DESCRIPTION
Published in 1862 | 334 pages | PDF reader required
PREFACE
In issuing this volume it has been my sole object to place the phenomena of Spiritualism on their proper basis: whether I have succeeded or not, I leave to a discriminating and discerning public to decide. Without any pretensions to authorship, but by the kind permission of the Editor, I have collated the correspondence and other articles which appeared in the " Morning Star," in the Autumn of 1860 and 1861, which correspondence seemed to me to have been brought to an abrupt and somewhat unfortunate termination just when the question at issue had become of great practical importance, and was producing a corresponding interest in the minds of scientific and thinking men. With the view, then, not of exhausting a subject, which is in itself inexhaustible, nor of altogether setting the matter at rest, but of placing the whole question of Spiritualism on a rational and scientific plane, (to adopt the language of Mr. William Howitt, who has done me the distinguished honour to revise his own spirited and highly interesting letters), in furtherance of which, I have availed myself of the opinions of the talented Author of "The Philosophy of Necessity," together with numerous extracts from the well-known works of other distinguished writers, all duly acknowledged and bearing upon the subject, which, though too diffuse for the columns of a daily paper, I considered essential to the thorough investigation of the attested phenomena, and without which no inquiry could either profitably or satisfactorily terminate.
This, then, is my apology for again introducing the subject upon the public in the present form; and having given both the affirmative and negative opinions of the various correspondents, I opine I need not offer any further justification either of the book or its title; honestly believing it to be, as it announces itself, an Exposition of Spiritualism. The notes appended to several of the letters are either explanatory of expressions in previous letters objected to by correspondents, or in continuation of the argument which was closed just when it jarred with religious views very generally maintained—and which, therefore, necessarily failed to find expression, though we look in vain for the Christianising and pacific influence of Spiritualism upon the millions in America, of whom Mr. Howitt, Mr, B. Coleman, and others speak or write. Nothing further remains to be said than that my sincere acknowledgments are due to others for the important assistance rendered in the interests of the work during its progress through the press.
January 17th, 1862.