< The Interlinked Ring Test (continued from page 7-229) >
though it must be, would be exceedingly durable. On this point a leading London coral merchant informs us small rings in one piece of true coral are exceptional and expensive things, since coral is not found in size sufficient to permit of being turned into rings. Supposing that the manifestation can hereafter be obtained without the smashing of several rings in attempts, probably neither the smallness of the size nor the expense would be any great impediment to their use. Coral consists of microscopically small shells of a kind of zoophyte. Two pieces of wash-leather (with a round hole in the centre of each), interlinked without having been cut, would form good evidence to carry about in the pocket; we believe that Mr. Joad once tried to get this test. An unbroken ring of solid wood round the neck of a medium, which ring is much too small to be slipped over his head, would be a good test; the chief drawback would be that the scientific disbelievers called upon to testify to the phenomenon would tug at it viciously, and be delighted to drag a medium about by such a collar.
Sir Charles Isham questions whether interlinked solid rings of wood and ivory form an absolute test:—
Sir, — Now that the ring test appears to have been so splendidly accomplished, non-Spiritualists will be endeavouring to discover material solutions of the same; I therefore should be pleased if this communication of a Spiritualist may anticipate them. However startling the announcement may at first sight appear, it has just occurred to me that a solid ring of any material might be linked to a solid one of wood in the following simple manner:—
Cut a longitudinal slit in a tree, and insert tightly a ring of any size and material to such a depth as to bury a small section of it; the diameter of the tree will be a little less than the required diameter of the wooden ring. Should the operation be performed just before the bursting of the foliage, and the ring be quite small, the bark will heal over, and a very thin film of wood will develop in a few weeks; but for practical purposes, or should a thick ring be required, it would be necessary to leave it two or more years, according to the size desired. Then cut the tree off on a level with the ring, above and below, and you have a disc of wood; now cut out the inside, and there are two solid rings of different materials interlinked. Such being the case, it would be advisable to obtain the phenomenon with a material other than wood, such as ivory and bone, or Indian and African ivory.
Lamport Hall, Northampton, August 11th, 1878.
In reply to the above, the wooden ring used in the successful experiment had no abnormal markings in the grain, but appeared to have been originally cut out of a normal disc. Is it experimentally proved that growing wood will enclose solid objects in the manner stated? The ivory ring used in Mr. Gillis’s experiment had been brought by him from Germany a few days previously.
Herr Christian Reimers writes:—
Sir, — The minute and exhaustive examination of the rings is considered, and justly so, the next step to be taken to arrive, if not at the solution, at all events at the full stupendity of the result. The wooden ring, as indicated by Dr. C. Blake, demands careful attention. I concur with Dr. Carter Blake in avoiding the term “matter through matter,” for it premises knowledge of part of the mysterious modus operandi. Likewise, I never say that things are “brought through closed doors” (why not walls?); but, “in spite of closed,” &c. We only know the effects, and partly the conditions to obtain them, but not the chain of causes. Therefore, we ought to be careful in applying terms. That results like the present one have not been obtained long ago with similar conditions and intense desire may be explained by the mental conditions playing the most important part in these psychic experiments, which mental conditions act, so to speak, like material substances. Thus, a cutting sceptic may paralyse a strong array of powerful elements; a burning enthusiast cause vibrations preventing the nice adjustment of subtle forces.
A few days ago my medium told me that my spirit-companion, Bertie, communicated to her that she (Bertie) played an essential part in the experiment. Having no reason to doubt the veracity of my medium, I took this, at first, as an innocent display of spirit enthusiasm, or pride, for they share with us little freaks of imagination; but after-reflection shows another side to it. In my latter period of witnessing marvellous manifestations, Bertie played hide-and-seek with certain natural laws, and ignoring all impediments, such as solid matter in the passage of objects, seemed quite child’s play. Thus, scores of times I carried on a correspondence and exchange of letters and flowers under absolute test conditions, viz., sealed doors and windows. The rapport grew so intense that once I left my letter on the usual spot at noon, and returned to my adjoining sitting-room. After half-an-hour (nobody coming near all the time), I resolved to affix the tests, but the letter was already gone—snatched away, as it were. One of the bona fide proofs of disregard of matter occurred when I discovered my three bunches of flowers (previously brought into my sealed room) gone from the glasses on the mantelpiece. Shortly before, I had locked my piano and taken the key with me. After vainly searching for my flowers I returned to the piano to play a sonata, and, unlocking the lid, found all these same flowers spread over the key-board! A pretty sight indeed! Last December, when I had particularly carefully secured the entrance to my room by means of the most intricate tests (which, by the bye, I increased after each success), after leaving a letter and flowers there, I went to the opera, and returning too late for refreshments, I had a vivid impression on the road home how nice a glass of wine and a piece of cake would be; then I, after finding all the tests intact, opened the door, and found the letter gone, an answer in its place, also an exchange of flowers, and a little Christmas present—a delicious glass of spiced wine and a cake on the top of all. With these experiences I may be understood to feel some confidence in the communication of Bertie as to her salutary presence at these remarkable sittings, where she—and this gives more force to it—several times materialised herself sufficient for me to accept the appearance as identity.
London, 12th July.
The editor of Truth says in last week’s issue of his journal:—
Now here we have persons asserting that they supped with ghosts and talked with ghosts; assertions that we may believe or not believe as we please. But the interlinked rings are, it is stated, to be submitted to independent investigation. If really the one is a solid piece of ivory and the other a solid piece of wood, by no recognised law of nature could they be interlinked. I shall be curious, therefore, to read the report of the Leipsic professors as to whether the ivory and the wood really are solid. But if the melancholy Peter can interlink one pair of rings he can interlink others. Why should not, therefore, a pair of interlinked rings be submitted to scientific investigation in England? I should like to see such rings myself, and I should like still more to sup with Peter. These mediums seem able to enjoy his society whenever they please. If they would only bring Peter with them I shall esteem it a pleasure to have the party to supper, and to provide them with as much fowl and champagne as they can eat and drink. But mediums always herd together, and never can be induced to allow independent investigators to witness their mysteries. I am afraid, therefore, that it is somewhat improbable that I shall ever be gratified by entertaining Peter.
What is a Spirit?
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Editor's notes
- ↑ What is a Spirit? by unknown author, Sun, The, Monday September 2, 1878