Part 1

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THE VEIL LIFTED.

MODERN DEVELOPMENTS OF SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPHY.

With Twelve Illustrations.

A PAPER BY J. TRAILL TAYLOR DESCRIBING EXPERIMENTS IN PSYCHIC PHOTOGRAPHY.

LETTER BY THE REV. H. R. HAWEIS, M.A.

ADDRESSES BY JAMES ROBERTSON, GLASGOW.

AND _MISCELLANEA BY THE EDITOR_, ANDREW GLENDINNING.

LONDON: WHITTAKER & CO., WHITE HART STREET, E.C. 1894.

“Kant expressed himself favourable to the view that a world of supersensuous beings environs this planet, and that the establishment of communication with such beings is only a matter of time.”—E. D. FAWCETT.

* * * * *

“Before many months are over, I think it will be admitted by every candid mind that the persistence of the individual after death, and the possibility of communicating with that individual, has been as well established on a scientific basis as any other fact in nature. That, you may think, is a bold assertion. It is not an assertion; it is a prophecy, based upon facts which are within my own knowledge, and of which I speak with as much confidence as I do of anything which has ever come within my own personal observation.”—W. T. STEAD, in _The Review of Reviews_, Jan. 1893.

* * * * *

“Personally, we consider Spiritualism a valuable bulwark against the inroads of Materialistic Atheism.”—SALADIN, in _The Agnostic Journal_.

PREFACE.

The publication in the _British Journal of Photography_ of Mr. Taylor’s Paper, with the proceedings of the meeting at which it was read, has aroused a wide-spread and deep interest in the subject. The principal portions of it, and, in some instances the whole of the Paper, together with editorial comments, have subsequently appeared in newspapers and journals in Canada, Australia, India, America, and other countries. As his experiments will be a matter of historical interest, many scientific men will be pleased to have his Paper in this book form, with the reproductions of two of the psychic pictures which he obtained on his photographic plates.

The term “spirit photographs” is generally used to describe photographs of psychic entities who cannot be seen by ordinary persons, but can be photographed by a medium, or with the help of a medium, and with the co-operation of these unseen entities. Such portraits are obtained both indoors and in the open air, with and without a background, by natural light and by artificial light; and, in the case of “materialised” forms at séances, which are visible to every person present, the portraits have sometimes been taken by light produced by the spirits, the exact nature of which is unknown.

The following may serve as a rough classification of what are called spirit photographs:—

1. Portraits of psychical entities not seen by normal vision.

2. Pictures of objects not seen nor thought of by the sitter or by the medium or operator; such as flowers, words, crosses, crowns, lights, and various emblematic objects.

3. Pictures which have the appearance of being copied from statues, paintings, or drawings. Sometimes these are busts or heads only. The flatness in some photographs of this class is supposed, by persons who have _not_ investigated the subject, to be proof that the photographs are produced in a fraudulent manner.

4. Pictures of what are called materialised forms visible to normal sight.

5. Pictures of the “wraith” or “double” of persons still in the body.

6. Portraits on plates which developers have failed to bring into view, but that can be seen and described by clairvoyants and by mediums when in trance and whose descriptions agree, though made independently.

There are, also, portraits that cannot be classed as photographs, as they have not been taken by the agency of a camera, or by exposing the prepared plate previous to development of the image.

Those who desire further information than is contained in this volume on the subject of spirit photography should read the following:—

A series of important articles by the late Mr. Stainton Moses (M.A. Oxon), in _Human Nature_, Vols. VIII. and IX., 1874-75. The volumes may be had on loan from the Library of the Spiritual Institution, 15 Southampton Row, W.C., or from the Library of the Spiritual Alliance, 2 Duke Street, Charing Cross. The subscription to either Library is a guinea a year.

Article on “Ghosts and their Photographs,” by the Rev. H. R. Haweis, M.A., in the _Fortnightly Review_, January, 1893.

_Chronicles of the Photographs of Spiritual Beings and Phenomena Invisible to the Material Eye._ By Miss Houghton. Illustrated by six plates, containing fifty-four miniature reproductions from the original photographs. E. W. Allen, Ave Maria Lane, 1882. Sold also by Jas. Burns, 15 Southampton Row, W.C. Price 10_s._ 6_d._

CONTENTS.

