WCP5734

[1] [p. 188]

Holly House, Barking, E. December 25, 1870.

Dear Miss Buckley, — ... You did not hear Mrs. Hardinge¹ on very favourable topics, and I hope you will hear her often again, and especially hear one of her regular discourses. I think, however, from what you heard, that, setting aside all idea of her being more than a mere spiritualist lecturer setting forth the ideas and [2] [p. 189] opinions of the sect, you will admit that spiritualists, as represented by her, are neither prejudiced nor unreasonable, and that they are truly imbued with the scientific spirit of subordinating all theory to fact. You will also admit, I think, that the moral teachings of Spiritualism, as far as she touched upon them, are elevated and beautiful and calculated to do good; and if so, that is the use of Spiritualism — the getting such doctrines of future progess founded on actual phenomena which we can observe and examine now, not on phenomena which are said to have occurred thousands of years ago and of which we have confessedly but imperfect records.

I think, too, that the becoming acquainted with two such phases of Spiritualism as are exhibited by Mrs. Hardinge and Miss Houghton² must show you that the whole thing is not to be judged by the common phenomena of public séances alone, and I can assure you that there are dozens of other phases of the subject as remarkable as these two....

— Yours very faithfully, ALFRED R. WALLACE.