，oneforthemediumandoneforeachmaterialisedform，wouldabsolutelyfulfilthemostperfectconditionsforgettingresults。ThisexplanationofWallace’sisaremarkableexampleofamodernbrain，withmodernknowledge，throwingaclearsearchlightacrossallthecenturiesandilluminatinganincidentwhichhasalwaysbeenobscure。
WhenwetranslateBiblelanguageintothetermsofmodernpsychicreligionthecorrespondencebecomesevident。Itdoesnottakemuchalteration。Thusfor"Lo，amiracle!"wesay"Thisisamanifestation。"
"TheangeloftheLord"becomes"ahighspirit。"Wherewetalkedof"avoicefromheaven，"wesay"thedirectvoice。""Hiseyeswereopenedandhesawavision"means"hebecameclairvoyant。"ItisonlytheoccultistwhocanpossiblyunderstandtheScripturesasbeingarealexactrecordofevents。
TherearemanyothersmallpointswhichseemtobringthestoryofChristandoftheApostlesintoveryclosetouchwithmodernpsychicresearch，andgreatlysupportthePage126
closeaccuracyofsomeoftheNewTestamentnarrative。OnewhichappealstomegreatlyistheactionofChristwhenHewasaskedaquestionwhichcalledforasuddendecision，namelythefateofthewomanwhohadbeentakeninsin。WhatdidHedo？Theverylastthingthatonewouldhaveexpectedorinvented。Hestoopeddownbeforeansweringandwrotewithhisfingerinthesand。Thishedidasecondtimeuponasecondcatch—questionbeingaddressedtoHim。Cananytheologiangiveareasonforsuchanaction？
IhazardtheopinionthatamongthemanyformsofmediumshipwhichwerepossessedinthehighestformbyChrist，wasthepowerofautomaticwriting，bywhichHesummonedthosegreatforceswhichwereunderHiscontroltosupplyHimwiththeanswer。Granting，asIfreelydo，thatChristwaspreternatural，inthesensethatHewasaboveandbeyondordinaryhumanityinHisattributes，onemaystillinquirehowfarthesepowerswerecontainedalwayswithinHishumanbody，orhowfarHereferredbacktospiritualreservesbeyondit。WhenHespokemerelyfromHishumanbodyHewascertainlyPage127
opentoerror，liketherestofus，foritisrecordedhowHequestionedthewomanofSamariaaboutherhusband，towhichsherepliedthatshehadnohusband。Inthecaseofthewomantakeninsin，onecanonlyexplainHisactionbythesuppositionthatHeopenedachannelinstantlyfortheknowledgeandwisdomwhichwaspreter—human，andwhichatoncegaveadecisioninfavoroflarge—mindedcharity。
Itisinterestingtoobservetheeffectwhichthesephenomena，orthereportofthem，producedupontheorthodoxJewsofthosedays。Thegreaterpartobviouslydiscreditedthem，otherwisetheycouldnothavefailedtobecomefollowers，orattheleasttohaveregardedsuchawonder—workerwithrespectandadmiration。Onecanwellimaginehowtheyshooktheirbeardedheads，declaredthatsuchoccurrenceswereoutsidetheirownexperience，andpossiblypointedtothelocalconjurorwhoearnedafewnotover—cleandenariibyimitatingthephenomena。Therewereothers，however，whocouldnotpossiblydeny，becausetheyeithersawormetwithwitnesseswhohadseen。ThesedeclaredroundlythatthewholethingPage128
wasofthedevil，drawingfromChristoneofthosepithy，common—senseargumentsinwhichHeexcelled。Thesametwoclassesofopponents，thescoffersandthediabolists，faceusto—day。Verilytheoldworldgoesroundandsodotheeventsuponitssurface。
Thereisonelineofthoughtwhichmaybeindicatedinthehopethatitwillfinddevelopmentfromthemindsandpensofthosewhohavestudiedmostdeeplythepossibilitiesofpsychicpower。Itisatleastpossible，thoughIadmitthatundermodernconditionsithasnotbeenclearlyproved，thatamediumofgreatpowercanchargeanotherwithhisownforce，justasamagnetwhenrubbeduponapieceofinertsteelcanturnitalsointoamagnet。OneofthebestattestedpowersofD。D。
Homewasthathecouldtakeburningcoalsfromthefirewithimpunityandcarrytheminhishand。Hecouldthen——andthiscomesnearertothepointatissue——placethemontheheadofanyonewhowasfearlesswithouttheirbeingburned。SpectatorshavedescribedhowthesilverfiligreeofthehairofMr。CarterHallusedtobegatheredovertheglowingember，andMrs。HallhasmentionedhowshePage129
combedouttheashesafterwards。Now，inthiscase，Homewasclearly，abletoconvey，apowertoanotherperson，justasChrist，whenHewaslevitatedoverthelake，wasabletoconveythesamepowertoPeter，solongasPeter’sfaithheldfirm。ThequestionthenarisesifHomeconcentratedallhisforceupontransferringsuchapowerhowlongwouldthatpowerlast？Theexperimentwasnevertried，butitwouldhavebornevery，directlyuponthisargument。For，grantingthatthepowercanbetransferred，thenitisveryclearhowtheChristcirclewasabletosendforthseventydiscipleswhowereendowedwithmiraculousfunctions。Itisclearalsowhy，newdiscipleshadtoreturntoJerusalemtobe"baptisedofthespirit，"tousetheirphrase，beforesettingforthupontheirwanderings。Andwheninturnthey，desiredtosendforthrepresentativeswouldnottheylayhandsuponthem，makepassesoverthemandendeavourtomagnetisetheminthesameway——
