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worst； the Lutheran Prussian； the Catholic Bavarian； or the peoples who
have been nurtured by the Greek Church？ If we； of the West； have done
better； is it not rather an older and higher civilisation and freer political
institutions that have held us back from all the cruelties； excesses and
immoralities which have taken the world back to the dark ages？ It will not
do to say that they have occurred in spite of Christianity； and that
Christianity is； therefore； not to blame。 It is true that Christ's teaching is
not to blame； for it is often spoiled in the transmission。 But Christianity
has taken over control of the morals of Europe； and should have the
compelling force which would ensure that those morals would not go to
pieces upon the first strain。 It is on this point that Christianity must be
judged； and the judgment can only be that it has failed。 It has not been an
active controlling force upon the minds of men。 And why？ It can only be
because there is something essential which is wanting。 Men do not take it
seriously。 Men do not believe in it。 Lip service is the only service in
innumerable cases； and even lip service grows fainter。
Men； as distinct from women； have； both in the higher and lower
classes of life； ceased； in the greater number of cases； to show a living
interest in religion。 The churches lose their grip upon the peopleand lose
it rapidly。 Small inner circles； convocations； committees； assemblies； meet
and debate and pass resolutions of an ever narrower character。 But the
people go their way and religion is dead； save in so far as intellectual
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culture and good taste can take its place。 But when religion is dead；
materialism becomes active； and what active materialism may produce has
been seen in Germany。 Is it not time； then； for the religious bodies to
discourage their own bigots and sectarians； and to seriously consider； if
only for self…preservation； how they can get into line once more with that
general level of human thought which is now so far in front of them？ I say
that they can do more than get levelthey can lead。 But to do so they must；
on the one hand； have the firm courage to cut away from their own bodies
all that dead tissue which is but a disfigurement and an encumbrance。
They must face difficulties of reason； and adapt themselves to the
demands of the human intelligence which rejects； and is right in rejecting；
much which they offer。 Finally； they must gather fresh strength by drawing
in all the new truth and all the new power which are afforded by this new
wave of inspiration which has been sent into the world by God； and which
the human race； deluded and bemused by the would…be clever； has
received with such perverse and obstinate incredulity。 When they have
done all this； they will find not only that they are leading the world with an
obvious right to the leadership； but； in addition； that they have come round
once more to the very teaching of that Master whom they have so long
misrepresented。
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APPENDICES
A。 DOCTOR GELEY'S EXPERIMENTS
Nothing could be imagined more fantastic and grotesque than the
results of the recent experiments of Professor Geley； in France。 Before
such results the brain； even of the trained psychical student； is dazed；
while that of the orthodox man of science； who has given no heed to these
developments； is absolutely helpless。 In the account of the proceedings
which he read lately before the Institut General Psychologique in Paris； on
January of last year； Dr。 Geley says： 〃I do not merely say that there has
been no fraud； I say； ‘there has been no possibility of fraud。' In nearly
every case the materialisations were done under my； eyes； and I have
observed their whole genesis and development。〃 He adds that； in the
course of the experiments； more than a hundred experts； mostly doctors；
checked the results。 These results may be briefly stated thus。 A peculiar
whitish matter exuded from the subject； a girl named Eva； coming partly
through her skin； partly from her hands； partly from the orifices of her face；
especially her mouth。 This was photographed repeatedly at every stage of
its production； these photographs being appended to the printed treatise。
This stuff； solid enough to enable one to touch and to photograph； has
been called the ectoplasm。 It is a new order of matter； and it is clearly
derived from the subject herself； absorbing into her system once more at
the end of the experiment。 It exudes in such quantities as to entirely； cover
her sometimes as with an apron。 It is soft and glutinous to the touch； but
varies in form and even in colour。 Its production causes pain and groans
from the subject； and any violence towards it would appear also to affect
her。 A sudden flash of light； as in a flash…photograph； may or may not
cause a retraction of the ectoplasm； but always causes a spasm of the
subject。 When re…absorbed； it leaves no trace upon the garments through
which it has passed。 This is wonderful enough； but far more fantastic is
what has still to be told。 The most marked property of this ectoplasm； very
fully illustrated in the photographs； is that it sets or curdles into the shapes
of human membersof fingers； of hands； of faces； which are at first quite
sketchy and rudimentary； but rapidly coalesce and develop until they are
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undistinguishable from those of living beings。 Is not this the very strangest
and most inexplicable thing that has ever yet been observed by human
eyes？ These faces or limbs are usually the size of life； but they frequently
are quite miniatures。 Occasionally they begin by being miniatures； and
grow into full size。 On their first appearance in the ectoplasm the limb is
only on one plane of matter； a mere flat appearance； which rapidly rounds
itself off； until it has assumed all three planes and is complete。 It may be a
mere simulacrum； like a wax hand； or it may be endowed with full power
of grasping another hand； with every articulation in perfect working order。
The faces which are produced in this amazing way are worthy of study。
They do not appear to have represented anyone who has ever been known
in life by Doctor Geley。＇8＇ My impression after examining them is that
they are much more likely to be within the knowledge of the subject； being
girls of the French lower middle class type； such as Eva was； I should
imagine； in the habit of meeting。 It should be added that Eva herself
appears in the photograph as well as the simulacra of humanity。 The faces
are； on the whole； both pretty and piquant； though of a rather worldly and
unrefined type。 The latter adjective would not apply to the larger and most
elaborate photograph； which represents a very beautiful young woman of a
truly spiritual cast of face。 Some of the faces are but partially formed；
which gives them a grotesque or repellant appearance。 What are we to
make of such phenomena？ There is no use deluding ourselves by the idea
that there may be some mistake or some deception。 There is neither one
nor the other。 Apart from the elaborate checks upon these particular results；
they correspond closely with those got by Lombroso in Italy； by Schrenk…
Notzing in Germany； and by other careful observers。 One thing we must
bear in mind constantly in considering them； and that is their abnormality。
At a liberal estimate； it is not one person in a million who possesses such
powersif a thing which is outside our volition can be described as a
power。 It is the mechanism of the materialisation medium which has been
explored by the acute brain a