THE

PSYCHOLOGICAL REVIEW.

AUGUST, 1881.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

THE BRITISH NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPIRITUALISTS AND THE PROPOSED CONFERENCE.

On Tuesday evening, the 26th July, a meeting of the "Conference Committee," comprising the whole of the Council, was held at the Association's Rooms in Great Russell St., W.C. The resolution appointing this committee was worded thus: "That the proposal to hold a Conference be referred to a Committee of the whole Council, and any members of the Association who may be invited, to report to the next Council meeting as to the advantage of holding such a Conference, the special form it should take, and the arrangements that would be necessary." It was moved by Mr. E. T. Bennett, seconded by Mrs. Fitz-Gerald, and carried unanimously.

"PUBLIC OPINION" ON "THE PSYCHOLOGICAL REVIEW."

It may interest some of our readers to know what outsiders think of us, so subjoined we give a notice that appeared in Public Opinion for July 16th, 1881.

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL REVIEW. (New Issue.)—The memories of the old Psychological Review were not brilliant; and the present issue (or revival) starts with a clean bill of health. We see too much in it of mere ghosts, that are not much in request at this period of the nineteenth century, and we are heartily sick of the stock arguments in favour of some doctrine of immortality that is advocated by some writers, and which perhaps is not the same as the doctrine of immortality that is accepted by the majority of Western

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VOL. III.

philosophers. Still we ought to be grateful for the high philosophy and competent literary tone that is taken by the new issue. We have no sort of idea how such a high class literary organ of the more rational description of students of the science of mind was wanted. A careful and moderate examination of most of the problems that the next generation of metaphysicians will have to solve, shows that a reaction has already set in against the crude materialism that reached its culminating point about ten years ago. We have now before us all that is known of the phenomena of mind, and those persons who wish to study them in their entirety according to the laws that Collyer and Massey have indicated will find that the Psychological Review places at their disposal a sound series of accurately acquired facts, some of which are worthy the consideration of scientific men of the calibre of Crookes and Wallace.

A NEW WORK BY MRS. HARDINGE BRITTEN.

We are glad to be able to accede to Mrs. Hardinge Britten's request to give publicity to the following

EMMA HARDINGE BRITTEN, to her Friends and Co-workers

in the Spiritual Movement.

For many years past, I have been collecting materials for a compendious History of the MODERN SPIRITUAL MOVEMENT, as it has transpired ALL OVER THE WORLD in the Nineteenth Century. This Work I have been requested to undertake-no matter what other publications of a kindred character might be issued by those beloved spirit-friends who have never deceived me, or failed to inspire me for good. Those who are most thoroughly acquainted with me will remember how often I have stated that I only obey the commands of spirits when they accord with my own judgment, especially when they relate to the Movement, of which they are the Authors and Promoters. The present occasion is one which fully meets this question.

Wise and good spirits desire to give to the age, through my instrumentality, a thoroughly exhaustive Record of the Work they have accomplished in the Nineteenth Century, and the reasons they have alleged for this charge, together with the methods prescribed for its accomplishment, having appealed forcibly to my best judgment, I have as above stated-employed the last few years of my wide wanderings in gathering up, from every available and authentic source, the necessary materials for my great task.

As it has been furthermore made clear to me that the present time has been specially designed for its commencement, I would now solicit, from those who may be interested in it, such literary contributions, of a personal or local character, as each one may be impressed to send. I do not promise to use all that I may thus receive, because the ultimate selection of matter for publication must necessarily exclude, at least, nine per cent. of the vast mass I have

to select from. Still I should be glad to avail myself of the widest possible field of information on this deeply momentous subject, especially as I propose to add to the general History a large number of brief Biographical Sketches of such Personages as have been prominently and usefully connected with it.

Trusting that the Friends of Spiritualism will aid me as far as possible in the accomplishment of a work which gratitude to the Spiritual Founders of the Movement, no less than justice to posterity, imperatively demand,-I am ever, reverently and faithfully, the servant of God and the angels, EMMA HARDINGE BRITTEN.

P.S.-Prepaid postal matter can be addressed to my residenceThe Limes, Humphrey Street, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, England. (Foreign Journals please copy.)

A VINDICTIVE SPIRIT OVERRULED BY A SUPERIOR POWER.

MR. A. S. NEWTON, an American spiritualist, who was wellknown to readers of the old Spiritual Magazine whilst treating in a recent number of the Banner of Light on evil spirits and their powers, narrates a curious and instructive story as to how vindictive spirits may be overruled by powers superior to themselves. He says:

"A medium was once, in the writer's presence, controlled by a spirit who claimed to have been recently ejected from his body by violence the victim of a secret and foul murder. He expressed the most intense feeling of revenge toward his murderer, and wished to expose him by name, in order that he might be "brought to justice” before an earthly tribunal. But every time he attempted to utter the name, he (or the medium's tongue) was restrained by some power that the spirit could not understand-doubtless a wiser spirit whose presence he was unable to perceive. After repeated attempts, baffled and enraged, he uttered fearful imprecations on his enemy, and, declaring he would find another medium through whom he could give the name, suddenly withdrew. So far as I know this spirit never succeeded in making the disclosure. Such disclosures are rarely made, though nothing would seem easier, or, to many people, more desirable, if spirits thus wronged can communicate freely. But probably a higher wisdom sees that this would not be for the best."