ifthatwordmayexpresstheprocess？Haveweherethemeaningofthelayingonofhandsbythebishopatordination，aceremonytowhichvastimportanceisstillattached，butPage130
whichmaywellbethesurvivalofsomethingreallyvital，thebestowalofthethaumaturgicpower？When，atlast，throughlapseoftimeorneglectoffreshcultivation，thepowerranout，theemptyformulamayhavebeencarriedon，withouteithertheblesserortheblessedunderstandingwhatitwasthatthehandsofthebishop，andtheforcewhichstreamedfromthem，weremeanttobestow。Theverywords"layingonofhands"wouldseemtosuggestsomethingdifferentfromamerebenediction。
Enoughhasbeensaid，perhaps，toshowthereaderthatitispossibletoputforwardaviewofChrist’slifewhichwouldbeinstrictaccordwiththemostmodernpsychicknowledge，andwhich，farfromsupplantingChristianity，wouldshowthesurprisingaccuracyofsomeofthedetailshandeddowntous，andwouldsupportthenovelconclusionthatthoseverymiracles，whichhavebeenthestumblingblocktosomanytruthful，earnestminds，mayfinallyoffersomeverycogentargumentsforthetruthofthewholenarrative。IsthisthenalineofthoughtwhichmeritsthewholesalecondemnationsandanathemashurledatitbythosePage131
whoprofesstospeakinthenameofreligion？Atthesametime，thoughwebringsupporttotheNewTestament，itwould，indeed，beamisconceptionifthese，oranysuchremarks，werequotedassustainingitsliteralaccuracy——anideafromwhichsomuchharmhascomeinthepast。Itwould，indeed，beagood，thoughanunattainablething，thatareallyhonestandopen—mindedattemptshouldbemadetoweedoutfromthatrecordtheobviousforgeriesandinterpolationswhichdisfigureit，andlessenthevalueofthosepartswhicharereallyabovesuspicion。Isitnecessary，forexample，tobetold，asaninspiredfactfromChrist’sownlips，thatZacharias，thesonofBarachias，Note：TheReferencesaretoMatthew，xxiii35，andtoJosephus，WarsoftheJews，BookIV，Chapter5。wasstruckdeadwithintheprecinctsoftheTempleinthetimeofChrist，when，byacuriouschance，JosephushasindependentlynarratedtheincidentashavingoccurredduringthesiegeofJerusalem，thirty—sevenyearslater？ThismakesitveryclearthatthisparticularGospel，initspresentform，waswrittenafterthatevent，andthatthewriterfittedintoitatleastoneotherPage132
incidentwhichhadstruckhisimagination。Unfortunately，arevisionbygeneralagreementwouldbethegreatestofallmiracles，fortwooftheveryfirsttextstogowouldbethosewhichrefertothe"Church，"
aninstitutionandanideautterlyunfamiliarinthedaysofChrist。Sincetheobjectoftheinsertionofthesetextsisperfectlyclear，therecanbenodoubtthattheyareforgeries，butasthewholesystemofthePapacyrestsupononeofthem，theyarelikelytosurviveforalongtimetocome。
ThetextalludedtoismadefurtherimpossiblebecauseitisbaseduponthesuppositionthatChristandHisfishermenconversedtogetherinLatinorGreek，eventotheextentofmakingpunsinthatlanguage。SurelythewantofmoralcourageandintellectualhonestyamongChristianswillseemasstrangetoourdescendantsasitappearsmarvelloustousthatthegreatthinkersofoldcouldhavebelieved，oratleasthavepretendedtobelieve，inthefightingsexualdeitiesofMountOlympus。
Revisionis，indeed，needed，andasIhavealreadypleaded，achangeofemphasisisalsoneeded，inordertogetthegrandPage133
Christianconceptionbackintothecurrentofreasonandprogress。Theorthodoxwho，whetherfromhumblefaithorsomeothercause，donotlookdeeplyintosuchmatters，canhardlyconceivethestumbling—blockswhicharelitteredaboutbeforethefeetoftheirmorecriticalbrethren。Whatiseasy，forfaithisimpossibleforreflection。Suchexpressionsas"SavedbythebloodoftheLamb"or"BaptisedbyHispreciousblood"filltheirsoulswithagentleandsweetemotion，whileuponamorethoughtfulmindtheyhaveaverydifferenteffect。
Apartfromtheapparentinjusticeofvicariousatonement，thestudentiswellawarethatthewholeofthissanguinarymetaphorisdrawnreallyfromthePaganritesofMithra，wheretheneophytewasactuallyplacedunderabullattheceremonyoftheTAUROBOLIUM，andwasdrenched，throughagrating，withthebloodoftheslaughteredanimal。SuchreminiscencesofthemorebrutalsideofPaganismarenothelpfultothethoughtfulandsensitivemodernmind。Butwhatisalwaysfreshandalwaysusefulandalwaysbeautiful，isthememoryofthesweetSpiritwhowanderedPage134
