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diff --git a/39718-h/39718-h.htm b/39718-h/39718-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2ff2292 --- /dev/null +++ b/39718-h/39718-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11693 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Wanderings of a Spiritualist, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - A Project Gutenberg eBook. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + color: #a9a9a9; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .imgnum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible image page numbers */ + visibility: hidden; + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + color: #a9a9a9; + text-align: right; + } /* image page numbers */ + + hr.r15 {width: 15%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + hr.r45 {width: 45%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + hr.r65 {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + + .extraspacetop {padding-top: 2em; } + .extraspace3top {padding-top: 3em; } + .extraspacebot {padding-bottom: 2em; } + .extraspace4bot {padding-bottom: 4em; } + .blockquote {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 25%;} + .blockquotetoc {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} + .blockquotech {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%;} + .blockquotetn {margin-left: 25%; margin-right: 25%;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .right {text-align: right;} + .nrright {text-align: right; + padding-right: 3em;} + .nr5right {text-align: right; + padding-right: 5em;} + .left {text-align: left;} + .nr5left {text-align: left; + padding-left: 5em;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Wanderings of a Spiritualist, by Arthur Conan Doyle + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Wanderings of a Spiritualist + +Author: Arthur Conan Doyle + +Release Date: May 17, 2012 [EBook #39718] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WANDERINGS OF A SPIRITUALIST *** + + + + +Produced by Dianna Adair, Suzanne Shell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter extraspacebot"> +<img src="images/002.png" width="300" height="514" alt="Cover" title="Front Cover" /> +</div> + +<hr class="r65" /> + +<p class="caption center"> Transcriber's Notes</p> +<p class="blockquotetn">Obvious punctuation and spelling errors have been corrected.</p> +<p class="blockquotetn">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.</p> + + +<div class="figcenter extraspacetop"><span class='imgnum'><a name="Frontispiece" id="Frontispiece">[Frontispiece]</a></span> +<img src="images/gs01.jpg" width="250" height="364" alt="Photo: Stirling, Melbourne." title="" /> + +<p class="center extraspacetop caption"><br /> +<i>Frontispiece.</i> <br /> + +ON THE WARPATH IN AUSTRALIA, 1920-21. <br /> +<i>Photo: Stirling, Melbourne.</i></p> +</div> + +<hr class="r15" /> + + + + +<h1> +<i>THE<br /> +WANDERINGS OF A<br /> +SPIRITUALIST</i><br /></h1> + +<h2><small>BY</small><br /> +SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE</h2> + +<p class="center extraspace3top">AUTHOR OF<br /> +"THE NEW REVELATION," "THE VITAL MESSAGE," ETC.<br /></p> +<hr class="r65" /> +<p class="center extraspacetop">"Aggressive fighting for the right is<br /> +the noblest sport the world affords." +</p> +<p class="blockquotetn nrright extraspace4bot"><i>Theodore Roosevelt.</i></p> +<hr class="r65" /> +<p class="center">HODDER AND STOUGHTON<br /> +LIMITED LONDON<br /> +</p> + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<h2><i>By SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE</i></h2> + + +<p class="extraspacetop">THE NEW REVELATION</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> + +<p class="right">Ninth Edition. Cloth, 5/. net.. Paper, 2/6 net.</p> + +<p>"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."—<span class="smcap">Daily +Chronicle.</span> "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."—<span class="smcap">Daily News.</span></p></div> + + +<p class="extraspacetop">THE VITAL MESSAGE</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p class="right"> +Tenth Thousand. Cloth, 5/. +</p> + +<p>"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."—<span class="smcap">Daily Chronicle.</span> "... 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."—<span class="smcap">Daily +Telegraph.</span> "A splendid propaganda +book, written in the author's telling and racy style, +and one that will add to his prestige and renown."—<span class="smcap">Two +Worlds.</span></p></div> + + +<p class="extraspacetop">SPIRITUALISM AND RATIONALISM</p> + + +<div class="blockquotetn"> +<p><span class="smcap center">With a Drastic Examination +of Mr. Joseph M'Cabe</span> +</p> +</div> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p>Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's trenchant reply to +the criticisms of Spiritualism as formulated by +Mr. Joseph M'Cabe.</p> + +<p class="right"> +Paper, 1/. net.<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class="r15" /> + +<p class="center"><i>HODDER & STOUGHTON, Ltd., London, E.C.4</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[iii]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="r65" /> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table width="500" border="0" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr> +<td align="right">PAGE +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#Page_9">CHAPTER I</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_9">9</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +<p class="blockquotetoc"> +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."</p> +</td> +</tr> + + +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#Page_24">CHAPTER II</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_24">24</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +<p class="blockquotetoc left"> +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.</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#Page_60">CHAPTER III</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_60">60</a></td> +</tr> + + +<tr> +<td> +<p class="blockquotetoc left"> +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 +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[iv]</a></span>to Adelaide. +</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#Page_84">CHAPTER IV</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td> +</tr> + + +<tr> +<td> +<p class="blockquotetoc"> +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. +</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#Page_114">CHAPTER V</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_114">114</a></td> +</tr> + + +<tr> +<td> +<p class="blockquotetoc"> +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. +</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#Page_136">CHAPTER VI</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_136">136</a></td> +</tr> + + + +<tr> +<td> +<p class="blockquotetoc"> +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. +</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#Page_151">CHAPTER VII</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_151">151</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +<p class="blockquotetoc"> +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. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span> +</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#Page_176">CHAPTER VIII</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_176">176</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +<p class="blockquotetoc"> +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. +</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#Page_198">CHAPTER IX</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_198">198</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +<p class="blockquotetoc"> +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. +</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#Page_223">CHAPTER X</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_223">223</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +<p class="blockquotetoc"> +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." +</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#Page_255">CHAPTER XI</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_255">255</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +<p class="blockquotetoc"> +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, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span>sparrows and sharks. +</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#Page_280">CHAPTER XII</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_280">280</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +<p class="blockquotetoc"> +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. +</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><a href="#Page_303">CHAPTER XIII</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_303">303</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +<p class="blockquotetoc"> +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. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span> +</p> +</td> +</tr> + +</table> + + +<hr class="r65" /> + +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<table width="500" border="0" summary="Table of Illustrations"> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="blockquotetoc"><a href="#Frontispiece">On the War-Path in Australia, 1920-1921</a></p></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Frontispiece"><i>Frontispiece</i></a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> +</td> +<td align="right"><i>Facing Page</i> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="blockquotetoc"><a href="#Page_8">How This Book was Written</a></p></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_8">9</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="blockquotetoc"><a href="#I_16">The God-Speed Luncheon in London. On this occasion +250 out of 290 Guests rose as testimony that they +were in Personal touch with their Dead</a></p> +</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#I_16">16</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="blockquotetoc"><a href="#I_72">The Wanderers, 1920-1921</a></p></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#I_72">72</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="blockquotetoc"><a href="#I_80">Bellchambers and the Mallee Fowl. "Get along with +you, do"</a></p></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#I_80">80</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="blockquotetoc"><a href="#I_96">Melbourne, November, 1920</a></p></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#I_96">96</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="blockquotetoc"><a href="#I_128">A Typical Australian Back-Country Scene by H. J. +Johnstone, a Great Painter Who Died Unknown. +Painting in Adelaide National Gallery</a></p></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#I_128">128</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="blockquotetoc"><a href="#I_144">At Melbourne Town Hall, November 12th, 1920</a></p></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#I_144">144</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="blockquotetoc"><a href="#I_208">The People of Turi's Canoe, after a Voyage of Great +Hardship, at last Sight the Shores of New Zealand. +From a Painting by C. F. Goldie and L. G. A. Steele</a></p></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#I_208">208</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="blockquotetoc"><a href="#I_240">Laying Foundation Stone of Spiritualist Church at +Brisbane</a></p></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#I_240">240</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="blockquotetoc"><a href="#I_252">Curious Photographic Effect referred to in Text. +Taken by the Official Photographer, Brisbane. +"Absolutely mystifying" is his Description</a></p></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#I_252">252</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="blockquotetoc"><a href="#I_256">Our Party <i>en route</i> to the Jenolan Caves, January 20th, +1921. In Front of Old Court House in which Bushrangers +were Tried</a></p></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#I_256">256</a> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="blockquotetoc"><a href="#I_264">Denis with a Black Snake at Medlow Bath</a></p></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#I_264">264</a> +</td> +</tr> + +</table> + + +<hr class="r65" /> + + +<h2>TO MY WIFE.</h2> + +<p class="center"> +THIS MEMORIAL OF A JOURNEY WHICH<br /> +HER HELP AND PRESENCE CHANGED<br /> +FROM A DUTY TO A PLEASURE.</p> +<p class="blockquotetn nr5right">A. C. D.</p> +<p class="blockquotetn nr5left"><i>July 18/21.</i></p> + +<hr class="r65" /> + +<div class="figcenter"><span class='imgnum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[]</a></span> +<img src="images/gs02.jpg" width="250" height="393" alt=" +HOW THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN." title="" /> +<p class="blockquotetn nr5right"><i>See page 11.</i></p> +<p class="center caption">HOW THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN.</p></div> + + + + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<div class="blockquotech extraspacebot"><p>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."</p></div> + + +<p>This is an account of the wanderings of a spiritualist, +geographical and speculative. Should the +reader have no interest in psychic things—if +indeed any human being can be so foolish as not +to be interested in his own nature and fate,—then +this is the place to put the book down. It were +better also to end the matter now if you have no +patience with a go-as-you-please style of narrative, +which founds itself upon the conviction that +thought may be as interesting as action, and +which is bound by its very nature to be intensely +personal. I write a record of what absorbs my +mind which may be very different from that which +appeals to yours. But if you are content to come +with me upon these terms then let us start with +my apologies in advance for the pages which may +bore you, and with my hopes that some may compensate +you by pleasure or by profit. I write +these lines with a pad upon my knee, heaving upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +the long roll of the Indian Ocean, running large +and grey under a grey streaked sky, with the +rain-swept hills of Ceylon, just one shade greyer, +lining the Eastern skyline. So under many +difficulties it will be carried on, which may explain +if it does not excuse any slurring of a style, which +is at its best but plain English.</p> + +<p>There was one memorable night when I walked +forth with my head throbbing and my whole +frame quivering from the villa of Mr. Southey +at Merthyr. Behind me the brazen glare of +Dowlais iron-works lit up the sky, and in front +twinkled the many lights of the Welsh town. For +two hours my wife and I had sat within listening +to the whispering voices of the dead, voices which +are so full of earnest life, and of desperate endeavours +to pierce the barrier of our dull senses. +They had quivered and wavered around us, giving +us pet names, sweet sacred things, the intimate +talk of the olden time. Graceful lights, signs of +spirit power had hovered over us in the darkness. +It was a different and a wonderful world. Now +with those voices still haunting our memories we +had slipped out into the material world—a world +of glaring iron works and of twinkling cottage +windows. As I looked down on it all I grasped +my wife's hand in the darkness and I cried aloud, +"My God, if they only knew—if they could only +know!" Perhaps in that cry, wrung from my +very soul, lay the inception of my voyage to the +other side of the world. The wish to serve was +strong upon us both. God had given us wonderful +signs, and they were surely not for ourselves alone.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + +<p>I had already done the little I might. From +the moment that I had understood the overwhelming +importance of this subject, and realised +how utterly it must change and chasten the whole +thought of the world when it is whole-heartedly +accepted, I felt it good to work in the matter and +understood that all other work which I had ever +done, or could ever do, was as nothing compared +to this. Therefore from the time that I had +finished the history of the Great War on which I +was engaged, I was ready to turn all my remaining +energies of voice or hand to the one great end. +At first I had little of my own to narrate, and my +task was simply to expound the spiritual philosophy +as worked out by the thoughts and experiences +of others, showing folk so far as I was able, +that the superficial and ignorant view taken of it +in the ordinary newspapers did not touch the heart +of the matter. My own experiences were limited +and inconclusive, so that it was the evidence of +others which I quoted. But as I went forward +signs were given in profusion to me also, such +signs as were far above all error or deception, so +that I was able to speak with that more vibrant +note which comes not from belief or faith, but from +personal experience and knowledge. I had found +that the wonderful literature of Spiritualism did +not reach the people, and that the press was so full +of would-be jocosities and shallow difficulties that +the public were utterly misled. Only one way +was left, which was to speak to the people face to +face. This was the task upon which I set forth, +and it had led me to nearly every considerable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +city of Great Britain from Aberdeen to Torquay. +Everywhere I found interest, though it varied +from the heavier spirit of the sleepy cathedral +towns to the brisk reality of centres of life and +work like Glasgow or Wolverhampton. Many a +time my halls were packed, and there were as +many outside as inside the building. I have no +eloquence and make profession of none, but I am +audible and I say no more than I mean and can +prove, so that my audiences felt that it was +indeed truth so far as I could see it, which I +conveyed. Their earnestness and receptiveness +were my great help and reward in my venture. +Those who had no knowledge of what my views +were assembled often outside my halls, waving +banners and distributing tracts, but never once in +the course of addressing 150,000 people, did I +have disturbance in my hall. I tried, while never +flinching from truth, to put my views in such a +way as to hurt no one's feelings, and although I +have had clergymen of many denominations as my +chairmen, I have had thanks from them and no +remonstrance. My enemies used to follow and +address meetings, as they had every right to do, +in the same towns. It is curious that the most +persistent of these enemies were Jesuits on the one +side and Evangelical sects of the Plymouth +Brethren type upon the other. I suppose the +literal interpretation of the Old Testament was +the common bond.</p> + +<p>However this is digression, and when the +digressions are taken out of this book there will not +be much left. I get back to the fact that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +overwhelming effect of the Merthyr Séance and of +others like it, made my wife and myself feel that +when we had done what we could in Britain we +must go forth to further fields. Then came the +direct invitation from spiritual bodies in Australia. +I had spent some never-to-be-forgotten days with +Australian troops at the very crisis of the war. +My heart was much with them. If my message +could indeed bring consolation to bruised hearts +and to bewildered minds—and I had boxes full of +letters to show that it did—then to whom should +I carry it rather than to those who had fought so +splendidly and lost so heavily in the common +cause? I was a little weary also after three years +of incessant controversy, speaking often five times +a week, and continually endeavouring to uphold +the cause in the press. The long voyage presented +attractions, even if there was hard work at the end +of it. There were difficulties in the way. Three +children, boys of eleven and nine, with a girl of +seven, all devotedly attached to their home and +their parents, could not easily be left behind. If +they came a maid was also necessary. The pressure +upon me of correspondence and interviews +would be so great that my old friend and secretary, +Major Wood, would be also needed. Seven of us +in all therefore, and a cheque of sixteen hundred +pounds drawn for our return tickets, apart from +outfit, before a penny could be entered on the +credit side. However, Mr. Carlyle Smythe, the +best agent in Australia, had taken the matter up, +and I felt that we were in good hands. The +lectures would be numerous, controversies severe,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +the weather at its hottest, and my own age over +sixty. But there are compensating forces, and I +was constantly aware of their presence. I may +count our adventures as actually beginning from +the luncheon which was given us in farewell a +week or so before our sailing by the spiritualists of +England. Harry Engholm, most unselfish of men, +and a born organiser among our most unorganised +crowd, had the matter in hand, so it was bound to +be a success. There was sitting room at the +Holborn Restaurant for 290 people, and it was all +taken up three weeks before the event. The +secretary said that he could have filled the Albert +Hall. It was an impressive example of the +solidity of the movement showing itself for the +moment round us, but really round the cause. +There were peers, doctors, clergymen, officers of +both services, and, above all, those splendid lower +middle class folk, if one talks in our material earth +terms, who are the spiritual peers of the nation. +Many professional mediums were there also, and +I was honoured by their presence, for as I said +in my remarks, I consider that in these days of +doubt and sorrow, a genuine professional medium +is the most useful member of the whole community. +Alas! how few they are! Four +photographic mediums do I know in all Britain, +with about twelve physical phenomena mediums +and as many really reliable clairvoyants. What +are these among so many? But there are +many amateur mediums of various degrees, +and the number tends to increase. Perhaps +there will at last be an angel to every church<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +as in the days of John. I see dimly the time +when two congregations, the living and those +who have passed on, shall move forward together +with the medium angel as the bridge between +them.</p> + +<p>It was a wonderful gathering, and I only wish +I could think that my own remarks rose to the +height of the occasion. However, I did my best +and spoke from my heart. I told how the +Australian visit had arisen, and I claimed that the +message that I would carry was the most important +that the mind of man could conceive, +implying as it did the practical abolition of death, +and the reinforcement of our present religious +views by the actual experience of those who have +made the change from the natural to the spiritual +bodies. Speaking of our own experiences, I +mentioned that my wife and I had actually +spoken face to face beyond all question or doubt +with eleven friends or relatives who had passed +over, their direct voices being in each case audible, +and their conversation characteristic and evidential—in +some cases marvellously so. Then with +a sudden impulse I called upon those in the +audience who were prepared to swear that they +had had a similar experience to stand up and +testify. It seemed for a moment as if the whole +audience were on their feet. <i>The Times</i> next day +said 250 out of 290 and I am prepared to accept +that estimate. Men and women, of all professions +and social ranks—I do not think that I +exaggerated when I said that it was the most +remarkable demonstration that I had ever seen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +and that nothing like it had ever occurred in the +City of London.</p> + +<p>It was vain for those journals who tried to +minimise it to urge that in a Baptist or a Unitarian +assembly all would have stood up to testify to +their own faith. No doubt they would, but this +was not a case of faith, it was a case of bearing +witness to fact. There were people of all creeds, +Church, dissent, Unitarian and ex-materialists. +They were testifying to an actual objective experience +as they might have testified to having +seen the lions in Trafalgar Square. If such a +public agreement of evidence does not establish a +fact then it is indeed impossible, as Professor +Challis remarked long ago, to prove a thing by +any human testimony whatever. I confess that +I was amazed. When I remember how many +years it was before I myself got any final personal +proofs I should have thought that the vast +majority of Spiritualists were going rather upon +the evidence of others than upon their own. And +yet 250 out of 290 had actually joined hands across +the border. I had no idea that the direct proof +was so widely spread.</p> + +<p>I have always held that people insist too much +upon direct proof. What direct proof have we of +most of the great facts of Science? We simply +take the word of those who have examined. How +many of us have, for example, seen the rings of +Saturn? We are assured that they are there, and +we accept the assurance. Strong telescopes are +rare, and so we do not all expect to see the rings +with our own eyes. In the same way strong +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>mediums are rare, and we cannot all expect to +experience the higher psychic results. But if the +assurance of those who have carefully experimented, +of the Barretts, the Hares, the Crookes, +the Wallaces, the Lodges and the Lombrosos, is +not enough, then it is manifest that we are dealing +with this matter on different terms to those +which we apply to all the other affairs of science. +It would of course be different if there were a +school of patient investigators who had gone +equally deeply into the matter and come to +opposite conclusions. Then we should certainly +have to find the path of truth by individual +effort. But such a school does not exist. Only +the ignorant and inexperienced are in total +opposition, and the humblest witness who has +really sought the evidence has more weight than +they.</p> + +<div class="figcenter extraspacetop extraspacebot"><span class='imgnum'><a name="I_16" id="I_16">[16]</a></span> +<img src="images/gs03.jpg" width="380" height="230" alt="THE GOD-SPEED LUNCHEON IN LONDON." title="" /> +<p class="center caption">THE GOD-SPEED LUNCHEON IN LONDON.</p> +<p class="blockquotetn nr5right"><i>See page 15.</i><br /></p> +<p class="blockquotetn center">On this occasion 250 out of 290 guests rose as testimony that they were in personal touch with their dead.</p> +</div> + +<p>After the luncheon my wife made the final +preparations—and only ladies can tell what it +means to fit out six people with tropical and semi-tropical +outfits which will enable them for eight +months to stand inspection in public. I employed +the time by running down to Devonshire +to give addresses at Exeter and Torquay, with +admirable audiences at both. Good Evan Powell +had come down to give me a last séance, and I had +the joy of a few last words with my arisen son, who +blessed me on my mission and assured me that I +would indeed bring solace to bruised hearts. +The words he uttered were a quotation from my +London speech at which Powell had not been +present, nor had the verbatim account of it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +appeared anywhere at that time. It was one +more sign of how closely our words and actions +are noted from the other side. Powell was tired, +having given a sitting the night before, so the +proceedings were short, a few floating lights, my +son and my sister's son to me, one or two greetings +to other sitters, and it was over.</p> + +<p>Whilst in Exeter I had a discussion with those +who would break away from Christianity. They +are a strong body within the movement, and how +can Christians be surprised at it when they +remember that for seventy years they have had +nothing but contempt and abuse for the true light-bearers +of the world? Is there at the present +moment one single bishop, or one head of a Free +Church, who has the first idea of psychic truth? +Dr. Parker had, in his day, so too Archdeacons +Wilberforce and Colley, Mr. Haweis and a few +others. General Booth has also testified to +spiritual communion with the dead. But what +have Spiritualists had in the main save misrepresentation +and persecution? Hence the movement +has admittedly, so far as it is an organised +religion—and it has already 360 churches and +1,000 building funds—taken a purely Unitarian +turn. This involves no disrespect towards Him +Whom they look upon as the greatest Spirit who +ever trod the earth, but only a deep desire to communicate +direct without intermediary with that +tremendous centre of force from and to whom all +things radiate or return. They are very earnest +and good men, these organised religious Spiritualists, +and for the most part, so far as my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +experience goes, are converts from materialism +who, having in their materialistic days said very +properly that they would believe nothing which +could not be proved to them, are ready now with +Thomas to be absolutely wholehearted when the +proof of survival and spirit communion has +actually reached them. There, however, the +proof ends, nor will they go further than the proof +extends, as otherwise their original principles +would be gone. Therefore they are Unitarians +with a breadth of vision which includes Christ, +Krishna, Buddha and all the other great spirits +whom God has sent to direct different lines of +spiritual evolution which correspond to the +different needs of the various races of mankind. +Our information from the beyond is that this +evolution is continued beyond the grave, and very +far on until all details being gradually merged, +they become one as children of God. With a +deep reverence for Christ it is undeniable that the +organised Spiritualist does not accept vicarious +atonement nor original sin, and believes that a man +reaps as he sows with no one but himself to pull +out the weeds. It seems to me the more virile +and manly doctrine, and as to the texts which +seem to say otherwise, we cannot deny that the +New Testament has been doctored again and +again in order to square the record of the Scriptures +with the practice of the Church. Professor +Nestle, in the preface to a work on theology (I +write far from books of reference), remarks that +there were actually officials named "Correctores," +who were appointed at the time of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +Council of Nicæa for this purpose, and St. Jerome, +when he constructed the Vulgate, complains to +Pope Damasus that it is practically a new book +that he is making, putting any sin arising upon the +Pope's head. In the face of such facts we can +only accept the spirit of the New Testament +fortified with common sense, and using such +interpretation as brings most spiritual strength to +each of us. Personally, I accept the view of the +organised Spiritual religion, for it removes difficulties +which formerly stood between me and the +whole Christian system, but I would not say or +do anything which would abash those others who +are getting real spiritual help from any sort of +Christian belief. The gaining of spirituality and +widening of the personality are the aims of life, +and how it is done is the business of the individual. +Every creed has produced its saints and has to +that extent justified its existence. I like the +Unitarian position of the main Spiritual body, +however, because it links the movement up with +the other great creeds of the world and makes it +more accessible to the Jew, the Mohammedan or the +Buddhist. It is far too big to be confined within +the palings of Christianity.</p> + +<p>Here is a little bit of authentic teaching from +the other side which bears upon the question. I +take it from the remarkable record of Mr. Miller +of Belfast, whose dialogues with his son after the +death of the latter seem to me to be as certainly +true as any case which has come to my notice. +On asking the young soldier some question about +the exact position of Christ in religion he modestly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +protested that such a subject was above his head, +and asked leave to bring his higher guide to answer +the question. Using a fresh voice and in a new +and more weighty manner the medium then +said:—</p> + +<p>"I wish to answer your question. Jesus the +Christ is the proper designation. Jesus was +perfect humanity. Christ was the God idea in +Him. Jesus, on account of His purity, manifested +in the highest degree the psychic powers +which resulted in His miracles. Jesus never +preached the blood of the lamb. The disciples +after His ascension forgot the message in admiration +of the man. The Christ is in every +human being, and so are the psychic forces which +were used by Jesus. If the same attention were +given to spiritual development which you give to +the comfort and growth of your material bodies +your progress in spiritual life would be rapid and +would be characterised by the same works as were +performed by Jesus. The one essential thing for +all on earth to strive after is a fuller knowledge +and growth in spiritual living."</p> + +<p>I think that the phrase, "In their admiration of +the man they forgot His message," is as pregnant +a one as I ever heard.</p> + +<p>To come back then to the discussion at Exeter, +what I said then and feel now is that every +Spiritualist is free to find his own path, and that +as a matter of fact his typical path is a Unitarian +one, but that this in no way obscures the fact that +our greatest leaders, Lodge, Barrett, Ellis Powell, +Tweedale, are devoted sons of the Church, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +our literature is full of Christian aspiration, and +that our greatest prophet, Vale Owen, is a priest +of a particularly sacerdotal turn of mind. We are +in a transition stage, and have not yet found any +common theological position, or any common +position at all, save that the dead carry on, that +they do not change, that they can under proper +physical conditions communicate with us, and +that there are many physical signs by which they +make their presence known to us. That is our +common ground, and all beyond that is matter of +individual observation and inference. Therefore, +we are not in a position to take on any anti-Christian +agitation, for it would be against the +conscience of the greater part of our own people.</p> + +<p>Well, it is clear that if I do not begin my book I +shall finish it before I have begun, so let me end +this chapter by saying that in despite of all superstition +we started for Australia in the good ship +"Naldera" (Capt. Lewellin, R.N.R.), on Friday, +August 13th, 1920. As we carried two bishops +in addition to our ominous dates we were foredoomed +by every nautical tradition. Our party +were my dear, splendid wife, who has shared both +my evidence and my convictions. She it is who, +by breaking up her household, leaving her beloved +home, breaking the schooling of her children, and +venturing out upon a sea voyage, which of all +things she hates, has made the real sacrifice for +the cause. As to me, I am fond of change and +adventure, and heartily agree with President +Roosevelt when he said that the grandest sport +upon earth is to champion an unpopular cause<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +which you know to be true. With us were Denis, +Malcolm and Baby, concerning whom I wrote +the "Three of them" sketches some years +ago. In their train was Jakeman, most faithful +of maids, and in mine Major Wood, who has been +mixed up in my life ever since as young men we +played both cricket and football in the same team. +Such was the little party who set forth to try and +blow that smouldering glow of truth which already +existed in Australia, into a more lively flame.</p> + + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<div class="blockquotech extraspacebot"><p>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 novelist.—The Mango +trick.—Snakes.—The Catamarans.—The Robber Castles +of Ceylon.—Doctrine of Reincarnation.—Whales and +Whalers.—Perth.—The Bight.</p></div> + + +<p>We had a favourable journey across the Bay and +came without adventure to Gibraltar, that strange +crag, Arabic by name, African in type, Spanish +by right, and British by might. I trust that my +whole record has shown me to be a loyal son of +the Empire, and I recognise that we must have a +secure line of communications with the East, but +if any change could give us Ceuta, on the opposite +African coast, instead of this outlying corner of +proud old Spain, it would be good policy as well +as good morality to make the change. I wonder +how we should like it if the French held a garrison +at Mount St. Michael in Cornwall, which would +be a very similar situation. Is it worth having +a latent enemy who at any time might become an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +active one, or is it wiser to hold them to us by the +memory of a great voluntary act of justice? +They would pay, of course, for all quays, breakwaters +and improvements, which would give us +the money to turn Ceuta into a worthy substitute, +which could be held without offending the pride +of a great nation, as old and proud as ourselves. +The whole lesson of this great war is that no +nation can do what is unjust with impunity, and +that sooner or later one's sin will find one out. +How successful seemed all the scheming of +Frederick of Prussia! But what of Silesia and +of Poland now? Only on justice can you build +with a permanent foundation, and there is no +justice in our tenure of Gibraltar. We had only +an hour ashore, a great joy to the children, and +carried away a vague impression of grey-shirted +Tommies, swarthy loungers, one long, cobblestoned +street, scarlet blossoms, and a fine Governor's +house, in which I picture that brave old +warrior, Smith-Dorrien, writing a book which +will set all the critics talking, and the military +clubs buzzing a year or two from now. I do not +know if he was really forced to fight at Le Cateau, +though our sympathies must always go to the man +who fights, but I do feel that if he had had his way +and straightened the salient of Ypres, there would +have been a mighty saving of blood and tears. +There were sentimental reasons against it, but I +can think of no material ones—certainly none +which were worth all the casualties of the Salient. +I had only one look at the place, and that by +night, but never shall I forget the murderous<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +loop, outlined by star shells, nor the horrible +noises which rose up from that place of wrath and +misery.