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Project Gutenberg's The Wanderings of a Spiritualist, by Arthur Conan Doyle

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Title: The Wanderings of a Spiritualist

Author: Arthur Conan Doyle

Release Date: May 17, 2012 [EBook #39718]

Language: English


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Transcriber's Notes

Obvious punctuation and spelling errors have been corrected.

Some illustrations have been repositioned to provide the best relationship to the text; the page numbers listed in the table of illustrations in the front matter will link you directly to the illustration in this text.

Photo: Stirling, Melbourne.


Frontispiece.
ON THE WARPATH IN AUSTRALIA, 1920-21.
Photo: Stirling, Melbourne.


THE
WANDERINGS OF A
SPIRITUALIST

BY
SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

AUTHOR OF
"THE NEW REVELATION," "THE VITAL MESSAGE," ETC.


"Aggressive fighting for the right is
the noblest sport the world affords."

Theodore Roosevelt.


HODDER AND STOUGHTON
LIMITED       LONDON


By SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

THE NEW REVELATION

Ninth Edition. Cloth, 5/. net.. Paper, 2/6 net.

"This book is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's confession of faith, very frank, very courageous and very resolute ... the courage and large-mindedness of this book deserve cordial recognition."—Daily Chronicle. "It is a book that demands our respect and commands our interest.... Much more likely to influence the opinion of the general public than 'Raymond' or the long reports of the Society for Psychical Research."—Daily News.

THE VITAL MESSAGE

Tenth Thousand. Cloth, 5/.

"Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'The New Revelation' was his confession of faith. 'The Vital Message' seeks to show our future relations with the Unseen World."—Daily Chronicle. "... it is a clear, earnest presentation of the case, and will serve as a useful introduction to the subject to anyone anxious to learn what the new Spiritualists claim for their researches and their faith.... Sir Arthur writes with evident sincerity, and, within the limits of his system, with much broad-mindedness and toleration."—Daily Telegraph. "A splendid propaganda book, written in the author's telling and racy style, and one that will add to his prestige and renown."—Two Worlds.

SPIRITUALISM AND RATIONALISM

With a Drastic Examination of Mr. Joseph M'Cabe

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's trenchant reply to the criticisms of Spiritualism as formulated by Mr. Joseph M'Cabe.

Paper, 1/. net.


HODDER & STOUGHTON, Ltd., London, E.C.4


CONTENTS

PAGE
CHAPTER I9

The inception of the enterprise.—The Merthyr Séance.—Experience of British lectures.—Call from Australia.—The Holborn luncheon.—Remarkable testimony to communication.—Is individual proof necessary?—Excursion to Exeter.—Can Spiritualists continue to be Christians?—Their views on Atonement.—The party on the "Naldera."

CHAPTER II24

Gibraltar.—Spanish right versus British might.—Relics of Barbary Rovers, and of German militarists.—Ichabod!—Senegal Infantry.—No peace for the world.—Religion on a liner.—Differences of vibration.—The Bishop of Kwang-Si.—Religion in China.—Whisky in excelsis.—France's masterpiece.—British errors.—A procession of giants.—The invasion of Egypt.—Tropical weather.—The Russian Horror.—An Indian experiment.—Aden.—Bombay.—The Lambeth encyclical. A great; Snakes.—The Catamarans.—The Robber Castles of Ceylon.—Doctrine of Reincarnation.—Whales and Whalers.—Perth.—The Bight.

CHAPTER III60

Mr. Hughes' letter of welcome.—Challenges.—Mr. Carlyle Smythe.—The Adelaide Press.—The great drought.—The wine industry.—Clairvoyance.—Meeting with Bellchambers.—The first lecture.—The effect.—The Religious lecture.—The illustrated lecture.—Premonitions.—The spot light.—Mr. Thomas' account of the incident.—Correspondence.—Adelaide doctors.—A day in the Bush,—The Mallee fowl.—Sussex in Australia.—Farewell to Adelaide.

CHAPTER IV84

Speculations on Paul and his Master.—Arrival at Melbourne.—Attack in the Argus.—Partial press boycott.—Strength of the movement.—The Prince of Wales.—Victorian football. Rescue Circle in Melbourne.—Burke and Wills' statue.—Success of the lectures.—Reception at the Auditorium.—Luncheon of the British Empire League.—Mr. Ryan's experience.—The Federal Government.—Mr. Hughes' personality.—The mediumship of Charles Bailey.—His alleged exposure.—His remarkable record.—A test sitting.—The Indian nest.—A remarkable lecture.—Arrival of Lord Forster.—The future of the Empire.—Kindness of Australians.—Prohibition.—Horse-racing.—Roman Catholic policy.