onthehillsidesofGalilee；whogatheredthechildrenaroundhim；whomethisfriendsininnocentgood—fellowship；whoshrankfromformsandceremonies，cravingalwaysfortheinnermeaning；whoforgavethesinner；
whochampionedthepoor，andwhoineverydecisionthrewhisweightuponthesideofcharityandbreadthofview。Whentothischaracteryouaddthosewondrouspsychicpowersalreadyanalysed，youdo，indeed，findasupremecharacterintheworld’shistorywhoobviouslystandsnearertotheHighestthananyother。WhenonecomparesthegeneraleffectofHisteachingwiththatofthemorerigidchurches，onemarvelshowintheirdogmatism，theirinsistenceuponforms，theirexclusiveness，theirpompandtheirintolerance，theycouldhavegotsofarawayfromtheexampleoftheirMaster，sothatasonelooksuponHimandthem，onefeelsthatthereisabsolutedeepantagonismandthatonecannotspeakoftheChurchandChrist，butonlyoftheChurchorChrist。
AndyeteveryChurchproducesbeautifulsouls，thoughitmaybedebatedwhether"produces"or"contains"isthetruthfulPage135
word。Wehavebuttofallbackuponourownpersonalexperienceifwehavelivedlongandmixedmuchwithourfellow—men。IhavemyselflivedduringthesevenmostimpressionableyearsofmylifeamongJesuits，themostmalignedofallecclesiasticalorders，andIhavefoundthemhonourableandgoodmen，inallwaysestimableoutsidethenarrownesswhichlimitstheworldtoMotherChurch。Theywereathletes，scholars，andgentlemen，norcanIeverrememberanyexamplesofthatcasuistrywithwhichtheyarereproached。SomeofmybestfriendshavebeenamongtheparochialclergyoftheChurchofEngland，menofsweetandsaintlycharacter，whosepecuniarystraitswereoftenascandalandareproachtothehalf—heartedfolkwhoacceptedtheirspiritualguidance。Ihaveknown，also，splendidmenamongtheNonconformistclergy，whohaveoftenbeenthechampionsofliberty，thoughtheirviewsuponthatsubjecthavesometimesseemedtocontractwhenoneventuredupontheirowndomainofthought。Eachcreedhasbroughtoutmenwhowereanhonourtothehumanrace，andManningorShrewsbury，Page186
GordonorDolling，BoothorStopfordBrooke，areallequallyadmirable，howeverdiversetherootsfromwhichtheygrow。Amongthegreatmassofthepeople，too，thereareverymanythousandsofbeautifulsoulswhohavebeenbroughtupontheold—fashionedlines，andwhoneverheardofspiritualcommunionoranyotherofthosematterswhichhavebeendiscussedintheseessays，andyethavereachedaconditionofpurespiritualitysuchasallofusmayenvy。Whodoesnotknowthemaidenaunt，thewidowedmother，themellowedelderlyman，wholiveuponthehilltopsofunselfishness，sheddingkindlythoughtsanddeedsaroundthem，butwiththeirsimplefaithdeeply，rootedinanythingoreverythingwhichhascometotheminahereditaryfashionwiththesanctionofsomeparticularauthority？Ihadanauntwhowassuchanone，andcanseehernow，wornwithausterityandcharity，asmall，humblefigure，creepingtochurchatallhoursfromahousewhichwastoherbutawaiting—roombetweenservices，whileshelookedatmewithsad，wondering，greyeyes。Suchpeoplehaveoftenreachedbyinstinct，andinspiteofdogma，heights，Page137
towhichnosystemofphilosophycaneverraiseus。
Butmakingfullallowanceforthehighproductsofeverycreed，whichmaybeonly，aproofoftheinnategoodnessofcivilisedhumanity，itisstillbeyondalldoubtthatChristianityhasbrokendown，andthatthisbreakdownhasbeenbroughthometoeveryonebytheterriblecastrophewhichhasbefallentheworld。Canthemostoptimisticapologistcontendthatthisisasatisfactory，outcomefromareligionwhichhashadtheunopposedrunofEuropeforsomanycenturies？Whichhascomeoutofitworst，theLutheranPrussian，theCatholicBavarian，orthepeopleswhohavebeennurturedbytheGreekChurch？Ifwe，oftheWest，havedonebetter，isitnotratheranolderandhighercivilisationandfreerpoliticalinstitutionsthathaveheldusbackfromallthecruelties，excessesandimmoralitieswhichhavetakentheworldbacktothedarkages？ItwillnotdotosaythattheyhaveoccurredinspiteofChristianity，andthatChristianityis，therefore，nottoblame。ItistruethatChrist’steachingisnottoblame，foritisoftenspoiledinthetransmission。Page138
ButChristianityhastakenovercontrolofthemoralsofEurope，andshouldhavethecompellingforcewhichwouldensurethatthosemoralswouldnotgotopiecesuponthefirststrain。ItisonthispointthatChristianitymustbejudged，andthejudgmentcanonlybethatithasfailed。Ithasnotbeenanactivecontrollingforceuponthemindsofmen。Andwhy？Itcanonlybebecausethereissomethingessentialwhichiswanting。Mendonottakeitseriously。Mendonotbelieveinit。Lipserviceistheonlyserviceininnumerablecases，andevenlipservicegrowsfainter。
