Theos-Talk Archives (November 2006 Message tt01059)

Carlos now writes:

"... the SPR informally but clearly admitted in 1986 that the SPR 
made fraud against HPB in the 1880s and 1890s, and that HPB was 
innocent."

Where and how did the SPR "informally but clearly" admit?

Leslie Price, the founder and first editor of THEOSOPHICAL HISTORY 
and a member of the London Society for Psychical Research, at my 
request wrote the following which was previously posted on this forum:

========================================================
As one who has served twice on the SPR Council, and
who was involved in the arrangements for the publication
of Vernon's paper in JSPR April 1986, I can confirm
that the Society has NO collective view on Theosophical
phenomena....in publishing Vernon's paper, they did NOT at the
same time cancel the 1885 report - in the way that
for example, a scientific publication might withdraw
a discredited paper on human cloning. ALL the published
material - including the little known first and provisional
report of the SPR committee - remains available for study.
======================================================
caps added.

Notice Price's words:

"....the Society [for Psychical Research] has NO collective view on
Theosophical phenomena...." Whether pro or con.........

"....in publishing Vernon's paper, they did NOT at the
same time cancel the 1885 report - in the way that
for example, a scientific publication might withdraw
a discredited paper on human cloning."

In other words, the views of authors of papers and reports in the SPR 
proceedings and journal are the views of the authors....NOT the views 
of the SPR....

After Vernon Harrison presented his views in the Journal of the SPR,
another member of the SPR (Michael Coleman) disputed Harrison's
findings in the same journal and presented his own views.

In the future, some other author may write an article published in
the SPR journal in which it is stated that HPB was a fraud...pure and
simple.

Will that mean then that the SPR once again backs the claim that HPB
was a fraud?

Daniel
http://hpb.cc