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photographer。
＇1＇ 〃The Reality of Psychic Phenomena。〃 〃Experiences in Psychical
Science。〃 （Watkins。）
There is no space here for the history of the rise and development of
the movement。 It provoked warm adhesion and fierce opposition from the
start。 Professor Hare and Horace Greeley were among the educated
minority who tested and endorsed its truth。 It was disfigured by many
grievous incidents； which may explain but does not excuse the perverse
opposition which it encountered in so many quarters。 This opposition was
really largely based upon the absolute materialism of the age； which would
not admit that there could exist at the present moment such conditions as
might be accepted in the far past。 When actually brought in contact with
that life beyond the grave which they professed to believe in； these people
winced； recoiled； and declared it impossible。 The science of the day was
also rooted in materialism； and discarded all its own very excellent axioms
when it was faced by an entirely new and unexpected proposition。 Faraday
declared that in approaching a new subject one should make up one's mind
a priori as to what is possible and what is not！ Huxley said that the
messages； EVEN IF TRUE； 〃interested him no more than the gossip of
curates in a cathedral city。〃 Darwin said： 〃God help us if we are to believe
such things。〃 Herbert Spencer declared against it； but had no time to go
into it。 At the same time all science did not come so badly out of the ordeal。
As already mentioned； Professor Hare； of Philadelphia； inventor； among
other things； of the oxy… hydrogen blow…pipe； was the first man of note
who had the moral courage； after considerable personal investigation； to
declare that these new and strange developments were true。 He was
followed by many medical men； both in America and in Britain； including
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THE VITAL MESSAGE
Dr。 Elliotson； one of the leaders of free thought in this country。 Professor
Crookes； the most rising chemist in Europe； Dr。 Russel Wallace the great
naturalist； Varley the electrician； Flammarion the French astronomer； and
many others； risked their scientific reputations in their brave assertions of
the truth。 These men were not credulous fools。 They saw and deplored the
existence of frauds。 Crookes' letters upon the subject are still extant。 In
very many cases it was the Spiritualists themselves who exposed the
frauds。 They laughed； as the public laughed； at the sham Shakespeares and
vulgar Caesars who figured in certain seance rooms。 They deprecated also
the low moral tone which would turn such powers to prophecies about the
issue of a race or the success of a speculation。 But they had that broader
vision and sense of proportion which assured them that behind all these
follies and frauds there lay a mass of solid evidence which could not be
shaken； though like all evidence； it had to be examined before it could be
appreciated。 They were not such simpletons as to be driven away from a
great truth because there are some dishonest camp followers who hang
upon its skirts。 A great centre of proof and of inspiration lay during those
early days in Mr。 D。 D。 Home； a Scottish…American； who possessed
powers which make him one of the most remarkable personalities of
whom we have any record。 Home's life； written by his second wife； is a
book which deserves very careful reading。 This man； who in some aspects
was more than a man； was before the public for nearly thirty years。 During
that time he never received payment for his services； and was always
ready； to put himself at the disposal of any bona…fide and reasonable
enquirer。 His phenomena were produced in full light； and it was
immaterial to him whether the sittings were in his own rooms or in those
of his friends。 So high were his principles that upon one occasion； though
he was a man of moderate means and less than moderate health； he refused
the princely fee of two thousand pounds offered for a single sitting by the
Union Circle in Paris。
As to his powers； they seem to have included every form of
mediumship in the highest degreeself…levitation； as witnessed by
hundreds of credible witnesses； the handling of fire； with the power of
conferring like immunity upon others； the movement without human touch
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THE VITAL MESSAGE
of heavy objects； the visible materialisation of spirits； miracles of healing；
and messages from the dead； such as that which converted the hard…headed
Scot； Robert Chambers； when Home repeated to him the actual dying
words of his young daughter。 All this came from a man of so sweet a
nature and of so charitable a disposition； that the union of all qualities
would seem almost to justify those who； to Home's great embarrassment；
were prepared to place him upon a pedestal above humanity。 The
genuineness of his psychic powers has never been seriously questioned；
and was as well recognised in Rome and Paris as in London。 One incident
only darkened his career； and it； was one in which he was blameless； as
anyone who carefully weighs the evidence must admit。 I allude to the
action taken against him by Mrs。 Lyon； who； after adopting him as her son
and settling a large sum of money upon him； endeavoured to regain； and
did regain； this money by her unsupported assertion that he had persuaded
her illicitly to make him the allowance。 The facts of his life are； in my
judgment； ample proof of the truth of the Spiritualist position； if no other
proof at all had been available。 It is to be remarked in the career of this
entirely honest and unvenal medium that he had periods in his life when
his powers deserted him completely； that he could foresee these lapses；
and that； being honest and unvenal； he simply abstained from all attempts
until the power returned。 It is this intermittent character of the gift which is；
in my opinion； responsible for cases when a medium who has passed the
most rigid tests upon certain occasions is afterwards detected in simulating；
very clumsily； the results which he had once successfully accomplished。
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