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that his friend saw him。 He afterwards returned to his own room； stood
beside his own senseless body； argued within himself whether he should
re…occupy it or not； and finally； duty overcoming inclination； he merged
his two frames together and continued his life。 A letter from him to his
friend explaining matters crossed a letter from the friend； in which he told
how he also had been aware of his presence。 The incident is narrated in
detail in Mr。 Funk's 〃Psychic Riddle。〃 I do not understand how any man
can examine the many instances coming from various angles of approach
without recognising that there really is a second body of this sort； which
incidentally goes far to account for all stories； sacred or profane； of ghosts；
apparitions and visions。 Now； what is this second body； and how does it fit
into modern religious revelation？ What it is； is a difficult question； and yet
when science and imagination unite； as Tyndall said they should unite； to
throw a searchlight into the unknown； they may produce a beam sufficient
to outline vaguely what will become clearer with the future advance of our
race。 Science has demonstrated that while ether pervades everything the
ether which is actually in a body is different from the ether outside it。
〃Bound〃 ether is the name given to this； which Fresnel and others have
shown to be denser。 Now； if this fact be applied to the human body； the
result would be that； if all that is visible of that body were removed； there
would still remain a complete and absolute mould of the body； formed in
bound ether which would be different from the ether around it。 This
argument is more solid than mere speculation； and it shows that even the
soul may come to be defined in terms of matter and is not altogether 〃such
stuff as dreams are made of。〃 It has been shown that there is some good
evidence for the existence of this second body apart from psychic religion；
but to those who have examined that religion it is the centre of the whole
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system； sufficiently real to be recognised by clairvoyants； to be heard by
clairaudients； and even to make an exact impression upon a photographic
plate。 Of the latter phenomenon； of which I have had some very particular
opportunities of judging； I have no more doubt than I have of the ordinary
photography of commerce。 It had already been shown by the astronomers
that the sensitized plate is a more delicate recording instrument than the
human retina； and that it can show stars upon a long exposure which the
eye has never seen。 It would appear that the spirit world is really so near to
us that a very little extra help under correct conditions of mediumship will
make all the difference。 Thus the plate； instead of the eye； may bring the
loved face within the range of vision； while the trumpet； acting as a
megaphone； may bring back the familiar voice where the spirit whisper
with no mechanical aid was still inaudible。 So loud may the latter
phenomenon be that in one case； of which I have the record； the dead
man's dog was so excited at hearing once more his master's voice that he
broke his chain； and deeply scarred the outside of the seance room door in
his efforts to force an entrance。 Now； having said so much of the spirit
body； and having indicated that its presence is not vouched for by only one
line of evidence or school of thought； let us turn to what happens at the
time of death； according to the observation of clairvoyants on this side and
the posthumous accounts of the dead upon the other。 It is exactly what we
should expect to happen； granted the double identity。 In a painless and
natural process the lighter disengages itself from the heavier； and slowly
draws itself off until it stands with the same mind； the same emotions； and
an exactly similar body； beside the couch of death； aware of those around
and yet unable to make them aware of it； save where that finer spiritual
eyesight called clairvoyance exists。 How； we may well ask； can it see
without the natural organs？ How did the hashish victim see his own
unconscious body？ How did the Florida doctor see his friend？ There is a
power of perception in the spiritual body which does give the power。 We
can say no more。 To the clairvoyant the new spirit seems like a filmy
outline。 To the ordinary man it is invisible。 To another spirit it would； no
doubt； seem as normal and substantial as we appear to each other。 There is
some evidence that it refines with time； and is therefore nearer to the
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material at the moment of death or closely after it； than after a lapse of
months or years。 Hence； it is that apparitions of the dead are most clear
and most common about the time of death； and hence also； no doubt； the
fact that the cataleptic physician already quoted was seen and recognised
by his friend。 The meshes of his ether； if the phrase be permitted； were still
heavy with the matter from which they had only just been disentangled。
Having disengaged itself from grosser matter； what happens to this spirit
body； the precious bark which bears our all in all upon this voyage into
unknown seas？ Very many accounts have come back to us； verbal and
written； detailing the experiences of those who have passed on。 The verbal
are by trance mediums； whose utterances appear to be controlled by
outside intelligences。 The written from automatic writers whose script is
produced in the same way。 At these words the critic naturally and
reasonably shies； with a 〃What nonsense！ How can you control the
statement of this medium who is consciously or unconsciously pretending
to inspiration？〃 This is a healthy scepticism； and should animate every
experimenter who tests a new medium。 The proofs must lie in the
communication itself。 If they are not present； then； as always； we must
accept natural rather than unknown explanations。 But they are continually
present； and in such obvious forms that no one can deny them。 There is a
certain professional medium to whom I have sent many； mothers who
were in need of consolation。 I always ask the applicants to report the result
to me； and I have their letters of surprise and gratitude before me as I write。
〃Thank you for this beautiful and interesting experience。 She did not make
a single mistake about their names； and everything she said was correct。〃
In this case there was a rift between husband and wife before death； but
the medium was able； unaided； to explain and clear up the whole matter；
mentioning the correct circumstances； and names of everyone concerned；
and showing the reasons for the non…arrival of certain letters； which had
been the cause of the misunderstanding。 The next case was also one of
husband and wife； but it is the husband who is the survivor。 He says： 〃It
was a most successful sitting。 Among other things； I addressed a remark in
Danish to my wife （who is a Danish girl）； and the answer came back in
English without the least hesitation。〃 The next case was again of a man
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who had lost a very dear male friend。 〃I have had the most wonderful
results with Mrs。 to…day。 I cannot tell you the joy it has been to me。
Many grateful thanks for your help。〃 The next one says： 〃Mrs。 was
simply wonderful。 If only more people knew； what agony they would be
spared。〃 In this case the wife got in touch with the husband； and the
medium mentioned correctly five dead relatives who were in his company。
The next is a case of mother and son。 〃I saw Mrs。 to…day； and obtained
very wonderful results。 She told me nearly everything quite correctlya
very few mistakes。〃 The next is similar。 〃We were quite successful。 My
boy even reminded me of something that only he and I knew。〃 Says
another： 〃My boy reminded me of the