0 ]:OOTF.A.LLS ON THE BOUNDARY OF ANOTHER WORLD. WITH NARRATIVE ILLUSTRATIONS. BY ROBERT DALE OWEN, PORllERLY JlEllBER 01' CONGRESS, AND AXERICAN MINISTER TO NAPLES. "As it is the -peculia.r method or the Academy to interpose no personal judgment, but to admit those opinions which appear most probable, to compare arguments, and to set forth all that may be reasonably stated In favour or each proposition, and so without obtruding any authority or ite own, to leave the judgment of the hearers tree and unpre· judiced, wo will retain this custom, which has been handed down trom Socrates ; and !.his method, dear brother Quintus, it you pl-, we will adopt, as ot\en as possible, in all our dialogues together."-C1caao iU .D;M. Lib. ii.§ 72. LONDON: TRUBNER & CO., 60, PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCLX. -·· oigitizedbyGoogle ? ... 1898 From ~no ,1h:a-v ·.cf 9 f' 01. A. P. PF/\ HOD'\. i_ LONDON: WlLLl.lll STET:Z.NB, PKlKTBB, 871 BKLL Y.A.RD, 'IKKPLJI Bil. Google rn9; 1zed by TABLE O-F CONTENTS. P.AGB AUTHOR'S ADVBBTIBIDIENT TO TBB ENGLISH ED11ION x PREl'ACB TO TBE AMERICAN EDITION xii LIST OP Au:raoas CITED xvii BOOK I. PRELIMINARY. CHAPTER I. STATllJONT O:P THll StrllJBCT • • • • • l Ia ultra-mundane interference reality, or delusi!:>n f-The inquiry practical, but hitherto discouraged-Time an essentiRI element-Isaac Taylor Jung Stilling-Swedenborg-Animal Magnetism-Arago'a opinion Dr. Carpenter's admiBBiolll-The American epidemic-Phenomena in dependent of opinions-Sentiment linked to action-The home on the other aide-Hades-Johnson, Byron, Addison, and Steele's opinions -Truth in every rank-The Ghost-Cln1-Contempt corrects not Spiritualism an influential element-Dangen of over-credulity-De moniac manifestations ?-Reaaon the appointed pilot-Duty of research - How dispoae of apontaneons phenomena? ...:. Martin Korky Courage and impartiality dtlmanded-A besetting temptation-.Feeble belief-Scepticism-Georget'a convenion - Evidence of aense-Some trutba appeal to coll.Bciousneu-Severe test applied to the subject eelected. CHAPTER II. TR11 IKPOllBIBLB • • • • • • 34 ColumbU1 in Barcelona-The marvel of marvele-Preeumption-There may be laws not yet in operation-Modern atudy of the imponderables -Arago and Cuvi.er'i admiaaiolll-What may be. , CHAPTER III. THll MIRACULOUS , • • , , 42 Modem miracles rejected-Hume-The Indian prine&-Deflnition of a miracle-Change-bearing law&-Illnstration from Babbage'• calculat ing machine-That which hu been may not always be-An error of two phues-Alleged miracl-Convulsioniata of St. Medard-SpirilUal ~ncy, if it exist, not miraculoU1-Butler's and T'illoteon's ideaa of miraclel. . oigitizedbyGoogle vi OONTENTS. CHAPTER IV. THE lHPRODABLB • • • • • 59 Two modes of seeking truth-Circulation of the blood-Aerolites-Rogel'll, the poet, and La Plare, the mathematician-Former improbabilities- Argument as to concurrence in testimony-Love of the marvellous mis leads-Haunted houses-The monks of Chantilly-Mental epidemics of Europe-Modesty enlists confidence-One euceeu not disproved by twenty failunis-Hallucination - Second-sight - Diagoras at Samo threcc-Faraday on table-moving-Consequences of doubting our senses -Contending probabilities sho\lld be weighed. BOOK II. TOUCHING CERTAIN PHASES OF SLEEP. CHAPTER I. SLEEP IN GENERAL , • • , • , 78 A familiar marvel-An inscrutable world-Dreamless sleep--Perqnin's observation-Does the soul sleep ?-A personal observation-Phases of sl~p which have much in common-Sleeping powers occasionally transcend the waking-Cabanis-Condorcet-Condillec-Gregory Franklin-Legal opinion written out in sleep-Hypnotism-Carpenter's observations-Darwin's theory as to s11Spension of volition-Spiritual and mesmeric phenomena hypnotic-How is the nervo11S reservoir sup plied ?