The Parish Magazine No. 14 - Revision history

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TCDE-Team at 16:16, 29 March 2026

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TCDE-Team: Created page with "The Parish Magazine (No. 14, september 1996)]] ''The Parish Magazine No. 14'' is the newsletter of the The Arthur Conan Doyle Society published in september 1996. TOC == The Parish Magazine No. 14 == File:the-parish-magazine-n14-1996-09-frontispiece.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[The Parish Magazine..."

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← Older revision		Revision as of 18:19, 29 March 2026
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	Our critics may be correct: we may be doing everything wrong. The feedback that we do receive would suggest that is not the case, but no doubt things could be changed and improved in certain instances. Please take this opportunity to tell us what you would like to see changed and how you would like to be involved-or to confirm that you are happy with things the way that they are. Frankly, burdening the society with a committee and the additional administration that would entail is not what the society needs.		Our critics may be correct: we may be doing everything wrong. The feedback that we do receive would suggest that is not the case, but no doubt things could be changed and improved in certain instances. Please take this opportunity to tell us what you would like to see changed and how you would like to be involved-or to confirm that you are happy with things the way that they are. Frankly, burdening the society with a committee and the additional administration that would entail is not what the society needs.

	The criticism of the Society's not being value for money is one to which I would like to pay particular attention, for I have always felt that it offered excellent value for money. However, the concept of 'value for money' is somewhat difficult to define, isn't it? It means different things to different people and, at the end of the day, is really nothing more than a perception. Put into real terms, a British member who joined the [[The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (1989-2003)\|ACD Society]] in 1989, and who has paid an annual subscription ever since, would actually have spent less than he or she would spend on a single year's television licence. Again in British terms, seven years' membership is less than the cost of a room for one night in a Central London hotel. In return that member would have received 9 copies of ACD and 14 copies of [[The Parish Magazine (newsletter)\|The Parish Magazine]], and would, we hope, feel that they were part of an organisation doing its best to provide new material and information on a subject in which they were interested. Value for money? We'd like to think so-but do tell us if we're wrong.		The criticism of the Society's not being value for money is one to which I would like to pay particular attention, for I have always felt that it offered excellent value for money. However, the concept of 'value for money' is somewhat difficult to define, isn't it? It means different things to different people and, at the end of the day, is really nothing more than a perception. Put into real terms, a British member who joined the [[The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (1989-2003)\|ACD Society]] in 1989, and who has paid an annual subscription ever since, would actually have spent less than he or she would spend on a single year's television licence. Again in British terms, seven years' membership is less than the cost of a room for one night in a Central London hotel. In return that member would have received 9 copies of [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society\|ACD]] and 14 copies of [[The Parish Magazine (newsletter)\|The Parish Magazine]], and would, we hope, feel that they were part of an organisation doing its best to provide new material and information on a subject in which they were interested. Value for money? We'd like to think so-but do tell us if we're wrong.

	Here's a breakdown of how each £1 of subscription income is allocated:		Here's a breakdown of how each £1 of subscription income is allocated:
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	==== Conan Doyle in Hindhead ====		==== Conan Doyle in Hindhead ====

	The Hilltop Writers is a new book by W.R. Trotter which looks at the influx of 'some of the most eminent and influential figures of the late-Victorian intellectual world' into one particular corner of south-west Surrey. [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] was among these, and Trotter's book includes useful information for this disappointingly neglected period of [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]]'s life. Published by The Book Guild Ltd. (ISBN: 1-85776-108-1), price £15.00, The Hilltop Writers will be reviewed in the 1996 issue of ACD.		The Hilltop Writers is a new book by W.R. Trotter which looks at the influx of 'some of the most eminent and influential figures of the late-Victorian intellectual world' into one particular corner of south-west Surrey. [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] was among these, and Trotter's book includes useful information for this disappointingly neglected period of [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]]'s life. Published by The Book Guild Ltd. (ISBN: 1-85776-108-1), price £15.00, The Hilltop Writers will be reviewed in the 1996 issue of [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society\|ACD]].

