Thesecases，however，areveryrareincomparisonwiththetotalnumberofdeaths。InmostcasesIimaginethatthedeadmanistoopreoccupiedwithhisownamazingexperiencetohavemuchthoughtforothers。Hesoonfinds，tohissurprise，thatthoughheendeavourstocommunicatewiththosewhomhesees，hisetherealvoiceandhisetherealtouchareequallyunabletomakeanyimpressionuponthosehumanorganswhichareonlyattunedtocoarserstimuli。Itisafairsubjectforspeculation，Page66
whetherafullerknowledgeofthoselightrayswhichweknowtoexistoneithersideofthespectrum，orofthosesoundswhichwecanprovebythevibrationsofadiaphragmtoexist，althoughtheyaretoohighformortalear，maynotbringussomefurtherpsychicalknowledge。Settingthataside，however，letusfollowthefortunesofthedepartingspirit。
Heispresentlyawarethatthereareothersintheroombesidesthosewhowerethereinlife，andamongtheseothers，whoseemtohimassubstantialastheliving，thereappearfamiliarfaces，andhefindshishandgraspedorhislipskissedbythosewhomhehadlovedandlost。Thenintheircompany，andwiththehelpandguidanceofsomemoreradiantbeingwhohasstoodbyandwaitedforthenewcomer，hedriftstohisownsurprisethroughallsolidobstaclesandoutuponhisnewlife。
Thisisadefinitestatement，andthisisthestorytoldbyoneaftertheotherwithaconsistencywhichimpelsbelief。Itisalreadyverydifferentfromanyoldtheology。TheSpiritisnotaglorifiedangelorgoblindamned，butitissimplythepersonhimself，Page67
containingallhisstrengthandweakness，hiswisdomandhisfolly，exactlyashehasretainedhispersonalappearance。Wecanwellbelievethatthemostfrivolousandfoolishwouldbeawedintodecencybysotremendousanexperience，butimpressionssoonbecomeblunted，theoldnaturemaysoonreassertitselfinnewsurroundings，andthefrivolousstillsurvive，asourseanceroomscantestify。
Andnow，beforeenteringuponhisnewlife，thenewSpirithasaperiodofsleepwhichvariesinitslength，sometimeshardlyexistingatall，atothersextendingforweeksormonths。Raymondsaidthathislastedforsixdays。ThatwastheperiodalsoinacaseofwhichIhadsomepersonalevidence。Mr。Myers，ontheotherhand，saidthathehadaveryprolongedperiodofunconsciousness。Icouldimaginethatthelengthisregulatedbytheamountoftroubleormentalpreoccupationofthislife，thelongerrestgivingthebettermeansofwipingthisout。Probablythelittlechildwouldneednosuchintervalatall。This，ofcourse，ispurespeculation，butthereisaconsiderableconsensusPage68
ofopinionastotheexistenceofaperiodofoblivionafterthefirstimpressionofthenewlifeandbeforeenteringuponitsduties。
Havingwakenedfromthissleep，thespiritisweak，asthechildisweakafterearthbirth。Soon，however，strengthreturnsandthenewlifebegins。Thisleadsustotheconsiderationofheavenandhell。
Hell，Imaysay，dropsoutaltogether，asithaslongdroppedoutofthethoughtsofeveryreasonableman。Thisodiousconception，soblasphemousinitsviewoftheCreator，arosefromtheexaggerationsofOrientalphrases，andmayperhapshavebeenofserviceinacoarseagewheremenwerefrightenedbyfires，aswildbeastsaresearedbythetravellers。Hellasapermanentplacedoesnotexist。Buttheideaofpunishment，ofpurifyingchastisement，infactofPurgatory，isjustifiedbythereportsfromtheotherside。
WithoutsuchpunishmenttherecouldbenojusticeintheUniverse，forhowimpossibleitwouldbetoimaginethatthefateofaRasputinisthesameasthatofaFatherDamien。Thepunishmentisverycertainandveryserious，thoughinitslesssevereformsitPage69
onlyconsistsinthefactthatthegrossersoulsareinlowersphereswithaknowledgethattheirowndeedshaveplacedthemthere，butalsowiththehopethatexpiationandthehelpofthoseabovethemwilleducatethemandbringthemlevelwiththeothers。Inthissavingprocessthehigherspiritsfindpartoftheiremployment。MissJuliaAmesinherbeautifulposthumousbook，saysinmemorablewords："ThegreatestjoyofHeavenisemptyingHell。"
Settingasidethoseprobationaryspheres，whichshouldperhapsratherbelookeduponasahospitalforweaklysoulsthanasapenalcommunity，thereportsfromtheotherworldareallagreedastothepleasantconditionsoflifeinthebeyond。Theyagreethatlikegoestolike，thatallwholoveorwhohaveinterestsincommonareunited，thatlifeisfullofinterestandofoccupation，andthattheywouldbynomeansdesiretoreturn。Allofthisissurelytidingsofgreatjoy，andIrepeatthatitisnotavaguefaithorhope，butthatitissupportedbyallthelawsofevidencewhichagreethatwheremanyindependentwitnessesgiveasimilaraccount，Page70
thataccounthasaclaimtobeconsideredatrueone。Ifitwereanaccountofglorifiedsoulspurgedinstantlyfromallhumanweaknessandofaconstantecstasyofadorationroundthethroneoftheallpowerful，itmightwellbesuspectedasbeingthemerereflectionofthatpopulartheologywhichallthemediumshadequallyreceivedintheiryouth。Itis，however，verydifferenttoanypreexistingsystem。Itisalsosupported，asIhavealreadypointedout，notmerelybytheconsistencyoftheaccounts，butbythefactthattheaccountsaretheultimateproductofalongseriesofphenomena，allofwhichhavebeenattestedastruebythosewhohavecarefullyexaminedthem。
Inconnectionwiththegeneralsubjectoflifeafterdeath，peoplemaysaywehavegotthisknowledgealreadythroughfaith。Butfaith，howeverbeautifulintheindividual，hasalwaysincollectivebodiesbeenaverytwo-edgedquality。Allwouldbewellifeveryfaithwerealikeandtheintuitionsofthehumanracewereconstant。Weknowthatitisnotso。FaithmeanstosaythatyouentirelybelieveathingwhichyoucannotPage71
prove。Onemansays："Myfaithisthis。"Anothersays："Myfaithisthat。"Neithercanproveit，sotheywrangleforever，eithermentallyorintheolddaysphysically。Ifoneisstrongerthantheother，heisinclinedtopersecutehimjusttotwisthimroundtothetruefaith。
BecausePhiliptheSecond’sfaithwasstrongandclearhe，quitelogically，killedahundredthousandLowlandersinthehopethattheirfellowcountrymenwouldbeturnedtotheall-importanttruth。Now，ifitwererecognisedthatitisbynomeansvirtuoustoclaimwhatyoucouldnotprove，weshouldthenbedriventoobservefacts，toreasonfromthem，andperhapsreachcommonagreement。Thatiswhythispsychicalmovementappearssovaluable。
Itsfeetareonsomethingmoresolidthantextsortraditionsorintuitions。
Itisreligionfromthedoublepointofviewofbothworldsuptodate，insteadoftheancienttraditionsofoneworld。