-The cerebral battery, aud how it may po8iibly be charged-A hypothesis. CHAPTER II. DBEA'il:S • , • • , , 93 Ancient opinions - Dreams and insanity - Dreams from the ivory gate-Fatal credulity-Dreams may be suggested by slight causes- Dreams may be intentionally suggested-An extatic yision-The past recalled in dream-Dreams Yerifying tbemselv-The le.ck· smith's apprentice-How a Puis editor obtained his wife-Death of Sir Charles Lee's daughter-Calphurnia-The fishing-party-Signor Romano's story-Dreams indicating a distant death-Macnish's dream -A shipwreck foreshadowed-:Dreams involviug double coincidences Tbe lover's appearance in dream-Misleading iotluenoo of a romantic incident-Alderman Clay's dream-A Glasgow teller's dream-The arrears of teind-The same error may result in scepticism and in superstition-William Howitt's dream-Mary Howitt's dream-The murder near Wadebridge-The two tleld-mic-The Percival murder seen in dream-Dreams may disclose trivial event.a-One dream the counterpart of another -The Joseph Wilkins dream-A miracle with· out a motive ?-The Mar.T Goffe case-The Plymouth Club alarmcd W e must take trouble, if we will get at truth-An obscure explana tion-Representation of cerebral action ?-Prescience in dreams Ooethe's grandfather-The Yisit foretold-The Indian mutiny fore shadowed-Bell and Stephenson-Murder by a negro prevented-In fereuces from this case-Dreams recorded in Scripture-Are all dreams untrustworthy P oigitizedbyGoogle CONTE:NTS. vii P.lGll BOOK III. OF DISTURBANCES POPULARLY TERMED HAUNTINGS. CHAPTER I. GENP.RAL CHABACTl!R OP TH:B PBllNOH:BJrA • • • 148 No proof of gaudy supernaturali:.m-A startling element presents itself -Poltergeister-What we find, not what we may expect to find Ancient haunted houses. CHAPTER II. NA:BBATI'V:B8 • • • • • • 151 Disturbances at Tedworth-First example of responding of the sounds Glanvil's observations-' Mi'. Mompe1110n's attestation-The Wesley die· turbances-John Wesley's narrative-Emily Wesley's narrative, and her experience thirty-four years later-Opinions of Dr. Clarke, Dr. Priestley, Southey, and Coleridge-The New Havenaack case-Mrs. Golding and ber maid-The Caotle of Slawensili-Disturbances in Silesia-Dr. Kerner'sinquiries-Councillor Habn'satteatation-Twenty· five years after-Disturbances in the dwelling of the 8eeress of Pre vorst-Dieplacement of house-rafters-The law-suit-Disturbances legally attested-The furm-house of Baldarroch-An alleged discovery -The credulousness of incredulity-Spicer'e narrative of a four-years' disturbance-'l'he oemetery of Ahrensburg-Etfects produced on animllls -:An official investigation-Its report-The Cideville parsonage-Dis turbances in the north of France-Legal depositions-Verdict of the court-Additional proofs-The Rochester knockings-Dillturbances at Hydesville-Kate Fox-Allegations of the sounds-Previous disturb· anres in the same honse-Human bones found -Two pedlara disap pear-One reappears-The other cannot be traced-The Stratford dis turbances. CHAPTER III. SummcG UP • 216 Character of the testimony-Phenomena long continued, and such ft8 could not be mere imaginations-No expectation to influence-No motive for simulation-Whither ultra scepticism leads-Did Napoleon Buon11p~te ever exist ? 'BOOK IV. OP APPEARANCES COMMONLY CALLED APPARITIONS. CHAPTER I. TOUCHING HALLUCINATION. • • , , 219 Difficult to determine what is hallucination-The image on the retina Opinions of Burdllcb, Muller, Baillarger, Dechambre, and De Bois· mont-Etfects of imagination-Examples of ditferent pbaaes of hallu· cination-lllusion and hallucination-No collective ballucinations Biological experiments-Reichenb11ch's observatioos-Exoeptional cases of perception-The deaf-mute in the minority-Etfect of medicine en perceptions-ls there evidenoo for epidemical hallucinationP-De Gasparin's argument-The fanciful and the real. oigitizedbyGoogle Vlll OONTENTS. :P.lGB CHAPTER II. APPARmOll'B o:r THB LIVIll'G • • • • %30 Jung Stilling'• story-Apparition to a clergyman-Two appa.ritio11B of the living on the same day-The bride's terror-Suggegtion aa to rules of evidence-The Glasgow surgeon'• all8i1tant-Sight and sound Apparition of the living seen by mother and daughter-Was thie ltallu· cination ?