Modern spiritism; its science and religion - SpiritArchive.org

SPIRITISM AND THE DEAD 103
'came back' a week after death. After long
talks, Professor James says he felt 'as if an external
will was probably there; but could not say it was
Hodgson's.' That William James should hesitate
to recognise his lifelong friend is most remarkable,
for Hodgson's first desire was to establish his own
identity. William James asked, 'What have you
to tell us about the other .life?'
"Hodgson seemed to reply, 'It is not a vague
phantasy, but is reality.'
'"Do you live as we do ?'
"'Yes, we have houses, but not clothing. No!
that's absurd. Wait a moment.' And then another
spirit says 'Hodgson has to go out to get his
breath (!)'"
"Must we then," says Maeterlinck, "decide that
it is thus a departed spirit speaks to us? Not so;
the power may all reside in the medium. Our
Unknown Guest or Unconscious Mind simulates the
dead.
It projects sights and sounds, gives premonitions,
and establishes psychometry.
Further Difficulties
"In Spiritism there is no fixed doctrine concerning
a future life. It varies with the country, and it
attributes to various spirits the communications it
makes to us. The inarticulate language of the
unconscious mind can borrow that of consciousness,
and takes on the voice of whatever we believe in."
There is no doubt, as a rule, that the unconscious
mind of the medium believes itself to be the voice
and spirit of the deceased.
That the presence of one sceptic can paralyse the