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Blavatsky H.P. - The Russian Scientists: Difference between revisions

Blavatsky H.P. - The Russian Scientists (view source)

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The names attached to this protest represent the best blood of Russia. It is the most influentially signed document, {{Page aside|216}} probably, that ever appeared in an official journal of my country. It represents a large part of our wealth, intellect and family influence. Some of the names will be recognized by your readers as historical, and as having shed lustre upon the Russian name the wide world over. Its effect upon the scientists, as I learn from private letters, has been amusing and wholesome. Mendeleyeff has been forced into a corner, like a fugitive rat, and is now preparing his defense in the shape of a book, we are told! Professor Wagner’s favorable review of Colonel Olcott’s People from the Other World has contributed largely toward creating the excitement in the ranks of our enemies.
The names attached to this protest represent the best blood of Russia. It is the most influentially signed document, {{Page aside|216}} probably, that ever appeared in an official journal of my country. It represents a large part of our wealth, intellect and family influence. Some of the names will be recognized by your readers as historical, and as having shed lustre upon the Russian name the wide world over. Its effect upon the scientists, as I learn from private letters, has been amusing and wholesome. Mendeleyeff has been forced into a corner, like a fugitive rat, and is now preparing his defense in the shape of a book, we are told! Professor Wagner’s favorable review of Colonel Olcott’s People from the Other World has contributed largely toward creating the excitement in the ranks of our enemies.
The Russians are waiting eagerly to see Dr. Slade’s phenomena. A contract has been signed today, which binds him to report in St.
The Russians are waiting eagerly to see Dr. Slade’s phenomena. A contract has been signed today, which binds him to report in St.
Petersburg on the 1st of November next, and remain there three months. The Theosophical Society, as you are aware, has made a very careful and patient investigation. Two out of three skeptics on the Committee were converted beyond backsliding, and the manifestations were found genuine. A copy of the official report was duly forwarded to St. Petersburg, as a sedative for the Russian psychophobists .
Petersburg on the 1st of November next, and remain there three months. The Theosophical Society, as you are aware, has made a very careful and patient investigation. Two out of three skeptics on the Committee were converted beyond backsliding, and the manifestations were found genuine. A copy of the official report was duly forwarded to St. Petersburg, as a sedative for the Russian psychophobists .
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<center>PROTEST AGAINST THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE COMMISSION FOR
{{Style P-Subtitle|PROTEST AGAINST THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE COMMISSION FOR INVESTIGATING MEDIUMISM.}}
INVESTIGATING MEDIUMISM.</center>
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The learned Commission organized for the examination of mediumistic phenomena, had for its object—if we may credit the assertion of Mr. Mendeleyeff which appeared in the Golos (No. 137, 1875)—to carefully investigate “these manifestations,” and thereby “render a great and universal public service.”
The learned Commission organized for the examination of mediumistic phenomena, had for its object—if we may credit the assertion of Mr. Mendeleyeff which appeared in the Golos (No. 137, 1875)—to carefully investigate “these manifestations,” and thereby “render a great and universal public service.”
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It now announces in its Report of March 21st (Golos, No. 85 1876) that it has finished its labors, that “its object is attained,” and that its unanimous verdict is that “mediumistic phenomena are {{Page aside|218}} produced either by unconscious movements or conscious fraud,” and that the “Spiritist doctrine is nothing but superstition.”
It now announces in its Report of March 21st (Golos, No. 85 1876) that it has finished its labors, that “its object is attained,” and that its unanimous verdict is that “mediumistic phenomena are {{Page aside|218}} produced either by unconscious movements or conscious fraud,” and that the “Spiritist doctrine is nothing but superstition.”


This verdict of the Commission is based, according to its own declaration, upon eight séances, at the first four of which there were no mediumistic phenomena at all, and at the last four, the Commission only saw a few movements of the table and heard a few raps!
This verdict of the Commission is based, according to its own declaration, upon eight séances, at the first four of which there were no mediumistic phenomena at all, and at the last four, the Commission only saw a few movements of the table and heard a few raps! But where are the promised experiments of the Commission with movements of objects without contact, the alteration of weight of bodies, the dialogistic, psychographic and mediumo-plastic wonders? Of the limited programme of investigation which the Commission prescribed for itself, it appears that it did not carry out even the fourth part. But on the other hand, without the slightest warrant, it busied itself with the doctrine of Spiritism, which did not enter in its programme at all.
 
But where are the promised experiments of the Commission with movements of objects without contact, the alteration of weight of bodies, the dialogistic, psychographic and mediumo-plastic wonders? Of the limited programme of investigation which the Commission prescribed for itself, it appears that it did not carry out even the fourth part. But on the other hand, without the slightest warrant, it busied itself with the doctrine of Spiritism, which did not enter in its programme at all.


Therefore, we, the undersigned, deem it our duty to declare that by such a superficial and hasty treatment of the grave subject under investigation, the Commission has by no means solved the problem which it undertook to demonstrate. It evidently did not gather data enough to warrant it in either accepting or rejecting the occurrence of mediumistic phenomena.
Therefore, we, the undersigned, deem it our duty to declare that by such a superficial and hasty treatment of the grave subject under investigation, the Commission has by no means solved the problem which it undertook to demonstrate. It evidently did not gather data enough to warrant it in either accepting or rejecting the occurrence of mediumistic phenomena.
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{{HPB-CW-comment|[The Spiritual Scientist published “A Letter from D. D. Home” in its issue of July 6, 1876. The letter was written in self-defence against an anonymous “Comte” who attacked Home because he insulted a lady. In the first paragraph of this letter, Home writes as follows:}}
{{HPB-CW-comment|[The Spiritual Scientist published “A Letter from D. D. Home” in its issue of July 6, 1876. The letter was written in self-defence against an anonymous “Comte” who attacked Home because he insulted a lady. In the first paragraph of this letter, Home writes as follows:}}


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{{HPB-CW-comment|[In H.P.B.’s {{SB-page|v=1|p=185|text=Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 185}}, there is a cutting which gives an account most likely from the Boston Herald of October, 1876, of various “materializations” produced by Mrs. Bennett, a medium, and of how she was finally exposed as a trickster. To this H.P.B. added the following in pen and ink:]}}
{{HPB-CW-comment|[In H.P.B.’s {{SB-page|v=1|p=185|text=Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 185}}, there is a cutting which gives an account most likely from the Boston Herald of October, 1876, of various “materializations” produced by Mrs. Bennett, a medium, and of how she was finally exposed as a trickster. To this H.P.B. added the following in pen and ink:]}}


This is the same Mrs. Bennett whose mediumship was so strongly believed in by Epes Sargent. He wrote me a letter and sent a picture made in the dark by this cheat of the {{Page aside|221}} departed daughter of one of his friends. The picture was unanimously recognized. “The best test that was ever given” wrote poor Epes Sargent to his correspondents.
This is the same Mrs. Bennett whose mediumship was so strongly believed in by Epes Sargent. He wrote me a letter and sent a picture made in the dark by this cheat of the {{Page aside|221}} departed daughter of one of his friends. The picture was unanimously recognized. “The best test that was ever given” wrote poor Epes Sargent to his correspondents.
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