NOBODY WANTS TO LISTEN -
AND YET by Sir Oliver Lodge & transcribed
by Raymond Smith. 1995 / 160 pages.
Sir Oliver
Lodge, F.R.S., D.Sc., L.L.D., M.A., famous scientist and
psychical researcher, was born in 1851. Perhaps readers
would best remember him for his invention of the spark
plug used in the motor car. His research into the
mysteries of electro-magnetic waves enabled him to be
mainly responsible for what today we call radio. H.G.
Wells, Charles Dickens, Albert Einstein and Frederick
Myers were just a few of his very numerous friends. Apart
from the fact that he became a fellow of the Royal
Society in 1902, he was knighted in 1910, was President
of both the Physical Society and the Society for
Psychical Research, was principal of Birmingham
University, and he held degrees from a dozen other
British Universities, and those of Toronto and Adelaide.
It is not surprising that he was voted one of the four
best brains in Britain. Sir Oliver’s first encounter
with the paranormal was during the time he was Professor
of Physics at Liverpool University. He was asked to
witness demonstrations of "thought
transference" by girls in a Liverpool drapery store.
His interest was aroused causing him to join the Society
for Psychical Research. Here attended séances and met
many new friends including Frederick Myers, Henry Sidgwick, Lord
Rayleigh, Professor William Jones, William
Crookes, Edmond Gurney and Alfred Lord Tennyson. In 1889
he was introduced to the American medium Mrs. Piper who
was to give him much evidence of survival. Whilst
Principal at Birmingham University he had proof of
survival of his friend Myers. This was brought about by
experiments with mediums living in different countries.
The experiment is today known as the
"Cross-Correspondences". A sportsman, family
man, scientist and humanitarian, Oliver Lodge wrote many
books, about 140 in all, and tried to reconcile the ideas
of both science and religion. In "My
Philosophy" (1933) he showed that the term
"ether" does indeed cover the regions of both
science and religion. He published - for he was prepared
to jeopardize his reputation for what he felt was the
most important quality of all - Truth. Realizing that
materialism, jealousy, greed and war still prevail, he
has now taken the opportunity to express this truth via
the medium of this book. "Nobody wants to listen -
And yet!" And yet, he has promised to write further
books should he be proved wrong and find that there are
some who do want to listen.
