MESSAGES FROM THE DEAD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2082, 17 May 1907, Page 4

MESSAGES FROM THE DEAD.

STRANGE STORY OF A SPIRITUALIST’S RETURN.

The protagonists of psychic research in America arc intensely excited over a message which one of them, Professor James Hyslop, lato of Columbia University, claims to have received from Dr. Richard Hodgson, who, in December last, suddenly departed to that bourne whence no traveller is supposed ever to return,

-Dr. Hodgson was secretary of the Society of Psychical Research. Some time before Ills death he made a faithful promise to Professor Hyslop, as well as to Dr. Isaac Funk, the head of a publishing firm, that ho would, if possible, return from the “other side,” and acquaint him with liis experiences. Dr. Funk has now written a bulky volume, entitled, “The Pyschic Riddle,” on the efforts of Dr. Hodgson to fulfil his promise. According to Dr. Funk, the dwellers in Spirit Land inhabit astral bodies, and find the utmost difficulty in breathing in the stuffy atmosphere of tlio earth. Hence Dr. Hodgson was unable to remain long in the vicinitv of Dr. Hyslop owing to difficulties of resjiiration. He succeeded, however, through Mrs. Piper, a celebrated “medium,” of Boston, in writing several messages to his terrestrial friend. Ho informed him that it was pleasant to die, that the severing of the soul from the body was accompanied by a shock which knocks everything out of the spirit mind for a brief time, and thatthe voyage beyond was a delightful journey through ethereal atmosphere.

Dr. Hodgson prayed that Dr. Hyslop would be able to understand him, so as to help on the work of the society.- Then he broke off the conversation owing to the intolerable stuffiness. Dr. Hodgson expressed the hope that his successor as secretary of the society would be a man who put more stress on the spiritual side than lie did. while not neglecting the scientific sido.

Dr. Hodgson declares that liis present life is infinitely moro satisfactory than his life on earth. Dr. Funk and Dr. Hyslop are both convinced that tho messages from Dr. Hodgson are a stupendous achievement, constituting a scientific demonstration of a future life. Theyaro quite unconcerned at tho triviality of tho groator part of tho messages which attribute Dr. Hodgson’s respiratory afflictions to tho terrostrial fttmosplicro. Mooovor, Dr. Hodgson promised thorn to confound all scoffers by roappearing at a later period, whon his soul is attuned to a higher key of spiritual oxistonco.