	==== Piltdown Rides Again ====		==== Piltdown Rides Again ====
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	: ... The trunk was discovered by maintenance contractors clearing the loft-space in the south-west tower of the museum in the 1970s.... Professor Gardiner's findings are reported in today's issue of Nature.		: ... The trunk was discovered by maintenance contractors clearing the loft-space in the south-west tower of the museum in the 1970s.... Professor Gardiner's findings are reported in today's issue of Nature.

	The whole Piltdown saga, including [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]]'s purported involvement, is re-opened and re-assessed by John E. Walsh in Unraveling Piltdown (Random House, ISBN: 0-679-44444-0). The advance proof we have seen did not have the opportunity to assess Gardiner's findings, but I understand that there will be an appendix discussing the new information when the book is published (provisionally in late September). Unravelling Piltdown will be reviewed in ACD.		The whole Piltdown saga, including [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]]'s purported involvement, is re-opened and re-assessed by John E. Walsh in Unraveling Piltdown (Random House, ISBN: 0-679-44444-0). The advance proof we have seen did not have the opportunity to assess Gardiner's findings, but I understand that there will be an appendix discussing the new information when the book is published (provisionally in late September). Unravelling Piltdown will be reviewed in [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society\|ACD]].

	==== 'The Winning Shot' ====		==== 'The Winning Shot' ====
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	Garth A. Willey (Gruyere, Victoria, Australia) writes:		Garth A. Willey (Gruyere, Victoria, Australia) writes:

	I must take exception to the phraseology used by [[Owen Dudley Edwards]] on page 57 of ACD:6: 'He [ [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]] ] probably went to his grave without realising...'		I must take exception to the phraseology used by [[Owen Dudley Edwards]] on page 57 of [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society\|ACD]]:6: 'He [ [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]] ] probably went to his grave without realising...'

	He did not go to his grave, his mortal remains did. He, the personality known as [[Arthur Conan Doyle]], passed into a state of being, understood by Spiritualists as the spirit world-a realm of many planes difficult to describe in terms of our earthly comprehension; but, nevertheless, a realm which [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]] did describe in his carly communications from 'the other side' (documented by Ivan Cooke, the husband of [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]]'s medium for that series of communications, Grace Cooke) in what was first put together and published under the title Thy Kingdom Come (later restructured and published as ''The Return of Arthur Conan Doyle'' and more recently updated as [[Arthur Conan Doyle]]'s Book of Beyond).		He did not go to his grave, his mortal remains did. He, the personality known as [[Arthur Conan Doyle]], passed into a state of being, understood by Spiritualists as the spirit world-a realm of many planes difficult to describe in terms of our earthly comprehension; but, nevertheless, a realm which [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]] did describe in his carly communications from 'the other side' (documented by Ivan Cooke, the husband of [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]]'s medium for that series of communications, Grace Cooke) in what was first put together and published under the title Thy Kingdom Come (later restructured and published as ''The Return of Arthur Conan Doyle'' and more recently updated as [[Arthur Conan Doyle]]'s Book of Beyond).
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	Enclosed is my check for subscription renewal. I enjoyed reading Volume 6 of the Journal and compliment you on sustaining a high standard of readable and worthwhile material. In particular, the various reviews of the latest [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]] biography were interesting in that each reviewer approached the subject from a somewhat different angle. Perhaps we could have more of this in the future?		Enclosed is my check for subscription renewal. I enjoyed reading Volume 6 of the Journal and compliment you on sustaining a high standard of readable and worthwhile material. In particular, the various reviews of the latest [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]] biography were interesting in that each reviewer approached the subject from a somewhat different angle. Perhaps we could have more of this in the future?

	The Society and Journal keep pushing the frontiers of [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]] scholarship, which is similar to the groundbreaking Sherlockian work of the early BSI. So many current Sherlockian efforts seem to be repeating earlier work and lack the freshness of the ACD Journal.		The Society and Journal keep pushing the frontiers of [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]] scholarship, which is similar to the groundbreaking Sherlockian work of the early BSI. So many current Sherlockian efforts seem to be repeating earlier work and lack the freshness of the [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society\|ACD Journal]].

