The New Spiritualism

From The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia

The New Spiritualism is a letter written by Arthur Conan Doyle first published in The Nation on 8 february 1919.


The New Spiritualism

Sir, — I notice that Mr. Clodd laments my inability to grasp the principles of scientific investigation. It is very deplorable, but since I err with Lodge and Wallace, Flammarion and Lombroso, Richet and James, Meyers and Crookes, I am still unabashed, even before the censure of Mr. Clodd.

As to Colonel Warren's rather crude tests, he knows perfectly well that if a script purporting to be the end of Edwin Drood was to appear he would be the first to reject it as spurious. As to messages from ships, if he were better read on the subject, he would know that such details have been recorded. To take the most obvious example, there is a whole book called Has W. T. Stead returned? by James Coates, published in 1913 by Fowler and Co., which gives various accounts of the sinking of the "Titanic" and his death by drowning. The evidence is enormous and convincing, as I can say after thirty-two years of study. What is lacking is earnestness and industry on the part of inquirers, who expect everything to be brought to them, instead of going forth to seek it.

Yours, &c.,

ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
Windlesham, Crowborough, Sussex.