ASPR Journal, V14 - Iapsop.com

142 lottrnal of the American Society for Ps)•chical Research.
I began to investigate spiritualistic phenomena about fifteen
years ago. Up to that time I had regarded them with no respect,
and for a long time after I began my observations I held tenaciously
to the theory of mind-reading as sufficiently explaining them. But
I was compelled to give this up, and have been for a long time
convinced that the spiritualistic theory is the only one that can
stand. I lay out of the case· all manifest delusions and consider only
the residuum of unquestionable facts. There clearly are such, and
in abundance.
Very truly yours,
JoaN HooKER.
An article written at the request of several Hartford Clergymen
of .different denominations and read before them Dec. 17, 1888, by
John Hooker, Hartford: ·
A spiritualist is one who believes that disembodied spirits may
communicate with spirits in the flesh. The question whether they
have done so, and may do so, is wholly a question of fact, like any
other question of fact presented in a court of law, or in business,
for men to consider and decide. It is to be determined by evidence.
There is a great presumption against the existence of such intercommunication,
growing out of the very strong belief to the contrary
which has so long and so extensively prevailed. But this affects
only the question of the quantum of evidence necessary to establish
the fact. In the face of such a presumption there must be a great
preponderance of evidence in favor of the spiritualistic theory.
After the question of fact is settled in favor of that theory
there will remain a large practical question of much importance
with which every person must deal for himself. This question is,
to what moral use shall the fact be put? It may take the form . of
a series of questions. How are my religious opinions to be affected
by it? How my teaching? How far are we to accept the statements
made by spirits on the other side as to their condition and
experiences over there? What is the philosophy of spiritualism?
These are questions of great importance and interest, but it is
useless to touch. them until we have first settled the question of
fact. Let us then address ourselves first of all to this question.
In doing this I propose to limit myself to facts that have fallen
under my own observation, and I shall, to make the matter clea_rer,
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