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Raymond, or Life and Death
THIS book is named after my son who was killed in the War.
It is divided into three parts. In the first part some idea of the kind of life lived and the spirit shown by any number of youths, fully engaged in civil occupations, who joined for service when war broke out and went to the Front, is illustrated by extracts from his letters. The object of this portion is to engender a friendly feeling towards the writer of the letters, so that whatever more has to be said in the sequel may not have the inevitable dulness of details concerning an entire stranger. This is the sole object of this portion. The letters are not supposed to be remarkable; though as a picture of part of the life at the Front during the 1915 phase of the war they are interesting, as many other such letters must have been.
The second part gives specimens of what at present are considered by most people unusual communications; though these again are in many respects of an ordinary type, and will be recognised as such by other bereaved persons who have had similar messages. In a few particulars, indeed, those here quoted have rather special features, by reason of the assistance given by the group of my friends "on the other side" who had closely studied the subject. It is partly owing to the urgency therein indicated that I have thought it my duty to speak out, though it may well be believed that it is not without hesitation that I have ventured thus to obtrude family affairs. I should not have done so were it not that the amount of premature and unnatural bereavement at the present time is so appalling that the pain caused by exposing one's own sorrow and its alleviation, to possible scoffers, becomes almost negligible in view of the service which it is legitimate to hope may thus be rendered to mourners, if they can derive comfort by learning that communication across the gulf is possible. Incidentally I have to thank those friends, some of them previously unknown, who have in the same spirit allowed the names of loved ones to appear in this book, and I am grateful for the help which one or two of those friends have accorded. Some few more perhaps may be thus led to pay critical attention to any assurance of continued and happy and useful existence which may reach them from the other side.
The third part of the book is of a more expository character, and is designed to help people in general to realise that this subject is not the bugbear which ignorance and prejudice have made it, that it belongs to a coherent system of thought full of new facts of which continued study is necessary, that it is subject to a law and order of its own, and that though comparatively in its infancy it is a genuine branch of psychological science. This third part is called "Life and Death," because these are the two great undeniable facts which concern everybody, and in which it is natural for every one to feel a keen interest, if they once begin to realise that such interest is not futile, and that it is possible to learn something real about them. It may be willingly admitted that these chapters are inadequate to the magnitude of the subject, but it is hoped that they are of a usefully introductory character.
It is divided into three parts. In the first part some idea of the kind of life lived and the spirit shown by any number of youths, fully engaged in civil occupations, who joined for service when war broke out and went to the Front, is illustrated by extracts from his letters. The object of this portion is to engender a friendly feeling towards the writer of the letters, so that whatever more has to be said in the sequel may not have the inevitable dulness of details concerning an entire stranger. This is the sole object of this portion. The letters are not supposed to be remarkable; though as a picture of part of the life at the Front during the 1915 phase of the war they are interesting, as many other such letters must have been.
The second part gives specimens of what at present are considered by most people unusual communications; though these again are in many respects of an ordinary type, and will be recognised as such by other bereaved persons who have had similar messages. In a few particulars, indeed, those here quoted have rather special features, by reason of the assistance given by the group of my friends "on the other side" who had closely studied the subject. It is partly owing to the urgency therein indicated that I have thought it my duty to speak out, though it may well be believed that it is not without hesitation that I have ventured thus to obtrude family affairs. I should not have done so were it not that the amount of premature and unnatural bereavement at the present time is so appalling that the pain caused by exposing one's own sorrow and its alleviation, to possible scoffers, becomes almost negligible in view of the service which it is legitimate to hope may thus be rendered to mourners, if they can derive comfort by learning that communication across the gulf is possible. Incidentally I have to thank those friends, some of them previously unknown, who have in the same spirit allowed the names of loved ones to appear in this book, and I am grateful for the help which one or two of those friends have accorded. Some few more perhaps may be thus led to pay critical attention to any assurance of continued and happy and useful existence which may reach them from the other side.
