HELEN AND BRYANT REEVES
The following is the short biography of the authors provided in "Flying Saucer Pilgrimage".
A WORD ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Bryant Reeve was born in Princeton, Illinois, U.S.A. He was named Bryant because of a family relationship to the American poet William Cullen Bryant.
He has lived an unusual, exciting and varied life. When a youth he lived on the English Channel Island of Guernsey for six months, went to school in Dresden, Germany and travelled extensively with his parents in England, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Returning to the United States he attended school in Chicago, Illinois and then the Hotchkiss School at Lakeville, Connecticut. He is a graduate mechanical engineer of both the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was elected to the Sigma Xi Honorary Society.
Always interested in travel he spent an adventurous summer on the rugged Labrador Coast, and another bicycling around England, Scotland and Wales with a friend. During World War I he served as a Lieutenant and Captain of Engineers, going overseas with the 311th Engineers, 86th Division. Since then he has been active in his profession and has held positions of technical and executive responsibility in a number of well known American industries. He retired in 1954, but is still actively engaged in research work.
He and his wife Helen have for years been interested in metaphysical studies and they have a large acquaintance with many individuals who have attained to advanced heights in proving metaphysical principles. They have also probed deeply into the powers of the adepts of the Far East. When the flying-saucer phenomena first came to their attention, it never occurred to them that there might exist a connection between this and certain metaphysical concepts and laws with which they were familiar. As their investigation continued, however, the relationship became clearer and clearer to them, and forms a major portion of the theme of this book. The Reeves insist that saucers and outer-space phenomena cannot be understood by three-dimensional thinking, but can be explained and understood as thought is expanded to metaphysical or cosmic levels. They are actively continuing their research, and they are in constant touch with their many "saucer" friends by correspondence.
The Reeves wrote about the 'supra-physical' direction of their 'flying saucer pilgrimage' in Chapter XV of their book "Our Visit with Meade Layne."
MEADE LAYNE (1882-1961)... the supra-physical aspect of saucers dawned upon us so gradually that we never even felt it as a shock, but rather as a logical, reasonable and even natural extension of human knowledge into higher dimensions of life.
We quickly realized, however, that this supra-physical aspect of saucers was indeed unexplored territory.
The Reeves decided that "the people we most wanted to talk to were the more advanced researchers who had already put two and two together regarding the supra-physical aspects." In April 1955, they drove to San Diego and met Meade Layne.
It was still early afternoon and we decided to go directly to Meade Layne's office. For years he has served as National Director of what is called the Borderland Sciences Research Associates. This is a somewhat informally organized group of individuals living in many different localities which for a number of years, under Meade Layne's leadership, has been carrying on some exceptional research activities. Here is a representative group of curious people whose desire to investigate is uninhibited. The usual creeds, dogmas, theories and thought patterns of stiff orthodoxy mean nothing to them. They investigate and study almost every kind of phenomena in that "borderland" of science which which lies between the physical and the higher manifestations of life. Their "meat" is the interesting facts, events and phenomena which "orthodox" science either cannot or will not investigate. A few brief examples of the subjects they have tackled are such things as strange appearances or disappearances, variations in gravity, underground races, teleportation, apportation, materialization, clairvoyance, clairaudience, the powers of Huna, parapsychological phenomena, strange photographic phenomena, the auras of man, and many many other similar subjects.
We had numerous discussions with Meade Layne on the supra-physical aspects of flying saucers and allied subjects, and may we say that he and many of his associates, from their years of experience in borderland researches, have not been fooled by the glib and pat explanations with which orthodox scientists and entrenched officialdom have essayed to explain away and "whitewash" the entire saucer phenomena. They know from experience that the human mind of man will go to any lengths to rationalize in terms of natural phenomena that which it is incapable of understanding. Failing in this it will deny the facts and do everything it can to discredit those who are having flying saucer experiences.
Part of Meade Layne's research had been in connection with Mark Probert's "Inner Circle" and Probert became another subject for investigation by the Reeves during their 'flying saucer pilgrimage.' In Chapter XVI "The Hour of Decision," the Reeves commented: "We have now come to a point where we realize that flying saucers themselves "per se" are no longer of prime importance... it is not physical saucers that are the important thing but what lies behind the physical aspects."
