Category: Isis Unveiled: H. P. Blavatsky (1877)

"But Mr. Crookes mentioned another eminent scholar, Thury, of Geneva, professor of natural history, who was a brother-investigator with Gasparin in the phenomena of the Valleyres. This professor contradicts point-blank the assertions of his colleague.   "The first and most necessary condition", says Gasparin, "is the will of the experimenter; without the will, one would [...]

"Mr Crookes, in his first article in the Quarterly Journal of Science, October 1, 1871, mentions de Gasparin and his work Science v. Spiritualism.   He remarks that "the author finally arrived at the conclusion that all these phenomena are to be accounted for by the action of natural causes, and do not require the [...]

"Says de Gasparin, in his monster volume of refutations: "In questions of testimony, certitude must absolutely cease the moment we cross the borders of the supernatural."   The line of demarcation not being sufficiently fixed and determined, which of the opponents is best fitted to take upon himself the difficult task? Which of the two [...]

""It seems", remarks de Mirville in his review, "that we could apply to M. Babinet the following remark made by a very witty woman to Raynal, 'if you are not a Christian, it is not for lack of faith.'"   It was not alone believers who wondered at the credulity displayed by M. Babinet, in [...]

"The following circumstance which he gave to the Academy of Sciences, on July 5, 1852, can be found without further commentary, and merely as an instance of a sphere-like lightning, in the "Œuvres de F. Arago", vol. i., p.52. We offer it verbatim.   "After a strong clap of thunder", says M. Babinet, "but not [...]

"It would appear, that M. de Mirville in his narrative of the wonders manifested at the Presbytere de Cideville, was much struck by the marvelousness of some facts. Though authenticated before the inquest and magistrates, they were of so miraculous a nature as to force the demonological author himself to shrink from the responsibility of [...]

"Truly says de Mirville in his famous reply to the attacks of de Gasparin, Babinet, and other scientists: "and thus according to our great physicists, the tables turn very quickly, very energetically, resist likewise, and, as M. de Gasparin has proved, they levitate without contact. Said a minister: 'With three words of a man's handwriting, [...]

"There is one thing, though, that Babinet has always stoutly denied, viz.: the levitation of furniture without contact. De Mirville catches him proclaiming that such levitation is impossible: "simply impossible", he says, "as impossible as perpetual motion."   Who can take upon himself, after such a declaration, to maintain that the word impossible pronounced by [...]

"Now comes the explanation of the eminent scientist. "Gently pushed by little concordant impulsions of the hands laid upon it, the table begins to oscillate from right to left....At the moment when, after more or less delay, a nervous trepidation is established in the hands and the little individual impulsions of all the experimenters have [...]

"Babinet, Royer, and Jobert De Lamballe, all three members of the Institute, particularly distinguished themselves in this struggle between skepticism and supernaturalism, and most assuredly have reaped no laurels.   The famous astronomer had imprudently risked himself on the battlefield of the phenomenon. He had explained scientifically manifestations. But, emboldened by the fond belief among [...]