HPB-SB-4-98

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vol. 4, p. 98

H. P. Blavatsky Scrapbooks

from Adyar archives of the International Theosophical Society

vol. 4 (1875-1878)

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< The British National Association of Spiritualists (continued from page 4-97) >

had been placed. Of the changes which his system underwent, of the connexion between these mysterious apparitions and his body, of the method by which such results were obtained, we knew absolutely nothing. In given cases, were they separate individualities built up from materials found in medium, or circle, or atmosphere, or a combination of these? Were they cases of transference from the plane of spirit to the plane of matter? Were they transfigurations of the medium? We did not know. We could not tell; we could not even guess.

To remove this ignorance, of which I ventured to say in my paper, “that we ought to be thoroughly ashamed,” to obtain a first step to knowledge, I suggested as a primary necessity, the abolition of the cabinet, and I gave some obvious reasons for such a demand. I need not recapitulate these, for they have found a pretty general acceptance now. But I may say, in passing, that reiterated exposures of fraud, as in the late Bliss case in America, make it more and more necessary to remove all means whereby an impostor may deceive, and none is more useful in this respect than a dark cabinet. When this suggestion was first made it was received far otherwise than it is now. With one consent spirits and mortals rose and denounced the sacriligious person who would lay hands on the very sanctum sanctorum of the ghosts. Circles were held in which the idea was summarily pronounced impossible of execution, and that on the best authority, in fact by our own correspondent at headquarters. It could not be done: the spirits said so. Q E.D. Veteran investigators told me in abundant letters with which they vexed my soul, that I was going far too fast; and that I was imposing my own conditions; wanting to take photographs without a dark room; dictating to angels, and so on. There was a general consensus of opinion between those on earth and those who had gone before, that the thing could not, should not, and ought not to be done.

Well, I had very little to say then. I knew that every new experiment by which our store of knowledge has been increased has always been received with such suggestions, and that especially by those invisible operators who are so nervously sensitive to any change of conditions. I was content to bide my time, and say little.

Now, I have more to say. The principle of experiment has been applied, and the difficulties have all vanished. The thing that might, could, would, should, and ought not to be done is an accomplished fact. We have heard from Mr. Colley, and we have seen from various letters printed in The Spiritualist and Medium, ‡ that the process of evolution of these forms from the side of the medium has been observed, not once only, but repeatedly, and under conditions which, as they have been detailed, are certainly sufficient for the purpose of exact observation. I have myself been present at one such experiment, and what I saw, under conditions which I hope may hereafter be improved, but which enable me to appreciate the more favourable experiments of others was a valuable addition to my knowledge.

“I have already published in The Spiritualist a short account of the points which struck me, and, referring the curious to it, I confine myself now to noticing some further details. To make myself intelligible, however, I must shortly premise that at the seance to which I refer I witnessed the production of two forms, one a child, one a tall man; that these forms were apparently evolved from the body of the medium, and that after an interval of independent life, they vanished from my gaze: further, that I satisfied myself by various tests of their distinct existence; that they could walk, sit, talk articulately in a loud whisper, and that one of them inscribed a number of hieroglyphics in my pocket-book. Moreover, I may add that I touched the hands of both figures, and noticed the drapery they wore, also a curious helmet, or head-dress of metal, that graced the head of one of them.

“Premising these points for the information of those who are not acquainted with my accounts, I proceed to notice some farther points.

“1. As to the mode of production and dissipation of the form.

“The evidence goes to show that it is produced from the left side of the medium, near the region of the heart. The first appearance is nebulous, as though vapour were in a state of agitation, and was being condensed into a solid form. The motion is as if a vortex were created within the figure. This rotatory motion goes on until the vaporous mass is condensed into a figure. It is then apparently united to the medium by a cord of the same nebulous substance as that of which itself is formed, By and bye this is severed by a motion of the medium’s hand, and the figure stands apparently, but not really, alone and independent. Not actually independent, I say, for it is necessary for the medium to approach the form at intervals of a few minutes in order to revive its vitality.

“I saw one of these forms moving about, lifting a chair, talking, writing, while the table and myself were between it and the medium. It was to all intents and purposes a distinct entity.

“The mode of absorption seems to be analogous to that of its evolution. The same notion of a vortex is preserved. It is, so to say, sucked into the medium and reabsorbed. On this point Mr. Colley’s evidence is precise. I take the liberty of condensing, but present the sense intact:—

“‘When the form at last retired, I was permitted to accompany it until I was close to Dr. Monck, as he stood full in view of all. As it neared him the gossamer filament which unites the form to the medium again came into view, the vanishing point being towards the heart. By means of this cord I saw how the figures seemed to be sucked back into the body of the medium. Like a waterspout at sea, the superior vital power of Dr. Monck drew on the spirit form gradually, so that I was enabled to watch the process, “for, leaning against, and holding, the medium, with my left arm at his back, and my left ear and cheek to his breast, his heart beating in a most violent and alarming way, I saw him receive back into his person” the form before distinct from him. I marked its fair aspect, eyes, hair, and delicate complexion, and kissed the dainty hand as, in process of absorption, it dissolved into the medium.’

