E. J. Dingwall - How To Go To A Medium: A Manual of Instruction

This short book should be widely read byall who are interested in the subject of Psychical Research, and it isespecially to be commended to those who are thinking of taking up the study ofmediumistic phenomena, whether mental mediumship, or the production of physicalphenomena by those claiming supernormal faculties. Mr. Dingwall writes withauthority; he has had many years of experience in investigating the claims ofboth physical and mental mediums, and, from my knowledge of him, I think hebrings away from these years of investigation still an open mind, still abelief in the possibility of the existence of supernormal faculties. On theother hand, he has seen much of the sad, sordid side of the wholebusiness-fraud, deceit, trickery, naked and unashamed if only the observerknows where to look for it, and a public willing and anxious to be gulled, andresenting bitterly any imputation against their favourite mediums, from whomthey have received some solace, some confirmation to them of their cherishedbeliefs and hopes. One of the saddest things that I know is the way in whichmen and women of the highest integrity, with well-balanced judgment, goodcritical faculties for all the ordinary affairs of life, will bring to a sanceroom the gullible mind of a child, ready to accept any marvel, any so-calledevidence for survival. It is within my knowledge, within my almost dailyexperience, the harm that is being done by the uncritical, unscientificapproach to the study of supernormal phenomena. It is harmful to be confirmedin any of our cherished beliefs by fraud and trickery: it is more harmful stillwhen those beliefs, which may in themselves be perfectly valid and based upontruth, are shattered by the exposure of fraud.

Mr. Dingwall's book is written in orderto try and obviate some of the dangers; to try and ensure that those who fromany motive wish to investigate physical or mental mediumship should have someknowledge of the pitfalls which will surround them during their investigation.The book will render a very real service if it reaches the public it deserves.In these mattersas in all scientific inquiries -the difference betweenhypothesis and dogma cannot be too strongly insisted upon. The seriousinvestigator may start with the hypothesis that supernormal faculties exist, oreven with the hypothesis that discarnate intelligences may communicate throughmediums; but throughout the inquiry these must remain working hypotheses untilor unless proof is obtained which will satisfy the canons of scientificevidence. To start the inquiryhowever scientific the setting and theapparatuswith the dogmatic belief in supernormal faculties or discarnateintelligence, is to court disaster and to open the door to the abuses and cruelfrauds which are now so rampant.

Maurice B. WRIGHT, M.D.