CHAPTER XII

THE EDDY BROTHERS AND THE HOLMESES

IT is difficult within any reasonable compass to
follow the rise of various mediums in the United
States, and a study of one or two outstanding cases
must typify the whole. The years 1874 and 1875
were years of great psychic activity, bringing con-
viction to some and scandal to others. On the whole
the scandal seems to have predominated, but whether
rightly or not is a question which may well be debated.
The opponents of psychic truth having upon their
side the clergy of the various churches, organized
science, and the huge inert bulk of material mankind,
had the lay Press at their command, with the result
that everything that was in its favour was suppressed
or contorted, and everything which could tell against
it was given the widest publicity. Hence, a constant
checking of past episodes and reassessment of old
values are necessary. Even at the present day the air
is charged with prejudice. If any man of standing at
the present instant were to enter a London newspaper
office and say that he had detected a medium in fraud,
the matter would be seized upon eagerly and broad-
cast over the country; while if the same man pro-
claimed that he had beyond all question satisfied him-
self that the phenomena were true, it is doubtful if he

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