</p> + +<p>On August 19th we were running up the eastern +Spanish coast, a most desolate country of high +bare cliffs and barren uplands, studded with aged +towers which told of pirate raids of old. These +Mediterranean shore dwellers must have had a +hellish life, when the Barbary Rover was afloat, +and they might be wakened any night by the +Moslem yell. Truly, if the object of human life +was chastening by suffering, then we have given +it to each other in full measure. If this were the +only life I do not know how the hypothesis of the +goodness of God could be sustained, since our +history has been one hardly broken record of +recurring miseries, war, famine, and disease, +from the ice to the equator. I should still be a +materialist, as I was of yore, if it were not for the +comfort and teaching from beyond, which tells +me that this is the worst—far the worst—and that +by its standard everything else becomes most +gloriously better, so long as we help to make +it so. "If the boys knew what it was like +over here," said a dead soldier, "they would +just jump for it." He added however, "If +they did that they would surely miss it." We +cannot bluff Providence, or short-circuit things +to our liking.</p> + +<p>We got ashore once more at Marseilles. I saw +converted German merchant ships, with names +like "Burgomeister Müller," in the harbour, and +railway trucks with "Mainz-Cöln" still marked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +upon their flanks—part of the captured loot. +Germany, that name of terror, how short is the +time since we watched you well-nigh all-powerful, +mighty on land, dangerous on the sea, conquering +the world with your commerce and threatening it +with your arms! You had everything, numbers, +discipline, knowledge, industry, bravery, organisation, +all in the highest—such an engine as the world +has never seen. And now—Ichabod! Ichabod! +Your warships lie under the waves, your liners +fly the flags of your enemies, your mother Rhine +on either bank hears the bugles of your invaders. +What was wanting in you to bring you to such a +pass? Was it not spirituality? Had not your +churches become as much a department of State +as the Post Office, where every priest and pastor +was in State pay, and said that which the State +ordained? All other life was at its highest, but +spiritual life was dead, and because it was dead +all the rest had taken on evil activities which could +only lead to dissolution and corruption. Had +Germany obeyed the moral law would she not +now be great and flourishing, instead of the ruin +which we see? Was ever such an object lesson +in sin and its consequence placed before the +world? But let us look to it, for we also have +our lesson to learn, and our punishment is surely +waiting if we do not learn it. If now after such +years we sink back into old ruts and do not make +an earnest effort for real religion and real active +morality, then we cumber the ground, and it is +time that we were swept away, for no greater +chance of reform can ever come to us.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> + +<p>I saw some of the Senegal troops in the streets +of Marseilles—a whole battalion of them marching +down for re-embarkation. They are fierce, hard +soldiers, by the look of them, for the negro is a +natural fighter, as the prize ring shows, and these +have long service training upon the top of this +racial pugnacity. They look pure savages, with +the tribal cuts still upon their faces, and I do not +wonder that the Germans objected to them, +though we cannot doubt that the Germans would +themselves have used their Askaris in Europe as +well as in Africa if they could have done so. The +men who had as allies the murderers of the Armenians +would not stick at trifles. I said during the +war, and I can clearly see now, that the way in +which the war was fought will prove hardly second +to the war itself as a misfortune to the human +race. A clean war could end in a clean peace. +But how can we ever forget the poison gas, the +Zeppelin bombardments of helpless cities, the +submarine murders, the scattering of disease +germs, and all the other atrocities of Germany? +No water of oblivion can ever wash her clean. +She had one chance, and only one. It was to at +once admit it all herself and to set to work purging +her national guilt by punishing guilty individuals. +Perhaps she may even now save herself and +clear the moral atmosphere of the world by +doing this. But time passes and the signs are +against it. There can be no real peace in the +world until voluntary reparation has been made. +Forced reparation can only make things worse, +for it cannot satisfy us, and it must embitter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +them. I long for real peace, and should love +to see our Spiritualist bodies lead the van. But +the time is not yet and it is realities we need, not +phrases.</p> + +<p>Old travellers say that they never remember +the Mediterranean so hot. We went down it +with a following breeze which just neutralised +our own head wind, the result being a quivering +tropical heat. With the Red Sea before us it was +no joke to start our trials so soon, and already the +children began to wilt. However, Major Wood +kept them at work for the forenoons and discipline +still flourished. On the third day out we +were south of Crete, and saw an island lying there +which is surely the same in the lee of which Paul's +galley took refuge when Euroclydon was behaving +so badly. I had been asked to address the first-class +passengers upon psychic religion that evening, +and it was strange indeed to speak in those waters, +for I knew well that however ill my little pip-squeak +might compare with that mighty voice, +yet it was still the same battle of the unseen +against the material, raging now as it did 2,000 +years ago. Some 200 of the passengers, with the +Bishop of Kwang-Si, turned up, and a better +audience one could not wish, though the acoustic +properties of the saloon were abominable. However, +I got it across, though I was as wet as if I +had fallen overboard when I had finished. I was +pleased to learn afterwards that among the most +keen of my audience were every colored man and +woman on the ship, Parsees, Hindoos, Japanese +and Mohammedans.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you believe it is true?" they were asked +next day.</p> + +<p>"We <i>know</i> that it is true," was the answer, and +it came from a lady with a red caste-mark like a +wafer upon her forehead. So far as I could learn +she spoke for all the Eastern folk.</p> + +<p>And the others? At least I set them talking +and thinking. I heard next morning of a queue +of six waiting at the barber's all deep in theological +discussion, with the barber himself, razor +in hand, joining warmly in. "There has never +been so much religion talked on a P. & O. ship +since the line was started," said one old traveller. +It was all good-humoured and could do no harm. +Before we had reached Port Said all my books on +the subject were lent out to eager readers, and I +was being led aside into remote corners and cross-questioned +all day. I have a number of good +psychic photographs with me, some of them of my +own taking, and all of them guaranteed, and I find +these valuable as making folk realise that my +words do in truth represent realities. I have the +famous fairy photos also, which will appear in +England in the Christmas number of the <i>Strand</i>. +I feel as if it were a delay-action mine which I had +left behind me. I can imagine the cry of "Fake!" +which will arise. But they will stand investigation. +It has of course nothing to do with +Spiritualism proper, but everything which can +shake the mind out of narrow, material grooves, +and make it realise that endless worlds surround +us, separated only by difference of vibration, +must work in the general direction of truth.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Difference of Vibration"—I have been trying +lately to get behind mere words and to realise +more clearly what this may mean. It is a fascinating +and fruitful line of thought. It begins with +my electric fan whizzing over my head. As it +starts with slow vibration I see the little propellers. +Soon they become a dim mist, and finally I can +see them no more. But they are there. At any +moment, by slowing the movement, I can bring +them back to my vision. Why do I not see it all +the time? Because the impression is so fast that +my retina has not time to register it. Can we +not imagine then that some objects may emit the +usual light waves, long enough and slow enough +to leave a picture, but that other objects may send +waves which are short and steep, and therefore +make so swift an impression that it is not recorded? +That, so far as I can follow it, is what we mean +by an object with a higher rate of vibration. It +is but a feeling out into the dark, but it is a hypothesis +which may serve us to carry on with, though +the clairvoyant seems to be not a person with a +better developed physical retina, but rather one +who has the power to use that which corresponds +with the retina in their own etheric bodies which +are in harmony with etheric waves from outside. +When a man can walk round a room and examine +the pictures with the back of his head, as Tom +Tyrrell has done, it is clear that it is not his +physical retina which is working. In countless +cases inquirers into magnetic phenomena have +caused their subjects to read with various parts +of their bodies. It is the other body, the etheric<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +body, the "spiritual" body of Paul, which lies +behind all such phenomena—that body which is +loose with all of us in sleep, but only exceptionally +in waking hours. Once we fully understand the +existence of that deathless etheric body, merged +in our own but occasionally detachable, we have +mastered many a problem and solved many a +ghost story.</p> + +<p>However, I must get back to my Cretan lecture. +The bishop was interested, and I lent him one of +the Rev. Charles Tweedale's pamphlets next day, +which shows how sadly Christianity has wandered +away from its early faith of spiritual gifts and +Communion of Saints. Both have now become +words instead of things, save among our ranks. +The bishop is a good fellow, red and rough like a +Boer farmer, but healthy, breezy, and Apostolic. +"Do mention his kind grey eyes," says my wife. +He may die a martyr yet in that inland diocese +of China—and he would not shrink from it. Meanwhile, +apart from his dogma, which must be +desperately difficult to explain to an educated +Chinaman, he must always be a centre of civilisation +and social effort. A splendid fellow—but he +suffers from what all bishops and all cardinals and +all Popes suffer from, and that is superannuation. +A physiologist has said that few men can ever +entertain a new idea after fifty. How then can any +church progress when all its leaders are over that +age? This is why Christianity has stagnated and +degenerated. If here and there one had a new +idea, how could it survive the pressure of the +others? It is hopeless. In this particular<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +question of psychic religion the whole order is an +inversion, for the people are ahead of the clergy +and the clergy of the bishops. But when the +laymen lead strongly enough the others will follow +unless they wish to see the whole Church organisation +dissolve.</p> + +<p>He was very interesting upon the state of +Christianity in China. Protestantism, thanks to +the joint British and American Missions, is gaining +upon Roman Catholicism, and has now far outstripped +it, but the Roman Catholic organisations +are very wealthy on account of ancient valuable +concessions and well-invested funds. In case of +a Bolshevist movement that may be a source of +danger, as it gives a reason for attack. The +Bishop made the very striking remark that if the +whites cleared right out of China all the Christian +Churches of divers creeds would within a generation +merge into one creed. "What have we to +do," they say, "with these old historical quarrels +which are hardly intelligible to us? We are all +followers of Christ, and that is enough." Truly, +the converted seem far ahead of those who converted +them. It is the priesthoods, the organisations, +the funds and the vested interests which +prevent the Churches from being united. In the +meanwhile ninety per cent. of our population shows +what it thinks by never entering into a church +at all. Personally, I can never remember since +I reached manhood feeling myself the better for +having gone into one. And yet I have been an +earnest seeker for truth. Verily, there is something +deep down which is rotten. It is want of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +fact, want of reality, words instead of things. +Only last Sunday I shuddered as I listened to the +hymns, and it amazed me to look around and see +the composed faces of those who were singing +them. Do they think what they are saying, or +does Faith atrophy some part of the brain? We +are "born through water and blood into the true +church." We drink precious blood. "He hath +broken the teeth in their jaw." Can such phrases +really mean anything to any thoughtful man? +If not, why continue them? You will have your +churches empty while you do. People will not +argue about it—they will, and do, simply stay +away. And the clergy go on stating and restating +incredible unproved things, while neglecting +and railing at those which could be proved +and believed. On our lines those nine out of +ten could be forced back to a reconsideration of +their position, even though that position would +not square with all the doctrines of present-day +Christianity, which would, I think, have offended +the early Christians as much as it does the earnest +thinkers of to-day.</p> + +<p>Port Said came at last, and we entered the Suez +Canal. It is a shocking thing that the entrance +to this, one of the most magnificent of the works of +man, are flanked by great sky advertisements of +various brands of whisky. The sale of whisky +may or may not be a tolerable thing, but its +flaunting advertisements, Dewar, Johnny Walker, +and the rest, have surely long been intolerable. +If anything would make me a total prohibitionist +those would. They are shameless. I do not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +know if some middle way could be found by which +light alcoholic drinks could remain—so light that +drunkenness would be hardly possible—but if this +cannot be done, then let us follow the noble +example of America. It is indeed shameful to +see at the very point of the world where some +noble sentiment might best be expressed these +huge reminders of that which has led to so much +misery and crime. To a Frenchman it must seem +even worse than to us, while what the abstemious +Mohammedan can think is beyond my imagination. +In that direction at least the religion of Mohammed +has done better than that of Christ. If all those +Esquimaux, South Sea Islanders and others who +have been converted to Christianity and then +debauched by drink, had followed the prophet +instead, it cannot be denied that their development +would have been a happier and a higher one, +though the cast-iron doctrines and dogmas of the +Moslem have dangers of their own.</p> + +<p>Has France ever had the credit she deserves +for the splendid faith with which she followed that +great beneficent genius Lesseps in his wonderful +work? It is beautiful from end to end, French +in its neatness, its order, its exquisite finish. +Truly the opposition of our people, both experts +and public, was a disgrace to us, though it sinks +into insignificance when compared with our colossal +national stupidity over the Channel tunnel. When +our descendants compute the sums spent in +shipping and transhipping in the great war, the +waste of merchant ships and convoys, the sufferings +of the wounded, the delay in reinforcements,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +the dependence upon the weather, they will agree +that our sin had found us out and that we have +paid a fitting price for our stupidity. Unhappily, +it was not our blind guides who paid it, but it was +the soldier and sailor and taxpayer, for the nation +always pays collectively for the individual blunder. +Would a hundred million pounds cover the cost of +that one? Well can I remember how a year +before war was declared, seeing clearly what was +coming, I sent three memoranda to the Naval +and Military authorities and to the Imperial +Council of Defence pointing out exactly what the +situation would be, and especially the danger to +our transports. It is admitted now that it was +only the strange inaction of the German light +forces, and especially their want of comprehension +of the possibilities of the submarine, which +enabled our Expeditionary Force to get across at +all, so that we might have lost the war within the +first month. But as to my poor memoranda, +which proved so terribly correct, I might as well +have dropped them into my own wastepaper +basket instead of theirs, and so saved the postage. +My only convert was Captain, now General, +Swinton, part inventor of the tanks, who acted +as Secretary to the Imperial Defence Committee, +and who told me at the time that my paper had set +him thinking furiously.</p> + +<p>Which leads my thoughts to the question of the +torpedoing of merchant vessels by submarines. +So sure was I that the Germans would do this, +that after knocking at official doors in vain, I +published a sketch called "Danger," which was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +written a year before the war, and depicted all +that afterwards occurred, even down to such small +details as the ships zig-zagging up Channel to +escape, and the submarines using their guns to +save torpedoes. I felt as if, like Solomon Eagle, +I could have marched down Fleet Street with a +brazier on my head if I could only call people's +attention to the coming danger. I saw naval +officers on the point, but they were strangely blind, +as is shown by the comments printed at the end of +"Danger," which give the opinions of several +admirals pooh-poohing my fears. Among others +I saw Captain Beatty, as he then was, and found +him alive to the possible danger, though he did not +suggest a remedy. His quiet, brisk personality +impressed me, and I felt that our national brain-errors +might perhaps be made good in the end by +the grit that is in us. But how hard were our tasks +from our want of foresight. Admiral Von Capelle +did me the honour to say during the war, in the +German Reichstag, that I was the only man who +had prophesied the conditions of the great naval +war. As a matter of fact, both Fisher and Scott +had done so, though they had not given it to the +public in the same detail—but nothing had been +done. We know now that there was not a single +harbour proof against submarines on our whole +East Coast. Truly the hand of the Lord was over +England. Nothing less could have saved her.</p> + +<p>We tied up to the bank soon after entering the +Canal, and lay there most of the night while a +procession of great ships moving northwards swept +silently past us in the ring of vivid light cast by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +their searchlights and our own. I stayed on +deck most of the night to watch them. The +silence was impressive—those huge structures +sweeping past with only the slow beat of their +propellers and the wash of their bow wave on +either side. No sooner had one of these great +shapes slid past than, looking down the Canal, one +saw the brilliant head light of another in the +distance. They are only allowed to go at the +slowest pace, so that their wash may not wear +away the banks. Finally, the last had passed, and +we were ourselves able to cast off our warps and +push southwards. I remained on deck seeing the +sun rise over the Eastern desert, and then a +wonderful slow-moving panorama of Egypt as the +bank slid slowly past us. First desert, then green +oases, then the long line of rude fortifications from +Kantara downwards, with the camp fires smoking, +groups of early busy Tommies and endless dumps +of stores. Here and to the south was the point +where the Turks with their German leaders +attempted the invasion of Egypt, carrying flat-bottomed +boats to ford the Canal. How they +were ever allowed to get so far is barely comprehensible, +but how they were ever permitted +to get back again across one hundred miles of +desert in the face of our cavalry and camelry +is altogether beyond me. Even their guns got +back untaken. They dropped a number of mines +in the Canal, but with true Turkish slovenliness +they left on the banks at each point the +long bamboos on which they had carried them +across the desert, which considerably lessened the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +work of those who had to sweep them up. The +sympathies of the Egyptians seems to have been +against us, and yet they have no desire to pass +again under the rule of the Turk. Our dominion +has had the effect of turning a very poor country +into a very rich one, and of securing some sort of +justice for the fellah or peasant, but since we get +no gratitude and have no trade preference it is +a little difficult to see how we are the better for all +our labours. So long as the Canal is secure—and +it is no one's interest to injure it—we should be +better if the country governed itself. We have +too many commitments, and if we have to take +new ones, such as Mesopotamia, it would be well +to get rid of some of the others where our task +is reasonably complete. "We never let the +youngsters grow up," said a friendly critic. +There is, however, I admit, another side to +the question, and the idea of permitting a +healthy moral place like Port Said to relapse +into the hotbed of gambling and syphilis which +it used to be, is repugnant to the mind. Which +is better—that a race be free, immoral and +incompetent, or that it be forced into morality +and prosperity? That question meets us at every +turn.</p> + +<p>The children have been delighted by the fish on +the surface of the Canal. Their idea seems to be +that the one aim and object of our excursion is to +see sharks in the sea and snakes in Australia. +We did actually see a shark half ashore upon +a sandbank in one of the lower lakes near +Suez. It was lashing about with a frantic<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +tail, and so got itself off into deep water. To +the west all day we see the very wild and +barren country through which our ancestors +used to drive upon the overland route when they +travelled by land from Cairo to Suez. The smoke +of a tiny mail-train marks the general line of that +most desolate road. In the evening we were +through the Canal and marked the rugged shore +upon our left down which the Israelites pursued +their way in the direction of Sinai. One wonders +how much truth there is in the narrative. On the +one hand it is impossible to doubt that something +of the sort did occur. On the other, the impossibility +of so huge a crowd living on the rare +wells of the desert is manifest. But numbers are +not the strong point of an Oriental historian. +Perhaps a thousand or two may have followed +their great leader upon that perilous journey. I +have heard that Moses either on his own or +through his wife was in touch with Babylonian +habits. This would explain those tablets of stone, +or of inscribed clay burned into brick, which we +receive as the Ten Commandments, and which only +differ from the moral precepts of other races in +the strange limitations and omissions. At least +ten new ones have long been needed to include +drunkenness, gluttony, pride, envy, bigotry, lying +and the rest.</p> + +<p>The weather grows hotter and hotter, so that +one aged steward who has done 100 voyages +declares it to be unique. One passenger has died. +Several stewards have collapsed. The wind still +keeps behind us. In the midst of all this I had an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +extensively signed petition from the second class +passengers that I should address them. I did so, +and spoke on deck for forty minutes to a very +attentive audience which included many of the +officers of the ship. I hope I got my points across +to them. I was a sad example of sweated labour +when I had finished. My wife tells me that the +people were impressed. As I am never aware of +the presence of any individual when I am speaking +on this subject I rely upon my wife's very quick +and accurate feminine impressions. She sits +always beside me, notes everything, gives me her +sympathetic atmosphere which is of such psychic +importance, and finally reports the result. If any +point of mine seems to her to miss its mark I +unhesitatingly take it out. It interests me to hear +her tell of the half-concealed sneer with which +men listen to me, and how it turns into interest, +bewilderment and finally something like reverence +and awe as the brain gradually realises the +proved truth of what I am saying, which upsets +the whole philosophy on which their lives are +built.</p> + +<p>There are several Australian officers on board +who are coming from the Russian front full of +dreadful stories of Bolshevist atrocities, seen with +their own eyes. The executioners were Letts +and Chinese, and the instigators renegade Jews, +so that the Russians proper seem to have been the +more or less innocent dupes. They had dreadful +photographs of tortured and mutilated men as +corroboration. Surely hell, the place of punishment +and purgatorial expiation, is actually upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +this earth in such cases. One leader seems to have +been a Sadic madman, for after torturing his +victims till even the Chinese executioners struck, +he would sit playing a violin very exquisitely +while he gloated over their agonies. All these +Australian boys agree that the matter will burn +itself out, and that it will end in an immense +massacre of Jews which may involve the whole +seven millions now in Russia. God forbid, but +the outlook is ominous! I remember a prophecy +which I read early in the war that a great figure +would arise in the north and have power for six +years. If Lenin was the great figure then he has, +according to the prophet, about two years more +to run. But prophecy is fitful, dangerous work. +The way in which the founders of the Christian +faith all foretold the imminent end of the world +is an example. What they dimly saw was no +doubt the destruction of Jerusalem, which seems to +have been equally clear to Ezekiel 600 years +before, for his picture of cannibalism and dispersion +is very exact.</p> + +<p>It is wonderful what chances of gaining direct +information one has aboard a ship of this sort, +with its mixed crowd of passengers, many of +them famous in their own lines. I have already +alluded to the officers returning from Russia with +their prophecies of evil. But there are many +other folk with tales of deep interest. There is a +Mr. Covell, a solid practical Briton, who may +prove to be a great pioneer, for he has made +farming pay handsomely in the very heart of +the Indian plains. Within a hundred miles of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +Lucknow he has founded the townlet of Covellpore, +where he handles 3,000 acres of wheat and cotton +with the aid of about the same number of natives. +This is the most practical step I have ever heard +of for forming a real indigenous white population +in India. His son was with him, going out to +carry on the work. Mr. Covell holds that the +irrigation of the North West of India is one of the +greatest wonders of the world, and Jacob the +engineer responsible. I had never heard of him, +nor, I am ashamed to say, had I heard of Sir +Leonard Rogers, who is one of those great men +like Sir Ronald Ross, whom the Indian Medical +Service throws up. Rogers has reduced the +mortality of cholera by intravenous injections of +hypertonic saline until it is only 15 per cent. +General Maude, I am informed, would almost +certainly have been saved, had it not been that +some false departmental economy had withheld +the necessary apparatus. Leprosy also seems in +a fair way to yielding to Rogers' genius for +investigation.</p> + +<p>It is sad to hear that this same Indian Medical +Service which has produced such giants as Fayrer, +Ross, and Rogers is in a fair way to absolute ruin, +because the conditions are such that good white +candidates will no longer enter it. White doctors +do not mind working with, or even under, natives +who have passed the same British examinations +as themselves, but they bar the native doctor who +has got through a native college in India, and is +on a far lower educational level than themselves. +To serve under such a man is an impossible<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +inversion. This is appreciated by the medical +authorities at home, the word is given to the +students, and the best men avoid the service. +So unless a change is made, the end is in sight of +the grand old service which has given so much to +humanity.</p> + +<p>Aden is remarkable only for the huge water +tanks cut to catch rain, and carved out of solid +rock. A whole captive people must have been +set to work on so colossal a task, and one wonders +where the poor wretches got water themselves +the while. Their work is as fresh and efficient as +when they left it. No doubt it was for the +watering, not of the population, but of the Egyptian +and other galleys on their way to Punt and +King Solomon's mines. It must be a weary life +for our garrison in such a place. There is strange +fishing, sea snakes, parrot fish and the like. It is +their only relaxation, for it is desert all round.</p> + +<p>Monsoon and swell and drifting rain in the +Indian Ocean. We heard that "thresh of the +deep sea rain," of which Kipling sings. Then at +last in the early morning the long quay of Bombay, +and the wonderful crowd of men of every race who +await an incoming steamer. Here at least half +our passengers were disgorged, young subalterns, +grey colonels, grave administrators, yellow-faced +planters, all the fuel which is grown in Britain and +consumed in the roaring furnace of India. So +devoted to their work, so unthanked and uncomprehended +by those for whom they work! They +are indeed a splendid set of men, and if they withdrew +I wonder how long it would be before the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +wild men of the frontier would be in Calcutta and +Bombay, as the Picts and Scots flowed over +Britain when the Roman legions were withdrawn. +What view will the coming Labour governments +of Britain take of our Imperial commitments? +Upon that will depend the future history of great +tracts of the globe which might very easily relapse +into barbarism.</p> + +<p>The ship seemed lonely when our Indian friends +were gone, for indeed, the pick of the company +went with them. Several pleased me by assuring +me as they left that their views of life had been +changed since they came on board the "Naldera." +To many I gave reading lists that they might look +further into the matter for themselves. A little +leaven in the great lump, but how can we help +leavening it all when we know that, unlike other +creeds, no true Spiritualist can ever revert, so +that while we continually gain, we never lose. +One hears of the converts to various sects, but +one does not hear of those who are driven out by +their narrow, intolerant doctrines. You can +change your mind about faiths, but not about +facts, and hence our certain conquest.</p> + +<p>One cannot spend even a single long day in +India without carrying away a wonderful +impression of the gentle dignity of the Indian +people. Our motor drivers were extraordinarily +intelligent and polite, and all we met gave the same +impression.</p> + +<p>India may be held by the sword, but it is certainly +kept very carefully in the scabbard, for we +hardly saw a soldier in the streets of this, its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +greatest city. I observed some splendid types +of manhood, however, among the native police. +We lunched at the Taj Mahal Hotel, and got back +tired and full of mixed impressions.</p> + +<p>Verily the ingenuity of children is wonderful. +They have turned their active minds upon the +problem of paper currency with fearsome results. +Baby writes cheques in quaint ways upon odd bits +of paper and brings them to me to be cashed. +Malcolm, once known as Dimples, has made a +series of pound and five pound notes of his own. +The bank they call the money shop. I can trace +every sort of atavism, the arboreal, the cave +dweller, the adventurous raider, and the tribal +instinct in the child, but this development seems +a little premature.</p> + +<p>Sunday once more, and the good Bishop +preaching. I wonder more and more what an +educated Chinaman would make of such doctrines. +To take an example, he has quoted to-day with +great approval, the action of Peter in discarding +the rite of circumcision as a proof of election. +That marked, according to the Bishop, the broad +comprehensive mind which could not confine the +mercies of God to any limited class. And yet +when I take up the œcumenical pronouncement +from the congress of Anglican bishops which he +has just attended, I find that baptism is made the +test, even as the Jews made circumcision. Have +the bishops not learned that there are millions +who revere the memory of Christ, whether they +look upon him as God or man, but who think that +baptism is a senseless survival of heathendom,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +like so many of our religious observances? The +idea that the Being who made the milky way can +be either placated or incensed by pouring a splash +of water over child or adult is an offence to reason, +and a slur upon the Divinity.</p> + +<p>Two weary days upon the sea with drifting rain +showers and wonderful scarlet and green sunsets. +Have beguiled the time with W. B. Maxwell's +"Lamp and the Mirror." I have long thought +that Maxwell was the greatest of British novelists, +and this book confirms me in my opinion. Who +else could have drawn such fine detail and yet so +broad and philosophic a picture? There may have +been single books which were better than Maxwell's +best—the "Garden of Allah," with its gorgeous +oriental colour would, for example, make a bid for +first place, but which of us has so splendid a list +of first class serious works as "Mrs. Thompson," +"The Rest Cure," "Vivian," "In Cotton Wool," +above all, "The Guarded Flame"—classics, every +one. Our order of merit will come out very +differently in a generation or so to what it stands +now, and I shall expect to find my nominee at the +top. But after all, what's the odds? You do +your work as well as you can. You pass. You +find other work to do. How the old work compares +with the other fellow's work can be a matter +of small concern.</p> + +<p>In Colombo harbour lay H.M.S. "Highflyer," +which we looked upon with the reverence which +everybody and everything which did well in the +war deserve from us—a saucy, rakish, speedy craft. +Several other steamers were flying the yellow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +quarantine flag, but our captain confided to me +that it was a recognised way of saying "no +visitors," and did not necessarily bear any pathological +meaning. As we had nearly two days +before we resumed our voyage I was able to +give all our party a long stretch on shore, finally +staying with my wife for the night at the Galle +Face Hotel, a place where the preposterous charges +are partly compensated for by the glorious rollers +which break upon the beach outside. I was +interested in the afternoon by a native conjurer +giving us what was practically a private performance +of the mango-tree trick. He did it so +admirably that I can well understand those who +think that it is an occult process. I watched the +man narrowly, and believe that I solved the little +mystery, though even now I cannot be sure. In +doing it he began by laying several objects out in a +casual way while hunting in his bag for his mango +seed. These were small odds and ends including +a little rag doll, very rudely fashioned, about six +or eight inches long. One got accustomed to the +presence of these things and ceased to remark +them. He showed the seed and passed it for +examination, a sort of large Brazil nut. He then +laid it among some loose earth, poured some water +on it, covered it with a handkerchief, and crooned +over it. In about a minute he exhibited the same, +or another seed, the capsule burst, and a light +green leaf protruding. I took it in my hands, +and it was certainly a real bursting mango seed, +but clearly it had been palmed and substituted +for the other. He then buried it again and kept<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +raising the handkerchief upon his own side, and +scrabbling about with his long brown fingers +underneath its cover. Then he suddenly whisked +off the handkerchief and there was the plant, a +foot or so high, with thick foliage and blossoms, +its root well planted in the earth. It was certainly +very startling.