HPB-SB-3-73

T i

vol. 3, p. 73

H. P. Blavatsky Scrapbooks

from Adyar archives of the International Theosophical Society

vol. 3 (1875-1878)

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eng • рус

< Mediumship and Sciolism (continued from page 3-72) >

fallen into such idiotism of expression as we find in the following passage,—“Now any substance that could be introduced through this wall in a sufficient space of time to allow the attraction of cohesion to remain between the particles and fibres, would not disturb the wall.” How much time is requisite “to allow the attraction of cohesion to remain,” we may respectfully refer to Lord Dundreary.

The most meritorious portion of the lecture, as a matter of science, is the speculation as to force being the reality of substance. The idea is not clearly expressed however, and it is one which was fully illustrated by Boscorich, and has long been current among speculative minds.

Without looking further at the intellectual defects of the lecture, we perceive clearly that it is impossible that the lecture, as a whole, should have proceeded from the mind of Prof. Mapes; it is simply possible that he may have inspired a portion of it; but there is nothing in it beyond the power of dramatic clairvoyance. Indeed, it is quite certain that if Mrs. T. possessed a better disciplined and more scientific mind, she might have made a much better approximation to a lecture by Prof. Mapes; one that would have been considered quite convincing and satisfactory as evidence of his personal expression, By ninety-nine hundredth of his hearers.

No such literature as this will command the respect, or even attract the attention of scientific minds. Its pleasing and evanescent impression on a popular audience, as its highest utility, and the unthinking acceptance by Spiritualists of the brilliant displays of dramatic clairvoyance as reliable messages from the spirit-world, tends to build up superstition rather than philosophy.

The lectures of Mrs. Tappan are pleasant reading; her discourse in the name of Theodore Parker, is both eloquent and interesting; but in all her efforts we perceive her own powers and peculiarities, very little modified by the name which she possesses to represent. The range of Parker's thought was not so different from her own, and she makes a much better personation of Parker than of Mapes. Nor should our satisfaction be diminished in recognizing that, as dramatic clairvoyance, which some prefer to accept as a supernal utterance.

[concluded next week. page] See the back of it

Russia

Extracts from a Letter of M. Alexandre N. Aksakoff, Counselor of State, in the Imperial Chancellery of St. Petersburg, Russia, to Mme. Helena P. Blavatsky

[TRANSLATED FROM THE RUSSIAN.] * * *

I am overwhelmed with work for our cause. Never before has our Imperial city been so excited and aroused by Spiritualism, as it has been during the last two months. You know the details of what occurred from reading Prof. Wagner’s report which I mailed you some time ago. The first result of our seances was an account, by the same professor in the German language, which I sent you in the periodical. Then appeared his letter in Russian, to the editor of the Messenger of Europe ; which letter must hereafter be regarded as marking an epoch in the history of Spiritualism in Russia. It is the first article that has ever appeared in print in our country, in favor of Spiritualism, and in defence of its facts. The interest of the public, which had been constantly increasing, while our winter seances were in progress, reached its culmination upon the publication of the Professor’s article. The scandal caused by it in the press was incredibly great, and the spirit of opposition immense. All the newspapers got hold of it at once. At this moment of writing, my desk is literally covered with written and printed protests. I count thirty articles—illustrations and monuments of the, popular ignorance—full of raillery, abuse, and stupidity, which have been showered like rain upon the head of our courageous professor, the representative of science in Russia, who dared to observe facts and see Truth in a quarter where public opinion could only find crazy illusions and mountebankery.

But lo ! and behold ! just at the very height of this storm of indignation, there occurs a new surprise—an episode. The Imperial Society of Experimentalists in Physics, attached to the University of St. Petersburg, has at the suggestion of M. Mendeleyeff, the academician, and one of our most eminent savants, appointed a Scientific Commission to investigate the Spiritual Phenomena. It will be composed of nearly all the University professors and quite a number of young scientists besides.

My prayer to you and Col. Olcott is as follows : Will you be so kind as to translate into English the enclosed “Appeal to Mediums, ” and then with the Colonel’s help have it published in all the spiritual papers of America, as well as in some secular papers. Furthermore, consult together and report to us, whom of American mediums we had better invite to St. Petersburg, in the best interest of the Cause. For our first experiments we would prefer having mediums for simple but strong physical manifestations in the light. Use all your influence to get us good mediums, begin the work at once, and advise me without loss of time. Bear in mind that money is no object with us, and that for my own part I am ready to undergo any amount of personal sacrifice, if thereby I can only see Truth triumphant.

Consult your ‘‘John King, ” and ask him to help us ; I am certain he will not refuse our committee, and I hope he will give our scientists hard work. I am sending the same “Appeal” to England, and in all probability will have to visit London myself in order to secure the best mediums.

I hope that what we are preparing, and our title Scientific Commission, will help Col. Olcott to open the eyes of American scientists, and force them to do likewise. It will be a disgrace to progressed America, if we anticipate them.

Sincerely and truly yours,

A. Aksakoff.

Counselor of State, in the Imperial Chancellery of St. Petersburg.

Appeal to Mediums

[TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.]

In consequence of the testimony of Messrs. Butlerow and Wagner, professors at the University of St. Petersburg, to the reality of mediumistic phenomena, and of the extreme agitation which has thereby been produced among the Russian public and in the press ; the Society of Physical Science attached to the said University, at its sitting of May 6th, 1875, appointed a committee to investigate the said phenomena.

The Committee designs to have a series of experimental seances, both with foreign mediums and persons in Russia who possess medisnic powers, who may desire to afford to the Committee an opportunity to study the phenomena which occur in their presence.

The Committee would like at the beginning to occupy itself principally with the fundamental type of these phenomena, comprising the movement of inanimate objects, with or without the contact of hands, but without the application of any known mechanical force.

The Committee propose to commence its investigation in the month of September, and continue, them, at least until the month of May, 1876. The experiments will be made weekly, once or twice, according to circumstances ; each sitting will be immediately registered and signed by the members of the Committee and the witnesses on the part of the medium, who will be admitted to the number of three ; when the Committee shall have concluded its investigations, the result will be published.

In accordance with a resolution adopted at the sitting of of May 9, the undersigned is authorized to give publicity to nomination and plan of action of the said Committee, as welt as to take such measures as he may find necessary for the invitation of mediums. In view of which facts he has undertaken to make the present appeal to mediums for physical phenomena, and to invite them to spend some time in St. Petersburg, in order to give the Committee an opportunity to study the phenomena peculiar to their mediumship. As to those who would not be able to accept this invitation except under particular conditions, they are requested to immediately communicate the same to the undersigned, who will do his best to remove any material difficulty, and amply recompense those who may answer this appeal for any trouble they may undergo.

Alexandre Aksakoff.

<Untitled> (I merely mean to say what Johnson said)

Lord Byron says :—

“ I merely mean to say what Johnson said, That in the course of some six thousand years All nations have believed that from the dead A visitant at intervals appears; And what is strangest upon this strange head Is, that whatever bar the reason rears ’Gainst such belief, there’s something stronger still In its behalf, let those deny who will.”

Alfred Tennyson says :—

“How pure at heart and sound in head, With what Divine affections bold, Should be the man whose thoughts would hold An hour’s communion with the dead!”

Editor's notes

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Sources

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  Spiritual Scientist, v. 2, No. 18, July 8, 1875, p. 207