Men，asdistinctfromwomen，have，bothinthehigherandlowerclassesoflife，ceased，inthegreaternumberofcases，toshowalivinginterestinreligion。Thechurcheslosetheirgripuponthepeople——andloseitrapidly。Smallinnercircles，convocations，committees，assemblies，meetanddebateandpassresolutionsofanevernarrowercharacter。Butthepeoplegotheirwayandreligionisdead，saveinsofarasintellectualcultureandgoodtastecantakeitsplace。Butwhenreligionisdead，materialismbecomesactive，Page139
andwhatactivematerialismmayproducehasbeenseeninGermany。
Isitnottime，then，forthereligiousbodiestodiscouragetheirownbigotsandsectarians，andtoseriouslyconsider，ifonlyforself—preservation，howtheycangetintolineoncemorewiththatgenerallevelofhumanthoughtwhichisnowsofarinfrontofthem？Isaythattheycandomorethangetlevel——theycanlead。Buttodosotheymust，ontheonehand，havethefirmcouragetocutawayfromtheirownbodiesallthatdeadtissuewhichisbutadisfigurementandanencumbrance。Theymustfacedifficultiesofreason，andadaptthemselvestothedemandsofthehumanintelligencewhichrejects，andisrightinrejecting，muchwhichtheyoffer。Finally，theymustgatherfreshstrengthbydrawinginallthenewtruthandallthenewpowerwhichareaffordedbythisnewwaveofinspirationwhichhasbeensentintotheworldbyGod，andwhichthehumanrace，deludedandbemusedbythewould—beclever，hasreceivedwithsuchperverseandobstinateincredulity。Whentheyhavedoneallthis，theywillfindnotonlythattheyareleadingPage140
theworldwithanobviousrighttotheleadership，but，inaddition，thattheyhavecomeroundoncemoretotheveryteachingofthatMasterwhomtheyhavesolongmisrepresented。
Page141DOCTORGELEY’SEXPERIMENTSNothingcouldbeimaginedmorefantasticandgrotesquethantheresultsoftherecentexperimentsofProfessorGeley，inFrance。Beforesuchresultsthebrain，evenofthetrainedpsychicalstudent，isdazed，whilethatoftheorthodoxmanofscience，whohasgivennoheedtothesedevelopments，isabsolutelyhelpless。IntheaccountoftheproceedingswhichhereadlatelybeforetheInstitutGeneralPsychologiqueinParis，onJanuaryoflastyear，Dr。Geleysays："Idonotmerelysaythattherehasbeennofraud；Isay，`therehasbeennopossibilityoffraud。’Innearlyeverycasethematerialisationsweredoneundermy，eyes，andI
haveobservedtheirwholegenesisanddevelopment。"Headdsthat，inthecourseoftheexperiments，morethanaPage142
hundredexperts，mostlydoctors，checkedtheresults。
Theseresultsmaybebrieflystatedthus。Apeculiarwhitishmatterexudedfromthesubject，agirlnamedEva，comingpartlythroughherskin，partlyfromherhands，partlyfromtheorificesofherface，especiallyhermouth。Thiswasphotographedrepeatedlyateverystageofitsproduction，thesephotographsbeingappendedtotheprintedtreatise。
Thisstuff，solidenoughtoenableonetotouchandtophotograph，hasbeencalledtheectoplasm。Itisaneworderofmatter，anditisclearlyderivedfromthesubjectherself，absorbingintohersystemoncemoreattheendoftheexperiment。Itexudesinsuchquantitiesastoentirely，coverhersometimesaswithanapron。Itissoftandglutinoustothetouch，butvariesinformandevenincolour。Itsproductioncausespainandgroansfromthesubject，andanyviolencetowardsitwouldappearalsotoaffecther。Asuddenflashoflight，asinaflash—photograph，mayormaynotcausearetractionoftheectoplasm，butalwayscausesaspasmofthesubject。
Whenre—absorbed，itleavesnotraceuponPage143
thegarmentsthroughwhichithaspassed。
Thisiswonderfulenough，butfarmorefantasticiswhathasstilltobetold。Themostmarkedpropertyofthisectoplasm，veryfullyillustratedinthephotographs，isthatitsetsorcurdlesintotheshapesofhumanmembers——offingers，ofhands，offaces，whichareatfirstquitesketchyandrudimentary，butrapidlycoalesceanddevelopuntiltheyareundistinguishablefromthoseoflivingbeings。Isnotthistheverystrangestandmostinexplicablethingthathaseveryetbeenobservedbyhumaneyes？Thesefacesorlimbsareusuallythesizeoflife，buttheyfrequentlyarequiteminiatures。Occasionallytheybeginbybeingminiatures，andgrowintofullsize。Ontheirfirstappearanceintheectoplasmthelimbisonlyononeplaneofmatter，amereflatappearance，whichrapidlyroundsitselfoff，untilithasassumedallthreeplanesandiscomplete。
Itmaybeameresimulacrum，likeawaxhand，oritmaybeendowedwithfullpowerofgraspinganotherhand，witheveryarticulationinperfectworkingorder。
Thefaceswhichareproducedinthisamazingwayareworthyofstudy。TheyPage144
donotappeartohaverepresentedanyonewhohaseverbeenknowninlifebyDoctorGeley。