</p> + +<p>My explanation is that by a miracle of packing +the whole of the plant had been compressed into +the rag doll, or little cloth cylinder already mentioned. +The scrabbling of the hands under the +cloth was to smooth out the leaves after it was +freed from this covering. I observed that the +leaves were still rather crumpled, and that there +were dark specks of fungi which would not be there +if the plant were straight from nature's manufactory. +But it was wonderfully done when you +consider that the man was squatting in our +midst, we standing in a semi-circle around him, +with no adventitious aid whatever. I do not +believe that the famous Mr. Maskeleyne or any of +those other wise conjurers who are good enough +occasionally to put Lodge, Crookes and Lombroso +in their places, could have wrought a better +illusion.</p> + +<p>The fellow had a cobra with him which he +challenged me to pick up. I did so and gazed into +its strange eyes, which some devilry of man's had +turned to a lapis lazuli blue. The juggler said it +was the result of its skin-sloughing, but I have my +doubts. The poison bag had, I suppose, been +extracted, but the man seemed nervous and slipped +his brown hand between my own and the swaying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +venomous head with its peculiar flattened hood. +It is a fearsome beast, and I can realise what was +told me by a lover of animals that the snake was +the one creature from which he could get no return +of affection. I remember that I once had three +in my employ when the "Speckled Band" was +produced in London, fine, lively rock pythons, +and yet in spite of this profusion of realism +I had the experience of reading a review +which, after duly slating the play, wound up +with the scathing sentence, "The performance +ended with the production of a palpably artificial +serpent." Such is the reward of virtue. Afterwards +when the necessities of several travelling +companies compelled us to use dummy snakes we +produced a much more realistic effect. The real +article either hung down like a pudgy yellow bell +rope, or else when his tail was pinched, endeavoured +to squirm back and get level with the stage +carpenter, who pinched him, which was not in the +plot. The latter individual had no doubts at all +as to the dummy being an improvement upon +the real.</p> + +<p>Never, save on the west coast of Africa, have I +seen "the league-long roller thundering on the +shore," as here, where the Indian Ocean with its +thousand leagues of momentum hits the western +coast of Ceylon. It looks smooth out at sea, and +then you are surprised to observe that a good-sized +boat has suddenly vanished. Then it scoops upwards +once more on the smooth arch of the billow, +disappearing on the further slope. The native +catamarans are almost invisible, so that you see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +a row of standing figures from time to time on the +crest of the waves. I cannot think that any craft +in the world would come through rough water as +these catamarans with their long outriggers can +do. Man has made few more simple and more +effective inventions, and if I were a younger man +I would endeavour to introduce them to Brighton +beach, as once I introduced ski to Switzerland, +or auto-wheels to the British roads. I have other +work to do now, but why does not some sportsman +take the model, have it made in England, and then +give an exhibition in a gale of wind on the south +coast. It would teach our fishermen some possibilities +of which they are ignorant.</p> + +<p>As I stood in a sandy cove one of them came +flying in, a group of natives rushing out and +pulling it up on the beach. The craft consists only +of two planks edgewise and lengthwise. In the +nine-inch slit between them lay a number of great +twelve-pound fish, like cod, and tied to the side of +the boat was a ten-foot sword fish. To catch that +creature while standing on a couple of floating +planks must have been sport indeed, and yet the +craft is so ingenious that to a man who can at a +pinch swim for it, there is very small element of +danger. The really great men of our race, the +inventor of the wheel, the inventor of the lever, +the inventor of the catamaran are all lost in the +mists of the past, but ethnologists have found that +the cubic capacity of the neolithic brain is as great +as our own.</p> + +<p>There are two robbers' castles, as the unhappy +visitor calls them, facing the glorious sea, the one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +the Galle Face, the other the Mount Lavinia +Hotel. They are connected by an eight-mile +road, which has all the colour and life and variety +of the East for every inch of the way. In that +glorious sun, under the blue arch of such a sky, +and with the tropical trees and flowers around, +the poverty of these people is very different from +the poverty of a London slum. Is there in all +God's world such a life as that, and can it really +be God's world while we suffer it to exist! Surely, +it is a palpable truth that no one has a right to +luxuries until every one has been provided with +necessities, and among such necessities a decent +environment is the first. If we had spent money +to fight slumland as we spent it to fight Germany, +what a different England it would be. The world +moves all the same, and we have eternity before +us. But some folk need it.</p> + +<p>A doctor came up to me in the hotel and told +me that he was practising there, and had come +recently from England. He had lost his son in +the war, and had himself become unsettled. +Being a Spiritualist he went to Mrs. Brittain, the +medium, who told him that his boy had a message +for him which was that he would do very well in +Colombo. He had himself thought of Ceylon, but +Mrs. B. had no means of knowing that. He had +obeyed the advice thus given, and was glad that he +had done so. How much people may miss by +cutting themselves away from these ministers of +grace! In all this opposition to Spiritualism the +punishment continually fits the crime.</p> + +<p>Once again we shed passengers and proceeded in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +chastened mood with empty decks where once it +was hard to move. Among others, good Bishop +Banister of Kwang-si had gone. I care little +for his sacramental and vicarious doctrines, but +I am very sure that wherever his robust, kindly, +sincere personality may dwell is bound to be a +centre of the true missionary effort—the effort +which makes for the real original teaching of his +Master, submission to God and goodwill to our +fellow men.</p> + +<p>Now we are on the last lap with nothing but a +clear stretch of salt water between our prow and +West Australia. Our mission from being a sort +of dream takes concrete form and involves definite +plans. Meanwhile we plough our way through a +deep blue sea with the wind continually against +us. I have not seen really calm water since we +left the Canal. We carry on with the usual +routine of ship sports, which include an England +and Australia cricket match, in which I have the +honour of captaining England, a proper ending +for a long if mediocre career as a cricketer. We +lost by one run, which was not bad considering +our limited numbers.</p> + +<p>Posers of all sorts are brought to me by thoughtful +inquirers, which I answer when I can. Often +I can't. One which is a most reasonable objection +has given me a day's thought. If, as is +certain, we can remember in our next life the +more important incidents of this one, why is it +that in this one we can remember nothing of that +previous spiritual career, which must have existed +since nothing can be born in time for eternity?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +Our friends on the other side cannot help us there, +nor can even such extended spiritual visions as +those of Vale Owen clear it up. On the whole we +must admit that our Theosophical friends, with +whom we quarrel for their absence of evidence, +have the best attempt at an explanation. I +imagine that man's soul has a cycle which is complete +in itself, and all of which is continuous and +self conscious. This begins with earth life. Then +at last a point is reached, it may be a reincarnation, +and a new cycle is commenced, the old one +being closed to our memory until we have reached +some lofty height in our further journey. Pure +speculation, I admit, but it would cover what we +know and give us a working hypothesis. I can +never excite myself much about the reincarnation +idea, for if it be so, it occurs seldom, and at long +intervals, with ten years spent in the other spheres +for one spent here, so that even admitting all that +is said by its supporters it is not of such great +importance. At the present rate of change this +world will be as strange as another sphere by the +time we are due to tread the old stage once more. +It is only fair to say that though many spiritualists +oppose it, there is a strong body, including +the whole French Allan Kardec school, who support +it. Those who have passed over may well +be divided upon the subject since it concerns their +far future and is a matter of speculation to them +as to us.</p> + +<p>Thrasher whales and sperm whales were seen +which aroused the old whaling thrill in my +heart. It was the more valuable Greenland whale<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +which I helped to catch, while these creatures are +those which dear old Frank Bullen, a childlike +sailor to the last, described in his "Cruise of the +Cachelot." How is it that sailors write such +perfect English. There are Bullen and Conrad, +both of whom served before the mast—the two +purest stylists of their generation. So was Loti +in France. There are some essays of Bullen's, +especially a description of a calm in the tropics, +and again of "Sunrise seen from the Crow's Nest," +which have not been matched in our time for +perfection of imagery and diction. They are both +in his "Idyls of the Sea." If there is compensation +in the beyond—and I know that there is—then +Frank Bullen is in great peace, for his whole +earthly life was one succession of troubles. When +I think of his cruel stepmother, his dreadful +childhood, his life on a Yankee blood ship, his +struggles as a tradesman, his bankruptcy, his +sordid worries, and finally, his prolonged ill-health, +I marvel at the unequal distribution of such +burdens. He was the best singer of a chanty +that I have ever heard, and I can hear him now +with his rich baritone voice trolling out "Sally +Brown" or "Stormalong." May I hear him once +again! Our dear ones tell us that there is no +great gap between what pleases us here and that +which will please us in the beyond. Our own +brains, had we ever used them in the matter, +should have instructed us that all evolution, +spiritual as well as material, must be gradual. +Indeed, once one knows psychic truth, one can, +reasoning backwards, perceive that we should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +unaided have come to the same conclusions, but +since we have all been deliberately trained not to +use our reason in religious matters, it is no wonder +that we have made rather a hash of it. Surely it +is clear enough that in the case of an artist the +artistic nature is part of the man himself. Therefore, +if he survives it must survive. But if it +survives it must have means of expression, or it is +a senseless thing. But means of expression implies +appreciation from others and a life on the +general lines of this one. So also of the drama, +music, science and literature, if we carry on they +carry on, and they cannot carry on without actual +expression and a public to be served.</p> + +<p>To the east of us and just beyond the horizon +lie the Cocos Islands, where Ross established his +strange little kingdom, and where the <i>Emden</i> +met its end—a glorious one, as every fair minded +man must admit. I have seen her stern post +since then in the hall of the Federal Parliament at +Melbourne, like some fossil monster, once a terror +and now for children to gaze at. As to the Cocos +Islands, the highest point is, I understand, about +twenty feet, and tidal waves are not unknown upon +the Pacific, so that the community holds its tenure +at very short and sudden notice to quit.</p> + +<p>On the morning of September 17th a low coast +line appeared upon the port bow—Australia at +last. It was the edge of the West Australian +State. The evening before a wireless had reached +me from the spiritualists of Perth saying that they +welcomed us and our message. It was a kind +thought and a helpful one. We were hardly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +moored in the port of Fremantle, which is about +ten miles from the capital, when a deputation of +these good, kind people was aboard, bearing great +bunches of wild flowers, most of which were new +to us. Their faces fell when they learned that I +must go on in the ship and that there was very +little chance of my being able to address them. +They are only connected with the other States by +one long thin railway line, 1,200 miles long, with +scanty trains which were already engaged, so that +unless we stuck to the ship we should have to pass +ten days or so before we could resume our journey. +This argument was unanswerable, and so the idea +of a meeting was given up.</p> + +<p>These kind people had two motors in attendance, +which must, I fear, have been a strain upon their +resources, for as in the old days the true believers +and practical workers are drawn from the poor and +humble. However, they certainly treated us +royally, and even the children were packed into +the motors. We skirted the Swan River, passed +through the very beautiful public park, and, +finally, lunched at the busy town, where Bone's +store would cut a respectable figure in London, +with its many departments and its roof restaurant. +It was surprising after our memories of England +to note how good and abundant was the food. +It is a charming little town, and it was strange, +after viewing its settled order, to see the mill +where the early settlers not so very long ago had +to fight for their lives with the black fellows. +Those poor black fellows! Their fate is a dark +stain upon Australia. And yet it must in justice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +to our settlers be admitted that the question was +a very difficult one. Was colonisation to be +abandoned, or were these brave savages to be +overcome? That was really the issue. When +they speared the cattle of the settlers what were +the settlers to do? Of course, if a reservation +could have been opened up, as in the case +of the Maoris, that would have been ideal. +But the noble Maori is a man with whom +one could treat on equal terms and he belonged +to a solid race. The Aborigines of Australia +were broken wandering tribes, each at war +with its neighbours. In a single reservation +they would have exterminated each other. It +was a piteous tragedy, and yet, even now in +retrospect, how difficult it is to point out what +could have been done.</p> + +<p>The Spiritualists of Perth seem to be a small +body, but as earnest as their fellows elsewhere. +A masterful looking lady, Mrs. McIlwraith, rules +them, and seems fit for the part. They have +several mediums developing, but I had no chance +of testing their powers. Altogether our encounter +with them cheered us on our way. We had the +first taste of Australian labour conditions at +Fremantle, for the men knocked off at the given hour, +refusing to work overtime, with the result that we +carried a consignment of tea, meant for their own +tea-pots, another thousand miles to Adelaide, and +so back by train which must have been paid for out +of their own pockets and those of their fellow +citizens. Verily, you cannot get past the golden +rule, and any breach of it brings its own<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +punishment somehow, somewhere, be the sinner a +master or a man.</p> + +<p>And now we had to cross the dreaded Bight, +where the great waves from the southern ice come +rolling up, but our luck was still in, and we went +through it without a qualm. Up to Albany one +sees the barren irregular coast, and then there +were two days of blue water, which brought us at +last to Adelaide, our port of debarkation. The +hour and the place at last!</p> + + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<div class="blockquotech extraspacebot"><p>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.</p></div> + + +<p>I was welcomed to Australia by a hospitable letter +from the Premier, Mr. Hughes, who assured me +that he would do what he could to make our visit +a pleasant one, and added, "I hope you will see +Australia as it is, for I want you to tell the world +about us. We are a very young country, we +have a very big and very rich heritage, and the +great war has made us realise that we are Australians, +proud to belong to the Empire, but proud +too of our own country."</p> + +<p>Apart from Mr. Hughes's kind message, my +chief welcome to the new land came from Sydney, +and took the queer form of two independant +challenges to public debate, one from the Christian +Evidence Society, and the other from the local +leader of the materialists. As the two positions +are mutually destructive, one felt inclined to tell +them to fight it out between themselves and that +I would fight the winner. The Christian Evidence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +Society, is, of course, out of the question, since +they regard a text as an argument, which I can +only accept with many qualifications, so that there +is no common basis. The materialist is a more +worthy antagonist, for though he is often as +bigotted and inaccessible to reason as the worst +type of Christian, there is always a leaven of +honest, open-minded doubters on whom a debate +might make an impression. A debate with them, +as I experienced when I met Mr. MacCabe, can only +follow one line, they quoting all the real or alleged +scandals which have ever been connected with the +lowest forms of mediumship, and claiming that +the whole cult is comprised therein, to which you +counter with your own personal experiences, and +with the evidence of the cloud of witnesses who +have found the deepest comfort and enlarged +knowledge. It is like two boxers each hitting the +air, and both returning to their respective corners +amid the plaudits of their backers, while the +general public is none the better.</p> + +<p>Three correspondents headed me off on the +ship, and as I gave each of them a long separate +interview, I was a tired man before I got ashore. +Mr. Carlyle Smythe, my impresario, had also +arrived, a small alert competent gentleman, with +whom I at once got on pleasant terms, which +were never once clouded during our long travels +together upon our tour. I was fortunate indeed +to have so useful and so entertaining a companion, +a musician, a scholar, and a man of many varied +experiences. With his help we soon got our stuff +through the customs, and made the short train<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +journey which separates the Port of Adelaide from +the charming city of that name. By one o'clock +we were safely housed in the Grand Central Hotel, +with windows in place of port holes, and the roar +of the trams to take the place of the murmurs of +the great ocean.</p> + +<p>The good genius of Adelaide was a figure, already +almost legendary, one Colonel Light, who played +the part of Romulus and Remus to the infant +city. Somewhere in the thirties of last century +he chose the site, against strong opposition, and +laid out the plan with such skill that in all British +and American lands I have seen few such cities, +so pretty, so orderly and so self-sufficing. When +one sees all the amenities of the place, botanical +gardens, zoological gardens, art gallery, museum, +university, public library and the rest, it is hard +to realise that the whole population is still under +three hundred thousand. I do not know whether +the press sets the tone to the community or the +community to the press, but in any case Adelaide +is greatly blessed in this respect, for its two chief +papers the <i>Register</i> and the <i>Advertiser</i>, under Sir +William Sowden and Sir Langdon Bonython +respectively, are really excellent, with a worldwide +Metropolitan tone.</p> + +<p>Their articles upon the subject in which I am +particularly interested, though by no means one-sided, +were at least informed with knowledge and +breadth of mind.</p> + +<p>In Adelaide I appreciated, for the first time, the +crisis which Australia has been passing through +in the shape of a two-years drought, only recently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +broken. It seems to have involved all the States +and to have caused great losses, amounting to +millions of sheep and cattle. The result was that +the price of those cattle which survived has risen +enormously, and at the time of our visit an +absolute record had been established, a bullock +having been sold for £41. The normal price +would be about £13. Sheep were about £3 each, +the normal being fifteen shillings. This had, of +course, sent the price of meat soaring with the +usual popular unrest and agitation as a result. It +was clear, however, that with the heavy rains the +prices would fall. These Australian droughts are +really terrible things, especially when they come +upon newly-opened country and in the hotter +regions of Queensland and the North. One lady +told us that she had endured a drought in Queensland +which lasted so long that children of five had +never seen a drop of rain. You could travel a +hundred miles and find the brown earth the whole +way, with no sign of green anywhere, the sheep +eating twigs or gnawing bark until they died. +Her brother sold his surviving sheep for one +shilling each, and when the drought broke had +to restock at 50s. a head. This is a common experience, +and all but the man with savings have +to take to some subordinate work, ruined men. +No doubt, with afforestation, artesian wells, +irrigation and water storage things may be +modified, but all these things need capital, and +capital in these days is hard to seek, nor can it +be expected that capitalists will pour their money +into States which have wild politicians who talk<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +lightly of past obligations. You cannot tell the +investor that he is a bloated incubus one moment, +and go hat in hand for further incubation the +next. I fear that this grand country as a whole +may suffer from the wild ideas of some of its +representatives. But under it all lies the solid +self-respecting British stuff, which will never +repudiate a just debt, however heavily it may +press. Australians may groan under the burden, +but they should remember that for every pound +of taxation they carry the home Briton carries +nearly three.</p> + +<p>But to return for a moment to the droughts; +has any writer of fiction invented or described a +more long-drawn agony than that of the man, his +nerves the more tired and sensitive from the +constant unbroken heat, waiting day after day +for the cloud that never comes, while under the +glaring sun from the unchanging blue above him, +his sheep, which represent all his life's work and +his hopes, perish before his eyes? A revolver shot +has often ended the long vigil and the pioneer has +joined his vanished flocks. I have just come in +contact with a case where two young returned +soldiers, demobilised from the war and planted on +the land had forty-two cattle given them by the +State to stock their little farm. Not a drop of +water fell for over a year, the feed failed, and these +two warriors of Palestine and Flanders wept at +their own helplessness while their little herd died +before their eyes. Such are the trials which the +Australian farmer has to bear.</p> + +<p>While waiting for my first lecture I do what I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +can to understand the country and its problems. +To this end I visited the vineyards and wine plant +of a local firm which possesses every factor for +success, save the capacity to answer letters. The +originator started grape culture as a private hobby +about 60 years ago, and now such an industry has +risen that this firm alone has £700,000 sunk in the +business, and yet it is only one of several. The +product can be most excellent, but little or any +ever reaches Europe, for it cannot overtake the +local demand. The quality was good and purer +than the corresponding wines in Europe—especially +the champagnes, which seem to be devoid of that +poison, whatever it may be, which has for a +symptom a dry tongue with internal acidity, +driving elderly gentlemen to whisky and soda. +The Australian product, taken in moderate doses, +seems to have no poisonous quality, and is without +that lime-like dryness which appears to be the +cause of it. If temperance reform takes the sane +course of insisting upon a lowering of the alcohol +in our drinks, so that one may be surfeited before +one could be drunken, then this question of good +mild wines will bulk very largely in the future, +and Australia may supply one of the answers. +With all my sympathy for the reformers I feel +that wine is so useful a social agent that we should +not abolish it until we are certain that there is no +<i>via media</i>. The most pregnant argument upon +the subject was the cartoon which showed the +husband saying "My dear, it is the anniversary of +our wedding. Let us have a second bottle of +ginger beer."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> + +<p>We went over the vineyards, ourselves mildly +interested in the vines, and the children wildly +excited over the possibility of concealed snakes. +Then we did the vats and the cellars with their +countless bottles. We were taught the secrets of +fermentation, how the wonderful Pasteur had +discovered that the best and quickest was produced +not by the grape itself, as of old, but by the scraped +bloom of the grape inserted in the bottle. After +viewing the number of times a bottle must be +turned, a hundred at least, and the complex processes +which lead up to the finished article, I will +pay my wine bills in future with a better grace. +The place was all polished wood and shining brass, +like the fittings of a man-of-war, and a great +impression of cleanliness and efficiency was left +upon our minds. We only know the Australian +wines at present by the rough article sold in flasks, +but when the supply has increased the world will +learn that this country has some very different +stuff in its cellars, and will try to transport it to +their tables.</p> + +<p>We had a small meeting of spiritualists in our +hotel sitting-room, under the direction of Mr. +Victor Cromer, a local student of the occult, who +seems to have considerable psychic power. He +has a small circle for psychic development which +is on new lines, for the neophytes who are learning +clairvoyance sit around in a circle in silence, while +Mr. Cromer endeavours by mental effort to build +up the thought form of some object, say a tree, +in the centre of the room. After a time he asks +each of the circle what he or she can see, and has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +many correct answers. With colours in the same +way he can convey impressions to his pupils. It +is clear that telepathy is not excluded as an explanation, +but the actual effect upon the participants +is according to their own account, visual +rather than mental. We had an interesting +sitting with a number of these developing mediums +present, and much information was given, but +little of it could be said to be truly evidential. +After seeing such clairvoyance as that of Mr. Tom +Tyrell or others at home, when a dozen names and +addresses will be given together with the descriptions +of those who once owned them, one is spoiled +for any lesser display.</p> + +<p>There was one man whom I had particularly +determined to meet when I came to Australia. +This was Mr. T. P. Bellchambers, about whom I +had read an article in some magazine which showed +that he was a sort of humble Jeffries or Thoreau, +more lonely than the former, less learned than the +latter, who lived among the wild creatures in the +back country, and was on such terms with our +humble brothers as few men are ever privileged +to attain. I had read how the eagle with the +broken wing had come to him for succour, and how +little birds would sit on the edge of his pannikin +while he drank. Him at all cost would we see. +Like the proverbial prophet, no one I met had +ever heard of him, but on the third day of our +residence there came a journalist bearing with +him a rudely dressed, tangle-haired man, collarless +and unkempt, with kind, irregular features and +clear blue eyes—the eyes of a child. It was the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +man himself. "He brought me," said he, nodding +towards the journalist. "He had to, for I always +get bushed in a town."</p> + +<p>This rude figure fingering his frayed cap was +clearly out of his true picture, and we should have +to visit him in his own little clearing to see him as +he really was. Meanwhile I wondered whether +one who was so near nature might know something +of nature's more occult secrets. The dialogue +ran like this:</p> + +<p>"You who are so near nature must have psychic +experiences."</p> + +<p>"What's psychic? I live so much in the wild +that I don't know much."</p> + +<p>"I expect you know plenty we don't know. +But I meant spiritual."</p> + +<p>"Supernatural?"</p> + +<p>"Well, we think it is natural, but little understood."</p> + +<p>"You mean fairies and things?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and the dead."</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess our fairies would be black +fairies."</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I never saw any."</p> + +<p>"I hoped you might."</p> + +<p>"No, but I know one thing. The night my +mother died I woke to find her hand upon my +brow. Oh, there's no doubt. Her hand was +heavy on my brow."</p> + +<p>"At the time?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, at the very hour."</p> + +<p>"Well, that was good."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Animals know more about such things."</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"They see something. My dog gets terrified +when I see nothing, and there's a place in the +bush where my horse shies and sweats, he does, +but there's nothing to see."</p> + +<p>"Something evil has been done there. I've +known many cases."</p> + +<p>"I expect that's it."</p> + +<p>So ran our dialogue. At the end of it he took a +cigar, lighted it at the wrong end, and took himself +with his strong simple backwoods atmosphere +out of the room. Assuredly I must follow him +to the wilds.</p> + +<p>Now came the night of my first lecture. It +was in the city hall, and every seat was occupied. +It was a really magnificent audience of two +thousand people, the most representative of the +town. I am an embarrassed and an interested +witness, so let me for this occasion quote the +sympathetic, not to say flattering account of the +<i>Register</i>.</p> + +<div class="blockquote"><p>"There could not have been a more impressive +set of circumstances than those which attended +the first Australian lecture by Sir Arthur Conan +Doyle at the Adelaide Town Hall on Saturday +night, September 25th. The audience, large, +representative and thoughtful, was in its calibre +and proportions a fitting compliment to a world +celebrity and his mission. Many of the intellectual +leaders of the city were present—University +professors, pulpit personalities, men<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +eminent in business, legislators, every section +of the community contributed a quota. It +cannot be doubted, of course, that the brilliant +literary fame of the lecturer was an attraction +added to that strange subject which explored +the 'unknown drama of the soul.' Over all Sir +Arthur dominated by his big arresting presence. +His face has a rugged, kindly strength, tense and +earnest in its grave moments, and full of winning +animation when the sun of his rich humour plays +on the powerful features."</p> + +<p>"It is not altogether a sombre journey he +makes among the shadows, but apparently one of +happy, as well as tender experiences, so that +laughter is not necessarily excluded from the +exposition. Do not let that be misunderstood. +There was no intrusion of the slightest flippancy—Sir +Arthur, the whole time, exhibited that +attitude of reverence and humility demanded of +one traversing a domain on the borderland of +the tremendous. Nothing approaching a theatrical +presentation of the case for Spiritualism +marred the discourse. It was for the most part +a plain statement. First things had to be said, +and the explanatory groundwork laid for future +development. It was a lucid, illuminating +introduction."</p> + +<p>"Sir Arthur had a budget of notes, but after +he had turned over a few pages he sallied forth +with fluent independence under the inspiration +of a vast mental store of material. A finger +jutted out now and again with a thrust of +passionate emphasis, or his big glasses twirled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +during moments of descriptive ease, and occasionally +both hands were held forward as though +delivering settled points to the audience for its +examination. A clear, well-disciplined voice, +excellent diction, and conspicuous sincerity of +manner marked the lecture, and no one could +have found fault with the way in which Sir Arthur +presented his case."</p> + +<p>"The lecturer approached the audience in no +spirit of impatient dogmatism, but in the capacity +of an understanding mind seeking to illumine +the darkness of doubt in those who had +not shared his great experiences. He did not +dictate, but reasoned and pleaded, taking the +people into his confidence with strong conviction +and a consoling faith. 'I want to speak to you +to-night on a subject which concerns the destiny +of every man and woman in this room,' began +Sir Arthur, bringing everybody at once into +an intimate personal circle. 'No doubt the +Almighty, by putting an angel in King William +Street, could convert every one of you to +Spiritualism, but the Almighty law is that we +must use our own brains, and find out our own +salvation, and it is not made too easy for us.'"</p></div> + +<p>It is awkward to include this kindly picture, +and yet I do not know how else to give an idea of +how the matter seemed to a friendly observer. +I had chosen for my theme the scientific aspect of +the matter, and I marshalled my witnesses and +showed how Professor Mayo corroborated Professor +Hare, and Professor Challis Professor Mayo,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +and Sir William Crookes all his predecessors, while +Russell Wallace and Lombroso and Zollner and +Barrett, and Lodge, and many more had all +after long study assented, and I read the very +words of these great men, and showed how bravely +they had risked their reputations and careers for +what they knew to be the truth. I then showed +how the opposition who dared to contradict them +were men with no practical experience of it at all. +It was wonderful to hear the shout of assent when +I said that what struck me most in such a position +was its colossal impertinence. That shout told +me that my cause was won, and from then onwards +the deep silence was only broken by the occasional +deep murmur of heart-felt agreement. I told +them the evidence that had been granted to me, +the coming of my son, the coming of my brother, +and their message. "Plough! Plough! others +will cast the seed." It is hard to talk of such +intimate matters, but they were not given to me +for my private comfort alone, but for that of +humanity. Nothing could have gone better than +this first evening, and though I had no chairman +and spoke for ninety minutes without a pause, I +was so upheld—there is no other word for the +sensation—that I was stronger at the end than +when I began. A leading materialist was among +my audience. "I am profoundly impressed," +said he to Mr. Smythe, as he passed him in the +corridor. That stood out among many kind +messages which reached me that night.</p> + +<div class="figcenter extraspacetop extraspacebot"><span class='imgnum'><a name="I_72" id="I_72">[72]</a></span> +<img src="images/gs04.jpg" width="390" height="306" alt=" + +THE WANDERERS, 1920-21." title="" /><br /> +<p class="blockquotetn center"> +<i>Photo: Stirling, Melbourne.</i> <i>See page 75.</i> +<br /> <br /></p> +<p class="blockquotetn caption center">THE WANDERERS, 1920-21.</p> +</div> + +<p>My second lecture, two nights later, was on the +Religious aspect of the matter. I had shown that +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span>the phenomena were nothing, mere material signals +to arrest the attention of a material world. I had +shown also that the personal benefit, the conquest +of death, the Communion of Saints, was a high, +but not the highest boon. The real full flower of +Spiritualism was what the wisdom of the dead +could tell us about their own conditions, their +present experiences, their outlook upon the secret +of the universe, and the testing of religious truth +from the viewpoint of two worlds instead of one. +The audience was more silent than before, but +the silence was that of suspense, not of dissent, +as I showed them from message after message +what it was exactly which awaited them in the +beyond. Even I, who am oblivious as a rule to +my audience, became aware that they were tense +with feeling and throbbing with emotion. I +showed how there was no conflict with religion, +in spite of the misunderstanding of the churches, +and that the revelation had come to extend and +explain the old, even as the Christ had said that +he had much more to tell but could not do it now. +"Entirely new ground was traversed," says my +kindly chronicler, "and the audience listened +throughout with rapt attention. They were +obviously impressed by the earnestness of the +speaker and his masterly presentation of the +theme." I cannot answer for the latter but at +least I can for the former, since I speak not of +what I think but of what I know. How can a man +fail to be earnest then?