< The Credulity of Skeptics. (continued from page 1-182) >
uine, and are ever ready to be tried again, we require considerable testimony in favor of a theory of fraud in explanation of the manifestations that constantly occur in their presence.
Since writing the above the cable brings the news that on Monday last Dr. Slade appeared at the Bow street Police Court, in answer to two summons, taken out by Professor Edwin Ray Lankester. The first summons is under the vagrant act, and the second charges him with conspiring with one Simmons, his assistant, to defraud. The charge of conspiracy was first proceeded with, and Professor Lankester deponed that he had actually seen Slade himself write the messages which he professed were spiritual manifestations. The court room was crowded, after a hearing the case was adjourned one week. Slade and Simmons were admitted to bail.
Spiritualism Gets a Hearing
Spiritualism is making rapid strides in London, Eng. It is getting a hearing on all sides. The subject was cleverly introduced before the British Scientific Association to the evident disgust, however, of a portion, and in fact a large portion of its members. The next step taken is that several members of the Association visit Dr. Slade, claim an exposure, publish long letters in the London Times, and finish their work by bringing him before the police court on a charge of vagrancy and fraud, as we have noticed more fully in another column.
Surely Spiritualists have no cause for complaint. The results of the trial cannot but be beneficial to the cause. The prosecution have the statements of two gentleman, that the exhibition of Dr. Slade is nothing but a series of clever tricks and they will submit in support of their position, the evidence that they saw him write the messages on the slate before presenting it for the spirits to write them. On the other side will come an endless number of persons who will give testimony under oath that will astonish the reading public who know nothing of Spiritualism except through the columns of the daily press. The trial will undoubtedly be fully reported and as eagerly scanned by hosts of skeptics, ministers and church members who are prejudiced against Spiritualism, by the statements of those who are constantly misrepresenting the movement, its adherents and its phenomena.
Exposure of an Exposer
Recent developments in the Slade controversy in the London Enquirer, sustain the opinion advanced by the Scientist of last week, that the action of Prof. Lankester, in visiting and prosecuting Dr. Slade was prompted by malice towards Spiritualism, engendered by the bitterness of the discussion that took place in the British Scientific Association on this subject at its last issue. For the first time in its history Spiritualism was having a hearing consequent upon the reading of Prof. Barrett's paper on “Some phenomena associated with abnormal conditions of mind.” Prof. Lankester manifested his intense prejudice the day following by writing a letter to the London Times wherein he said, “that in consequence of the more than questionable action of Mr. Alfred Wallace, the discussions of the British Association have been degraded by the introduction of the subject of Spiritualism." Of what value is the testimony of such a narrow mind against Dr. Slade? Mr. Wallace, in reply to this accusation, shows that he never saw the paper before It was brought before the committee by the secretary, and says, “As to Prof. Lankester’s opinion as to what branches of inquiry are to be tabooed as degrading, we have, on the other side, the practical evidence of such men as Lord Rayleigh, Mr. Crookes, Dr. Carpenter, and Colonel Lane Fox—none of them inferior in scientific eminence ot Prof. Lankester, yet all taking part in the discussion, and all maintaining that discussion and inquiry were necessary, while the close attention of a late President of the Association and of a crowded audience shouted the great interest the subject excited.”
Captured
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Editor's notes
Sources
Spiritual Scientist, v. 5, No. 5, October 5, 1876, p. 54
Spiritual Scientist, v. 5, No. 6, October 12, 1876, p. 67