SPIRIT RAISING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2588, 24 August 1909, Page 7

SPIRIT RAISING.

A CHALLENGE ACCEPTED CONDITIONALLY.

The visit to Wellington of Mr Charles Bailey, a Melbourne spiritualist, promises to be attended with special inxerest by reason of a proposed test of liis powers. The “Dominion states that a challenge issued by Mr T. W. Driver, a conjurer, regarding the phenomena of spiritualism has been accepted by _.tr William McLean, a prominent figure in Wellington spiritualist circles. The challenge is as follows: —“£IOO challenge to mediums: I claim, unequivocally and without reservation, that the so-called phenomena of spiritualism are produced entirely by human agency and denounce mediums, one and all, as tricksters. The above sum will be wagered that I can fully, completely, and satisfactorily perform any manifestation of so-called spirit power which I am permitted to witness three times. I challenge Mr William McLean to allow me to test Charles Bailey under rigid test conditions. A few clays ago mv McLean told me Bailey was ‘no conjurer.’ Let me prove to Wellington and himself that a conjurer knows more than he does about a spirit medium. v’e have had quite enough theory from the spiritualists- let us now have something practical.—(Signed) Thos. W. Driver, professional conjurer.” Mr McLean, in taking up the cudgels on behalf of spiritualism, says: “I accept Mr Driver’s challenge in go far as the sum of £IOO is concerned —to' test not only the genuineness of the ‘apports’ obtained by Mr Bailey, ‘mu; also the means by which they are obtained —but not that the deposit of ie money shall bp regarded as a wager. I have deposited a sum of £IOO with you (the editor of the “Dominion”) to be held subject to conditions which I shall lav down in the course of a few days, in the event of Mr Driver covering his challenge with a similar sum of 0100 and the test taking place. I am not a betting man and have no desire to encourage, or be a party to, what the law has set its face against, and I would remind Mr Driver that, even if I accepted his challenge as a wager, and won, I would have no right legally to claim the money from him, nor could I recover it in a Court of law, and, further, I have no desire to bring my spirit friends down to the level of anyone by the gambling methods proposed by Mr Driver. If Mr Driver is honest and sincere, and is really desirous of proving his assertions, let him also deposit a sum of £IOO, and I will then disclose the terms upon which I accept his challenge, both as to the disposal of the money and also regarding the conditions to he imposed. This will give him the opportunity he requires to disprove, if possible, the genuineness of the phenomena produced by Mr Bailey. Ihe test conditions to be observed will certainly be very stringent, as I desire to take every means to eliminate even the slightest suspicion of trickery and legerdemain in so far' as it might possibly affect Mr Bailey. These conditions will be made public immediately Mr # Driver shows his bona fides by depositing the 00 in the way described above. I take; it that Mr Driver is issuing his chal-: lenge ' not for the purpose of making money, but in an endeavor to throw a clearer light upon the truth: and he can therefore, have no possible objection’ to prove his bona fides, as I sug-. have the honor,” concludes Mr McLean, “to vindicate the truth against the world of professional conjurers.” "