Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 3, 1892.djvu/297



III.]

NIMISM" is the term, specially used by Dr. Tylor, for what is otherwise called Spiritism or Spiritualism—the general doctrine, namely, of Spiritual Beings; and, to use his own words, Dr. Tylor's "Theory of Animism divides into two great dogmas, forming part of one consistent doctrine: first, concerning souls of individual creatures, capable of continued existence after the death or destruction of the body; second, concerning other spirits upward to the rank of powerful deities." Similarly may Mr. Herbert Spencer's Ghost-theory be defined. But, though as fully and cordially as anyone here present, I acknowledge my obligations to Dr. Tylor, and especially to Mr. Herbert Spencer, I venture to think—and trust that you will agree with me in thinking—that the time has now come for a more searching criticism of the Ghost-theory which these writers hold in common. I propose, however, to confine myself here to the form it assumes in Dr. Tylor's Theory of Animism. And without further preface, I shall state my first Query.