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Alfred Russel Wallace : Alfred Wallace : A. R. Wallace :
Russel Wallace : Alfred Russell Wallace (sic)

 
 
Wallace and Spiritualism (S251: 1875)

 
Editor Charles H. Smith's Note: A letter to the Editor from H. S. Olcott, containing a communication Wallace had sent thanking him for dedicating his book People From the Other World to him. Printed on page 631 of the 22 May 1875 issue of the New York Daily Graphic. To link directly to this page, connect with: http://people.wku.edu/charles.smith/wallace/S251.htm


[To the Editor of The Daily Graphic.]

    It having been asserted that Mr. Alfred R. Wallace, the eminent English scientist, had withdrawn himself from the Spiritualistic movement, I am fortunately able to prove the contrary. The following extracts from a letter just received by me attest his continued interest in the subject:

The Dell, Grays, Essex, May 2, 1875.

Colonel H. S. Olcott:

    I have to thank you for the honor you have done me in dedicating to me, jointly with my friend, Mr. Crookes, the interesting record of your investigations. I have read it with very great pleasure, and only wish it could have as large a circulation in this country as it deserves. Its fair and impartial spirit, as well as its great literary merits, would greatly aid in that reaction of modern thought against modern materialism, which is becoming every day more evident. I have myself seen nothing half so wonderful or perhaps half so convincing as you have seen, and I think you under-rate the value of your investigations at the Eddys' when you infer almost to the last that they might be impostors to some extent, and that anything is wanting to make the evidence conclusive. Whatever was wanting, however, is fully supplied in the case of Mrs. Holmes, and the one case supports the other.

    Hoping that you may have further opportunities of investigating and popularizing this important subject,

Yours faithfully,
Alfred R. Wallace.

    The opportunity hoped for by my distinguished correspondent will be afforded in the organization of the "Miracle Club."

Henry S. Olcott.


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