THE STRANGE M. PHILIPP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7607, 17 January 1903, Page 4

THE STRANGE M. PHILIPP.

THE HISTORY OF THE CZiR'S MYSTERIOUS FRIEND. In a long article the Paris " Matin " attempts to elucidate the mystery surrounding the Btory of the presence at the Russian Court of the spiritualist, who is? said to have exercised a baneful influence over th_e Czar and the , rest of the royal family, and to have "been finally expelled from Livadia under sensational circumstances. The occultist was reported to have so influenced the Czar as to have his Majesty entirely under his control, and the recent unsatisfactory state of the Czarina's health lias likewise been attributed to the influence of this mysterious person. According to the " Matin," the individual in question is a certain M. Philipp, a native of Lyons, where he has for some, time carried on a mysterioufyvoc&tion. He enjoyed the reputation ot possessing wonderful! powers of curing people of all kinds of ailments. All who were suffering came to him, told him their troubles, and 1 ' according to report he sent everyone away restored to health, without exercising any particular kind ef treatment, and without even touching them it is said. His house was l>esicged every day, and he naturally incurred the tranity of the local doctors, who commenced an action agamst him foV illegally practising medicine. By the people he was thought to possess wonderful magnetic powers, while the doctors considered him nothing but a charlatan. He is a man of sixty years of age, without* anything remarkable in his appearance. There is no doubt, adds the "Matin," that after his futile struggle, against the medical community, who gave him no rest, h© left Lyons and went to Russia 1 . Here he soon obtained the confidence of the Grand Dukes of the Russian Court, and through them undoubtedly obtained the entree to the royal apartments. Since liis migration to Russia there is no doubt that spiritualism has increased largely in St Petersburg, where various societies for the study of the occult have been formed, and in all these M. PJiilipp and another French ( doctor named Encausse, supposed to be practised in various mystic arts, ha.ye invariably been concerned. Dr Encausse has written to the " Matin " protesting againsb the insinuations that have been, made •against M. Philipp, who, he says, practised no magic arts on the Czar, but on the contrary, merely, advised and assisted his Majesty. t . The present whereabouts of M. Philipp I are not known, although it is certain that be is no longer at the Russian Court.