Modern spiritism; its science and religion - SpiritArchive.org

COLLECTIVE HYPNOSIS 163
from the kitchen. The company was by invitation
only, and was large and distinguished, including men
and women of the highest rank, the greatest experts,
psychologists from Oxford and Cambridge, intelligent
men and women known all over the world,*
after "truth." One and all
all earnest inquirers
were satisfied that there was no opening for fraud
or trickery, neither the mediums nor audience having
ever been in the house before.
The woman then entered the room between two
doctors, of whom I was one, and was placed in the
"cabinet" behind the curtains, on the chair. The
husband was then brought in and seated amidst the
crowded audience. Mr. Stead had a chair near the
screen, while I sat facing the entrance to the
"cabinet" through the curtains, and looked round
on the eager circles of well-known faces with interest.
We were then directed to join hands, and did so; but
this was not enough, so we took off our gloves, and
our bare hands were clasped together for over two
hours, f To increase the (hypnotic) effect the room
was darkened, and in the gloom American revival
hymns were crooned, somewhat discordantly ("Shall
we meet beyond the river," etc., etc.), by grave
and distinguished men of science! A hoarse voice
then shouted from the "cabinet" (the woman) that
"the colonel" said the conditions were not yet right:
* I am only sorry I cannot give the names of those present,
when it would be seen that the events I shall narrate must be
absolutely incredible, unless such an audience were under some
unknown force, such as "collective hypnotism."
t Nothing tends so to produce one common thought and
feeling, as to form a circle and establish contact by clasping each
other's bare hands.