the vital message(主信)-第25章
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they would appear most undoubtedly to be facts； what possible answer can
the materialist or the sceptic give to the assertion that they are a double
proof of the continuity of personality and the possibility of communication？
Can any reasonable system of telepathy explain how Miss Cameron
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discovered the intimate points characteristic of young Gaylord？ And then；
how are we afterwards； by any possible telepathy； to explain the revelation
to Mrs。 Nicol of the identity of her communicant； Fred Bridger； with the
Fred Gaylord who had been written of by Miss Cameron。 The case for
return seems to me a very convincing one； though I contend now； as ever；
that it is not the return of the lost ones which is of such cogent interest as
the message from the beyond which they bear with them。
C。 SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPHY
On this subject I should recommend the reader to consult Coates'
〃Photographing the Invisible；〃 which states； in a thoughtful and moderate
way； the evidence for this most remarkable phase； and illustrates it with
many examples。 It is pointed out that here； as always； fraud must be
carefully guarded against； having been admitted in the case of the French
spirit photographer； Buguet。 There are； however； a large number of cases
where the photograph； under rigid test conditions in which fraud has been
absolutely barred； has reproduced the features of the dead。 Here there are
limitations and restrictions which call for careful study and observation。
These faces of the dead are in some cases as contoured and as
recognisable as they were in life； and correspond with no pre…existing
picture or photograph。 One such case absolutely critic…proof is enough；
one would think； to establish survival； and these valid cases are to be
counted not in ones； but in hundreds。 On the other hand； many of the
likenesses； obtained under the same test conditions； are obviously
simulacra or pictures built up by some psychic force； not necessarily by
the individual spirits themselves； to represent the dead。 In some
undoubtedly genuine cases it is an exact； or almost exact； reproduction of
an existing picture； as if the conscious intelligent force； whatever it might
be； had consulted it as to the former appearance of the deceased； and had
then built it up in exact accordance with the original。 In such cases the
spirit face may show as a flat surface instead of a contour。 Rigid
examination has shown that the existing model was usually outside the
ken of the photographer。 Two of the bravest champions whom Spiritualism
has ever produced； the late W。 T。 Stead and the late Archdeacon Colley
names which will bulk large in days to comeattached great importance to
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spirit photography as a final and incontestable proof of survival。 In his
recent work； 〃Proofs of the Truth of Spiritualism〃 （Kegan Paul）； the
eminent botanist； Professor Henslow； has given one case which would
really appear to be above criticism。 He narrates how the inquirer subjected
a sealed packet of plates to the Crewe circle without exposure；
endeavoring to get a psychograph。 Upon being asked on which plate he
desired it； he said 〃the fifth。〃 Upon this plate being developed； there was
found on it a copy of a passage from the Codex Alexandrinus of the New
Testament in the British Museum。 Reproductions； both of the original and
of the copy； will be found in Professor Henslow's book。 I have myself
been to Crewe and have had results which would be amazing were it not
that familiarity blunts the mind to miracles。 Three marked plates brought
by myself； and handled； developed and fixed by no hand but mine； gave
psychic extras。 In each case I saw the extra in the negative when it was
still wet in the dark room。 I reproduce in Plate I a specimen of the results；
which is enough in itself to prove the whole case of survival to any
reasonable mind。 The three sitters are Mr。 Oaten； Mr。 Walker； and myself；
I being obscured by the psychic cloud。 In this cloud appears a message of
welcome to me from the late Archdeacon Colley。 A specimen of the
Archdeacon's own handwriting is reproduced in Plate II for the purpose of
comparison。 Behind； there is an attempt at materialisation obscured by the
cloud。 The mark on the side of the plate is my identification mark。 I trust
that I make it clear that no hand but mine ever touched this plate； nor did I
ever lose sight of it for a second save when it was in the carrier； which was
conveyed straight back to the dark room and there opened。 What has any
critic to say to that？ By the kindness of those fearless pioneers of the
movement； Mr。 and Mrs。 Hewat Mackenzie； I am allowed to publish
another example of spirit photography。 The circumstances were very
remarkable。 The visit of the parents to Crewe was unproductive and their
plate a blank save for their own presentment。 Returning disappointed； to
London they managed； through the mediumship of Mrs。 Leonard； to get
into touch with their boy； and asked him why they had failed。 He replied
that the conditions had been bad； but that he had actually succeeded some
days later in getting on to the plate of Lady Glenconnor； who had been to
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Crewe upon a similar errand。 The parents communicated with this lady；
who replied saying that she had found the image of a stranger upon her
plate。 On receiving a print they at once recognised their son； and could
even see that； as a proof of identity； he had reproduced the bullet wound
on his left temple。 No。 3 is their gallant son as he appeared in the flesh； No。
4 is his reappearance after death。 The opinion of a miniature painter who
had done a picture of the young soldier is worth recording as evidence of
identity。 The artist says： 〃After painting the miniature of your son Will； I
feel I know every turn of his face； and am quite convinced of the likeness
of the psychic photograph。 All the modelling of the brow； nose and eyes is
marked by illnessespecially is the mouth slightly contractedbut this
does not interfere with the real form。 The way the hair grows on the brow
and temple is noticeably like the photograph taken before he was
wounded。〃
D。 THE CLAIRVOYANCE OF MRS。 B。
At the time of this volume going to press the results obtained by
clients of this medium have been forty…two successes out of fifty attempts；
checked and docketted by the author。 This series forms a most conclusive
proof of spirit clairvoyance。 An attempt has been made by Mr。 E。 F。
Benson； who examined some of the letters； to explain the results upon the
grounds of telepathy。 He admits that 〃The tastes； appearance and character
of the deceased are often given； and many names are introduced by the
medium； some not traceable； but most of them identical
