Research source

Trance and inspirational addresses, however, do not, in my opinion, furnish much evidence of the reality of…

Date of account: Published 1893
Source: How to thought-read: A manual of instruction in the strange and mystic in daily life, psychic phenomena, including hypnotic, mesmeric, and psychic states, mind and muscle reading, thought transference, psychometry, clairvoyance, and phenomenal spiritualism
Reference: How to thought-read: A manual of instruction in the strange and mystic in daily life, psychic phenomena, including hypnotic, mesmeric, and psychic states, mind and muscle reading, thought transference, psychometry, clairvoyance, and phenomenal spiritualism · selected passage 105
Rights: public_domain
Language: English
Record updated: 2026-08-24

Record summary

Trance and inspirational addresses, however, do not, in my opinion, furnish much evidence of the reality of spirit control

Published source text

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Source passage

Source text · mention only

Trance and inspirational addresses, however, do not, in my opinion, furnish much evidence of the reality of spirit control. We are interested in the phenomena--taking for granted that these trance and inspirational states are genuine--although the evidence of external spirit control presented is often _nil_. The controls may or may not be veritable realities to their own mediums--professional or otherwise--but this is of little value, as evidence, to the public. I have known mediumistic and otherwise sensitive persons to be controlled--_i.e._, taken possession of by their reading. One gentleman swallowed large doses of Theodore Parker. In time he thought of Parker, talked of Parker, and finally believed he was “inspired” by Theodore Parker.

Historical context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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Modern context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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