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Frank Podmore

October 28, 2023

Frank Podmore (5 February 1856 – 14 August 1910) was an English author, and founding member of the Fabian Society. He is best known as an influential member of the Society for Psychical Research and for his sceptical writings on spiritualism.[1]

Frank Podmore
Born5 February 1856
Died14 August 1910 (1910-08-15) (aged 54)
Occupation(s)Parapsychologist, writer

Life edit

Born at Elstree, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, Podmore was the son of Thompson Podmore, headmaster of Eastbourne College. He was educated at Haileybury and Pembroke College, Oxford (where he first became interested in Spiritualism and joined the Society for Psychical Research – this interest remained with him throughout his life).[2][3]

In October 1883 Podmore and Edward R. Pease joined a socialist debating group established by Edith Nesbit and Hubert Bland. Podmore suggested that the group should be named after the Roman General, Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, who advocated weakening the opposition by harassing operations rather than becoming involved in pitched battles. In January 1884 the group became known as the Fabian Society, and Podmore's home at 14 Dean's Yard, Westminster, became the organisation's first official headquarters.

He was a member of the Oxford Phasmatological Society which dissolved in 1885. In 1886 Podmore and Sidney Webb conducted a study into unemployment, eventually published as a Fabian Society pamphlet, The Government Organisation of Unemployed Labour. Podmore married Eleanore Bramwell in 1891, however, the marriage was a failure and they separated. They had no children.[4]

His major work was a detailed study of the life and ideas of Robert Owen (1906). Podmore resigned from a senior post in the Post Office in 1907. Psychical researcher Alan Gauld wrote that "In 1907 Podmore was compelled to resign without pension from the Post Office because of alleged homosexual involvements. He separated from his wife, and went to live with his brother Claude, rector of Broughton, near Kettering."[5]

Podmore died by drowning at Malvern, Worcestershire, in August 1910.

Researcher Ronald Pearsall wrote that it was generally believed that Podmore was a homosexual and that it was "very strange" that his brother Claude, his wife or any member of the Society for Psychical Research did not attend his funeral.[6]

Psychical research edit

Podmore's books, giving non-paranormal explanations from much of the psychical research that he studied, received positive reviews in science journals.[7][8][9] His book Studies in Psychical Research received a positive review in the British Medical Journal which described his debunking of fraudulent mediums as scientific and came to the conclusion the "book is well worth reading, and it is agreeable reading, for the style is generally vigorous and not infrequently brilliant."[10]

Podmore who considered most mediums fraudulent, was open minded about the telepathic hypothesis for Leonora Piper's séances. However, Ivor Lloyd Tuckett had "completely undermined" this hypothesis for Mrs. Piper.[11] Podmore was critical of Helena Blavatsky and her claims of Theosophy.[9] He evaluated poltergeist cases and concluded they are best explained by deception and trickery.[12]

Rationalist author Joseph McCabe stated that despite Podmore's "highly critical faculty" he was misled in the Piper case by Richard Hodgson. This was based on a letter he saw in the 2nd edition Spiritualism and Oliver Lodge by Dr. Charles Arthur Mercier, from a cousin of George Pellew to Edward Clodd, alleging that Hodgson claimed that Professor Fiske from his séance with Piper was "absolutely convinced" Piper's control was the real George Pellew, but that when Pellew's brother contacted Fiske about it, he replied it was "a lie" as Piper had been "silent or entirely wrong" on all his questions.[13] However, Alan Gauld, referring to this letter as published by Clodd, stated that it was "wholly unreliable", noted that Hodgson in his original report wrote that Fiske had a negative attitude, and that Hodgson himself considered the Fiske sittings to be of no evidential value.[14]

Podmore's text Mesmerism and Christian Science: A Short History of Mental Healing received a positive review in the British Journal of Psychiatry, which referred to it as "an excellent account of this interesting and important subject."[15]

Podmore defended the validity of telepathy[16] and ghosts,[17] the latter of which he believed to be "telepathic hallucinations."[18]

Works edit

 
Wikisource has original works by or about:
Frank Podmore

Podmore's publications include:

  • Phantasms of the Living. (1886, written with Frederick Myers and Edmund Gurney).
  • The Government Organisation of Unemployed Labour. (1886).
  • Apparitions and Thought-Transference. (1892).
  • Studies in Psychical Research. (1897).
  • Modern Spiritualism (1902). Reprinted as Mediums of the 19th Century. (1963).
  • Robert Owen A Biography. Volume 1; Volume 2. (1906).
  • The Naturalisation of the Supernatural. (1908).
  • Mesmerism and Christian Science. (1909).
  • Telepathic Hallucinations: The New View of Ghosts. (1909).
  • The Newer Spiritualism. (1910).

