The Soul Surgery
The "Soul Surgery" is an interview of Arthur Conan Doyle by L. G. P. published in The Sussex County Magazine in december 1926.
The "Soul Surgery"
"Windlesham," Crowborough, the residence of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Sir A. Conan Doyle Talks of Many Things
"Sir Arthur Conan Doyle will see you at about twelve o'clock in the morning in the 'Psychic Bookshop,'" I was advised. I did not seek the creator of "Sherlock Holmes" at his Sussex home, but at the "Psychic Bookshop," which is in the very centre of the British Empire, under the shadow of Westminster Abbey. Elderly ladies and serious looking men come and go therein, searching for the latest "spiritualist food." At the end of the little shop I found Sir Arthur, the leader of the Spiritualists, sitting at a desk writing an article. In order not to waste one moment I plunged right away in medias res.
"How long is it," I asked "since you interested yourself in spiritualism?"
"It is now well over thirty years that I began to be interested in it,"
Sir Arthur answered; "but at first I attached no more importance to it than to any other exotic thing. I did not realise that it was the one subject in the world which was of extreme, of desperate, importance to every member of the human race. The war came. I understood it then. I had already given my life to the subject before disaster came my own way. I was entering Nottingham Town Hall to lecture on Spiritualism when I got the telegram of my son's death. It was difficult to carry on, but I did. No doubt he helped me through and the audience never guessed. It was a year later that he first came through at a séance. It was his voice — his voice, and an embrace. After that we spoke to him often, discussing intimate family matters. I also saw my mother! I saw her more distinctly than I can see you now. Look here, I got a photograph under test conditions of my son after his death. Here it is. Death? There is no such thing! They are still alive, and trying to make an idiotic world realise it.
"I give all my time and attention to the cause I have set my heart upon,"
Sir Arthur continued, "and this is the teaching of the new religion which will tell mankind what is to happen in the world that comes after our death. This is really far more important than anything else in life. People are absolutely ignorant of what is going to happen to them after they are dead. Well, I for one do want to know what is going to happen to me. Personally I am more certain of the things which are to happen to me after my death than I would be of things which would happen to me should I undertake a journey to South America.
"We are doing our best to teach the people this new religion, which will give us a new outlook on life. The people and the country which seriously adopt this new knowledge and live up to it will be the people and the country at the future. We have good and reliable information in our possession and are trying our very best to make it known to those who are either still hesitating to believe us or are absolutely ignorant of our activities. The ignorance of the clergy, especially of the bishops, is a public scandal."
The assurance and sincerity with which Sir Arthur had spoken deeply impressed me.
After a brief pause, I asked: "And what do you think of the destiny of the English speaking peoples?"
Sir Arthur seemed perplexed by the suddenness and complexity of this question.
"Well, it is not an easy matter to speak about. It is like asking what I think of the Solar system. All I can say is that the English speaking peoples will sooner or later be ruling the world. Their ideas rule the world now. Parliaments, trial by jury, sport — all big things come from England. Let us hope that this will be for the good of mankind and for the furthering of peace and civilisation."
"Do you think that the idea of a United States of Europe is realisable?"
"Yes, I think it might be possible. But it will be found difficult to make the peoples get rid of their notions about their past history and their national prejudices. It will be even more difficult to make them get used to a new state of things when they are merged in a great and hitherto unknown entity. I think the League of Nations is a very good framework within which the United States of Europe could gradually be constructed. I believe that the League of Nations may become a real parliament of the whole world. Anyhow, we hope so. The Europe of the future may be something like the British Empire of today. Look at our Empire. The various Dominions enjoy absolutely their freedom and independence. This is how the various countries of Europe may enjoy sooner or later their independence, and yet each belong to a great entity. For that matter I do not see why all European countries should not come into the commonwealth of the British Empire, and thus solve at once the question of a United States of Europe.
"In the present state of Europe,"
Sir Arthur added, "things are still in a state of flux. No one knows that may happen by to-morrow, and I can only repeat that unless good spirit and wise counsels prevail we may again be drifted into dangerous directions. Bolshevism is a terrible danger. But I think the worst is past. If the dams hold all is well. If they break...!"
"Who is, in your opinion, the greatest living write?"
"I think that we all are agreed that Thomas Hardy is the greatest author that England possesses at present. He is very philosophical, thoughtful, and really beautiful. We have lots of rising talent, but we do not seem to have at the moment many really great writers."
"What do you think of the present Government of Great Britain?"
"I do not deal much with politics. To my mind we have a well-meaning and honest Government to-day, which is trying to do its best in the interests of the country. Stanley Baldwin's attitude in all our economic troubles seems to me beautiful."
"Who, to your mind, is the greatest personality of the English speaking peoples?"
"Undoubtedly Lloyd George so long as he is clear of petty party politics. He saved the country in its greatest crisis. He was the Clemenceau of the British Empire, only that he had far more to endure than Clemenceau, because he was Minister all through the war. I am sorry to see how quickly the country seems have forgotten his great services — but that also means politics."
"What are your future literary plans?"
"Of course, most of my work is in connection with Spiritualism, and what with this shop, my writings, and any lectures it keeps me very busy. I have had exactly ten years of intensive work, and I begin to feel the strain. But it is worth it. I may ease up a little now, but it is not easy to leave the battlefield while the fight in still going on. As to literature, apart from psychic work I have to make a living, and so I do a few stories now and then. Yes, I have done three new Sherlock Holmes stories for the Strand.' I don't think they show any falling off. In fact one of them, 'The Lion's Mane,' I should put in the front row. But that's for the public to judge."
Several people were awaiting an audience so I did not care to prolong our interview.
"Yes,"
said Sir Arthur, indicating the folk who waited their turn, "this is not a shop only. It is a soul surgery. They bring their psychic experiences, their hopes and their worries. Sometimes we can help them; sometimes we can't. But we do our best,"
and he signalled to the first of the waiting line. — L.G.P.