Note：Dr。Geleywritestomethattheyareunknowneithertohimortothemedium。Myimpressionafterexaminingthemisthattheyaremuchmorelikelytobewithintheknowledgeofthesubject，beinggirlsoftheFrenchlowermiddleclasstype，suchasEvawas，Ishouldimagine，inthehabitofmeeting。ItshouldbeaddedthatEvaherselfappearsinthephotographaswellasthesimulacraofhumanity。Thefacesare，onthewhole，bothprettyandpiquant，thoughofaratherworldlyandunrefinedtype。Thelatteradjectivewouldnotapplytothelargerandmostelaboratephotograph，whichrepresentsaverybeautifulyoungwomanofatrulyspiritualcastofface。Someofthefacesarebutpartiallyformed，whichgivesthemagrotesqueorrepellantappearance。Whatarewetomakeofsuchphenomena？
Thereisnousedeludingourselvesbytheideathattheremaybesomemistakeorsomedeception。Thereisneitheronenortheother。Apartfromtheelaboratechecksupontheseparticularresults，theycorrespondcloselywithPage145
thosegotbyLombrosoinItaly，bySchrenk—NotzinginGermany，andbyothercarefulobservers。Onethingwemustbearinmindconstantlyinconsideringthem，andthatistheirabnormality。Ataliberalestimate，itisnotonepersoninamillionwhopossessessuchpowers——ifathingwhichisoutsideourvolitioncanbedescribedasapower。ItisthemechanismofthematerialisationmediumwhichhasbeenexploredbytheacutebrainanduntiringindustryofDoctorGeley，andevenpresuming，asonemayfairlypresume，thateverymaterialisingmediumgoesthroughthesameprocessinordertoproduceresults，stillsuchmediumsareexceedingly，rare。Dr。Geleymentions，asananalogousphenomenononthematerialside，thepresenceofdermoidcysts，thosemysteriousformations，whichriseassmalltumorsinanypartofthebody，particularlyabovetheeyebrow，andwhichwhenopenedbythesurgeonarefoundtocontainhair，teethorembryonicbones。Thereisnodoubt，asheclaims，someroughanalogy，butthedermoidcystis，atleast，inthesamefleshandbloodplaneofnatureasthefoetusinsideit，whilePage146
intheectoplasmwearedealingwithanentirelynewandstrangedevelopment。
Itisnotpossibletodefineexactlywhatoccursinthecaseoftheectoplasm，nor，onaccountofitsvitalconnectionwiththemediumanditsevanescentnature，hasitbeenseparatedandsubjectedtoeventheroughestchemicalanalysiswhichmightshowwhetheritiscomposedofthoseearthlyelementswithwhichwearefamiliar。Isitrathersomecoagulationofetherwhichintroducesanabsolutelynewsubstanceintoourworld？Suchasuppositionseemsmostprobable，foracomparisonwiththeanalogoussubstanceexaminedatDr。Crawford’sseancesatBelfast，whichisatthesametimehardlyvisibletotheeyeandyetcapableofhandlingaweightof150pounds，suggestssomethingentirelynewinthewayofmatter。
Butsettingaside，asbeyondthepresentspeculation，whattheexactoriginandnatureoftheectoplasmmaybe，itseemstomethatthereisroomforaverysuggestivelineofthoughtifwemakeGeley’sexperimentsthestartingpoint，andleaditinthedirectionofothermanifestationsofpsychomaterialactivity。Firstofall，letustakePage147
Crookes’classicexperimentswithKatieKing，aresultwhichforalongtimestoodaloneandisolatedbutnowcanbeapproachedbyintermittentbutdefinitestages。ThuswecanwellsupposethatduringthoselongperiodswhenFlorrieCooklayinthelaboratoryinthedark，periodswhichlastedanhourormoreuponsomeoccasions，theectoplasmwasflowingfromherasfromEva。Thenitwasgatheringitselfintoaviscouscloudorpillarclosetoherframe；thentheformofKatieKingwasevolvedfromthiscloud，inthemanneralreadydescribed，andfinallythenexuswasbrokenandthecompletedbodyadvancedtopresentitselfatthedoorofcommunication，showingapersondifferentineverypossibleattributesavethatofsexfromthemedium，andyetcomposedwhollyorinpartfromelementsextractedfromhersenselessbody。Sofar，Geley’sexperimentsthrowastrongexplanatorylightuponthoseofCrookes。AndheretheSpiritualistmust，asitseemstome，bepreparedtomeetanobjectionmoreformidablethantheabsurdonesoffraudoropticaldelusion。Itisthis。IfthebodyofKatieKingthespiritisderivedPage148
fromthebodyofFlorrieCookthepsychic，thenwhatassurancehavewethatthelifethereinisnotreallyoneofthepersonalitiesoutofwhichthecomplexbeingnamedFlorrieCookisconstructed？Itisathesiswhichrequirescarefulhandling。Itisnotenoughtosaythatthenatureismanifestlysuperior，forsupposingthatFlorrieCookrepresentedtheaverageofanumberofconflictingpersonalities，thenasingleoneofthesepersonalitiesmightbefarhigherthanthetotaleffect。Withoutgoingdeeplyintothisproblem，onecanbutsaythatthespirit’sownaccountofitsownpersonalitymustcountforsomething，andalsothatanisolatedphenomenonmustbetakeninconjunctionwithallotherpsychicphenomenawhenweareseekingforacorrectexplanation。