CHAPTER V114

More English than the English.—A day in the Bush.—Immigration.—A case of spirit return.—A séance.—Geelong.—The lava plain.—Good-nature of General Ryrie.—Bendigo.—Down a gold mine.—Prohibition v. Continuance.—Mrs. Knight MacLellan.—Nerrin.—A wild drive.—Electric shearing.—Rich sheep stations.—Cockatoo farmers.—Spinnifex and Mallee.—Rabbits.—The great marsh.

CHAPTER VI136

The Melbourne Cup.—Psychic healing.—M. J. Bloomfield.—My own experience.—Direct healing.—Chaos and Ritual.—Government House Ball.—The Rescue Circle again.—Sitting with Mrs. Harris.—A good test case.—Australian botany.—The land of myrtles.—English cricket team.—Great final meeting in Melbourne.

CHAPTER VII151

Great reception at Sydney.—Importance of Sydney.—Journalistic luncheon.—A psychic epidemic.—Gregory.—Barracking.—Town Hall reception.—Regulation of Spiritualism.—An ether apport.—Surfing at Manly.—A challenge.—Bigoted opponents.—A disgruntled photographer.—Outing in the harbour.—Dr. Mildred Creed.—Leon Gellert.—Norman Lindsay.—Bishop Leadbeater.—Our relations with Theosophy.—Incongruities of H.P.B.—Of D.D. Home.

CHAPTER VIII176

Dangerous fog.—The six photographers.—Comic Advertisements.—Beauties of Auckland.—A Christian clergyman.—Shadows in our American relations.—The Gallipoli Stone.—Stevenson and the Germans.—Position of De Rougemont.—Mr. Clement Wragge.—Atlantean theories.—A strange psychic.—Wellington the windy.—A literary oasis.—A Maori séance.—Presentation.

CHAPTER IX198

The Anglican Colony.—Psychic dangers.—The learned dog.—Absurd newspaper controversy.—A backward community.—The Maori tongue.—Their origin.—Their treatment by the Empire.—A fiasco.—The Pa of Kaiopoi.—Dr. Thacker.—Sir Joseph Kinsey.—A generous collector.—Scott and Amundsen.—Dunedin.—A genuine medium.—Evidence.—The Shipping strike.—Sir Oliver.—Farewell.

CHAPTER X223

Christian origins.—Mithraism.—Astronomy.—Exercising boats.—Bad news from home.—Futile strikes.—Labour Party.—The blue wilderness.—Journey to Brisbane.—Warm reception.—Friends and Foes.—Psychic experience of Dr. Doyle.—Birds.—Criticism on Melbourne—Spiritualist Church.—Ceremony.—Sir Matthew Nathan.—Alleged repudiation of Queensland.—Billy tea.—The bee farm.—Domestic service in Australia.—Hon. John Fihilly.—Curious photograph by the State photographer.—The "Orsova."

CHAPTER XI255

Medlow Bath.—Jenolan Caves.—Giant skeleton.—Mrs. Foster Turner's mediumship.—A wonderful prophecy.—Final results.—Third sitting with Bailey.—Failure of State Control.—Retrospection.—Melbourne presentation.—Crooks.—Lecture at Perth.—West Australia.—Rabbits, sparrows and sharks.

CHAPTER XII280

Pleasing letters.—Visit to Candy.—Snake and Flying Fox.—Buddha's shrine.—The Malaya.—Naval digression.—Indian trader.—Elephanta.—Sea snakes.—Chained to a tombstone.—Berlin's escape.—Lord Chetwynd.—Lecture in the Red Sea.—Marseilles.

CHAPTER XIII303

The Institut Metaphysique.—Lecture in French.—Wonderful musical improviser.—Camille Flammarion.—Test of materialised hand.—Last ditch of materialism.—Sitting with Mrs. Bisson's medium, Eva.—Round the Aisne battlefields.—A tragic intermezzo.—Anglo-French Rugby match.—Madame Blifaud's clairvoyance.


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
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4 pages left
CONTENTS
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