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needed a physical medium in order to be able to indicate its presence。 On
the other； you had that rare thing； a good physical medium。 The result
followed as surely as the flash follows when the electric battery and wire
are both properly adjusted。 Corresponding experiments； where effect； and
cause duly follow； are being worked out at the present moment by
Professor Crawford； of Belfast； as detailed in his two recent books； where
he shows that there is an actual loss of weight of the medium in exact
proportion to the physical phenomenon produced。＇1＇ The whole secret of
mediumship on this material side appears to lie in the power； quite
independent of oneself； of passively giving up some portion of one's
bodily substance for the use of outside influences。 Why should some have
this power and some not？ We do not knownor do we know why one
should have the ear for music and another not。 Each is born in us； and each
has little connection with our moral natures。 At first it was only physical
mediumship which was known； and public attention centred upon moving
tables； automatic musical instruments； and other crude but obvious
examples of outside influence； which were unhappily very easily imitated
by rogues。 Since then we have learned that there are many forms of
mediumship； so different from each other that an expert at one may have
no powers at all at the other。 The automatic writer； the clairvoyant； the
crystal…seer； the trance speaker； the photographic medium； the direct voice
medium； and others； are all； when genuine； the manifestations of one force；
which runs through varied channels as it did in the gifts ascribed to the
disciples。 The unhappy outburst of roguery was helped； no doubt； by the
need for darkness claimed by the early experimentersa claim which is by
no means essential； since the greatest of all mediums； D。 D。 Home； was
able by the exceptional strength of his powers to dispense with it。 At the
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same time the fact that darkness rather than light； and dryness rather than
moisture； are helpful to good results has been abundantly manifested； and
points to the physical laws which underlie the phenomena。 The
observation made long afterwards that wireless telegraphy； another etheric
force； acts twice as well by night as by day； may； corroborate the general
conclusions of the early Spiritualists； while their assertion that the least
harmful light is red light has a suggestive analogy in the experience of the
photographer。
＇1＇ 〃The Reality of Psychic Phenomena。〃 〃Experiences in Psychical
Science。〃 （Watkins。）
There is no space here for the history of the rise and development of
the movement。 It provoked warm adhesion and fierce opposition from the
start。 Professor Hare and Horace Greeley were among the educated
minority who tested and endorsed its truth。 It was disfigured by many
grievous incidents； which may explain but does not excuse the perverse
opposition which it encountered in so many quarters。 This opposition was
really largely based upon the absolute materialism of the age； which would
not admit that there could exist at the present moment such conditions as
might be accepted in the far past。 When actually brought in contact with
that life beyond the grave which they professed to believe in； these people
winced； recoiled； and declared it impossible。 The science of the day was
also rooted in materialism； and discarded all its own very excellent axioms
when it was faced by an entirely new and unexpected proposition。 Faraday
declared that in approaching a new subject one should make up one's mind
a priori as to what is possible and what is not！ Huxley said that the
messages； EVEN IF TRUE； 〃interested him no more than the gossip of
curates in a cathedral city。〃 Darwin said： 〃God help us if we are to believe
such things。〃 Herbert Spencer declared against it； but had no time to go
into it。 At the same time all science did not come so badly out of the ordeal。
As already mentioned； Professor Hare； of Philadelphia； inventor； among
other things； of the oxy… hydrogen blow…pipe； was the first man of note
who had the moral courage； after considerable personal investigation； to
declare that these new and strange developments were true。 He was
followed by many medical men； both in America and in Britain； including
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Dr。 Elliotson； one of the leaders of free thought in this country。 Professor
Crookes； the most rising chemist in Europe； Dr。 Russel Wallace the great
naturalist； Varley the electrician； Flammarion the French astronomer； and
many others； risked their scientific reputations in their brave assertions of
the truth。 These men were not credulous fools。 They saw and deplored the
existence of frauds。 Crookes' letters upon the subject are still extant。 In
very many cases it was the Spiritualists themselves who exposed the
frauds。 They laughed； as the public laughed； at the sham Shakespeares and
vulgar Caesars who figured in certain seance rooms。 They deprecated also
the low moral tone which would turn such powers to prophecies about the
issue of a race or the success of a speculation。 But they had that broader
vision and sense of proportion which assured them that behind all these
follies and frauds there lay a mass of solid evidence which could not be
shaken； though like all evidence； it had to be examined before it could be
appreciated。 They were not such simpletons as to be driven away from a
great truth because there are some dishonest camp followers who hang
upon its skirts。 A great centre of proof and of inspiration lay during those
early days in Mr。 D。 D。 Home； a Scottish…American； who possessed
powers which make him one of the most remarkable personalities of
whom we have any record。 Home's life； written by his second wife； is a
book which deserves very careful reading。 This man； who in some aspects
was more than a man； was before the public for nearly thirty years。 During
that time he never received payment for his services； and was always
ready； to put himself at the disposal of any bona…fide and reasonable
enquirer。 His phenomena were produced in full light； and it was
immaterial to him whether the sittings were in his own rooms or in those
of his friends。 So high were his principles that upon one occasion； though
he was a man of moderate means and less than moderate health； he refused
the princely fee of two thousand pounds offered for a single sitting by the
Union Circle in Paris。
As to his powers； they seem to have included every form of
mediumship in the highest degreeself…levitation； as witnessed by
hundreds of credible witnesses； the handling of fire； with the power of
conferring like immunity upon others； the movement without human touch
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of heavy objects； the visible materi