CHAPTER III TELEPATHY AND TELE-MNEMONIKY

Science has not yet accepted definitely the existence of telepathy and can hardly be said to have even begun the study of tele-mnemoniky. But the idea of these matters is so intermingled with the subjects of "survivals" and "communications," and—as regards telepathy at least—appears so frequently in psychical literature, that it is desirable for those who contemplate speaking with the dead to become acquainted with the general nature of the problems and facts involved therein.

Many people are aware—and, indeed, have themselves tried the experiment—that mind can influence mind without the intervention of matter, such as the organs of speech and hearing operating in a sound-conveying atmosphere. A common phenomenon is the mental impression of a person being present who has approached without being seen or heard. A somewhat less frequent, but still sufficiently [Pg 45]familiar, instance of the same order of things is to be found in the fact that persons who are looked at intently (even behind their backs) often become uneasy and turn to meet the gaze. So, also, it is found that cases occur of persons suddenly, and without any apparent cause, finding themselves thinking earnestly of certain other persons and learning subsequently that those other persons were at, or a little before, the time of the impression thinking of the persons impressed.

Facts such as these—which are positive and undisputed—have led to experimental tests, conducted scientifically, for the purpose of determining whether it is possible, at will, to establish intelligent communications between transmitters and percipients who are at a distance from each other; and the name "telepathy" has been given to the kind of intercourse in question. The work has been conducted chiefly by the Society for Psychical Research, whose Reports on the subject have become classics. Telepathy is recognised in so far as it is a grouping of observed facts; but it has not hitherto advanced beyond the status of a "working hypothesis," which, however, still awaits precise formulation. Thus, Sir Oliver [Pg 46]Lodge, F.R.S., in his "Raymond," first published in November, 1916, says—

"The fact of telepathy proves that bodily organs are not absolutely essential to communication of ideas. Mind turns out to be able to act directly on mind, and stimulate it into response by other than material means. Thought does not belong to the material region, although it is able to exert an influence on that region through mechanism provided by vitality. Yet the means whereby it accomplishes the feat are essentially unknown, and the fact that such interaction is possible would be strange and surprising if we were not too much accustomed to it. It is reasonable to suppose that the mind can be more at home, and more directly and more exuberantly active, when the need for such interaction between psychical and physical—or let us more safely and specifically say between mental and material—no longer exists, when the restraining influence of brain and nerve mechanism is removed, and when some of the limitations connected with bodily location in space are ended.

"Experience must be our guide. To shut the door on actual observation and experiment in this particular region, because of preconceived ideas and obstinate prejudice, is an attitude common enough, even among scientific men; but it is an attitude markedly unscientific. Certain people have decided that [Pg 47]inquiry into the activities of discarnate mind is futile; some few consider it impious; many, perhaps wisely distrusting their own powers, shrink from entering on such an inquiry. But if there are any facts to be ascertained, it must be the duty of some volunteers to ascertain them: and for people having any acquaintance with scientific history to shut their eyes to facts when definitely announced, and to forbid investigation or report concerning them on pain of ostracism,—is to imitate a byegone theological attitude in a spirit of unintended flattery—a flattery which from every point of view is eccentric; and likewise to display an extraordinary lack of humour."

It must, however, be added that, a little further on in the same book, Sir Oliver speaks somewhat less positively. He says—

"Matter is an indirect medium of communication between mind and mind. That direct telepathic intercourse should be able to occur between mind and mind, without all this intermediate physical mechanism, is therefore not really surprising. It has to be proved, no doubt, but the fact is intrinsically less puzzling than many of those other facts to which we have grown hardened by usage."

This account of telepathy is vague, and a similar vagueness also characterises the [Pg 48]utterances of other authorities on the same subject. But no good reason exists why the matter should not be dealt with in a manner very much more clear and precise.

We should consider, in the first place, that the word "mind" really means "soul," and is used merely for the sake of convenience as concentrating attention upon the soul's faculty of intelligence apart from its sentient, emotional, volitional and ethical attributes. Accordingly, when a telepathist speaks of mind communicating directly with mind, it is the same thing as saying that soul communicates directly with soul; and this, in its turn, implies the corollary that, whether spirits be incarnate or discarnate, the idea of telepathic intercourse is admissible.

In the next place, it is to be borne in mind that, as shown in Chapter I of this book, every soul has always some definite location in space. Nothing certain is known as to whether the shape and volume of a soul correspond exactly in form and size with those of the human body that is associated with the soul during life on earth. It is sometimes thought, in a speculative way, that the soul extends beyond the confines of the body, which thus becomes [Pg 49]invested with an "aura," as it is termed, and can come into contact with other souls even when the respective bodies are more or less apart in space; but no facts have been observed that give serious support to this view. The probabilities, indeed, are in favour of the something—which may or may not be akin to ordinary physical matter—that constitutes a soul having a volume approximating to the space occupied by its earthly body.

A third fundamental consideration is that the actual experiences of every day consist in a large measure of the most astounding instances of communication between widely separated bodies—or bulks of matter—and souls. The sun is distant some 93,000,000 miles from the earth, and yet it can impart sensations of illumination and warmth to a soul on the earth's surface, to say nothing of more subtle influences conveyed by what are known as "dark rays." The fact is indisputable, but it is not yet clearly understood. Physicists have felt themselves compelled to form the hypothesis of an "Ether" pervading interstellar space and serving as a medium or vehicle for the passage of radiant energy from place to place. This Ether has to be conceived of as possessing [Pg 50]a nature and attributes quite as wonderful and incomprehensible as anything narrated in the "Arabian Nights" or set forth in the Church doctrine of the Holy Trinity. It is understood to be the means by which the marvels of wireless telegraphy become possible, by which glances are exchanged between human eyes, by which newspapers are read, and by which an artillery observer at the front becomes aware whether the gunners are or are not hitting their mark. Yet there is not any certainty that the particular Ether imagined by modern science exists at all. For anything that is known and proved the medium of communication may in the end turn out to be something quite different. When, therefore, telepathy is spoken of, no scientific man is entitled to reject the idea merely because it involves the existence of some as yet unknown means of interaction. If the fact of telepathy be established he must accept it, even though it may be as yet inexplicable. The knowledge possessed by Science from time to time does not set limits to the realities of the universe.