WecannotlookuponthiscomingworldasatidyDutchgardenofaplacewhichissoexactthatitcaneasilybedescribed。ItisprobablethatthosemessengerswhocomePage72
backtousareall，moreorless，inonestateofdevelopmentandrepresentthesamewaveoflifeasitrecedesfromourshores。Communicationsusuallycomefromthosewhohavenotlongpassedover，andtendtogrowfainter，asonewouldexpect。ItisinstructiveinthisrespecttonoticethatChrist’sreappearancestohisdisciplesortoPaul，aresaidtohavebeenwithinaveryfewyearsofhisdeath，andthatthereisnoclaimamongtheearlyChristianstohaveseenhimlater。Thecasesofspiritswhogivegoodproofofauthenticityandyethavepassedsometimearenotcommon。Thereis，inMr。DawsonRoger’slife，averygoodcaseofaspiritwhocalledhimselfManton，andclaimedtohavebeenbornatLawrenceLydiardandburiedatStokeNewingtonin1677。Itwasclearlyshownafterwardsthattherewassuchaman，andthathewasOliverCromwell’schaplain。Sofarasmyownreadinggoes，thisistheoldestspiritwhoisonrecordasreturning，andgenerallytheyarequiterecent。Hence，onegetsallone’sviewsfromtheonegeneration，asitwere，andwecannottakethemasfinal，butPage75
onlyaspartial。HowspiritsmayseethingsinadifferentlightastheyprogressintheotherworldisshownbyMissJuliaAmes，whowasdeeplyimpressedatfirstbythenecessityofformingabureauofcommunication，butadmitted，afterfifteenyears，thatnotonespiritinamillionamongthemainbodyuponthefurthersideeverwantedtocommunicatewithusatallsincetheirownlovedoneshadcomeover。Shehadbeenmisledbythefactthatwhenshefirstpassedovereveryoneshemetwasnewlyarrivedlikeherself。
Thustheaccountwegivemaybepartial，butstillsuchasitisitisveryconsistentandofextraordinaryinterest，sinceitreferstoourowndestinyandthatofthosewelove。Allagreethatlifebeyondisforalimitedperiod，afterwhichtheypassontoyetotherphases，butapparentlythereismorecommunicationbetweenthesephasesthanthereisbetweenusandSpiritland。Thelowercannotascend，butthehighercandescendatwill。Thelifehasacloseanalogytothatofthisworldatititsbest。Itispre-eminentlyalifeofthemind，asthisisofthebody。PreoccupationsPage74
offood，money，lust，pain，etc。，areofthebodyandaregone。Music，theArts，intellectualandspiritualknowledge，andprogresshaveincreased。
Thepeopleareclothed，asonewouldexpect，sincethereisnoreasonwhymodestyshoulddisappearwithournewforms。Thesenewformsaretheabsolutereproductionoftheoldonesattheirbest，theyounggrowingupandtheoldrevertinguntilallcometothenormal。Peopleliveincommunities，asonewouldexpectiflikeattractslike，andthemalespiritstillfindshistruematethoughthereisnosexualityinthegrossersenseandnochildbirth。Sinceconnectionsstillendure，andthoseinthesamestateofdevelopmentkeepabreast，onewouldexpectthatnationsarestillroughlydividedfromeachother，thoughlanguageisnolongerabar，sincethoughthasbecomeamediumofconversation。HowcloseistheconnectionbetweenkindredsoulsoverthereisshownbythewayinwhichMyers，GurneyandRodenNoel，allfriendsandco-workersonearth，sentmessagestogetherthroughMrs。Holland，whoknewnoneofthem，eachmessagebeingcharacteristicPage75
tothosewhoknewthemeninlife——orthewayinwhichProfessorVerrallandProfessorButcher，bothfamousGreekscholars，collaboratedtoproducetheGreekproblemwhichhasbeenanalysedbyMr。GeraldBalfourinTheEarofDionysius，withtheresultthatthatexcellentauthoritytestifiedthattheeffectcouldhavebeenattainedbynootherentities，saveonlyVerrallandButcher。Itmayberemarkedinpassingthattheseandotherexamplesshowclearlyeitherthatthespiritshavetheuseofanexcellentreferencelibraryorelsethattheyhavememorieswhichproducesomethinglikeomniscience。NohumanmemorycouldpossiblycarryalltheexactquotationswhichoccurinsuchcommunicationsasTheEarofDionysius。
These，roughlyspeaking，arethelinesofthelifebeyondinitssimplestexpression，foritisnotallsimple，andwecatchdimglimpsesofendlesscirclesbelowdescendingintogloomandendlesscirclesabove，ascendingintoglory，allimproving，allpurposeful，allintenselyalive。AllareagreedthatnoreligionuponearthhasanyadvantageoverPage76
another，butthatcharacterandrefinementareeverything。Atthesametime，allarealsoinagreementthatallreligionswhichinculcateprayer，andanupwardglanceratherthaneyesforeveronthelevel，aregood。
Inthissense，andinnoother——asahelptospirituallife——everyformmayhaveapurposeforsomebody。IftotwirlabrasscylinderforcestheThibetantoadmitthatthereissomethinghigherthanhismountains，andmorepreciousthanhisyaks，thentothatextentitisgood。Wemustnotbecensoriousinsuchmatters。
Thereisonepointwhichmaybementionedherewhichisatfirststartlingandyetmustcommenditselftoourreasonwhenwereflectuponit。Thisistheconstantassertionfromtheothersidethatthenewlypasseddonotknowthattheyaredead，andthatitisalongtime，sometimesaverylongtime，beforetheycanbemadetounderstandit。Allofthemagreethatthisstateofbewildermentisharmfulandretardingtothespirit，andthatsomeknowledgeoftheactualtruthuponthissideistheonlywaytomakesureofnotbeingdazedupontheother。Page77
Findingconditionsentirelydifferentfromanythingforwhicheitherscientificorreligiousteachinghadpreparedthem，itisnowonderthattheylookupontheirnewsensationsassomestrangedream，andthemorerigidlyorthodoxhavebeentheirviews，themoreimpossibledotheyfindittoacceptthesenewsurroundingswithallthattheyimply。Forthisreason，aswellasformanyothers，thisnewrevelationisaveryneedfulthingformankind。Asmallerpointofpracticalimportanceisthattheagedshouldrealisethatitisstillworthwhiletoimprovetheirminds，forthoughtheyhavenotimetousetheirfreshknowledgeinthisworlditwillremainaspartoftheirmentaloutfitinthenext。
Astothesmallerdetailsofthislifebeyond，itisbetterperhapsnottotreatthem，fortheverygoodreasonthattheyaresmalldetails。Wewilllearnthemallsoonforourselves，anditisonlyvaincuriositywhichleadsustoaskforthemnow。Onethingisclear：therearehigherintelligencesoveryondertowhomsyntheticchemistry，whichnotonlymakesthesubstancebutmouldsthePage78