PAGE

PREFACE v

INTRODUCTION 1

What led to the recent Experiments in Psychic Photography 1

Testimony relating to David Duguid 3

“SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPHY,” WITH REMARKS ON FLUORESCENCE. By J. Traill Taylor 9

Origin of “Spirit” Photography 10

Some Investigators of the Subject 11

Photographing the Invisible 15

Fluorescence 17

A Lady’s Joke 20

Some Personal Experiments 23

How the Psychic Figures Behaved 31

The Stereoscopic Camera in Use 33

REMARKS BY MEMBERS AND VISITORS 37

Portrait obtained without Exposure in Camera 49

PRESS NOTICES OF MR. TAYLOR’S PAPER:—

From the “Practical Photographer,” April, 1893 53

From the “Review of Reviews,” April, 1893 57

From “The Morning” (Daily Newspaper), April 4th, 1893 59

From the “Medium and Daybreak,” March 24th, 1893 60

From “Light,” March 18th, 1893 63

From “Light,” March 25th, 1893 64

From “Light,” May 6th, 1893 67

From the “Two Worlds,” March 24th, 1893 69

GHOSTS AND THEIR PHOTOGRAPHS. By the Rev. H. R. Haweis, M.A. 71

“Will you Show me the Ghost?” 73

“Authentic” Ghost Photographs 76

The late Editor of “Light” 78

SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPHY. By Jas. Robertson, Glasgow 85

His Opportunities for Observation 89

David Duguid prevailed on to try Experiments 90

Experiments in Mr. Robertson’s Warehouse 91

John Page Hopps on Spirit Life 92

A beautiful Portrait obtained 92

Testimony by “Edina” 93

Portrait obtained in Edinburgh of a Child 94

Details of the Experiments to obtain it 95

MISCELLANEA. By Andrew Glendinning 111

How Abraham Lincoln’s Spirit Photograph was obtained 115

Experiments by Professor Crookes, F.R.S. 122

The beauty of Katie King described 123

Lecture by Arthur Maltby 128

Lantern Transparencies, by Mr. Acton 129

How a Portrait was obtained without a Camera 144

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

PHOTOGRAPH OF SPIRIT HEAD AND FACE BY DAVID DUGUID _Frontispiece._

PORTRAIT OF DAVID DUGUID 25

PHOTOGRAPH OF SPIRIT BY J. TRAILL TAYLOR 29

ANOTHER PHOTOGRAPH BY J. TRAILL TAYLOR 35

PHOTOGRAPH OF A LADY AND THE SPIRIT OF HER FATHER 79

PHOTOGRAPH OF MR. STAINTON MOSES, M.A., AND SPIRIT 83

PHOTOGRAPH OF HON. M. A. DOW AND SPIRIT OF MABEL WARREN 117

PSYCHIC PICTURE OBTAINED WITHOUT A CAMERA OR EXPOSURE OF PLATE TO LIGHT 145

PSYCHIC FORM OBTAINED OCTOBER 21, 1893 149

MRS. GREEN AND SPIRIT 153

SPIRIT LADY 157

PSYCHIC FORM OBTAINED APRIL 29, 1892 160

“Stand upright, speak thy thought, declare The truth thou hast, that all may share; Be bold, proclaim it everywhere; They only live who dare.”—LEWIS MORRIS.

* * * * *

“All great discoveries have at first been derided as ridiculous and then denounced as impious, and lastly adopted as a matter of course. Let us, then, as we have to learn to labour and to wait, stand firm for the expansion of human faculty, increase of human growth, accession to human knowledge, and welcome, as all in the day’s work, even the silent apparition or the gibbering ghost.”—Rev. H. R. HAWEIS, M.A.

* * * * *

“There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”—PAUL.

INTRODUCTION.

“Every new truth which has ever been propounded has, for a time, caused mischief; it has produced discomfort, and often unhappiness.”—BUCKLE, in _History of Civilisation_.

_WHAT LED TO THE RECENT EXPERIMENTS IN PSYCHIC PHOTOGRAPHY._

A number of test séances for spirit photography had been held with Mr. David Duguid, of which no records have been kept, but in April and May, 1892, four séances were held under strict test conditions, notes of which were made at the time, and signed by the various persons who were present. These notes were printed for private circulation, and a copy was sent, with some of the photographs, to Mr. Frederic W. H. Myers, Cambridge, (Hon. Secretary Psychical Research Society).

He suggested that when there was another opportunity for a test séance, the presence of a “scientific man,” and some one well acquainted with photographic manipulations, be got to attend to watch the experiments.

One of the investigators induced Mr. Duguid to come to London to give a séance under the strictest test conditions which could be devised; and Mr. J. Traill Taylor, Editor of the _British Journal of Photography_, by special request consented to take charge of the experiments, and to fix the conditions under which they should be made.

