We have so far devoted our attenion to the startling wonders which have occurred, and which are still going on, in distant parts of the world. Equally marvellous events, however, have been happening in Melbourne for some years past—the production of phenomena which seem to unquestionably demonstrate the practicability of matter passing through matter. This will appear quite incomprehensible to those who have not witnessed this seeming miracle, and even those who have repeatedly seen it have no little difficulty in fully grasping the reality of what they have actually witnessed under the most convincing test conditions.

It is only when we come to reflect that modern-day Science—quite independent of the subject with which I am dealing—has definitely pronounced that there is no such thing as solid matter—this being merely "a mode of motion"—that the puzzle becomes a little less perplexing and we begin to see a streak of light showing through the veil of mystery.

That which we call solid matter, we are Scientifically informed, is really nothing more nor less than an aggregation of atoms held together by an attractive force known as the Law of Affinity. These atoms are, moreover, sub-divided into even smaller particles described as electrons or infinitely microscopic corpuscles of electricity. Solid matter, therefore, when reduced to its primitive element, is simply electricity or ether—this is the primal force out of which every conceivable thing in the Universe has been called into existence.

According to the Law of Vibrations expounded by Sir William Crookes some thirty years ago, it is only because these tiny, quivering particles are at a low rate of vibration on this earth plane that they assume a solid and visible form. With vastly increased vibrations, such as obtain in the ethereal spheres, they become sublimated and represent what Sir William Crookes euphoniously describes as Radiant Matter, which is invisible to the human eye.

Apparently, therefore, to dematerialise a solid object it is only necessary to increase its vibratory forces and thus reduce it to its primal constituent, which is electricity. Any being, or intelligence, possessing the power to perform this "miracle" would, of course, likewise possess the power of re-materialising the aforesaid object and restoring it to its former shape and appearance.

Now, it is claimed that there are actually invisible intelligences who do possess this power—the spirits of certain men, chiefly Hindus, who formerly lived upon the earth, where they acquired some knowledge of occult forces, and who, by virtue of the increased knowledge they have gained in the spheres beyond, are enabled to perform acts which appear to most people quite incredible. By the application of certain chemical principles pertaining to the higher Natural laws, of which we know so little, it is explained that they can, in an instant of time, disintegrate the atoms of which matter is composed, transform them into ether, and in that condition translate an object from one part of the world to another with the velocity of thought, and, on reaching their destination, reintegrate the etherealised substance so that it appears exactly as it did before its transient dissolution.

I do not know that there is anything more wonderful in this than, by the application of heat, transforming water into steam, which is invisible, condensing the steam into vapour, reducing the vapour to water again, and subsequently, by lowering the temperature, transforming the water into a block of ice—an apparent solid. The vapour could go through the smallest crevice, but the block of ice could not. And yet they are really one and the same thing. In other words, in each of these processes the component parts remain the same. It is only their form that is changed, and that is exactly what, we are told, takes place in the dematerialisation and re-materialisation of matter.

Of course, it is quite impossible for mortals to comprehend these transcendent mysteries. They are beyond us altogether. We have simply to deal with the fact. And the fact that these amazing phenomena are occurring is demonstrated by the conclusive experiments of Crookes, Wallace, Zöllner, Lombroso, Morselli and other Scientific geniuses, to say nothing of what is actually happening in Melbourne to-day.

Professor Zöllner declares that "nothing is more convincing of the operations of invisible intelligences than the transport of material bodies from a space enclosed on every side," and even Professor Morselli, who cannot credit the Spiritual hypothesis, admits that objects, such as leaves, branches, stones and coins, are brought from a distance into the laboratory, through walls or closed doors, by some invisible power or agency, and he places these phenomena in the foremost rank as supporting the Spiritual theory.

A Wonderful Psychic Circle.

For some years past a private circle has been held weekly in Melbourne by Mr. T. W. Stanford, a gentleman of high repute and page break

Mr. T W. Stanford,

Prominent Psychic Investigator.

Mr. Stanford's Circle in Melbourne is one of the most remarkable and most illuminative Psychic Research Centres in the world, and the records of the Phenomena produced, as reported monthly in the "Harbinger of Light," are closely followed by all the leading Scientists of Europe and America.

page 49 well-known in business circles in the city. He is a brother of the founder of the Leland-Stanford University in California, and having been blessed with a fairly weighty share of this world's wealth, it was announced from America a few months ago that he had set aside a sum of, £50,000 as an Endowment Fund in connection with the above-mentioned University—of which he is himself a trustee—to provide scholarships for Australian youths desirous of following engineering pursuits. A fine public spirit underlies that generous action, and he, moreover, expends hundreds of pounds annually in prosecuting psychic research. I merely mention these facts to give the reader some idea of the status and character of the investigator with whose experiments I am about to deal.

