WCP4769

[1]

15 Clifford's Lane[?]

E.C.

May 22, 1879

Dear Sir

I find your last letter difficult to answer — hence my delay: believe me I have the greatest respect for Mr Marshman's judgement as also for Miss Buckley's and your own. Leaving yourself out of the question the two first named are among the clearest headed people I know. What I saw at the seance at Mr Marshman's was impudent humbug, but I am quite ready to believe that so many men wd not accept [2] spiritualism until they had seen other and more unimpeachable performances than what I saw myself. The part of our being able to lift a weight proves that there is a something independent of matter which can make molecules sit in opposition to the ordinary laws of matter (I don't know that I am right here, but it seems as if there was) and I am not at all prepared to say that there is not unsuspected spirit action except that which manifests itself in our daily life. I go so far then on to believe that over and above much very wicked imposture [3] which has been mixed up with spiritualism there is probably an unrecognised, and an important unrecognised truth which the spiritualists are trying to grasp, and will I doubt not succeed in grasping some day. I am quite content to take the line of saying that I have only investigated spiritualism very superficially, and that I cannot say any thing about it till I have seen more, but beyond this I don't want to go. In the first place, we only pursue an enquiry well when our heart is in it, & my heart w^d not be in this. Secondly I like digging over old ground best, ground on which so many have laboured that the facts are now pretty well ascertained. [4] Thirdly do not people call me crack-haired[?] enough already? and have I got a big load enough to carry in Life & Habit (which I believe in) without prejudicing people against me by calling[?] them to say "he is a spiritualist"? If I were to turn spiritualist good bye to all chance of [illeg.] in that direction.

But if I felt inwardly drawn to the enquiry I would soon enough put every thing else on the side till I had made my mind say about it. But I don't, and until I do no good would come either to me or to spiritualism of my taking it up.

I am really a good deal pained at so flatly refusing to investigate a matter which you look upon as one of the very highest [5] importance, but on the other hand, I say to myself that I never say a word against spiritualism to Buckley or to any who I know accept it, and I am only claiming the like liberty to choose my own line which I should be angry with myself if denied to them.

Believe me, dear Sir | Yours very truly

S. Butler [signature]