The third part of the book is of a more expository character, and is designed to help people in general to realise that this subject is not the bugbear which ignorance and prejudice have made it, that it belongs to a coherent system of thought full of new facts of which continued study is necessary, that it is subject to a law and order of its own, and that though comparatively in its infancy it is a genuine branch of psychological science. This third part is called "Life and Death," because these are the two great undeniable facts which concern everybody, and in which it is natural for every one to feel a keen interest, if they once begin to realise that such interest is not futile, and that it is possible to learn something real about them. It may be willingly admitted that these chapters are inadequate to the magnitude of the subject, but it is hoped that they are of a usefully introductory character.
- GenresParanormal
458 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1916
23 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
About the author
Oliver Lodge
470 books10 followersSir Oliver Joseph Lodge, FRS was a physicist and writer involved in the development of key patents in wireless telegraphy. Lodge, in his Royal Institution lectures ("The Work of Hertz and Some of His Successors"), coined the term "coherer." He gained the "syntonic" (or tuning) patent from the United States Patent Office in 1898.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 24, 2009
First edition published by Doran in 1916, (the book I currently own and still read/refer to regularly) Raymond or life and death is, in my opinion, without doubt the definitive book that anyone, even with a passing interest in spiritualism or life after death should read before venturing out on buying any other spiritualist publication
Written by Sir Oliver Lodge (1851 - 1940) the world renowned physicist on the death of his son Raymond who died in battle at Ypres in 1915, the book is split into two parts,but at every stage each chapter contains clear cross referenced evidence obtained by him of the continuation of life after death.
Only factual conclusively proven and cross referenced evidence is put forward - any speculation or 'hypothesis' is rejected and a point of this is made by Lodge in footnotes.
A little heavy going at first until (Faunus) it is nevertheless a book which once started is both extremely hard to put down or it's contents disregarded lightly.
See also www.fst.org/lodge.htm for further information for reference to this edition.
It genuinely is a five star must read!
Written by Sir Oliver Lodge (1851 - 1940) the world renowned physicist on the death of his son Raymond who died in battle at Ypres in 1915, the book is split into two parts,but at every stage each chapter contains clear cross referenced evidence obtained by him of the continuation of life after death.
Only factual conclusively proven and cross referenced evidence is put forward - any speculation or 'hypothesis' is rejected and a point of this is made by Lodge in footnotes.
A little heavy going at first until (Faunus) it is nevertheless a book which once started is both extremely hard to put down or it's contents disregarded lightly.
See also www.fst.org/lodge.htm for further information for reference to this edition.
It genuinely is a five star must read!
December 21, 2023
This was an interesting book to read. I was directed to it by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; who called it one of the most important works he had ever read. It was written by the brilliant physicist who theorized radio waves, so those who think the man gullible and unscientific are grossly in error. I’m still uncertain what I think of his son’s communications, via seance, from the afterlife, however his collected letters from the French trenches of WWI were fascinating. In all, the material is worth ruminating upon.
October 25, 2017
Confession: I only read the first two sections of the book; the letters from the front sent by Raymond and then the evidence presented for communication with him after his death.
This book is written by Raymond’s father who was a well-known physicist in the early 20th century. When I started the book, I was totally skeptical I would find convincing evidence of communication with the dead. This a grieving father after all unwilling to believe his son was lost to him forever.
But after reading the evidence chapter, I am totally convinced that these communications did indeed happen and are exactly what they are purported to be.
Sir Oliver Lodge is no light-weight, and freely and clearly tells us when he does not think a particular incident is of evidentiary value. The fact that some of the incidents described happened without aid of a medium demonstrating that Raymond could know what was happening in two places at one time, just knocked my socks off.
This book is a classic and rightly so. Carl Jung cites this book as being influential in his thinking. If you are interested in what seems to be convincing evidence of communication between the living and the dead, I urge you to give this a try.
