Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, was deep into the spirit world. What he tried to do might seem kind of silly to us today, but back in 1922, he really was ahead of his time with his far out thoughts on life after death. He was a fascinating man with an infinite amount of curiosity.
Spirit Radio Line to Earth, Doyle Forecast
Etheric Bodies Have Transmitter and We Will Get Receivers Working in 5 Years, Says Sir Arthur
Assails English Skeptic
Advises Against “Scalpel” Methods at Opening of New Psychic Laboratories
Messages and manifestations that will prove the contentions of the spiritualists are due to reach this world from the beyond within the next five years, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle told a fashionable audience yesterday at the formal opening of the new laboratories of the American Psychical Research Institute. In all probability they will come by radio, he said, and will revolutionize the existing order of things.
With a background that savored more of the message than the man Sir Arthur sturdily voiced his belief in the spirit world and the messages which he believes it is trying to send forth by radio. He stood surrounded by men and women of all creeds in a background of Persian fittings. The air was heavy with incense. The faint tintinnabulation of Oriental music coming from turbaned figures mingled with the lingering wail of Gaelic airs played on the harp.
Calls Psychic Researcher Foe
Although present to see the work of the new laboratories launched, Sir Arthur attacked the activities of the psychic researcher, describing him as the enemy of real spiritualism, a kind of “private detective who works with scalpel rather than with heart and soul,” one who pounces on negative results and ignores positive findings. Turning gracefully from attack to compliment, he praised Dr. Hereward Carrington, head of the American Psychical Institute, for his work, wished it godspeed and was the first to contribute $250 toward its progress.
Apologizing for his hoarseness, Sir Arthur said he left half of his vocal power in Philadelphia and the other half in Washington, but that this in no way impeded his exposition of spiritualism.
“To me the spirit world is so very real that if I had no voice at all I would get my message across just the same,” he said. “These things I tell I have ascertained and proved, for I have both seen and tales to the dead.
“Here we are in an atmosphere of psychic research. Whatever your experience here may be, I know what psychic research is like in England and I implore you to remember that this research is only the foundation of the things you build on top of it. If you had communicated with the dead, as I have often done, you would know that when you begin to discount these manifestations through mediums you lose sight of the goal at which you are aiming.”
Fears Super Intelligence
Sir Arthur quoted a “spirit message” to the effect that “ the greatest danger to man is that his intelligence should outgrow his spirituality.” This was what happened to the Germans, he said, and added:
“It is so with psychic research. There are times when heart and soul are made subservient to intelligence. As psychic research has been conducted for some time past, it has been doing harm, because it approaches its problems in the wrong way. There is too much research and nothing psychic. Its leaders forget that the delicate soul quality cannot be treated with the scalpel.”
Sir Arthur denied that there was anything credulous about his own makeup. Yet one must not approach a medium with an open air of disbelief or scorn he said, for he immediately puts himself on the defensive and loses his psychic force.
“This is what psychic researchers do,” he charged. “They are like private detectives. They go after negative rather than positive results. When things turn out properly nothing is said of their findings. But when the medium falls down a great howl is immediately raised about it.
“Psychic jealousy enters into play here, too. Young men turn up their noses and scoff at Sir William Crookes and other men far their superiors in every way. They laugh at the theories that it has taken these men of intellect a lifetime to evolve and prove.
Under Ban in England
Sir Arthur explained that he was only airing various grievances he has against the psychic researchers in England, pointing out that no spiritualist there would have anything to do with them. He spoke of William Hope’s spirit photographs, saying that for fifteen years this man has been successful three times out of five in securing results, yet the psychic researchers are “scandalously incredulous” about his work.
He told of holding a seance with a barber in the north of England, and of the psychic force being so strong that it was possible to turn on the lights and see a wooden platter spin on a table. When he asked the barber why he did not have a psychic researcher come and investigate the man turned on him indignantly, saying:
“I would not let one of these fellows cross my doorstep. They scoff at everything. They would brand me before the world as a swindler.”
This, Sir Arthur said, was an indication of the feeling of the spiritualist toward the psychic researcher. He hastened to assure his audience that he was talking solely of conditions in England. He praised Dr. Carrington for his activity in starting the institute, and urged the support of every one in making it a success. There would be much friendly rivalry between American and Britain in this respect, he said. America used to lead the world in spiritualism, but Britain had outclassed it lately, he asserted.
Urges Keener Competition
“I am here to revive your enthusiasm and to make you realize that this is by far the most important study of the day and that you should put America on top again, as it used to be,” he said. “Then we would try to beat you in England and the competition would further the cause.
“It is my firm conviction that messages of enormous import and manifestations which are going to prove our contention, are coming within the next five years. I think it is along the line of radio that this evidence will come. The etheric bodies have the transmitter and line of ether. All we have to have is the receiver. Then we may have the direct communication for which Edison sought.”
Source: New York Tribune. Newspaper. May 05, 1922.
