A reminiscence of and a promise to Professor James Hervey Hyslop, Ph.D.

  • Sigard Adolphus Knopf
Date:
1920
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A reminiscence of and a promise to Professor James Hervey Hyslop, Ph.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/28
    A REMINISCENCE OF AND A PROMISE TO PROFESSOR JAMES HERVEY HYSLOP, Ph. D.* BY S. ADOLPHUS KNOPF, M. D. Dr. James Hervey Hyslop was known to me through his writings when he was still Professor of Psychology at Columbia and long before he entered upon his investigations of so-called spiritual phenomena. I had the honor of meeting him personally for the first time some ten years ago at a dinner of the Unitarian Club. His personality impressed me at once. A pale, thoughtful face, a dark, full beard worn nowadays but by few men, a high forehead, and quiet but penetrating eyes, gave him a striking appearance. He was the guest of honor of the Club, and his after-dinner address consisted of a comprehensive view of the labors of the American Society of Psychical Research. What impressed me most in the man was his earnestness and the thoroughly scientific attitude he assumed in dealing with the most difficult problems which have con¬ fronted mankind in all ages. His frank condemnation of all that ap¬ peared to him fraudulent, his suspension of judgment in cases of doubt, and his candid acceptance of what seemed to him and many others irrefutable evidence of the possibility that discarnated spirits may com¬ municate intelligently with human beings, won for him the sympathy of his audience, believers and unbelievers alike. I had the privilege of a few minutes’ conversation with him after the dinner, and the result of my meeting him that evening was that I be¬ came an associate member of the A. S. P. R., receiving the Journal of Psychical Research, of which he was the editor. I met Dr. Hyslop a number of times after that, but never had an opportunity for a lengthy conversation until last summer when I saw him at his summer home in the Adirondacks. He was then suffering physically, but his mind was as clear and alert as ever. We spoke of the awakening of an intense interest in psychic phenomena as a result of the war and the sudden passing away of millions of souls, and the yearning of those left behind for some sign that their loved ones, who had made the supreme sacrifice, still lived. After this we discussed some of the older and some of the more recent books dealing with various phenomena bearing on the sub¬ ject of the future life, of the genuineness of all of which he was not convinced. *A revised and reprinted tribute which was published in the Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, Section B, of the American Insti¬ tute for Scientific Research, October and November, 1920; combined with an address delivered at the Memorial Service in honor of Dr. Hyslop at All Souls’ Unitarian Church, January 17, 1921.
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