Selection from "The Ether Ship Mystery (and Its Solution)" by Meade Layne, oft-forgot godfather of modern UFOlogy and one of the last great mystic-scientists. A complete version of "The Ether Ship Mystery" is printed by Borderland Sciences, available through its online catalog.
First let us say what they are not. They are not delusions, fantasy, or lies. They are not constructed by any foreign government, or by our own. They do not come from the depths of the sea – though some of them may enter the sea at times. They do not come from the Polar regions, or from Tibet or Java – though it is conceivable that some temporary base on our earth may be utilized. They are not constructions of the Atlanteans or other ancient peoples, preserved in caverns against the coming day of need. We mentions these hypotheses because they have all been seriously advanced. Our categorical denial should really be read this way:
“We have no evidence that any of these explanations is correct, and none of them coincide with what we believe to be the correct facts. But we offer the first word and not the last in this matter. New data may appear at any time.”
To these denials et us add, the etheric craft, the Discs, do not come from any other planet (visible astronomical body only) of our solar system, or from any other heavenly body known to us. So far as a popular explanation exists, this planetary one is most in favor. The reason is obvious and the reasoning goes this way: The Discs are not made on this earth – yet they are real and not illusionary – therefore they must be made on some other planet, presumably Mars or Venus, since these are the nearest. This reasoning, however, suffers from what logicians call an “omitted middle”, or a third somewhat, an alternative which is overlooked. “Can you build a better mousetrap?” asks a magazine writer recently, clearly distrusting his own planetary theory yet unable to think of anything else. We reply promptly, we certainly can. The simplest description of this “mousetrap” is our present objective, and if your patience permits we shall try to make the whole concept reasonably clear – though not necessarily acceptable to your personal thinking, of course.
What are the Discs and where do they come from? We shall have to combine the questions and answers. They come from the region of existence called the Etheric Plance, or Etheric level – and by us with the name Etheria.
Who operates them? The Etheric People, the Etherians.
Are they friendly, or hostile, or dangerous? Neither friendly nor hostile on the whole, but mainly indifferent towards us. But they are not indifferent if we attack them, or pursue and annoy them, or make them uncomfortable (apparently) by our atom bombs, the release of atomic or nuclear energies.
Further on this point: It is highly likely, not provable, that our Air Force has already lost more than one ship through their attempted interference with these etheric craft. It is believed and is probable that they are surrounded by a powerful magnetic field, or some force corresponding to it, which easily disintegrates our own aircraft. It is likely that the release of atomic energies is felt on the etheric levels with some discomfiture. It is possible, though wholly conjectural, that they might intervene to prevent a world war with atomic weapons, and especially with such a weapon as the proposed hydrogen bomb.
But then, why do they come into our skies at all? Two reasons can be suggested, or two aspects of the same reason. These etheric craft have appeared at intervals throughout history, sometimes without a definite correlation with earth events, but always (it is said) when a civilization or culture had reached its peak and was entering upon a period of decline and fall. Their purpose was simply to observe and study the conditions and state of humanity, for their own information and their historical archives. They have also appeared prior to terrestrial convulsions, such as volcanic eruptions and earth quakes. In the present instance, it is likely that both reasons exist. The social and political state of the world is indeed perilous. Our weapons have become a menace to the Etherians themselves, and it is said that seismic disturbances are impending. Over the Pacific slope, for example, the flight of Ether ships has followed the magnetic meridians, north-and-south. It is said that the Etherians are doing this in order to observe the formation of the etheric vortexes which presage an earth quake; they are charting this area, and also the whole of the earth’s surface, for the same general purpose of scientific study.
Now, whatever you think of the ideas and explanations here advanced, remember that there is nothing vague and uncertain about the presence of these strange craft, or about their remarkable speed and power and complete superiority in the air. This is an intensely practical matter – and how far-reaching it may be, no one can say. Thi means that our personal attitude is also a matter of practical concern. Let us remember that the Etherians are not ill-disposed toward us, that we should NOT fear them, should never attack them. Further phenomena are almost certain to occur – and may be of the most remarkable kind. Panic and superstitious fear may seize upon the masses. It may happen that a considerable measure of responsibility will fall upon those us who have some measure of understanding of what is taking place. Heretofore the Etherians have withdrawn quietly when their mission was completed; men thought of them as Gods or Angels, or spirits of the air or demons, embodied them in folklore and mythology, and forgot them little by little. So it may be, this time. They may withdraw from our skies, and in a few months men will have almost forgotten them. But there are reasons which cannot be elaborated here, for believing events may take another and more striking course. Neither your will nor mine can stay these events, but fear, fanaticism and panic may work incalculable woe. Panic is contagious, it engulfs one like an enormous wave, and at the moment we fancy ourselves cool, calm and superior of mind, are dragged under by it. No other considerations would lead us to write these pages, which will for the most part be read with derision or be wholly disregarded.
