Published in 1882 | 288 pages | PDF reader required
PREFACE
It is with no feelings of exultation or pride that I view the publication of this work. The pictures of fraud and faith revealed in it are not pleasing; the first indicates the depths to which a man may sink; the second that though there are more generous people in the world, of whom the world has little or no conception, it is easy for faith to degenerate to folly. I would infinitely prefer that the power to publish these records had never been given to me. I would rather that every fraud had been a fact, and every display of faith lost in a truthful sight.
I have endeavoured, assisted by my diary, to reproduce each scene in the order in which it passed before my eyes, and as faithfully as is consistent with my settled purpose of veiling from an unpleasant curiosity the names and places of abode of those at whose hands I received undisguised courtesy and unvarying hospitality. And this is the only reason why I withhold my name from the title page.
A triple reason exists for the public display of the knowledge I have gained-to give the truth to those who have been the victims of many painful deceptions, to those who are now being deceived, and to those who are in danger of falling into the hands of unscrupulous media. And I trust that my endeavour to reveal the truth may be accepted in the spirit in which it is given.
I have no acrimonious feelings against any one identified with Spiritualism. Those who abuse the generosity of their followers or clients; those who take advantage of their position, and under the veil of the strictest code of ethics delude and defraud their constituents, deserve the fullest exposure and punishment; but I refrain from assuming the position of judge or castigator, because I know from my own bitter experience that a retributive and unswerving hand will eventually deal out to them impartial justice.
If there is any truth in Spiritualism, if there is in it anything worthy of living, it will live; but in my experience of the subject I have never discovered the smallest particle of truth in its professional mediums; and furthermore, my observations force me to believe that the germs of utter ruin are contained within itself, that is, as now practised.
The very wildest doctrines, if doctrines they can be called, and in some cases the very loosest morality, are taught and practised by numbers of its adherents. Stories of the vilest immorality are freely bandied about amongst the adepts ; charges of the most degrading character are openly made ; and, in short, the many thousands of its honest believers in England are deluded every day of their lives, and for their sakes, as well as for the sake of others, it is high time that some one who knows should fearlessly speak the truth, and try, however feebly, to open their eyes to their true position.
How I myself became acquainted with them, and how I rejected a friendly warning, are fully shown. Every step of my course is told as concisely as the exigencies of the case will permit. Every phenomenon that I witnessed, and in common with others accepted, is truthfully painted, and the secret of the mode of its execution is just as truthfully revealed.
Upon returning to England from Belgium, I opened a correspondence with one of the gentlemen who had engaged our services for the purpose of holding séances; he asked me to tell him all I knew, for which he would thank me and hold me in respect.
He demanded, and with reason, that my statements should be supported by proofs, and meeting him by appointment, I unfolded the full truth, which was the least I could do in return for the true courtesy he had consistently displayed towards me.
Upon receiving the proofs which I offered, he professed himself quite convinced that he had been deceived; and then informed me, that wishing to investigate more closely when he heard that Thomson was in England, he had a few weeks previously invited him to his own house, and after staying there for some time he had left to give séances elsewhere.
Subsequently this gentleman addressed to me a letter, the tone of which may indicate that I should be guilty of ingratitude were I to do anything to reveal his name to curious eyes, and thus cause him and his amiable family pain or annoyance. I may perhaps with propriety transcribe a portion of the note itself, which runs as follows:
"Dear Sir,-You need not have troubled to send me back the enclosed note from Thomson. It is of very little consequence where it was posted; the note is incoherent, and meant in any case to mislead you."
(This was in reference to a note which Thomson addressed to me.)
"Since I last wrote I have had further proofs of his dishonesty, and am amply satisfied that he is an impious impostor. His deceit upon ourselves, who have received him into our family circle with such trust and confidence, is particularly aggravating."
I have also a voluminous correspondence in my possession with another gentleman who had engaged our services, and whom I offered to meet, to answer any questions he might choose to put. I have been looking over his letters, but am unable to find anything of value from which to quote. He plainly admits his belief in a partial fraud, but still has confidence in the mediumistic qualities of Thomson. When I told him that there was no truth at all in it, he joined issue and refused to believe me. This gentleman has been for some years one of the most generous supporters that mediums and their abettors have ever deceived.
In conclusion, I would give to those wishing to investigate Spiritualism the same advice that Punch briefly offers to those about to marry—"Don't."
If that is rejected, I will then urge upon the investigator—Never to sit with a professional medium. And—Never by any chance to sit in the dark, but in the fullest light.
If the first is not received, the observance of the latter will compel more honesty, though there may not be such striking manifestations.
THE AUTHOR.
LONDON, February 1882.
