Published in 1854 | 260 pages | PDF reader required
INTRODUCTION
Tue substance of the following Lectures, 012 the rationale of the so-called spirit-manifestations, was delivered at the city hall in Auburn, N. Y., in April, 1851. In June, 1852, I wrote them out with an intention, after delivering them a few times, to hand them over for publication. But this has been neglected, and I have continued to deliver them occasionally for eighteen months past, when and where invited by my friends to do so.
I make the above explanation, because it will be perceived by the reader, that in one of my Lectures I make a statement, that I knew of no one who had taken the middle ground between believers and sceptics in the spirit-manifestations, and who was a rational believer—that is, a believer on natural principles. And as I use considerable language of this character, it might be considered incorrect, when Mr. Rogers has published a work that occupies the middle ground between believers and sceptics. But as my Lectures were written and delivered before his book appeared, so this matter will be understood by all. I have no faith whatever in the odic force of Reichenbach, which Mr. Rogers seems to have adopted to explain the phenomena of the spirit-manifestations. For this the reader will find my reasons stated in the Appendix to these Lectures.
I will now say that I had abandoned the idea of publishing my views in connection with the spirit-manifestations and had concluded to prepare a work devoted exclusively to the exposition of the instincts of man as connected with the involuntary powers of his mind, which, as a branch of mental philosophy, has been entirely overlooked. But as Judge Edmonds, of this city, has just published a work in defence of the spirit-manifestations, and given the subject the weight and sanction of his judicial name, and even resigned his seat in consequence, as Judge of the Supreme Court, and as the doctrine is gradually assuming a more imposing attitude before the public, so I feel in duty bound to listen to the solicitations of my friends, and publish this humble effort of mine in the hope that it may do good.
And though sensible that errors may be detected and pointed out, yet I am fully satisfied that the thought—the leading IEA involved in the work—is in accordance with nature and truth, and this is all that I feel myself bound to defend against any attack that may be made.
J. B. DODS.
