The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 1917. SUPERSTITION

New Zealand Tablet, 2 August 1917, Page 25

The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 1917. SUPERSTITION

£shSs o OME weeks ago we called attention to the vSges' growth of superstitious practices during the war. In the large cities professional ffifiggjy- charlatans of various types, psychists, jgtfagjffi clairvoyantes, and common or garden for<£jf &r%. tune-tellers are reaping a golden harvest tykzP through the popular credulity. The craze *■ is not confined to the ignorant and unsophisticated. Some years ago Mr. Stead, who was drowned with the Titanic, believed, on the authority of "letters from Julia," that he would be

kicked to death on the .streets of Constantinople, and now Sir Oliver Lodge has lent the authority of his great name to Spiritism, telling us that he has had communications with the spirit of his son, Raymond, who was killed lately at the Front. It is worth while recalling to our readers the attitude of the Catholic Church in this connexion. #■■'. !.■■:.'■

Many people are convinced that all the phenomena have a natural explanation. We admit, as all who have studied the matter must admit, that ninety per cent, of the marvellous manifestations are the result of trickery. It is hardly too much to say that Spiritism, as far as it comes within the ken of the average man, is all trickery, and that the effects which astonish and terrify the credulous audiences are due to harmless white magic. So many wonders, seemingly inexplicable, have been explained away, and so many frauds exposed that it is natural enough to refuse to believe that there is not an explanation for all the phenomena without calling in spirits or devils. About six years ago we saw Mr. Mctskelyne performing in St. George’s Hall a “mystery” which drew down upon him the wrath of some grave clergymen. He used to stand on the middle of the stage with his left arm uplifted while the form of a girl was seen to appear slowly out of his side, and finally to walk about and talk. It was as wonderful as anything that Spiritists had achieved ; but it was simplicity itself when Mr. Maskelyne explained how it was done, without the intervention of spirits, good, bad, or indifferent. Recently a gentleman who has devoted much time to the study of the phenomena told us that he attended a seance at which the medium was supposed to communicate with the spirit of Confucius. He addressed Confucius in Chinese. Confucius protested that during his astral perambulations he had forgotten his own language ! At another seance the same gentleman had an opportunity of speaking with the spirit of Cardinal Newman. He told the eminent spirit that as he wished to converse about a subject which did not concern the audience he would speak in Latin. He began to recite the words so familiar to the Cardinal: “Gloria in errelsis Deo, et in term par hominibus bonne voluntatis.” The spirit in reply thundered forth, “Rash mortal! Seek not to penetrate into the secrets of the Omnipotent.” And no doubt the audience was duly impressed by this nonsense.

There are also many who while admitting that charlatanism and trickery are at the bottom of most of the phenomena maintain that there are some manifestations which no natural means can explain. Let us point out that it is poor logic to attribute to the demon all effects which we can not account for. Inexplicable phenomena are not necessarily preternatural : what we cannot account for physically is not therefore to be straightway put down to the devil. To introduce the devil as the cause of every mysterious and unintelligible happening is not only puerile, but it holds religion up to ridicule. After countless experiences, Professor Meric, an authority of weight, sums up his conclusions as follows: 1. That the phenomena are as yet not sufficiently investigated to enable us to pronounce definitely on them. 2. For some of them no natural explanation has been found satisfactory. 3. In many cases the-causes require further examination. 4. That most of the phenomena which occur with certainty depend on some natural conditio sine qua non, which leads to the supposition that their cause is occult, but natural. The finding of the London "Society for Psychic Research" was that beneath much error and imposture there lay a real influence which was to be accounted for, and which they explained on the theory of Suggestion. * To explain the phenomena regarded as authentic three hypotheses are proposed. 1. The telepathic hypo-

thesis, that through the disintegration of the subliminal consciousness minds at : a distance may be impressed. 2. The hypothesis of psychical radiations, in which the "Astral Body" of the dead communicates with tRe medium. 3. The Spiritistic hypothesis which contends that communications are received from disembodied spirits. For those who admit that the manifestations proceed from spirits other than that of the medium it remains to be explained whether the spirits are disembodied spirits of the dead or other beings. It is difficult to prove the identity of the spirits; and they manifest a curious tendency to pretend to be great personalities, often with very ridiculous results. That the intelligences such as they are are prone to teach materialistic doctrines and to deny revealed truths strengthens the conviction of those who attribute the phenomena to a demoniac origin. But as we have said before, many still cling to the idea that even where all seems inexplicable there may eventually be found an explanation without having recourse to the Spiritistic hypothesis.

From a practical point of view we may consider the dangers of Spiritistic practices apart from theories. There are at least two grave dangers which must be weighed : recourse to Spiritism frequently produces hallucinations in weak-minded people, and even the normal-minded expose themselves to severe physical and mental strain, often attended with serious results ; and experience has shown that moral perversion is not rarely the consequence of Spiritistic practices. As regards those who attend as spectators it may be said that they are either co-operating in a swindle, or assisting at a process of moral degeneration. A decree of the Holy Office, March 30, 1898, condemns Spiritistic practices, even though intercourse with the demon be excluded, and communication sought with good spirits only. The Church, however, distinguishes between legitimate scientific inquiry and superstitious abuses. The following is the latest decree on the subject: In a plenary meeting of the Cardinals Inquisitors General in matters of faith and morals on April 24, 1917, to the question proposed: “Whether it is lawful to assist at any Spiritistic communications ( locution!bus) or manifestations whatsoever, through a medium, in common parlance, or without a medium, whether hypnotism be used or not, even when they present an appearance of respectability or piety, either in interrogating souls or spirits or listening to answers or simply looking on, even with tacit or expressed declaration of not wishing to have anything to do with evil spirits,” the said most eminent and most reverend Fathers, on April 27, decreed to reply: “In the negative on all points.” The Pope has approved the resolution.