</p> + +<p>A few days later I followed up the lectures by +two exhibitions of psychic pictures and photographs<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +upon a screen. It was certainly an +amazing experience for those who imagined that +the whole subject was dreamland, and they freely +admitted that it staggered them. They might +well be surprised, for such a series has never been +seen, I believe, before, including as it does choice +samples from the very best collections. I showed +them the record of miracle after miracle, some of +them done under my very eyes, one guaranteed +by Russell Wallace, three by Sir William Crookes, +one of the Geley series from Paris, two of Dr. +Crawford's medium with the ecto-plasm pouring +from her, four illustrating the absolutely final +Lydia Haig case on the island of Rothesay, several +of Mr. Jeffrey's collection and several also of our +own Society for the Study of Supernormal Pictures, +with the fine photograph of the face within +a crystal. No wonder that the audience sat spellbound, +while the local press declared that no such +exhibition had ever been seen before in Australia. +It is almost too overwhelming for immediate +propaganda purposes. It has a stunning, dazing +effect upon the spectators. Only afterwards, I +think, when they come to turn it all over in their +minds, do they see that the final proof has been +laid before them, which no one with the least sense +for evidence could reject. But the sense for +evidence is not, alas, a universal human quality.</p> + +<p>I am continually aware of direct spirit intervention +in my own life. I have put it on record +in my "New Revelation" that I was able to say +that the turn of the great war would come upon +the Piave months before that river was on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +Italian war map. This was recorded at the time, +before the fulfilment which occurred more than a +year later—so it does not depend upon my assertion. +Again, I dreamed the name of the ship +which was to take us to Australia, rising in the +middle of the night and writing it down in pencil +on my cheque-book. I wrote <i>Nadera</i>, but it was +actually <i>Naldera</i>. I had never heard that such a +ship existed until I visited the P. & O. office, when +they told me we should go by the <i>Osterley</i>, while +I, seeing the <i>Naldera</i> upon the list, thought "No, +that will be our ship!" So it proved, through no +action of our own, and thereby we were saved +from quarantine and all manner of annoyance.</p> + +<p>Never before have I experienced such direct +visible intervention as occurred during my first +photographic lecture at Adelaide. I had shown a +slide the effect of which depended upon a single +spirit face appearing amid a crowd of others. +The slide was damp, and as photos under these +circumstances always clear from the edges when +placed in the lantern, the whole centre was so +thickly fogged that I was compelled to admit that +I could not myself see the spirit face. Suddenly, +as I turned away, rather abashed by my failure, I +heard cries of "There it is," and looking up again +I saw this single face shining out from the general +darkness with so bright and vivid an effect that +I never doubted for a moment that the operator +was throwing a spot light upon it, my wife sharing +my impression. I thought how extraordinarily +clever it was that he should pick it out so accurately +at the distance. So the matter passed, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +next morning Mr. Thomas, the operator, who is +not a Spiritualist, came in great excitement to +say that a palpable miracle had been wrought, and +that in his great experience of thirty years he had +never known a photo dry from the centre, nor, as +I understood him, become illuminated in such a +fashion. Both my wife and I were surprised to learn +that he had thrown no ray upon it. Mr. Thomas +told us that several experts among the audience +had commented upon the strangeness of the +incident. I, therefore, asked Mr. Thomas if he +would give me a note as to his own impression, so +as to furnish an independant account. This is +what he wrote:—</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p class="right extraspacetop extraspacebot"> +<i>"Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide.</i> +</p> + +<p>"<i>In Adelaide, on September 28th, I projected +a lantern slide containing a group of ladies and +gentlemen, and in the centre of the picture, when +the slide was reversed, appeared a human face. +On the appearance of the picture showing the +group the fog incidental to a damp or new slide +gradually appeared covering the whole slide, +and only after some minutes cleared, and then +quite contrary to usual practice did so from a +central point just over the face that appeared in +the centre, and refused even after that to clear +right off to the edge. The general experience is +for a slide to clear from the outside edges to a +common centre. Your slide cleared only sufficiently +in the centre to show the face, and did +not, while the slide was on view, clear any more +than sufficient to show that face. Thinking that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +perhaps there might be a scientific explanation +to this phenomenon, I hesitated before writing +you, and in the meantime I have made several +experiments but have not in any one particular +experiment obtained the same result. I am +very much interested—as are hundreds of others +who personally witnessed the phenomenon.</i>" +</p></div> + +<p class="extraspacetop">Mr. Thomas, in his account, has missed the self-illuminated +appearance of the face, but otherwise +he brings out the points. I never gave occasion +for the repetition of the phenomenon, for in every +case I was careful that the slides were carefully +dried beforehand.</p> + +<p>So much for the lectures at Adelaide, which were +five in all, and left, as I heard from all sides, a +deep impression upon the town. Of course, the +usual abusive messages poured in, including one +which wound up with the hearty words: "May +you be struck dead before you leave this Commonwealth." +From Melbourne I had news that before +our arrival in Australia at a public prayer meeting +at the Assembly Hall, Collins Street, a Presbyterian +prayed that we might never reach Australia's +shores. As we were on the high seas at the time +this was clearly a murderous petition, nor could +I have believed it if a friend of mine had not +actually been present and heard it. On the other +hand, we received many letters of sympathy and +thanks, which amply atoned. "I feel sure that +many mothers, who have lost their sons in the +war, will, wherever you go, bless you, as I do, for +the help you have given." As this was the object<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +of our journey it could not be denied that we had +attained our end. When I say "we," I mean that +such letters with inquiries came continually to my +wife as well as myself, though she answered them +with far greater fullness and clearness than I had +time to do.</p> + +<p>Hotel life began to tell upon the children, who +are like horses with a profusion of oats and no +exercise. On the whole they were wonderfully +good. When some domestic crisis was passed the +small voice of Malcolm, once "Dimples," was +heard from the darkness of his bed, saying, "Well, +if I am to be good I must have a proper start. +Please mammie, say one, two, three, and away!" +When this ceremony had been performed a still +smaller voice of Baby asked the same favour, so +once more there was a formal start. The result was +intermittent, and it is as well. I don't believe in +angelic children.</p> + +<p>The Adelaide doctors entertained me to dinner, +and I was pleased to meet more than one who +had been of my time at Edinburgh. They seemed +to be a very prosperous body of men. There was +much interesting conversation, especially from +one elderly professor named Watson, who had +known Bully Hayes and other South Sea celebrities +in the semi-piratical, black-birding days. +He told me one pretty story. They landed upon +some outlying island in Carpentaria, peopled by +real primitive blacks, who were rounded up by the +ships crew on one of the peninsulas which formed +the end of the island. These creatures, the lowest +of the human race, huddled together in consternation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +while the white men trained a large camera +upon them. Suddenly three males advanced and +made a speech in their own tongue which, when +interpreted, proved to be an offer that those three +should die in exchange for the lives of the tribe. +What could the very highest do more than this, +and yet it came from the lowest savages. Truly, +we all have something of the divine, and it is the +very part which will grow and spread until it has +burned out all the rest. "Be a Christ!" said +brave old Stead. At the end of countless æons +we may all reach that point which not only Stead +but St. Paul also has foreshadowed.</p> + +<p>I refreshed myself between lectures by going +out to Nature and to Bellchambers. As it was +twenty-five miles out in the bush, inaccessible by +rail, and only to be approached by motor roads +which were in parts like the bed of a torrent, I +could not take my wife, though the boys, after the +nature of boys, enjoy a journey the more for its +roughness. It was a day to remember. I saw +lovely South Australia in the full beauty of the +spring, the budding girlhood of the year, with all +her winsome growing graces upon her. The +brilliant yellow wattle was just fading upon the +trees, but the sward was covered with star-shaped +purple flowers of the knot-grass, and with familiar +home flowers, each subtly altered by their transportation. +It was wild bush for part of the way, +but mostly of the second growth on account of +forest fires as much as the woodman's axe. Bellchambers +came in to guide us, for there is no one +to ask upon these desolate tracks, and it is easy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +to get bushed. Mr. Waite, the very capable +zoologist of the museum, joined the party, and +with two such men the conversation soon got to +that high nature talk which represents the really +permanent things of material life—more lasting +than thrones and dynasties. I learned of the +strange storks, the "native companions" who +meet, 500 at a time, for their stately balls, where +in the hush of the bush they advance, retreat, +and pirouette in their dignified minuets. I heard +of the bower birds, who decorate their homes with +devices of glass and pebbles. There was talk, too, +of the little red beetles who have such cunning +ways that they can fertilise the insectivorous +plants without being eaten, and of the great ants +who get through galvanised iron by the aid of +some acid-squirting insect which they bring with +them to the scene of their assault. I heard also +of the shark's egg which Mr. Waite had raped +from sixty feet deep in Sydney Harbour, descending +for the purpose in a diver's suit, for which I +raised my hat to him. Deep things came also +from Bellchambers' store of knowledge and little +glimpses of beautiful humanity from this true +gentleman.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, "I am mostly vegetarian. +You see, I know the beasts too well to bring +myself to pick their bones. Yes, I'm friends with +most of them. Birds have more sense than +animals to my mind. They understand you like. +They know what you mean. Snakes have least of +any. They don't get friendly-like in the same +way. But Nature helps the snakes in queer ways. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span>Some of them hatch their own eggs, and when +they do Nature raises the temperature of their +bodies. That's queer."</p> + +<div class="figcenter extraspacetop extraspacebot"><span class='imgnum'><a name="I_80" id="I_80">[80]</a></span> +<img src="images/gs05.jpg" width="365" height="253" alt=" + +BELLCHAMBERS AND THE MALLEE FOWL. "GET ALONG WITH YOU, DO!"" title="" /><br /> +<p class="blockquotetn center"> +<i>Photo: W. G. Smith, Adelaide.</i> <i>See page 81.</i> <br /> <br /> + +BELLCHAMBERS AND THE MALLEE FOWL. <br /> " GET ALONG WITH YOU, DO!"</p> +</div> + +<p>I carried away a mixed memory of the things I +had seen. A blue-headed wren, an eagle soaring +in the distance; a hideous lizard with a huge open +mouth; a laughing jackass which refused to +laugh; many more or less tame wallabies and +kangaroos; a dear little 'possum which got +under the back of my coat, and would not come +out; noisy mynah birds which fly ahead and +warn the game against the hunter. Good little +noisy mynah! All my sympathies are with you! +I would do the same if I could. This senseless +lust for killing is a disgrace to the race. We, of +England, cannot preach, for a pheasant battue is +about the worst example of it. But do let the +creatures alone unless they are surely noxious! +When Mr. Bellchambers told us how he had +trained two ibises—the old religious variety—and +how both had been picked off by some +unknown local "sportsman" it made one sad.</p> + +<p>We had a touch of comedy, however, when Mr. +Bellchambers attempted to expose the egg of the +Mallee fowl, which is covered a foot deep in +mould. He scraped into the mound with his +hands. The cock watched him with an expression +which clearly said: "Confound the fellow! What +is he up to now?" He then got on the mound, +and as quickly as Bellchambers shovelled the +earth out he kicked it back again, Bellchambers +in his good-humoured way crying "Get along +with you, do!" A good husband is the Mallee<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +cock, and looks after the family interests. But +what we humans would think if we were born deep +underground and had to begin our career by +digging our way to the surface, is beyond +imagination.</p> + +<p>There are quite a clan of Bellchambers living +in or near the little pioneer's hut built in a clearing +of the bush. Mrs. Bellchambers is of Sussex, as is +her husband, and when they heard that we were +fresh from Sussex also it was wonderful to see the +eager look that came upon their faces, while the +bush-born children could scarce understand what +it was that shook the solid old folk to their marrow. +On the walls were old prints of the Devil's Dyke +and Firle Beacon. How strange that old Sussex +should be wearing out its very life in its care for +the fauna of young Australia. This remarkable +man is unpaid with only his scanty holding upon +which to depend, and many dumb mouths dependent +upon him. I shall rejoice if my efforts +in the local press serve to put his affairs upon a +more worthy foundation, and to make South +Australia realise what a valuable instrument lies +to her hand.</p> + +<p>Before I left Adelaide I learned many pleasing +things about the lectures, which did away with +any shadow cast by those numerous correspondents +who seemed to think that we were still +living under the Mosaic dispensation, and who +were so absent-minded that they usually forgot to +sign their names. It is a curious difference +between the Christian letters of abuse and those +of materialists, that the former are usually<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +anonymous and the latter signed. I heard of +one man, a lame stockman, who had come 300 +miles from the other side of Streaky Bay to +attend the whole course, and who declared that +he could listen all night. Another seized my +hand and cried, "You will never know the good +you have done in this town." Well, I hope it +was so, but I only regard myself as the plough. +Others must follow with the seed. Knowledge, +perseverance, sanity, judgment, courage—we ask +some qualities from our disciples if they are to do +real good. Talking of moral courage I would say +that the Governor of South Australia, Sir Archibald +Weigall with Lady Weigall, had no hesitation in +coming to support me with their presence. By +the end of September this most successful mission +in Adelaide was accomplished, and early in +October we were on our way to Melbourne, which +meant a long night in the train and a few hours +of the next morning during which we saw the +surface diggings of Ballarat on every side of the +railway line, the sandy soil pitted in every direction +with the shallow claims of the miners.</p> + + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<div class="blockquotech extraspacebot"><p>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 +second 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.</p></div> + + +<p>One cannot help speculating about those great +ones who first carried to the world the Christian +revelation. What were their domestic ties! +There is little said about them, but we should +never have known that Peter had a wife were it +not for a chance allusion to his mother-in-law, just +as another chance allusion shows us that Jesus +was one of a numerous family. One thing can +safely be said of Paul, that he was either a bachelor +or else was a domestic bully with a very submissive +wife, or he would never have dared to express his +well known views about women. As to his +preaching, he had a genius for making a clear +thing obscure, even as Jesus had a genius for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +making an obscure thing clear. Read the Sermon +on the Mount and then a chapter of Paul as a contrast +in styles. Apart from his style one can +reconstruct him as a preacher to the extent that +he had a powerful voice—no one without one +could speak from the historic rocky pulpit on the +hill of Mars at Athens, as I ascertained for myself. +The slope is downwards, sound ascends, and the +whole conditions are abominable. He was certainly +long-winded and probably monotonous in +his diction, or he could hardly have reduced one of +his audience to such a deep sleep that he fell out +of the window. We may add that he was a man +of brisk courage in an emergency, that he was +subject to such sudden trances that he was occasionally +unaware himself whether he was normal +or not, and that he was probably short-sighted, +as he mistook the person who addressed him, and +had his letters usually written for him. At least +three languages were at his command, he had an +intimate and practical knowledge of the occult, +and was an authority upon Jewish law—a good +array of accomplishments for one man.</p> + +<p>There are some points about Paul's august +Master which also help in a reconstruction of +Himself and His surroundings. That His mother +was opposed to His mission is, I think, very +probable. Women are dubious about spiritual +novelties, and one can well believe that her heart +ached to see her noble elder son turn from the sure +competence of His father's business at Nazareth +to the precarious existence of a wandering preacher. +This domestic opposition clouded Him as one can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +see in the somewhat cold, harsh words which He +used to her, and his mode of address which began +simply as "Woman." His assertion to the disciples +that one who followed His path had to give +up his family points to the same thing. No doubt +Mary remained with the younger branches at +Nazareth while Jesus pursued His ministry, though +she came, as any mother would, to be near Him +at the end.</p> + +<p>Of His own personality we know extraordinarily +little, considering the supreme part that He +played in the world. That He was a highly trained +psychic, or as we should say, medium, is obvious +to anyone who studies the miracles, and it is certainly +not derogatory to say that they were done +along the line of God's law rather than that they +were inversions of it. I cannot doubt also that +he chose his apostles for their psychic powers—if +not, on what possible principle were they +selected, since they were neither staunch nor +learned? It is clear that Peter and James and +John were the inner circle of psychics, since they +were assembled both at the transfiguration and +at the raising of Jairus' daughter. It is from +unlearned open-air men who are near Nature that +the highest psychic powers are obtained. It has +been argued that the Christ was an Essene, but +this seems hard to believe, as the Essenes were not +only secluded from the world, but were certainly +vegetarians and total abstainers, while Jesus was +neither. On the other hand baptism was not a +Jewish rite, and his undergoing it—if He did, +indeed, undergo it—marks Him as belonging to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +some dissenting sect. I say "if He did" because +it is perfectly certain that there were forgeries +and interpolations introduced into the Gospels in +order to square their teaching with the practice +of the Church some centuries later. One would +look for those forgeries not in the ordinary narrative, +which in the adult years bears every mark of +truth, but in the passages which support ceremonial +or tributes to the Church—such as the +allusions to baptism, "Unless a man be born +again," to the sacrament, "This is my body, +etc.," and the whole story of Ananias and Sapphira, +the moral of which is that it is dangerous to hold +anything back from the Church.</p> + +<p>Physically I picture the Christ as an extremely +powerful man. I have known several famous +healers and they were all men who looked as if +they had redundant health and strength to give +to others. His words to the sick woman, "Who +has touched me? Much power" (<i>dunamis</i> is +the word in the original Greek) "has gone out of +me," show that His system depended upon His +losing what He gave to others. Therefore He was +a very strong man. The mere feat of carrying a +wooden cross strong enough to bear a man from +Jerusalem to Calvary, up a hill, is no light one. +It is the details which convince me that the gospel +narrative is correct and really represents an actual +event. Take the incident during that sad journey +of Simon of Cyrene having helped for a time with +the cross. Why should anyone invent such a +thing, putting an actual name to the person? +It is touches of this kind which place the narrative<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +beyond all suspicion of being a pure invention. +Again and again in the New Testament one is +confronted with incidents which a writer of fiction +recognises as being beyond the reach of invention, +because the inventor does not put in things which +have no direct bearing upon the matter in hand. +Take as an example how the maid, seeing Peter +outside the door after his escape from prison, ran +back to the guests and said that it was his angel +(or etheric body) which was outside. Such an +episode could only have been recorded because it +actually occurred.</p> + +<p>But these be deep waters. Let me get back to +my own humble experiences, these interpolated +thoughts being but things which have been found +upon the wayside of our journey. On reaching +Melbourne we were greeted at the station by a few +devoted souls who had waited for two trains +before they found us. Covered with the flowers +which they had brought we drove to Menzies +Hotel, whence we moved a few days later to a flat +in the Grand, where we were destined to spend +five eventful weeks. We found the atmosphere +and general psychic conditions of Melbourne by no +means as pleasant or receptive as those of Adelaide, +but this of course was very welcome as the greater +the darkness the more need of the light. If +Spiritualism had been a popular cult in Australia +there would have been no object in my visit. I +was welcome enough as an individual, but by no +means so as an emissary, and both the Churches +and the Materialists, in most unnatural combination, +had done their best to make the soil stony<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +for me. Their chief agent had been the <i>Argus</i>, a +solid, stodgy paper, which amply fulfilled the +material needs of the public, but was not given to +spiritual vision. This paper before my arrival +had a very violent and abusive leader which +attracted much attention, full of such terms as +"black magic," "Shamanism," "witchcraft," +"freak religion," "cranky faith," "cruelty," +"black evil," "poison," finishing up with the +assertion that I represented "a force which we +believe to be purely evil." This was from a paper +which whole-heartedly supports the liquor interest, +and has endless columns of betting and racing +news, nor did its principles cause it to refuse substantial +sums for the advertising of my lectures. +Still, however arrogant or illogical, I hold that a +paper has a perfect right to publish and uphold its +own view, nor would I say that the subsequent +refusal of the <i>Argus</i> to print any answer to its +tirade was a real breach of the ethics of journalism. +Where its conduct became outrageous, however, +and where it put itself beyond the pale of all +literary decency, was when it reported my first +lecture by describing my wife's dress, my own +voice, the colour of my spectacles, and not a word +of what I said. It capped this by publishing so- +called answers to me by Canon Hughes, and by +Bishop Phelan—critics whose knowledge of the +subject seemed to begin and end with the witch +of Endor—while omitting the statements to which +these answers applied. Never in any British +town have I found such reactionary intolerance +as in this great city, for though the <i>Argus</i> was the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +chief offender, the other papers were as timid as +rabbits in the matter. My psychic photographs +which, as I have said, are the most wonderful +collection ever shown in the world, were received +in absolute silence by the whole press, though it is +notorious that if I had come there with a comic +opera or bedroom comedy instead of with the +evidence of a series of miracles, I should have had +a column. This seems to have been really due to +moral cowardice, and not to ignorance, for I saw +a private letter afterwards in which a sub-editor +remarked that he and the chief leader-writer had +both seen the photographs and that they could +see no possible answer to them.</p> + +<p>There was another and more pleasing side to +the local conditions, and that lay in the numbers +who had already mastered the principles of +Spiritualism, the richer classes as individuals, +the poorer as organised churches. They were so +numerous that when we received an address of +welcome in the auditorium to which only Spiritualists +were invited by ticket, the Hall, which holds +two thousand, was easily filled. This would mean on +the same scale that the Spiritualists of London could +fill the Albert Hall several times over—as no doubt +they could. Their numbers were in a sense an +embarrassment, as I always had the fear that I was +addressing the faithful instead of those whom I +had come so far to instruct. On the whole their +quality and organisation were disappointing. +They had a splendid spiritual paper in their midst, +the <i>Harbinger of Light</i>, which has run for fifty +years, and is most ably edited by Mr. Britton<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +Harvey. When I think of David Gow, Ernest +Oaten, John Lewis and Britton Harvey I feel that +our cause is indeed well represented by its press. +They have also some splendid local workers, like +Bloomfield and Tozer, whole-hearted and apostolic. +But elsewhere there is the usual tendency +to divide and to run into vulgarities and extravagances +in which the Spiritual has small share. +Discipline is needed, which involves central +powers, and that in turn means command of the +purse. It would be far better to have no Spiritual +churches than some I have seen.</p> + +<p>However, I seem to have got to some of my final +conclusions at Melbourne before I have begun our +actual experience there. We found the place +still full of rumours and talk about the recent visit +of the Prince of Wales, who seems to have a perfect +genius for making himself popular and beloved. +May he remain unspoiled and retain the fresh +kindliness of his youth. His success is due not +to any ordered rule of conduct but to a perfectly +natural courtesy which is his essential self and +needs no effort. Our waiter at the hotel who had +waited upon him remarked: "God never made +anything nearer to Nature than that boy. He +spoke to me as he might have spoken to the +Governor." It was a fine tribute, and characteristic +of the humbler classes in this country, who +have a vigour of speech and an independence of +view which is very refreshing. Once as I passed +a public house, a broken old fellow who had been +leaning against the wall with a short pipe in his +mouth, stepped forward to me and said: "I am<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +all for civil and religious liberty. There is plenty +of room for your cult here, sir, and I wish you +well against the bigots." I wonder from what +heights that old fellow had fallen before he brought +up against the public house wall?</p> + +<p>One of my first afternoons in Melbourne was +spent in seeing the final tie of the Victorian football +cup. I have played both Rugby and Soccer, and +I have seen the American game at its best, but I +consider that the Victorian system has some points +which make it the best of all—certainly from the +spectacular point of view. There is no off-side, +and you get a free kick if you catch the ball. +Otherwise you can run as in ordinary Rugby, +though there is a law about bouncing the ball as +you run, which might, as it seemed to me, be cut +out without harming the game. This bouncing +rule was put in by Mr. Harrison who drew up the +original rules, for the chivalrous reason that he +was himself the fastest runner in the Colony, and +he did not wish to give himself any advantage. +There is not so much man-handling in the Victorian +game, and to that extent it is less dramatic, but it +is extraordinarily open and fast, with none of the +packed scrums which become so wearisome, and +with linesmen who throw in the ball the instant +it goes out. There were several points in which +the players seemed better than our best—one was +the accurate passing by low drop kicking, very +much quicker and faster than a pass by hand. +Another was the great accuracy of the place +kicking and of the screw kicking when a runner +would kick at right angles to his course. There<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +were four long quarters, and yet the men were in +such condition that they were going hard at the +end. They are all, I understand, semi-professionals. +Altogether it was a very fine display, and the +crowd was much excited. It was suggestive that +the instant the last whistle blew a troop of mounted +police cantered over the ground and escorted the +referees to the safety of the pavilion.</p> + +<p>I began at once to endeavour to find out the +conditions of local Spiritualism, and had a long +conversation with Mr. Tozer, the chairman of the +movement, a slow-talking, steady-eyed man, of the +type that gets a grip and does not easily let go. +After explaining the general situation, which needs +some explanation as it is full of currents and cross-currents +caused by individual schisms and secessions, +he told me in his gentle, earnest way some of +his own experiences in his home circle which +corroborate much which I have heard elsewhere. +He has run a rescue circle for the instruction of +the lower spirits who are so material that they +can be reached more easily by humanity than by +the higher angels. The details he gave me were +almost the same as those given by Mr. MacFarlane +of Southsea who had a similar circle of which Mr. +Tozer had certainly never heard. A wise spirit +control dominates the proceedings. The medium +goes into trance. The spirit control then explains +what it is about to do, and who the spirit is who +is about to be reformed. The next scene is often +very violent, the medium having to be held down +and using rough language. This comes from +some low spirit who has suddenly found this means<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +of expressing himself. At other times the language +is not violent but only melancholy, the spirit +declaring that he is abandoned and has not a +friend in the universe. Some do not realise that +they are dead, but only that they wander all alone, +under conditions they could not understand, in a +cloud of darkness.</p> + +<p>Then comes the work of regeneration. They are +reasoned with and consoled. Gradually they +become more gentle. Finally, they accept the +fact that they are spirits, that their condition is +their own making, and that by aspiration and +repentance they can win their way to the light. +When one has found the path and has returned +thanks for it, another case is treated. As a rule +these errant souls are unknown to fame. Often +they are clergymen whose bigotry has hindered +development. Occasionally some great sinner of +the past may come into view. I have before me +a written lament professing to come from Alva, +the bigoted governor of the Lowlands. It is +gruesome enough. "Picture to yourself the hell +I was in. Blood, blood everywhere, corpses on +all sides, gashed, maimed, mutilated, quivering +with agony and bleeding at every pore! At the +same time thousands of voices were raised in +bitter reproaches, in curses and execrations! +Imagine the appalling spectacle of this multitude +of the dead and dying, fresh from the flames, +from the sword, the rack, the torture chambers +and the gibbet; and the pandemonium of voices +shrieking out the most terrible maledictions! +Imagine never being able to get away from these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +sights and sounds, and then tell me, was I not +in hell?—a hell of greater torment than that to +which I believed all heretics were consigned. Such +was the hell of the 'bloody Alva,' from which I +have been rescued by what seems to me a great +merciful dispensation of Almighty God."</p> + +<p>Sometimes in Mr. Tozer's circle the souls of +ancient clerics who have slumbered long show +their first signs of resuscitation, still bearing their +old-world intolerance with them. The spirit control +purports to be a well-educated Chinaman, +whose presence and air of authority annoy the +ecclesiastics greatly. The petrified mind leads to +a long period of insensibility which means loss of +ground and of time in the journey towards happiness. +I was present at the return of one alleged +Anglican Bishop of the eighteenth century, who +spoke with great intolerance. When asked if he +had seen the Christ he answered that he had not +and that he could not understand it. When asked +if he still considered the Christ to be God he +threw up his hand and shouted violently, "Stop! +That is blasphemy!" The Chinese control said, +"He stupid man. Let him wait. He learn +better"—and removed him. He was succeeded +by a very noisy and bigoted Puritan divine who +declared that no one but devils would come +to a séance. On being asked whether that meant +that he was himself a devil he became so abusive +that the Chinaman once more had to intervene. +I quote all this as a curious sidelight into some +developments of the subject which are familiar +enough to students, but not to the general public.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +It is easy at a distance to sneer at such things and +to ask for their evidential value, but they are very +impressive to those who view them at closer +quarters. As to evidence, I am informed that +several of the unfortunates have been identified in +this world through the information which they +gave of their own careers.</p> + +<p>Melbourne is a remarkable city, far more solid +and old-established than the European visitor +would expect. We spent some days in exploring +it. There are few cities which have the same +natural advantages, for it is near the sea, with +many charming watering places close at hand, +while inland it has some beautiful hills for the +week-end villas of the citizens. Edinburgh is the +nearest analogy which I can recall. Parks and +gardens are beautiful, but, as in most British +cities, the public statues are more solid than +impressive. The best of them, that to Burke +and Wills, the heroic explorers, has no name +upon it to signify who the two figures are, so that +they mean nothing at all to the casual observer, +in spite of some excellent bas-reliefs, round the +base, which show the triumphant start and the +terrible end of that tragic but successful journey, +which first penetrated the Continent from south +to north. Before our departure I appealed in the +press to have this omission rectified and it was, +I believe, done.</p> + +<div class="figcenter extraspacetop extraspacebot"><span class='imgnum'><a name="I_96" id="I_96">[96]</a></span> +<img src="images/gs06.jpg" width="300" height="399" alt=" + +MELBOURNE, NOVEMBER, 1920." title="" /><br /> +<p class="blockquotetn center"> +<i>Photo: Stirling, Melbourne.</i> <i>See page 97.</i> <br /> <br /> + +MELBOURNE, NOVEMBER, 1920.</p> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Smythe, my agent, had been unfortunate +in being unable to secure one of the very few +large halls in Melbourne, so we had to confine ourselves +to the Playhouse which has only seating +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>for about 1,200. Here I opened on October 5th, +following my lectures up in the same order as in +Adelaide. The press was very shy, but nothing +could have exceeded the warmth and receptivity +of my hearers. Yet on account of the inadequate +reports of the press, with occasional total suppression, +no one who was not present could have +imagined how packed was the house, or how +unanimous the audience.