Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Keview s"hould bo addressed to the Editor of the Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville , "London , N . — : o : — "T HE SI / PERNATUKAI , ? " By Lionel A . Weatherly , M . D . With chapter on Oriental Magic Spiritualism , and Theosophy by J . N . Maskelyne . Bristol : J . W . Arrowsmith , 11 Quay Street . London : Simpkin , Marshall , Hamilton , Kent , and Co ., Limited .

IT has afforded na much pleasure to peruse this most interesting book , and from what we have gleaned we feel sure it will become a work thafc will be consulted for many years to come . All who are acquainted with the ability of Dr . Weatherly well know that he is fully competent to write on the subjects dealt with herein , while ifc would be bard to find a man with more experience in the

theory of magic than is Mr . J . N . Maskelyne , who has for so many years thoroughly amused crowded audiences at the Hall of Mystery , in Piccadilly , and at the same time exposed tricksters and impostors in every form of so-called spiritualism under its various phases . It has been the author ' s aim to make his statements aa clear as possible , to invest his explanations with language that any one can understand ,

and , above all , to steer clear of that dangerous shoal , npon which so many authorities on kindred subjects have wrecked their literary Craffc , viz ., " Religions Arguments . " However , fco begin afc the beginning ; we may aay every care haa been taken to make fche reader acquainted wifch fche subject treated on ; each fresh item commences with a side note ; for instance , in Chapter I . we have

arguments and information on Superstition , Witchcraft , and believers in the Supernatural , and in treating this last subject we may quote the author as to whab his intention is throughout the book . Dr . Weatherly writes : My effort in this book will be to lead my reader ! to look to natural causation as the origin of supernatural seemings . To render the subject clear to all , to admit of every one

following my arguments readily , and carrying away some definite idea , I trust , my readers , yoa will not consider time wasted if I give a brief outline of the divisions of the mind . In so doing , as in fact throughout this book , I will try my best to make all as simple and practical aa possible ; and , instead of floundering wildly in the deep waters of theoretical mysticism , attempt , by wading through

the ford of scientific truth , fco bring myself and you safely to the firm land of common sense and right judgment . " He then goes on to ask , "What is Mind ? " and in Chapter II . deals with the Unknowable , Divisions of the Mind , Perception , Intellect ( Memory , Reason , Imagination ) , Emotion , and Will . In Chapter III ., whioh deals wifch " Description , Physiology , and classification of Hallucinations and

Illusions , Dr . Weatherly dividas his chapter into the following headings , " Sense Deceptions generally , definition of Hallucination and Illusion , Physiology of Hallucination and Illusion , and classification . " All these subdivisions are interesting in the extreme , and should be carefully studied . We now pass on to ordinary Sense Deceptions , and find some amusing examples that

have been handed down from time to time as facts , but which are here easily and properly explained . The case of Dr . Lombard , the giant of the Bracken Mountain , fche demon of Socrates , and Sir Walter Scott ' s friend ' s illusion are all sound reading , and we feel justified in quoting from the book the last named incident . " Sir Walter Scott mentions a good example of a sane illusion which happened to a

friend of his . Not long after the death of Lord Byron , a friend , who had known the deceased poet well , was engaged , during the darkening twilight of an autumn evening , in perusing a publication depicting the habits and opinions of the distinguished individual . He put down hia book and passed out into the hall , through whioh tbe moon was beginning to shine ; and before him , standing amongst

the articles of armour , the quaint furniture , and the skins of animals with which this part of the house was fantastically fitted np , he saw the exact representation of Lord Byron , whose recollection had been at that moment so strongly brought before his imagination . He stopped to notice the wonderful accuracy with which fancy had impressed the bodily eye , the peculiarities of dress and posture of

the illustrious poet . Sensible , however , of the illusion , he stepped forward towards the figure , and at once saw that a screen , a great coat , a shawl , and a plaid had composed and completed this wonderful illusion . " By some people this simple hallucination would be made a great deal of , bnt after the author ' s careful explanation it seems doubtful if any one can help siding with him . Thia

incident is only one of many recorded in this chapter . We now pass on to Chapter V ., which deals exhaustively with that interesting subject Dreams . The author has taken great pains to thoroughly explain this part of his work , and deals with the subject under the following head * : —Sleep , are dreams divinely inspired ? ancient ideas of dreams , classification of dreams , dream illusions , dream

hallucinations , night-mare , persistent dream images , differences between the sleeping and waking mind , prophetic dreams and their occasional fulfilment . We will quote the author ' s idea of the origin of dreams . " Dreams , no doubt , to a large extent owe their origin to recent experience . The slightest thing happening to us throughout the day may , by association of ideas , call np a dream afc night

I hear a song which I remember as having been snng by one long since gone , and , as I dream , back comes the scene of days gone by , and the dead sister ' s voice again brings pleasure to my heart ; whilst around me I seo the faces of those who best loved to listen to her sweet singing . " This , we think , is clearly the origina . sion of the majority of dreams , and we feel snre our readers will

agree with us , after careful perusal of this section of fche work . ¦ j" * Chapter VI . ghosts and haunted houses aro touched upon Dr . Wetherly is dead against snch nonsense . In reasoning against reality of ghosts , & c , he asks— " Where do thoy get their clothes / T-J Has a ghost ever been heard of stalking abont iu Nature ' s garb ! Tho author ' s reply ia givon in tho simple expression ,

Reviews.