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Hazelgrove, Jenny (2000). Spiritualism and British Society Between the Wars. Manchester University Press. p. 3. ISBN 0719055598 "He developed a deeply sceptical attitude towards spiritualist phenomena. His strict criteria for proof soon became legendary at the SPR, and he was known as the Society's 'sceptic in chief' – an epithet not always applied in good humour. The title was well earned, for in his history of mediumship, The New Spiritualism (1910), not one medium passed his exacting tests, and most were dismissed as charlatans."
  2. ^ Shepard, Leslie. (1991). Encyclopedia of Occultism & Parapsychology – Volume 2. Gale Research Company. p. 1303. "Podmore, Frank (1856–1910) "One of the ablest British opponents of Spiritualism, well-known psychical investigator, and distinguished author. He was born 5 February 1856, at Elstree, Hertfordshire, and educated at Elstree Hill School and Haileybury College, leaving in 1874 with a classical scholarship to Pembroke College, Oxford University, England. In 1879, he became a higher in the secretary's department of the Post Office."
  3. ^ Oppenheim, Janet. (1985). The Other World: Spiritualism and Psychical Research in England, 1850–1914. Cambridge University Press. p. 145. ISBN 0521265053
  4. ^ Stanley Kunitz, Howard Haycraft. (1973). Twentieth Century Authors: A Biographical Dictionary of Modern Literature. H. W. Wilson Company. p. 1112
  5. ^ Gauld, Alan. (2004). Frank Podmore (1856–1910). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press.
  6. ^ Pearsall, Ronald. (1972). The Table-Rappers. Book Club Associates. p. 221
  7. ^ Anonymous. (1909). The Naturalization of the Supernatural by Frank Podmore. (1909). American Journal of Psychology 20 (2): 294–295.
  8. ^ Anonymous. (1903). Modern Spiritualism. A History and a Criticism by Frank Podmore. American Journal of Psychology 14 (1): 116–117.
  9. ^ a b Mackenzie, W. Leslie. (1898). Studies in Psychical Research. Nature 58: 5–6.
  10. ^ Anonymous. (1898). Studies in Psychical Research by Frank Podmore. British Medical Journal 1 (1931): 25–26.
  11. ^ Anonymous. (1912). Review: A Study Of "Psychical Research". Reviewed Work: The Evidence For The Supernatural; A Critical Study Made With "Uncommon Sense" by Ivor Lloyd Tuckett. British Medical Journal 1 (2667): 308–309.
  12. ^ Blum, Deborah. (2006). Ghost Hunters: William James and the Search for Scientific Proof of Life After Death. Penguin Press. p. 225. ISBN 978-0143038955
  13. ^ Joseph McCabe. (1920). Is Spiritualism Based on Fraud? The Evidence Given By Sir A. C. Doyle and Others Drastically Examined. London: Watts & Co. pp. 101–105
  14. ^ Gauld, Alan. (1968). Founders of Psychical Research. Schocken Books. pp. 361–363. ISBN 978-0805230765
  15. ^ "Mesmerism and Christian Science: A Short History of Mental Healing By Frank Podmore. 8vo. London: Methuen & Co., 1909. pp. 306". The British Journal of Psychiatry. 56 (235): 720–721. 1910. doi:10.1192/bjp.56.235.720. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
  16. ^ Podmore, Frank. (1895). What Psychical Research Has Accomplished. The North American Review. Vol. 160, No. 460. pp. 331–344
  17. ^ Podmore, Frank. (1892). IN DEFENCE OF PHANTASMS. The National Review. Vol. 19, No. 110. pp. 234–251
  18. ^ Podmore, Frank. (1909). Telepathic Hallucinations: The New View of Ghosts. New York : F.A. Stokes Co.

