It certainly seems to clear up certain cases of apparition and abnormal acquisition of information as to distant events, in a way which other theories do not do without being strained to an extent which I regard as unwarrantable.
It seems probable that the chief reason why such an hypothesis has not been adopted before is simply the difficulty of conceiving the nature of such a vehicle. But this is overcome if we suppose that it is four-dimensional.
The theory has, of course, its own attendant difficulties and I have no desire disingenuously to ignore them.
First it may be asked: How does the percipient see the apparition? For four-dimensional objects are, ex hypothesi invisible to three-dimensional sight.
Second: Why does the four-dimensional vehicle present the exact appearance of the three-dimensional body—clothes and all?
Third: How can it speak, i.e., set up vibrations in three-dimensional matter, as it is sometimes recorded as doing?
It is admittedly far from easy to answer these questions, in the light of our present knowledge.
As regards the first, I should feel disposed to say that such apparitions would be the rule rather than the exception, were it not for the fact that only those whose four-dimensional organs are fairly well developed can see them. Even so it may be that they are only called into activity as a result of some special "rapport" existing between the agent and the percipient.
Professor Joire, in his book "Psychical and Supernormal Phenomena" points out that in nearly every case the percipient is in a state which he describes as "superficial somnambulism or passive mediumship" i.e., in some condition which from the facts of Hypnosis we may consider to be especially favourable to the receiving of supernormal impressions of any kind.