THE HARMONY OF VIRTUE

VII. 12. Stead and the Spirits395imaginations with a sense of superiority to the larger minds whodo not refuse to enquire into phenomena which are at least widespreadand of a consistently regular character. The true attitudeis to examine carefully the nature of the phenomena, the conditionsthat now detract from their value and the possibility of removingthem and providing perfect experimental conditions whichwould enable us to arrive at a satisfactory scientific result. Untilthe value of the communications are scientifically established,any attempt to use them for utilitarian, theatrical or yet lighterpurposes is to be deprecated, as such misuse may end in shuttinga wide door to potential knowledge upon humanity.From this point of view Mr. Stead's bizarre experiments areto be deprecated. The one redeeming feature about them is that,as conducted, they seem to remove the first elementary difficultyin the way of investigation, the possibility of human deceitand imposture. We presume that he has got rid of professionalmediums and allows only earnest-minded and honourable investigatorsto be present. But the other elements of error and confusionare encouraged rather than obviated by the spirit andmethods of Mr. Stead's Bureau. First, there is the error and selfdeceptionof the sitters. The spirit does not express himself directlybut has to give his thoughts at third hand; they come firstto the intermediary spirit, Julia or another, by her they are conveyedto the human medium and through him conveyed by automaticor conscious speech or writing to the listeners. It is obvioushow largely the mind of the medium and, to a smaller butstill great extent, the thought-impressions of the other sittersmust interfere, and this without the least intention on their part,rather in spite of a strong wish in the opposite direction. Fewmen really understand how the human mind works or are fittedto watch the processes of their own conscious and halfconsciousthought even when the mind is disinterested, still lesswhen it is active and interested in the subject of communication.The sitters interfere, first, by putting in their own thoughtsand expressions suggested by the beginnings of the communication,so that what began as a spirit conversation ends in atangle of the medium's or sitters' ideas with the little of hisown that the spirit can get in now and then. They interfere not