</p> + +<p>On October 14th the Spiritualists filled the +Auditorium and had a special service of welcome +for ourselves. When I went down to it in the +tram, the conductor, unaware of my identity, said, +when I asked to be put down at the Auditorium, +"It's no use, sir; it's jam full an hour ago." +"The Pilgrims," as they called us, were in special +seats, the seven of us all in a line upon the right +of the chair. Many kind things were said, and I +replied as best I might. The children will carry +the remembrance of that warm-hearted reception +through their lives, and they are not likely to +forget how they staggered home, laden with the +flowers which were literally heaped upon them.</p> + +<p>The British Empire League also entertained my +wife and myself to lunch, a very select company +assembling who packed the room. Sir Joseph +Cook, Federal Chancellor of the Exchequer, made +a pleasant speech, recalling our adventures upon +the Somme, when he had his baptism of fire. In +my reply I pulled the leg of my audience with +some success, for I wound up by saying, very +solemnly, that I was something greater than +Governments and the master of Cabinet Ministers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +By the time I had finished my tremendous claims +I am convinced that they expected some extravagant +occult pretension, whereas I actually +wound up with the words, "for I am the man in +the street." There was a good deal of amusement +caused.</p> + +<p>Mr. Thomas Ryan, a very genial and capable +member of the State Legislature, took the chair at +this function. He had no particular psychic +knowledge, but he was deeply impressed by an +experience in London in the presence of that +remarkable little lady, Miss Scatcherd. Mr. Ryan +had said that he wanted some evidence before he +could accept psychic philosophy, upon which Miss +Scatcherd said: "There is a spirit beside you now. +He conveys to me that his name is Roberts. He +says he is worried in his mind because the home +which you prepared for his widow has not been +legally made over to her." All this applied to a +matter in Adelaide. In that city, according to +Mr. Ryan, a séance was held that night, Mr. +Victor Cromer being the medium, at which a +message came through from Roberts saying that +he was now easy in his mind as he had managed to +convey his trouble to Mr. Ryan who could set it +right. When these psychic laws are understood +the dead as well as the living will be relieved from +a load of unnecessary care; but how can these laws +be ignored or pooh-poohed in the face of such +instances as this which I have quoted? They are +so numerous now that it is hardly an exaggeration +to say that every circle of human beings +which meets can supply one.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Hughes was good enough to ask me to +meet the members of the Federal Government at +lunch, and the experience was an interesting one, +for here round one small table were those who +were shaping the course of this young giant among +the nations. They struck me as a practical hard-worked +rough-and-ready lot of men. Mr. Hughes +dominated the conversation, which necessarily +becomes one-sided as he is very deaf, though his +opponents say that he has an extraordinary knack +of hearing what he is not meant to hear. He told +us a series of anecdotes of his stormy political +youth with a great deal of vivacity, the whole +company listening in silence. He is a hard, wiry +man, with a high-nosed Red Indian face, and a +good deal of healthy devilry in his composition—a +great force for good during the war.</p> + +<p>After lunch he conducted me through the library, +and coming to a portrait of Clemenceau he cried: +"That's the man I learned to admire in Europe." +Then, turning to one of Wilson, he added, "And +that's the man I learned to dislike." He added a +number of instances of Wilson's ignorance of +actual conditions, and of his ungenial coldness +of heart. "If he had not been so wrapped in +himself, and if he had taken Lodge or some other +Republican with him, all could have easily been +arranged." I feel that I am not indiscreet in +repeating this, for Hughes is not a man who +conceals his opinions from the world.</p> + +<p>I have been interested in the medium Bailey, +who was said to have been exposed in France in +1910. The curious will find the alleged exposure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +in "Annals of Psychical Science," Vol. IX. +Bailey is an apport medium—that is to say, that +among his phenomena is the bringing of objects +which are said to come from a distance, passing +through the walls and being precipitated down +upon the table. These objects are of the strangest +description—Assyrian tablets (real or forged), +tortoises, live birds, snakes, precious stones, &c. +In this case, after being searched by the committee, +he was able to produce two live birds in the séance +room. At the next sitting the committee proposed +an obscene and absurd examination of the +medium, which he very rightly resented and +refused. They then confidently declared that on +the first occasion the two live birds were in his +intestines, a theory so absurd that it shakes one's +confidence in their judgment. They had, however, +some more solid grounds for a charge against him, +for they produced a married couple who swore +that they had sold three such birds with a cage to +Bailey some days before. This Bailey denied, +pointing out that he could neither speak French, +nor had he ever had any French money, which +Professor Reichel, who brought him from Australia, +corroborated. However, the committee considered +the evidence to be final, and the séances +came to an end, though Colonel de Rochas, the +leading member, wound up the incident by writing: +"Are we to conclude from the fraud that we have +witnessed that all Bailey's apports may have +been fraudulent? I do not think so, and this +is also the opinion of the members of the committee, +who have had much experience with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +mediums and are conversant with the literature of +the subject."</p> + +<p>Reading the alleged exposure, one is struck, as +so often in such cases, with its unsatisfactory +nature. There is the difficulty of the language +and the money. There is the disappearance of +the third bird and the cage. Above all, how did +the birds get into the carefully-guarded seance +room, especially as Bailey was put in a bag +during the proceedings? The committee say the +bag may not have been efficient, but they also +state that Bailey desired the control to be made +more effective. Altogether it is a puzzling case. +On my applying to Bailey himself for information, +he declared roundly that he had been the victim of +a theological plot with suborned evidence. The +only slight support which I can find for that view +is that there was a Rev. Doctor among his accusers. +I was told independently that Professor Reichel, +before his death in 1918, came also to the conclusion +that there had been a plot. But in any case +most of us will agree with Mr. Stanford, Bailey's +Australian patron, that the committee would have +been wise to say nothing, continue the sittings, +and use their knowledge to get at some more +complete conclusion.</p> + +<p>With such a record one had to be on one's +guard with Mr. Bailey. I had a sitting in my +room at the hotel to which I invited ten guests, +but the results were not impressive. We saw +so-called spirit hands, which were faintly luminous, +but I was not allowed to grasp them, and they +were never further from the medium than he could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +have reached. All this was suspicious but not +conclusive. On the other hand, there was an +attempt at a materialisation of a head, which took +the form of a luminous patch, and seemed to some +of the sitters to be further from the cabinet than +could be reached. We had an address purporting +to come from the control, Dr. Whitcombe, and +we also had a message written in bad Italian. +On the whole it was one of those baffling sittings +which leave a vague unpleasant impression, and +there was a disturbing suggestion of cuffs about +those luminous hands.</p> + +<p>I have been reading Bailey's record, however, +and I cannot doubt that he has been a great apport +medium. The results were far above all possible +fraud, both in the conditions and in the articles +brought into the room by spirit power. For +example, I have a detailed account published by +Dr. C. W. McCarthy, of Sydney, under the title, +"Rigid Tests of the Occult." During these tests +Bailey was sealed up in a bag, and in one case was +inside a cage of mosquito curtain. The door and +windows were secured and the fire-place blocked. +The sitters were all personal friends, but they +mutually searched each other. The medium was +stripped naked before the séance. Under these +stringent conditions during a series of six sittings +138 articles were brought into the room, which +included eighty-seven ancient coins (mostly of +Ptolemy), eight live birds, eighteen precious stones +of modest value and varied character, two live +turtles, seven inscribed Babylonian tablets, one +Egyptian Scarabæus, an Arabic newspaper,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +a leopard skin, four nests and many other things. +It seems to me perfect nonsense to talk about +these things being the results of trickery. I may +add that at a previous test meeting they had a +young live shark about 1-1/2 feet long, which was +tangled with wet seaweed and flopped about on +the table. Dr. McCarthy gives a photograph of +the creature.</p> + +<p>My second sitting with Bailey was more successful +than the first. On his arrival I and others +searched him and satisfied ourselves he carried +nothing upon him. I then suddenly switched out +all the lights, for it seemed to me that the luminous +hands of the first sitting might be the result of +phosphorised oil put on before the meeting and +only visible in complete darkness, so that it could +defy all search. I was wrong, however, for there +was no luminosity at all. We then placed Mr. +Bailey in the corner of the room, lowered the lights +without turning them out, and waited. Almost +at once he breathed very heavily, as one in trance, +and soon said something in a foreign tongue +which was unintelligible to me. One of our +friends, Mr. Cochrane, recognised it as Indian, and +at once answered, a few sentences being interchanged. +In English the voice then said that he +was a Hindoo control who was used to bring +apports for the medium, and that he would, he +hoped, be able to bring one for us. "Here it is," +he said a moment later, and the medium's hand +was extended with something in it. The light +was turned full on and we found it was a very +perfect bird's nest, beautifully constructed of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +some very fine fibre mixed with moss. It stood +about two inches high and had no sign of any +flattening which would have come with concealment. +The size would be nearly three inches +across. In it lay a small egg, white, with tiny +brown speckles. The medium, or rather the +Hindoo control acting through the medium, +placed the egg on his palm and broke it, some fine +albumen squirting out. There was no trace of +yolk. "We are not allowed to interfere with +life," said he. "If it had been fertilised we could +not have taken it." These words were said before +he broke it, so that he was aware of the condition +of the egg, which certainly seems remarkable.</p> + +<p>"Where did it come from?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"From India."</p> + +<p>"What bird is it?"</p> + +<p>"They call it the jungle sparrow."</p> + +<p>The nest remained in my possession, and I +spent a morning with Mr. Chubb, of the local +museum, to ascertain if it was really the nest of +such a bird. It seemed too small for an Indian +sparrow, and yet we could not match either nest +or egg among the Australian types. Some of Mr. +Bailey's other nests and eggs have been actually +identified. Surely it is a fair argument that +while it is conceivable that such birds might be +imported and purchased here, it is really an insult +to one's reason to suppose that nests with fresh +eggs in them could also be in the market. Therefore +I can only support the far more extended +experience and elaborate tests of Dr. McCarthy +of Sydney, and affirm that I believe Mr. Charles<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +Bailey to be upon occasion a true medium, with a +very remarkable gift for apports.</p> + +<p>It is only right to state that when I returned to +London I took one of Bailey's Assyrian tablets +to the British Museum and that it was pronounced +to be a forgery. Upon further inquiry it proved +that these forgeries are made by certain Jews in +a suburb of Bagdad—and, so far as is known, +only there. Therefore the matter is not much +further advanced. To the transporting agency +it is at least possible that the forgery, steeped in +recent human magnetism, is more capable of being +handled than the original taken from a mound. +Bailey has produced at least a hundred of these +things, and no Custom House officer has deposed +how they could have entered the country. On +the other hand, Bailey told me clearly that the +tablets had been passed by the British Museum, +so that I fear that I cannot acquit him of tampering +with truth—and just there lies the great difficulty +of deciding upon his case. But one has always to +remember that physical mediumship has no connection +one way or the other with personal +character, any more than the gift of poetry.</p> + +<p>To return to this particular séance, it was +unequal. We had luminous hands, but they were +again within reach of the cabinet in which the +medium was seated. We had also a long address +from Dr. Whitcombe, the learned control, in which +he discoursed like an absolute master upon +Assyrian and Roman antiquities and psychic +science. It was really an amazing address, and if +Bailey were the author of it I should hail him as a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +master mind. He chatted about the Kings of +Babylon as if he had known them all, remarked +that the Bible was wrong in calling Belthazar +King as he was only Crown Prince, and put in all +those easy side allusions which a man uses when +he is absolutely full of his subject. Upon his +asking for questions, I said: "Please give me some +light as to the dematerialisation and subsequent +reassembly of an object such as a bird's nest." +"It involves," he answered, "some factors which are +beyond your human science and which could not +be made clear to you. At the same time you may +take as a rough analogy the case of water which +is turned into steam, and then this steam which is +invisible, is conducted elsewhere to be reassembled +as visible water." I thought this explanation +was exceedingly apt, though of course I agree that +it is only a rough analogy. On my asking if there +were libraries and facilities for special study in +the next world, he said that there certainly were, +but that instead of studying books they usually +studied the actual objects themselves. All he +said was full of dignity and wisdom. It was +curious to notice that, learned as he was, Dr. +Whitcombe always referred back with reverence +to Dr. Robinson, another control not present at +the moment, as being the real expert. I am told +that some of Dr. Robinson's addresses have fairly +amazed the specialists. I notice that Col. de +Rochas in his report was equally impressed by +Bailey's controls.</p> + +<p>I fear that my psychic experiences are pushing +my travels into the background, but I warned the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +reader that it might be so when first we joined +hands. To get back to the earth, let me say that +I saw the procession when the new Governor-General, +Lord Forster, with his charming wife, +made their ceremonial entry into Melbourne, with +many workman-like Commonwealth troops before +and behind their carriage. I knew Lord Forster +of old, for we both served upon a committee over +the Olympic Games, so that he gave quite a start +of surprised recognition when his quick eye fell +upon my face in the line of spectators. He is a +man who cannot fail to be popular here, for he has +the physical as well as the mental qualities. Our +stay in Melbourne was afterwards made more +pleasant by the gracious courtesy of Government +House for, apart from attending several functions, +we were invited to a special dinner, after which I +exhibited upon a screen my fairy portraits and a +few of my other very wonderful psychic photographs. +It was not an occasion when I could +preach, but no quick intelligence could be brought +in contact with such phenomena without asking +itself very seriously what lay behind them. When +that question is earnestly asked the battle is won.</p> + +<p>One asks oneself what will be the end of this +system of little viceroys in each State and a big +viceroy in the Capital—however capable and +excellent in themselves such viceroys may be. +The smaller courts are, I understand, already +doomed, and rightly so, since there is no need for +them and nothing like them elsewhere. There +is no possible purpose that they serve save to +impose a nominal check, which is never used,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +upon the legislation. The Governor-Generalship +will last no doubt until Australia cuts the painter, +or we let go our end of it, whichever may come +first.</p> + +<p>Personally, I have no fear of Britain's power +being weakened by a separation of her dominions. +Close allies which were independent might be a +greater source of moral strength than actual +dependencies. When the sons leave the father's +house and rule their own homes, becoming fathers +in turn, the old man is not weakened thereby. +Certainly I desire no such change, but if it came +I would bear it with philosophy. I hope that the +era of great military crises is for ever past, but, if +it should recur, I am sure that the point of view +would be the same, and that the starry Union Jack +of the great Australian nation would still fly beside +the old flag which was its model.</p> + +<p>If one took a Machiavelian view of British +interests one would say that to retain a colony the +surest way is not to remove any danger which may +threaten her. We conquered Canada from the +French, removing in successive campaigns the +danger from the north and from the west which +threatened our American colonies. When we had +expended our blood and money to that end, so +that the colonies had nothing to fear, they took +the first opportunity to force an unnecessary +quarrel and to leave us. So I have fears for South +Africa now that the German menace has been +removed. Australia is, I think, loyal to the core, +and yet self-interest is with every nation the basis +of all policy, and so long as the British fleet can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +guard the shores of the great empty northern +territories, a region as big as Britain, Germany, +France and Austria put together, they have need +of us. There can be no doubt that if they were +alone in the world in the face of the teeming +millions of the East, they might, like the Siberian +travellers, have to throw a good deal to the wolves +in order to save the remainder. Brave and +capable as they are, neither their numbers nor +their resources could carry them through a long +struggle if the enemy held the sea. They are +natural shots and soldiers, so that they might be +wiser to spend their money in a strategic railway +right across their northern coast, rather than in +direct military preparations. To concentrate +rapidly before the enemy was firmly established +might under some circumstances be a very vital +need.</p> + +<p>But so long as the British Empire lasts Australia +is safe, and in twenty years' time her own enlarged +population will probably make her safe without +help from anyone. But her empty places are a +danger. History abhors a vacuum and finds some +one to fill it up. I have never yet understood +why the Commonwealth has not made a serious +effort to attract to the northern territories those +Italians who are flooding the Argentine. It is +great blood and no race is the poorer for it—the +blood of ancient Rome. They are used to semitropical +heat and to hard work in bad conditions +if there be only hope ahead. Perhaps the policy +of the future may turn in that direction. If that +one weak spot be guarded then it seems to me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +that in the whole world there is no community, +save only the United States, which is so safe from +outside attack as Australia. Internal division is +another matter, but there Australia is in some +ways stronger than the States. She has no negro +question, and the strife between Capital and Labour +is not likely to be so formidable. I wonder, by the +way, how many people in the United States realise +that this small community lost as many men as +America did in the great war. We were struck also +by the dignified resignation with which this fact was +faced, and by the sense of proportion which was +shown in estimating the sacrifices of various nations.</p> + +<p>We like the people here very much more than +we had expected to, for one hears in England +exaggerated stories of their democratic bearing. +When democracy takes the form of equality one +can get along with it, but when it becomes rude +and aggressive one would avoid it. Here one +finds a very pleasing good fellowship which no +one would object to. Again and again we have +met with little acts of kindness from people in +shops or in the street, which were not personal to +ourselves, but part of their normal good manners. +If you ask the way or any other information, +strangers will take trouble to put you right. They +are kindly, domestic and straight in speech and +in dealings. Materialism and want of vision in the +broader affairs of life seem to be the national weakness, +but that may be only a passing phase, for +when a nation has such a gigantic material proposition +as this continent to handle it is natural that +their thoughts should run on the wool and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +wheat and the gold by which it can be accomplished. +I am bound to say, however, that I +think every patriotic Australian should vote, if +not for prohibition, at least for the solution which +is most dear to myself, and that is the lowering of +the legal standard of alcohol in any drink. We +have been shocked and astonished by the number +of young men of decent exterior whom we have +seen staggering down the street, often quite early +in the day. The Biblical test for drunkenness, +that it was not yet the third hour, would not apply +to them. I hear that bad as it is in the big towns +it is worse in the small ones, and worst of all in +the northern territories and other waste places +where work is particularly needed. It must +greatly decrease the national efficiency. A recent +vote upon the question in Victoria only carried +total abstinence in four districts out of about 200, +but a two-third majority was needed to do it. +On the other hand a trial of strength in Queensland, +generally supposed to be rather a rowdy State, has +shown that the temperance men all combined can +out-vote the others. Therefore it is certain that +reform will not be long delayed.</p> + +<p>The other curse of the country, which is a real +drag upon its progress, is the eternal horse-racing. +It goes on all the year round, though it has its +more virulent bouts, as for example during our +visit to this town when the Derby, the Melbourne +Cup, and Oaks succeeded each other. They call +it sport, but I fear that in that case I am no +sportsman. I would as soon call the roulette-table +a sport. The whole population is unsettled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +and bent upon winning easy money, which dissatisfies +them with the money that has to be +worked for. Every shop is closed when the Cup +is run, and you have lift-boys, waiters and maids +all backing their fancies, not with half-crowns but +with substantial sums. The danger to honesty +is obvious, and it came under our own notice that +it is not imaginary. Of course we are by no means +blameless in England, but it only attacks a limited +class, while here it seems to the stranger to be +almost universal. In fact it is so bad that it is +sure to get better, for I cannot conceive that any +sane nation will allow it to continue. The book-makers, +however, are a powerful guild, and will +fight tooth and nail. The Catholic Church, I am +sorry to say, uses its considerable influence to +prevent drink reform by legislation, and I fear +that it will not support the anti-gamblers either. +I wonder from what hidden spring, from what +ignorant Italian camarilla, this venerable and in +some ways admirable Church gets its secular +policy, which must have central direction, since +it is so consistent! When I remember the recent +sequence of world events and the part played by +that Church, the attack upon the innocent Dreyfus, +the refusal to support reform in the Congo, and +finally the obvious leaning towards the Central +Powers who were clearly doomed to lose, one +would think that it was ruled by a Council of +lunatics. These matters bear no relation to faith +or dogma, so that one wonders that the sane +Catholics have not risen in protest. No doubt the +better class laymen are ahead of the clergy in this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +as in other religious organisations. I cannot +forget how the Duke of Norfolk sent me a cheque +for the Congo Reform Movement at the very time +when we could not get the Catholic Church to line +up with the other sects at a Reform Demonstration +at the Albert Hall. In this country also there +were many brave and loyal Catholics who took +their own line against Cardinal Mannix upon the +question of conscription, when that Cardinal did +all that one man could do to bring about the defeat +of the free nations in the great war. How he +could face an American audience afterwards, or +how such an audience could tolerate him, is hard +to understand.</p> + + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<div class="blockquotech extraspacebot"><p>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.</p></div> + + +<p>In some ways the Australians are more English +than the English. We have been imperceptibly +Americanised, while our brethren over the sea +have kept the old type. The Australian is less +ready to show emotion, cooler in his bearing, more +restrained in applause, more devoted to personal +liberty, keener on sport, and quieter in expression +(as witness the absence of scare lines in the papers) +than our people are. Indeed, they remind me +more of the Scotch than the English, and Melbourne +on a Sunday, without posts, or Sunday +papers, or any amenity whatever, is like the +Edinburgh of my boyhood. Sydney is more +advanced. There are curious anomalies in both +towns. Their telephone systems are so bad that +they can only be balanced against each other, for +they are in a class by themselves. One smiles +when one recollects that one used to grumble at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +the London lines. On the other hand the tramway +services in both towns are wonderful, and so +continuous that one never hastens one's step to +catch a tram since another comes within a minute. +The Melbourne trams have open bogey cars in +front, which make a drive a real pleasure.</p> + +<p>One of our pleasant recollections in the early +days of our Melbourne visit was a day in the bush +with Mr. Henry Stead and his wife. My intense +admiration for the moral courage and energy of +the father made it easy for me to form a friendship +with his son, who has shown the family qualities +by the able way in which he has founded and +conducted an excellent journal, <i>Stead's Monthly</i>. +Australia was lucky ever to get such an immigrant +as that, for surely an honest, fearless and clear-headed +publicist is the most valuable man that a +young country, whose future is one long problem +play, could import. We spent our day in the +Dandenong Hills, twenty miles from Melbourne, in a +little hostel built in a bush clearing and run by +one Lucas, of good English cricket stock, his +father having played for Sussex. On the way we +passed Madame Melba's place at Lilydale, and +the wonderful woods with their strange tree-ferns +seemed fit cover for such a singing bird. Coming +back in Stead's light American car we tried a short +cut down roads which proved to be almost impossible. +A rather heavier car ahead of us, with +two youths in it, got embedded in the mud, and +we all dismounted to heave it out. There suddenly +appeared on the lonely road an enormous coloured +man; he looked like a cross between negro and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +black fellow. He must have lived in some hut +in the woods, but the way his huge form suddenly +rose beside us was quite surprising. He stood in +gloomy majesty surveying our efforts, and repeating +a series of sentences which reminded one of +German exercises. "I have no jack. I had a +jack. Some one has taken my jack. This is +called a road. It is not a road. There is no road." +We finally levered out the Australian car, for which, +by the way, neither occupant said a word of thanks, +and then gave the black giant a shilling, which he +received as a keeper takes his toll. On looking +back I am not sure that this slough of despond is +not carefully prepared by this negro, who makes a +modest income by the tips which he gets from the +unfortunates who get bogged in it. No keeper +ever darted out to a trap quicker than he did +when the car got stuck.</p> + +<p>Stead agreed with me that the Australians do +not take a big enough view of their own destiny. +They—or the labour party, to be more exact—are +inclined to buy the ease of the moment at the +cost of the greatness of their continental future. +They fear immigration lest it induce competition +and pull down prices. It is a natural attitude. +And yet that little fringe of people on the edge of +that huge island can never adequately handle it. +It is like an enormous machine with a six horsepower +engine to drive it. I have a great sympathy +with their desire to keep the British stock as pure +as possible. But the land needs the men, and +somewhere they must be found. I cannot doubt +that they would become loyal subjects of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +Empire which had adopted them. I have wondered +sometimes whether in Lower California and +the warmer States of the Union there may not be +human material for Australia. Canada has +received no more valuable stock than from the +American States, so it might be that another portion +of the Union would find the very stamp of +man that Queensland and the north require. +The American likes a big gamble and a broad life +with plenty of elbow-room. Let him bring his +cotton seeds over to semi-tropical Australia and see +what he can make of it there.</p> + +<p>To pass suddenly to other-worldly things, +which are my mission. People never seem to +realise the plain fact that one positive result must +always outweigh a hundred negative ones. It only +needs one single case of spirit return to be established, +and there is no more to be said. Incidentally, +how absurd is the position of those wiseacres +who say "nine-tenths of the phenomena are +fraud." Can they not see that if they grant +us one-tenth, they grant us our whole contention?</p> + +<p>These remarks are elicited by a case which +occurred in 1883 in Melbourne, and which should +have converted the city as surely as if an +angel had walked down Collins Street. Yet +nearly forty years later I find it as stagnant and +material as any city I have ever visited. The +facts are these, well substantiated by documentary +and official evidence. Mr. Junor Browne, +a well-known citizen, whose daughter afterwards +married Mr. Alfred Deakin, subsequently Premier,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +had two sons, Frank and Hugh. Together with +a seaman named Murray they went out into the +bay in their yacht the "Iolanthe," and they never +returned. The father was fortunately a Spiritualist +and upon the second day of their absence, +after making all normal inquiries, he asked a +sensitive, Mr. George Spriggs, formerly of Cardiff, +if he would trace them. Mr. Spriggs collected +some of the young men's belongings, so as to get +their atmosphere, and then he was able by psychometry +to give an account of their movements, the +last which he could see of them being that they +were in trouble upon the yacht and that confusion +seemed to reign aboard her. Two days later, as +no further news was brought in, the Browne +family held a séance, Mr. Spriggs being the medium. +He fell into trance and the two lads, who had been +trained in spiritual knowledge and knew the +possibilities, at once came through. They expressed +their contrition to their mother, who had +desired them not to go, and they then gave a clear +account of the capsizing of the yacht, and how +they had met their death, adding that they had +found themselves after death in the exact physical +conditions of happiness and brightness which their +father's teaching had led them to expect. They +brought with them the seaman Murray, who also +said a few words. Finally Hugh, speaking through +the medium, informed Mr. Browne that Frank's +arm and part of his clothing had been torn off by +a fish.</p> + +<p>"A shark?" asked Mr. Browne.</p> + +<p>"Well, it was not like any shark I have seen."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mark the sequel. Some weeks later a large +shark of a rare deep-sea species, unknown to the +fishermen, and quite unlike the ordinary blue +shark with which the Brownes were familiar, was +taken at Frankston, about twenty-seven miles +from Melbourne. Inside it was found the bone of +a human arm, and also a watch, some coins, and +other articles which had belonged to Frank +Browne. These facts were all brought out in the +papers at the time, and Mr. Browne put much of +it on record in print before the shark was taken, +or any word of the missing men had come by +normal means. The facts are all set forth in a +little book by Mr. Browne himself, called "A +Rational Faith." What have fraudulent mediums +and all the other decoys to do with such a case as +that, and is it not perfectly convincing to any +man who is not perverse? Personally, I value +it not so much for the evidence of survival, since +we have that so complete already, but for the +detailed account given by the young men of their +new conditions, so completely corroborating what +so many young officers, cut off suddenly in the +war, have said of their experience. "Mother, if +you could see how happy we are, and the beautiful +home we are in, you would not weep except for +joy. I feel so light in my spiritual body and +have no pain, I would not exchange this life for +earth life even it were in my power. Poor spirits +without number are waiting anxiously to communicate +with their friends when an opportunity +is offered." The young Brownes had the enormous +advantage of the education they had received from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +their father, so that they instantly understood +and appreciated the new conditions.</p> + +<p>On October 8th we had a séance with Mrs. +Hunter, a pleasant middle-aged woman, with a +soft South of England accent. Like so many of +our mediums she had little sign of education in her +talk. It does not matter in spiritual things, +though it is a stumbling block to some inquirers. +After all, how much education had the apostles? +I have no doubt they were very vulgar provincial +people from the average Roman point of view. +But they shook the world none the less. Most +of our educated people have got their heads so +crammed with things that don't matter that they +have no room for the things that do matter. +There was no particular success at our sitting, but +I have heard that the medium is capable of better +things.</p> + +<p>On October 13th I had my first experience of a +small town, for I went to Geelong and lectured +there. It was an attentive and cultured audience, +but the hall was small and the receipts could +hardly have covered the expenses. However, it +is the press report and the local discussion which +really matter. I had little time to inspect +Geelong, which is a prosperous port with 35,000 +inhabitants. What interested me more was the +huge plain of lava which stretches around it +and connects it with Melbourne. This plain is a +good hundred miles across, and as it is of great +depth one can only imagine that there must be +monstrous cavities inside the earth to correspond +with the huge amount extruded. Here and there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +one sees stunted green cones which are the remains +of the volcanoes which spewed up all this stuff. +The lava has disintegrated on the surface to the +extent of making good arable soil, but the harder +bits remain unbroken, so that the surface is +covered with rocks, which are used to build up +walls for the fields after the Irish fashion. Every +here and there a peak of granite has remained +as an island amid the lava, to show what was +there before the great outflow. Eruptions appear +to be caused by water pouring in through some +crack and reaching the heated inside of the earth +where the water is turned to steam, expands, and +so gains the force to spread destruction. If this +process went on it is clear that the whole sea might +continue to pour down the crack until the heat +had been all absorbed by the water. I have +wondered whether the lava may not be a clever +healing process of nature, by which this soft +plastic material is sent oozing out in every direction +with the idea that it may find the crack and then +set hard and stop it up. Wild speculation no +doubt, but the guess must always precede the +proof.