A soul that formulates a thought is obviously not in quite the same state as was the case [Pg 51]before the occurrence of the thought; and if there be in existence some kind of space-filling "X," corresponding to the imagined "Ether," it is conceivable that this change of state may affect or disturb the X in a way analogous to the supposed affecting of the Ether by a change of temperature in a heat-emitting substance. In like manner if some other soul located elsewhere be in contact with the X, it is conceivable that the disturbance of the latter may cause such other soul to experience a corresponding change of state and thus to become impressed with, as it were, a facsimile of the original thought. The myriad complexities of the supposed changes of state and disturbances involved in the communication of a train of thought need not be regarded as an insuperable difficulty. Let anyone study what takes place in the course of a telephonic message. A disk of sheet-iron is caused to vibrate by the air-shaking human voice: these vibrations cause corresponding fluctuations in the electric current flowing through the wire uniting the transmitter with the receiver; and the varying current sets up varying magnetic impulses which cause the receiving disk of sheet-iron to vibrate in a manner exactly similar to what [Pg 52]happened in the case of the transmitting disk, so that the air impinging on the listening ear is shaken in the same way as the air affected by the original speaker's voice. It all seems simple enough until the character of the "vibrations" and "fluctuations" is looked into. They are so varied, complex and multitudinous as to defy analysis or even comprehension. The human mind desists from the attempt to really understand them. But telephony remains an acknowledged fact; and its existence lends a high degree of probability to the reality of telepathy.

The term "thought-reading" is often employed to indicate telepathic communication, and is very convenient by reason of its association with what is understood by the common action of perusal. In so-called "spiritualistic sittings" a medium sometimes mentions a name or a circumstance known only to the sitter; and this is frequently considered to be a complete proof of information derived by the medium from some spirit. But it may just as well be a case of thought-reading. The sitter's soul, thinking of the name or circumstance, disturbs the X accordingly. The medium's soul, which is in contact with the X, is affected by [Pg 53]the disturbance and becomes conscious of the name or circumstance. In simpler, less cumbrous language, the medium reads the sitter's thoughts.

It is not, however, merely a question of "mediums." Telepathy is important throughout the whole range of communication with the spirit-world. Whenever and wherever a soul—whether still invested with a human body or discarnate—is thinking, it is affecting the X and thereby rendering it possible for other souls to be impressed with the thoughts. For the most part the phenomena are of so faint a character and the minds to be communicated with so "untuned" that the incipient telepathy remains unnoticed and disregarded; but occasionally it commands attention. This view of the case is borne out by ample evidence. Second-sight, dreams, presentiments, "inspiration," and such mental impulses as are commonly considered inexplicable are undoubted facts that fall within the scope of telepathy. In saying this it is not asserted that the phenomena in question are always real. They are frequently delusions due to an overwrought nervous system, to cerebral disorder or to emotional disturbance; but in other cases they are [Pg 54]as actual and genuine as the common occurrences of human life.

Turning, now, to tele-mnemoniky, or "memory-reading," it is to be remarked that although everyone is familiar with the fact that memory exists, and though everyone quite understands the signification of the word, no one as yet has succeeded in giving even a rudimentary explanation of the faculty of remembrance. The most eminent psychologists have found the matter to be quite beyond the limits of their understanding; as indeed is essentially the case with every faculty of the soul, and—it may be added—with every attribute of matter. The old saying remains as true as ever: "A child can ask questions which a wise man cannot answer."

For practical purposes, however, partial knowledge suffices. Thus the existence of memory as a faculty of the soul is known, and it is also known that this implies the possession by each soul of a store of information. Whatever may be the nature of the storehouse, the doors can be opened and the information set free or rendered subject to inspection. It is conceivable, therefore, that a soul other than the memory-owner may under certain [Pg 55]unknown conditions have access to the store.

This is what is meant by tele-mnemoniky—the state of things that exists when not only current thoughts but also the accumulated knowledge resulting from past experience and observation are read by some outside soul. And as every memory contains much that is "pigeon-holed" and out of use for the time being, a very notable result is occasionally met with. Information is elicited as to facts and circumstances of which the person subjected to tele-mnemoniky is no longer conscious; and he, or she, becomes firmly and genuinely convinced that the particulars mentioned must have been derived from some supernormal source.

A word remains to be said regarding the speed of communication in telepathy and tele-mnemoniky. Many persons hesitate to credit the reports of experiments showing that two persons at a considerable distance from each other—located, say, in London and Manchester respectively—are able to exchange thoughts without any appreciable delay. When, however, it is remembered that the velocity with which light travels is 186,000 miles per second, there should not be any [Pg 56]difficulty in supposing that thought-vibrations, or whatever they may be, are propagated through space at an equal or even greater rate of speed. It is not a question, in either case, of any substance being transmitted, or of the absolute simultaneity of emission and reception. And to believe that thoughts may be communicated from soul to soul with the velocity of light does not compel the belief that souls are able to travel from place to place in an equally speedy manner.