Mr. Taylor combines in himself the special qualities named by Mr. Myers, inasmuch as he is a “scientific man,” and an expert in photographic chemistry, optical research, and all photographic manipulations.[1]

Mr. Taylor is the author of several works relating to the chemistry, optics, physics, and practice of photography; and besides being a member of Council of the Photographic Society of Great Britain, is an honorary member of the Imperial Polytechnic Society of Russia, and of all the leading Photographic Clubs and Societies in London, and of several in New York.

_TESTIMONY RELATING TO DAVID DUGUID._

In a book recently published, entitled _The Rise and Progress of Modern Spiritualism_[2] (consisting of a reprint of a course of lectures delivered in Glasgow by Mr. James Robertson), the author gives the following testimony as to Mr. Duguid:—

“For many years we have had resident amongst us one whose name is world-wide, _and whose character is above reproach_; go where you will, David Duguid is recognised as one of the world’s mediums. From his lips have come forth volumes full of wonderful information which he, the normal man, never gathered of himself, but which is the product of intelligences who have ripened in that other sphere of existence. The story of the early life of Jesus, which is to be found in _Hafed_, the glimpses of ancient peoples, their manners and customs, are a valuable contribution to our knowledge. But he has been famous as a medium for every phase of the subject, including those marvellous direct paintings which have done much missionary work, the direct voices, materialisation, perfumes, writings in language utterly unknown to him, _and specially in the conclusive evidence he has been the means of furnishing as to the reality of spirit photography_. The striking story contributed to _Light_ by ‘Edina,’ of how a picture of the dead boy was got after patient waiting, is amongst the best-attested phenomena. The early and close friend of D. D. Home, he has revealed almost similar mediumistic gifts. One of the most genial and retiring of men, he has ever reverenced his gifts, and sought in his own modest way to give all and sundry the benefit of their light.”

One of Mr. Glendinning’s private letters to the editor of a photographic journal, with reference to an intended action for libel, contained the following:—

“If my counsel wishes it, I shall produce such an array of testimonials from men of position as to Mr. Duguid’s honesty and uprightness as have seldom been read in any court.”

That would be an easy thing to do; but, when it is considered that Mr. Duguid has for a long time been employed by Mr. Robertson in his bicycle works; that Mr. Robertson, who is an active business man and a good judge of character, is year after year in almost hourly contact with Mr. Duguid; that he has been at many of Mr. Duguid’s séances, some of these being held in his (Mr. Robertson’s) own house—when these things are borne in mind, the value of the voluntary tribute given by Mr. Robertson to Mr. Duguid’s honesty and uprightness will be the more fully appreciated.

For nearly thirty years has Mr. David Duguid been before the world as a private medium for various descriptions of spirit phenomena. He has given innumerable séances readily, without fee or desire for reward, to clergymen, medical men, artists, teachers of science, lawyers, journalists, merchants, and men and women in all ranks of life; he has sacrificed time and money in the cause which is dear to his heart, and upon which no act or word of his has ever brought a stain. These facts are well known to many, nor would it be necessary to print them here were it not for the efforts made to destroy public confidence in the facts brought to light through his mediumship by writers in certain photographic journals, and the artful insinuations of men who put themselves forward on the plea of being anxious investigators.

_WHERE MR. TAYLOR READ HIS PAPER._

At a meeting of the London and Provincial Photographic Association, held on March 9, 1893, Mr. J. Weir Brown in the chair, the following paper by Mr. Taylor was read by him, and, with his consent, is reprinted from the _British Journal of Photography_ (Vol. XL., No. 1715, March 17, 1893).

There was a large attendance of members, and several visitors were present. Visitors were allowed to make remarks, a privilege of which several availed themselves. Some members put questions to Mr. Taylor on points of detail regarding his experiments, all of which he replied to frankly and explicitly. In replying to one member, Mr. Taylor stated that he had received a letter, asking him to bring a reasonable man with him _to witness_ his experiments—in fact, he said, he had the option of taking any one he chose. To another member Mr. Taylor replied that he himself placed the sitters and the camera, and also arranged the lighting of the room. Several members spoke highly of Mr. Taylor’s qualifications to conduct such experiments; but as they could not accept the spiritualistic hypothesis, and as the photographs had to them the appearance of being copied from cut-out prints, or made by “stump-work,” they concluded that therefore they could not be genuine, ignoring entirely Mr. Taylor’s emphatic statements, which he had already given in his paper, viz.:—

“_My conditions were entirely acquiesced in_”—that I “_should use my own camera and unopened packages of dry plates, purchased from dealers of repute, and that I should be excused from allowing a plate to go out of my own hand till after development_,” and that “_I should dictate all the conditions of operation_.”

