Modern spiritism; its science and religion - SpiritArchive.org

COLLECTIVE HYPNOSIS 167
an absolute silence in the room, and the figure slowly
withdrew, no doubt recognised by other skilled
observers as one of their relatives. Three times did
the figure appear, and gradually disappear. All
appeared profoundly interested. Mr. Stead, who
seemed to know the procedure beforehand, and yet
who, I am persuaded, acted in perfect (hypnotised)
good faith throughout, then announced that any who
wished might now go up to the curtains and peep
through them.
A Piteous Sight
So at last, after two hours, our hands were loosed,
and one and another went and peered in, and believed
that they saw the luminous presentment of some loved
one who had "passed over." It was piteous. I sat
still and, after half an hour, the curtains were suddenly
burst open, and out rushed (in her blouse, skirt,
stockings, and shoes again) the medium in an apparent
trance. I caught her and said "Bravo!" "I
did it all right, didn't I?" said she.
Of course, on the principle of better late than
never, I expected some leading man in the room
now to say something to the point. But no! They
broke up amicably, and the fragments of conversation
I heard pointed to the belief they had
had a very remarkable and interesting spiritist
seance.* I wrote to Mr. Stead, saying the method
employed by the performers was perfectly obvious;
that when the "cabinet" was visited a small roll of
* Here, and in Mr. Stead's action, is shown the remarkable
fact that after the hypnotic effect has gone the delusion still persists
in good faith, being established in the brain as a demonstrated
truth.