Seven or eight years ago it came to Mr. Stanford's knowledge that an operative, named Charles Bailey, engaged at a boot and shoe factory at Collingwood, had exhibited mediumistic powers of a highly-developed and altogether unique character. Amongst other things it was stated that whenever he held a circle in his own house objects of various kinds were brought into the room by some unseen agency whilst he was in a state of trance, that he was controlled, or taken possession of, by certain Hindu spirits who spoke to those present in "pigeon English," explained that the objects brought had been transported with the instantaneousness of thought from India, that there was nothing supernatural in the operation, and that all the processes involved were based on some higher Natural law of which men upon the earth were entirely ignorant.

Mr. Stanford was at that time a Spiritualist of thirty years' standing, and had witnessed a great many phenomena of a more or less remarkable kind. He was accordingly greatly interested in the reports concerning Mr. Bailey and the singular phenomena which occurred in his presence, and in order that they might be investigated under circumstances absolutely precluding the possibility of fraud or deception, he commenced a series of sittings in his own office in the heart of the city. He invited between twenty and thirty ladies and gentlemen to constitute the circle, and thus was formed what has proved to be one of the most extraordinary and illuminative centres of psychical research in any part of the world.

The rumors of the peculiar character of the phenomena produced in Mr. Bailey's presence were speedily verified, and the sittings that have been held week after week, month after month, and year after year, have yielded a singularly rich harvest of valuable gifts. The precaution was taken to thoroughly search the medium prior to each sitting to safeguard the company against the possibility of fraud, but notwithstanding the imposition of the most exacting page 50 conditions the phenomena occurred with unerring regularity and with increasing variety as the psychic power of the circle increased.

A large heavy table—about 12ft. long and 4ft. or 5ft. wide—stands in the centre of the room; the medium sits in an armchair at one end, Mr. Stanford sits at the opposite end, and the circle is formed by the rest of the company sitting around the table, but about 3ft. from it. I have had the privilege of attending on several occasions, and the company—between twenty and thirty in number—always struck me as being "tolerably respectable," seeing that amongst those I met were clergymen, doctors, barristers, journalists, shrewd men of business and several cultured and intelligent ladies.

The physical phenomena—that is the bringing of the objects which are called by the French term, apports—are produced principally by the operations of two Indian controls named, respectlively, Abdul and Selim, and before the proceedings commence the medium is carefully searched. As soon as the medium has become entranced—a matter of a very few minutes—an invocation or prayer is offered through the medium to God the Universal Spirit by an intelligence purporting to have been a clergyman in earth life, and the production of the phenomena follows.

It would be too great an encroachment on the space at my disposal to enumerate all the apports that have been "dropped out of space" on to the centre of the table, and therefore I have made the following selection of a representative character from which it will be gathered that the total constitutes

A Marvellous Oriental Collection:

Scores of tablets and cylinders, with incised figures and cuneiform inscriptions, purporting to have been brought from Babylon and Assyria, the legends upon each of which were translated and commented on by an intelligence speaking through the medium and giving the name of the late Dr. Robinson, the well-known Egyptologist, who likewise gave an elaborate account of the Aztecs of Mexico and the lncas of Peru.

Dozens of live birds brought from India, the Malay Peninsula and elsewhere, and some of which no ornithologist in Australia can name.

Many beautiful birds' nests from Egypt and India—some containing eggs and others unfledged young.

Several live fish enveloped in seaweed from the South Pacific.

Large quantities of seaweed, dripping with sea water, and permeated with sand; a live starfish being found in one of the heaps and dozens of "hopping insects" frequently found on the sands.

An African fetish composed of a human femur.

Two African divining rods, one tipped with ivory and the other with ebony.

A species of plastron made of the skin of a large tiger's head.

A leopard's skin measuring six feet from the neck to the end of the tail.

Greek, Egyptian and Roman manuscripts, mostly of papyrus.

One hundred antique coins.

Numerous exotic shrubs, some of which are now growing in Mr. Stanford's garden.

One blood garnet, two green sapphires, two chrysobels, two rubies, two cinnamon stones, six moonstones, three turquoises.

Nest with two eggs which was dematerialised in presence of the circle and taken back to the sitting bird.

Flying fish entangled in a piece of net and seaweed not to be obtained in these seas.

Lumps of clay as big as a man's fist, with stone spear-heads from Central America embedded therein.

Prayer manuscripts from Thibet, written on the bark of a tree.

