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 of spiritual development and of very partial knowledge, and that the "controls" of which they make use may often be very undeveloped personalities who are capable of this particular service because they are closely linked with temporarily disassociated portions of the personalities of the mediums concerned.

 

There are thus at least three factors 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 communicators would in any case find in transmitting messages which do not already lie within the general conditions of our knowledge.

 

There is, however, nothing inherently contradictory, or necessarily

THE SIGNATORIES:

Dr. Francis Underhill
Bishop of Bath and Wells.
Dr. W. R. Mathews
Dean of St.Pauls.
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.

 

 

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improbable in this account of the conditions involved in such communications. 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 ordinary scientific tests. To say this is not, however, to deny that the communications may sometimes be held to be convincing upon other than scientific grounds.