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. | The Fletcher trial, in Boston, was postponed from September 16th to September 29th, and the latest information we have received from America is dated September 24th. At that time exertions were being made by some Spiritualists to get the matter settled by arrangement, out of Court, whilst on the other hand, there was opposition from another quarter to such a mode of settlement. | ||
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... | Sir,—Mr. Massey’s elaborate argument in favour of his own view and against mine needs no reply from me, as I am quite willing now to leave the question to the judgment of Spiritualists. I would point out however that there is this difference between our respective positions—that I maintain no “incredibility,” no belief of “all the world,” but simply that Mr. Massey was not justified in using such absolute terms, on the validity of which his whole case rested. | ||
With regard to my supposed “mistake,” I now learn for the first time that the words a person ‘‘actually used,” and the words “reported” in a newspaper are necessarily identical. My belief was, that very rarely are the actual words reported, especially by an interviewer who writes a sensational article. One of Fletcher’s most intimate friends gave me his own private version of the words he used, but the reporter had given the sense so nearly that it was quite unnecessary to make any correction. I have received further communications from prominent Spiritualists agreeing with me that what is “incredible” to Mr. Massey is perfectly credible to them. | |||
{{Style P-Signature in capitals|Alfred R. Wallace.{{Style S-HPB SB. HPB note|F.T.S.}}}} | |||
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... | Sir,—-Without any desire to widen the “Fletcher- Slade controversy,” I feel called on to answer Mr. Massey’s query in your last number, “Whose fault is it that there has been no decision by an impartial and competent tribunal?” {{Style S-HPB SB. HPB note|F.T.S.}} | ||
When Mr. Massey challenged Mr. Fletcher to resort to a legal remedy, the latter asked my advice, and I recommended net to put the law in motion. | |||
It was enough for me that he denied all allusion to Slade, whose reputation I considered to stand high above any attack, real or imaginary; and as Fletcher was doing a useful work of his own, I thought it un-advisable that he should be diverted by what seemed to me a strife of words barren and profitless. | |||
Justice to the absent renders this note necessary, and if it help to quiet the troubled waters I shall he glad. | |||
{{Style P-Signature in capitals|Alexander Calder.}} | |||
1, Hereford Square, South Kensington, S.W., October 18th, l880. | |||
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... | A few days ago, we had the pleasure of seeing and hearing something of the position of Spiritualism in Cardiff, aided by facilities kindly given by Mr. Rees Lewis, president of the Spiritualistic Society in that town. | ||
Sunday evening meetings are held at West Pelton Street, Cardiff, at which Miss Samuels, a rising young trance medium, chiefly officiates. She says that she is not unconscious while speaking, but that her utterances are involuntary. In the course of a public address on the Improvement of the Position of the Spiritualist, she said, in substance, that the best thing to do was to make a careful study of the medium, his sensations and his surroundings, and that as conditions were given assisting him to rise, Spiritualism would rise with him. Some knotty questions to answer were given her by some of the listeners present, namely:—(1). Is the Earthly Body the First Body of the Spirit? (2). Does the Spirit Mould the Earthly Body, or is it obliged to Inhabit it as it found it? (3). Whence docs the Individual Spirit obtain the Knowledge necessary for the Development of its Earthly Body? (4). Has the Spirit an Individual Existence before entrance into the Earthly Body? | |||
At our first and only ''seance ''with Mr. Spriggs, a physical medium in Cardiff who has been engaged to give ''seances ''in Australia, a few' of us sat in the light, round a table at the house of Mr. Rees Lewis. While all hands were on the table, and everybody was motionless, noises were heard under it, and specimens of fruit fell beneath, including walnuts in their husks. Of course it would be troublesome both to medium and visitors to arrange to get such a manifestation under absolute test conditions, but Mr. Spriggs had all the appearance, as indicated by external characteristics, of being a powerful physical medium. Mr. Lewis kindly offered a cabinet ''seance, ''but after studying some hundreds of them in years gone by, we did not care to join a sitting in which a cabinet is brought into play. Unless absolute security is given that a medium’s body cannot be used by spirits while he is in a trance, it is waste of time to join cabinet sittings. They sooner or later bring mediums to grief. | |||
Altogether, it was pleasing to see how earnestly Spiritualism is promoted in Cardiff, and we have to thank Mr. Lewis and Mr. Spriggs for the facilities given for observation. | |||
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Latest revision as of 10:56, 14 February 2026
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vol. title: vol. period: 1879-1880 pages in vol.: 577 |
The Prosecution of Mediums by Spiritualists
The Fletcher trial, in Boston, was postponed from September 16th to September 29th, and the latest information we have received from America is dated September 24th. At that time exertions were being made by some Spiritualists to get the matter settled by arrangement, out of Court, whilst on the other hand, there was opposition from another quarter to such a mode of settlement.