-Dr. Donne'e wife-Apparition at sea-The reacue-Appa· rition of the living at eea, and ite practical result-The dying mother and her babe-Sleep or trance not an indispensable condition-Thu two sistere-Apparition of two living pereo1111, they themeelves being among the eye-witneB11eB-The red dreaa-Hast.y generalization im· prudent-The visionary excursion-The counterpart appeare where the thoughts or aifectione are ? CHAPTER III. APPARITIONS o:r THB DK.lD • • • • 261 1'be epiritnal b .. dy-May it not occasionally show iteelf?-A question not to be settled by closet thcoriete-Oberlin-His belief as to appari· tione-Lorenzo the Magnificent and the Improvisatore-Mr. Grose and the sceptical cardinal-Anna Maria Port.er's visitor-The dead body and the boat-cloak-Apparition in India-An atheist's theory examined-The brother's appearanoo to the sister-Apparition at the moment of desth-'fbe noblem1111 snd bis 111:"ant-Apparition wit· neeeed by two independent obeervere-Louise-The Wynyard appari tion, with corroborative testimony-Apparition of a stranger-The iron stove-Glimpse of a species of future punishment ?-The child's bones found-Is there repentance and progress beyond the tomb? Opinion of one of the Christian Fathers-The debt of three·and-ten pence-Human character little altered by the death-change ?-'rhe ataine of blood-The victim attracted to earth ?-The fourteenth of November-Through a (ao-called) ghost an inaccuracy in a War Office certificate is corrected-The old irent manor-hoose-The Children family-Correct information regarding them obtained through an apparition-Th& author of RobiDllOn CrlllOe in a dilemma -Hade&. BOOK V. INDICA TlONS OF PERSONAL INTERFERENCES. CHAPTER I. RETBIBUTION • • • • • • The Curies of the ancient.a not impl&cable-Modern examples of what seems retribution-The beautiful quadroon girl-Can dreams embody requitals?-What a French aetreu BUtfered-AnnoyanCMJ continued t.hroughout two yeare and a half-A dying threat apparently fulfilled Wbat an English officer BUtfered-Was.it retribution? CHAPTER II. Gu A'BDU.NSHil' • • • • • • How Senator Linn's life· was aaved-Wa s it clairvoyance, or prescience P Help amid the snow-dril'ts-Unexpected colll!Olation-Gaspar-The iejected suitor-la spiritual guardiamhip an 11Dhol1 or iDcredible liypotheiia p oigitizedbyGoogle P.lGB BOOK VI. THE SUGGESTED RESULTS. CHAPTER I. TH11 CR.il\'Gll AT DBJ.Tll • • • • u A theory must not involve absurd results - Whence can the dead return ?-Character but slightly changed at death-Spiritual theory involves two postulates-Hades swept out along with purgatory .. How the matter stands historically-The Grecian Hades-The Jewish Sheol - What becomes of the soul immediately after death ?-.An abrupt metamorphosis ?-A final doom, or a Rt.ate of progress ?