Speech with the Dead (article 30 july 1920)
Speech with the Dead is an article published in the Daily Express on 30 july 1920.
Speech with the Dead
DRAMATIC CLAIM BY 100 SPIRITUALISTS.
The millions of people who saw the Russians march through England — with the snow on their boots — will now have to take a back seat. They are completely outclassed.
More than a hundred men and women spiritualists stood up in the Royal Venetian Chamber of the Holborn Restaurant yesterday, and declared that they had communicated with the dead. Moreover, they believed it as thoroughly as the other people believed in the Russians.
They stand up at the request of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in whose honour they lunched together, and the author of "Sherlock Holme" exclaimed, with astonishment, that it was the most wonderful and dramatic demonstration over seen in London.
The really remarkable thing about the demonstration was that some of the spiritualists sat still. How it happened that they had never talked to their dear departed was not explained — but they were an insignificant minority, like the "poor lion who hadn't got a Christian."
"ARE YOU A MEDIUM?"
It was the most fashionable jamboree of spiritualists ever seen. Every one who is any one in spiritualist circles was there, except Sir Oliver Lodge, and there were so many "mediums" — "professional mediums," as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle called them — that every one suspected every one else of being one of the craft. While a "Daily Express" representative was establishing communication with the hors d'oeuvres a spiritualist lady asked, in the sweetest tone imaginable: "Are you a medium?" This was the most popular question of the hour.
Nearly every one drank dry ginger ale and talked about spirits. One of the lunchers informed the "Daily Express" representative about a departed spirit who is personally conducted by the late General Booth.
A large illuminated address was presented to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Lady Doyle, who are about to make a tour of Australia, and when Sir Arthur declared, in reply, that the professional mediums are at present the most useful persons in the land, the seance fraternity clapped hands for joy.