form，isamatterofabsoluteease。Weseethematworkinthecoarsermedia，perceptibletoourmaterialsenses，intheseanceroom。Iftheycanbuildupsimulacraintheseanceroom，howmuchmayweexpectthemtodowhentheyareworkinguponetherealobjectsinthatetherwhichistheirownmedium。Itmaybesaidgenerallythattheycanmakesomethingwhichisanalogoustoanythingwhichexistsuponearth。Howtheydoitmaywellbeamatterofguessandspeculationamongthelessadvancedspirits，asthephenomenaofmodernscienceareamatterofguessandspeculationtous。Ifoneofusweresuddenlycalledupbythedenizenofsomesub-humanworld，andwereaskedtoexplainexactlywhatgravityis，orwhatmagnetismis，howhelplessweshouldbe！Wemayputourselvesintheposition，then，ofayoungengineersoldierlikeRaymondLodge，whotriestogivesometheoryofmatterinthebeyond——atheorywhichisverylikelycontradictedbysomeotherspiritwhoisalsoguessingatthingsabovehim。Hemayberight，orhemaybewrong，butbeisdoinghisbesttosaywhathethinks，asPage79
weshoulddoinsimilarcase。Hebelievesthathistranscendentalchemistscanmakeanything，andthatevensuchunspiritualmatterasalcoholortobaccocouldcomewithintheirpowersandcouldstillbecravedforbyunregeneratespirits。Thishastickledthecriticstosuchanextentthatonewouldreallythinktoreadthecommentsthatitwastheonlystatementinabookwhichcontains400closely-printedpages。Raymondmayberightorwrong，buttheonlythingwhichtheincidentprovestomeistheunflinchingcourageandhonestyofthemanwhochronicledit，knowingwellthehandlethathewasgivingtohisenemies。
Therearemanywhoprotestthatthisworldwhichisdescribedtousistoomaterialfortheirliking。Itisnotastheywoulddesireit。Well，therearemanythingsinthisworldwhichseemdifferentfromwhatwedesire，buttheyexistnonetheless。Butwhenwecometoexaminethischargeofmaterialismandtrytoconstructsomesortofsystemwhichwouldsatisfytheidealists，itbecomesaverydifficulttask。ArewetobemerewispsofgaseoushappinessfloatingPage80
aboutintheair？Thatseemstobetheidea。Butifthereisnobodylikeourown，andifthereisnocharacterlikeourown，thensaywhatyouwill，wehavebecomeextinct。Whatisittoamotherifsomeimpersonalglorifiedentityisshowntoher？Shewillsay，"thatisnotthesonIlost——Iwanthisyellowhair，hisquicksmile，hislittlemoodsthatIknowsowell。"Thatiswhatshewants；that，Ibelieve，iswhatshewillhave；butshewillnothavethembyanysystemwhichcutsusawayfromallthatremindsusofmatterandtakesustoavagueregionoffloatingemotions。
Thereisanoppositeschoolofcriticswhichratherfindsthedifficultyinpicturingalifewhichhaskeenperceptions，robustemotions，andasolidsurroundingallconstructedinsodiaphanousamaterial。Letusrememberthateverythingdependsuponitscomparisonwiththethingsaroundit。
Ifwecouldconceiveofaworldathousandtimesdenser，heavieranddullerthanthisworld，wecanclearlyseethattoitsinmatesitwouldseemmuchthesameasthis，sincetheirstrengthandtexturewouldbeinproPage81
portion。If，however，theseinmatescameincontactwithus，theywouldlookuponusasextraordinarilyairybeingslivinginastrange，light，spiritualatmosphere。Theywouldnotrememberthatwealso，sinceourbeingsandoursurroundingsareinharmonyandinproportiontoeachother，feelandactexactlyastheydo。
Wehavenowtoconsiderthecaseofyetanotherstratumoflife，whichisasmuchaboveusastheleadencommunitywouldbebelowus。Tousalsoitseemsasifthesepeople，thesespirits，aswecallthem，livethelivesofvapourandofshadows。Wedonotrecollectthattherealsoeverythingisinproportionandinharmonysothatthespiritsceneorthespiritdwelling，whichmightseemameredreamthingtous，isasactualtothespiritasareourownscenesorourowndwellings，andthatthespiritbodyisasrealandtangibletoanotherspiritasourstoourfriends。
Page82Chapter4PROBLEMSANDLIMITATIONSLeavingforamomentthelargerargumentastothelinesofthisrevelationandthebroadproofsofitsvalidity，therearesomesmallerpointswhichhaveforcedthemselvesuponmyattentionduringtheconsiderationofthesubject。Thishomeofourdeadseemstobeveryneartous——sonearthatwecontinually，astheytellus，visittheminoursleep。Muchofthatquietresignationwhichwehaveallobservedinpeoplewhohavelostthosewhomtheyloved——peoplewhowouldinourpreviousopinionhavebeendrivenmadbysuchloss——isduetothefactthattheyhaveseentheirdead，andthatalthoughtheswitch-offiscompleteandtheycanrecallnothingwhateverofthespiritexperienceinsleep，thesoothingresultofitisstillcarriedonbythesubconsciousself。Theswitch-offis，asIsay，complete，butsometimesforsomereasonitishungupforPage83
afractionofasecond，anditisatsuchmomentsthatthedreamercomesbackfromhisdream"trailingcloudsofglory。"Fromthisalsocomeallthosepropheticdreamsmanyofwhicharewellattested。Ihavehadarecentpersonalexperienceofonewhichhasnotyetperhapsentirelyjustifieditselfbutisevennowremarkable。UponApril4thoflastyear，1917，I
awokewithafeelingthatsomecommunicationhadbeenmadetomeofwhichIhadonlycarriedbackonewordwhichwasringinginmyhead。Thatwordwas"Piave。"TothebestofmybeliefIhadneverheardthewordbefore。
AsitsoundedlikethenameofaplaceIwentintomystudythemomentIhaddressedandIlookeduptheindexofmyAtlas。Therewas"Piave"
sureenough，andInotedthatitwasariverinItalysomefortymilesbehindthefrontline，whichatthattimewasvictoriouslyadvancing。I
couldimaginefewmoreunlikelythingsthanthatthewarshouldrollbacktothePiave，andIcouldnotthinkhowanymilitaryeventofconsequencecouldarisethere，butnonethelessIwassoimpressedthatIPage84
drewupastatementthatsomesucheventwouldoccurthere，andIhaditsignedbymysecretaryandwitnessedbymywifewiththedate，April4th，attached。ItisamatterofhistoryhowsixmonthslaterthewholeItalianlinefellback，howitabandonedsuccessivepositionsuponrivers，andhowitstuckuponthisstreamwhichwassaidbymilitarycriticstobestrategicallyalmostuntenable。Ifnothingmoreshouldoccur（IwriteuponFebruary20th，1918），thereferencetothenamehasbeenfullyjustified，presumingthatsomefriendinthebeyondwasforecastingthecomingeventsofthewar。Ihavestillahope，however，thatmorewasmeant，andthatsomecrowningvictoryoftheAlliesatthisspotmayjustifystillfurtherthestrangewayinwhichthenamewasconveyedtomymind。
Peoplemaywellcryoutagainstthistheoryofsleeponthegroundsthatallthegrotesque，monstrousandobjectionabledreamswhichplagueuscannotpossiblycomefromahighsource。OnthispointIhaveaverydefinitetheory，whichmayperhapsbeworthyofdiscussion。
IconsiderPage85
