(C) Control Over Etherial Manifestations: With Possible Effects In The Domains Of Light, Electricity, Gravitation, And Cohesion

Our next topic, could we deal with it with fuller knowledge, must needs be one of far-reaching significance. The influence of spiritual control upon etherial phenomena, if once understood, might bring us nearer than any other line of inquiry to a comprehension of the mode of interpenetration of the metetherial world with our own. Unfortunately, while our observed facts are rare and difficult, the explanations professing to come from the other side are far from clear. It is sometimes said, for example, that raps - the percussive sounds which occur so frequently in all series of these psycho-physical phenomena - are of electrical origin. But no attempt is made to work this out, and in themselves the raps suggest rather a suspension and re-establishment of the force of cohesion than any form of electric discharge. Again, the alteration of the weights of objects, frequently recorded both with D. D. Home and with Mr. Moses, may conceivably be the manifestation of some control over gravitation, otherwise than by the opposition of another force, such as living men can apply; but no information, so far as I know, has been offered on this point.

The only etherial phenomenon of which, as spiritually controlled, we have clear and frequent instances is light. And this indeed is offered to us in many forms, and needs our careful study. We must needs begin by an enumeration of the known sources of terrestrial light, to some of the less familiar, among which we shall, if I mistake not, trace a certain affinity in some of the luminous phenomena recorded.

Light, as we know, is a term somewhat vaguely given to two phenomena habitually concurrent, but essentially distinct; namely, to a certain type of etherial undulation, and to a certain sensation experienced by such animated beings as possess visual organs, and evoked as a rule by the aforesaid type of undulation.

Let us take first objective light, as it is called, or the light-waves themselves, and consider the various sources from which they are derived. They may be generated by special forms of etherial disturbance, or they may be originated by molecular or by vital activity. Without aiming at a precision of phraseology not here essential, let us take light in relation to the worlds of matter, ether, and life, in the order in which we have touched upon those worlds in previous discussions.

(L. 1.) Light Accompanying Inanimate Molecular Motion

Incandescence

When matter is raised to a certain temperature, as by arrest of motion, chemical action, combustion following minute subdivision, etc, light-waves are generated, among waves of many other amplitudes.

Phosphorescence

Phosphorus and some of its compounds during the process of slow oxidation emit light-waves either solely, or at least in far greater proportion to heat-waves than is the case in ordinary oxidation, which is generally non-luminous until it gives rise to incandescence. To this head belongs the phosphorescence of decaying matter, when not due to luminous microbes.

Luminescence And Fluorescence

Many bodies after insolation, or after exposure to dim light, or sometimes even to ultra-violet rays, (perhaps all bodies if their temperature is sufficiently reduced), have the power of re-radiating a part of the incident energy in the form of light. Some so-called phosphorescences due to heat (short of incandescence), to cleavage, to crystallisation, etc, probably fall under this category, for which one may propose the name of luminescence, since there is a practical inconvenience in extending the term phosphorescence to phenomena in which phosphorus is not concerned.

(L. 2.) Light Accompanying Special Forms Of Etherial Disturbance

I introduce this heading rather for the sake of completeness, than as venturing to affirm that light could accompany electric or magnetic oscillations in a hypothetical absence of matter. If a magnetic field has really been seen as luminous, it is perhaps here that such a phenomenon should be placed.