Changes

  | image = SB-01-040.jpg

  | image = SB-01-040.jpg

  | notes =  

  | notes =  

}}

}}

{{Style P-HPB SB. Title continued|A Rich Reward|1-39}}

{{Style P-HPB SB. Title continued|A Rich Reward|1-39}}

our past trouble, and difficulties were none great a price to pay. We ask readers who approve of our work to aid us by getting new subscribers, and of those who are blessed with knowledge and gifted with the ability to communicate the same, that they will send us their best thoughts in proper shape for publication. Let such reflect how great, how sublime is the work of those through whom thousands of minds are enlightened to their spiritual capabilities, their faith strengthened, and the immortal happiness of the future life demonstrated with mathematical certitude. To help in such a work is indeed a rich reward.

{{Style P-No indent|our past trouble, and difficulties were none great a price to pay. We ask readers who approve of our work to aid us by getting new subscribers, and of those who are blessed with knowledge and gifted with the ability to communicate the same, that they will send us their best thoughts in proper shape for publication. Let such reflect how great, how sublime is the work of those through whom thousands of minds are enlightened to their spiritual capabilities, their faith strengthened, and the immortal happiness of the future life demonstrated with mathematical certitude. To help in such a work is indeed a rich reward.}}

{{Style S-HPB SB. HPB note|HSO|right}}

{{Style S-HPB SB. HPB note|HSO|right}}

}}

}}

The Encyclopedia Britannica has an on “ apparitions, ” upon which this “ scientific editor ” writes.

The Encyclopedia Britannica has an on “ apparitions, ” upon which this “ scientific editor ” writes.

We have referred to this article in the ''Encyclopedia Britannica'' because an opinion such as that cited above, in a publication of such high standing, is worthy of more than passing notice. No matter how wonderful the events that are related by the fanatics who generally make up the congregation of Spiritualists, their revelations have little effect an any one outside the circle of their immediate followers ; but let a man of some scientific attainments, and, moreover, a member of the Royal Society, and his testimony to the truth of these events, and we see that he may deceive even the very elect. It was generally understood, when the last edition of the ''Encyclopedia Britannica'' was announced, that it was to be scientist in the best sense of the term, and, while giving due weight to popular beliefs and superstitions, that it would endeavor to sift away the chaff with which many of them are enveloped, and reveal their real character. We are to understand, then, from the article under consideration, that such investigations as have been made by some of the more distinguished converts to Spiritualism can properly he classed under the head of scientific experiments, which, while perhaps not absolutely conclusive, leave the matter ''sub judice''. When we remember the character of the evidence on which all the modern miracles depends, the difficulties if not impossibility of making a thorough investigation with the facilities afforded at a seance, and the complete exposure of all the notorious cases of spiritual visions, our readers will probably venture to doubt whether the treatise on “ Apparitions ” in the ''Encyclopedia Britannica'' either gives a clear understanding of the actual facts with Spiritualism, or re represents in any sense the views of scientists generally in regard to the matter. No mention is made, for instance, of the exposure of the Katie King fraud in this country, while the vision or this airy being, produced in England under the auspices of the same mediums, is given as one of the strong arguments for allowing Spiritualism to have a standing scientific men. For our part, we can say that we never heard of any event at a spiritualistic seance that at all approached the movements of the wonderful Psycho, in London, whose rationale escaped detection for months, with exhibitions in open day, and with apparently every facility for investigation that could he desired.”

We have referred to this article in the ''Encyclopedia Britannica'' because an opinion such as that cited above, in a publication of such high standing, is worthy of more than passing notice. No matter how wonderful the events that are related by the fanatics who generally make up the congregation of Spiritualists, their revelations have little effect an any one outside the circle of their immediate followers ; but let a man of some scientific attainments, and, moreover, a member of the Royal Society, and his testimony to the truth of these events, and we see that he may deceive even the very elect. It was generally understood, when the last edition of the ''Encyclopedia Britannica'' was announced, that it was to be scientist in the best sense of the term, and, while giving due weight to popular beliefs and superstitions, that it would endeavor to sift away the chaff with which many of them are enveloped, and reveal their real character. We are to understand, then, from the article under consideration, that such investigations as have been made by some of the more distinguished converts to Spiritualism can properly he classed under the head of scientific experiments, which, while perhaps not absolutely conclusive, leave the matter ''sub judice''. When we remember the character of the evidence on which all the modern miracles depends, the difficulties if not impossibility of making a thorough investigation with the facilities afforded at a seance, and the complete exposure of all the notorious cases of spiritual visions, our readers will probably venture to doubt whether the treatise on “ Apparitions ” in the ''Encyclopedia Britannica'' either gives a clear understanding of the actual facts with Spiritualism, or re represents in any sense the views of scientists generally in regard to the matter. No mention is made, for instance, of the exposure of the Katie King fraud in this country, while the vision or this airy being, produced in England under the auspices of the same mediums, is given as one of the strong arguments for allowing Spiritualism to have a standing scientific men. For our part, we can say that we never heard of any event at a spiritualistic seance that at all approached the movements of the wonderful Psycho, in London, whose rationale escaped detection for months, with exhibitions in open day, and with apparently every facility for investigation that could he desired.”