Butnowletustakethisideaofahumanbeingwhohasthepowerofemittingavisiblesubstanceinwhichareformedfaceswhichappeartorepresentdistinctindividualities，andinextremecasesdevelopintocompleteindependenthumanforms。Takethisextraordinaryfact，andletusseewhether，byanextensionormodificationofPage149
thisdemonstratedprocess，wemaynotgetsomesortofclueastothemodusoperandiinotherpsychicphenomena。Itseemstomethatwemay，atleast，obtainindicationswhichamounttoaprobability，thoughnottoacertainty，astohowsomeresults，hithertoinexplicable，areattained。Itisatanyrateaprovisionalspeculation，whichmaysuggestahypothesisforfutureobserverstodestroy，modify，orconfirm。
TheargumentwhichIwouldadvanceisthis。Ifastrongmaterialisationmediumcanthrowoutacloudofstuffwhichisactuallyvisible，maynotamediumofalesspronouncedtypethrowoutasimilarcloudwithanalogouspropertieswhichisnotopaqueenoughtobeseenbytheaverageeye，butcanmakeanimpressionbothonthedryplateinthecameraandontheclairvoyantfaculty？Ifthatbeso——anditwouldnotseemtobeaveryfar—fetchedproposition——wehaveatonceanexplanationbothofpsychicphotographsandofthevisionsoftheclairvoyantseer。
WhenIsayanexplanation，Imeanofitssuperficialmethodofformation，andnotoftheforcesatworkbehind，whichremainnolessamysPage150
teryevenwhenweacceptDr。Geley’sstatementthattheyare"ideoplastic。"
Herewehave，Ithink，someattemptatageneralisation，whichmight，perhaps，beusefulinevolvingsomefirstsignsoforderoutofthischaos。Itisconceivablethatthethinneremanationoftheclairvoyantwouldextendfarfurtherthanthethickmaterialectoplasm，buthavethesamepropertyofmouldingitselfintolife，thoughthelifeformswouldonlybevisibletotheclairvoyanteye。Thus，whenMr。TomTyrrell，oranyothercompetentexponent，standsupontheplatformhisemanationfillsthehall。Intothisemanation，asintothevisibleectoplasminGeley’sexperiments，breakthefacesandformsofthosefromtheothersidewhoareattractedtothescenebytheirsympathywithvariousmembersoftheaudience。TheyareseenanddescribedbyMr。Tyrrell，whowithhisfinelyattunedsenses，carefullyconserved（hehardlyeatsordrinksuponadaywhenhedemonstrates），canhearthatthinnerhighervoicethatcallstheirnames，theiroldaddressesandtheirmessages。So，too，whenMr。HopeandMrs。BuxtonstandwiththeirhandsjoinedPage151
overthecapofthecamera，theyarereallythrowingoutamistyectoplasmfromwhichtheformsloomupwhichappearuponthephotographicplate。
ItmaybethatImistakeananalogyforanexplanation，butIputthetheoryonrecordforwhatitisworth。
Page152APARTICULARINSTANCEIhavebeenintouchwithaseriesofeventsinAmericalately，andcanvouchforthefactsasmuchasanymancanvouchforfactswhichdidnotoccurtohimself。Ihavenottheleastdoubtinmyownmindthattheyaretrue，andamoreremarkabledoubleproofofthecontinuityoflifehas，Ishouldthink，seldombeenpublished。AbookhasrecentlybeenissuedbyHarpers，ofNewYork，called"TheSevenPurposes。"Inthisbooktheauthoress，MissMargaretCameron，describeshowshesuddenlydevelopedthepowerofautomaticwriting。ShewasnotaSpiritualistatthetime。
Herhandwascontrolledandshewroteaquantityofmatterwhichwasentirelyoutsideherownknowledgeorcharacter。Uponherdoubtingwhetherhersub—consciousselfmightinsomewaybeproducingthewriting，Page153
whichwaspartlydonebyplanchette，thescriptwaswrittenupsidedownandfromrighttoleft，asthoughthewriterwasseatedopposite。Suchscriptcouldnotpossiblybewrittenbytheladyherself。Uponmakingenquiryastowhowasusingherhand，theanswercameinwritingthatitwasacertainFredGaylord，andthathisobjectwastogetamessagetohismother。
TheyouthwasunknowntoMissCameron，butsheknewthefamilyandforwardedthemessage，withtheresultthatthemothercametoseeher，examinedtheevidence，communicatedwiththeson，andfinally，returninghome，buriedallherevidencesofmourning，feelingthattheboywasnomoredeadintheoldsensethanifhewerealiveinaforeigncountry。
Thereisthefirstproofofpreternaturalagency，sinceMissCamerondevelopedsomuchknowledgewhichshecouldnothavenormallyacquired，usingmanyphrasesandideaswhichwerecharacteristicofthedeceased。Butmarkthesequel。Gaylordwasmerelyapseudonym，asthematterwassoprivatethattherealname，whichwewillputasBridger，wasnotdisclosed。AfewmonthsafterthebookwaspublishedMissPage154
Cameronreceivedaletterfromastrangerlivingathousandmilesaway。
ThisletterandthewholecorrespondenceIhaveseen。Thestranger，Mrs。
