HPB-SB-1-33: Difference between revisions

{{Style P-Align right|{{Style S-Small capitals|Robert Cooper.<ref>{{Style S-HPB SB. HPB note|For Olcott’s reply - see following page}}</ref>}}}}

<nowiki>*</nowiki> The paragraph to which Mr. Cooper refers was taken from die Religio Philosophical Journal, and published with our сomments that “it was a trifle inconsistent and unjust.’’ We mention this lest a casual reader should suppose ''we'' cast a doubt. Mr. Cooper may have been satisfied with the genuineness of Miss Fay’s mediumship, but even he selected as his “test conditions” the holding of her hands; this may have been satisfactory to him but does he think it can compare in scientific value with the experiment of Mr. Crookes? Mr. Crookes settled it for the public—Mr. Cooper settled if for is individual self. Mr. Cooper may not believe in bagging tire medium, but it seems he was promptly on hand to witness the “bagging.” He says the public at large are not satisfied; but we say that a large number of Spiritualists who have confidence in his integrity and those present with him on this occasion to which he refers, have now faith in Mrs. Thayer's pretensions, which they could not have before. Indeed we have heard it so declared again and again by some of those present. The test, while perfectly convincing did not interfere with the medium’s powers. So with the Eddys or Davenports; the manifestations are given for a purpose, and that purpose the demonstration of the continued existence of the spirit. It is our experience that the strongest skeptics in time make the best Spiritualists; and also that the spirit world is ever ready to respond to an honest heart wishing for a convincing sign. We do not advocate burning wax, gags, racks, or any other unnecessary torture; but we do exhort Spiritualists and investigators to demand such simple conditions as will satisfy them of the genuineness of the phenomena. Even Mr. Robert Cooper, who saw an individual pass himself into a closed box, accepted it as a spiritual phenomena. But a simple experiment did not interfere with the medium’s(?) comfort, but exposed the trick, and broke up the business. A little more “bagging,” we say, indiscriminately applied.—{{Style S-Small capitals|Ed}}{{Style S-HPB SB. Editors note|itor}}