Large quantity of small square fragments, said to be portion of Mosaic pavement, which it was intended to remove from Central America to Melbourne.

Set of carved ivory beads of exquisite workmanship, interspersed with shells and carved seeds from Indian Temple, threaded on a piece of skin.

Flag from the Soudan, used in the Battle of Omdurman, with letters from the Koran worked on either side, said to have been procured through the agency of Hassan, a soldier killed in the war and in communication with Abdul and Selim.

Quantity of red dust, called sacred earth. It half-filled a good-sized dish, and it was explained that such dust was only to be obtained in one place in India.

A bag made of Chinese silk and containing 144 pieces of Chinese money—brass coins.

Piece of Indian tapestry measuring lift, x 5ft., which completely enwrapped the medium.

Belt made of skin of leopard's head from Africa.

A fetish doll from the Congo, made from human bones and buried in the fields to ensure good crops.

Picture, 12in. x 18in., taken from wall of a native hut in India—a Brahm picture representing a sacred cow.

Twelve leaves of palm tree were brought at one sitting with prayers written thereon.

Young bird was brought in nest shown a fortnight before when just hatched. It was taken away again with promise to return it and leave it when fully fledged. This promise was kept.

Manuscript from fort of Himalayas, about 2000 years old, containing astronomical memoranda.

Egyptian woman's veil made of dark brown canvas material, ornamented with coloured beads and coins. It is hung from the forehead with holes for the eyes.

Native waist dress from New Guinea made of grass.

Skull. This is one of the most remarkable apports A request was made for some large object with the suggestion that a skull might convince unbelievers that such a thing could not be hidden away in the medium's clothing. A few weeks later it was requested by the controls that a black cloth should be brought to the circle. The corners of this were held by Mr. Stanford, a medical gentleman, and a lady sitter, and the skull was dropped into it at some distance from the medium. It was said to be from the Philippine Islands and the skull of an American soldier who had fallen in the war.

An Indian head-dress with coloured feathers.

Thibet charm. This was found in a hut, and is a peculiar-looking object. As with similar apports from Thibet it is a religious charm. The disc is of thin wood inscribed with Thibetian language; seven pieces of hammered copper are around. This is hung on to a piece of skin.

Fetish from India. Half a cocoanut. Inside it contains a packet of poison, and is said to be used against enemies with an invocation.

An anklet from Thibet, made of skin and ornamented with shells.

A fur hat from Thibet, the size of a large tea cosy and said to have belonged to the Thibetian executioner, made from the skin of a goat.

Several encaustic tiles from Roman strata in the mounds near Babylon.

Flower brought to a lady present without contact with medium.

Remarkable bird's nest lined with fur.

Handful of thin wafer-like biscuits, exceedingly fragile and different from anything seen outside India.

Two pieces of monolithic marble. If repolished it was said that fossilised fish would be found throughout.

Nest with two eggs and complete skeleton of bird which Abdul said represented "a tragedy of the jungle." The bird, he explained, while sitting, is attacked by a venomous insect, dies, and another enemy comes along and eats the flesh, leaving the skeleton as brought.

Six live birds arrived at one sitting from Singapore.

A bird's nest with two different sized eggs in it. The nest was made of feathers and cocoa-nut fibre, and it was explained that the nest was that of the Buhl-Buhl bird, in which the Bell bird often deposits an egg, the other egg being that of the Buhl-Buhl.

Dress of a cannibal—a most remarkable apport.

Lump of clay with Mosaics, three and half pounds in weight.

A live turtle, which lived for two or three weeks.

Beautiful silken garment belonging to Nautch dancing girl, its length being about nine feet. It was of blue silk material, covered in parts with close embroidery in crimson silk—the dress, however, was taken away again as it was thought the wearer might have died of fever.

Gorgeous costume of Chinese Mandarin, with pig tail and hat complete, reference to which is made below.

The collection in its entirety forms an exceedingly valuable and attractive museum. Mr. Stanford, in fact, carefully preserves each apport and the birds that are brought are kept in his aviary. It is no exaggeration to say that no assortment of the kind can be found anywhere else in Australia, and it is quite certain in regard to some of the objects brought from Thibet, in particular, that no traveller would be allowed to leave the country with the articles in his possession.

A Sensational Night.—The Medium Becomes Attired as a Chinese Mandarin.

The culminating point of Mr. Bailey's mediumship was reached on the evening of Friday, May 22nd of this year. It was a night specially set apart for a test of a very amazing character in order to bring home conviction to certain Pressmen who were present. It is pretty generally recognised that journalists are "fearful sceptics," and consequently they are sometimes singled out by these invisible operators for "a good hard knock."

