THE HARMONY OF VIRTUE

Stead and MaskelyneTHE vexed question of spirit communicationhas become a subject of permanent public controversy inEngland. So much that is of the utmost importance to our viewsof the world, religion, science, life, philosophy, is crucially interestedin the decision of this question, that no fresh proof or disproof,establishment or refutation of this genuineness and significanceof spirit communications can go disregarded. But no discussionof the question which proceeds merely on first principlescan be of any value. It is a matter of evidence, of the valueof the evidence and of the meaning of the evidence. If the ascertainedfacts are in favour of spiritualism, it is no argumentagainst the facts that they contradict the received dogmas of scienceor excite the ridicule alike of the enlightened sceptic and ofthe matter-of-fact citizen. If they are against spiritualism, it doesnot help the latter that it supports religion or pleases the imaginationand flatters the emotions of mankind. Facts are what wedesire, not enthusiasm or ridicule; evidence is what we have toweigh, not unsupported arguments or questions of fitness or probability.The improbable may be true, the probable entirely false.In judging the evidence, we must attach especial importanceto the opinion of men who have dealt with the facts at first hand.Recently, two such men have put succinctly their arguments forand against the truth of spiritualism, Mr. W. T. Stead and thefamous conjurer, Mr. Maskelyne. We will deal with Mr. Maskelynefirst ,who totally denies the value of the facts on whichspiritualism is based. Mr. Maskelyne puts forward two absolutelyinconsistent theories, first, that spiritualism is all fraud andhumbug, the second, that it is all subconscious mentality. Thefirst was the theory which has hitherto been held by the opponentsof the new phenomena, the second the theory to which theyare being driven by an accumulation of indisputable evidence. Mr.Maskelyne, himself a professed master of jugglery and illusion, isnaturally disposed to put down all mediums as irregular compe-