Modern spiritism; its science and religion - SpiritArchive.org

120 MODERN SPIRITISM
were frequently repeated; again most earnest prayer
was made, and, without insisting here on direct
cause and effect, I am glad to say the "possession"
gradually ceased. These true incidents and others
that will follow may, I fear, somewhat try the
patience of some of my more sceptical readers.
Current Scepticism
Many have indeed read, at any rate in their childhood,
that in Palestine in the days of Christ, a long
time ago, certain unfortunate people were "possessed
with devils." But these were in the Bible,
and no such things were to be found in modern
life. Not only so, but science had long since professed
to discover that even in those times there
were not any such "possessions"; that it was simply
a case of wrong diagnosis, and that the real character
of such a disease had been discovered.
All sorts of
things at that time were ascribed to spirit agencies
in a country where the "evil eye" then was, and
still is,
a cherished delusion.
"Possession" is
a Fact To-day
It must come, therefore, with something of a
shock to a thoughtful reader to find a physician
and a psychologist risking his reputation (like
Sir Wm. Crookes, longo intervallo] by speaking of
"possession" in the twentieth century. I feel sure
that such a reader will soon decide that his own
a sensible man, must see this book at once,
doctor,
which he is quite sure he would not endorse. .--;
Perhaps he would not, unless he were an alienist
of considerable experience; but the fact of "pos-