External links edit

  • Works by Frank Podmore at Project Gutenberg
  • Edward R. Pease, The History of the Fabian Society.
  • Andrew Lang, "The Poltergeist and his explainers" 15 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine (Appendix B), The Making of Religion, London, Longmans, Green and Co., 1900, pp. 324–339.
  • Alice Johnson. (1903). Modern Spiritualism: A History and a Criticism. Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research 17: 389–403.

October 28, 2023
frank, podmore, february, 1856, august, 1910, english, author, founding, member, fabian, society, best, known, influential, member, society, psychical, research, sceptical, writings, spiritualism, born5, february, 1856died14, august, 1910, 1910, aged, occupati. Frank Podmore 5 February 1856 14 August 1910 was an English author and founding member of the Fabian Society He is best known as an influential member of the Society for Psychical Research and for his sceptical writings on spiritualism 1 Frank PodmoreBorn5 February 1856Died14 August 1910 1910 08 15 aged 54 Occupation s Parapsychologist writer Contents 1 Life 2 Psychical research 3 Works 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksLife editBorn at Elstree Borehamwood Hertfordshire Podmore was the son of Thompson Podmore headmaster of Eastbourne College He was educated at Haileybury and Pembroke College Oxford where he first became interested in Spiritualism and joined the Society for Psychical Research this interest remained with him throughout his life 2 3 In October 1883 Podmore and Edward R Pease joined a socialist debating group established by Edith Nesbit and Hubert Bland Podmore suggested that the group should be named after the Roman General Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus who advocated weakening the opposition by harassing operations rather than becoming involved in pitched battles In January 1884 the group became known as the Fabian Society and Podmore s home at 14 Dean s Yard Westminster became the organisation s first official headquarters He was a member of the Oxford Phasmatological Society which dissolved in 1885 In 1886 Podmore and Sidney Webb conducted a study into unemployment eventually published as a Fabian Society pamphlet The Government Organisation of Unemployed Labour Podmore married Eleanore Bramwell in 1891 however the marriage was a failure and they separated They had no children 4 His major work was a detailed study of the life and ideas of Robert Owen 1906 Podmore resigned from a senior post in the Post Office in 1907 Psychical researcher Alan Gauld wrote that In 1907 Podmore was compelled to resign without pension from the Post Office because of alleged homosexual involvements He separated from his wife and went to live with his brother Claude rector of Broughton near Kettering 5 Podmore died by drowning at Malvern Worcestershire in August 1910 Researcher Ronald Pearsall wrote that it was generally believed that Podmore was a homosexual and that it was very strange that his brother Claude his wife or any member of the Society for Psychical Research did not attend his funeral 6 Psychical research editPodmore s books giving non paranormal explanations from much of the psychical research that he studied received positive reviews in science journals 7 8 9 His book Studies in Psychical Research received a positive review in the British Medical Journal which described his debunking of fraudulent mediums as scientific and came to the conclusion the book is well worth reading and it is agreeable reading for the style is generally vigorous and not infrequently brilliant 10 Podmore who considered most mediums fraudulent was open minded about the telepathic hypothesis for Leonora Piper s seances However Ivor Lloyd Tuckett had completely undermined this hypothesis for Mrs Piper 11 Podmore was critical of Helena Blavatsky and her claims of Theosophy 9 He evaluated poltergeist cases and concluded they are best explained by deception and trickery 12 Rationalist author Joseph McCabe stated that despite Podmore s highly critical faculty he was misled in the Piper case by Richard Hodgson This was based on a letter he saw in the 2nd edition Spiritualism and Oliver Lodge by Dr Charles Arthur Mercier from a cousin of George Pellew to Edward Clodd alleging that Hodgson claimed that Professor Fiske from his seance with Piper was absolutely convinced Piper s control was the real George Pellew but that when Pellew s brother contacted Fiske about it he replied it was a lie as Piper had been silent or entirely wrong on all his questions 13 However Alan Gauld referring to this letter as published by Clodd stated that it was wholly unreliable noted that Hodgson in his original report wrote