HPB-SB-4-114

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vol. 4, p. 114

H. P. Blavatsky Scrapbooks

from Adyar archives of the International Theosophical Society

vol. 4 (1875-1878)

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< Mr. J.Simmons on Dr. Wild`s Theory (continued from page 4-113) >

occultists have it, the “astral light.” What remains is knowledge displayed which has never been in the mind during its earthly experience; and as to this I certainly cannot accept as satisfactory Dr. Wyld’s suggestion that the unconscious spirit has sources of knowledge other than those afforded it by the conscious experience of the person to whom it is attached, or of those en rapport with him. It is certainly possible that the spirit is informed by other spirits, and thus it is possible to remove the agency of the latter, but hardly altogether to dispense with it.

Man as a Spirit

In the last number of The Spiritualist there are several criticisms on my paper, to which I will attempt briefly to reply.

First, Mr. White is “puzzled to account for my statement that Swedenborg tells us that spirits can summon to their presence any simulacrum desired.” On reading Mr. White’s notice of my paper, I thought it better not to write to him, but to give myself the satisfaction of calling on him and further explaining my views. In the course of a short but interesting conversation, we appeared to find our views much in accord. Swedenborg does not express his views in the exact language which I employed in the above quotation, but generally his doctrine is, “Spirits surround themselves by the forms of their affections, mental, organic, and inorganic,” and this, I still hold, justifies me in using the form of words I employed.

I hope I succeeded in convincing Mr. White that my views are not “paradoxical,” and that he is perhaps in error in supposing that “Dr. Wyld is wiser than he knows.”

The title of Mr. White’s letter should, I think, not have been “Spiritualism without spirits,” but “without foreign spirits.”

In my paper I narrated how Mr. Everett informed me that he was ignorant of how the handcuffs were removed from his wrists, as he, the moment they were removed, felt himself entranced.

Mr. Whatley, in reply to this, advises me to visit Messrs. Hamly, 231, High Holborn, who for one guinea will show how it is done. I took Mr. Whatley’s advice, so far as visiting Messrs. Hamly, but did not part with my guinea, as Messrs. Hamly explained to me that they could release themselves from ordinary police handcuffs, but they seemed scarcely prepared to release themselves from handcuffs specially manufactured, and locked with a patent key.

However, I think the Experimental Committee of the British National Association might with advantage expend one guinea in the prosecution of this subject.

The paper in your last number, signed T. J., seems to me a very interesting confirmation of my views as to spirits presenting us with copies pretending to be originals. Our best artists are sometimes deceived by copies of their own works; how much more easily can the spiritual actor or artist deceive, it may be, partially biologized Spiritualists.

I would strongly urge all Spiritualists who dissent from or misunderstand my views, to read at least the first volume of Madame Blavatsky’s book. They will find it an almost inexhaustible mine of facts and thoughts illustrating the statement that man is a spirit, and as such has, if worthy, dominion over matter.

In conclusion I must again remind my readers that I do not say that all spiritual phenomena are produced by our own spirits, but that, as spirits of the living, we have identical powers with spirits of the departed. The fact, however, is, that our spirit, when entranced, is a departed spirit.

12, Great Cumberland-place, Hyde Park, London, W.

What is the Intelligence

Sir.— I have for some time past been reading your paper with great attention and interest, feeling that the subject with which it is mainly concerned is worthy of the deepest and most unprejudiced investigation.

I have as yet formed no certain opinion even as to the reality of the phenomena described so frequently in your pages. Bona fides, opportunity, and sound judgment are all so essential to the reliability of evidence, that I trust I shall be pardoned for reserving my verdict until I shall personally have had opportunities of witnessing and testing mediumistic phenomena.

Nevertheless, I candidly admit that I see neither “a priori” nor religious difficulties in accepting this reality, and that I fully expect to find it proved, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the phenomena have their source in other than merely human or physical agencies. My object in writing to you is to express an opinion which, previously in course of formation, has been thrown into definite shape by Colonel Olcott’s able paper in your issue of December 7th.

This is that, assuming the agency to be other than physical, it may nevertheless belong to either of at least three classes, viz.:—

1. The “mesmeric” emanations or forces of the medium, have been brought into contact with the consciousness of the members of the “circle.”

2. Inferior (and therefore, presumably, ignorant or malicious) spirits, whether of the departed or otherwise.

3. Spirits of the departed who have entered a higher sphere of being.

As the only hypothesis upon which we can attach any real value to “manifestations” either as evidence of the immortality of the soul or as sources of important knowledge, is that of the agencies in question belonging to the third of these classes. I venture to express a hope that those of my brother inquirers who enjoy opportunities of seeing and investigating such “manifestations” will devote themselves to the all important question of the source of the facts they witness.

For instance: I presume the gentleman who favours us with accounts of the sayings and doings, of “Joey” and “Abdullah,” must by this time be absolutely convinced of the reality of the phenomena. "Will he pardon my suggesting that he should now give himself up wholly to inquiries as to the personality and character oi his spirit friends.

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Editor's notes

Sources

• 

  London Spiritualist, No. 279, December 28, 1877, p. 307

• 

  London Spiritualist, No. 279, December 28, 1877, p. 311