BOOKS OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3012, 24 February 1917, Page 13

BOOKS OF THE DAY

THE MYSTERY OF LIFE {AND DEATH "Tho $oui and Its Story, a Sketch," by Norman Pearson (London, Edward Arnold). "Raymond, or Life and Death, v/ith t Examples of the Evidence for Sur- ■ vival of Memory and Affection after Death," by Sir Oliver Lodge (Methuen and Co.). Each of the two books whose titles are above sot forth fairly calls for a much lengthier .review than it is possible jto give in tho columns of a daily ijournal in war time. Each deals -with the problem of lifo after death, with the survival of tho human soul, with, therefore, a subject which in every year that passes is being more keenly, and closely studied, and is forcing itself upon the attention of ■eveiMvidening circles. Mr. Norman Po?irson, whose earlier work, "Some Problems of Existence," was widely ffiscussed, puts forward tho principle 'iihat tho soul, no less than the body, is •u product of evolution, although, un..like the body, it has a destiny which ■will.. endure. He combats tho materialism, which denies the independent existence of the soul, or of any men-, tal principle. The Soul, which has its origin,, according to the author, in tho dim sentience which accompanies even the* lowest form's of life, is idontifiod by. Mr. Pearson; with the human Selffonsckmsness, but is carefully disffcinguifihed, however, from the Self, 'whioh,33 only of its partial manifestations. The theory of Materialism ihaving been examined l and found wanting, the nature of Matter is investi■gated. ' Following upon this tho book ideals with the oonditions necessary for the appearance of life, and the mode of its appearance. A chapter is devoted 4o the controversy of tne spontaneous generation of life, and the curious process styled hetefogehesis. Next comes a chapter entitled "The Dawn of the 'Soul," in which the relations'of physical to mental structure, > and the jntrmate connections of- the two orders of development, are dealt with. Tho difficulties which beset the transmismission from a sub-human "to a human ftconsciousness, and the activities of 'consciousness in a sub-human condition :are discussed at some length. Speech :is the distinctive mark of man, but Mr. Pearson shows it to be connected with-' : : anatomical • development and motor activity. The author examines at some' length- Weissmann's theory' of . the non-transmission by heredity of acquired characters, and rejects the theory, in its extreme form, as improbable and unproved, thus disposing of one of the chief obstacles raised by the Weissmann school to the permanent value of education and the independent evolution of the soul. There are chapters dealing with "Personal Identity," the "Relation of the Soul to the Self," the "Unity of the Soul'?—in .spite of the marvellous phenomena of multiple' personality—and there is also an interesting discussion on the possible peraanency of sex, even in the most spiritual stages of the soul's future development. Mr.. Pearson concludes by a philosophical , disquisition on the iiature and - method of creation, and the place of the soul in,, and in relation to, the universe'of which it forms part. Regarding evolution as a process whose operation extends both id body and mind, the author repeatedly turns to the facts of physical evolution for hints towards elucidating the obscure course of mental evolution. In the concluding chapter, headed "The Soul and the Universe," Mr. Pearson takes quite a radiantly hopeful view of the future of the soul that "has not been shattered in the rebellious struggle against the corrective influences which should purge, mould, and strengthen it." Once a man "is fairly launohed on his upward course, loftier motives come in to guide him aright. . '-. -.', As the soul begins to realise its own grandeur, it rises above the temptations which now encumber it, for its energies become attuned to a higher end. As one of God's ministers its only aim will be to further God's purpose and make manifest His glory in the iWider arena which will then unfold before it. Nothing then can threaten this high- intent,-or mar its due fulfilment. Matter may'iperish or, pass into;.new ".forms,, but';, the soul will not bs touched by \ the.shock.•'. Its; career is not to be measured by the; process of the suns."or bounded .by'the confines of the visible. liniVerse. Strong ; in its purity, loyal to its purpose,' in its high mission, the soul will, remain undaunted and serene, Yea, though on reeling stars and worlds outworn .; Ged set the seal of everlasting night, The hook contains several plates representing' artificial : cells' ■" and \ mitotictigures, etc., mainly reproduced from Leduc's "Mechanism of Lite." (N.Z. price, 125.-6 d.) Sir Oliver Lois has lon S beetl a devoted investigator of * psychic phenomena. His interest in spiritualism-has now been deepened by the death of his brave soldier son, Raymond, before the war a clever young electrical engineer, with whom the father now claims to have had frequent communication since his death. In "Raymond, or Life and Death" (Mothuen and Co.), Sir Oliver has set down a very intimate record of the seances, at which, by the assistance of professional "mediums," he claims he - has had ' messages from another world. The first part of the book is taken up with «, brief biographical sketch of Raymony Lodge, and contains a number of .letters written by the young soldier from Flanders, letters which display ■evidences of the lad's pleasant personality, and of that fine spirit of never-failing patience and 1 cheerfulness under trying circumstances for which the young British soldiers have become so famous. 'It is, howevor, the second part of the hook which has already caused so much discussion. Sir Oliver Lodge solemnly assures us .that lv y,ithin- twelve;, days from the death of his 'son, he and : Lady Lodge'were in. communication with him through various mediums. Sir Oliver gives the roost minute details of the various interviews or seances, a-t which certain , "controls" were present, and brings forward a number of very curious facts to prove that'the messages sent by tho F£i to his parents',through the medium could not have-' .been invented by the latter. Much, however, _ depends iinoh whether the various mediums whom Sir Oliver consulted wore not aware of tho identity of the sitter. Sir Oliver himself seems to foresee this objection beins: raised. by the sceptical, for he assures us that itiß practically impossible ?»r.- mediums to hunt up and become acquainted with the family history of their numerous But, as has boon , TKilnted-out by more'than one English reviewer of the book, Sir Oliver's face and figure must, be almost as well known to professional mediums (a very .elerver set of people) as those of Mr.

