Robert Hare
Experimental Investigation of the Spirit Manifestations
Demonstrating the existence of spirits and their communion with mortals. Doctrine of the spirit world respecting heaven, hell, morality, and God. Also, the influence of Scripture on the morals of Christians.
"Experimental Investigation of the Spirit Manifestations" by Robert Hare is a scientific publication written in the mid-19th century. The work delves into the study of Spiritualism, presenting experiments that aim to demonstrate the existence of spirits and their interactions with the living. The author, a learned academic and chemist, seeks to align his findings with theological inquiries, highlighting themes of morality, the afterlife, and the influence of spirituality on humanity. The opening of the text serves to introduce readers to Hare's credentials and his intent to share findings from his extensive experimentation with spiritual phenomena. He references communications he has received from spirits, outlining the methods and instruments employed in his studies, which he claims have provided credible evidence supporting the existence of spiritual beings. Through his detailed descriptions, Hare establishes both a scientific and philosophical framework that invites readers into the discourse on the relationship between the material and spiritual worlds, setting the stage for his investigations into morality and the nature of existence beyond death.