As a matter of fact, everything connected with the experiments was subject to Mr. Taylor’s entire control and approval.

“SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPHY,” WITH REMARKS ON FLUORESCENCE.[3]

_By_ J. TRAILL TAYLOR.

The presence of smoke may be considered as implying the existence of flame. Spirit photography, so called, has of late been asserting its existence in such a manner and to such an extent as to warrant competent men making an investigation, conducted under stringent test conditions, into the circumstances under which such photographs are produced, and exposing the fraud, should it prove to be such, instead of pooh-poohing it as insensate because we do not understand how it can be otherwise—a position that scarcely commends itself as intelligent or philosophical. If in what follows I call it “spirit photography” instead of psychic photography, it is only in deference to a nomenclature that extensively prevails, and not as offering a surmise from any knowledge of my own as to what is matter and what spirit, or the distinction between mind, spirit, and matter, for in truth I don’t know. I approach the subject merely as a photographer.

Before I proceed, a few words on the origin of spirit photography may not be out of place. In March, 1861, W. H. Mumler, the principal engraver in the employ of Bigelow Bros. & Kennard, the leading jewellers of Boston, when whiling away an idle hour as an amateur photographer, had a form other than that of any one present developed on his collodion plate. He surmised that it arose from an image having been previously on the plate, and its having been imperfectly cleaned off. Subjected to a more thorough cleaning, the form again appeared more strongly marked than before, and he could offer no other explanation than the one given. It got noised abroad through the press that a spirit had been photographed, and although Mumler strove to suppress the misrepresentation, as he regarded it, yet he eventually succumbed to popular demand, and took two hours a day from his regular work, devoting them to photography. This he had to extend to the whole of each day, entirely discarding his regular profession. Many men of eminence sat to him, most of whom he did not know at the time. He seems to have encouraged his sitters in the adoption of such test conditions as they deemed satisfactory. The figures that usually appeared on the plate with the sitters were, if I rightly infer, those on whom the sitters’ minds had been set. That eminent portrait photographer, Mr. Wm. Black, of Boston, so well known all over the world as the inventor of the acid nitrate bath, undertook to investigate the _bonâ fides_ of Mumler’s methods. Through a friend who had just previously sat and obtained a figure, Black offered fifty dollars if Mumler would operate in his presence and obtain a picture. Invited to come, the acute Black critically examined camera, plate, dipper, and bath, and had his eye on the plate from the moment its preparation began until it was sensitised and locked in the dark slide, removing it himself from the camera, and carrying it into the dark room, where, on development, a figure of a man was seen leaning on B.’s shoulder. Black was wonder-stricken, and got away the negative, no charge whatever having been made. Mumler now claimed publicly to be a spirit-portrait photographer, and as such he eventually opened a studio in New York, having previously satisfied Silver, Gurney, and other photographers as to the genuineness of his claims, never hesitating to operate in their galleries if required, and with their apparatus and chemicals. Mumler was arrested in New York; whether on the ground of witchcraft or of endeavouring to obtain money under false pretences, I am at present uncertain, but his trial was the sensation of the day, and numerous witnesses were examined. He was honourably acquitted.

In this country, several who are amateur photographers have investigated this subject with more or less success. These include some F.R.S.’s, scientists, artists, and others. I question whether any have so persistently done so as the late Mr. John Beattie, of Clifton, and his friend, Dr. Thompson. Mr. Beattie was a skilled professional photographer of the highest eminence who, some time prior to his death, had adopted the views of the spiritualistic school. The figures he obtained on his plates were much blurred in outline, some being misty in the extreme. I possess some two or three dozen of these, taken by or in the presence of, Mr. Beattie, whose intelligence, honesty, and powers of observation no one would venture to doubt. Many such photographs are claimed to have been produced by Hudson, a professional photographer, formerly of the Holloway Road, and I submit for examination a work by the late Miss Houghton, containing fifty-four of Hudson’s spirit photographs.

There are many ways by which, assuming the genuineness of only one of all spirit photographs hitherto produced, the spurious article may be made even better than any alleged real ones I have yet seen. A plate secretly impressed previous or subsequent to being placed in the camera fulfils the condition; so does one at the back of which is placed a phosphorescent tablet in the dark slide. Pressure on the surface, such as by that of a Woodbury relief film, also causes a developable image; in short, trickery in a whole variety of forms may, and has been, impressed into the service.