Modern spiritism; its science and religion - SpiritArchive.org

1 78 MODERN SPIRITISM
could become the best exponent of Spiritism but
such a verdict would be most unfair.*
Fifty Years of Study
I have ever, as my friends know, been an earnesc
student of psychological problems, and for nearly fifty
years of those specially associated with Spiritism, my
interest being first awakened by the case recorded
on p. 44, which I met in my Guernsey college days.
Moreover, it is quite clear that my present
chapter is endorsed, at any rate in its purpose, by
the most experienced Spiritists, so that it may be
said, indirectly, to promote the true interests of
Spiritism.
The principal objections I have to this modern cult
have yet to be urged, and will be found set forth in
Chapter XII. These have, however, no connection
at all with my profession, directly or indirectly,
but are on different grounds altogether, as the reader
will see.
A Fair Presentation
Such objections would be only weakened by any
untrue picture of that which I condemn. I have
therefore endeavoured, by special research, to present
the subject from the point of view of Spiritists
themselves, rather than from my own; and for
this reason I think I have been rather more than fair
in presenting my facts.
No doubt, if this book had been written with any
* After all, the subject is not wholly uncongenial to the
creator of Sherlock Holmes, for it certainly is full of both mysterv
and fiction.