Author's Preface
The following pages were written at the solicitation of highly esteemed European friends, who deemed that the author's long years of experience as a student and adept in the Spiritism of many lands might furnish to the world some valuable information concerning the mysteries of that spiritual communion now so prevalent throughout the civilized world.
In order to gratify these too partial advisers, the author at first collated his personal experiences into a series of autobiographical sketches, the first few chapters of which were published under the title of "Ghost Land; or Researches into the Realm of Spiritual Existence," in Emma Harding Britten's high toned American Magazine, the "Western Star." As the calamitous fires which devestated the city of Boston some five or six years ago caused the suspension of Mrs. Britten's excellent periodical, the author determined to lay his papers aside, for any use posterity might derive from them, but the same friendly spirit of appreciation which had dictated the transcription of the autobiography subsequently pleaded for its continuance, or the preparation of a still more occult work, in which the much needed desideratum of a comprehensive philosophy, covering the principles which underlie spiritual existence should be given to the world, as a basis on which to found the superstructure of spiritual science.
This suggestion was too much in accordance with the author's habits of thought to be lightly rejected. A hasty and fragmentary sketch of the work was drawn up, but when compared with the vast fields of untrodden revelation that yet remained to be gleaned, the author would fain have committed his abortive attempt to the flames, and trusted to time to unfold that mighty realm of magical philosophy which can never be disclosed in a single life-time much less condensed into one volume. But the all-too-appreciative friends to whom the author's despair of purpose was revealed thought otherwise.
They deemed the broken gleams of light submitted to them were all-sufficient for the age in which they were to be given, and urged that the suggestions rendered, belonged to humanity, and could not fail to throw light upon many of the mysteries of spiritual manifestations.
Whilst wandering incognito through the cities of the United States, still seeking to add fresh records of Spiritualistic interest to an already full treasury of facts, the author had the pleasure of meeting with his highly esteemed English friend, Mrs. Emma Hardinge Britten. In addition to urgent appeals from this authoritative source to publish his book of magic, the author was farther tempted by the generous promise that he would be relieved of all the vexations and technical details of this publication.
Shrinking with unconquerable repugnance from any encounter with those butchers of human character, self styled "critics," whose chief delight is to exercise their carving-knives upon the bodies of slain reputations, without regard to qualification for the act of dissection, and equally averse to entrusting the dangerous and difficult processes of magical art to an age wherein even the most sacred elements of religion and Spiritualism are so often prostituted to the arts of imposture, or mean traffic, the author's reluctance to the proposed publication, even with all the advantages of his English friend's invaluable cooperation, would hardly have been conquered, had not loved and trusted spirit friends taken the helm of the storm-tossed mind, and advising the excision of such passages as would be dangerous to the half-informed spirituality of the present age, those well-trained counselors themselves suggested the conditions of publication which they deemed most in harmony with the author's wishes and position, conditions subsequently embodied in the circular which announced the publication of this volume.
The reception which that circular met with, the unworthy jibes, sneers, and cruel insults which have been leveled against the excellent lady who volunteered to stand between the author and his shrinking spirit, have caused him the deepest remorse for having placed her in such a position, and induced a frequent solicitation on his part that the publication of the book should be abandoned. In confiding the management of this work to his friends, the author had entire confidence that the invaluable services rendered by the noble editress to the Spiritualists of America, which would have been sufficiently appreciated to protect her against misrepresentation and unjust attack.
That these expectations have been so rudely disappointed, only proves how much better the spiritual intelligences who dictated the conditions of publication understood the elements to be dealt with than the trusting mortals they counseled.
That Emma Hardinge Britten has found five hundred friends in America, who put faith alike in her judgment and honesty, is deemed by her as a sufficient trimph for one lifetime. Should the author of "Art Magic" find five hundred readers who can appreciate its occult pages, that shall be esteemed as an equal meed of recompense for his share of the work.
Having already made confession of inefficiency to cope with so vast a subject in so small a space, acknowledging that a mere sketch is here presented instead of the full length portrait of Art Magic the author's mind had conceived, and given to all whom it may concern, the rationale of how this publication came to be launched upon the world, we shall conclude in the quaint words of Robert Turner, the translator of Cornelius Agrippa's fourth book of "Occult Philosophy" into English, who in presenting his introductory words to the public, says:
"There be four sorts of readers -- sponges, which extract all, without distinguishing; hour-glasses, which receive and pour out as fast; bags, which retain only the dregs of spices, and let the wine escape; and sieves, which retain the best only. Some there are of the last sort, and to them I present this Occult Philosophy, knowing that they shall reap good thereby." A conclusion in which Dr. Robert Turner is cordially joined by
THE AUTHOR
Comments
It seems rather strange to me that the author would have to tout his own credentials to write the book, without ever revealing his name.
It has been speculated that the author of this work was none other than Emma Hardinge Britten herself, posing as this author that she, at one point, said was a spirit himself. Regardless of who the author actually was, they certainly seemed to have a high opinion of themselves :-). This, despite the obvious disdain s/he held for critics and fear of what they might say.
The author's claim that "the spirits made him do it" is rather amusing, but since it seems from the preface that the critiques were rather nasty indeed, it certainly gives the author an "out." Which would make sense if the author was indeed Ms. Britten herself.
Posted by: Mikki | March 8, 2004 01:02 PM
I have to agree with you, Mikki. But it makes one wonder why Ms. Britten didn't use a pen name instead of trying to remain anonymous. Perhaps the author of this book was well known in certain circles.
Posted by: Silverlotus | June 29, 2004 06:18 PM
Or wanted to be well known in certain circles :-)
Posted by: Mikki | June 29, 2004 07:10 PM
Quite interesting your point of the annonymous nature of "the author" and the "quick escape" so to speak. Excellent dissertation at this point!
Posted by: Rev.Mystics | September 8, 2004 12:33 PM
Hey Mystics! Happy to see you here. Welcome to the frey.
Posted by: ooblick | September 8, 2004 08:15 PM