108 Journal of the Mitchell Society \^April 



This seems evidently the case, for example in the apogamous ascomycetes, 

 perhaps also in the basidiomycetes, and surely so in the cases of nuclear 

 fusion in the prothalia and in the sporangia of apogamous ferns. 



The persistent delusion widely current in regard to the 

 scientific value of certain mystical realms of thought and feeling, 

 together with a general misconception of their relation to other 

 phenomena, gives a timely interest to the address of Professor 

 Arthur Gordon Webster on The Methods of the Physical Sci- 

 ences^ to What are They Applicahle? In discussing " thought 

 transference " he says :"* 



_ \ 

 How easy it is for the layman to say, "We know that electromagnetic 

 waves are transmitted in the ether, which we cannot perceive by the senses, 

 why should not waves be emitted by the brain, and be similarly trans- 

 mitted through the ether?" Why indeed! We may answer him that 

 even if we know nothing more of the ether than the speed of waves 

 through it we know that extremely well, and that whether or not we know 

 the mechanism of the waves (as I conceive that we do) we at least know 

 their differential equations, that is, the mode of their transference. More- 

 over we have many instruments that are affected by these waves, whereas 

 no one has ever managed, by means of thought waves, to affect the most 

 sensitive instrument, whether torsion balance, quatzfiber, electrometer or 

 galvonemeter. When by taking thought, a mind in this world or the next, 

 shall produce the smallest deflection in an instrument at a distance, then 

 we shall be within the means of a physical investigation. But says the 

 enthusiast, perhaps these waves being not of physical but of mental 

 origin, may be receivable not by physical, but only mental apparatus, and 

 may work only directly on the resonators of the brain. Very well, let 

 us begin with the phenomena that we can control. It is easy to emit 

 brain waves, if such there be. The method described above is then ap- 

 plicable. But if we are in the region of seismic mental waves, there is 

 nothing to do but have our mental resonators always in adjustment and 

 attuned. Then will come the difficulty of discriminating between "strays" 

 and real receptions. How great this difficulty is is shown by the almost 

 vanishingly small results of the societies for physical research so called, 

 and by the delusions from which reputable scientists have suffered. We 

 may here mention the investigations on the celebrated Eusapia Paladino, 

 who certainly secured good indorsements in Europe, but when brought here 

 and examined by a committee including psychologists, physicists, and 

 other detectives, was found to be explicable by purely physical hypotheses. 



I 

 Among the most important matters of business transacted 



by the Association was the adoption of the following resolutions : 



Resolved, That the council looks with favor upon the organization of a 

 Brazilian division of the Association, and that a committee on organiza- 

 tion be appointed for this work with Senator Eduardo Braga as chairman. 



Resolved, That the Society of American Forestry be formally accepted 

 as an affiliated society. 



* Science N. S. 39 : 50. Jan. 9, 1914. 



