Letter: The case for Spiritualism. (1930)

Letter to the Editors from the September 1930 issue of the Socialist Standard

Battersea, S.W.11.

To the Editor.

Dear Sir,

Being interested in political economy and a reader of long standing of the S.S., I am tempted to ascertain your views of the following :—

For many years past I have held no brief for any religion, but having heard a lot about spiritualism and also read your criticism on same, decided to test it myself.

I told nobody where I was going, and I went into a meeting a perfect stranger to all. To my surprise I was told of my dead aunt, her manners when alive, how she died, her age, and her name ; after which I was told I was suffering from a complaint which I had attended hospital for. The said complaint is very uncommon, and is not visible to anyone except when nude.

Sir, the above is only one of many experiences I have witnessed during my visits to these said places ; therefore I consider it calls for an explanation to many who, like myself, desire to know and seek the truth.

I must say that not one word or hint was given by me, in any manner at all to assist these people.

Sir, realizing the value of space in the S.S. relating to things of political importance, and, therefore, placing my inquiry second, I should like to have a reply through any channel you may desire.

I am, One in the struggle,

CURIOUS.

Reply:

Our correspondent’s experience and the conclusions he draws from it are common ones among those who have been attracted to Spiritualism. In order to test it let us put the problem in its simplest form.

This reader went to a spiritualist meeting and was told several things about himself which he and others already knew.

That in itself he would not regard as startling except for his belief that he was “a perfect stranger” to those present, and that the things he was told were not known to them.

Now may we ask our correspondent if he really has good ground to believe that nobody present knew anything whatever about him. We, of course, know no more than is told in the letter, but it will be readily agreed that it is by no means difficult for people whom we do not know by sight to have or to get information which in such circumstances may sound impressive.

The ability of certain persons to get hold of facts about him does not in any way whatever help to establish the belief in the existence of so-called “spirit forces.”

Editorial Committee.