	I'm probably the least knowledgeable Doylean in your entire membership, but did have the good fortune of purchasing the 24 volume Crowborough Edition recently. It all boiled down to either making some major car repairs or to buying the set of books. After agonizing over the dilemma for several days, a decision was rendered against the car. The Society's literary output should dovetail nicely with my Crowborough set.		I'm probably the least knowledgeable Doylean in your entire membership, but did have the good fortune of purchasing the 24 volume Crowborough Edition recently. It all boiled down to either making some major car repairs or to buying the set of books. After agonizing over the dilemma for several days, a decision was rendered against the car. The Society's literary output should dovetail nicely with my Crowborough set.
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	And, finally, from Michael Doyle (Kaleden, B.C., Canada):		And, finally, from Michael Doyle (Kaleden, B.C., Canada):

	Re: ACD, Volume 6		Re: [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society\|ACD]], Volume 6

	What a super feast you have again provided us! This [issue] is one of the best ever and goes a long way to achieving our Society's objectives, particularly to bring [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]]'s life and works to a wider audience. The articles were all so good that each and every one of them required reading at least twice, and many of them more than that.... I found [[Owen Dudley Edwards]]'s appreciation of Julian Symons very moving and interesting. You indeed made a wise choice when you invited him to be the first President of the [[The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (1989-2003)\|ACD Society]].... another superb journal. I congratulate you both warmly on it and am astonished at the high quality you continue to maintain. You have added another large brick to the edifice of knowledge about [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]]'s work and life.		What a super feast you have again provided us! This [issue] is one of the best ever and goes a long way to achieving our Society's objectives, particularly to bring [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]]'s life and works to a wider audience. The articles were all so good that each and every one of them required reading at least twice, and many of them more than that.... I found [[Owen Dudley Edwards]]'s appreciation of Julian Symons very moving and interesting. You indeed made a wise choice when you invited him to be the first President of the [[The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (1989-2003)\|ACD Society]].... another superb journal. I congratulate you both warmly on it and am astonished at the high quality you continue to maintain. You have added another large brick to the edifice of knowledge about [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]]'s work and life.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:16, 29 March 2026
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	Garth A. Willey (Gruyere, Victoria, Australia) writes:		Garth A. Willey (Gruyere, Victoria, Australia) writes:

	I must take exception to the phraseology used by [[Owen Dudley Edwards]] on page 57 of ACD:6: 'He [[[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]]] probably went to his grave without realising...'		I must take exception to the phraseology used by [[Owen Dudley Edwards]] on page 57 of ACD:6: 'He [ [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]] ] probably went to his grave without realising...'

	He did not go to his grave, his mortal remains did. He, the personality known as [[Arthur Conan Doyle]], passed into a state of being, understood by Spiritualists as the spirit world-a realm of many planes difficult to describe in terms of our earthly comprehension; but, nevertheless, a realm which [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]] did describe in his carly communications from 'the other side' (documented by Ivan Cooke, the husband of [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]]'s medium for that series of communications, Grace Cooke) in what was first put together and published under the title Thy Kingdom Come (later restructured and published as ''The Return of Arthur Conan Doyle'' and more recently updated as [[Arthur Conan Doyle]]'s Book of Beyond).		He did not go to his grave, his mortal remains did. He, the personality known as [[Arthur Conan Doyle]], passed into a state of being, understood by Spiritualists as the spirit world-a realm of many planes difficult to describe in terms of our earthly comprehension; but, nevertheless, a realm which [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]] did describe in his carly communications from 'the other side' (documented by Ivan Cooke, the husband of [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]]'s medium for that series of communications, Grace Cooke) in what was first put together and published under the title Thy Kingdom Come (later restructured and published as ''The Return of Arthur Conan Doyle'' and more recently updated as [[Arthur Conan Doyle]]'s Book of Beyond).

