Mrs. Piper the Society for Psychical Research | Page 5

without
prejudice or prepossession of any kind, and in the same spirit of exact
and unimpassioned inquiry which has enabled Science to solve so
many problems, once not less obscure nor less hotly debated. The
founders of the Society have always fully recognised the exceptional
difficulties which surround this branch of research; but they
nevertheless believe that by patient and systematic effort some results
of permanent value may be attained.
Investigating Committees (with the exception of the Committee for
Experiments) are not appointed by the Council; but any group of
Members and Associates may become an investigating Committee; and
every such Committee will, it is hoped, appoint an Honorary Secretary,
and through him report its proceedings to the Council from time to
time.
The Council, if it accepts a report so made for presentation to the
Society, will be prepared to consider favourably any application on the
part of the Committee for funds to assist in defraying the expenses of
special experimental investigation.
The Council will also be glad to receive reports of investigation from
individual Members or Associates, or from persons unconnected with
the Society.[2]
Any such report, or any other communication relating to the work of
the Society, should be addressed to Miss Alice Johnson (as Editor of
the Proceedings and Journal), 20 Hanover Square, London, W., or to J.

G. Piddington, Esq., 87 Sloane Street, London, S.W.; or in America to
Dr Richard Hodgson, 5 Boylston Place, Boston, Mass.
Meetings of the Society, for the reading and discussion of papers, are
held periodically; and the papers then produced, with other matter, are,
as a general rule, afterwards published in the Proceedings.
The Proceedings of the Society may be obtained directly from the
Secretary, 20 Hanover Square, London, W., or from the Secretary of
the American Branch, or from any bookseller, through Mr R. Brimley
Johnson, 4 Adam Street, Adelphi, London, W.C.
A Monthly Journal (from October to July inclusive) is also issued to
Members and Associates. The Journal contains evidence freshly
received in different branches of the inquiry, which is thus rendered
available for consideration, and for discussion by correspondence,
before selections from it are put forward in a more public manner.
The Council, in inviting the adhesion of Members, think it desirable to
quote a preliminary Note, which appeared on the first page of the
Constitution of the original Society, and which still holds good.
"Note.--To prevent misconception, it is here expressly stated that
Membership of the Society does not imply the acceptance of any
particular explanation of the phenomena investigated, nor any belief as
to the operation, in the physical world, of forces other than those
recognised by Physical Science."
Conditions of Membership.
The conditions of Membership are thus defined in Articles 11-18:--
The Society shall consist of: (a) Members, who shall subscribe two
guineas annually, or make a single payment of twenty guineas, (b)
Associates, who shall subscribe one guinea annually, or make a single
payment of ten guineas.
All Members and Associates of the Society shall be elected by the

Council. Every candidate for admission shall be required to give such
references as shall be approved by the Council, and shall be proposed
in writing by two or more Members or Associates.
All subscriptions shall become payable immediately upon election, and
subsequently on the first day of January in each year. In the case of any
Member or Associate elected on or after the 1st October, his
subscription shall be accepted as for the next following year.
Article 22 provides that if any Member or Associate desire to resign, he
shall give written notice thereof to the Secretary. He shall, however, be
liable for all subscriptions which shall then remain unpaid.
Ladies are eligible either as Members or Associates.
Privileges of Membership.
Articles 19 and 20 provide that Members and Associates are eligible to
any of the offices of the Society, and are entitled to the free receipt both
of the Proceedings and of the Journal, to the use of Library books in
the Society's rooms, and to attend all the General Meetings of the
Society, to which they are also allowed to invite friends. They are
further entitled to purchase the Proceedings of the Society issued
previous to their joining it,--and also additional copies of any Part or
Volume,--at half their published price.
Members have the additional privileges of borrowing books from the
Library, and of voting in the election of the Council, and at all meetings
of the Society.
A contents sheet of the whole series of Proceedings may be had on
application to the Secretary, 20 Hanover Square, London, W.
FOOTNOTES:
[2] Any reports or papers which may be printed in the Proceedings will
become the Society's property; but author or authors will be entitled to
receive 50 copies of any such