In Chapter XVIII "Mark Probert and the Inner Circle," the Reeves profiled the development of Probert's extraordinary O.S.C. (Outer Space Communication) abilities, which began with Irene listening to Mark talk in strange languages while asleep. Meade Layne was among the researchers who studied the phenomena during an investigation that lasted more than eight years. The "advanced beings" of the Inner Circle were found to be able to 'switch their thought pattern' to English from numerous languages. More information about Probert is presented in the preceding article "Bryant and Helen Reeve's Commentary on Mark Probert and the Inner Circle."
The following excerpt presents one of the Reeves' experiences with Probert as recounted in "Flying Saucer Pilgrimage".
The Proberts had come to our home in San Diego, and we were all seated and conversing in our living room. Suddenly Mark paused and said in a matter of fact way, "Ramon Natelli (the astronomer and scientist) is here." Before we knew it, with Mark's help we were all engaged in an amazingly natural conversation with this great intelligence. As an engineer I was very much interested in the installation at Riverside, California, where universal energy is being used to prevent freezing of an orange grove. I asked our unseen scientist if he was familiar with it. He replied, "No, but please wait just a moment." We waited. In a few minutes he returned knowing all about the installation! We discussed it in great detail - but something was bothering me. How had he been able to inspect a technical installation 110 miles distant, find out all about it and return in about two minutes of earth time? Finally I summoned up enough courage to ask our visitor. His reply staggered us, and we shall never forget it. He simply said, "I did not have to go anywhere. There is no "here" nor "there". There is no place to go to, or come from, but Mind!"
This passage reminded me of an anecdote from the first extensively documented case chronicling 'paranormal phenomena' that I ever researched in an in-depth and analytical way during the first half of the 1990s: the so-called 'Bell Witch' ('talking poltergeist') case. The following excerpts are from "The Bell Witch: A Mysterious Spirit" (1934) by Charles Bailey Bell, M.D. An incident is mentioned that reveals a parallel with the similar occurrence described by the Reeves. At the conclusion of this passage, another surprising event is detailed - one that I often mentioned in radio interviews discussing my experiences and research following the publication of my case study book "Testament" in 1997. These excerpts present reminiscences of Richard Williams Bell.
There were but very few churches in the country at this period of the century, nevertheless ours was a very religious community. Most of those coming from the older States brought their religion with them, and inculcated the principle in their families. The influence of Rev. James and Thomas Gunn, Rev. Sugg Fort, Mr. James Johnston, and other good men, swayed mightily. Every man erected an altar in his own home, and it was common for neighbors to meet during the week at one or another's house for prayer and exhortation and Bible study. In the absence of the preachers, Mr. James Johnston was the principal leader in these exercises, and the meetings were held alternately at his house and father's, and occasionally at one or the other of the Gunns. There was no spirit of denominational jealousy existing, and all Christians mingled in these meetings like brethren of the same faith. The Witch, as it accumulated force, dissembled this spirit, giving wonderful exhibitions of a thorough knowledge of the Bible and Christian faith. The voice was not confined to darkness, as were the physical demonstrations. The talking was heard in lighted rooms, as in the dark, and finally in the day at any hour.
