Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1920. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXIII OBSESSION AND INSANITY In this chapter, I desire to place before the reader in a fair and clear manner facts which are too often neg- lected by Spiritualists, but which those who develop or become mediums are apt to find out to their cost later in their development, unless they are aware of the facts at the beginning. "Truth is always best," and it is accordingly best for the student to know the dangers and difficulties attendant upon Spiritualism as well as the bright side. We do not wish to alarm or divert from interest any student by this and the following chapters. Precisely the reverse. But inasmuch as "fore- warned is forearmed" the student should be familiar with all the possible risks he is running; as there are such risks if he does not develop his mediumistic power systematically and along the right lines, as so often pointed out before in this book. THE REALITY OF SPIRIT OBSESSION As we saw in the last chapter, it is often easier for the low and less developed spirits to come in touch with us than those more highly developed; and this is especially the case where mediumistic development has not been such as to bring the student in touch with the higher forces and intelligences. Modern science does not accept the doctrine of spirit-obsession as true, claiming that the cases of so-called spirit influence are really only cases of diseased mind and body, requiring for their MI cure proper medical attention. Experienced Spiritualists, however, know that while many cases of apparent obsession may be accounted for in this manner, there are also cases of real influence coming from less-developed, disembodied spirits, and as great a psychologist as Prof. Wm. James said shortly before his death: ' The refusal of modern enlightenment to treat possessio...