</p> + +<p>The Australians are really a very good-natured +people. It runs through the whole race, high and +low. A very exalted person, the Minister of War, +shares our flat in the hotel, his bedroom being +imbedded among our rooms. This is General Sir +Granville Ryrie, a famous hero of Palestine, +covered with wounds and medals—a man, too, of +great dignity of bearing. As I was dressing one +morning I heard some rather monotonous whistling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +and, forgetting the very existence of the General, +and taking it for granted that it was my eldest +boy Denis, I put my head out and said, "Look +here, old chap, consider other people's nerves +and give up that rotten habit of whistling before +breakfast." Imagine my feelings when the deep +voice of the General answered, "All right, Sir +Arthur, I will!" We laughed together over the +incident afterwards, and I told him that he had +furnished me with one more example of Australian +good humour for my notes.</p> + +<p>On October 13th I was at the prosperous +50,000 population town of Bendigo, which every +one, except the people on the spot, believes to have +been named after the famous boxer. This must +surely be a world record, for so far as my memory +serves, neither a Grecian Olympic athletic, nor a +Roman Gladiator, nor a Byzantine Charioteer, has +ever had a city for a monument. Borrow, who +looked upon a good honest pugilist as the pick +of humanity, must have rejoiced in it. Is not +valour the basis of all character, and where shall +we find greater valour than theirs? Alas, that +most of them began and ended there! It is +when the sage and the saint build on the basis +of the fighter that you have the highest to which +humanity can attain.</p> + +<p>I had a full hall at Bendigo, and it was packed, +I am told, by real old-time miners, for, of course, +Bendigo is still the centre of the gold mining +industry. Mr. Smythe told me that it was quite a +sight to see those rows of deeply-lined, bearded +faces listening so intently to what I said of that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +destiny which is theirs as well as mine. I never +had a better audience, and it was their sympathy +which helped me through, for I was very weary +that night. But however weary you may be, +when you climb upon the platform to talk about +this subject, you may be certain that you will be +less weary when you come off. That is my settled +conviction after a hundred trials.</p> + +<p>On the morning after my lecture I found myself +half a mile nearer to dear Old England, for I +descended the Unity mine, and they say that the +workings extend to that depth. Perhaps I was +not at the lowest level, but certainly it was a long +journey in the cage, and reminded me of my +friend Bang's description of the New York +elevator, when he said that the distance to his +suburban villa and his town flat was the same, +but the one was horizontal and the other perpendicular.</p> + +<p>It was a weird experience that peep into the +profound depths of the great gold mine. Time +was when the quartz veins were on the surface +for the poor adventurer to handle. Now they have +been followed underground, and only great companies +and costly machinery can win it. Always +it is the same white quartz vein with the little +yellow specks and threads running through it. +We were rattled down in pitch darkness until we +came to a stop at the end of a long passage dimly +lit by an occasional guttering candle. Carrying +our own candles, and clad in miner's costume we +crept along with bent heads until we came suddenly +out into a huge circular hall which might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +have sprung from Doré's imagination. The place +was draped with heavy black shadows, but every +here and there was a dim light. Each light +showed where a man was squatting toad-like, a +heap of broken debris in front of him, turning it +over, and throwing aside the pieces with clear +traces of gold. These were kept for special treatment, +while the rest of the quartz was passed in +ordinary course through the mill. These scattered +heaps represented the broken stuff after a charge +of dynamite had been exploded in the quartz +vein. It was strange indeed to see these squatting +figures deep in the bowels of the earth, their +candles shining upon their earnest faces and +piercing eyes, and to reflect that they were +striving that the great exchanges of London and +New York might be able to balance with bullion +their output of paper. This dim troglodyte +industry was in truth the centre and mainspring +of all industries, without which trade would stop. +Many of the men were from Cornwall, the troll +among the nations, where the tools of the miner are +still, as for two thousand years, the natural +heritage of the man. Dr. Stillwell, the geologist +of the company, and I had a long discussion as to +where the gold came from, but the only possible +conclusion was that nobody knew. We know +now that the old alchemists were perfectly right +and that one metal may change into another. Is +it possible that under some conditions a mineral +may change into a metal? Why should quartz +always be the matrix? Some geological Darwin +will come along some day and we shall get a great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +awakening, for at present we are only disguising +our own ignorance in this department of knowledge. +I had always understood that quartz +was one of the old igneous primeval rocks, +and yet here I saw it in thin bands, sandwiched +in between clays and slates and other water-borne +deposits. The books and the strata don't +agree.</p> + +<p>These smaller towns, like the Metropolis itself, +are convulsed with the great controversy between +Prohibition and Continuance, no reasonable compromise +between the two being suggested. Every +wall displays posters, on one side those very +prosperous-looking children who demand that +some restraint be placed upon their daddy, and +on the other hair-raising statements as to the +financial results of restricting the publicans. To +the great disgust of every decent man they have +run the Prince into it, and some remark of his +after his return to England has been used by the +liquor party. It is dangerous for royalty to be +jocose in these days, but this was a particularly +cruel example of the exploitation of a harmless +little joke. If others felt as I did I expect it cost +the liquor interest many a vote.</p> + +<p>We had another séance, this time with Mrs. +Knight MacLellan, after my return from Bendigo. +She is a lady who has grown grey in the service of +the cult, and who made a name in London when +she was still a child by her mediumistic powers. +We had nothing of an evidential character that +evening save that one lady who had recently +lost her son had his description and an apposite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +message given. It was the first of several tests +which we were able to give this lady, and before +we left Melbourne she assured us that she was a +changed woman and her sorrow for ever gone.</p> + +<p>On October 18th began a very delightful +experience, for my wife and I, leaving our party +safe in Melbourne, travelled up country to be +the guests of the Hon. Agar Wynne and his +charming wife at their station of Nerrin-Nerrin +in Western Victoria. It is about 140 miles from +Melbourne, and as the trains are very slow, the +journey was not a pleasant one. But that was +soon compensated for in the warmth of the welcome +which awaited us. Mr. Agar Wynne was +Postmaster-General of the Federal Government, +and author of several improvements, one of which, +the power of sending long letter-telegrams at low +rates during certain hours was a triumph of +common sense. For a shilling one could send +quite a long communication to the other end of +the Continent, but it must go through at the +time when the telegraph clerk had nothing else +to do.</p> + +<p>It was interesting to us to find ourselves upon +an old-established station, typical of the real life +of Australia, for cities are much the same the +world over. Nerrin had been a sheep station for +eighty years, but the comfortable verandahed +bungalow house, with every convenience within it, +was comparatively modern. What charmed us +most, apart from the kindness of our hosts, was a +huge marsh or lagoon which extended for many +miles immediately behind the house, and which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +was a bird sanctuary, so that it was crowded +with ibises, wild black swans, geese, ducks, +herons and all sorts of fowl. We crept out of our +bedroom in the dead of the night and stood under +the cloud-swept moon listening to the chorus of +screams, hoots, croaks and whistles coming out of +the vast expanse of reeds. It would make a most +wonderful hunting ground for a naturalist who +was content to observe and not to slay. The +great morass of Nerrin will ever stand out in our +memories.</p> + +<p>Next day we were driven round the borders of +this wonderful marsh, Mr. Wynne, after the +Australian fashion, taking no note of roads, and +going right across country with alarming results +to anyone not used to it. Finally, the swaying +and rolling became so terrific that he was himself +thrown off the box seat and fell down between the +buggy and the front wheel, narrowly escaping a +very serious accident. He was able to show us +the nests and eggs which filled the reed-beds, and +even offered to drive us out into the morass to +inspect them, a proposal which was rejected by +the unanimous vote of a full buggy. I never knew +an answer more decidedly in the negative. As we +drove home we passed a great gum tree, and half-way +up the trunk was a deep incision where the +bark had been stripped in an oval shape some four +foot by two. It was where some savage in days +of old had cut his shield. Such a mark outside a +modern house with every amenity of cultured life +is an object lesson of how two systems have over-lapped, +and how short a time it is since this great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +continent was washed by a receding wave, ere the +great Anglo-Saxon tide came creeping forward.</p> + +<p>Apart from the constant charm of the wild life of +the marsh there did not seem to be much for the +naturalist around Nerrin. Opossums bounded +upon the roof at night and snakes were not uncommon. +A dangerous tiger-snake was killed +on the day of our arrival. I was amazed also +at the size of the Australian eels. A returned +soldier had taken up fishing as a trade, renting +a water for a certain time and putting the contents, +so far as he could realise them, upon the +market. It struck me that after this wily digger +had passed that way there would not be much +for the sportsman who followed him. But the eels +were enormous. He took a dozen at a time from +his cunning eel-pots, and not one under six pounds. +I should have said that they were certainly +congers had I seen them in England.</p> + +<p>I wonder whether all this part of the country +has not been swept by a tidal wave at some not +very remote period. It is a low coastline with +this great lava plain as a hinterland, and I can see +nothing to prevent a big wave even now from +sweeping the civilisation of Victoria off the +planet, should there be any really great disturbance +under the Pacific. At any rate, it is my impression +that it has actually occurred once already, for I +cannot otherwise understand the existence of great +shallow lakes of salt water in these inland parts. +Are they not the pools left behind by that terrible +tide? There are great banks of sand, too, here +and there on the top of the lava which I can in no +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span>way account for unless they were swept here in +some tremendous world-shaking catastrophe which +took the beach from St. Kilda and threw it up +at Nerrin. God save Australia from such a night +as that must have been if my reading of the signs +be correct.</p> + +<div class="figcenter extraspacetop extraspacebot"><span class='imgnum'><a name="I_128" id="I_128">[128]</a></span> +<img src="images/gs07.jpg" width="375" height="242" alt=" +A TYPICAL AUSTRALIAN BACK-COUNTRY SCENE. +By H. J. Johnstone, a great painter who died unknown." title="" /><br /> +<p class="blockquotetn nrright"> <i>See page 127.</i></p> <br /> +<p class="center caption"> A TYPICAL AUSTRALIAN BACK-COUNTRY SCENE.<br /> + +By H. J. Johnstone, a great painter who died unknown. <br /> +(Painting in Adelaide National Gallery.)</p> +</div> + +<p>One of the sights of Nerrin is the shearing of +the sheep by electric machinery. These sheep are +merinos, which have been bred as wool-producers +to such an extent that they can hardly see, and +the wool grows thick right down to their hoofs. +The large stately creature is a poor little shadow +when his wonderful fleece has been taken from +him. The electric clips with which the operation +is performed, are, I am told, the invention of a +brother of Garnet Wolseley, who worked away +at the idea, earning the name of being a half-crazy +crank, until at last the invention materialised +and did away with the whole slow and clumsy +process of the hand-shearer. It is not, however, +a pleasant process to watch even for a man, far +less a sensitive woman, for the poor creatures get +cut about a good deal in the process. The shearer +seizes a sheep, fixes him head up between his +knees, and then plunges the swiftly-moving +clippers into the thick wool which covers the +stomach. With wonderful speed he runs it along +and the creature is turned out of its covering, and +left as bare as a turkey in a poulterer's window, +but, alas, its white and tender skin is too often +gashed and ripped with vivid lines of crimson +by the haste and clumsiness of the shearer. It +was worse, they say, in the days of the hand-shearer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +I am bound to say, however, that the +creature makes no fuss about it, remains perfectly +still, and does not appear to suffer any pain. +Nature is often kinder than we know, even to her +most humble children, and some soothing and +healing process seems to be at work.</p> + +<p>The shearers appear to be a rough set of men, +and spend their whole time moving in gangs from +station to station, beginning up in the far north +and winding up on the plains of South Australia. +They are complete masters of the situation, having +a powerful union at their back. They not only +demand and receive some two pounds a day in +wages, but they work or not by vote, the majority +being able to grant a complete holiday. It is +impossible to clip a wet sheep, so that after rain +there is an interval of forced idleness, which may +be prolonged by the vote of the men. They work +very rapidly, however, when they are actually at +it, and the man who tallies most fleeces, called +"the ringer," receives a substantial bonus. When +the great shed is in full activity it is a splendid +sight with the row of stooping figures, each +embracing his sheep, the buzz of the shears, the +rush of the messengers who carry the clip to the +table, the swift movements of the sorters who +separate the perfect from the imperfect wool, and +the levering and straining of the packers who +compress it all into square bundles as hard as iron +with 240 pounds in each. With fine wool at the +present price of ninety-six pence a pound it is clear +that each of these cubes stands for nearly a +hundred pounds.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<p>They are rich men these sheep owners—and I +am speaking here of my general inquiry and not +at all of Nerrin. On a rough average, with many +local exceptions, one may say that an estate bears +one sheep to an acre, and that the sheep may show +a clear profit of one pound in the year. Thus, +after the first initial expense is passed, and when +the flock has reached its full, one may easily make +an assessment of the owner's income. Estates of +10,000 acres are common, and they run up to +50,000 and 60,000 acres. They can be run so +cheaply that the greater part of income is clear +profit, for when the land is barb-wired into great +enclosures no shepherds are needed, and only a +boundary rider or two to see that all is in order. +These, with a few hands at lambing time, and two +or three odd-job men at the central station, make +up the whole staff. It is certainly the short cut +to a fortune if one can only get the plant running.</p> + +<p>Can a man with a moderate capital get a share of +these good things? Certainly he can if he have +grit and a reasonable share of that luck which +must always be a factor in Nature's processes. +Droughts, floods, cyclones, etc., are like the zero +at Monte Carlo, which always may turn up to +defeat the struggling gamester. I followed several +cases where small men had managed to make good. +It is reckoned that the man who gets a holding of +from 300 to 500 acres is able on an average in three +years to pay off all his initial expenses and to have +laid the foundations of a career which may lead to +fortune. One case was a London baker who knew +nothing of the work. He had 300 acres and had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +laid it out in wheat, cows, sheep and mixed +farming. He worked from morning to night, his +wife was up at four, and his child of ten was +picking up stones behind the furrow. But he was +already making his £500 a year. The personal +equation was everything. One demobilised +soldier was doing well. Another had come to +smash. Very often a deal is made between the +small man and the large holder, by which the +latter lets the former a corner of his estate, taking +a share, say one-third, of his profits as rent. That +is a plan which suits everyone, and the landlord +can gradually be bought out by the "cockatoo +farmer," as he is styled.</p> + +<p>There is a great wool-clip this year, and prices +in London are at record figures, so that Australia, +which only retains 17 per cent. of her own wool, +should have a very large sum to her credit. But +she needs it. When one considers that the debt of +this small community is heavier now than that of +Great Britain before the war, one wonders how +she can ever win through. But how can anyone +win through? I don't think we have fairly +realised the financial problem yet, and I believe +that within a very few years there will be an +International Council which will be compelled to +adopt some such scheme as the one put forward +by my friend, Mr. Stilwell, under the name of +"The Great Plan." This excellent idea was that +every nation should reduce its warlike expenditure +to an absolute minimum, that the difference +between this minimum and the 1914 pre-war +standard should be paid every year to a central<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +fund, and that international bonds be now drawn +upon the security of that fund, anticipating not its +present amount but what it will represent in fifty +years' time. It is, in fact, making the future help +the present, exactly as an estate which has some +sudden great call upon it might reasonably +anticipate or mortgage its own development. I +believe that the salvation of the world may depend +upon some such plan, and that the Council of the +League of Nations is the agency by which it could +be made operative.</p> + +<p>Australia has had two plants which have been a +perfect curse to her as covering the land and +offering every impediment to agriculture. They +are the Spinnifex in the West and the Mallee scrub +in the East. The latter was considered a hopeless +proposition, and the only good which could be +extracted from it was that the root made an ideal +fire, smouldering long and retaining heat. Suddenly, +however, a genius named Lascelles discovered +that this hopeless Mallee land was simply +unrivalled for wheat, and his schemes have now +brought seven million acres under the plough. +This could hardly have been done if another genius, +unnamed, had not invented a peculiar and +ingenious plough, the "stump-jump plough," +which can get round obstacles without breaking +itself. It is not generally known that Australia +really heads the world for the ingenuity and +efficiency of her agricultural machinery. There +is an inventor and manufacturer, MacKay, of +Sunshine, who represents the last word in automatic +reapers, etc. He exports them, a shipload<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +at a time, to the United States, which, if one +considers the tariff which they have to surmount, +is proof in itself of the supremacy of the article. +With this wealth of machinery the real power of +Australia in the world is greater than her population +would indicate, for a five-million nation, which, +by artificial aid, does the work normally done by +ten million people, becomes a ten-million nation +so far as economic and financial strength is +concerned.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, Australia has her hindrances +as well as her helps. Certainly the rabbits have +done her no good, though the evil is for the +moment under control. An efficient rabbiter gets +a pound a day, and he is a wise insurance upon +any estate, for the creatures, if they get the upper-hand, +can do thousands of pounds' worth of +damage. This damage takes two shapes. First, +they eat on all the grass and leave nothing at all +for the sheep. Secondly, they burrow under +walls, etc., and leave the whole place an untidy +ruin. Little did the man who introduced the +creature into Australia dream how the imprecations +of a continent would descend upon him.</p> + +<p>Alas! that we could not linger at Nerrin; but +duty was calling at Melbourne. Besides, the +days of the Melbourne Cup were at hand, and not +only was Mr. Wynne a great pillar of the turf, but +Mr. Osborne, owner of one of the most likely horses +in the race, was one of the house-party. To Melbourne +therefore we went. We shall always, +however, be able in our dreams to revisit that +broad verandah, the low hospitable façade, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +lovely lawn with its profusion of scented shrubs, +the grove of towering gum trees, where the +opossums lurked, and above all the great marsh +where with dark clouds drifting across the moon +we had stolen out at night to hear the crying of +innumerable birds. That to us will always be the +real Australia.</p> + + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<div class="blockquotech extraspacebot"><p>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.</p></div> + + +<p>It was the week of weeks in Melbourne when we +returned from Nerrin, and everything connected +with my mission was out of the question. When +the whole world is living vividly here and now +there is no room for the hereafter. Personally, +I fear I was out of sympathy with it all, though +we went to the Derby, where the whole male and +a good part of the female population of Melbourne +seemed to be assembled, reinforced by +contingents from every State in the Federation. +A fine handsome body of people they are when +you see them <i>en masse</i>, strong, solid and capable, +if perhaps a little lacking in those finer and more +spiritual graces which come with a more matured +society. The great supply of animal food must +have its effect upon the mind as well as the body +of a nation. Lord Forster appeared at the races, +and probably, as an all round sportsman, took a +genuine interest, but the fate of the Governor +who did not take an interest would be a rather<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +weary one—like that kind-hearted Roman +Emperor, Claudius, if I remember right, who had +to attend the gladiatorial shows, but did his +business there so as to distract his attention from +the arena. We managed to get out of attending +the famous Melbourne Cup, and thereby found +the St. Kilda Beach deserted for once, and I was +able to spend a quiet day with my wife watching +the children bathe and preparing for the more +strenuous times ahead.</p> + +<p>One psychic subject which has puzzled me +more than any other, is that of magnetic healing. +All my instincts as a doctor, and all the traditional +teaching of the profession, cry out against unexplained +effects, and the opening which their +acceptance must give to the quack. The man +who has paid a thousand pounds for his special +knowledge has a natural distaste when he sees a +man who does not know the subclavian artery +from the pineal gland, effecting or claiming to +effect cures on some quite unconventional line. +And yet ... and yet!</p> + +<p>The ancients knew a great deal which we have +forgotten, especially about the relation of one body +to another. What did Hippocrates mean when +he said, "The affections suffered by the body the +soul sees with shut eyes?" I will show you +exactly what he means. My friend, M. J. Bloomfield, +as unselfish a worker for truth as the world +can show, tried for nearly two years to develop +the medical powers of a clairvoyant. Suddenly +the result was attained, without warning. He was +walking with a friend in Collins Street laughing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +over some joke. In an instant the laugh was +struck from his lips. A man and woman were +walking in front, their backs towards Bloomfield. +To his amazement he saw the woman's inner +anatomy mapped out before him, and especially +marked a rounded mass near the liver which he +felt intuitively should not be there. His companion +rallied him on his sudden gravity, and +still more upon the cause of it, when it was explained. +Bloomfield was so certain, however, that +the vision was for a purpose, that he accosted the +couple, and learned that the woman was actually +about to be operated on for cancer. He reassured +them, saying that the object seemed clearly +defined and not to have widespread roots as a +cancer might have. He was asked to be present +at the operation, pointed out the exact place +where he had seen the growth, and saw it extracted. +It was, as he had said, innocuous. With this +example in one's mind the words of Hippocrates +begin to assume a very definite meaning. I +believe that the surgeon was so struck by the +incident that he was most anxious that Bloomfield +should aid him permanently in his diagnoses.</p> + +<p>I will now give my own experience with Mr. +Bloomfield. Denis had been suffering from certain +pains, so I took him round as a test case. Bloomfield, +without asking the boy any questions, gazed +at him for a couple of minutes. He then said that +the pains were in the stomach and head, pointing +out the exact places. The cause, he said, was some +slight stricture in the intestine and he proceeded +to tell me several facts of Denis's early history<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +which were quite correct, and entirely beyond his +normal knowledge. I have never in all my +experience of medicine known so accurate a +diagnosis.</p> + +<p>Another lady, whom I knew, consulted him for +what she called a "medical reading." Without +examining her in any way he said: "What a +peculiar throat you have! It is all pouched +inside." She admitted that this was so, and that +doctors in London had commented upon it. By +his clairvoyant gift he could see as much as they +with their laryngoscopes.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bloomfield has never accepted any fees for +his remarkable gifts. Last year he gave 3,000 +consultations. I have heard of mediums with +similar powers in England, but I had never before +been in actual contact with one. With all my +professional prejudices I am bound to admit that +they have powers, just as Braid and Esdaile, the +pioneers of hypnotism, had powers, which must +sooner or later be acknowledged.</p> + +<p>There are, as I understand it, at least two quite +different forms of psychic healing. In such cases +as those quoted the result may be due only to +subtle powers of the human organism which some +have developed and others have not. The clairvoyance +and the instinctive knowledge may both +belong to the individual. In the other cases, +however, there are the direct action and advice of a +wise spirit control, a deceased physician usually, +who has added to his worldly stock of knowledge. +He can, of course, only act through a medium—and +just there, alas, is the dangerous opening for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +fraud and quackery. But if anyone wishes to +study the operation at its best let him read a tiny +book called "One thing I know," which records the +cure of the writer, the sister of an Anglican canon, +when she had practically been given up by doctors +of this world after fifteen years of bed, but was rescued +by the ministrations of Dr. Beale, a physician +on the other side. Dr. Beale received promotion to +a higher sphere in the course of the treatment, +which was completed by his assistant and successor. +It is a very interesting and convincing narrative.</p> + +<p>We were invited to another spiritual meeting at +the Auditorium. Individuality runs riot sometimes +in our movement. On this occasion a concert +had been mixed up with a religious service +and the effect was not good, though the musical +part of the proceedings disclosed one young +violinist, Master Hames, who should, I think, +make a name in the world. I have always been +against ritual, and yet now that I see the effect of +being without it I begin to understand that some +form of it, however elastic, is necessary. The +clairvoyance was good, if genuine, but it offends +me to see it turned off and on like a turn at a music +hall. It is either nonsense or the holy of holies +and mystery of mysteries. Perhaps it was just +this conflict between the priest with his ritual and +the medium without any, which split the early +Christian Church, and ended in the complete +victory of the ritual, which meant the extinction +not only of the medium but of the living, visible, +spiritual forces which he represented. Flowers, +music, incense, architecture, all tried to fill the gap,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +but the soul of the thing had gone out of it. It +must, I suppose, have been about the end of the +third century that the process was completed, +and the living thing had set into a petrifaction. +That would be the time no doubt when, as already +mentioned, special correctors were appointed to +make the gospel texts square with the elaborate +machinery of the Church. Only now does the +central fire begin to glow once more through the +ashes which have been heaped above it.</p> + +<p>We attended the great annual ball at the Government +House, where the Governor-General and his +wife were supported by the Governors of the +various States, the vice-regal party performing +their own stately quadrille with a dense hedge of +spectators around them. There were few chaperons, +and nearly every one ended by dancing, so +that it was a cheerful and festive scene. My +friend Major Wood had played with the Governor-General +in the same Hampshire eleven, and it was +singular to think that after many years they should +meet again like this.</p> + +<p>Social gaieties are somewhat out of key with my +present train of thought, and I was more in my +element next evening at a meeting of the Rescue +Circle under Mr. Tozer. Mr. Love was the medium +and it was certainly a very remarkable and consistent +performance. Even those who might +imagine that the different characters depicted +were in fact various strands of Mr. Love's subconscious +self, each dramatising its own peculiarities, +must admit that it was a very absorbing +exhibition. The circle sits round with prayer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +and hymns while Mr. Love falls into a trance +state. He is then controlled by the Chinaman +Quong, who is a person of such standing and +wisdom in the other world, that other lower +spirits have to obey him. The light is dim, but +even so the characteristics of this Chinaman get +across very clearly, the rolling head, the sidelong, +humorous glance the sly smile, the hands crossed +and buried in what should be the voluminous folds of +a mandarin's gown. He greets the company in somewhat +laboured English and says he has many who +would be the better for our ministrations. "Send +them along, please!" says Mr. Tozer. The +medium suddenly sits straight and his whole face +changes into an austere harshness. "What is +this ribald nonsense?" he cries. "Who are you, +friend?" says Tozer. "My name is Mathew +Barret. I testified in my life to the Lamb and to +Him crucified. I ask again: What is this ribald +nonsense?" "It is not nonsense, friend. We +are here to help you and to teach you that you are +held down and punished for your narrow ideas, +and that you cannot progress until they are more +charitable." "What I preached in life I still +believe." "Tell us, friend, did you find it on the +other side as you had preached?" "What do +you mean?" "Well, did you, for example, see +Christ?" There was an embarrassed silence. +"No, I did not." "Have you seen the devil?" +"No, I have not." "Then, bethink you, friend, +that there may be truth in what we teach." "It +is against all that I have preached." A moment +later the Chinaman was back with his rolling head<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +and his wise smile. "He good man—stupid +man. He learn in time. Plenty time before +him."</p> + +<p>We had a wonderful succession of "revenants." +One was a very dignified Anglican, who always +referred to the Control as "this yellow person." +Another was an Australian soldier. "I never +thought I'd take my orders from a 'Chink,'" said +he, "but he says 'hist!' and by gum you've got +to 'hist' and no bloomin' error." Yet another +said he had gone down in the <i>Monmouth</i>. +"Can you tell me anything of the action?" I +asked. "We never had a chance. It was just +hell." There was a world of feeling in his voice. +He was greatly amused at their "sky-pilot," as +he called the chaplain, and at his confusion when +he found the other world quite different to what he +had depicted. A terrifying Ghurkha came along, +who still thought he was in action and charged +about the circle, upsetting the medium's chair, +and only yielding to a mixture of force and persuasion. +There were many others, most of whom +returned thanks for the benefit derived from +previous meetings. "You've helped us quite a +lot," they said. Between each the old Chinese +sage made comments upon the various cases, a +kindly, wise old soul, with just a touch of mischievous +humour running through him. We had +an exhibition of the useless apostolic gift of tongues +during the evening, for two of the ladies present +broke out into what I was informed was the Maori +language, keeping up a long and loud conversation. +I was not able to check it, but it was certainly a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +coherent language of some sort. In all this there +was nothing which one could take hold of and +quote as absolutely and finally evidential, and yet +the total effect was most convincing. I have been +in touch with some Rescue Circles, however, where +the identity of the "patients," as we may call +them, was absolutely traced.</p> + +<p>As I am on the subject of psychic experiences +I may as well carry on, so that the reader who is +out of sympathy may make a single skip of the +lot. Mrs. Susanna Harris, the American voice-medium, +who is well known in London, had arrived +here shortly after ourselves, and gave us a sitting. +Mrs. Harris's powers have been much discussed, +for while on the one hand she passed a most difficult +test in London, where, with her mouth full of +coloured water, she produced the same voice effects +as on other occasions, she had no success in Norway +when she was examined by their Psychic Research +Committee; but I know how often these intellectuals +ruin their own effects by their mental attitude, +which acts like those anti-ferments which prevent +a chemical effervescence. We must always get +back to the principle, however, that one positive +result is more important than a hundred negative +ones—just as one successful demonstration in +chemistry makes up for any number of failures. +We cannot command spirit action, and we can only +commiserate with, not blame, the medium who +does not receive it when it is most desired. +Personally I have sat four times with Mrs. Harris +and I have not the faintest doubt that on each of +these occasions I got true psychic results, though +I cannot answer for what happens in Norway or +elsewhere.</p> + +<div class="figcenter extraspacetop extraspacebot"><span class='imgnum'><a name="I_144" id="I_144">[144]</a></span> +<img src="images/gs08.jpg" width="340" height="216" alt=" +AT MELBOURNE TOWN HALL, NOVEMBER 12TH, 1920." title="" /><br /> +<p class="blockquotetn nrright"> <i>See page 149.</i></p> +<p class="center caption">AT MELBOURNE TOWN HALL, NOVEMBER 12TH, 1920.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> +<p>Shortly after her arrival in Melbourne she gave +us a séance in our private room at the hotel, no +one being present save at my invitation. There +were about twelve guests, some of whom had no +psychic experience, and I do not think there was +one of them who did not depart convinced that +they had been in touch with preternatural forces. +There were two controls, Harmony, with a high +girlish treble voice, and a male control with a +strong decisive bass. I sat next to Mrs. Harris, +holding her hand in mine, and I can swear to it that +again and again she spoke to me while the other +voices were conversing with the audience. Harmony +is a charming little creature, witty, friendly +and innocent. I am quite ready to consider the +opinion expressed by the Theosophists that such +controls as Harmony with Mrs. Harris, Bella with +Mrs. Brittain, Feda with Mrs. Leonard, and others +are in reality nature-spirits who have never lived +in the flesh but take an intelligent interest in our +affairs and are anxious to help us. The male +control, however, who always broke in with some +final clinching remark in a deep voice, seemed +altogether human.