Spiritualism's Peril - Revision history

TCDE-Team at 11:43, 8 April 2026

2026-04-08T11:43:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:43, 8 April 2026
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	''Spiritualism's Peril'' is a letter written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] first published in the [[Evening Standard]] on 6 november 1919.		''Spiritualism's Peril'' is a letter written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] first published in the [[Evening Standard]] and [[The Star]] on 6 november 1919.

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			== Editions ==

			* in ''[[Evening Standard]]'' (6 november 1919 [UK])
			* in ''[[The Star]]'' (6 november 1919 [UK])

TCDE-Team at 13:21, 12 November 2025

2025-11-12T13:21:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:21, 12 November 2025
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	[[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Sir A. Conan Doyle]] writes to the "Evening Standard":—		[[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Sir A. Conan Doyle]] writes to the "Evening Standard":—

	: "<~~span class="~~q">I understand from your columns that Mr. Magee has challenged me to produce Mr. Forbes Winslow's letter in which he disclaimed his previous views upon spiritualism, especially as regards lunacy.</~~span~~>		: "<q>I understand from your columns that Mr. Magee has challenged me to produce Mr. Forbes Winslow's letter in which he disclaimed his previous views upon spiritualism, especially as regards lunacy.</q>

	: "<~~span class="~~q">I therefore enclose the essential part of the letter, written in 1912. The allegations quoted by Mr. Magee were made in 1877. The original can be seen at the office of "Two Worlds," 18, Corporation-street, Manchester. It was written in answer to a direct question on the subject from the late J. J. Morse.</~~span~~>		: "<q>I therefore enclose the essential part of the letter, written in 1912. The allegations quoted by Mr. Magee were made in 1877. The original can be seen at the office of "Two Worlds," 18, Corporation-street, Manchester. It was written in answer to a direct question on the subject from the late J. J. Morse.</q>

	: "<~~span class="~~q">I trust that Mr. Magee will apologise, and that he will forward the address of the priest who is alleged to have offered £50 for the production of this document. We may hope that we have now heard the last of the mythical 10,000 lunatics. — Yours faithfully,</~~span~~>		: "<q>I trust that Mr. Magee will apologise, and that he will forward the address of the priest who is alleged to have offered £50 for the production of this document. We may hope that we have now heard the last of the mythical 10,000 lunatics. — Yours faithfully,</q>

	: <~~span class="~~q">ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE</~~span~~>		: <q>ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE</q>

	The copy of the letter enclosed is as follows:—		The copy of the letter enclosed is as follows:—

TCDE-Team at 13:25, 8 December 2022

2022-12-08T13:25:59Z

New page

''Spiritualism's Peril'' is a letter written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] first published in the [[Evening Standard]] on 6 november 1919.

== Spiritualism's Peril ==
[[File:evening-standard-1919-11-06-p11-spiritualism-s-peril.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Evening Standard]] (6 november 1919, p. 11)]]

'''Sir A. Conan Doyle Replies to a Challenge.'''

'''Dr. Forbes Winslow's Beliefs.'''

We have received a letter from [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Sir A. Conan Doyle]] with reference to the challenge on spiritualism's perils mde to him by the Rev. A. V. Magee.

The Rev. Mr. Magee quoted Dr. Forbes Winslow's statement in 1877 that there were 10,000 people in asylums as a result of dabbling in spiritualism. He challenged [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Sir A. Conan Doyle]] to produce any recantation of that statement by Dr. Forbes Winslow.

[[Arthur Conan Doyle|Sir A. Conan Doyle]] writes to the "Evening Standard":—

: "I understand from your columns that Mr. Magee has challenged me to produce Mr. Forbes Winslow's letter in which he disclaimed his previous views upon spiritualism, especially as regards lunacy.

: "I therefore enclose the essential part of the letter, written in 1912. The allegations quoted by Mr. Magee were made in 1877. The original can be seen at the office of "Two Worlds," 18, Corporation-street, Manchester. It was written in answer to a direct question on the subject from the late J. J. Morse.

: "I trust that Mr. Magee will apologise, and that he will forward the address of the priest who is alleged to have offered £50 for the production of this document. We may hope that we have now heard the last of the mythical 10,000 lunatics. — Yours faithfully,

: ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

The copy of the letter enclosed is as follows:—

: "Dear Sir, — In response to your request, I desire to say that at the time I wrote the views alluded to in your letter I had under my care a lady of title, a great Spiritualist, whose mind was unhinged thereby. I was young at the time and the case made a great impression upon my mind and led me to write as I did.

: "I am in the same position as the late Mr. Whewell, Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, who, on refuting certain statements made in a book he had written some years ago on Chinese music, and being severely cross-examined on the same, gave the simple reply, "Yes, I wrote that, but I have changed my mind since then." This is my answer to your query.

: "Faithfully yours,

: (Signed) "Forbes Winslow.
: "57, Devonshire-street, W., Oct. 17, 1912."

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* [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle:Complete Works|Back to Complete Works]]
* [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle|Back to Conan Doyle]]