Mr.Massey's accusation against Mr.Fletcher
Sir,—Mr. Massey’s elaborate argument in favour of his own view and against mine needs no reply from me, as I am quite willing now to leave the question to the judgment of Spiritualists. I would point out however that there is this difference between our respective positions—that I maintain no “incredibility,” no belief of “all the world,” but simply that Mr. Massey was not justified in using such absolute terms, on the validity of which his whole case rested.
With regard to my supposed “mistake,” I now learn for the first time that the words a person ‘‘actually used,” and the words “reported” in a newspaper are necessarily identical. My belief was, that very rarely are the actual words reported, especially by an interviewer who writes a sensational article. One of Fletcher’s most intimate friends gave me his own private version of the words he used, but the reporter had given the sense so nearly that it was quite unnecessary to make any correction. I have received further communications from prominent Spiritualists agreeing with me that what is “incredible” to Mr. Massey is perfectly credible to them.
<Untitled> (Sir,- Without any desire to widen the "Fletcher-Slade controversy",...)
Sir,—-Without any desire to widen the “Fletcher- Slade controversy,” I feel called on to answer Mr. Massey’s query in your last number, “Whose fault is it that there has been no decision by an impartial and competent tribunal?” F.T.S.
When Mr. Massey challenged Mr. Fletcher to resort to a legal remedy, the latter asked my advice, and I recommended net to put the law in motion.
It was enough for me that he denied all allusion to Slade, whose reputation I considered to stand high above any attack, real or imaginary; and as Fletcher was doing a useful work of his own, I thought it un-advisable that he should be diverted by what seemed to me a strife of words barren and profitless.
Justice to the absent renders this note necessary, and if it help to quiet the troubled waters I shall he glad.
1, Hereford Square, South Kensington, S.W., October 18th, l880.
Spiritualism in Cardiff
A few days ago, we had the pleasure of seeing and hearing something of the position of Spiritualism in Cardiff, aided by facilities kindly given by Mr. Rees Lewis, president of the Spiritualistic Society in that town.
Sunday evening meetings are held at West Pelton Street, Cardiff, at which Miss Samuels, a rising young trance medium, chiefly officiates. She says that she is not unconscious while speaking, but that her utterances are involuntary. In the course of a public address on the Improvement of the Position of the Spiritualist, she said, in substance, that the best thing to do was to make a careful study of the medium, his sensations and his surroundings, and that as conditions were given assisting him to rise, Spiritualism would rise with him. Some knotty questions to answer were given her by some of the listeners present, namely:—(1). Is the Earthly Body the First Body of the Spirit? (2). Does the Spirit Mould the Earthly Body, or is it obliged to Inhabit it as it found it? (3). Whence docs the Individual Spirit obtain the Knowledge necessary for the Development of its Earthly Body? (4). Has the Spirit an Individual Existence before entrance into the Earthly Body?
At our first and only seance with Mr. Spriggs, a physical medium in Cardiff who has been engaged to give seances in Australia, a few' of us sat in the light, round a table at the house of Mr. Rees Lewis. While all hands were on the table, and everybody was motionless, noises were heard under it, and specimens of fruit fell beneath, including walnuts in their husks. Of course it would be troublesome both to medium and visitors to arrange to get such a manifestation under absolute test conditions, but Mr. Spriggs had all the appearance, as indicated by external characteristics, of being a powerful physical medium. Mr. Lewis kindly offered a cabinet seance, but after studying some hundreds of them in years gone by, we did not care to join a sitting in which a cabinet is brought into play. Unless absolute security is given that a medium’s body cannot be used by spirits while he is in a trance, it is waste of time to join cabinet sittings. They sooner or later bring mediums to grief.
Altogether, it was pleasing to see how earnestly Spiritualism is promoted in Cardiff, and we have to thank Mr. Lewis and Mr. Spriggs for the facilities given for observation.
Editor's notes
- ↑ The Prosecution of Mediums by Spiritualists by unknown author, London Spiritualist, The, No. 424, October 8, 1880, p. 175
- ↑ Mr.Massey's accusation against Mr.Fletcher by Wallace, Alfed R., London Spiritualist, The, No. 426, October 22, 1880, p. 201
- ↑ Sir,- Without any desire to widen the "Fletcher-Slade controversy",... by Calder, Alexander, London Spiritualist, The, No. 426, October 22, 1880, p. 201
- ↑ Spiritualism in Cardiff by unknown author, London Spiritualist, The, No. 424, October 8, 1880, p. 175
Sources
-
London Spiritualist, No. 424, October 8, 1880, p. 175
-
London Spiritualist, No. 426, October 22, 1880, p. 201