"John C. Poirier" <poirier@...> wrote:
<<Daniel Buck quotes a number of references to the "Ghost Club" that Hort and Westcott belonged to. Absent from any of these references is the idea that the "Ghost Club" was devoted to *debunking* psychic phenomena, which is the way I always heard it described. Rather, these quotations make it sound as if the "Ghost Club" accepted the reality of these phenomena. Which way is it?>>
I've shared your suspicions, which is why I was glad to finally get my cyberhands on scanned pages of the books from which I quoted. I did my best to include the entire relevant context in each case, so as to convey the information as fully as necessary and as accurately as possible.
The question isn't entirely settled in my mind just from the sources I quoted, but it's obvious from his own words that Westcott was excited at the possibility of being able to pin down once and for all the reality of Spirit Communication in as scientific manner as possible.
Daniel Buck

Many years ago I had occasion to investigate “spiritualistic” phenomena with some care, and I came to a clear conclusion, which I feel bound to express in answer to your circular. It appears to me that in this, as in all spiritual questions, Holy Scripture is our supreme guide. I observe, then, that while spiritual ministries are constantly recorded in the Bible, there is not the faintest encouragement to seek them. The case, indeed, is far otherwise. I cannot, therefore, but regard every voluntary approach to beings such as those who are supposed to hold communication with men through mediums as unlawful and perilous. I find in the fact of the Incarnation all that man (so far as I can see) requires for life and hope.
B.F. Westcott, B.F. Westcott in “The Response to the Appeal”, Borderland, Vol. I, No. 1 (July 1893) p. 11.

Martin