“From this it will be seen that Mr. Colley’s view was near and completely satisfactory. If such evidence is to be put aside, where are we to stop? It seems to me to leave nothing to be desired on the score of completeness. I have no such evidence to give. I wish I had; for it is greatly to be desired that phenomena of this startling nature should be again and again observed by independent witnesses, and the most exact records preserved. They are of incalculable value as means of advancing exact knowledge.

“2. Now what was this vapour which was so agitated from a central point as to form this figure? What was the pabulum? “Briefly—odic, psychic, or vital force. It is the universal pabulum, the raw material used in all operations of this nature. At a seance I see it as floating masses of luminous vapour, which condense into forms visible to my clairvoyant sense, or form the material out of which the invisible operators produce whatever physical manifestations they desire. I have seen it as a fiery cloud over the circle before some scent- laden breeze has swept over us; as a pillar of light, when the same scented air is carried round the circle; as a ball of light, when peculiar rappings are made; in short, it is the pabulum of spirit manifestations. And here we get a clue to its source. It is the medium’s vital force.

“3. The variety of materials, if I may use the term, made out of this pabulum is not a little singular.

“Drapery, metal, and, so far as one could tell, ‘all things that appertain to the perfection of man’s nature,’ The drapery that appears in connection with these forms has always been a puzzle, Whence did it come? And when the seance was over, whither had it gone? We had here an illustration of the whence and the whither; but if one had cut some of it off, torn it, rudely detained it in one’s grasp—what then? Would it have remained the counterpart more or less exact of fabrics of the earth? Would it have been dispersed in air? I do not know; but such points should be cleared up.

“The hand, too, was to all intents and purposes fashioned as mine is, but cold, and giving off or surrounded with a most repellent atmosphere. It felt like the hand of a corpse, and, approaching it, sent a shudder through me. It seemed to me as if the air were in circulation round it; as if, indeed, the whole body, with its circumambient atmosphere, were held in attraction round a centre. The notion of the vortex never left me.

“I had another opportunity, on the evening of November 24th last, of witnessing the production of this drapery. Mr. Eglinton was the medium, and the seance was held at the house of Mrs. Makdougall Gregory, 21, Green-street. The medium lay on a sofa in our sight; but here again testimony is rendered of far less value on account of the very dim light permitted. What apparently took place was very similar to what I saw with Dr. Monck. A nebulous mass appeared: it seemed to be in a state of constant motion; the medium too, rolled on the sofa backwards and forwards until his whole body was enveloped in a mass of white gauzy drapery. He afterwards stood up draped from head to foot in this white substance. Where it came from I do not know, or how it was made, or what became of it. One must see the same thing again and again, and in very much better light before offering any opinion.

“4. The movements of the forms were constrained and automaton-like. There was an absence of lithe freedom of movement which was very striking. The little girl could clap her hands and ring a handbell, and her lips moved as whispering sounds issued from them. The male figure lifted a chair, sat down with difficulty and awkwardness, and, at my request, inscribed some hieroglyphics in my pocket-book. But the movements throughout were unnatural and constrained, as I have before noticed in some of these forms.

“5. Lastly, What was the formative power?

“I believe it to be one external to the figure. I believe them to be pieces of animated spirit-sculpture controlled ab extra, possibly in a manner analogous to that in which a mesmeriser controls the movements of his subject. Everything pointed to this conclusion—the constrained attitudes, the movements so automaton-like, the hollow, sepulchral voice; speaking, too, a language unknown to the Egyptian figure; the reiterated refreshing of the forms from the body of the medium, and the motion of a number of molecules temporarily held in attraction round a centre of force, which was prominent to my mind throughout: all this favours the idea of external creation and control. Who the operator was I do not know; but I believe him to be distinct from that specimen of his handiwork which I saw. If he can make drapery, and hair, and flesh, and metal, so that they present to ray eye the selfsame appearance as those objects naturally do, then it seems to me that I must know very much more of him and of bis resources before I can accept these forms as any evidence of identity. It seems to me that, as the same pabulum under the formative will of the invisible operator took shape as a helmet or a band, as drapery or a head of hair, as in the one case there resulted a girl and in the other a dusky man of stalwart size, so at the same irresponsible dictation there might have stalked amongst us a red Indian brave or a Hottentot squaw, a counterfeit presentment of great Caesar, or of any other historic or unknown character that fancy might dictate. It seems to be a mere question of the shape of the mould or direction of the plastic skill of the invisible operator.

For this very sufficient reason no evidence of identity can at present be had from these form manifestations—at least to the public. I can understand persons who are in constant association with a par- <... continues on page 4-99 >

‡ Mr. Colley, Spiritualist, Oct. 5, 1877; Medium, Oct. 12, 1877.