-How human character is formed here-The postulates rational-What has resulted from discarding Hades-Enfeebling effect of distance-The 1068 of identity-The conception of two lives-Man cannot sympathise with that for which he is not prepared-The virtuous reasonably desire and expect another stage of action-Human instiuets too little studied -Man's nature and his situation-The Ideal-The utterings of the presaging voice-Man remains, after death, a human creature-Foot· falls-A master-influence in another world-We are journeying towards a land of love and truth-What death is-What obtains the rites of aepulture. CH.APTER II. CONCLUSION • , • • , • 272 Admissions demanded by reason-The invisible and inaudible world-We may expect outlines rather than filling up-Man's choice becomes hia judge-Pneumatology of the Bible-More light hereafter. Al'PBNDIX-Note A. Circular of the Cambridge Ghost-Club , • 377 Note B. Testimony: View taken by two opposing Schools • 380 IBDU: • 385 Google o;g, i•ed by .. oigitizedbyGoogle AUTHOR'S ADVERTISEMENT TO THE EN-GLISH EDITION. Six months, elapsed since the date of publication, permit an author to reconsider his work under the light of varied criticism, and to judge, in a measur~, its effect on the public mind. Seeking to profit by such opportunity, and by the nume~ rous private communications which have reached me, and are daily reaching me, in connection with the subject treated of in this volume, I find, so far, nothing but con firmation and encouragement. The reception of the work, both as regards the number of copies sold, arid the extent and· character of the notices it has called forth, has greatly exceeded even an author's anticipations. I ascribe this gratifying result chiefly to the fact, that the classes of phenomena grouped together in the present volume are therein presented, not as beyond nature, but as in harmony with it ; not as exceptions breaking in upon the uniformity of a great system, but as an integral and necessary portion of that system ; not, in fine, as violating or transcending the general laws which we see regulating the universe, but as occurring in strictest conformity with these laws ; albeit with a portion of them-the ultra-mun dane-which we have not been in the hal:>it of studying, how eminently soever they may be deserving of careful study. Put forth as miracles, ultra-mundane phenomena are justly rejected as incredible ; as inconsistent with the pro gress of our present knowledge, and at variance with the oigitizedbyGoogle xii AUTHOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. teachings of modern science. But when presented as classes of natural occurrences-unexplained indeed, governed by laws yet unknown or obscurely discerned, but as surely embraced in the ordered economy of the world as the storm or the sunshine-the aspect of the question changes. The inquiry is ·no longer whether God, to meet a special emer gency, suspends, from time to time, one or other of His laws, but only whether we have hitherto overlooked a por tion of these laws; that portion which serves to connect the next phase of our existence with the present. To this mode of presenting the question, I believe my work to have been chiefly indebted for the prompt sale and the favourable reception with which it has met. But these are the lesser rewards. Tokens of sympathy and of gratitude contain the greater. A mother, deprived by death of her favourite child, and refusing to be comforted because he was not, confesses that she has been indebted to these pages for healthy and hopeful views of death, reno vated spirits, courage to labour and to wait. A sceptic, into whose hands the volume fell a few weeks before his decease, requests that, after he is gone, I may be informed that to this volume, and especially to its chapter on " The Change at Death," he owed the revolution of a life's opinions, and the first consolatory conviction which had ever reached him, that there was a fairer and a better world towards which he was fast hastening. These, and other similar testimonials, the true guerdon of authorship, cause me to rejoice that an English pub lisher is about to re-issue my work. This edition· has been revised by myself, and contains some emendations and additions. R. D. 0. LONDON1 July, 1860. oigitizedbyGoogle