WCP2577

[1]

Berlin

2/1 [January] [18]79

Sir,

Permit me, to communicate to you something relative to the scientific spiritualism by the following lines. I am an adherent of the spiritualistic theories, I am one of the few in the skeptic "enlightened" Berlin, who take the spiritualism for a serious matter, one of the few, who set about it in scientific manner.

My communication refers to the spiritualistic photography, with which I became acquianted especially by your works.

According to the maintained theories, in presence of men spiritualistic phenomena often take place, partly in the form of beings with human outlines, [2] partly in the form of simple light-phenomena, and light-figures. These phenomena are generally invisible, only persons, more or less gifted with mediumistic faculties are able to observe them.

How my supposition on these phenomena, which I wish to propose to you, is the following:

That the light, which is radiated by the spiritualistic phenomena, especially by the self-shining, has a certain reference to the invisible, ultra-violet part of the spectrum. Perhaps it belongs really to this part, of the spectrum, perhaps the rays of the spiritualistic light have a greater angle of refraction, according to which they form a still unknown kind of rays, following in the succession this part of the spectrum, which is signed [3] by the letters I — P.

The reasons, which make favourable this supposition are:

1. That the light-phenomena (commonly) are invisible.

2. That they have a strong chemical effect on the photographic plate.

In your work "On miracles and modern spiritualism"¹, you re emphasize especially this second point, and remark, that the spiritualistic figures always appear much quicker on the photographic plate, than the figure of the medium, and other objects, which are present. You relate this striking circumstance at the experiments of Mr. Beattie² and Dr. Thompson³.

For to support and to examine my hypothesis, I take the liberty, to propose to you the following experiments, which, I unfortunately, I have not been able yet to execute.

[4] Two points are to examine by these experiments:

1. If there are persons, particularly spiritualistic media, who possess the ability, to see the ultraviolet colours in the sun-spectrum.

2. If the spiritualistic phenomena radiate a light, that belongs to the ultraviolet rays, or has another reference to them.

Ad[?] Nr. 2. I would propose this experiment: As soon as one perceives, by preceding, quickly made, photographs in presence of a medium, that spiritualistic phenomena appear, one takes away the common photographic objectif [sic] of the camera, and supplies it by a spectral-apparatus of this construction: (s[ee]. figure.)

A is the camera obscura, S the spectral objectiv [sic], a& B is a rime[?], the entering rays are made parallel by [5]

[a diagram of camera appears here]

the converse-lens at C, a prism at D produces a spectrum of the spiritualistic light on the photographic plate at P.

The angle of refraction at X, and the figure on the plate will show them the qualities of the spiritualistic light-ray in a scientific manner. I dare to maintain, that, if these experiments have positive results, if these suppositions are confirmed, the spiritualism will open a new territory to the science, and will enter finally in the number of the exact [6] sciences, having lost his hypothetic character.

I regret, that I do not possess myself a spiritualistic photograph, and I were very glad to have some advantage by own viewing.

Finally I beg you, to advertise me kindly on your opinion about my suppositions and my proposed experiments. Perhaps it is possible, to observe some other phenomena, which support my hypothesis, and I were very glad, if you could communicate to y me some facts relative to the spiritualistic photography, as even the scientific comprehension of the spiritualism is taken for nonsense nearly in the whole Germany, and it is very difficult therefore, to make any observations and experiments in this matter, and to occupy oneself [7] with these things.

Yours truly | P. Schellhas [signature]

Germany, Berlin, S. O.

Franzstr. 7