(78) PREFATORY NOTE On the Sunday evenings of the winter months in 1915, at the Meeting House of the Society for Ethical Culture of New York, I gave a series of eight lectures on Modern Occultism. The course included the following subjects: Modern Occultism and the Ethical Attitude Toward It, The Causes of Modern Occultism, Spiritualism and Its Cardinal Claim, Psychical Research and Its Results, Foundations for the Faith in a Future Life, Theosophy and Reincarnation, Christian Science in Its Relation to Jesus as Healer, A Candid Examination of Christian Science. Only in its generic sense, as defined in the Century Dictionary, was the word "occultism" used. The aim of the course was expository, critical, constructive. It sought to sketch the origin and development of each of these modern movements, to set forth its distinctive characteristics, to indicate its contribution to religious thought, to show in what respects its main position seemed open to criticism. This book is not a reproduction of those lectures. They were delivered without manuscript and the thought of extending my notes for publication was at no time entertained. But the receipt of several hundred signed applications for a book that should con tain at least a portion of the course, particularly what had been said on the subject of immortality and the various grounds on which thinkers have supported their faith in it, prompted the preparation of what is herein presented. Be it understood, then, that the following chapters reproduce, not the original lectures but only the substance of certain parts of six in the series. It seemed necessary to say these preliminary words lest any of those who formed part of my friendly audience should expect to find here verbal reproduction of what they then heard. New York. 'ALFRED W. MARTIN. OCCULTISM-SPIRITUALISM, PYSCHICAL RE- |