The Seybert Commission on Spirtualism by Henry Seybert

The Seybert Commission on Spirtualism by Henry Seybert

Publication: 1887 J.P. Lippincott Company; Philadelphia

First Edition

Full Title: Preliminary Report of the Commission Appointed by The University of Pennsylvania To Investigate Modern Spiritualism in accordance with the request of the late Henry Seybert 

The Seybert Commission was a group of faculty members at the University of Pennsylvania who, from 1884 to 1887, investigated several well-respected Spiritualist mediums. They uncovered fraud or suspected fraud in every case they examined.

Henry Seybert, a strong believer in Spiritualism, left funds in his will for the establishment of an endowed chair in Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania. As a condition to this bequest, he required the University to set up a commission to investigate "all systems of Morals, Religion, or Philosophy which assume to represent the Truth, and particularly of Modern Spiritualism." Ten men served on the commission, all of whom initially declared themselves to be either neutral or favorably disposed toward Spiritualism.

Condition: publishers cloth boards, gilt title to spine and cover, spine ends turned in, tightly bound, clean bright copy, in Very Good condition