Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Leaves for the States
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Leaves for the States is an article of Arthur Conan Doyle published in Light on 8 april 1922.
This article reports Conan Doyle's departure for New York on a White Star liner to begin a sixteen-lecture American tour devoted to Spiritualism, which he presents as a mission rather than a profit-making venture. It also summarizes his long involvement in psychic studies, his previous lecture campaigns in Britain and Australasia, and his belief that Spiritualism strengthens religion by giving surer knowledge of death and the afterlife.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Leaves for the States
FROM THE WHITE STAR LINE NEWS SERVICE.
"What a splendid ship!"
was the exclamation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the famous author, when he stepped on to the Prince's Stage at Liverpool to board the White Star Liner "Baltic" on Saturday, leaving the Mersey for New York. Sir Arthur stated in an interview aboard the ship prior to sailing that he was going out on a lecture tour and would give sixteen psychic lectures, opening, on the 12th instant at the Carnegie Hall. He was continuing the work started over there two years ago by Sir Oliver Lodge, and was to visit all the principal States before returning in July next. Sir Arthur expressly stated that he was taking no profits from these lectures. This is only his third visit to the States, his first being some thirty years ago when he went over to lecture on literature, and his second was just prior to the outbreak of the war. Conan Doyle is accompanied by his wife, his two sons, Denis and Malcolm, and his daughter Jean, as well as the Governess and Tutor.
Sir Arthur has studied psychic matters since 1886, when he was greatly impressed by reading the memoirs of Judge Edmonds, of New York. Since then he has lost no opportunity of reading or experimenting upon the subject. He has investigated all the famous mediums available, and has studied the matter deeply, having two hundred and fifty psychic volumes in his own reference library.
He had convinced himself of the truth of the phenomena bat had not understood the full possibilities of the movement until after the war broke out, when the question of death became a very pressing one, He was able then to come to definite conclusions which he explained in two books, "The New Revelation" and "The Vital Message.'" Finding the great practical comfort which was derived from this knowledge, he determined to spread it to others, which could best be done by face-to-face talks. He therefore travelled over Great Britain, speaking in all the large cities, and devoting his earnings to the cause. After meeting the champion of the Rationalists, Mr. McCabe, in public debate at the Queen's Hall, London, he proceeded with his family to Australia, where he delivered a series of successful lectures which he continued in New Zealand. A new book, "The Wanderings of a Spiritualist," described his adventures, So successful were the lectures that in spite of the almost prohibitive prices of travel, and the fact that he had seven in his party, he was able to leave £700 in Australia as a guarantee fund for the next missionary from England.
Returning to England, he did a round of the large towns with great success, and now proposes to give sixteen lectures in America, hoping that he may again earn a surplus for the cause, and that in any case he may help to spread the one form of knowledge which is a complete antidote to that materialism which is the real cause of all our world-troubles.
Sir Arthur does not consider Spiritualism to be antagonistic to any form of religion, but believes that every creed would be stronger and more effective if it has added to it a more accurate knowledge of death and of the life beyond.
