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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 with relations or
friends。〃 Such an admission would alone banish thought…reading as an
explanation； for there is no evidence in existence to show that this power
ever reaches such perfection that one who possesses it could draw the
image of a dead man from your brain； fit a correct name to him； and then
associate him with all sorts of definite and detailed actions in which he
was engaged。 Such an explanation is not an explanation but a pretence。
But even if one were to allow such a theory to pass； there are numerous
incidents in these accounts which could not be explained in such a fashion；
where unknown details have been given which were afterwards verified；
and even where mistakes in thought upon the part of the sitter were
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THE VITAL MESSAGE
corrected by the medium under spirit guidance。 Personally I believe that
the medium's own account of how she gets her remarkable results is the
absolute truth； and I can imagine no other fashion in which they can be
explained。 She has； of course； her bad days； and the conditions are always
worst when there is an inquisitorial rather than a religious atmosphere in
the interview。 This intermittent character of the results is； according to my
experience； characteristic of spirit clairvoyance as compared with thought…
reading； which can； in its more perfect form； become almost automatic
within certain marked limits。 I may add that the constant practice of some
psychical researchers to take no notice at all of the medium's own account
of how he or she attains results； but to substitute some complicated and
unproved explanation of their own； is as insulting as it is unreasonable。 It
has been alleged as a slur upon Mrs。 B's results and character that she has
been twice prosecuted by the police。 This is； in fact； not a slur upon the
medium but rather upon the law； which is in so barbarous a condition that
the true seer fares no better than the impostor； and that no definite psychic
principles are recognised。 A medium may under such circumstances be a
martyr rather than a criminal； and a conviction ceases to be a stain upon
the character。
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