" I think not . " He then goes on to say , " How , then , do the believers in ghosts account for the possession , by these materialised spirits , of their outward habiliments ? How does the fabric , long since tnrned fco dust , or devoured by moths , become again regenerated or fashioned in shape and size so exactly like the clothing worn by fche ghostly spectre , when he walked this earth aa

one of us ? Have believers in apparitions ever thought ont thia problem ? If so , what is their explanation ? " Theso questions , certainly , require wise minds to answer , and we certiinly accept the author ' s conclusions . Several legends about ghosts are given in this chapter , and ara very amusing . We now come to the part of the book whioh Mr . Maskelyne has taken iu hand . He treats wifch

all kinds of tricks , and the stories told by admirers of the different individuals exhibiting them , and not only haa he done this , but he explains how many of the so-called tricks are accomplished . We have the basket trick , the mango tree , and the burial tricks , and all are interesting reading . In reference to traveller ' s tales about what they have seen , we will quote Mr . Maskelyne . After giving several

¦ toriea he haa heard , Mr . Maskelyne write ** , "It must be admitted that many of the above excerpts are certainly somewhat in tho nature of doubtful bills ; and I very much fear that any one endeavouring to negotiate them in the market of common-ienge wonld find great difficulty in getting them endorsed ; and even with the best of names to back them , they would only be marketable subject to a

heavy discount . " This conclusion we cordially endorse . Modern Spiritualism ia the nexfc subject treated by Mr . Maskelyne , and we find that the foundation-stone of spiritualism waa laid by one Andrew Jackson Davis , born afc Blooming Grove , Orange Co ., New York , in 1826 . Of course Mr . Maskelyne ridicules the idea of such a thing as spiritualism , and clearly states his reasons for so doing . He apeaki

of suoh people as tbe Fox family , tbe Davenport Brothers , Annie Eva Fay , Dr . Slade , and finally fully describes the report of the Seybert Commission . We will leave our readers to peruse these items for themselves ; they will find them capital pastime . Thoughtreading is also lightly touched npon , and explanations of how it is done are given . Naturally Mr . Maskelyne has something to say

abont Theosophy , and devotes several pages to Madame Blavatsky , the starting of the Theosophical Society , Madame Blavatsky in India and London , the Coulomb's confession , Mr . Hodson ' a report , what Theosophiata say , and then Mrs . Besant . In this chapter Theosophists have a bad time of it , and what the writer says in conclusion is well worth quoting . After exhaustive arguments ,

Mr . Maskelyne says , "Let me make one statement whioh will , I think—and indeed , for fche present , must—satisfy all . Notwithstanding my seeming indifference , I have not been altogether idle ; and if it shonld so happen that , contrary to my expectations , the perpetrators of these outrages on common sense still persist in their nefarioua practices , let them beware ! In that case they will become

fair game for me . In the language of sport , I have " marked them down , " and can lay my finger npon them whenever I need to do so . If it shonld be necessary they may depend upon it that , though the trap is nob yet laid , I am on their track , and I shall pursue them as relentlessly aa I have others before them . " This , from what Mr . Maskelyne has written , we feel he is able to do , for hia

argumeats and statements are both coucise and clear . Mr . Wetherly now returns to the charge , and treats on doubtfnl cases of sense deceptions , among them being the cases of Joan of Aro , Percy Shelley , and Swedenborg . Then we have a chapter on insane sense deceptions , which the author treats under the following heads : —Analogy between dreams and insanity , hallnoinationa of hearing , illusions of

hearing , hallucinations of sight , hallucinations and illusions of touch , taste and smell , complicated hallucinations and illusions . We now reach Chapter X ., which is devoted to hallucination and illusion caused by either a direct or indirect poisoned blood supply circulating through tho brain , aa in delirium of alcohol , of narcotioa and other poisons , and in delirium of various fevers , diseases , & o . In

summing up the whole work the author is commendably brief , bufc we quote the following question he asks : — " Why should we fly to the apirit world ? why should we hug mysticism to our bosom , and , revelling in its degrading influence , ascribe to something supernatural what can so woll be explained as the result of natural causation ? " Mr . Maskelyne now adds a short addendum to the

chapter on Theosophy , in which he deals with a complaint that had been made because he did not agree in public with Mad . Blavatsky . Thia only makes his arguments more sound . In conclusion , we certainly congratulate both Dr . Weatherly and Mr . Maskelyne ou the clear and upright way they have treated their different subjects , and we hope they will reap reward by securing a large circulation for their

book . On the production of tbe work we would add a few words . The printers havo executed the book in clear readable type , and we have fonnd but two real mistakes throughout . These are , firstly , on pago 58 , third line wo presume 4 th January 1830 should read 4 th January 1831 ; secondly , page 162 does not read on to page 163 . There is evidently something missing here , and we hopo to see it remedied in future editions .

On the 13 th inst ., the members of the Rutland Lodge , 1170 , held fchdir annual ball afc fcho Town Hall , Ilkeston . There was a select assembly of abont 70 guosts , including the Mayor and tho Mayoress of Ilkeston . The hall was tastefully decorated for the occasion by Bro . T . Blood , nnder fche superintendence of Bro . Edwin Hall , fche latter gentleman also supplying the snpper and other refreshments , The band was under the direction of Mr . Robert Robinson .

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