SPIRITUALISM.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 478, 10 April 1909, Page 15

SPIRITUALISM.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. tc Tho third annual conference of tho New c( toaland National Association of Spiritualists vas commenced yesterday at the neir Century (.[ flail, Kent Terrace, the president, Mr. AY. f, U'Lean, presiding over an attendance of 53 g! ielegates, representing the various associa- tc "dons in all parts of tho Dominion. d •' In his opening address, tho. president si welcomed the ■ delegates, and introduced ti Professor Willy Reichcl, a writer on occult a uibjects. Tho president related briefly the liistory of tho movement and sorrio of its early tl itrugglos. Sixty-ono years ago, thero were no J spiritualists, but now thero wcro about si 50,000,000 in tho world, and no fewer than a thirty public mcotings were held in. Chicago every Sunday ovening. "In all countries, he said, "tho growth of spiritualism during tho past two or three years has been surprising, and it is finding its way among all (s classes and in every country, Not only among j those in tho humbler walks of life is investi- (, cation carried on with intense interest, but amongst tho well-to-do. It is a favourite theme in tho drawing-room of the rich, is discussed among the students of our colleges n and universities, and even the laboratory of c tho scientist has been invaded. "Writers of ' fictiou aro introducing it into their books, . articles are now being contributed to magazines dealing with its phenomena and teachings. Tho press, too, is dealing with spiritualism in a serious manner, very unlike } its attitudo of five or six years ago, while tho I great American dailies aro now reporting m J full the addresses of inspirational speakers, and allowing free discussion, on every phase of the subject. Books :■ bearing upon the , subject of spiritualism aro being sought .for by thinking minds, and journals devoted to the subject-are being widely circulated. Reports received from America show that 3 spiritualists aro increasing in number ] throughout the United States, but tho ] National Spiritualists' Association have all J their work to do in trying to suppress tho frauds that haunt the movement. In the United Kingdom, propaganda work is being J carried out energetically with surprising results, and the National • Federation is ever widening its sphero of activity. Lyceum, or ; school work, is also receiving more attention, ] nnd from tho ranks of tho young the ] spiritualists hope to have a noble army, of ] workers by and by. In England, France, ; and Germany the most_ prominent scholars I and scientists are devoting themselves to a direful analysis of phenomenal manifestations, and trying to reduce them to an orderly form.'ln France, Professor Flamniarion and Colonel De Rochas have done much in this direction. Never beforo have . the countries of Europe shown such interest : as.during tho.past two years. Russia has many influential men at work investigating spiritualism on a scientific basis. So also has Germany and Austria. In Italy a princess of ' tho i realm has been used as the medium of converting Marconi, of wireless telegraphy fame, to declare his faith in tho possibilities of tho unseen, world, while Professor Lombroso has also taken the same bold stand. And now a National Federation of Spiritualists has been formed in Italy. In tho Balkan States,_ notwithstanding the troublous times, spiritualism has thousands of adherents. In Spain, there aro several spiritualistic newspapers and societies. In Mexico, Porto Rico, Cuba, and throughout South America there are numerous societies, arid spiritualistic newspapers, too. _ In the large cities of India spiritualism is rearing its hoad above all other existing systems. "When Dr. Peebles was in India, the King of Tagoro entertained him, and opened one of tho royal banquet rooms for a series of lectures upon the subject of spiritualism, and a society was organised under tho leadership of the most representative men of the kingdom. Societies exist in Capo Town, Durban, Pretoria, Johannesburg, and other places, and Mrs. Lortio Prior is now entering upon a season of missionary work- in ■■these cities. Letters from ■' British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and other places in the Dominion of Canada show..that tho .work is progressing rapidly. Mr. Arthur' Biishby, who is very well-known in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, is at present engaged in propaganda work in Canada and California." The following officers were elected for the year:—President, Mr.'-TV. C. Nation; vicepresident, Mr., J. Jamieson; secretary and treasurer, Mrs. Moore. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the retiring president, Mr. W. M'Lean, for his work of the past. •'' Tho president announced that there was some prospect of the well-known Melbourne medium, Mr. Charles Bailey, paying a visit to New Zealand. It was decided to extend him a hearty welcome. It was decided to forward a letter to Bishop Julius thanking him for bringing forward the subject of tho gift of healing in the Churches. A meeting was held in the hall last evening, when addresses were given by Mr. TV. C. Nation and Mrs. Harris-Roberts, and Mrs. Cooley and Mrs. Morrison gave psychic readings and, messages. A VISITING AUTHOR, In conversation with a Dominion representative, Professor Willy Reichcl, a student and writer of psychic subjects, spoke of such questions as psychic phenomena, materialisations, slate writing, psychic healing, psychometry, etc. There wore frauds, he said, and plenty of them. He thought that at least 75 per cent, of those professing knowledge of occult subjects came under this category, but he insisted that some were genuine. Tho professor explained that ho was not on a money-making mission. He was travelling over tho world investigating and writing, but ho did no fortune-telling—a thing he deprecated. During his travels, ho said, he had como across a great deal of interesting phenomena, and he had witnessed tho slate writing through the well-known Bangs Sisters in Chicago. Partial dematorialisation of a medium's body, ho declared, had come under his personal observation, and he had seen full form materialisations under strict test conditions with the medium firmly bound. The professor stated that ho had been personally able to verify the existenco of the healing powers of psychic force, which performed cures in many instances, and it was recognised by leading scientists in many countries of the world. _ Asked a question concerning reincarnation, Professor Reichel announced h,is belief in that theory, but he was not prepared to admit that tho existenco of tho Mahatmas had been proved. He was a friend of experiment, not revelation. ' ' ' He stated that his principal object in life was to prove that if, a man died ho would live again under certain conditions as an intolligcnt, conscious entity; and able tc demonstrate this. The professor leaves on Monday for Rotorua, and thence to Melbourne, w'hero lie intends to investigate phenomena which tool place under the mediumship of Mr. Charles Biuley.