View source for Spiritualism: Some Straight Questions and Direct Answers

''Spiritualism: Some Straight Questions and Direct Answers'' is a pamphlet written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] first published by [[Two Worlds Publishing Co. Ltd.]] on 14 october 1922.

The leaflet was printed for distribution at [[Arthur Conan Doyle]]'s lectures in UK in 1922 and in US in 1923.

There was 4 different printings with imprints as follow:
* In UK
** 1922 : "Two Worlds" Publishing Co. Ltd., 18 Corporation St., Manchester, at 14/6, 1000; 7/6, 500; 4/-, 250. 
** 1923 : "Two Worlds" Publishing Co. Ltd., 18 Corporation St., Manchester, at 15/6, 1000; 8/-, 500; 4/6, 250.
* In USA (with list of books with American publishers added)
** 1923 : "Two Worlds" Publishing Co. Ltd., 18 Corporation St., Manchester, at 15/6, 1000; 8/-, 500; 4 6, 250.
** 1923 : The Progressive Thinker Publishing House, 106 Loomis St., Chicago, Ill. $3.75 per 1000, 2.00 per 500, 1.00 per 250.


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== Spiritualism (2nd printing) ==
[[File:two-worlds-1922-10-14-spiritualism-some-straight-questions-and-direct-answers-p1.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Two Worlds Publishing Co. Ltd.]] (14 october 1922, p. 1)]]
[[File:two-worlds-1922-10-14-spiritualism-some-straight-questions-and-direct-answers-p2.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Two Worlds Publishing Co. Ltd.]] (14 october 1922, p. 2)]]
[[File:two-worlds-1922-10-14-spiritualism-some-straight-questions-and-direct-answers-p3.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Two Worlds Publishing Co. Ltd.]] (14 october 1922, p. 3)]]
[[File:two-worlds-1922-10-14-spiritualism-some-straight-questions-and-direct-answers-p4.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Two Worlds Publishing Co. Ltd.]] (14 october 1922, p. 4)]]

What is a Spiritualist?

One who believes that death makes no change in personality, and that communication under proper conditions is still possible. 

Can one be a Spiritualist and also a Christian?

Spiritualism is not incompatible with any religion. It is only hostile to those creeds which would confine God's mercy to a particular sect. He is the God of all. 

Is not the organised Spiritualist Church unitarian?

Yes, the organised Spiritualist Church looks upon Christ as a very high spirit. But there are ardent Spiritualists in all the Churches who combine Spiritualism with their former faith. Many of the non-Christian nations, Chinese, Japanese, Indians, etc., have some knowledge of this truth.

What are the phenomena?

They are signals and signs to attract our attention by appealing to our physical senses, and make us realise that there are intelligent forces outside ourselves. 

Have these phenomena been examined by Science? 

Yes. 

Can you name any men of Science who have accepted them ? 

They are very numerous. Among the more prominent are Sir Oliver Lodge, Sir William Crookes, Sir William Barrett, Professors Charles Richet, Lombroso, Hyslop, Morselli, Russel Wallace, Zollner, Wagner, Schrenck-Notzing, Geley, Flammarion, Botazzi, William James, Hare, Challis, Mayo, and Foa. There are also many well-known lawyers, soldiers, 
divines, literary men, and men of business, who all speak from personal experience. 

How many, on the other hand, have examined the phenomena and decided against them ? 

I am not aware of any man of high scientific reputation who has thoroughly examined the phenomena and decided against them. 

Do all accept the religious implications?

No, to many the phenomena are simply interesting forces ; to many others they are forces with an intelligent and lofty purpose. 

Then they prove life after death?

Yes. 

Why, then, do the Churches oppose this movement? 

Want of knowledge and misrepresentation. 

Do all Churchmen oppose it?

On the contrary, some of our leaders are clergymen. Archdeacons Colley and Wilberforce, Revs. Haweis, Fielding Ould, Arthur Chambers, Charles Tweedale, George Vale Owen, Dr. Henslow, Drayton Thomas, R. J. Campbell. Walter Wynn. have all written in support of our views. 

What does the religious movement aim at?

It aims at destroying the present materialism by proving clearly that life carries on ; that we are responsible for our actions ; and that we may have every in of absolute compensation for every suffering here, if we take it n a good spirit.

How, then, does it differ from the present religious scheme?

We propose to substitute proof for faith, and certainty for a vague belief.

How do you get your certainty?

By the testimony of the "dead" themselves, who send us long coherent messages, giving their actual experience.

Are the messages always lofty?

Death makes no immediate change in man's character, and the foolish may still be foolish. But we keep such company as we deserve, and those who approach the subject for help and knowledge never fail to get it.

What about fraud?

