Hell is Haven Before Heaven, Doyle Asserts

Hell is Haven Before Heaven, Doyle Asserts is an article written by Genevieve Forbes published in The Chicago Tribune on 22 may 1922.

Article

The Chicago Tribune (22 may 1922, p. 1)

Only 1 Per Cent Goes Down, Anyway.

BY GENEVIEVE FORBES. (Picture on back page.)

And when the bad ones die, they go to the "hell ward" of heaven's hospital for a brief purgatory stage, is the comforting news which Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, distinguished for his recent investigations in the realm of spiritism, brought to Chicago sinners yesterday.

Instead of the proverbial brimstone, there will be mutton broth; for a pitchfork, a hot water bottle, and a pretty white gowned nurse in place of a wicked red skinned imp, according to the creator of Sherlock Holmes, who declares "this is the worst. Everything after this world is better."

Ninety-nine per cent of mankind, the lecturer announced yesterday afternoon from his suite at the Blackstone hotel where he is staying with his wife, three small sons and daughter, "is excellent. When they die they will go to a heaven that is like this world, but above it. Evolution must be gradual. An ordinary human being would be very unhappy if overnight, he had to learn to play a harp.

Poor Old One Per Cent!

"And the one per cent bad will have to undergo a purifying state in some sort of hospital, and in more or less isolation. But God is a God of mercy, and the old terrors with which we frightened children will not torment the dead."

The English lecturer is pleased with the open minded attitude of the American public toward investigations in spiritism, and finds it a pleasant relief after the "angularity" of Toronto.

America Is Big-Benned.

"Now that America has been awakened to the possibility of communication with the other world," said Sir Arthur, "I believe this country will go far with it."

"But America," he said, "needs a law regulating the activities of so-called spiritualists. Every big movement has its parasites and real spiritism has charlatans of all sorts, fortune tellers, fakers who ought to be prosecuted. Any fraud should get at least ten years. As it is now, all reputable spiritists are under the shadow of the law."

Will Show Spirit Photos.

Ectoplasm, according to Sir Arthur, has now become international. Ectoplasm is a combination of matter and ether which emanates from the bodies of mediums and can be photographed. Since his arrival in this country with his collection of spirit photographs local photographers began investigating ectoplasm, with the result that at the Chicago lecture Friday night Sir Arthur will exhibit, for the first time, several made in America photographs of spirits.

Saturday night in Toledo, at a seance with Miss Ada Bessinet, America's greatest medium, according to the lecturer, Ernest Shackleton, the late explorer, was one of ten materializations. "So realistic was he," said Sir Arthur, "that an old friend of his cried out in excitement at recognizing him." The explorer's name had not been mentioned, he said.

Letter from Hero Son.

At the same seance Sir Arthur received a scribbled letter purporting to have come from his son, Kingsley, slain in the war.

Declaring that most of the present "spiritist devices are clumsy affairs," Sir Arthur expressed a hope in the use of radio as means of communication with the other world.

Sir Arthur's plans after death are brief: "I shall continue the work I am now doing, but from the other end of the tunnel."

Speaking of his present work, the English lecturer said: "I never accept the profits from my lectures. In Australia I turned it over to the work of spiritism there. But America has enough money. I shall take any profits there may be back to the work in England. I am not chasing the dollar myself."

Saves Christianity.

"Spiritism is saving, not attacking Christianity," insisted Sir Arthur. "When only one out of every ten persons attend church something is wrong."

Sir Arthur will lecture tomorrow night at Orchestra hall on "The Proofs of Immortality." Friday night he will give a demonstration of "Recent Psychic Evidence" and will show his collection of photographs.

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