Modern spiritism; its science and religion - SpiritArchive.org

"POSSESSION" AND ALLIED STATES 115
may become a source of most disastrous development."
Letters
from "Julia"
I quite agree that automatic writing is not in
the least reliable as proving any spirit communication.
Those who use it may have mediumistic
powers, and all the writing may come unknown to
themselves, from their own unconscious minds.
I do not, myself, doubt that the notorious letters
of "Julia" in "After Death" were thus produced;
bearing as they do throughout the unmistakable
impress of the mind of Mr. W. T. Stead, whose hand
unconsciously wrote them. On the other hand,
some are objective, and not written by oneself
at all.
Many Christian people in such cases, who are
quite orthodox, indulge in a pursuit believed to be
harmless; but psychic consequences, more or less
dangerous, soon follow. The judgment becomes
paralysed, the will surrendered, and insanity or
"possession" may eventually ensue.
Sir Oliver Lodge on "Possession"
"We really know nothing about the connection
between mind and body, the spiritual and the
material.
We know that each organism belongs to
the special psychic character (or personality) that
employs it, just as a violin belongs to a special
operator, who might resent any other person
attempting to play upon it. But that proves
nothing as to the impossibility of so utilising it. If
it be possible for the normal operator to leave his