It could sing any song in the hymn books of that time, and quote any passage of Scripture in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The propensity for religious discussions was strongly manifested, and in quoting Scripture the text was invariably correctly cited, and if any one misquoted a verse they would be properly corrected. It could quote Scripture as fast as it could talk, one text after another, citing the book, chapter and number of the verse. It was a common test to open the Bible at any chapter, and call on the Spirit to repeat a certain verse, and this was done accurately, as fast as the leaves were turned from one chapter of the book to another. It delighted in taking issue on religious subjects, with those well versed in Scripture, and was sure to get the best of the argument, being always quick with a passage to sustain its point. This manifest knowledge of Scripture on the part of the Witch was unmistakable, and was the most mystifying of all the developments, and strangers who came from a long distance were eager to engage the seer in religious discussions, and were no less astounded when the Witch would remind them of events and circumstances in their history in a way that was marvelous. Just here one circumstance I shall call to mind. The discussion had turned on the command against covetousness and theft. A man, whose name I will call John, put in, remarking that he did not believe there was any sin in stealing something to eat when one was reduced to hunger, and could not obtain food for his labor. Instantly the Witch perniciously inquired of John "if he ate that sheepskin." This settled John. He was dumb as an oyster, and as soon as the subject was changed he left the company, and was conspicuously absent after that. The result was the revival of an old scandal, so long past that it had been forgotten, in which John was accused of stealing a sheep-skin. This warlock was indeed a great tattler and made mischief in the community. Some people very much feared the garrulity of its loquacious meddling and were extremely cautious, and it was this class whom the invisible delighted in torturing most. Nothing of moment occurred in the country, or in any family, that was not reported by the Witch at night. The development of this characteristic led the people to inquire after the news and converse with the Witch as they would with a person, very often inquiring what was transpiring then at a certain place or house in the neighborhood. Sometimes the answer would be, "I don't know; wait a minute and I will go and see," and in less than five minutes it would report and the report was generally verified. This feature of the phenomena was discovered in this way: Brother Jesse Bell lived within one mile of the homestead. He had been absent several days on a trip and was expected home on a certain evening. After supper mother entered the room, inquiring if any of us knew whether Jesse had returned or not. No one had heard, or could inform her. The Witch manifested much regard for mother on all occasions, and never afflicted her in any way. On this occasion it spoke promptly, saying, "Wait a minute, Luce; I will go and see for you." Scarcely a minute had elapsed when the voice reported that Jesse was at home, by the light of a candle. The next morning Jesse came to see us, and when told the circumstance, he said it was true...
Every Sabbath service that occurred within the bounds was reported at night, the text, hymn, etc., and the preacher also criticised, and everything of peculiar note was described. The company was treated one night to a repetition of one of Rev. James Gunn's best sermons, preached in the vicinity, the Witch personating Mr. Gunn, lining the hymn, quoting his text and prayer, and preaching so much like Mr. Gunn that it appeared the minister himself was present. A number of persons were present who attended the meeting that day, and recognized the declamation as the same sermon. Shortly after this Rev. James Gunn preached on Sunday at Bethel Methodist Church, six miles southeast, and Rev. Sugg Fort filled his appointment at Drake's Pond Baptist Church, seven miles northwest, thirteen miles apart, both preaching at the same hour, eleven o'clock. It so happened that both ministers came to visit our family that evening, finding quite a crowd of people gathered in, as was the case every day during the excitement. Directly after supper the Witch commenced talking as usual, directing the conversation to Brother Gunn, discussing some points in his sermon that day. Mr. Gunn asked the Witch how it knew what he had preached about. The answer was, "I was present and heard you." This statement being questioned, the vociferator began, quoted the text and and repeated the sermon verbatim, and the closing prayer, all of which the preacher said was correct. Some one suggested that Brother Fort had the advantage of the Witch this time, that having attended Brother Gunn's service, it could tell nothing about Brother Fort's discourse at Drake's Pond. "Yes, I can," was the prompt reply. "How do you know?" was the inquiry. "I was there and heard him." Then, assuming Rev. Fort's style, it proceeded to quote his text, and repeated his sermon, greatly delighting the company. There was no one present who had heard either sermon, but both ministers admitted that their sermons had been accurately reproduced, and no one could doubt the fact, or were more greatly surprised than themselves.
As readers of my case study "Testament" (1997) may recall, at the time of my trip to Oklahoma I was working as a publicity writer for the corporate principality known as Paramount Pictures - the studio with the well-known mountain logo. After the bizarre series of events that began in Oklahoma, one of the things that I remembered from earlier in my life was a dream where I had found myself in a strange room that I could only associate with some manner of alien spacecraft (although the room in my dream had panel-style doors). I remember that during this 'nightmare' I had reacted with anger and fear. It dismays me now but I remember during the dream crouching behind the door and when someone was about to enter the room I slammed myself into the door and against the intruder. Immediately, I found myself waking up in my bed, which is what usually happens when something troubles me during a dream. After learning about such cases as that of Maureen Puddy, I believe that a purpose of this type of experience could be a 'testing' one.
There have been a few times over the years when I've experienced dreams structured like and reminiscent of feature-length movies although I don't recall myself making decisions in these dreams as in my dream that took place in the alien room.
There are some surprising analogies to the movie viewing experience to be found within the chronicles of the flying saucer contactees, reminding us that authentic documented cases of unexplained phenomena may lead us to some surprising ways of contemplating our metaphysical reality.
I stopped viewing television programs and commercial 'narrative' movies around fifteen years ago.
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