	[[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]] would have corrected ODE, perhaps angrily, that the right phraseology should have been simply, 'He probably died without realising, or 'He probably passed over without realising...and I say 'perhaps angrily' echoing ODE's words on page 55:		[[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]] would have corrected [[Owen Dudley Edwards\|ODE]], perhaps angrily, that the right phraseology should have been simply, 'He probably died without realising, or 'He probably passed over without realising...and I say 'perhaps angrily' echoing [[Owen Dudley Edwards\|ODE]]'s words on page 55:

	: 'His biographers — a markedly unsatisfactory body whose speed with opinion is generally in inverse proportion to their relevant research-have translated his cold but fair-minded verdict on his schooling in Memories and Adventures into a hyperbole he would have denounced with anger' (italics mine)		: 'His biographers — a markedly unsatisfactory body whose speed with opinion is generally in inverse proportion to their relevant research-have translated his cold but fair-minded verdict on his schooling in [[Memories and Adventures]] into a hyperbole he would have denounced with anger' (italics mine)

	Whether or not he generally got angry in response to such matters whilst he was on this earth plane, I defer to ODE's judgment, but I venture to suggest he would take a more ambivalent attitude in his present state of being.		Whether or not he generally got angry in response to such matters whilst he was on this earth plane, I defer to [[Owen Dudley Edwards\|ODE]]'s judgment, but I venture to suggest he would take a more ambivalent attitude in his present state of being.

	Quoting pertinent words from [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]] himself in the transcription of the Movietone Interview presented earlier in the volume (page 24):		Quoting pertinent words from [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]] himself in the transcription of the Movietone Interview presented earlier in the volume (page 24):
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	: 'I suppose I've sat with more mediums, good and bad and indifferent, than perhaps any living being: anyhow a larger variety because I've travelled so much all over the world, and wherever I've gone, either in Australia, America, or South Africa, the best that there was to be had in that direction was put at my disposal. Therefore when people come along and contradict me, who have had no experience at all, read little, and perhaps never been to a séance, you can imagine that I don't take their opposition very seriously.'		: 'I suppose I've sat with more mediums, good and bad and indifferent, than perhaps any living being: anyhow a larger variety because I've travelled so much all over the world, and wherever I've gone, either in Australia, America, or South Africa, the best that there was to be had in that direction was put at my disposal. Therefore when people come along and contradict me, who have had no experience at all, read little, and perhaps never been to a séance, you can imagine that I don't take their opposition very seriously.'

	Reverting back to page 57, ODE comments:		Reverting back to page 57, [[Owen Dudley Edwards\|ODE]] comments:

	: the theological impact of Stonyhurst on [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] was very deep, and if he rejected its formal Catholic manifestation it made him a staunch opponent of materialism all his life. In the course of that life he would write many words on the concept of a human soul, on the existence of a Divine plan, and on the moral requisites of human relations, of which any Jesuit teacher could be justly proud.		: the theological impact of Stonyhurst on [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] was very deep, and if he rejected its formal Catholic manifestation it made him a staunch opponent of materialism all his life. In the course of that life he would write many words on the concept of a human soul, on the existence of a Divine plan, and on the moral requisites of human relations, of which any Jesuit teacher could be justly proud.

	ODE admirably uses the word 'materialism' here in its philosophical sense, i.e., as opposed to 'spiritualism', and not to do with the concept of material wealth. But then, half-a-dozen lines later, ODE's first quoted reference consigns the personality known as [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] to the grave. Do I take it then, that for all [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]]'s investigations and contributions to the matter, ODE is still a materialist? This, of course, is his right; but I for one find it difficult to comprehend how members of the [[The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (1989-2003)\|ACD Society]] can have such obvious respect for [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]]'s capacities, yet still reject outright his fundamental conclusions. Or was it just an unfortunate usage of the phrase?		ODE admirably uses the word 'materialism' here in its philosophical sense, i.e., as opposed to 'spiritualism', and not to do with the concept of material wealth. But then, half-a-dozen lines later, [[Owen Dudley Edwards\|ODE]]'s first quoted reference consigns the personality known as [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] to the grave. Do I take it then, that for all [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]]'s investigations and contributions to the matter, [[Owen Dudley Edwards\|ODE]] is still a materialist? This, of course, is his right; but I for one find it difficult to comprehend how members of the [[The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (1989-2003)\|ACD Society]] can have such obvious respect for [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]]'s capacities, yet still reject outright his fundamental conclusions. Or was it just an unfortunate usage of the phrase?

