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HPB-SB-5-43: Difference between revisions
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| author = Markley, J. T. | | author = Markley, J. T. | ||
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| source title = | | source title = London Spiritualist | ||
| source details = | | source details = No. 287, February 22, 1878, pp. 87-8 | ||
| publication date = | | publication date = 1878-02-22 | ||
| original date = | | original date = | ||
| notes = | | notes = | ||
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... | {{Style S-Small capitals|It}}''' '''has been remarked, how seldom the front-rank scientific witnesses speak out in connection with Spiritualism. The cause is not far to seek. If such pre-eminent believers in the phenomena, as Messrs. W. Crookes, C. F. Varley, A. It. Wallace, and the well-known influential list of learned worthies identified with this subject, do not join in a popular propaganda, they are to be excused on many grounds, Readers of this journal need not be reminded of the many “men of faith” in the Spiritualistic ranks. With the hot emotional enthusiasm of almost Methodist excitement, the “men of faith” yield easily to those legerdemain scandals which so often disgrace the movement. Sham “mediums” quickly read the pre-dispositions of such masculine-gender old ladies; and the calmly cautious investigators have to blush for periodical and successful imposture. This, in itself, is a lamentable fact. Names of world-wide weight are thus habitually lost to the cumulative evidence of Psychological inquiry; and the testimony of famous men creeps forth only in a stage whisper. Other important personages—chiefly ''Litterateurs''—stand aside, as dispassionate and non-emphatic watchmen, simply because of radical sneers at historic religions. Our noble friends S. C. Hall, Dr. Maurice Davies, and scores, of whom they are but the conspicuous spokesmen, maintain a reserve as determined as it is disastrous. Few sensible Spiritualists would cling to the feeble theological platform of orthodoxy. But to assume direct antagonism to the unmatched moral sweetness of Christ, and His mountain-side precepts, is to make phenomenal and philosophical Spiritualism a mere vulgar, clay-god worship; or to level it down to the intense “flesh and blood,” hot-dinner creed, of Mr. Bradlaugh and Annie Besant. If, therefore, we are to estimate the full force of intellectual Spiritualism in England and on the Continent, we must first bind great and original thinkers together in a rare confraternity of other world aspiration; with the undying charm of ''spirituelle ''affinity, to cement''' '''and consolidate the holy alliance. When the ''Times ''gave half a page, five years ago, to ''stance ''records and discussion, the intellectual champions of Spiritualism came boldly to the front, and amazed lettered society by a surprising united testimony. We only need cautiousness, culture, and unimpeachable character, for a repetition of such interest and encouragement. | ||
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Let Spiritualists combine to stamp out impostors, and the counterfeit article, and the most widely important of all anxious studies, “If a man die, shall he live again?” will soon absorb the attention of all thoughtful people. A sign of this ingeniously screened interest may be noted in the public prints of the day. Editors and literary contributors in magazines, newspapers, and other organs of the press, occasionally betray a profound intellectual leaning towards psychological experiment, and towards the marvellous evidence of trained experts whose cool words, and ''premiere'' character raise the question at once to the highest status of respectability. London correspondents of provincial daily papers, gossip writers in “society” journals, and'' ''the far from ghostly ''flaneurs ''of influential reviews continually essay faint fun about Dr. Slade, D. D. Home, Dr. Monck, and a thousand dancing mahogany tables, simply to advertise a subject in which all but fools are interested; even ''Punch ''takes Spiritualism between his nose and chin, occasionally to kiss as well as curse it; and the merry ''con'' ''freres ''of Tom Taylor catch up, if with a crackling laugh, the latest edition of the ''seance ''room apparitions. Added to this, in editorial comments, written with the slowness of dissolving doubt, and feeling abroad for the “opinion” which newspapers reflect, but cannot originally inflict, we see the possible drift of cultured thought in the direction of a theme now too well buttressed to be pushed aside, evaded, or contemptuously despised. The moral of the situation is obvious. When—in a few years—the nakedness of honest and verified experiment causes thoughtful men everywhere to throw off the mask and testify to what they really know about Spiritualistic investigation, the array of eminent and honourable persons will give the movement the most commanding distinction. Meanwhile, would it not be wise {{Style S-HPB SB. Continues on |5-44}} | |||
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<gallery widths=300px heights=300px> | |||
london_spiritualist_n.287_1878-02-22.pdf|page=5|London Spiritualist, No. 287, February 22, 1878, pp. 87-8 | |||
</gallery> | |||