There were no fewer than 26 ladies and gentlemen in attendance on this particular night, and the medium having been thoroughly searched by three gentlemen, was afterwards seated on a cane chair and placed on top of the table. All the sitters sat around the table, and each was told by the spiritual Director of Ceremonies, so to speak, to clasp the hand of the other and thus complete the chain.

The order was also given that should any sitter relinquish his or her hold for one second, the fact was to be reported at once and page 53 the light turned up. The object of this instruction, of course, was to preclude the possibility of any accomplice assisting the medium. Every sitter, in short, was a special detective. The sensational scene that followed is thus described in the Sydney "Sunday Times," whose special representative was present:—

"The medium was dressed in an ordinary sac suit when he got on to the table, and when the light was placed in the cupboard and the lid closed complete darkness prevailed. But keen ears detected the creaking of the chair, the breathing of the medium, and minor movements he made while no his elevated platform. Ears that were not necessarily keen distinctly heard the swish of a moving body on three separate occasions in the vicinity of the medium, these noises being followed by a chuckling laugh and an exclamation in a voice said to be that of 'Abdul,' a Hindoo control, the words being, 'I got it!'"

The three swishing noises occurred within a quarter or half-minute of each other, and when the light was taken from the cupboard, after having been excluded for probably ten minutes in all—this being the longest period yet known for the bringing of an apport—the spectators beheld, to their great wonderment, a human form (that of the medium) fully dressed in a Mandarin costume—hat, pig-tail, coat, and divided skirt complete—and looking startlingly like a real Chinaman, the illusion being made all the greater and more surprising when the form got down from the table and walked round the room, talking words that appeared to be perfectly articulated Chinese.

"The control then operating, it was subsequently explained by the chief control, was the spirit of the Celestial, who had worn, this costume a few years ago, and been killed in it during a conflict with some national foe. The form felt for its sword, but that was absent. It took off the pig-tail and jabbered in a way that seemed to suggest horror and anguish of mind, and it finished up by lifting a chair in its teeth and balancing it in the air for a few seconds. This feat, though done with the medium's mouth, was so remarkable as to have been quite beyond the strength and dexterity of the medium in propria persona, who is a rather frail-built man."

What I Saw and did.

I have no reason to believe that I am suspected of being an over-credulous individual. Having had twenty-five years' training in a profession in which the full development of the critical and analytical faculties is absolutely essential to success, I have naturally approached these investigations in a scrutinising spirit, and knowing, moreover, that much fraud has hitherto been associated with the occurrence of these phenomena in different parts of the world, I have been studiously careful to safeguard myself from being made the victim of an imposture. I have searched Mr. page 54 Stanford's medium myself and have sat to his immediate left in the circle, with my right arm touching his left arm and my right foot pressed hard against his left foot.

On one occasion I have reason to suspect that the control considered that I was in need of a pretty stiff test to "straighten me up." He accordingly stopped the proceedings abruptly and said—"I see there are two or three Pressmen here to-night and we are going to give them a special test. One is sitting to the left of the medium (referring to myself) and I want him and .the other on the right to make a special search of the medium, and after they have searched him they can thump him all over his body so that if he has anything fragile on his person it will be sure to be broken."

The light was full on at the time, and the two of us proceeded to act as detectives. We thoroughly ransacked the medium's pockets, felt up his trousers and under his arm pits, and made quite certain that he could have nothing bigger than a coin in his possession. Then we slapped him as directed, and did it with an amount of vigor that I am sure had the medium not been in a trance there would have been a stand-up fight!

However, when we had finished we were somewhat discouraged by the remark made by the invisible control that "we didn't know how to search a medium." An imperative order was thereupon given for the table to be pushed aside so as to leave a good clear space on the floor. This having been done, the medium was lain prone on the floor by the controlling intelligence and rolled over and over until he went whack against the table. Then he was rolled back again, and then once more in the other direction, until he again struck the table with force, whereupon Mr. Stanford proffered the advice that the control should not hurt the medium.

At the conclusion of this performance, which thoroughly satisfied everybody that if there was anything breakable on the medium it could not have escaped injury, the medium was re-seated in his chair and the table put back in position. I also resumed my seat next to the medium and was particularly careful to keep in close contact with him as we were told that as soon as the lights were lowered, to facilitate the re-materialisation process, an apport of a specially fragile character would be brought.

Abdul then assumed control and within three minutes he exclaimed in his broken English—"Me have 'em; turn um lights up." We then saw in the medium's hands a beautifully-formed bird's nest containing four eggs. Abdul persisted in breaking one of the eggs, contrary to the wish of Mr. Stanford, just to show us, as he explained, that they were really eggs.