Nicol，saysthatasatestshewouldliketoaskwhethertherealnamegivenasFredGaylordinthebookisnotFredBridger，asshehadpsychicreasonsforbelievingso。MissCameronrepliedthatitwasso，andexpressedhergreatsurprisethatsosecretandprivateamattershouldhavebeencorrectlystated。Mrs。Nicolthenexplainedthatsheandherhusband，bothconnectedwithjournalismandbothabsolutelyagnostic，haddiscoveredthatshehadthepowerofautomaticwriting。Thatwhile，usingthispowershehadreceivedcommunicationspurportingtocomefromFredBridgerwhomtheyhadknowninlife，andthatuponreadingMissCameron’sbooktheyhadreceivedfromFredBridgertheassurancethathewasthesamepersonastheFredGaylordofMissCameron。
Now，arguinguponthesefacts，andtheywouldappearmostundoubtedlytobefacts，whatpossibleanswercanthematerialistorthescepticgivetotheassertionthattheyareadoubleproofofthecontinuityofperPage155
sonalityandthepossibilityofcommunication？CananyreasonablesystemoftelepathyexplainhowMissCamerondiscoveredtheintimatepointscharacteristicofyoungGaylord？Andthen，howareweafterwards，byanypossibletelepathy，toexplaintherevelationtoMrs。Nicoloftheidentityofhercommunicant，FredBridger，withtheFredGaylordwhohadbeenwrittenofbyMissCameron。
Thecaseforreturnseemstomeaveryconvincingone，thoughIcontendnow，asever，thatitisnotthereturnofthelostoneswhichisofsuchcogentinterestasthemessagefromthebeyondwhichtheybearwiththem。
Page156SPIRITPHOTOGRAPHYOnthissubjectIshouldrecommendthereadertoconsultCoates’
"PhotographingtheInvisible，"whichstates，inathoughtfulandmoderateway，theevidenceforthismostremarkablephase，andillustratesitwithmanyexamples。Itispointedoutthathere，asalways，fraudmustbecarefullyguardedagainst，havingbeenadmittedinthecaseoftheFrenchspiritphotographer，Buguet。
Thereare，however，alargenumberofcaseswherethephotograph，underrigidtestconditionsinwhichfraudhasbeenabsolutelybarred，hasreproducedthefeaturesofthedead。Heretherearelimitationsandrestrictionswhichcallforcarefulstudyandobservation。Thesefacesofthedeadareinsomecasesascontouredandasrecognisableastheywereinlife，andcorrespondPage157
withnopre—existingpictureorphotograph。Onesuchcaseabsolutelycritic—proofisenough，onewouldthink，toestablishsurvival，andthesevalidcasesaretobecountednotinones，butinhundreds。Ontheotherhand，manyofthelikenesses，obtainedunderthesametestconditions，areobviouslysimulacraorpicturesbuiltupbysomepsychicforce，notnecessarilybytheindividualspiritsthemselves，torepresentthedead。
Insomeundoubtedlygenuinecasesitisanexact，oralmostexact，reproductionofanexistingpicture，asiftheconsciousintelligentforce，whateveritmightbe，hadconsulteditastotheformerappearanceofthedeceased，andhadthenbuiltitupinexactaccordancewiththeoriginal。Insuchcasesthespiritfacemayshowasaflatsurfaceinsteadofacontour。
Rigidexaminationhasshownthattheexistingmodelwasusuallyoutsidethekenofthephotographer。
TwoofthebravestchampionswhomSpiritualismhaseverproduced，thelateW。T。SteadandthelateArchdeaconColley——nameswhichwillbulklargeindaystocome——attachedgreatimportancetospiritPage158
photographyasafinalandincontestableproofofsurvival。Inhisrecentwork，"ProofsoftheTruthofSpiritualism"（KeganPaul），theeminentbotanist，ProfessorHenslow，hasgivenonecasewhichwouldreallyappeartobeabovecriticism。HenarrateshowtheinquirersubjectedasealedpacketofplatestotheCrewecirclewithoutexposure，endeavoringtogetapsychograph。
Uponbeingaskedonwhichplatehedesiredit，hesaid"thefifth。"Uponthisplatebeingdeveloped，therewasfoundonitacopyofapassagefromtheCodexAlexandrinusoftheNewTestamentintheBritishMuseum。Reproductions，bothoftheoriginalandofthecopy，willbefoundinProfessorHenslow’sbook。
IhavemyselfbeentoCreweandhavehadresultswhichwouldbeamazingwereitnotthatfamiliaritybluntsthemindtomiracles。
Threemarkedplatesbroughtbymyself，andhandled，developedandfixedbynohandbutmine，gavepsychicextras。IneachcaseIsawtheextrainthenegativewhenitwasstillwetinthedarkroom。IreproduceinPlateIaspecimenoftheresults，whichisenoughinitselftoprovethewholecaseof{PlateI。Caption=IMPRESSIONRECEIVEDUPONAMARKEDPLATE
WHICHNEVERWENTOUTOFTHEAUTHORSHANDS，SAVEWHENITWASINTHECARRIER。
THEREISAPARTIALMATERIALISATIONBEHIND。INFRONTISANINSCRIPTIONSIGNED
"T。COLLEY"{PlateII。Caption=SPECIMENOFARCHDEACONCOLLEY’SWRITING
DURINGHISLIFETIME{PlateIII。Caption=PHOTOGRAPHINLIFEOFLIEUT。
WILL。HEWATMACKENZIE{PlateIV。Caption=PHOTOGRAPHOFLIEUT。WILL。HEWAT
