“But however much,” says Sir Oliver Lodge, “can be and has been written on this subject, and whatever different opinions may be held, it is universally admitted that the _dramatic semblance_ of the control is undoubtedly that of a separate person [_i.e._ a soul distinct from the normal soul of the medium]--a person asserted to be permanently existing on the other side and to be occupied on that side in much the same functions as the medium is on this. The duty of controlling and transmitting messages seems to be laid upon such a one--it is his special work. The dramatic character of most of the controls is so vivid and self-consistent, that whatever any given sitter or experimenter may feel is the probable truth concerning their real nature, the simplest way is to humour them by taking them at their face value and treating them as separate and responsible and real individuals. It is true that in the case of some mediums, especially when overdone or tired, there are evanescent and absurd intrusions every now and then, which cannot be seriously regarded. Those have to be eliminated; and for anyone to treat them as real people would be ludicrous; but undoubtedly the serious controls show a character and personality and memory of their own, and they appear to carry on as continuous an existence as anyone else whom one only meets occasionally for a conversation.” There is not anything in this weighty expression of opinion that really clashes with the “possession” theory, except, indeed, the suggestion that the controls are persons “permanently existing on the other side”--a suggestion which is in obvious conflict with the admission that controls are in constant attendance on mediums in this world. What Sir Oliver means by “evanescent and absurd intrusions” that “cannot be seriously regarded” or treated as “real people” is also not clear, but probably refers to some form of “sophistication” resulting from a derangement of the transmitting mechanism. In any case the conclusion remains that the transmission takes place through a combination of medium-_cum_-control; and this may in great measure explain the apparent psychical sensitiveness of mediums. That is to say, the reason why mediums are particularly subject to spiritual influence from the outside may be due to the fact of their possessing, or being possessed by, a secondary semi-attached soul which is comparatively free to perceive and attend to the efforts made by external spirits to open up communication. CHAPTER VI COMMUNICATING Very many methods have been discovered of communicating with discarnate spirits; but it is not needful in the present volume to deal with any system of incantation or “magical” rites. What is proposed is to describe such practices as have in modern times been found to yield good results and have become customary. 1. EXPECTANCY