thattherearetwoformsofdreams，andonlytwo，theexperiencesofthereleasedspirit，andtheconfusedactionofthelowerfacultieswhichremaininthebodywhenthespiritisabsent。Theformerisrareandbeautiful，forthememoryofitfailsus。Thelatterarecommonandvaried，butusuallyfantasticorignoble。Bynotingwhatisabsentinthelowerdreamsonecantellwhatthemissingqualitiesare，andsojudgewhatpartofusgoestomakeupthespirit。Thusinthesedreamshumouriswanting，sinceweseethingswhichstrikeusafterwardsasludicrous，andarenotamused。
Thesenseofproportionandofjudgmentandofaspirationisallgone。
Inshort，thehigherispalpablygone，andthelower，thesenseoffear，ofsensualimpression，ofself-preservation，isfunctioningallthemorevividlybecauseitisrelievedfromthehighercontrol。
Thelimitationsofthepowersofspiritsisasubjectwhichisbroughthometooneinthesestudies。Peoplesay，"Iftheyexistwhydon’ttheydothisorthat！"Theanswerusuallyisthattheycan’t。TheyappearPage86
tohaveveryfixedlimitationslikeourown。Thisseemedtobeveryclearlybroughtoutinthecross-correspondenceexperimentswhereseveralwritingmediumswereoperatingatadistancequiteindependentlyofeachother，andtheobjectwastogetagreementwhichwasbeyondthereachofcoincidence。Thespiritsseemtoknowexactlywhattheyimpressuponthemindsoftheliving，buttheydonotknowhowfartheycarrytheirinstructionout。Theirtouchwithusisintermittent。Thus，inthecross-correspondenceexperimentswecontinuallyhavethemasking，"Didyougetthat？"or"Wasitallright？"Sometimestheyhavepartialcognisanceofwhatisdone，aswhereMyerssays："Isawthecircle，butwasnotsureaboutthetriangle。"
Itiseverywhereapparentthattheirspirits，eventhespiritsofthosewho，likeMyersandHodgson，wereinspeciallyclosetouchwithpsychicsubjects，andknewallthatcouldbedone，wereindifficultieswhentheydesiredtogetcognisanceofamaterialthing，suchasawrittendocument。
Only，Ishouldimagine，bypartlymaterialisingthemselvesPage87
couldtheydoso，andtheymaynothavehadthepowerofself-materialization。
Thisconsiderationthrowssomelightuponthefamouscase，sooftenusedbyouropponents，whereMyersfailedtogivesomewordorphrasewhichhadbeenleftbehindinasealedbox。Apparentlyhecouldnotseethisdocumentfromhispresentposition，andifhismemoryfailedhimhewouldbeverylikelytogowrongaboutit。
Manymistakesmay，Ithink，beexplainedinthisfashion。
Ithasbeenassertedfromtheotherside，andtheassertionseemstomereasonable，thatwhentheyspeakoftheirownconditionstheyarespeakingofwhattheyknowandcanreadilyandsurelydiscuss；butthatwhenweinsist（aswemustsometimesinsist）uponearthlytests，itdragsthembacktoanotherplaneofthings，andputstheminapositionwhichisfarmoredifficult，andliabletoerror。
Anotherpointwhichiscapableofbeingusedagainstusisthis：Thespiritshavethegreatestdifficultyingettingnamesthroughtous，anditisthiswhichmakesmanyoftheircommunicationssovagueandPage88
unsatisfactory。Theywilltalkallroundathing，andyetnevergetthenamewhichwouldclinchthematter。ThereisanexampleofthepointinarecentcommunicationinLight，whichdescribeshowayoungofficer，recentlydead，endeavouredtogetamessagethroughthedirectvoicemethodofMrs。SusannahHarristohisfather。Hecouldnotgethisnamethrough。Hewasable，however，tomakeitclearthathisfatherwasamemberoftheKildareStreetClubinDublin。Inquiryfoundthefather，anditwasthenlearnedthatthefatherhadalreadyreceivedanindependentmessageinDublintosaythataninquirywascomingthroughfromLondon。
Idonotknowiftheearthnameisamerelyephemeralthing，quitedisconnectedfromthepersonality，andperhapstheveryfirstthingtobethrownaside。
Thatis，ofcourse，possible。Oritmaybethatsomelawregulatesourintercoursefromtheothersidebywhichitshallnotbetoodirect，andshallleavesomethingtoourownintelligence。
Thisidea，thatthereissomelawwhichmakesanindirectspeechmoreeasythanaPage89
directone，isgreatlyborneoutbythecross-correspondences，wherecircumlocutioncontinuallytakestheplaceofassertion。Thus，intheSt。
Paulcorrespondence，whichistreatedintheJulypamphletoftheS。P。R。，theideaofSt。Paulwastobeconveyedfromoneautomaticwritertotwoothers，bothofwhomwereatadistance，oneoftheminIndia。Dr。Hodgsonwasthespiritwhoprofessedtopresideoverthisexperiment。Youwouldthinkthatthesimplewords"St。Paul"occurringintheotherscriptswouldbeall-sufficient。Butno；heproceedstomakeallsortsofindirectallusions，totalkallroundSt。Paulineachofthescripts，andtomakefivequotationsfromSt。Paul’swritings。Thisisbeyondcoincidence，andquiteconvincing，butnonethelessitillustratesthecuriouswayinwhichtheygoroundinsteadofgoingstraight。Ifonecouldimaginesomewiseangelontheothersidesaying，"Now，don’tmakeittooeasyforthesepeople。Makethemusetheirownbrainsalittle。Theywillbecomemereautomatonsifwedoeverythingforthem"——ifwecouldimaginethat，itwouldjustcoverthecase。Page90
Whatevertheexplanation，itisanoteworthyfact。
Thereisanotherpointaboutspiritcommunicationswhichisworthnoting。Thisistheiruncertaintywhereveranytimeelementcomesin。Theirestimateoftimeisalmostinvariablywrong。Earthtimeisprobablyadifferentideatospirittime，andhencetheconfusion。Wehadtheadvantage，asIhavestated，ofthepresenceofaladyinourhouseholdwhodevelopedwritingmediumship。Shewasinclosetouchwiththreebrothers，allofwhomhadbeenkilledinthewar。Thislady，conveyingmessagesfromherbrothers，washardlyeverentirelywronguponfacts，andhardlyeverrightabouttime。Therewasonenotableexception，however，whichinitselfissuggestive。Althoughherpropheciesastopubliceventswereweeksorevenmonthsout，sheinonecaseforetoldthearrivalofatelegramfromAfricatotheday。Nowthetelegramhadalreadybeensent，butwasdelayed，sothattheinferenceseemstobethatshecouldforetellacourseofeventswhichhadactuallybeensetinmotion，andcalculatehowlongtheywouldtakePage91
toreachtheirend。Ontheotherhand，Iamboundtoadmitthatsheconfidentlyprophesiedtheescapeofherfourthbrother，whowasaprisonerinGermany，andthatthiswasdulyfulfilled。OnthewholeIpreserveanopenminduponthepowersandlimitationsofprophecy。