We have at various times suffered from the rascality of pretended mediums. On the other hand, the true medium, who is liable to persecution by our indiscriminate laws, is among the most useful of mankind. 

What is a medium?

One who is so constituted that he or she can help psychic manifestations.

Are they rare?

It is probable that we all have an undeveloped power, but that some have much more than others. These latter are called mediums. 

How can we learn more of this?

Two good journals every week ("Light," 5, Queen Square, London, W.C., and "The Two Worlds," 18, Corporation Street, Manchester) keep one in touch with the movement. "The Psychic Gazette" (24a, Regent Street, London, S.W.) is a good monthly. The London Spiritualist Alliance, 5, Queen Square, London, W.C., have a library of several thousand volumes, and give every help to inquirers, as do the numerous Spiritualist Centres throughout the country.

And books?

The literature is enormous. Among others, I would recommend Charles Tweedale's "Survival of Man" (Grant Richards), Vale Owen's "Life Beyond the Veil" (Butterworth). The same author's "Facts and the Future Life" (Hutchinson), Lodge's "Ray-mond," Barrett's "Threshold of the Unseen" and Henslow's "Proofs of Spiritualism."

What are the prospects of the movement?

It is truth, and truth in God's time must prevail. It is active in every country, and at the present rate of increase it must soon receive universal acceptance.

What advantages does it offer?

It does away with fear of death; it reassures us as to our separation from those we love; it removes the horrors which have been built up by mediaeval theology, and it holds out a definite prospect of perfect and intelligible happiness in the future. 

ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. 

----
These Leaflets may be obtained from the "Two Worlds" Publishing Co. Ltd., 18 Corporation St., Manchester, at 15/6, 1000; 8/-, 500; 4 6, 250. Carriage Paid.



== Spiritualism (3rd printing) ==

''Idem until book list''

...

How can we learn more of this?

The literature is enormous. The Rev. Chas. Tweedale's "Survival of Man" (Dutton) is a general survey. The Rev. Vale Owen's "Life Beyond the Veil" describes our future fate. Lodge's "Raymond Revised," Cameron's "Seven Purposes," "The Unseen Guest" (Harpers) Barretts, "Threshold of the Unseen," Prof. Hyslop's works. Prof. Henslow's "Proof of Spiritualism." "The Revelations of Louise" (Stokes) Stead's "Letters of Julia." Dorans publish my own books, "The New Revelation," "The Vital Message," "Wanderings of a Spiritualist," and "Our American Adventure," which may help the beginner. There are many papers, notably "The Progressive Thinker" and "The National Spiritualist," both of Chicago, and "Light," Queens Square, London, W. C. 

What advantage does this knowledge offer? 

It does away with fear of death; it reassures us as to our separation from those we love; it removes the horrors which have been built up by medieval theology, and it holds out a definite prospect of perfect and intelligible happiness in the future. 

ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. 

----
These Leaflets may be obtained from the "Two Worlds" Publishing Co. Ltd., 18 Corporation St., Manchester, at 15/6, 1000; 8/-, 500; 4/6, 250. Carriage Paid.



== Spiritualism (4th printing) ==

''Idem until book list''

...

How can we learn more of this?

The literature is enormous and some of it is excellent.

The Rev. Charles Tweedale's "Survival of Man" is a general survey.

The Rev. Vale Owen's "Life Beyond the Veil" describes our future fate.

Sir Oliver Lodge's "Raymond," revised. 

Margaret Cameron's "The Seven Purposes." 

"The Invisible Guest." 

Sir William Barrett's "Threshold of the Unseen." 

Prof. Hyslop's works. 

Prof. Henslow's "Proofs of Spiritualism." 

Stead's "After Death, or Letters from Julia."

"The Revelations of Louise," a simple and excellent book by an American Journalist. 

My own works on the subjects:
: "The New Revelation."
: "The Vital Message."
: "Wanderings of a Spiritualist."
: "One American Adventure." 

There are many papers, notably "The Progressive Thinker," a weekly Spiritualist paper (106 Loomis St., Chicago) ; "The National Spiritualist" (Oakwood Boulevard, Chicago ; "Light," 5 Queen Square, London, W. C., England, and "The Two Worlds," Manchester, Eng.

What advantages does this knowledge offer?

It does away with fear of death; it reassures us as to our separation from those we love; it removes the horrors which have been built up by medieval theology, and it holds out a definite prospect of perfect and intelligible happiness in the future.

ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE. 

All of the above books can be obtained from The Progressive Thinker Publishing House, 106 Loomis St., Chicago, Ill ; also a complete list of books on Spiritualist and psychic subjects. 

---- 
These leaflets may be obtained for distribution at the following prices from The Progressive Thinker:
: Per 1,000 ... $3.75
: Per 500 ... 2.00
: Per 250 ... 1.00 







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