Let us for a moment examine the facts in this Crookes' episode. A
small book exists which describes them, though it is not as accessible
as it should be. In these wonderful experiments, which extended over
several years, Miss Florrie Cook, who was a young lady of from 16 to 18
years of age, was repeatedly confined in Prof. Crookes' study, the door
being locked on the inside. Here she lay unconscious upon a couch.
The spectators assembled in the laboratory, which was separated by a
curtained opening from the study. After a short interval, through this
opening there emerged a lady who was in all ways different from Miss
Cook. She gave her earth name as Katie King, and she proclaimed
herself to be a materialised spirit, whose mission it was to carry the
knowledge of immortality to mortals.
She was of great beauty of face, figure, and manner. She was four and
a half inches taller than Miss Cook, fair, whereas the latter was dark,
and as different from her as one woman could be from another. Her
pulse rate was markedly slower. She became for the time entirely one
of the company, walking about, addressing each person present, and
taking delight in the children. She made no objection to photography
or any other test. Forty-eight photographs of different degrees of
excellence were made of her. She was seen at the same time as the
medium on several occasions. Finally she departed, saying that her
mission was over and that she had other work to do. When she vanished
materialism should have vanished also, if mankind had taken adequate
notice of the facts.
Now, what can the fair-minded inquirer say to such a story as that--one
of many, but for the moment we are concentrating upon it? Was Mr.
Crookes a blasphemous liar? But there were very many witnesses, as
many sometimes as eight at a single sitting. And there are the
photographs which include Miss Cook and show that the two women were
quite different. Was he honestly mistaken? But that is inconceivable.
Read the original narrative and see if you can find any solution save
that it is true. If a man can read that sober, cautious statement and
not be convinced, then assuredly his brain, is out of gear. Finally,
ask yourself whether any religious manifestation in the world has had
anything like the absolute proof which lies in this one. Cannot the
orthodox see that instead of combating such a story, or talking
nonsense about devils, they should hail that which is indeed the final
answer to that materialism which is their really dangerous enemy. Even
as I write, my eye falls upon a letter on my desk from an officer who
had lost all faith in immortality and become an absolute materialist.
"I came to dread my return home, for I cannot stand hypocrisy, and I
knew well my attitude would cause some members of my family deep grief.
Your book has now brought me untold comfort, and I can face the future
cheerfully." Are these fruits from the Devil's tree, you timid
orthodox critic?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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