Butapartfromalltheselimitationswehave，unhappily，todealwithabsolutecoldbloodedlyingonthepartofwickedormischievousintelligences。Everyonewhohasinvestigatedthematterhas，Isuppose，metwithexamplesofwilfuldeception，whichoccasionallyaremixedupwithgoodandtruecommunications。Itwasofsuchmessages，nodoubt，thattheApostlewrotewhenhesaid："Beloved，believe，noteveryspirit，buttrythespiritswhethertheyareofGod。"ThesewordscanonlymeanthattheearlyChristiansnotonlypractisedSpiritualismasweunderstandit，butalsothattheywerefacedbythesamedifficulties。Thereisnothingmorepuzzlingthanthefactthatonemaygetalongconnecteddescriptionwitheverydetailgiven，andthatitmayprovetobeentirelyaconcoction。
However，wemustPage92
bearinmindthatifonecasecomesabsolutelycorrect，itatonesformanyfailures，justasifyouhadonetelegramcorrectyouwouldknowthattherewasalineandacommunicator，howevermuchtheybrokedownafterwards。
Butitmustbeadmittedthatitisverydiscomposingandmakesonescepticalofmessagesuntiltheyaretested。OfakinwiththesefalseinfluencesarealltheMiltonswhocannotscan，andShelleyswhocannotrhyme，andShakespeareswhocannotthink，andalltheotherabsurdimpersonationswhichmakeourcauseridiculous。Theyare，Ithink，deliberatefrauds，eitherfromthissideorfromtheother，buttosaythattheyinvalidatethewholesubjectisassenselessastoinvalidateourownworldbecauseweencountersomeunpleasantpeople。
OnethingIcantrulysay，andthatis，thatinspiteoffalsemessages，Ihaveneverinalltheseyearsknownablasphemous，anunkind，oranobscenemessage。Suchincidentsmustbeofveryexceptionalnature。Ithinkalsothat，sofarasallegationsconcerninginsanity，obsession，andsoforthgo，theyareentirelyimaginary。AsylumstatisticsPage93
donotbearoutsuchassertions，andmediumslivetoasgoodanaverageageasanyoneelse。Ithink，however，thatthecultoftheseancemaybeverymuchoverdone。Whenonceyouhaveconvincedyourselfofthetruthofthephenomenathephysicalseancehasdoneitswork，andthemanorwomanwhospendshisorherlifeinrunningfromseancetoseanceisindangerofbecomingameresensationhunter。Here，asinothercults，theformisindangerofeclipsingtherealthing，andinpursuitofphysicalproofsonemayforgetthattherealobjectofallthesethingsis，asI
havetriedtopointout，togiveusassuranceinthefutureandspiritualstrengthinthepresent，toattainadueperceptionofthepassingnatureofmatterandtheall-importanceofthatwhichisimmaterial。
Theconclusion，then，ofmylongsearchaftertruth，isthatinspiteofoccasionalfraud，whichSpiritualistsdeplore，andinspiteofwildimaginings，whichtheydiscourage，thereremainsagreatsolidcoreinthismovementwhichisinfinitelynearertopositiveproofthananyotherreligiousdevelopmentPage94
withwhichIamacquainted。AsIhaveshown，itwouldappeartobearediscoveryratherthananabsolutelynewthing，buttheresultinthismaterialageisthesame。ThedaysaresurelypassingwhenthematureandconsideredopinionsofsuchmenasCrookes，Wallace，Flammarion，Chas。
Richet，Lodge，Barrett，Lombroso，GeneralsDraysonandTurner，SergeantBallantyne，W。T。Stead，JudgeEdmunds，AdmiralUsborneMoore，thelateArchdeaconWilberforce，andsuchacloudofotherwitnesses，canbedismissedwiththeempty"Allrot"or"Nauseatingdrivel"formulae。AsMr。ArthurHillhaswellsaid，wehavereachedapointwherefurtherproofissuperfluous，andwheretheweightofdisproofliesuponthosewhodeny。Theverypeoplewhoclamourforproofshaveasarulenevertakenthetroubletoexaminethecopiousproofswhichalreadyexist。Eachseemstothinkthatthewholesubjectshouldbegindenovobecausehehasaskedforinformation。
Themethodofouropponentsistofastenuponthelatestmanwhohasstatedthecase——atthepresentinstantithappensPage95
tobeSirOliverLodge——andthentodealwithhimasifhehadcomeforwardwithsomenewopinionswhichrestedentirelyuponhisownassertion，withnoreferencetothecorroborationofsomanyindependentworkersbeforehim。Thisisnotanhonestmethodofcriticism，forineverycasetheagreementofwitnessesistheveryrootofconviction。Butasamatteroffact，therearemanysinglewitnessesuponwhomthiscasecouldrest。If，forexample，ouronlyknowledgeofunknownforcesdependedupontheresearchesofDr。
CrawfordofBelfast，whoplaceshisamateurmediuminaweighingchairwithherfeetfromtheground，andhasbeenabletoregisteradifferenceofweightofmanypounds，correspondingwiththephysicalphenomenaproduced，aresultwhichhehastestedandrecordedinatruescientificspiritofcaution，Idonotseehowitcouldbeshaken。Thephenomenaareandhavelongbeenfirmlyestablishedforeveryopenmind。Onefeelsthatthestageofinvestigationispassed，andthatofreligiousconstructionisoverdue。
ForarewetosatisfyourselvesbyobservingPage96
phenomenawithnoattentiontowhatthephenomenamean，asagroupofsavagesmightstareatawirelessinstallationwithnoappreciationofthemessagescomingthroughit，orareweresolutelytosetourselvestodefinethesesubtleandelusiveutterancesfrombeyond，andtoconstructfromthemareligiousscheme，whichwillbefoundeduponhumanreasononthissideanduponspiritinspirationupontheother？Thesephenomenahavepassedthroughthestageofbeingaparlourgame；theyarenowemergingfromthatofadebatablescientificnovelty；andtheyare，orshouldbe，takingshapeasthefoundationsofadefinitesystemofreligiousthought，insomewaysconfirmatoryofancientsystems，insomewaysentirelynew。
Theevidenceuponwhichthissystemrestsissoenormousthatitwouldtakeaveryconsiderablelibrarytocontainit，andthewitnessesarenotshadowypeoplelivinginthedimpastandinaccessibletoourcross-examination，butareourowncontemporaries，menofcharacterandintellectwhomallmustrespect。Thesituationmay，asitseemstome，besummedupinasimplePage97
alternative。Theonesuppositionisthattherehasbeenanoutbreakoflunacyextendingovertwogenerationsofmankind，andtwogreatcontinents——alunacywhichassailsmenorwomenwhoareotherwiseeminentlysane。
ThealternativesuppositionisthatinrecentyearstherehascometousfromdivinesourcesanewrevelationwhichconstitutesbyfarthegreatestreligiouseventsincethedeathofChrist（fortheReformationwasare-arrangementoftheold，notarevelationofthenew），arevelationwhichaltersthewholeaspectofdeathandthefateofman。Betweenthesetwosuppositionsthereisnosolidposition。Theoriesoffraudorofdelusionwillnotmeettheevidence。Itisabsolutelunacyoritisarevolutioninreligiousthought，arevolutionwhichgivesusasby-productsanutterfearlessnessofdeath，andanimmenseconsolationwhenthosewhoaredeartouspassbehindtheveil。
IshouldliketoaddafewpracticalwordstothosewhoknowthetruthofwhatIsay。Wehavehereanenormousnewdevelopment，thegreatestinthehistoryofmankind。Howarewetouseit？WeareboundinPage98
