In interpreting our evidence
it is
important to take into account the theories,
prevalent among the more
experienced and careful Spiritualists,
as to the nature and the value of the alleged
messages delivered through
the agency of mediums.
It is pointed out, on the evidence
of the " communicators " themselves,
that the communicators and guides
are themselves at very different levels
or spiritual development and of very
partial knowledge, and that the "con trols"
or which they make use may
often be very undeveloped person-
alities who are capable of this par-
icular service because they are
closely linked with temporarily dis-
associatect portions of the person-
alities of the mediums concerned.
There are thus at least three fac-
tors which would render messages,
especially those of a high order of
spiritual or metaphysical value, liable
to disturbance,and which lead to the
difficulties, generally recognised by
Spiritualists, which the communica-
tors would in any case find in trans-
mitting messages which do not
already lie within the general con-
ditions of our knowledge.
There is however, nothing in-
herently contradictory, ornecessarily
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THE SIGNATORIES
Dr. Francis Underhill
Bishop of
Bath and Wells.
Dr. W. R. Matthews
Dean of St.
Paul's.
Canon Harold Anson
Master
of the Temple.
Canon
L. W. Grensted
Nolloth
Professor of the
Christian Religion at Oxford.
Dr William Brown
Celebrated Harley Street
Psychologist.
Mr. P. E. Sandlands, Q.C.
Barrister-at-Law.
Lady (Gwendolen) Stephenson
improbable in this account of the
conditions involved in such com-
munications. It is, however, no more
than an hypothesis, incapable of
scientific proof, nor does it assist us
in determining the authenticity of
the communications themselves.
The verification of these, if it is
possible at all, must rest upon ordin-
ary scientific tests. To say this is
not, however, to deny that the com
munications may sometimes be held
to be convincing upon other than
scientific grounds.
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