Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1896 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XVIII.* THE FACTS AND LITERATURE OF THE OCCULT. The facts that make the foundation for the discussion conducted in the present volume have not been drawn from literature, but from life. A considerable body of carefully sifted and well authenticated facts are offered to be accounted for, which yet are but specimens of a much larger collection made. They are gathered from the author's personal observation and the agreeing testimony of many trustworthy and living witnesses, having no collusion with each other. Such facts, however unfamiliar to many readers, are not confined to any distant antiquity, but are still occurring. They are not the half seen, half remembered, and many times exaggerated phenomena out of which myths of were-wolves and changelings are evolved. They are everyday facts which can be examined at first hand in many places, and substantiated at every point by any person who will take the pains. Nor are these facts of an isolated kind. For nothing is more obvious than that they belong to an enormous class, with important subdivisions, and that they exhibit an unfailing vitality, a persistence of recurrence, and a relation to human welfare which gives them a commanding claim to be understood. The designation of their class in most instances involves some theory of their origin, and varies with different persons. They are said to belong to the order of the supernatural. They are called preternatural, supernormal, superhuman, supersensuous, miraculous and occult. One describes them in terms of medical science. Another regards them as myths, and no testimony will convince him that such facts have ever existed as this volume and many other books report. * In regard to this chapter, prepared by the Editor of this volume, ..