ASPR Journal, V14 - Iapsop.com

460 J our11al of tlte A merica11 Society for P sycltical Ruearch.
he was sure that his was the part of a volunteer sharpshooter at
one outpost of the historic Church of Christ; and that the present
stupendous battle between Christian faith and materialism must
finally depend largely on the output of such investigators as he,
until they are reinforced by authorized fighters from the regular
army of the church. In other words, Hyslop believed that miracles
do happc;n, if by miracles we mean, with St. Augustine," not
an event contrary to nature, but only to nature as we know it."
Hyslop was certain that it is by the utilization of natural laws,
hitherto unrecognized, that Psychical Research is proceeding to
its goal.
Furthermore, Hyslop was profoundly convinced that ultimately
spiritism is to have influence on the sociology of mankind
in the present world: that what is now styled socialism needs a
deeper sense of the value of the individual both here and here·
after. On this value Jesus Christ insisted, and spiritism is re·
viving it already in many minds and hearts that by the natural
science of the 19th Century had been led away from Christ.
Hyslop came to the conclusion that the New Testament historians
were talking of incidents that were not mere hallucinations,
and which are being in substance duplicated now again in modem
experience, as also in all past history; that, at least as far as that,
the Society for Psychical Research, and other like circles, are in
their modern way" chosen witn«;_sses," in this anxious time when
multitudes both of the toiling masses and of the moiling rich are
being persuaded that there is no final penalty for selfishness or
the class-spirit either in the rich or the poor; and that even the
motto" one life at a time" is misleading, since death ends all.
Doubtless in Psychical Research the " chosen witnesses " must
be carefully chosen-at least as carefully as in other branches of
natural science; and this was Dr .. Hyslop's consistent contention.
Any other course is dangerous in many ways for all concerned.
Doubtless, also, such research is a trial to Christian faith; but so is
life itself, and Biblical criticism, and even the devoutest Chris·
tian experience. So far as Divine Providence has hitherto been
disclosed to us, probation is good for the soul and is part of the
general scheme. Why should Psychical Research be an exception
to the rule? For it is the demonstration of history that the human
mind and soul thrive on obstacles. Even our Lord Christ indi·
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