ASPR Journal, V14 - Iapsop.com

A Secular Saint. 457
thinking of St. Simeon Stylites, hurling down from the top of
his pillar unstinted epithets of sco111 upon the stupid folk that
passed to and fro within earshot of him. The style of Dr. Hyslop
in such addresses was not unpremeditated, nor was there in it any
real anger. He deliberately chose that manner of speech because
he was convinced that if he did not sometimes rail at the
passers by they would not give heed to him at all, so fantastic to
their view was his position, so otherworldly his preoccupation.
"For they who say such things declare plainly that they seek a
country." (Hebrews 11 :14.)
Furthermore, with all the Saints of old time Hyslop had this
in common, that he gave up everything for the cause he had at
heart. A university chair of philosophy, easy circumstances, good
repute with men of the world-all these were sacrificed in order
that he might devote his time and means and strength of body and
mind to his high calling. Even from the income of the small endowment
which he himself obtained for the American Society for
Psychical Research, he never accepted a penny for his personal
support until his last illness overpowered him. Thus it is hardly
an exaggeration to say that, with the change of but a word or
two, there was in Hyslop's devotion to Psychical Research somewhat
of the spirit that Tennyson ascribes to Galahad, of the
Knights of the Round Table:
"But I, Sir Arthur, saw the holy Grail­
! saw the Holy Grail. and heard a cry:
• 0 Galahad ! ' and, • 0 Galahad ! follow me.' "
Accordingly, though for many years he encountered ridicule,
and at some hands opprobrium, none presumed even to whisper
that he was dishonest or insincere, or afraid to cross swords with
any antagonist; and none could deny that in fair and open argument
on scientific terms he was extremely cautious and equal to
the test: At Oxford in Tractarian days Dr. Pusey preached a
notable sermon on" Human Respect," and how the Saints had a
genuine disregard of the things of this world and of popularity.
Dr. Hyslop behaved likewise, even to the point of being somewhat
of a Don Quixote. Of the old Latin motto, Sum>iter in modo,
fortiter in re, he put the last half first, and too often forgot the
first half alto£"ether.
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