Lloyd Georgo or Mr. Asquith, and the interest ho has so long taken in psychical research is a strong point in favour of tho probability of his having been recognised. Be that as it may, it is undoniablo that some of Sir Oliver's experiences have been such as to support very, strongly the possibility of communication with the souls of the dead. Ho himself does not accept all the messages as genuine, for he divides the sittings into two classes—evidential and doubtful. Some of the messages are of a pathetically interesting character,, others, so at least it seems to me, will be rejected with contempt aliko by scientific and religious students. It is difficult to believe m the genuineness of some of the messages received through a professional medium named Mrs. Leonard, whose "control" is a littlo Indian girl named Keda. At one seance tho inquiring father was solemnly informed_ that Raymond bad "got a new tooth in place of another one bo had—one that wasn't quite right then," but' the crowning absurdity is found in the following extraordinary message;— A chap came over the other day who would have a cigar. "That's finished them," he thought. . . . But there are laboratories over here, and they manufacture all sorts:of things in them. Not like you do, out of solid matter, but out of essences and ethers and gases. It's not the same as on the earth-plane, but they were able to manufacture what looks like a cijar. . . •. Some w;ant meat and strong drink; tho.v call for whisky sodas. Don't think I'm stretching it when I tell you that they can manufacture even that. ... He (Raymond) hns heard of drunkards who want it for months and years over here, but he hasn't seen any." Through another medium, a' Mrs,. Kennedy, Sir Oliver asked his son the question (through the automatic writing of the medium) whether he had seen Christ. The answer is given thus: Raymond: "Father, I shall see Him presently. It is not time yet. I am not ready. But I know He lives, and I know He comes here. All the sad ones see Him if no one else can help them. Paul has seen, Him; you see, he had such a lot of pain, poor chap. I ain not expecting to see Him yet, lather. I shall fove to when ifs the time.—Raymond." It is difficult to reconcile such, a communication as this (whatever we may think of it) with .the. wretched stuff about the cigar and the whisky. The concluding portion of this remarkable book consists of a number of chapters in which the author discusses the meanings'of the terms life and'death, and dwells,upon tho means and manner of communication with the spirit world, and so forth, closing with an examination of the "attitude of the wise and prudent" to psychic phenomena and" its relation to tho recognised Christian idea of God., I leave it to my readers to form their own opinions upon the many extraordinary statements made by the author. Whatever conclusidn they may arrive at, they cannot, I feel sure, fail- to acknowledge and respect, the evident sincerity ancT earnestness of Sir Oliver's attitude to the question with which he deals. He may be inistaken, may be self-de-luded, but no one can doubt his honesty. The book contains several interesting illustrations. (N.Z. price, 12s. 6d.) •■■'■" . L .