honour，Ithink，tostateourownbelief，especiallytothosewhoareintrouble。Havingstatedit，weshouldnotforceit，butleavetheresttohigherwisdomthanourown。Wewishtosubvertnoreligion。Wewishonlytobringbackthematerial-minded——totakethemoutoftheircrampedvalleyandputthemontheridge，whencetheycanbreathepurerairandseeothervalleysandotherridgesbeyond。Religionsaremostlypetrifiedanddecayed，overgrownwithformsandchokedwithmysteries。Wecanprovethatthereisnoneedforthis。Allthatisessentialisbothverysimpleandverysure。
Theclearcallforourhelpcomesfromthosewhohavehadalossandwhoyearntore-establishconnection。Thisalsocanbeoverdone。
IfyourboywereinAustralia，youwouldnotexpecthimtocontinuallystophisworkandwritelonglettersatallseasons。Havinggotintouch，bemoderateinyourdemands。Donotbesatisfiedwithanyevidenceshortofthebest，buthavinggotthat，youcan，itseemstome，waitforthatshortperiodwhenweshallallbere-united。IamintouchatpresentwiththirteenmothersPage99
whoareincorrespondencewiththeirdeadsons。Ineachcase，thehusband，whereheisalive，isagreedastotheevidence。InonlyonecasesofarasIknowwastheparentacquaintedwithpsychicmattersbeforethewar。
Severalofthesecaseshavepeculiaritiesoftheirown。
Intwoofthemthefiguresofthedeadladshaveappearedbesidethemothersinaphotograph。Inonecasethefirstmessagetothemothercamethroughastrangertowhomthecorrectaddressofthemotherwasgiven。Thecommunicationafterwardsbecamedirect。Inanothercasethemethodofsendingmessageswastogivereferencestoparticularpagesandlinesofbooksindistantlibraries，thewholeconveyingamessage。Theprocedurewastoweedoutallfearoftelepathy。Verilythereisnopossiblewaybywhichatruthcanbeprovedbywhichthistruthhasnotbeenproved。
Howareyoutoact？Thereisthedifficulty。Therearetruemenandtherearefrauds。Youhavetoworkwarily。Sofarasprofessionalmediumsgo，youwillnotPage100
finditdifficulttogetrecommendations。Evenwiththebestyoumaydrawentirelyblank。Theconditionsareveryelusive。Andyetsomegettheresultatonce。Wecannotlaydownlaws，becausethelawworksfromtheothersideaswellasthis。Nearlyeverywomanisanundevelopedmedium。
Lethertryherownpowersofautomaticwriting。Thereagain，whatisdonemustbedonewitheveryprecautionagainstself-deception，andinareverentandprayerfulmood。Butifyouareearnest，youwillwinthroughsomehow，forsomeoneelseisprobablytryingontheotherside。
Somepeoplediscountenancecommunicationuponthegroundthatitishinderingtheadvanceofthedeparted。Thereisnotatittleofevidenceforthis。Theassertionsofthespiritsareentirelytothecontraryandtheydeclarethattheyarehelpedandstrengthenedbythetouchwiththosewhomtheylove。IknowfewmoremovingpassagesintheirsimpleboyisheloquencethanthoseinwhichRaymonddescribesthefeelingsofthedeadboyswhowanttogetmessagesbacktotheirpeopleandfindthatignorancePage101
andprejudiceareaperpetualbar。"Itishardtothinkyoursonsaredead，butsuchalotofpeopledothinkso。Itisrevoltingtoheartheboystellyouhownoonespeaksofthemever。Ithurtsmethroughandthrough。"
Aboveallreadtheliteratureofthissubject。Ithasbeenfartoomuchneglected，notonlybythematerialworldbutbybelievers。
Soakyourselfwiththisgrandtruth。Makeyourselffamiliarwiththeoverpoweringevidence。GetawayfromthephenomenalsideandlearntheloftyteachingfromsuchbeautifulbooksasAfterDeathorfromStaintonMoses’SpiritTeachings。Thereisawholelibraryofsuchliterature，ofunequalvaluebutofahighaverage。Broadenandspiritualizeyourthoughts。
Showtheresultsinyourlives。Unselfishness，thatisthekeynotetoprogress。
Realisenotasabelieforafaith，butasafactwhichisastangibleasthestreetsofLondon，thatwearemovingonsoontoanotherlife，thatallwillbeveryhappythere，andthattheonlypossiblewayinwhichthathappinesscanbemarredordeferredisbyPage102
follyandselfishnessinthesefewfleetingyears。
ItmustberepeatedthatwhilethenewrevelationmayseemdestructivetothosewhoholdChristiandogmaswithextremerigidity，ithasquitetheoppositeeffectuponthemindwhich，likesomanymodernminds，hadcometolookuponthewholeChristianschemeasahugedelusion。
Itisshownclearlythattheoldrevelationhassomanyresemblances，defacedbytimeandmangledbyman’smishandlingandmaterialism，butstilldenotingthesamegeneralscheme，thatundoubtedlybothhavecomefromthesamesource。Theacceptedideasoflifeafterdeath，ofhigherandlowerspirits，ofcomparativehappinessdependinguponourownconduct，ofchasteningbypain，ofguardianspirits，ofhighteachers，ofaninfinitecentralpower，ofcirclesabovecirclesapproachingnearertoHispresence——alloftheseconceptionsappearoncemoreandareconfirmedbymanywitnesses。
Itisonlytheclaimsofinfallibilityandofmonopoly，thebigotryandpedantryoftheologians，andtheman-maderitualswhichtakethelifeoutofthePage103
God-giventhoughts——itisonlythiswhichhasdefacedthetruth。
IcannotendthislittlebookbetterthanbyusingwordsmoreeloquentthananywhichIcouldwrite，asplendidsampleofEnglishstyleaswellasofEnglishthought。Theyarefromthepenofthatconsiderablethinkerandpoet，Mr。GeraldMassey，andwerewrittenmanyyearsago。
"Spiritualismhasbeenforme，incommonwithmanyothers，suchaliftingofthementalhorizonandletting-inoftheheavens——suchaformationoffaithintofacts，thatIcanonlycomparelifewithoutittosailingonboardshipwithhatchesbatteneddownandbeingkeptaprisoner，livingbythelightofacandle，andthensuddenly，onsomesplendidstarrynight，allowedtogoondeckforthefirsttimetoseethestupendousmechanismoftheheavensallaglowwiththegloryofGod。"
Page107
SUPPLEMENTARYDOCUMENTS
THENEXTPHASEOFLIFEIhavespokeninthetextofthestrikingmannerinwhichaccountsoflifeinthenextphase，thoughderivedfromthemostvariedandindependentsources，arestillinessentialagreement——anagreementwhichoccasionallydescendstosmalldetails。Avarietyisintroducedbythatfullervisionwhichcanseeanddescribemorethanoneplane，buttheaccountsofthathappylandtowhichtheordinarymortalmayhopetoaspire，areveryconsistent。SinceIwrotethestatementIhavereadthreefreshindependentdescriptionswhichagainconfirmthepoint。Oneistheaccountgivenby"AKing’sCounsel，"inhisrecentbook，IHeardaVoice（KeganPaul），whichIrecommendedtoinquirers，thoughithasastrongRomanCatholicbiasrunningthroughitwhichshowsthatourmainlinesofthoughtarepersistent。AsecondisthelittlebookPage108