	From one who is convinced [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]] lives on.		From one who is convinced [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|ACD]] lives on.
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	Written between April and June 1892, The Great Shadow, [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]]'s first Napoleonic novel, was commissioned by Arrowsmith, who had rejected A Study in Scarlet six years earlier. Another short novel, it was distinguished chiefly by its vivid description of the Battle of Waterloo. The Great Shadow appeared, on 31 October 1891, in Arrowsmith's Christmas Annual. The story's title, as Pierre Nordon observed in 1964, was doubly suggestive, for [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] would return to the period many times thereafter. Following the publication of [[The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes]] by George Newnes on 14 October 1892, Arrowsmith released [[The Great Shadow]] as a book in November, in both cloth and paper.		Written between April and June 1892, The Great Shadow, [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]]'s first Napoleonic novel, was commissioned by Arrowsmith, who had rejected A Study in Scarlet six years earlier. Another short novel, it was distinguished chiefly by its vivid description of the Battle of Waterloo. The Great Shadow appeared, on 31 October 1891, in Arrowsmith's Christmas Annual. The story's title, as Pierre Nordon observed in 1964, was doubly suggestive, for [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] would return to the period many times thereafter. Following the publication of [[The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes]] by George Newnes on 14 October 1892, Arrowsmith released [[The Great Shadow]] as a book in November, in both cloth and paper.

	Acclaim came from Andrew Lang in ''Quarterly Review'' (July 1904): 'There is no better account of Waterloo, from the private soldier's point of view, than that given in his brief novel, '[[The Great Shadow]]'.... [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] regarded it as highly. Writing twenty years later in Memories and Adventures, he said: 'During this Norwood interval, I was certainly working hard, for besides The Refugees I wrote The Great Shadow, a booklet which I should put near the front of my work for merit....'		Acclaim came from Andrew Lang in ''Quarterly Review'' (July 1904): 'There is no better account of Waterloo, from the private soldier's point of view, than that given in his brief novel, '[[The Great Shadow]]'.... [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] regarded it as highly. Writing twenty years later in [[Memories and Adventures]], he said: 'During this Norwood interval, I was certainly working hard, for besides The Refugees I wrote The Great Shadow, a booklet which I should put near the front of my work for merit....'

	The first edition of The Great Shadow is neither inexpensive nor easy to come by. But as Arrowsmith continued to reissue the book for years, reprints are easily obtained, and other publishers reprinted it as well. The cheap edition put out in 1912 by T. Nelson & Sons, for instance, is an attractive little book, especially when it has its dust wrapper, and many Doylean collections include sets of the [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] titles issued by Nelson. More recently Greenhill Books reprinted it in 1987.		The first edition of The Great Shadow is neither inexpensive nor easy to come by. But as Arrowsmith continued to reissue the book for years, reprints are easily obtained, and other publishers reprinted it as well. The cheap edition put out in 1912 by T. Nelson & Sons, for instance, is an attractive little book, especially when it has its dust wrapper, and many Doylean collections include sets of the [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] titles issued by Nelson. More recently Greenhill Books reprinted it in 1987.
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	Summing up, Lelong assesses the new light his discoveries throw on [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]], on his life-long quest for justice and for righting corruption and on his writings about [[Sherlock Holmes]]. He asks his fellow Quincailliers, was [[Sherlock Holmes\|Holmes]] a Freemason? Was Watson?		Summing up, Lelong assesses the new light his discoveries throw on [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]], on his life-long quest for justice and for righting corruption and on his writings about [[Sherlock Holmes]]. He asks his fellow Quincailliers, was [[Sherlock Holmes\|Holmes]] a Freemason? Was Watson?