This book is written by Raymond’s father who was a well-known physicist in the early 20th century. When I started the book, I was totally skeptical I would find convincing evidence of communication with the dead. This a grieving father after all unwilling to believe his son was lost to him forever.
But after reading the evidence chapter, I am totally convinced that these communications did indeed happen and are exactly what they are purported to be.
Sir Oliver Lodge is no light-weight, and freely and clearly tells us when he does not think a particular incident is of evidentiary value. The fact that some of the incidents described happened without aid of a medium demonstrating that Raymond could know what was happening in two places at one time, just knocked my socks off.
This book is a classic and rightly so. Carl Jung cites this book as being influential in his thinking. If you are interested in what seems to be convincing evidence of communication between the living and the dead, I urge you to give this a try.
December 5, 2022
This is a must-read for anyone interested in afterlife research from one of the premiere scientists and scholars of the Victorian age looking into claims of survival, Sir Oliver Lodge. This book details the events that occurred after his son, Raymond, was killed in WWI. When Raymond's spirit began appearing in mediumship sessions with various mediums, Sir Oliver and the rest of his family began putting him to the test, as well as weighing all of the other communications he came through with. If anyone today were to experience what Sir Oliver Lodge and his family did during the course of validating Raymond's post-mortem existence, they would no doubt walk away knowing that death is not the end.
September 12, 2019
Utter codswallop. (Raymond's letters from the front are interesting). The rest is nonsense for the gullible.
August 16, 2024
LODGE WRITES OF HIS "COMMUNICATIONS" WITH HIS SON
Sir Oliver Joseph Lodge (1851-1940) was a British physicist, and a Christian Spiritualist who was a member of `The Ghost Club' and served as president of the London-based Society for Psychical Research from 1901 to 1903. He wrote other books such as 'Man and the Universe,' 'Survival of Man: a Study,' 'Reason and Belief,' etc.
He wrote in the Preface to this 1916 book, "This book is named after my son who was killed in the [First World] War. It is divided into three parts. In the first part ... the spirit shown by any number of youths... is illustrated by extracts from his letters... The second part gives specimens of what at present are considered by most people unusual communications... it may well be believed that it is not without hesitation that I have ventured thus to obtrude family affairs. I should not have done so were it not that the amount of premature and unnatural bereavement at the present time is so appalling that the pain caused by exposing one's own sorrow and its alleviation, to possible scoffers, becomes almost negligible in view of the service which ... may thus be rendered to mourners... The third part of the book... is designed to help people in general to realise that this subject... is subject to a law and order of its own, and that though comparatively in its infancy it is a genuine branch of psychological science."
He begins the second part by stating, "I have made no secret of my conviction, not merely that personality persists, but that its continued existence is more entwined with the life of every day than has been generally imagined; there is no real breach of continuity between the dead and the living... methods of intercommunion can be set going in response to the urgent demand of affection..." (Pg. 83) After admitting that he feels his son has now communicated numerous times with him, he says, "the family scepticism, which up to this time has been sufficiently strong, is now, I may fairly say, overborne by the facts." (Pg. 84)
In the third part, he argues, "It may be doubted whether Materialism as a philosophy exists any longer, in the sense of being sustained by serious philosophers; but a few physiological writers... continue to advocate what they are pleased to call Scientific Materialism. Properly regarded this is a Policy, not a Philosophy..." (Pg. 284) He notes, "Life must be considered sui generis; it is not a form of energy, nor can it be expressed in terms of something else. Electricity is in the same predicament; it too cannot be explained in terms of something else. This is true of all fundamental forms of being." (Pg. 290) Later, he adds, "Life and mind and consciousness do not belong to the material region; whatever they are in themselves, they are manifestly something quite distinct from matter and energy, and yet they utilise the material and dominate it." (Pg. 317)
He says of his purported communications with his son, "In every way he has shown himself anxious to give convincing evidence. Moreover, he wants me to speak out; and I shall." (Pg. 375) He concludes, "Let us not be discouraged by simplicity. Real things are simple. Human conceptions are not altogether misleading. Our view of the Universe is a partial one but is not an untrue one. Our knowledge of the conditions of existence is not altogether false---only inadequate. The Christian idea of God is a genuine representation of reality." (Pg. 395)
Lodge's writings were "key" to the Psychical Research/Spiritualist movement, and should be studied by anyone interested in this era.