TheLightontheFuture，givingtheveryinterestingdetailsofthebeyond，gatheredbyanearnestandreverentcircleinDublin。TheothercameinaprivateletterfromMr。HubertWales，andis，Ithink，mostinstructive。Mr。Walesisacautiousandratherscepticalinquirerwhohadputawayhisresultswithincredulity（hehadreceivedthemthroughhisownautomaticwriting）。Onreadingmyaccountoftheconditionsdescribedinthebeyond，hehunteduphisownoldscriptwhichhadcommendeditselfsolittletohimwhenhefirstproducedit。Hesays："Afterreadingyourarticle，Iwasstruck，almoststartled，bythecircumstancethatthestatementswhichhadpurportedtobemadetomeregardingconditionsafterdeathcoincided——Ithinkalmosttothesmallestdetail——withthoseyousetoutastheresultofyourcollationofmaterialobtainedfromagreatnumberofsources。
Icannotthinktherewasanythinginmyantecedentreadingtoaccountforthiscoincidence。Ihadcertainlyreadnothingyouhadpublishedonthesubject。IhadpurposelyavoidedRaymondPage109
andbookslikeit，inordernottovitiatemyownresults，andtheProceedingsoftheS。P。R。whichIhadreadatthattime，donottouch，asyouknow，uponafter-deathconditions。AtanyrateIobtained，atvarioustimes，statements（asmycontemporarynotesshow）totheeffectthat，inthispersistingstateofexistence，theyhavebodieswhich，thoughimperceptiblebyoursenses，areassolidtothemasourstous，thatthesebodiesarebasedonthegeneralcharacteristiesofourpresentbodiesbutbeautified；
thattheyhavenoage，nopain，norichandpoor；thattheywearclothesandtakenourishment；thattheydonotsleep（thoughtheyspokeofpassingoccasionallyintoasemiconsciousstatewhichtheycalled`lyingasleep’
——acondition，itjustoccurstome，whichseemstocorrespondroughlywiththe`Hypnoidal’state）；that，afteraperiodwhichisusuallyshorterthantheaveragelife-timehere，theypasstosomefurtherstateofexistence；
thatpeopleofsimilarthoughts，tastesandfeelings，gravitatetogether；
thatmarriedcouplesdonotnecessarilyreunite，butthattheloveofmanandPage110
womancontinuesandisfreedofelementswhichwithusoftenmilitateagainstitsperfectrealization；thatimmediatelyafterdeathpeoplepassintoasemi-consciousrest-statelastingvariousperiods，thattheyareunabletoexperiencebodilypain，butaresusceptibleattimestosomementalanxiety；thatapainfuldeathis`absolutelyunknown，’thatreligiousbeliefsmakenodifferencewhateverintheafter-state，andthattheirlifealtogetherisintenselyhappy，andnoonehavingeverrealiseditcouldwishtoreturnhere。Igotnoreferenceto`work’bythatword，butmuchtothevariousintereststhatweresaidtooccupythem。Thatisprobablyonlyanotherwayofsayingthesamething。`Work’withushascomeusuallytomean`worktolive，’andthat，Iwasemphaticallyinformed，wasnotthecasewiththem——thatalltherequirementsoflifeweresomehowmysteriously`provided。’NeitherdidIgetanyreferencetoadefinite`temporarypenalstate，’butIgatheredthatpeoplebeginthereatthepointofintellectualandmoraldevelopmentwheretheyleaveoffhere；andsincetheirstateofhappinesswasPage111
basedmainlyuponsympathy，thosewhocameoverinalowmoralcondition，failedatfirstforvariouslengthsoftimetohavethecapacitytoappreciateandenjoyit。"
Page112AUTOMATICWRITINGThisformofmediumshipgivestheveryhighestresults，andyetinitsverynatureisliabletoself-deception。Areweusingourownhandorisanoutsidepowerdirectingit？Itisonlybytheinformationreceivedthatwecantell，andeventhenwehavetomakebroadallowancefortheactionofourownsubconsciousknowledge。Itisworthwhileperhapstoquotewhatappearstometobeathoroughlycritic-proofcase，sothattheinquirermayseehowstrongtheevidenceisthatthesemessagesarenotself-evolved。ThiscaseisquotedinMr。ArthurHill’srecentbookManIsaSpirit（Cassell&；Co。）andiscontributedbyagentlemanwhotakesthenameofCaptainJamesBurton。Heis，Iunderstand，thesamemedium（amateur）throughwhosecommunicationsthepositionoftheburiedruinsatGlastonburyhaverecentlyPage113
beenlocated。"Aweekaftermyfather’sfuneralIwaswritingabusinessletter，whensomethingseemedtointervenebetweenmyhandandthemotorcentresofmybrain，andthehandwroteatanamazingratealetter，signedwithmyfather’ssignatureandpurportingtocomefromhim。Iwasupset，andmyrightsideandarmbecamecoldandnumb。Forayearafterthisletterscamefrequently，andalwaysatunexpectedtimes。IneverknewwhattheycontaineduntilIexaminedthemwithamagnifying-glass：theyweremicroscopic。
Andtheycontainedavastamountofmatterwithwhichitwasimpossibleformetobeacquainted。"……"Unknowntome，mymother，whowasstayingsomesixtymilesaway，lostherpetdog，whichmyfatherhadgivenher。
ThesamenightIhadaletterfromhimcondolingwithher，andstatingthatthedogwasnowwithhim。`Allthingswhichloveusandarenecessarytoourhappinessintheworldarewithushere。’Amostsacredsecret，knowntonoonebutmyfatherandmother，concerningamatterwhichoccurredyearsbeforeIwasborn，Page114
wasafterwardstoldmeinthescript，withthecomment：`Tellyourmotherthis，andshewillknowthatitisI，yourfather，whoamwriting。’Mymotherhadbeenunabletoacceptthepossibilityuptonow，butwhenI
toldherthisshecollapsedandfainted。Fromthatmomentthelettersbecamehergreatestcomfort，fortheywereloversduringthefortyyearsoftheirmarriedlife，andhisdeathalmostbrokeherheart。
"Asformyself，Iamasconvincedthatmyfather，inhisoriginalpersonality，stillexists，asifhewerestillinhisstudywiththedoorshut。HeisnomoredeadthanhewouldbewerehelivinginAmerica。
"Ihavecomparedthedictionandvocabularyoftheseletterswiththoseemployedinmyownwriting——Iamnotunknownasamagazinecontributor——andIfindnopointsofsimilaritybetweenthetwo。"ThereismuchfurtherevidenceinthiscaseforwhichIreferthereadertothebookitself。
Page115THECHERITONDUGOUTIhavementionedinthetextthatIhadsomerecentexperienceofacasewherea"polter-geist"ormischievousspirithadbeenmanifesting。
Theseentitiesappeartobeofanundevelopedorderandnearertoearthconditionsthananyotherswithwhichweareacquainted。Thiscomparativematerialismupontheirpartplacesthemlowinthescaleofspirit，andundesirableperhapsascommunicants，butitgivesthemaspecialvalueascallingattentiontocrudeobviousphenomena，andsoarrestingthehumanattentionandforcinguponournoticethatthereareotherformsoflifewithintheuniverse。Theseborderlandforceshaveattractedpassingattentionatseveraltimesandplacesinthepast，suchcasesastheWesleypersecutionatEpworth，theDrummerPage116
