THE “CREWE CIRCLE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1904, 19 November 1918, Page 4

THE “CREWE CIRCLE.

The “Crewe Circle” at Glasgow have i'or some considerable time been engaged in psychic photography with the object of furnishing proof of the survival of personality after death. The results achieved, however one may be disposed to regard their cause, are unquestionably very remarkable. The Circle have given every opportunity to sceptics and investigators to satisfy themselves that ail possibility of fraud is eliminated. Those whom they have converted to the genuine nature of their work include expert photographers and others, who have brought to the seance their own plates, which have only left their hands when in the camera, and, which have been afterwards developed by themselves. In some cases, also, photographers have used their own cameras. Two factors tire claimed its necessary to obtain the desired results —appropriate psychic conditions obtained by prayer, hymn-singing, etc., and the presence of tlie medium near to the camera when the plate is being exposed. Under the auspices of the Glasgow Association of Spiritualists, Mr Hope, of the Crewe Circle, exhibited a number of photographs taken by (he (bride. These are all ordinary photographs of a person or persons with the addition of a spirit face or faces called “Extras,” which appear more or less distinctly on some portion of the plate. The “Extra," or photograph of a deceased person (in the vast majority of eases a near relative of the sitter) is usually surrounded by a curious while, .-moke-like haze, from which the face seems, as it wen 1 , to emerge. How to account for this halo-like ■ fogginess or for the pre.-ence at all of the deceased person on the plate, is an unsolved problem even to the spiritnalisls themselves. But with practically every photograph shown tin tietual photograph taken in life of the “Extra" was thrown on the screen that I lie features in each i ase might he compared. The majority ol cases showed unmistakably that the two were one and the same person. Further evidence was offered in the showing of letters from the sitters testifying to the idenliliealion hy them of the spirit faces and of their belief in the genuine nature of the experiments. Among the distinguished visitors to seek a silling from the Circle was Str Mdliam Crookes, who arranged ins own test conditions and brought and developed his own plates. The result (shown mi Sunday) was a clear photograph of the face of his deceased wife. A letter of testimony from tile distinguished scientist was thrown on the screen. The interesting and amazing collection shown included also Lady Glerieoimer with the “Extra" of a. friend; Lord .Kenyon with the “Extra" of Ids stepfather; Miss Stella Stead, with the "Extra'' of her father, the famous journalist (two photos); and Lady Lodge, wife of Sir Oliver Lodge, with a medium and the “Extra" of her son Raymond. Several photographs taken in Glasgow were shown. The Chairman (Mr Galloway i mentioned timl a Glasgow man had within liic past few days obtained, under very strict lest condition.-, a recognisable photograph of his son reeenliv hilled in France.