	It is worth noting that one of the moving lights of the Quincailliers, Thierry Saint-Johanis, adds a footnote to Lelong's article. While agreeing that [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]]'s Freemasonry is little, if at all, known among Sherlockians, some references do exist. Alphonse Cerza in 'Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: Freemason' (The Royal Arch Mason Magazine, 13, no. 12, pp. 379-380) stated [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] joined the Portsmouth Lodge in 1893. A letter in the following issue by C. T. Wallace pointed out that The Sign of the Four also showed elements of Freemasonry. Saint-Johanis discusses the discrepancy in the dates, quoting [[The Parish Magazine (newsletter)\|The Parish Magazine]]'s recent account of the plaque to [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] at the Portsmouth Lodge, where the date of 1887 is given, which surely corroborates Lelong's findings. Also noted are articles by Robert T. Runciman ('Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and Freemasonry', Transactions of Quator Coronati Lodge 104, pp. 178-187 and Company Bond No. 2 from the British Franco-Midland Hardware Company, also entitled ''Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and Freemasonry'') and Te Deum Laudanam by Christopher Morley.		It is worth noting that one of the moving lights of the Quincailliers, Thierry Saint-Johanis <ref name="sinjo">Correct spelling : Thierry Saint-Joanis</ref>, adds a footnote to Lelong's article. While agreeing that [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]]'s Freemasonry is little, if at all, known among Sherlockians, some references do exist. Alphonse Cerza in 'Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: Freemason' (The Royal Arch Mason Magazine, 13, no. 12, pp. 379-380) stated [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] joined the Portsmouth Lodge in 1893. A letter in the following issue by C. T. Wallace pointed out that The Sign of the Four also showed elements of Freemasonry. Saint-Johanis <ref name="sinjo" /> discusses the discrepancy in the dates, quoting [[The Parish Magazine (newsletter)\|The Parish Magazine]]'s recent account of the plaque to [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] at the Portsmouth Lodge, where the date of 1887 is given, which surely corroborates Lelong's findings. Also noted are articles by Robert T. Runciman ('Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and Freemasonry', Transactions of Quator Coronati Lodge 104, pp. 178-187 and Company Bond No. 2 from the British Franco-Midland Hardware Company, also entitled ''Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and Freemasonry'') and Te Deum Laudanam by [[Christopher Morley]].

	Saint-Johanis goes on to discuss [[Sherlock Holmes\|Holmes]] and [[Dr. Watson\|Watson]] as Masons and the film Murder by Decree, while Jérome Rousse-Lacordaire looks at Masons and Mormons, which are outside the scope of these Notes.		Saint-Johanis <ref name="sinjo" /> goes on to discuss [[Sherlock Holmes\|Holmes]] and [[Dr. Watson\|Watson]] as Masons and the film Murder by Decree, while Jérome Rousse-Lacordaire looks at Masons and Mormons, which are outside the scope of these Notes.

	The first point made in the article is that in none of the biographies of [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] is his Freemasonry discussed or even mentioned. Actually, Lelong is mistaken here, though the omission does not invalidate his own work on the subject. Geoffrey Stavert discusses [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]]'s Freemasonry in his 1987 book A Study in Southsea He adds the address of Lodge 257 in Portsmouth, 110 High Street, one of no less than sixteen Lodges in Portsmouth. Stavert also says that [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] rejoined 'some fifteen years afterwards when he was living at Hindhead'. 1889 plus 15 would bring us to 1904; Lelong gives a date of 1902, so perhaps we should interpret Stavert as 1887 plus 15, which would agree with Lelong, who is, after all, quoting a masonic source. Stavert also refers to the honorary membership of the Edinburgh Lodge, giving, as does Lelong, the date as 1901.		The first point made in the article is that in none of the biographies of [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] is his Freemasonry discussed or even mentioned. Actually, Lelong is mistaken here, though the omission does not invalidate his own work on the subject. Geoffrey Stavert discusses [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]]'s Freemasonry in his 1987 book ''A Study in Southsea'' He adds the address of Lodge 257 in Portsmouth, 110 High Street, one of no less than sixteen Lodges in Portsmouth. Stavert also says that [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] rejoined 'some fifteen years afterwards when he was living at Hindhead'. 1889 plus 15 would bring us to 1904; Lelong gives a date of 1902, so perhaps we should interpret Stavert as 1887 plus 15, which would agree with Lelong, who is, after all, quoting a masonic source. Stavert also refers to the honorary membership of the Edinburgh Lodge, giving, as does Lelong, the date as 1901.