ofTedworth，theBellsofBealing，etc。，startlingthecountryforatime——eachofthembeinganimpingementofunknownforcesuponhumanlife。ThenalmostsimultaneouslycametheHydesvillecaseinAmericaandtheCidevilledisturbancesinFrance，whichweresomarkedthattheycouldnotbeoverlooked。Fromthemsprangthewholemodernmovementwhich，reasoningupwardsfromsmallthingstogreat，fromrawthingstodevelopedones，fromphenomenatomessages，isdestinedtogivereligionthefirmestbasisuponwhichithaseverstood。Therefore，humbleandfoolishasthesemanifestationsmayseem，theyhavebeentheseedoflargedevelopments，andareworthyofourrespectful，thoughcritical，attention。
Manysuchmanifestationshaveappearedofrecentyearsinvariousquartersoftheworld，eachofwhichistreatedbythepressinamoreorlesscomicvein，withaconvictionapparentlythattheuseoftheword"spook"discreditstheincidentandbringsdiscussiontoanend。Itisremarkablethateachistreatedasanentirelyisolatedphenomenon，Page117
andthustheordinaryreadergetsnoideaofthestrengthofthecumulativeevidence。InthisparticularcaseoftheCheritonDugoutthefactsareasfollows：
Mr。Jaques，aJusticeofthePeaceandamanofeducationandintelligence，residingatEmbrookHouse，Cheriton，nearFolkestone，madeadugoutjustoppositetohisresidenceasaprotectionagainstairraids。Thehousewas，itmayberemarked，ofgreatantiquity，partofitbeinganoldreligiousfoundationofthe14thCentury。Thedugoutwasconstructedatthebaseofasmallbluff，andthesinkingwasthroughordinarysoftsandstone。TheworkwascarriedoutbyalocaljobbingbuildercalledRolfe，assistedbyalad。Soonaftertheinceptionofhistaskhewasannoyedbyhiscandlebeingcontinuallyblownoutbyjetsofsand，and，bysimilarjetshittingupagainsthisownface。Thesephenomenaheimaginedtobeduetosomegaseousorelectricalcause，buttheyreachedsuchapointthathisworkwasseriouslyhampered，andhecomplainedtoMr。Jaques，whoreceivedthestorywithabsoluteincredulity。Thepersecutioncontinued，Page118
however，andincreasedinintensity，takingtheformnowofactualblowsfrommovingmaterial，considerableobjects，suchasstonesandbitsofbrick，flyingpasthimandhittingthewallswithaviolentimpact。Mr。
Rolfe，stillsearchingforaphysicalexplanation，wenttoMr。Hesketh，theMunicipalElectricianofFolkestone，amanofhigheducationandintelligence，whowentouttothesceneoftheaffairandsawenoughtoconvincehimselfthatthephenomenawereperfectlygenuineandinexplicablebyordinarylaws。ACanadiansoldierwhowasbilleteduponMr。Rolfe，heardanaccountofthehappeningsfromhishost，andafterannouncinghisconvictionthatthelatterhad"batsinhisbelfry"proceededtothedugout，wherehisexperiencesweresoinstantandsoviolentthatherushedoutoftheplaceinhorror。ThehousekeeperattheHallalsowasawitnessofthemovementofbrickswhennohumanhandstouchedthem。Mr。Jaques，whoseincredulityhadgraduallythawedbeforeallthisevidence，wentdowntothedugoutintheabsenceofeveryone，andwasdepartingfromitwhenfivestonesrappedupPage119
againstthedoorfromtheinside。Hereopenedthedoorandsawthemlyingthereuponthefloor。SirWilliamBarretthadmeanwhilecomedown，buthadseennothing。Hisstaywasashortone。Iafterwardsmadefourvisitsofabouttwohourseachtothegrotto，butgotnothingdirect，thoughIsawthenewbrickworkallchippedaboutbytheblowswhichithadreceived。
Theforcesappearedtohavenottheslightestinterestinpsychicalresearch，fortheyneverplayeduptoaninvestigator，andyettheirpresenceandactionhavebeendemonstratedtoatleastsevendifferentobservers，and，asIhavesaid，theylefttheirtracesbehindthem，eventotheextentofpickingtheflintstonesoutofthenewcementwhichwastoformthefloor，andarrangingthemintidylittlepiles。Theobviousexplanationthattheboywasanadeptatmischiefhadtobesetasideinviewofthefactthatthephenomenaoccurredinhisabsence。Oneextramanofsciencewanderedontothesceneforamoment，butashisexplanationwasthatthemovementsoccurredthroughtheemanationofmarsh-gas，itdidnotadvancemattersmuch。ThePage120
disturbancesarestillproceeding，andIhavehadaletterthisverymorning（February21st，1918）withfullerandlaterdetailsfromMr。Hesketh，theEngineer。
Whatistherealexplanationofsuchamatter？I
canonlysaythatIhaveadvisedMr。Jaquestodigintothebluffunderwhichheisconstructinghiscellar。Imadesomeinvestigationmyselfuponthetopofitandconvincedmyselfthatthesurfacegroundatthatspothasatsometimebeendisturbedtothedepthofatleastfivefeet。Somethinghas，Ishouldjudge，beenburiedatsomedate，anditisprobablethat，asinthecasecitedinthetext，thereisaconnectionbetweenthisandthedisturbances。ItisveryprobablethatMr。Rolfeis，unknowntohimself，aphysicalmedium，andthatwhenhewasintheconfinedspaceofthecellarheturneditintoacabinetinwhichhismagneticpowerscouldaccumulateandbeavailableforuse。Itchancedthattherewasonthespotsomeagencywhichchosetousethem，andhencethephenomena。WhenMr。JaqueswentalonetothegrottothepowerleftbehindbyMr。Rolfe，whohadbeeninitallPage121
morning，wasnotyetexhaustedandhewasabletogetsomemanifestations。
SoIreadit，butitiswellnottobedogmaticonsuchmatters。IfthereissystematicdiggingIshouldexpectanepiloguetothestory。
WhilsttheseproofswereinthepressasecondverymarkedcaseofaPolter-geistcamewithinmyknowledge。Icannotwithoutbreachofconfidencerevealthedetailsandthephenomenaarestillgoingon。
Curiouslyenough，itwasbecauseoneofthesufferersfromtheinvasionreadsomeremarksofmineupontheCheritondugoutthatthisothercasecametomyknowledge，fortheladywrotetomeatonceforadviceandassistance。
TheplaceisremoteandIhavenotyetbeenabletovisitit，butfromthefullaccountswhichIhavenowreceiveditseemstopresentallthefamiliarfeatures，withthephenomenonofdirectwritingsuperadded。Somespecimensofthisscripthavereachedme。Twoclergymenhaveendeavouredtomitigatethephenomena，whichareoccasionallyveryviolent，butsofarwithoutresult。Itmaybesomeconsolationtoanyotherswhomaybesufferingfromthisstrangeinfliction，Page122
toknowthatinthemanycaseswhichhavebeencarefullyrecordedthereisnoneinwhichanyphysicalharmhasbeeninflicteduponmanorbeast。