</p> + +<p>Whilst these two controls formed, and were the +chorus of the play, the real drama rested with the +spirit voices, the same here as I have heard them +under Mrs. Wriedt, Mrs. Johnson or Mr. Powell in +England, intense, low, vibrating with emotion +and with anxiety to get through. Nearly everyone +in the circle had communications which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +satisfied them. One lady who had mourned her +husband very deeply had the inexpressible satisfaction +of hearing his voice thanking her for putting +flowers before his photograph, a fact which no one +else could know. A voice claiming to be "Moore-Usborne +Moore," came in front of me. I said, +"Well, Admiral, we never met, but we corresponded +in life." He said, "Yes, and we disagreed," +which was true. Then there came a voice which +claimed to be Mr. J. Morse, the eminent pioneer +of Spiritualism. I said, "Mr. Morse, if that is you, +you can tell me where we met last." He answered, +"Was it not in '<i>Light</i>' office in London?" I +said, "No, surely it was when you took the chair +for me at that great meeting at Sheffield." He +answered, "Well, we lose some of our memory in +passing." As a matter of fact he was perfectly +right, for after the sitting both my wife and I +remembered that I had exchanged a word or two +with him as I was coming out of <i>Light</i> office at +least a year after the Sheffield meeting. This was +a good test as telepathy was excluded. General +Sir Alfred Turner also came and said that he +remembered our conversations on earth. When I +asked him whether he had found the conditions +beyond the grave as happy as he expected he +answered, "infinitely more so." Altogether I +should think that not less than twenty spirits +manifested during this remarkable séance. The +result may have been the better because Mrs. +Harris had been laid up in bed for a week beforehand, +and so we had her full force. I fancy that +like most mediums, she habitually overworks her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +wonderful powers. Such séances have been going +on now for seventy years, with innumerable +witnesses of credit who will testify, as I have done +here, that all fraud or mistake was out of the +question. And still the men of no experience +shake their heads. I wonder how long they will +succeed in standing between the world and the +consolation which God has sent us.</p> + +<p>There is one thing very clear about mediumship +and that is that it bears no relation to physical +form. Mrs. Harris is a very large lady, tall and +Junoesque, a figure which would catch the eye in +any assembly. She has, I believe, a dash of the +mystic Red Indian blood in her, which may be +connected with her powers. Bailey, on the other +hand, is a little, ginger-coloured man, while Campbell +of Sydney, who is said to have apport powers +which equal Bailey, is a stout man, rather like the +late Corney Grain. Every shape and every +quality of vessel may hold the psychic essence.</p> + +<p>I spend such spare time as I have in the +Melbourne Botanical Gardens, which is, I +think, absolutely the most beautiful place that I +have ever seen. I do not know what genius laid +them out, but the effect is a succession of the most +lovely vistas, where flowers, shrubs, large trees +and stretches of water, are combined in an extraordinary +harmony. Green swards slope down to +many tinted groves, and they in turn droop over +still ponds mottled with lovely water plants. It +is an instructive as well as a beautiful place, for +every tree has its visiting card attached and +one soon comes to know them. Australia is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +preeminently the Land of the Myrtles, for a large +proportion of its vegetation comes under this one +order, which includes the gum trees, of which +there are 170 varieties. They all shed their bark +instead of their leaves, and have a generally untidy, +not to say indecent appearance, as they stand +with their covering in tatters and their white underbark +shining through the rents. There is not the +same variety of species in Australia as in England, +and it greatly helps a superficial botanist like +myself, for when you have learned the ti-tree, the +wild fig tree and the gum trees, you will be on terms +with nature wherever you go. New Zealand +however offers quite a fresh lot of problems.</p> + +<p>The Melbourne Cricket Club has made me an +honorary member, so Denis and I went down +there, where we met the giant bowler, Hugh +Trumble, who left so redoubtable a name in +England. As the Chela may look at the Yogi so +did Denis, with adoring eyes, gaze upon Trumble, +which so touched his kind heart that he produced +a cricket ball, used in some famous match, which +he gave to the boy—a treasure which will be +reverently brought back to England. I fancy +Denis slept with it that night, as he certainly did +in his pads and gloves the first time that he owned +them.</p> + +<p>We saw the English team play Victoria, and it +was pleasant to see the well-known faces once +more. The luck was all one way, for Armstrong +was on the sick list, and Armstrong is the mainstay +of Victorian cricket. Rain came at a critical +moment also, and gave Woolley and Rhodes a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +wicket which was impossible for a batsman. +However, it was all good practice for the more +exacting games of the future. It should be a +fine eleven which contains a genius like Hobbs, +backed by such men as the bustling bulldog, +Hendren, a great out-field as well as a grand +bat, or the wily, dangerous Hearne, or Douglas, +cricketer, boxer, above all warrior, a worthy +leader of Englishmen. Hearne I remember as +little more than a boy, when he promised to carry +on the glories of that remarkable family, of which +George and Alec were my own playmates. He +has ended by proving himself the greatest of +them all.</p> + +<p>My long interval of enforced rest came at last +to an end, when the race fever had spent itself, and +I was able to have my last great meeting at the +Town Hall. It really was a great meeting, as the +photograph of it will show. I spoke for over +two hours, ending up by showing a selection of +the photographs. I dealt faithfully with the +treatment given to me by the <i>Argus</i>. I take the +extract from the published account. "On this, +the last time in my life that I shall address a +Melbourne audience, I wish to thank the people +for the courtesy with which we have been received. +It would, however, be hypocritical upon my part +if I were to thank the Press. A week before I +entered Melbourne the <i>Argus</i> declared that I +was an emissary of the devil (laughter). I care +nothing for that. I am out for a fight and can +take any knocks that come. But the <i>Argus</i> +refused to publish a word I said. I came 12,000<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +miles to give you a message of hope and comfort, +and I appeal to you to say whether three or four +gentlemen sitting in a board-room have a right +to say to the people of Melbourne, 'You shall not +listen to that man nor read one word of what he +has to say.' (Cries of 'Shame!') You, I am +sure, resent being spoon-fed in such a manner." +The audience showed in the most hearty fashion +that they did resent it, and they cheered loudly +when I pointed out that my remarks did not +arise, as anyone could see by looking round, from +any feeling on my part that my mission had failed +to gain popular support. It was a great evening, +and I have never addressed a more sympathetic +audience. The difficulty always is for my wife +and myself to escape from our kind well-wishers, +and it is touching and heartening to hear the +sincere "God bless you!" which they shower +upon us as we pass.</p> + +<p>This then was the climax of our mission in Melbourne. +It was marred by the long but unavoidable +delay in the middle, but it began well and +ended splendidly. On November 13th we left the +beautiful town behind us, and embarked upon +what we felt would be a much more adventurous +period at Sydney, for all we had heard showed +that both our friends and our enemies were more +active in the great seaport of New South Wales.</p> + + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<div class="blockquotech extraspacebot"><p>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.</p></div> + + +<p>We had a wonderful reception at Sydney. I +have a great shrinking from such deputations as +they catch you at the moment when you are +exhausted and unkempt after a long journey, +and when you need all your energies to collect +your baggage and belongings so as to make your +way to your hotel. But on this occasion it was +so hearty, and the crowd of faces beamed such +good wishes upon us that it was quite a pick-me-up +to all of us. "God bless you!" and "Thank +God you have come!" reached us from all sides. +My wife, covered with flowers, was hustled off in +one direction, while I was borne away in another, +and each of the children was the centre of a +separate group. Major Wood had gone off to +see to the luggage, and Jakeman was herself +embedded somewhere in the crowd, so at last I +had to shout, "Where's that little girl? Where's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +that little boy?" until we reassembled and were +able, laden with bouquets, to reach our carriage. +The evening paper spread itself over the scene.</p> + +<p>"When Sir Conan Doyle, his wife and their +three children arrived from Melbourne by the +express this morning, an assembly of Spiritualists +accorded them a splendid greeting. Men swung +their hats high and cheered, women danced in +their excitement, and many of their number +rushed the party with rare bouquets. The excitement +was at its highest, and Sir Conan being +literally carried along the platform by the pressing +crowds, when a digger arrived on the outskirts. +'Who's that?' he asked of nobody in particular. +Almost immediately an urchin replied, 'The +bloke that wrote "Sherlock Holmes."' When +asked if the latter gentleman was really and +irretrievably dead the author of his being remarked, +'Well, you can say that a coroner has +never sat upon him.'"</p> + +<p>It was a grand start, and we felt at once in a +larger and more vigorous world, where, if we had +fiercer foes, we at least had warm and well-organised +friends. Better friends than those of +Melbourne do not exist, but there was a method +and cohesion about Sydney which impressed us +from the first day to the last. There seemed, also, +to be fewer of those schisms which are the bane +of our movement. If Wells' dictum that +organisation is death has truth in it, then we are +very much alive.</p> + +<p>We had rooms in Petty's Hotel, which is an +old-world hostel with a very quiet, soothing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +atmosphere. There I was at once engaged with +the usual succession of journalists with a long list +of questions which ranged from the destiny of the +human soul to the chances of the test match. +What with the constant visitors, the unpacking of +our trunks, and the settling down of the children, +we were a very weary band before evening.</p> + +<p>I had no idea that Sydney was so great a place. +The population is now very nearly a million, +which represents more than one-sixth of the +whole vast Continent. It seems a weak point of +the Australian system that 41 per cent. of the +whole population dwell in the six capital cities. +The vital statistics of Sydney are extraordinarily +good, for the death rate is now only twelve per +thousand per annum. Our standard in such +matters is continually rising, for I can remember +the days when twenty per thousand was reckoned +to be a very good result. In every civic amenity +Sydney stands very high. Her Botanical Gardens +are not so supremely good as those of Melbourne, +but her Zoo is among the very best in the world. +The animals seem to be confined by trenches +rather than by bars, so that they have the appearance +of being at large. It was only after Jakeman +had done a level hundred with a child under each +arm that she realised that a bear, which she saw +approaching, was not really in a state of freedom.</p> + +<p>As to the natural situation of Sydney, especially +its harbour, it is so world-renowned that it is +hardly necessary to allude to it. I can well +imagine that a Sydney man would grow homesick +elsewhere, for he could never find the same<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +surroundings. The splendid landlocked bay with +its numerous side estuaries and its narrow entrance +is a grand playground for a sea-loving race. On +a Saturday it is covered with every kind of craft, +from canoe to hundred-tonner. The fact that +the water swarms with sharks seems to present +no fears to these strong-nerved people, and I have +found myself horrified as I watched little craft, +manned by boys, heeling over in a fresh breeze +until the water was up to their gunwales. At very +long intervals some one gets eaten, but the fun +goes on all the same.</p> + +<p>The people of Sydney have their residences +(bungalows with verandahs) all round this beautiful +bay, forming dozens of little townlets. The +system of ferry steamers becomes as important as +the trams, and is extraordinarily cheap and convenient. +To Manly, for example, which lies some +eight miles out, and is a favourite watering place, +the fare is fivepence for adults and twopence for +children. So frequent are the boats that you never +worry about catching them, for if one is gone +another will presently start. Thus, the whole +life of Sydney seems to converge into the Circular +Quay, from which as many as half a dozen of +these busy little steamers may be seen casting off +simultaneously for one or another of the oversea +suburbs. Now and then, in a real cyclone, the +service gets suspended, but it is a rare event, and +there is a supplementary, but roundabout, service +of trams.</p> + +<p>The journalists of New South Wales gave a +lunch to my wife and myself, which was a very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +pleasant function. One leading journalist announced, +amid laughter, that he had actually +consulted me professionally in my doctoring days, +and had lived to tell the tale, which contradicts the +base insinuation of some orator who remarked +once that though I was known to have practised, +no <i>living</i> patient of mine had ever yet been seen.</p> + +<p>Nothing could have been more successful than +my first lecture, which filled the Town Hall. +There were evidently a few people who had come +with intent to make a scene, but I had my +audience so entirely with me, that it was impossible +to cause real trouble. One fanatic near +the door cried out, "Anti-Christ!" several times, +and was then bundled out. Another, when I +described how my son had come back to me, cried +out that it was the devil, but on my saying with +a laugh that such a remark showed the queer +workings of some people's minds, the people +cheered loudly in assent. Altogether it was a +great success, which was repeated in the second, +and culminated in the third, when, with a hot +summer day, and the English cricketers making +their debut, I still broke the record for a Town +Hall matinée. The rush was more than the +officials could cope with, and I had to stand for +ten long minutes looking at the audience before it +was settled enough for me to begin. Some spiritualists +in the audience struck up "Lead, Kindly +Light!" which gave the right note to the +assemblage. Mr. Smythe, with all his experience, +was amazed at our results. "This is no longer +a mere success," he cried. "It is a triumph. It is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +an epidemic!" Surely, it will leave some permanent +good behind it and turn the public mind +from religious shadows to realities.</p> + +<p>We spent one restful day seeing our cricketers +play New South Wales. After a promising start +they were beaten owing to a phenomenal first-wicket +stand in the second innings by Macartney +and Collins, both batsmen topping the hundred. +Gregory seemed a dangerous bowler, making the +ball rise shoulder high even on that Bulli wicket, +where midstump is as much as an ordinary bowler +can attain. He is a tiger of a man, putting every +ounce of his strength and inch of his great height +into every ball, with none of the artistic finesse +of a Spofforth, but very effective all the same. +We have no one of the same class; and that will +win Australia the rubber unless I am—as I hope +I am—a false prophet. I was not much impressed +either by the manners or by the knowledge of the +game shown by the barrackers. Every now and +then, out of the mass of people who darken the +grass slopes round the ground, you hear a raucous +voice giving advice to the captain, or, perhaps, +conjuring a fast bowler to bowl at the wicket +when the man is keeping a perfect length outside +the off stump and trying to serve his three slips. +When Mailey went on, because he was slow and +seemed easy, they began to jeer, and, yet, you +had only to watch the batsman to see that the ball +was doing a lot and kept him guessing. One +wonders why the neighbours of these bawlers +tolerate it. In England such men would soon be +made to feel that they were ill-mannered nuisances,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +I am bound to testify, however, that they seem +quite impartial, and that the English team had +no special cause for complaint. I may also add +that, apart from this cricketing peculiarity, which +is common to all the States, the Sydney crowd +is said to be one of the most good-humoured +and orderly in the world. My own observation +confirms this, and I should say that there was a +good deal less drunkenness than in Melbourne, +but, perhaps the races gave me an exaggerated +impression of the latter.</p> + +<p>On Sunday, 28th, the spiritualists gave the +pilgrims (as they called us) a reception at the +Town Hall. There was not a seat vacant, and +the sight of these 3,500 well-dressed, intelligent +people must have taught the press that the movement +is not to be despised. There are at least +10,000 professed spiritualists in Sydney, and even +as a political force they demand consideration. +The seven of us were placed in the front of the +platform, and the service was very dignified and +impressive. When the great audience sang, "God +hold you safely till we meet once more," it was +almost overpowering, for it is a beautiful tune, +and was sung with real feeling. In my remarks I +covered a good deal of ground, but very particularly +I warned them against all worldly use of +this great knowledge, whether it be fortune +telling, prophecies about races and stocks, or any +other prostitution of our subject. I also exhorted +them when they found fraud to expose it at once, +as their British brethren do, and never to trifle +with truth. When I had finished, the whole<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +3,500 people stood up, and everyone waved a +handkerchief, producing a really wonderful scene. +We can never forget it.</p> + +<p>Once more I must take refuge behind the local +Observer. "The scene as Sir Arthur rose will be +long remembered by those who were privileged +to witness it. A sea of waving handkerchiefs +confronted the speaker, acclaiming silently and +reverently the deep esteem in which he was held +by all present. Never has Sir Arthur's earnestness +in his mission been more apparent than on +this occasion as he proceeded with a heart to heart +talk with the spiritualists present, offering friendly +criticisms, sound advice, and encouragement to +the adherents of the great movement.</p> + +<p>"'He had got,' he said, 'so much into the +habit of lecturing that he was going to lecture the +spiritualists.' With a flash of humour Sir Arthur +added: 'It does none of us any harm to be +lectured occasionally. I am a married man +myself' (laughter). 'I would say to the +spiritualists', "For Heaven's sake keep this thing +high and unspotted. Don't let it drop into the +regions of fortune telling and other things which +leave such an ugly impression on the public mind, +and which we find it so difficult to justify. Keep +it in its most religious and purest aspect." At the +same time, I expressed my view that there was no +reason at all why a medium should not receive +moderate payment for work done, since it is +impossible, otherwise, that he can live.</p> + +<p>Every solid spiritualist would, I am sure, agree +with me that our whole subject needs regulating,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +and is in an unsatisfactory condition. We cannot +approve of the sensation mongers who run from +medium to medium (or possibly pretended +medium) with no object but excitement or +curiosity. The trouble is that you have to +recognise a thing before you can regulate it, and +the public has not properly recognised us. Let +them frankly do so, and take us into counsel, and +then we shall get things on a solid basis. Personally, +I would be ready to go so far as to agree +that an inquirer should take out a formal permit +to consult a medium, showing that it was done +for some definite object, if in return we could get +State recognition for those mediums who were +recommended as genuine by valid spiritual +authorities. My friends will think this a reactionary +proposition, but none the less I feel the +need of regulation almost as much as I do that of +recognition.</p> + +<p>One event which occurred to me at Sydney I +shall always regard as an instance of that fostering +care of which I have been conscious ever since +we set forth upon our journey. I had been over-tired, +had slept badly and had a large meeting +in the evening, so that it was imperative that I +should have a nap in the afternoon. My brain +was racing, however, and I could get no rest or +prospect of any. The second floor window was +slightly open behind me, and outside was a broad +open space, shimmering in the heat of a summer +day. Suddenly, as I lay there, I was aware of a +very distinct pungent smell of ether, coming in +waves from outside. With each fresh wave I felt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +my over-excited nerves calming down as the sea +does when oil is poured upon it. Within a few +minutes I was in a deep sleep, and woke all +ready for my evening's work. I looked out of +the window and tried to picture where the ether +could have come from; then I returned thanks +for one more benefit received. I do not suppose +that I am alone in such interpositions, but I think +that our minds are so centred on this tiny mud +patch, that we are deaf and blind to all that impinges +on us from beyond.</p> + +<p>Having finished in Sydney, and my New +Zealand date having not yet arrived, we shifted +our quarters to Manly, upon the sea coast, about +eight miles from the town. Here we all devoted +ourselves to surf-bathing, spending a good deal of +our day in the water, as is the custom of the place. +It is a real romp with Nature, for the great Pacific +rollers come sweeping in and break over you, +rolling you over on the sand if they catch you +unawares. It was a golden patch in our restless +lives. There were surf boards, and I am told that +there were men competent to ride them, but I saw +none of Jack London's Sun Gods riding in erect +upon the crest of the great rollers. Alas, poor +Jack London! What right had such a man to +die, he who had more vim and passion, and knowledge +of varied life than the very best of us? +Apart from all his splendid exuberance and +exaggeration he had very real roots of grand +literature within him. I remember, particularly, +the little episodes of bygone days in "The +Jacket." The man who wrote those could do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +anything. Those whom the American public love +die young. Frank Norris, Harold Frederic, +Stephen Crane, the author of "David Harum," +and now Jack London—but the greatest of these +was Jack London.</p> + +<p>There is a grand beach at Manly, and the +thundering rollers carry in some flotsam from the +great ocean. One morning the place was covered +with beautiful blue jelly-fish, like little Roman +lamps with tendrils hanging down. I picked up +one of these pretty things, and was just marvelling +at its complete construction when I discovered +that it was even more complete than I supposed, +for it gave me a violent sting. For a day or two +I had reason to remember my little blue castaway, +with his up-to-date fittings for keeping the stranger +at a distance.</p> + +<p>I was baited at Sydney by a person of the name +of Simpson, representing Christianity, though I +was never clear what particular branch of religion +he represented, and he was disowned by some +leaders of Christian Thought. I believe he was +president of the Christian Evidence Society. His +opposition, though vigorous, and occasionally +personal, was perfectly legitimate, but his well-advertised +meeting at the Town Hall (though no +charge was made for admission) was not a success. +His constant demand was that I should meet him +in debate, which was, of course, out of the question, +since no debate is possible between a man +who considers a text to be final, and one who +cannot take this view. My whole energies, so +much needed for my obvious work, would have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> +been frittered away in barren controversies had I +allowed my hand to be forced. I had learned my +lesson, however, at the M'Cabe debate in London, +when I saw clearly that nothing could come +from such proceedings. On the other hand, I +conceived the idea of what would be a real test, +and I issued it as a challenge in the public press. +"It is clear," I said, "that one single case of +spirit return proves our whole contention. Therefore, +let the question be concentrated upon one, +or, if necessary, upon three cases. These I would +undertake to prove, producing my witnesses in the +usual way. My opponent would act the part of +hostile counsel, cross-examining and criticising +my facts. The case would be decided by a +majority vote of a jury of twelve, chosen from men +of standing, who pledged themselves as open-minded +on the question. Such a test could +obviously only take place in a room of limited +dimensions, so that no money would be involved +and truth only be at stake. That is all that I +seek. If such a test can be arranged I am ready +for it, either before I leave, or after I return from +New Zealand." This challenge was not taken up +by my opponents.</p> + +<p>Mr. Simpson had a long tirade in the Sydney +papers about the evil religious effects of my mission, +which caused me to write a reply in which +I defined our position in a way which may be +instructive to others. I said:—</p> + +<p>"The tenets which we spiritualists preach and +which I uphold upon the platform are that any +man who is deriving spirituality from his creed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +be that creed what it may, is learning the lesson +of life. For this reason we would not attack your +creed, however repulsive it might seem to us, so +long as you and your colleagues might be getting +any benefit from it. We desire to go our own +way, saying what we know to be true, and claiming +from others the same liberty of conscience and of +expression which we freely grant to them.</p> + +<p>"You, on the other hand, go out of your way to +attack us, to call us evil names, and to pretend +that those loved ones who return to us are in +truth devils, and that our phenomena, though they +are obviously of the same sort as those which are +associated with early Christianity, are diabolical +in their nature. This absurd view is put forward +without a shadow of proof, and entirely upon the +supposed meaning of certain ancient texts which +refer in reality to a very different matter, but +which are strained and twisted to suit your +purpose.</p> + +<p>"It is men like you and your colleagues who, +by your parody of Christianity and your constant +exhibition of those very qualities which Christ +denounced in the Pharisees, have driven many +reasonable people away from religion and left the +churches half empty. Your predecessors, who +took the same narrow view of the literal interpretation +of the Bible, were guilty of the murder +of many thousands of defenceless old women who +were burned in deference to the text, 'Suffer no +witch to live.' Undeterred by this terrible result +of the literal reading, you still advocate it, although +you must be well aware that polygamy,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +slavery and murder can all be justified by such a +course.</p> + +<p>"In conclusion, let me give you the advice to +reconsider your position, to be more charitable to +your neighbours, and to devote your redundant +energies to combating the utter materialism which +is all round you, instead of railing so bitterly at +those who are proving immortality and the need +for good living in a way which meets their spiritual +wants, even though it is foreign to yours."</p> + +<p>A photographer, named Mark Blow, also caused +me annoyance by announcing that my photographs +were fakes, and that he was prepared to give £25 +to any charity if he could not reproduce them. I +at once offered the same sum if he could do so, +and I met him by appointment at the office of +the evening paper, the editor being present to +see fair play. I placed my money on the table, +but Mr. Blow did not cover it. I then produced a +packet of plates from my pocket and suggested +that we go straight across to Mr. Blow's studio +and produce the photographs. He replied by +asking me a long string of questions as to the +conditions under which the Crewe photographs +were produced, noting down all my answers. I +then renewed my proposition. He answered that +it was absurd to expect him to produce a spirit +photograph since he did not believe in such foolish +things. I answered that I did not ask him to +produce a spirit photograph, but to fulfil his +promise which was to produce a similar result +upon the plate under similar conditions. He held +out that they should be his own conditions. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +pointed out that any school boy could make a +half-exposed impression upon a plate, and that the +whole test lay in the conditions. As he refused +to submit to test conditions the matter fell through, +as all such foolish challenges fall through. It was +equally foolish on my part to have taken any +notice of it.</p> + +<p>I had a conversation with Mr. Maskell, the +capable Secretary of the Sydney spiritualists, in +which he described how he came out originally +from Leicester to Australia. He had at that +time developed some power of clairvoyance, but +it was very intermittent. He had hesitated in his +mind whether he should emigrate to Australia, +and sat one night debating it within himself, +while his little son sat at the table cutting patterns +out of paper. Maskell said to his spirit guides, +mentally, "If it is good that I go abroad give me +the vision of a star. If not, let it be a circle." +He waited for half an hour or so, but no vision +came, and he was rising in disappointment when +the little boy turned round and said, "Daddy, +here is a star for you," handing over one which he +had just cut. He has had no reason to regret the +subsequent decision.</p> + +<p>We had a very quiet, comfortable, and healthy +ten days at the Pacific Hotel at Manly, which was +broken only by an excursion which the Sydney +spiritualists had organised for us in a special +steamer, with the intention of showing us the +glories of the harbour. Our party assembled +on Manly Pier, and the steamer was still far away +when we saw the fluttering handkerchiefs which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +announced that they had sighted us. It was a +long programme, including a picnic lunch, but it +all went off with great success and good feeling. +It was fairly rough within the harbour, and some +of the party were sea sick, but the general good +spirits rose above such trifles, and we spent the +day in goodly fellowship. On Sunday I was asked +to speak to his congregation by Mr. Sanders, a +very intelligent young Congregational Minister +of Manly, far above the level of Australasian or, +indeed, British clerics. It was a novel experience +for me to be in a Nonconformist pulpit, but I +found an excellent audience, and I hope that they +in turn found something comforting and new.</p> + +<p>One of the most interesting men whom I met in +Australia was Dr. Creed, of the New South Wales +Parliament, an elderly medical man who has held +high posts in the Government. He is blessed +with that supreme gift, a mind which takes a +keen interest in everything which he meets in life. +His researches vary from the cure of diabetes and +of alcoholism (both of which he thinks that he has +attained) down to the study of Australian +Aborigines and of the palæontology of his country. +I was interested to find the very high opinion +which he has of the brains of the black fellows, +and he asserts that their results at the school +which is devoted to their education are as high +as with the white Australians. They train into +excellent telegraphic operators and other employments +needing quick intelligence. The increasing +brain power of the human race seems to be in the +direction of originating rather than of merely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +accomplishing. Many can do the latter, but only +the very highest can do the former. Dr. Creed +is clear upon the fact that no very ancient remains +of any sort are to be found anywhere in Australia, +which would seem to be against the view of a +Lemurian civilisation, unless the main seat of it +lay to the north where the scattered islands +represent the mountain tops of the ancient continent. +Dr. Creed was one of the very few public +men who had the intelligence or the courage to +admit the strength of the spiritual position, and he +assured me that he would help in any way.</p> + +<p>Another man whom I was fortunate to meet was +Leon Gellert, a very young poet, who promises +to be the rising man in Australia in this, the +supreme branch of literature. He served in the +war, and his verses from the front attain a very high +level. His volume of war poems represents the +most notable literary achievement of recent years, +and its value is enhanced by being illustrated by +Norman Lindsay, whom I look upon as one of the +greatest artists of our time. I have seen three +pictures of his, "The Goths," "Who Comes?" +and "The Crucifixion of Venus," each of which, +in widely different ways, seemed very remarkable. +Indeed, it is the versatility of the man that is his +charm, and now that he is turning more and more +from the material to the spiritual it is impossible +to say how high a level he may attain. Another +Australian whose works I have greatly admired is +Henry Lawson, whose sketches of bush life in +"Joe Wilson" and other of his studies, remind +one of a subdued Bret Harte. He is a considerable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +poet also, and his war poem, "England Yet," +could hardly be matched.</p> + +<p>Yet another interesting figure whom I met in +Sydney was Bishop Leadbeater, formerly a close +colleague of Mrs. Besant in the Theosophical +movement, and now a prelate of the so-called +Liberal Catholic Church, which aims at preserving +the traditions and forms of the old Roman Church, +but supplementing them with all modern spiritual +knowledge. I fear I am utterly out of sympathy +with elaborate forms, which always in the end +seem to me to take the place of facts, and to +become a husk without a kernel, but none the less +I can see a definite mission for such a church as +appealing to a certain class of mind. Leadbeater, +who has suffered from unjust aspersion in the +past, is a venerable and striking figure. His +claims to clairvoyant and other occult powers are +very definite, and so far as I had the opportunity of +observing him, he certainly lives the ascetic life, +which the maintenance of such power demands. +His books, especially the little one upon the +Astral Plane, seem to me among the best of the +sort.</p> + +<p>But the whole subject of Theosophy is to me a +perpetual puzzle. I asked for proofs and +spiritualism has given them to me. But why +should I abandon one faith in order to embrace +another one? I have done with faith. It is a +golden mist in which human beings wander in +devious tracks with many a collision. I need the +white clear light of knowledge. For that we +build from below, brick upon brick, never getting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +beyond the provable fact. There is the building +which will last. But these others seem to build +from above downwards, beginning by the assumption +that there is supreme human wisdom at the +apex. It may be so. But it is a dangerous +habit of thought which has led the race astray +before, and may again. Yet, I am struck by the +fact that this ancient wisdom does describe the +etheric body, the astral world, and the general +scheme which we have proved for ourselves. +But when the high priestess of the cult wrote of +this she said so much that was against all our own +spiritual experience, that we feel she was in touch +with something very different from our angels of +light. Her followers appreciate that now, and +are more charitable than she, but what is the worth +of her occult knowledge if she so completely misread +that which lies nearest to us, and how can we +hope that she is more correct when she speaks of +that which is at a distance?