W... H,, A . T-i-v I S THIS SPIRITUALISM BY HORACE LEAF NEW UUr YORK GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I THE CASE FOR SPIRITUALISM . . i . . 9 II WHAT SPIRITUALISM TEACHES .... 38 III WHAT SPIIHTUALISM TEACHES Continued 54 IV WHT I BECAME A SPIRITUALIST .... 72 V AUTHENTICATED CASES OF SPIRIT COM MUNICATIONS 93 VI MEDIUMS TRUE AND FALSE 120 VII CLAIRVOYANCE OR CLEAR-SEEING . . 144 VIII THE ANTIQUITY OF SPIRITUALISM . . . 166 WHAT IS THIS SPIRITUALISM WHAT IS THIS SPIRITUALISM CHAPTER I THE CASE FOR SPnOTUALISM The growing popularity of Spiritualism its unique position leads to a clearer conception of life the Churches and Spiritualism Bev. B. J. Campbell has convinced many scientists of survival of bodily death controversy in nineteenth century opponents methods Professor Tyn dall Mr. Edward Clodd Dr. W. J. Carpenter support ers methods Sir William Crookes Psychic Force Cesare Lombroso biology and psychology of phantoms may be constructed Sir Oliver Lodge Baymond table-tiltings and rappings their evidential value scien-. tific experiments with D, D, Home nd Florence Cook materialisation of Katie King- Sir W. Crookes sees medium and spirit together, 4 photographs spirit form Dr. W. J. Crawford Miss Kathleen Goligher the in visible operators stance in the light levitations and raps Dr. Crawfords theories trance control of Miss Goligher, FOE nearly three-fourths of a century the public has been more or less interested in the subject of Modern Spiritualism. During the course of the great war, whilst other reH-9 WHAT IS THIS SPIRITUALISM gious bodies have frequently complained of failure or ill-success, Spiritualism has rap idly increased in popularity and is to-day probably the only religious movement in the West that is growing. The world has now made the discovery that instead of being composed of a small number of ignorant and superstitious people, whose sole interest is in table-rappings and weird manifesta tions, it is represented by many persons commanding respect in other departments of activity. This is exactly what one of its most illustrious opponents Ernest Haeckel pointed out nearly twenty years ago. Spiritualism has invaded the homes of prince and peasant alike, and many of the greatest minds, including eminent scientists, have made it a matter of special study and whilst some have been unconvinced, others have become its enthusiastic advocates. This is unique in the history of religion, be cause the claims of Modern Spiritualism rest upon an entirely different basis to that of other religious beliefs. Whereas faith is the particular foundation of Christianity, Mo hammedanism, Buddhism, and Hinduism, 10 THE CASE FOR SPIRITUALISM experiment is the foundation of Spiritual ism. In other words, it is a science as well as a religion. In one sense its devotees re gard it as a science throwing fresh light on the great problem of existence. In another sense it is an illumination leading to a clearer appreciation of the spiritual and philosophical value of life. That is no doubt why so many of its bitterest opponents have been leaders in religious thought. Full of confidence in the faith they already held, they could only regard as a dangerous inter loper that which denied their assertion that all matters concerning the hereafter must be accepted by faith and not demonstrated as fact. A gradual change has taken place in this direction during the last few years, and it . has become quite common for clergymen to admit the correctness of the Spiritualists position so far, at least, as evidence for the survival of bodily death is concerned. Sev eral of the most popular authors on the sub ject are ordained ministers in the Church of England and quite recently the Rev. R. J. Campbell had an article in a leading Church 11 WHAT IS THIS SPIRITUALISM journal, in which he declares that it is use less to deny the reality of the experiences on which Spiritualists base their claims... --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.