MACKENZIE，TAKENSOMEMONTHSAFTERHISDEATH，INTHECIRCUMSTANCESDESCRIBED
INTHETEXTPage159
survivaltoanyreasonablemind。ThethreesittersareMr。Oaten，Mr。
Walker，andmyself，Ibeingobscuredbythepsychiccloud。InthiscloudappearsamessageofwelcometomefromthelateArchdeaconColley。AspecimenoftheArchdeacon’sownhandwritingisreproducedinPlateIIforthepurposeofcomparison。Behind，thereisanattemptatmaterialisationobscuredbythecloud。Themarkonthesideoftheplateismyidentificationmark。
ItrustthatImakeitclearthatnohandbutmineevertouchedthisplate，nordidIeverlosesightofitforasecondsavewhenitwasinthecarrier，whichwasconveyedstraightbacktothedarkroomandthereopened。Whathasanycritictosaytothat？
Bythekindnessofthosefearlesspioneersofthemovement，Mr。andMrs。HewatMackenzie，Iamallowedtopublishanotherexampleofspiritphotography。Thecircumstanceswereveryremarkable。ThevisitoftheparentstoCrewewasunproductiveandtheirplateablanksavefortheirownpresentment。Returningdisappointed，toLondontheymanaged，throughthemePage160
diumshipofMrs。Leonard，togetintotouchwiththeirboy，andaskedhimwhytheyhadfailed。Herepliedthattheconditionshadbeenbad，butthathehadactuallysucceededsomedayslateringettingontotheplateofLadyGlenconnor，whohadbeentoCreweuponasimilarerrand。Theparentscommunicatedwiththislady，whorepliedsayingthatshehadfoundtheimageofastrangeruponherplate。Onreceivingaprinttheyatoncerecognisedtheirson，andcouldevenseethat，asaproofofidentity，hehadreproducedthebulletwoundonhislefttemple。No。3istheirgallantsonasheappearedintheflesh，No。4ishisreappearanceafterdeath。Theopinionofaminiaturepainterwhohaddoneapictureoftheyoungsoldierisworthrecordingasevidenceofidentity。Theartistsays："AfterpaintingtheminiatureofyoursonWill，IfeelIknoweveryturnofhisface，andamquiteconvincedofthelikenessofthepsychicphotograph。Allthemodellingofthebrow，noseandeyesismarkedbyillness——especiallyisthemouthslightlycontracted——butthisdoesnotinterferewiththerealPage161
form。Thewaythehairgrowsonthebrowandtempleisnoticeablylikethephotographtakenbeforehewaswounded。"
Page162THECLAIERVOYANCEOFMRS。B。Atthetimeofthisvolumegoingtopresstheresultsobtainedbyclientsofthismediumhavebeenforty—twosuccessesoutoffiftyattempts，checkedanddockettedbytheauthor。Thisseriesformsamostconclusiveproofofspiritclairvoyance。AnattempthasbeenmadebyMr。E。F。Benson，whoexaminedsomeoftheletters，toexplaintheresultsuponthegroundsoftelepathy。Headmitsthat"Thetastes，appearanceandcharacterofthedeceasedareoftengiven，andmanynamesareintroducedbythemedium，somenottraceable，butmostofthemidenticalwithrelationsorfriends。"
Suchanadmissionwouldalonebanishthought—readingasanexplanation，forthereisnoevidenceinexistencetoshowthatthispowereverreachessuchperfectionthatonewhopossessesitcoulddrawtheimageofadeadPage163
manfromyourbrain，fitacorrectnametohim，andthenassociatehimwithallsortsofdefiniteanddetailedactionsinwhichhewasengaged。
Suchanexplanationisnotanexplanationbutapretence。Butevenifoneweretoallowsuchatheorytopass，therearenumerousincidentsintheseaccountswhichcouldnotbeexplainedinsuchafashion，whereunknowndetailshavebeengivenwhichwereafterwardsverified，andevenwheremistakesinthoughtuponthepartofthesitterwerecorrectedbythemediumunderspiritguidance。PersonallyIbelievethatthemedium’sownaccountofhowshegetsherremarkableresultsistheabsolutetruth，andIcanimaginenootherfashioninwhichtheycanbeexplained。Shehas，ofcourse，herbaddays，andtheconditionsarealwaysworstwhenthereisaninquisitorialratherthanareligiousatmosphereintheinterview。Thisintermittentcharacteroftheresultsis，accordingtomyexperience，characteristicofspiritclairvoyanceascomparedwiththought—reading，whichcan，initsmoreperfectform，becomealmostautomaticwithincertainmarkedlimits。
ImayaddthattheconstantpracPage164
ticeofsomepsychicalresearcherstotakenonoticeatallofthemedium’sownaccountofhowheorsheattainsresults，buttosubstitutesomecomplicatedandunprovedexplanationoftheirown，isasinsultingasitisunreasonable。
IthasbeenallegedasasluruponMrs。B’sresultsandcharacterthatshehasbeentwiceprosecutedbythepolice。Thisis，infact，notasluruponthemediumbutratheruponthelaw，whichisinsobarbarousaconditionthatthetrueseerfaresnobetterthantheimpostor，andthatnodefinitepsychicprinciplesarerecognised。Amediummayundersuchcircumstancesbeamartyrratherthanacriminal，andaconvictionceasestobeastainuponthecharacter。