Sir Oliver Joseph Lodge (1851-1940) was a British physicist, and a Christian Spiritualist who was a member of `The Ghost Club' and served as president of the London-based Society for Psychical Research from 1901 to 1903. He wrote other books such as 'Man and the Universe,' 'Survival of Man: a Study,' 'Reason and Belief,' etc.
He wrote in the Preface to this 1916 book, "This book is named after my son who was killed in the [First World] War. It is divided into three parts. In the first part ... the spirit shown by any number of youths... is illustrated by extracts from his letters... The second part gives specimens of what at present are considered by most people unusual communications... it may well be believed that it is not without hesitation that I have ventured thus to obtrude family affairs. I should not have done so were it not that the amount of premature and unnatural bereavement at the present time is so appalling that the pain caused by exposing one's own sorrow and its alleviation, to possible scoffers, becomes almost negligible in view of the service which ... may thus be rendered to mourners... The third part of the book... is designed to help people in general to realise that this subject... is subject to a law and order of its own, and that though comparatively in its infancy it is a genuine branch of psychological science."
He begins the second part by stating, "I have made no secret of my conviction, not merely that personality persists, but that its continued existence is more entwined with the life of every day than has been generally imagined; there is no real breach of continuity between the dead and the living... methods of intercommunion can be set going in response to the urgent demand of affection..." (Pg. 83) After admitting that he feels his son has now communicated numerous times with him, he says, "the family scepticism, which up to this time has been sufficiently strong, is now, I may fairly say, overborne by the facts." (Pg. 84)
In the third part, he argues, "It may be doubted whether Materialism as a philosophy exists any longer, in the sense of being sustained by serious philosophers; but a few physiological writers... continue to advocate what they are pleased to call Scientific Materialism. Properly regarded this is a Policy, not a Philosophy..." (Pg. 284) He notes, "Life must be considered sui generis; it is not a form of energy, nor can it be expressed in terms of something else. Electricity is in the same predicament; it too cannot be explained in terms of something else. This is true of all fundamental forms of being." (Pg. 290) Later, he adds, "Life and mind and consciousness do not belong to the material region; whatever they are in themselves, they are manifestly something quite distinct from matter and energy, and yet they utilise the material and dominate it." (Pg. 317)
He says of his purported communications with his son, "In every way he has shown himself anxious to give convincing evidence. Moreover, he wants me to speak out; and I shall." (Pg. 375) He concludes, "Let us not be discouraged by simplicity. Real things are simple. Human conceptions are not altogether misleading. Our view of the Universe is a partial one but is not an untrue one. Our knowledge of the conditions of existence is not altogether false---only inadequate. The Christian idea of God is a genuine representation of reality." (Pg. 395)
Lodge's writings were "key" to the Psychical Research/Spiritualist movement, and should be studied by anyone interested in this era.
June 7, 2014
I loved this book. It is split into three parts. The first part is a first hand view of the first world war from the front line and a glimpse of Raymond's personality. The second part concerns the seances and scientific research of Sir Oliver Lodge and the third part examines the science and possible explanations for the phenomena.
I personally loved the insight into Raymond's new world of residence. A really exciting and interesting book.
I personally loved the insight into Raymond's new world of residence. A really exciting and interesting book.
February 4, 2014
I loved this book as it is an area of personal interest to me. The first part was a fascinating insight into the first world war. The second part was full of interesting examples of seances and the third part was about psychology and making sense of the findings. Wish I'd read it years ago.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews