Item #62653 The Mendal, A Mode of Oriental Divination; Disclosing Remarkable Revelations In Biology and Psychology; Giving The True Key To Spirit Agency, And The Nature Of Apparitions, And The Connexion Between Mesmerism And Spiritism. Edward B. B. BARKER.
The Mendal, A Mode of Oriental Divination; Disclosing Remarkable Revelations In Biology and Psychology; Giving The True Key To Spirit Agency, And The Nature Of Apparitions, And The Connexion Between Mesmerism And Spiritism

The Mendal, A Mode of Oriental Divination; Disclosing Remarkable Revelations In Biology and Psychology; Giving The True Key To Spirit Agency, And The Nature Of Apparitions, And The Connexion Between Mesmerism And Spiritism

London: J. Burns, 1874. First Edition. Hardcover. Large octavo. xxxiv + 276pp. Original brown cloth with decorative black borders and rules, gilt lettering to spine, appendixes, index. The author, Edward B. B. Barker (ca 1809-1884) was a British diplomatic functionary - at the time he wrote this book he serving as Vice-Consul to the Crimea. In 1851 whilst living in Northern Syria, he witnessed, over a number of days, an evocation of spirits, and was staggered by what he saw (a full account is in Chapter XII of the book). Convinced of the reality of what he had seen, he basically sought to contextualise it, arguing that it was a real experience, and looking at similar examples in different historical, philosophical, and religious settings. Not surprisingly he found many parallels with 19th century Spiritualism. This book is the result. Contents: Chapter I: Mesmerism and Spiritism; Chapter II: The Stoic School at Athens; Chapter III: The Alexandrian School of Philosophy; Chapter IV: The Dark Ages, Maimonides; Chapter V: Materialistic Theories - Darwin - Comte; Chapter VI: Modern Sophism, Hume, Locke, Berkeley, Bain, Mill, Littré, Taine; Chapter VII: The Brain and Nervous System Considered; Chapter VIII: The Soul's Independent Action; Chapter IX: Mental Influence of Soul & Body; Chapter X: Life and Vital Force Considered; Chapter XI: On the Supernatural and Reality of Spirit Manifestation; Chapter XII: The Oriental Evocation of Spirits; Chapter XIII: Connection between Mesmerism and Spiritism; Chapter XIV: Reflections on Prof. Guidi's Work; PART II, Chapter I: Materialism and Rationalism; Chapter II: Sceptic Rationalists - Revelation Rationalists- Ritualism-Fetichism; Chapter III: Parallel of Comparison Between Ritualism and Natural Religion; Appendices A - E. From the collection of Dr. M. H. Coleman, although not marked as such. Spine slightly darkened and rubbed, spine ends and corners lightly bumped and chafed, page edges a bit darkened and pages lightly toned but overall a tight, bright and unmarked VG+ copy. Scarce. Item #62653

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