that Fiske had a negative attitude and that Hodgson himself considered the Fiske sittings to be of no evidential value 14 Podmore s text Mesmerism and Christian Science A Short History of Mental Healing received a positive review in the British Journal of Psychiatry which referred to it as an excellent account of this interesting and important subject 15 Podmore defended the validity of telepathy 16 and ghosts 17 the latter of which he believed to be telepathic hallucinations 18 Works edit nbsp Wikisource has original works by or about Frank Podmore Podmore s publications include Phantasms of the Living 1886 written with Frederick Myers and Edmund Gurney The Government Organisation of Unemployed Labour 1886 Apparitions and Thought Transference 1892 Studies in Psychical Research 1897 Modern Spiritualism 1902 Reprinted as Mediums of the 19th Century 1963 Robert Owen A Biography Volume 1 Volume 2 1906 The Naturalisation of the Supernatural 1908 Mesmerism and Christian Science 1909 Telepathic Hallucinations The New View of Ghosts 1909 The Newer Spiritualism 1910 See also editEusapia PalladinoReferences edit Hazelgrove Jenny 2000 Spiritualism and British Society Between the Wars Manchester University Press p 3 ISBN 0719055598 He developed a deeply sceptical attitude towards spiritualist phenomena His strict criteria for proof soon became legendary at the SPR and he was known as the Society s sceptic in chief an epithet not always applied in good humour The title was well earned for in his history of mediumship The New Spiritualism 1910 not one medium passed his exacting tests and most were dismissed as charlatans Shepard Leslie 1991 Encyclopedia of Occultism amp Parapsychology Volume 2 Gale Research Company p 1303 Podmore Frank 1856 1910 One of the ablest British opponents of Spiritualism well known psychical investigator and distinguished author He was born 5 February 1856 at Elstree Hertfordshire and educated at Elstree Hill School and Haileybury College leaving in 1874 with a classical scholarship to Pembroke College Oxford University England In 1879 he became a higher in the secretary s department of the Post Office Oppenheim Janet 1985 The Other World Spiritualism and Psychical Research in England 1850 1914 Cambridge University Press p 145 ISBN 0521265053 Stanley Kunitz Howard Haycraft 1973 Twentieth Century Authors A Biographical Dictionary of Modern Literature H W Wilson Company p 1112 Gauld Alan 2004 Frank Podmore 1856 1910 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press Pearsall Ronald 1972 The Table Rappers Book Club Associates p 221 Anonymous 1909 The Naturalization of the Supernatural by Frank Podmore 1909 American Journal of Psychology 20 2 294 295 Anonymous 1903 Modern Spiritualism A History and a Criticism by Frank Podmore American Journal of Psychology 14 1 116 117 a b Mackenzie W Leslie 1898 Studies in Psychical Research Nature 58 5 6 Anonymous 1898 Studies in Psychical Research by Frank Podmore British Medical Journal 1 1931 25 26 Anonymous 1912 Review A Study Of Psychical Research Reviewed Work The Evidence For The Supernatural A Critical Study Made With Uncommon Sense by Ivor Lloyd Tuckett British Medical Journal 1 2667 308 309 Blum Deborah 2006 Ghost Hunters William James and the Search for Scientific Proof of Life After Death Penguin Press p 225 ISBN 978 0143038955 Joseph McCabe 1920 Is Spiritualism Based on Fraud The Evidence Given By Sir A C Doyle and Others Drastically Examined London Watts amp Co pp 101 105 Gauld Alan 1968 Founders of Psychical Research Schocken Books pp 361 363 ISBN 978 0805230765 Mesmerism and Christian Science A Short History of Mental Healing By Frank Podmore 8vo London Methuen amp Co 1909 pp 306 The British Journal of Psychiatry 56 235 720 721 1910 doi 10 1192 bjp 56 235 720 Retrieved 18 December 2016 Podmore Frank 1895 What Psychical Research Has Accomplished The North American Review Vol 160 No 460 pp 331 344 Podmore Frank 1892 IN DEFENCE OF PHANTASMS The National Review Vol 19 No 110 pp 234 251 Podmore Frank 1909 Telepathic Hallucinations The New View of Ghosts New York F A Stokes Co External links editWorks by Frank Podmore at Project Gutenberg Edward R Pease The History of the Fabian Society Andrew Lang The Poltergeist and his explainers Archived 15 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine Appendix B The Making of Religion London Longmans Green and Co 1900 pp 324 339 Alice Johnson 1903 Modern Spiritualism A History and a Criticism Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research 17 389 403 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frank Podmore amp oldid 1157945438, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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