book is occupied with the phenomenal evidence afforded

by apparitions, automatic writing, supernormal messages, and the evidence of identity in the discarnate condition and of survival after death. The last portion of the volume brings the question of human personality up to date, especially as regards its higher aspects, the conclusion being
that only the barrier of our sense perceptions, a " threshold of sensibility," divides us from the world beyond our normal consciousness, just as " the organism of an oyster con- stitutes a threshold which shuts it out from the greater part of our sensible world." As regards the question of immor- tality it is concluded that " Life can exist in the unseen," but it does not follow that spirit communications teach us the necessary and inherent immortality of the soul. " It we accept the evidence for ' identity,' that some we have known on earth are still living and near us," we have still to remember that " entrance on a life after death does not necessarily mean immortality, that is eternal persistence of our personality, nor does it prove that survival after death extends to all. Obviously no experimental evidence can ever demonstrate either of these beliefs, though it may and does remove the objections raised as to the possibility of survival."
Towards the end of 1916 a great sensation was made not only in occult but in general circles by the publication by Sir Oliver Lodge of a memoir upon his son, the late Lieuten- ant Raymond Lodge, who was killed near Ypres in Septem- ber, 1915. The book is divided into three parts, the first of which contains a history of the brief life of the subject of the memoir. The second part details numerous records of sittings both in the company of mediums and at the table by Sir Oliver Lodge and members of his family, and it is claimed that in these many evidences of the per- sonal survival of his son were obtained, that the whole trend of the messages was eloquent of his personality and that although if the evidential matter were taken apart for examination single isolated proofs would not be deemed conclusive, yet when taken in a body it provides evidential material of an important nature. There is certainly ground for this contention and it must be admitted that proofs of identity are more valuable when experienced by those who were familiar with the subject during his earthly career. But to those who have not had this opportunity the balance of the evidence seems meagre and it is notable that in this especial case most of the tests of real value broke down when put into practice. The third part of the