Summary
Since my article appeared in the Fortnightly Review, I have seen Dr. Carpenter's latest work, “The Principles of Mental Physiology.” One or two of the learned doctor's statements have been noticed in foot-notes to this book, but there are a few others calling for remark, which I will now refer to.
At p. 296 Dr. Carpenter says, that the only answer piritualists give to Faraday's experiments is, that—“Faraday's performers moved the tables with their hands, whereas we know that we do not;”—and he then continues—“Those who make this assertion are (of course) scientifically bound to demonstrate it, by showing that in their case the table does go round without any deflection of the index by lateral pressure, but they have uniformly refused to apply this test to their own performance although repeatedly challenged to do so.” But Dr. C. omits to tell us who are the spiritualists whose “only answer” is above given, and who are they who have been “repeatedly challenged” and have “uniformly refused” to accept the challenge. On inquiry it may be found that it is the men of science who have “uniformly refused” to witness the proof of what they say spiritualists are scientifically bound to demonstrate.
In the spring of 1867, when I had obtained the proofs of force in lifting (not turning) a table (as detailed at p. 132) I invited Dr. Carpenter to attend some sittings with every probability of being able to show the phenomena.
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- On Miracles and Modern SpiritualismThree Essays, pp. 225 - 232Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009First published in: 1875