DR. CAIRD ON A FUTURE LIFE.

In the recently published volume, "Scotch Sermons," Dr. Caird has the following:

"It needs little reflection to perceive that the whole order of things in which we live is constructed, not on the principle that we are sent into this world merely to prepare for another, or that the paramount effort and aim of every man should be to make ready for

death and an unknown existence beyond the grave. On the contrary, in our own nature and in the system of things to which we belong, everything seems to be devised on the principle that our interest in the world and human affairs is not to terminate at death. It is not,

as false moralists would have us believe, a mere illusion, a proof only of the folly and vanity of man, that we do not and cannot feel and act as if we were to have no concern with this world the moment we quit it. Be the change which death brings what it may, he who has spent his life in trying to make this world better can never be unprepared for another; if heaven is for the pure and holy, if that which makes men good is that which best qualifies for heaven, what better discipline in goodness can we conceive for a human spirit, what more calculated to elicit and develop its highest affections and energies, than to live and labour for our brother's welfare? To find our deepest joy, not in the delights of sense, nor in the gratification of personal ambition, nor even in the serene pursuits of culture and science, nay, not even in seeking the safety of our own souls, but in striving for the highest good of those who are dear to our Father in Heaven, say, can a nobler school of goodness be discovered

than this?"

CARLYLE ON HIS FATHER'S DEATH.

The following stirring words, written by the Chelsea Sage soon after the departure of his father from the earthly life, will find an echo in many a heart, as they go to show that Carlyle in his highest moods rose superior to the doubts, fault-finding, and peevishness which perplexed him in his later days:

"I shall now no more behold my dear father with these bodily eyes. With him a whole three score and ten years of the past has doubly died for me. It is as if a new leaf in the great book of time were turned over. Strange time-endless time; or of which I see neither end nor beginning. All rushes on. Man follows man, His life is as a tale that has been told; yet under Time does there not lie Eternity? Perhaps my father, all that essentially was my father, is even now near me, with me. Both he and I are with God. Perhaps, if it so please God, we shall in some higher state of being meet one another, recognise one another.

"All that was earthly, harsh, sinful in our relation has fallen away; all that was holy in it remains. I can see my dear father's life in some measure as the sunk pillar on which mine was to rise and be built; the waters of time have now swelled up round his (as they will round mine); I can see it all transfigured, though I touch it no longer. I might almost say his spirit seems to have entered into me (so clearly do I discern and love him); I seem to myself only the continuation and second volume of my father. Three days that I have spent thinking of him and his ends are the peaceablest, the only Sabbath I have had in London."

MONTHLY SUMMARY

OF

CONTEMPORARY SPIRITUAL OPINION.

"SPIRITUALIST."

(June 24. July 1, 8, 15, 22.)

The controversy that was evoked by the publication of an elaborate review of Mr. Sinnett's work appears to have become endless. The editor of the Spiritualist had thrown doubt on the existence of the Hindu brothers, who Mr. Sinnett considered to play an important part in the role of the curious manifestations deposed to by Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott. Accordingly "C. C. M.," whose initials are identifiable to friends, appeared on the scene, and in two or three letters, written with force, pointed out the real state of the case, and the manner wherein the laws of evidence were applicable to the matter. The controversy might have ended here, as the editor of the Spiritualist had evidently devoted no especial time to the subject, had it not been for an unfortunate “Ĵ. K.,” who appears to have allowed himself, without contradiction, to have been announced as an "Adept," and to have favoured the world with a description of the mode in which the universe should be run on the fixed principles indicated by his school of theosophy. This produced one of the customary inevitable exposures, and another disagreeable subject has been added to the secret pigeonholes of Spiritualist literature. The subject has been further complicated by reference to certain alleged phenomena supposed to have taken place some years ago, through Mrs. Guppy, but which appear not to have been observed under precise test-conditions, however honest and sincere the bonâ fides of the parties may have been. Further, to render more unpleasant a controversy that can scarcely help being a personal one, we have another controversialist Theosophist" who ventilates his own scheme of theology in terms that we should be glad to see translated into some known language. Signor Rondi continues some curious "Physical manifestations at Rome" that appear to be well authenticated. An article signed "W." on "Spiritualism in the Roman Catholic Church" appears not to be very precise, and a careful perusal of the classical work of Gury, and the controversial essays of Pianciani, might have saved the author from speaking with authority. The "unabridged autobiography" of St. Theresa is not usually quoted, or quotable, on this subject; and perhaps the Bollandists under date (October 15) have said all that can be said on the subject. We notice