The second part gives specimens of what at present are considered by most people unusual communications; though these again are in many respects of an ordinary type, and will be recognised as such by other bereaved persons who have had similar messages. In a few particulars, indeed, those here quoted have rather special features, by reason of the assistance given by the group of my friends "on the other side" who had closely studied the subject. It is partly owing to the urgency therein indicated that I have thought it my duty to speak out, though it may well be believed that it is not without hesitation that I have ventured thus to obtrude family affairs. I should not have done so were it not that the amount of premature and unnatural bereavement at the present time is so appalling that the pain caused by exposing one's own sorrow and its alleviation, to possible scoffers, becomes almost negligible in view of the service which it is legitimate to hope may thus be rendered to mourners, if they can derive comfort by learning that communication across the gulf is possible. Incidentally I have to thank those friends, some of them previously unknown, who have in the same spirit allowed the names of loved ones to appear in this book, and I am grateful for the help which one or two of those friends have accorded. Some few more perhaps may be thus led to pay critical attention to any assurance of continued and happy and useful existence which may reach them from the other side.
The third part of the book is of a more expository character, and is designed to help people in general to realise that this subject is not the bugbear which ignorance and prejudice have made it, that it belongs to a coherent system of thought full of new facts of which continued study is necessary, that it is subject to a law and order of its own, and that though comparatively in its infancy it is a genuine branch of psychological science. This third part is called "Life and Death," because these are the two great undeniable facts which concern everybody, and in which it is natural for every one to feel a keen interest, if they once begin to realise that such interest is not futile, and that it is possible to learn something real about them. It may be willingly admitted that these chapters are inadequate to the magnitude of the subject, but it is hoped that they are of a usefully introductory character.
The "In Memoriam" chapter of Part I is no doubt chiefly of interest to family and friends; but everybody is very friendly, and under the circumstances it will be excused.
CONTENTS
| PAGE | ||
| Preface | [vii] | |
| PART ONE: NORMAL PORTION | ||
| CHAPTER | ||
| I. In Memoriam | [3] | |
| II. Letters from the Front | [15] | |
| III. Letters from Officers | [73] | |
| PART TWO: SUPERNORMAL PORTION | ||
| Introduction | [83] | |
| I. Elementary Explanation | [86] | |
| II. The 'Faunus' Message | [90] | |
| III. Sequel to the 'Faunus' Message | [96] | |
| IV. The Group Photograph | [105] | |
| V. Beginning of Historical Record | [117] | |
| VI. First Sitting of O. J. L. with Mrs. Leonard | [125] | |
| VII. First Peters Sitting (Anonymous) | [129] | |
| VIII. A Table Sitting | [137] | |
| IX. Attempts at Stricter Evidence | [151] | |
| X. Record Continued | [158] | |
| XI. First Sitting of Alec | [162] | |
| XII. General Remarks on Conversational | ||
| Reports and on Cross-Correspondences | [171] | |
| XIII. An O. J.L. Sitting with Peters | [174] | |
| XIV. First Sitting of Lionel Anonymous | [180] | |
| XV. M.F. A.L. Sitting of November 26 | [188] | |
| XVI. O. J. L. Sitting of December 3 | [191] | |
| XVII. K.K. Automatic Writing | [205] | |
| XVIII. First Sitting of Alec with Mrs. Leonard | [208] | |
| XIX. Private Sittings at Mariemont | [217] | |
| XX. A Few more Records, with some Unverifiable Matter | [226] | |
| XXI. Two Evidential Sittings of March 3 | [237] | |
| XXII. More Unverifiable Matter | [262] | |
| XXIII. A Few Isolated Incidents | [271] | |
| PART THREE: LIFE AND DEATH | ||
| Introduction | [283] | |
| I. The Meaning of the Term Life | [289] | |
| II. The Meaning of the Term Death | [296] | |
| III. Death and Decay | [302] | |
| IV. Continued Existence | [308] | |
| V. Past, Present, and Future | [312] | |
| VI. Interaction of Mind and Matter | [317] | |
| VII. 'Resurrection of the Body' | [322] | |
| VIII. Mind and Brain | [326] | |
| IX. Life and Consciousness | [332] | |
| X. On Means of Communication | [338] | |
| XI. On the Fact of Supernormal Communication | [345] | |
| XII. On the Contention that all Psychic Communications | ||
| are of a Trivial Nature and Deal with | ||
| Insignificant Topics | [349] | |
| XIII. On the Manner of Communication | [355] | |
| XIV. Various Psycho-physical Methods | [362] | |
| XV. Attitude of the Wise and Prudent | [367] | |
| XVI. Outlook on the Universe | [374] | |
| XVII. The Christian Idea of God | [378] | |
| Index | [397] |