</p> + +<p>I was deeply attracted by the subject once, but +Madame Blavatsky's personality and record repelled +me. I have read the defence, and yet +Hodgson and the Coulombs seem to me to hold +the field. Could any conspiracy be so broad that +it included numerous forged letters, trap doors +cut in floors, and actually corroborative accounts +in the books of a flower seller in the bazaar? On +the other hand, there is ample evidence of real +psychic powers, and of the permanent esteem of +men like Sinnett and Olcott, whom none could fail +to respect. It is the attitude of these honourable +men which commends and upholds her, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +sometimes it seems hard to justify it. As an +example, in the latter years of her life she wrote a +book, "The Caves and Jungles of Hindustan," in +which she describes the fearsome adventures +which she and Olcott had in certain expeditions, +falling down precipices and other such escapes. +Olcott, like the honest gentleman he was, writes +in his diary that there is not a word of truth in +this, and that it is pure fiction. And yet, after +this very damaging admission, in the same page +he winds up, "Ah, if the world ever comes to +know who was the mighty entity, who laboured +sixty years under that quivering mask of flesh, +it will repent its cruel treatment of H. P. B., and +be amazed at the depth of its ignorance." These +are the things which make it so difficult to understand +either her or the cult with which she was +associated. Had she never lived these men and +women would, as it seems to me, have been the +natural leaders of the spiritualist movement, and +instead of living in the intellectual enjoyment of +far-off systems they would have concentrated +upon the all-important work of teaching poor +suffering humanity what is the meaning of the +dark shadow which looms upon their path. +Even now I see no reason why they should not +come back to those who need them, and help them +forward upon their rocky road.</p> + +<p>Of course, we spiritualists are ourselves vulnerable +upon the subject of the lives of some of our +mediums, but we carefully dissociate those +lives from the powers which use the physical +frame of the medium for their own purposes, just<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +as the religious and inspired poetry of a Verlaine +may be held separate from his dissipated life. +Whilst upon this subject I may say that whilst in +Australia I had some interesting letters from a +solicitor named Rymer. All students of spiritualism +will remember that when Daniel Home first came +to England in the early fifties he received great +kindness from the Rymer family, who then +lived at Ealing. Old Rymer treated him entirely +as one of the family. This Bendigo Rymer was +the grandson of Home's benefactor, and he had +no love for the great medium because he considered +that he had acted with ingratitude towards +his people. The actual letters of his father, which +he permitted me to read, bore out this statement, +and I put it on record because I have said much in +praise of Home, and the balance should be held +true. These letters, dating from about '57, show +that one of the sons of old Rymer was sent to +travel upon the Continent to study art, and that +Home was his companion. They were as close as +brothers, but when they reached Florence, and +Home became a personage in society there, he +drifted away from Rymer, whose letters are those +of a splendid young man. Home's health was +already indifferent, and while he was laid up in his +hotel he seems to have been fairly kidnapped by +a strong-minded society lady of title, an Englishwoman +living apart from her husband. For +weeks he lived at her villa, though the state of his +health would suggest that it was rather as patient +than lover. What was more culpable was that +he answered the letters of his comrade very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +rudely and showed no sense of gratitude for all +that the family had done for him. I have read the +actual letters and confess that I was chilled and +disappointed. Home was an artist as well as a +medium, the most unstable combination possible, +full of emotions, flying quickly to extremes, +capable of heroisms and self-denials, but also of +vanities and ill-humour. On this occasion the +latter side of his character was too apparent. To +counteract the effect produced upon one's mind +one should read in Home's Life the letter of the +Bavarian captain whom he rescued upon the +field of battle, or of the many unfortunates whom +he aided with unobtrusive charity. It cannot, +however, be too often repeated—since it is never +grasped by our critics—that the actual character +of a man is as much separate from his mediumistic +powers, as it would be from his musical powers. +Both are inborn gifts beyond the control of their +possessor. The medium is the telegraph instrument +and the telegraph boy united in one, but the +real power is that which transmits the message, +which he only receives and delivers. The remark +applies to the Fox sisters as much as it does to +Home.</p> + +<p>Talking about Home, it is astonishing how the +adverse judgment of the Vice-Chancellor Gifford, +a materialist, absolutely ignorant of psychic +matters, has influenced the minds of men. The +very materialists who quote it, would not attach +the slightest importance to the opinion of an +orthodox judge upon the views of Hume, Payne, +or any free-thinker. It is like quoting a Roman<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +tribune against a Christian. The real facts of the +case are perfectly clear to anyone who reads the +documents with care. The best proof of how +blameless Home was in the matter is that of all +the men of honour with whom he was on intimate +terms—men like Robert Chambers, Carter Hall, +Lord Seaton, Lord Adare and others—not one +relaxed in their friendship after the trial. This was +in 1866, but in 1868 we find these young noblemen +on Christian-name terms with the man who would +have been outside the pale of society had the +accusations of his enemies been true.</p> + +<p>Whilst we were in Sydney, a peculiar ship, now +called the "Marella," was brought into the harbour +as part of the German ship surrender. It is +commonly reported that this vessel, of very +grandiose construction, was built to conduct the +Kaiser upon a triumphal progress round the +world after he had won his war. It is, however, +only of 8,000 tons, and, personally, I cannot believe +that this would have had room for his swollen +head, had he indeed been the victor. All the +fittings, even to the carpet holders, are of German +silver. The saloon is of pure marble, eighty by +fifty, with beautiful hand-painted landscapes. +The smoke-room is the reproduction of one in +Potsdam Palace. There is a great swimming +bath which can be warmed. Altogether a very +notable ship, and an index, not only of the danger +escaped, but of the danger to come, in the form +of the super-excellence of German design and +manufacture.</p> + +<p>Our post-bag is very full, and it takes Major<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +Wood and myself all our time to keep up with the +letters. Many of them are so wonderful that I +wish I had preserved them all, but it would have +meant adding another trunk to our baggage. +There are a few samples which have been rescued. +Many people seemed to think that I was myself +a wandering medium, and I got this sort of +missive:</p> + +<div class="blockquote extraspacetop extraspacebot"><p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Sir,</span>—<i>I am very anxious to ask you +a question, trusting you will answer me. What I +wish to know I have been corresponding with +a gentleman for nearly three years. From this +letter can you tell me if I will marry him. I +want you to answer this as I am keeping it strictly +private and would dearly love you to answer this +message if possible, and if I will do quite right +if I marry him. Trusting to hear from you soon. +Yours faithfully——.</i></p> + +<p><i>P.S.—I thoroughly believe in Spirit-ualism.</i>"</p></div> + +<p>Here is another.</p> + +<div class="blockquote extraspacetop extraspacebot"><p>"<span class="smcap">Honored Sir,</span>—<i>Just a few lines in limited +time to ask you if you tell the future. If so, what +is your charges? Please excuse no stamped and +ad. envelope—out of stamps and in haste to catch +mail. Please excuse.</i>"</p></div> + +<p>On the other hand, I had many which were +splendidly instructive and helpful. I was particularly +struck by one series of spirit messages +which were received in automatic writing by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +a man living in the Bush in North Queensland +and thrown upon his own resources. They +were descriptive of life in the beyond, and +were in parts extremely corroborative of the +Vale Owen messages, though they had been +taken long prior to that date. Some of the +points of resemblance were so marked and so +unusual that they seem clearly to come from a +common inspiration. As an example, this script +spoke of the creative power of thought in the +beyond, but added the detail that when the +object to be created was large and important a +band of thinkers was required, just as a band of +workers would be here. This exactly corresponds +to the teaching of Vale Owen's guide.</p> + + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<div class="blockquotech extraspacebot"><p>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.</p></div> + + +<p>My voyage to New Zealand in the <i>Maheno</i> was +pleasant and uneventful, giving me four days in +which to arrange my papers and look over the +many manuscripts which mediums, or, more often, +would-be mediums, had discharged at me as I +passed. Dr. Bean, my Theosophic friend, who +had been somewhat perturbed by my view that +his people were really the officers of our movement +who had deserted their army, formed an +officers' corps, and so taken the money and brains +and leadership away from the struggling masses, +was waiting on the Sydney Quay, and gave me +twelve books upon his subject to mend my wicked +ways, so that I was equipped for a voyage round +the world. I needed something, since I had left +my wife and family behind me in Manly, feeling +that the rapid journey through New Zealand would +be too severe for them. In Mr. Carlyle Smythe,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +however, I had an admirable "cobber," to use the +pal phrase of the Australian soldier.</p> + +<p>Mr. Smythe had only one defect as a comrade, +and that was his conversation in a fog. It was +of a distinctly depressing character, as I had +occasion to learn when we ran into very thick +weather among the rocky islands which make +navigation so difficult to the north of Auckland. +Between the screams of the siren I would hear a +still small voice in the bunk above me.</p> + +<p>"We are now somewhere near the Three Kings. +It is an isolated group of rocks celebrated for the +wreck of the <i>Elingamite</i>, which went ashore on +just such a morning as this." (Whoo-ee! remarked +the foghorn). "They were nearly starved, +but kept themselves alive by fish which were +caught by improvised lines made from the ladies' +stay-laces. Many of them died."</p> + +<p>I lay digesting this and staring at the fog which +crawled all round the port hole. Presently he +was off again.</p> + +<p>"You can't anchor here, and there is no use +stopping her, for the currents run hard and she +would drift on to one of the ledges which would +rip the side out of her." (Whoo-ee! repeated the +foghorn). "The islands are perpendicular with +deep water up to the rocks, so you never know +they are there until you hit them, and then, of +course, there is no reef to hold you up." +(Whoo-ee!) "Close by here is the place where +the <i>Wairarapa</i> went down with all hands a few +years ago. It was just such a day as this when +she struck the Great Barrier——"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was about this time that I decided to go on +deck. Captain Brown had made me free of the +bridge, so I climbed up and joined him there, +peering out into the slow-drifting scud.</p> + +<p>I spent the morning there, and learned something +of the anxieties of a sailor's life. Captain +Brown had in his keeping, not only his own career +and reputation, but what was far more to him, the +lives of more than three hundred people. We had +lost all our bearings, for we had drifted in the +fog during those hours when it was too thick to +move. Now the scud was coming in clouds, the +horizon lifting to a couple of miles, and then +sinking to a few hundred yards. On each side of +us and ahead were known to be rocky islands or +promontories. Yet we must push on to our destination. +It was fine to see this typical British +sailor working his ship as a huntsman might take +his horse over difficult country, now speeding +ahead when he saw an opening, now waiting for a +fogbank to get ahead, now pushing in between +two clouds. For hours we worked along with the +circle of oily lead-coloured sea around us, and then +the grey veil, rising and falling, drifting and +waving, with danger lurking always in its shadow. +There are strange results when one stares intently +over such a sea, for after a time one feels that +it all slopes upwards, and that one is standing +deep in a saucer with the rim far above one. +Once in the rifts we saw a great ship feeling +her way southwards, in the same difficulties as +ourselves. She was the <i>Niagara</i>, from Vancouver +to Auckland. Then, as suddenly as the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +raising of a drop-curtain, up came the fog, and +there ahead of us was the narrow path which led +to safety. The <i>Niagara</i> was into it first, which +seemed to matter little, but really mattered a good +deal, for her big business occupied the Port +Authorities all the evening, while our little business +was not even allowed to come alongside until such an +hour that we could not get ashore, to the disappointment +of all, and very especially of me, for I knew +that some of our faithful had been waiting for +twelve hours upon the quay to give me a welcoming +hand. It was breakfast time on the very morning +that I was advertised to lecture before we at last +reached our hotel.</p> + +<p>Here I received that counter-demonstration +which always helped to keep my head within the +limits of my hat. This was a peremptory demand +from six gentlemen, who modestly described +themselves as the leading photographers of the +city, to see the negatives of the photographs which +I was to throw upon the screen. I was assured at +the same time by other photographers that they +had no sympathy with such a demand, and that +the others were self-advertising busybodies who +had no mandate at all for such a request. My +experience at Sydney had shown me that such +challenges came from people who had no knowledge +of psychic conditions, and who did not realise that +it is the circumstances under which a photograph +is taken, and the witnesses who guarantee such +circumstances, which are the real factors that +matter, and not the negative which may be so +easily misunderstood by those who have not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +studied the processes by which such things are +produced. I therefore refused to allow my +photographs to pass into ignorant hands, explaining +at the same time that I had no negatives, since +the photographs in most cases were not mine at +all, so that the negatives would, naturally, be with +Dr. Crawford, Dr. Geley, Lady Glenconnor, the +representatives of Sir William Crookes, or whoever +else had originally taken the photograph. Their +challenge thereupon appeared in the Press with a +long tirade of abuse attached to it, founded upon +the absurd theory that all the photos had been +taken by me, and that there was no proof of their +truth save in my word. One gets used to being +indirectly called a liar, and I can answer arguments +with self-restraint which once I would have met +with the toe of my boot. However, a little breeze +of this sort does no harm, but rather puts ginger +into one's work, and my audience were very soon +convinced of the absurdity of the position of the +six dissenting photographers who had judged that +which they had not seen.</p> + +<p>Auckland is the port of call of the American +steamers, and had some of that air of activity and +progress which America brings with her. The +spirit of enterprise, however, took curious shapes, +as in the case of one man who was a local miller, +and pushed his trade by long advertisements at +the head of the newspapers, which began with +abuse of me and my ways, and ended by a recommendation +to eat dessicated corn, or whatever his +particular commodity may have been. The result +was a comic jumble which was too funny to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +offensive, though Auckland should discourage such +pleasantries, as they naturally mar the beautiful +impression which her fair city and surroundings +make upon the visitor. I hope I was the only +victim, and that every stranger within her gates +is not held up to ridicule for the purpose of calling +attention to Mr. Blank's dessicated corn.</p> + +<p>I seemed destined to have strange people mixed +up with my affairs in Auckland, for there was a +conjuror in the town, who, after the fashion of +that rather blatant fraternity, was offering £1,000 +that he could do anything I could do. As I could +do nothing, it seemed easy money. In any case, +the argument that because you can imitate a +thing therefore the thing does not exist, is one +which it takes the ingenuity of Mr. Maskelyne to +explain. There was also an ex-spiritualist medium +(so-called) who covered the papers with his +advertisements, so that my little announcement +was quite overshadowed. He was to lecture the +night after me in the Town Hall, with most terrifying +revelations. I was fascinated by his paragraphs, +and should have liked greatly to be present, +but that was the date of my exodus. Among +other remarkable advertisements was one "What +has become of 'Pelorus Jack'? Was he a lost +soul?" Now, "Pelorus Jack" was a white +dolphin, who at one time used to pilot vessels into +a New Zealand harbour, gambolling under the +bows, so that the question really did raise curiosity. +However, I learned afterwards that my successor +did not reap the harvest which his ingenuity +deserved, and that the audience was scanty and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +derisive. What the real psychic meaning of +"Pelorus Jack" may have been was not recorded +by the press.</p> + +<p>From the hour I landed upon the quay at +Auckland until I waved my last farewell my visit +was made pleasant, and every wish anticipated by +the Rev. Jasper Calder, a clergyman who has a +future before him, though whether it will be in the +Church of England or not, time and the Bishop +will decide. Whatever he may do, he will remain +to me and to many more the nearest approach we +are likely to see to the ideal Christian—much as he +will dislike my saying so. After all, if enemies are +given full play, why should not friends redress the +balance? I will always carry away the remembrance +of him, alert as a boy, rushing about to serve +anyone, mixing on equal terms with scallywags on +the pier, reclaiming criminals whom he called his +brothers, winning a prize for breaking-in a buckjumper, +which he did in order that he might gain +the respect of the stockmen; a fiery man of God in +the pulpit, but with a mind too broad for special +dispensations, he was like one of those wonderfully +virile creatures of Charles Reade. The clergy of +Australasia are stagnant and narrow, but on the +other hand, I have found men like the Dean of +Sydney, Strong of Melbourne, Sanders of Manly, +Calder of Auckland, and others whom it is worth +crossing this world to meet.</p> + +<p>Of my psychic work at Auckland there is little +to be said, save that I began my New Zealand tour +under the most splendid auspices. Even Sydney +had not furnished greater or more sympathetic<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +audiences than those which crowded the great +Town Hall upon two successive nights. I could +not possibly have had a better reception, or got +my message across more successfully. All the +newspaper ragging and offensive advertisements +had produced (as is natural among a generous +people) a more kindly feeling for the stranger, and +I had a reception I can never forget.</p> + +<p>This town is very wonderfully situated, and I +have never seen a more magnificent view than +that from Mount Eden, an extinct volcano about +900 feet high, at the back of it. The only one +which I could class with it is that from Arthur's +Seat, also an extinct volcano about 900 feet high, +as one looks on Edinburgh and its environs. +Edinburgh, however, is for ever shrouded in smoke, +while here the air is crystal clear, and I could +clearly see Great Barrier Island, which is a good +eighty miles to the north. Below lay the most marvellous +medley of light blue water and light green +land mottled with darker foliage. We could see +not only the whole vista of the wonderful winding +harbour, and the seas upon the east of the island, +but we could look across and see the firths which +connected with the seas of the west. Only a seven-mile +canal is needed to link the two up, and to save +at least two hundred miles of dangerous navigation +amid those rock-strewn waters from which we had +so happily emerged. Of course it will be done, +and when it is done it should easily pay its way, +for what ship coming from Australia—or going to +it—but would gladly pay the fees? The real +difficulty lies not in cutting the canal, but in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +dredging the western opening, where shifting sandbanks +and ocean currents combine to make a +dangerous approach. I see in my mind's eye two +great breakwaters, stretching like nippers into the +Pacific at that point, while, between the points of +the nippers, the dredgers will for ever be at work. +It will be difficult, but it is needed and it will be +done.</p> + +<p>The Australian Davis Cup quartette—Norman +Brooks, Patterson, O'Hara Wood and another—had +come across in the <i>Maheno</i> with us and +were now at the Grand Hotel. There also was the +American team, including the formidable Tilden, +now world's champion. The general feeling of +Australasia is not as cordial as one would wish to +the United States for the moment. I have met +several men back from that country who rather +bitterly resent the anti-British agitation which +plays such a prominent part in the American +press. This continual nagging is, I am sorry +to say, wearing down the stolid patience of the +Britisher more than I can ever remember, and it is +a subject on which I have always been sensitive as +I have been a life-long advocate of Anglo-American +friendship, leading in the fullness of +time to some loose form of Anglo-American +Union. At present it almost looks as if these +racial traitors who make the artificial dissensions +were succeeding for a time in their work of +driving a wedge between the two great sections +of the English-speaking peoples. My fear is +that when some world crisis comes, and +everything depends upon us all pulling together,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +the English-speakers may neutralise each +other. There lies the deadly danger. It is +for us on both sides to endeavour to avoid +it.</p> + +<p>Everyone who is in touch with the sentiment of +the British officers in Flanders knows that they +found men of their own heart in the brave, unassuming +American officers who were their comrades, +and often their pupils. It is some of the stay-at-home +Americans who appear to have such a false +perspective, and who fail to realise that even +British Dominions, such as Canada and Australia, +lost nearly as many men as the United States in the +war, while Britain herself laid down ten lives +for every one spent by America. This is not +America's fault, but when we see apparent forgetfulness +of it on the part of a section of the +American people when our wounds are still fresh, +it cannot be wondered at that we feel sore. We +do not advertise, and as a result there are few who +know that we lost more men and made larger +captures during the last two years of the war than +our gallant ally of France. When we hear that +others won the war we smile—but it is a bitter +smile.</p> + +<p>Strange, indeed, are some of the episodes of +psychic experience. There came to me at my +hotel in Auckland two middle-aged hard-working +women, who had come down a hundred miles from +the back country to my lecture. One had lost +her boy at Gallipoli. She gave me a long post-mortem +account from him as to the circumstances +of his own death, including the military operations<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +which led up to it. I read it afterwards, and it +was certainly a very coherent account of the events +both before and after the shell struck him. +Having handed me the pamphlet the country +woman then, with quivering fingers, produced +from her bosom a little silver box. Out of this +she took an object, wrapped in white silk. It +was a small cube of what looked to me like sandstone, +about an inch each way. She told me it +was an apport, that it had been thrown down on +her table while she and her family, including, as I +understood, the friend then present, were holding +a séance. A message came with it to say that it +was from the boy's grave at Gallipoli. What are +we to say to that? Was it fraud? Then why +were they playing tricks upon themselves? If +it was, indeed, an apport, it is surely one of the +most remarkable for distance and for purpose +recorded of any private circle.</p> + +<p>A gentleman named Moors was staying at the +same hotel in Auckland, and we formed an acquaintance. +I find that he was closely connected with +Stevenson, and had actually written a very +excellent book upon his comradeship with him at +Samoa. Stevenson dabbled in the politics of +Samoa, and always with the best motives and on +the right side, but he was of so frank and impetuous +a nature that he was not trusted with any inside +knowledge. Of the German rule Mr. Moors says +that for the first twelve years Dr. Solf was as good +as he could be, and did fair justice to all. Then +he went on a visit to Berlin, and returned "bitten +by the military bug," with his whole nature<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +changed, and began to "imponieren" in true +Prussian fashion. It is surely extraordinary how +all the scattered atoms of a race can share the +diseases of the central organism from which they +sprang. I verily believe that if a German had been +alone on a desert island in 1914 he would have +begun to dance and brandish a club. How many +cases are on record of the strange changes and +wild deeds of individuals?</p> + +<p>Mr. Moors told me that he dropped into a +developing circle of spiritualists at Sydney, none +of whom could have known him. One of them +said, "Above your head I see a man, an artist, long +hair, brown eyes, and I get the name of Stephens." +If he was indeed unknown, this would seem +fairly evidential.</p> + +<p>I was struck by one remark of Mr. Moors, which +was that he had not only seen the natives ride +turtles in the South Sea lagoons, but that he had +actually done so himself, and that it was by no +means difficult. This was the feat which was +supposed to be so absurd when De Rougemont +claimed to have done it. There are, of course, +some gross errors which are probably pure misuse +of words in that writer's narrative, but he places +the critic in a dilemma which has never been +fairly faced. Either he is a liar, in which case he +is, beyond all doubt, the most realistic writer of +adventure since Defoe, or else he speaks the truth, +in which case he is a great explorer. I see no +possible avoidance of this dilemma, so that which +ever way you look at it the man deserves credit +which he has never received.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> + +<p>We set off, four of us, to visit Mr. Clement +Wragge, who is the most remarkable personality +in Auckland—dreamer, mystic, and yet very +practical adviser on all matters of ocean and of air.</p> + +<p>On arriving at the charming bungalow, buried +among all sorts of broad-leaved shrubs and trees, +I was confronted by a tall, thin figure, clad in +black, with a face like a sadder and thinner +Bernard Shaw, dim, dreamy eyes, heavily pouched, +with a blue turban surmounting all. On repeating +my desire he led me apart into his study. I +had been warned that with his active brain and +copious knowledge I would never be able to hold +him to the point, so, in the dialogue which +followed, I perpetually headed him off as he +turned down bye paths, until the conversation +almost took the form of a game.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Wragge, you are, I know, one of the +greatest authorities upon winds and currents."</p> + +<p>"Well, that is one of my pursuits. When I +was young I ran the Ben Nevis Observatory in +Scotland and——"</p> + +<p>"It was only a small matter I wished to ask +you. You'll excuse my directness as I have so +little time."</p> + +<p>"Certainly. What is it?"</p> + +<p>"If the Maoris came, originally, from Hawaii, +what prevailing winds would their canoes meet in +the 2,000 miles which they crossed to reach New +Zealand?"</p> + +<p>The dim eyes lit up with the joy of the problem, +and the nervous fingers unrolled a chart of the +Pacific. He flourished a pair of compasses.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Here is Hawaii. They would start with a +north-westerly trade wind. That would be a fair +wind. I may say that the whole affair took place +far further back than is usually supposed. We +have to get back to astronomy for our fixed date. +Don't imagine that the obliquity of the ecliptic +was always 23 degrees."</p> + +<p>"The Maoris had a fair wind then?"</p> + +<p>The compasses stabbed at the map.</p> + +<p>"Only down to this point. Then they would +come on the Doldrums—the calm patch of the +equator. They could paddle their canoes across +that. Of course, the remains at Easter Island +prove——"</p> + +<p>"But they could not paddle all the way."</p> + +<p>"No; they would run into the south-easterly +trades. Then they made their way to Rarotonga +in Tahiti. It was from here that they made for +New Zealand."</p> + +<p>"But how could they know New Zealand was +there?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes, how did they know?"</p> + +<p>"Had they compasses?"</p> + +<p>"They steered by the stars. We have a poem +of theirs which numbers the star-gazer as one of +the crew. We have a chart, also, cut in the rocks +at Hawaii, which seems to be the plot of a voyage. +Here is a slide of it." He fished out a photo of +lines and scratches upon a rock.</p> + +<p>"Of course," said he, "the root of the matter is +that missionaries from Atlantis permeated the +Pacific, coming across Central America, and left +their traces everywhere."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> + +<p>Ah, Atlantis! I am a bit of an Atlantean +myself, so off we went at scratch and both enjoyed +ourselves greatly until time had come to rejoin +the party and meet Mr. Wragge's wife, a charming +Brahmin lady from India, who was one of the +most gracious personalities I have met in my +wanderings. The blue-turbaned, eager man, half +western science, half eastern mystic, and his dark-eyed +wife amid their profusion of flowers will +linger in my memory. Mrs. Wragge was eager +that I go and lecture in India. Well, who knows?</p> + +<p>I was so busy listening to Mr. Wragge's Atlantean +theories that I had no chance of laying +before him my own contribution to the subject, +which is, I think, both original and valid. If the +huge bulk of Atlantis sank beneath the ocean, +then, assuredly, it raised such a tidal wave as has +never been known in the world's history. This +tidal wave, since all sea water connects, would be +felt equally all over the world, as the wave of +Krakatoa was in 1883 felt in Europe. The wave +must have rushed over all flat coasts and drowned +every living thing, as narrated in the biblical +narrative. Therefore, since this catastrophe was, +according to Plato's account, not very much more +than 10,000 years ago there should exist ample +evidence of a wholesale destruction of life, +especially in the flatter lands of the globe. Is +there such evidence? Think of Darwin's account +of how the pampas of South America are in places +one huge grave-yard. Think, also, of the mammoth +remains which strew the Tundras of Siberia, +and which are so numerous that some of the Arctic<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +islands are really covered with bones. There is +ample evidence of some great flood which would +exactly correspond with the effect produced by +the sinking of Atlantis. The tragedy broadens as +one thinks of it. Everyone everywhere must +have been drowned save only the hill-dwellers. +The object of the catastrophe was, according to +some occult information, to remove the Atlantean +race and make room for the Aryan, even as the +Lemurian had been removed to make room for +the Atlantean. How long has the Aryan race to +run? The answer may depend upon themselves. +The great war is a warning bell perhaps.</p> + +<p>I had a talk with a curious type of psychic +while I was in Auckland. He claimed to be a +psychologist who did not need to be put <i>en +rapport</i> with his object by any material starting +point. A piece of clothing is, as a rule, to a +psychometrist what it would be to a bloodhound, +the starting point of a chase which runs +down the victim. Thus Van Bourg, when he +discovered by crystal gazing the body of Mr. +Foxhall (I quote the name from memory) floating +in the Thames, began by covering the table with +the missing man's garments. This is the usual +procedure which will become more familiar as the +public learn the full utility of a psychic.</p> + +<p>This gentlemen, Mr. Pearman, was a builder +by trade, a heavy, rather uneducated man with +the misty eye of a seer. He told me that if he +desired to turn his powers upon anything he had +only to sit in a dim room and concentrate his +thought upon the matter, without any material<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +nexus. For example, a murder had been done in +Western Australia. The police asked his help. +Using his power, he saw the man, a stranger, and +yet he <i>knew</i> that it was the man, descending the +Swan River in a boat. He saw him mix with the +dockmen of Fremantle. Then he saw him return +to Perth. Finally, he saw him take train on the +Transcontinental Railway. The police at once +acted, and intercepted the man, who was duly +convicted and hanged. This was one of several +cases which this man told me, and his stories +carried conviction with them. All this, although +psychic, has, of course, nothing to do with +spiritualism, but is an extension of the normal, +though undefined, powers of the human mind and +soul.</p> + +<p>The reader will be relieved to hear that I did not +visit Rotorua. An itinerant lecturer upon an +unpopular cause has enough hot water without +seeking out a geyser. My travels would make +but an indifferent guide book, but I am bound to +put it upon record that Wellington is a very +singular city plastered upon the side of a very +steep hill. It is said that the plan of the city +was entirely drawn up in England under the +impression that the site was a flat one, and that +it was duly carried out on the perpendicular +instead of the horizontal. It is a town of fine +buildings, however, in a splendid winding estuary +ringed with hills. It is, of course, the capital, and +the centre of all officialdom in New Zealand, but +Auckland, in the north, is already the greater +city.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span></p> + +<p>I had the opportunity of spending the day after +my arrival with Dr. Morrice, who married the +daughter of the late Premier, Sir R. Seddon, +whom I had known in years gone by. Their +summer house was down the Bay, and so I had a +long drive which gave me an admirable chance of +seeing the wonderful panorama. It was blowing +a full gale, and the road is so exposed that even +motors are sometimes upset by the force of the +wind. On this occasion nothing more serious +befell us than the loss of Mr. Smythe's hat, which +disappeared with such velocity that no one was +able to say what had become of it. It simply was, +and then it was not. The yellow of the foreshore, +the green of the shallows, the blue mottled with +purple of the deep, all fretted with lines of foam, +made an exhilarating sight. The whole excursion +was a brief but very pleasant break in our round +of work. Another pleasant experience was that +I met Dr. Purdey, who had once played cricket +with me, when we were very young, at Edinburgh +University. <i>Eheu fugaces!</i> I had also the pleasure +of meeting Mr. Massey, the Premier, a bluff, +strong, downright man who impresses one with +his force and sincerity.</p> + +<p>I had the privilege when I was at Wellington +of seeing the first edition of "Robinson Crusoe," +which came out originally in three volumes. I +had no idea that the three-decker dated back to +1719. It had a delightful map of the island +which would charm any boy, and must have been +drawn up under the personal guidance of Defoe +himself. I wonder that map has not been taken<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +as an integral part of the book, and reproduced +in every edition, for it is a fascinating and a +helpful document.</p> + +<p>I saw this rare book in the Turnbull Library, +which, under the loving care of Mr. Anderson +(himself no mean poet), is a fine little collection +of books got together by a Wellington man of +business. In a raw young land such a literary +oasis is like a Gothic Cathedral in the midst of a +suburb of modern villas. Anyone can come in to +consult the books, and if I were a Wellingtonian I +would certainly spend a good deal of time there. +I handled with fitting reverence a first edition +of "Lyrical Ballads," where, in 1798, Coleridge +and Wordsworth made their entry hand in hand +into poetical literature. I saw an original +Hakluyt, the book which has sent so many +brave hearts a-roving. There, too, was a precious +Kelmscott "Chaucer," a Plutarch and Montaigne, +out of which Shakespeare might have done +his cribbing; Capt. Cook's manuscript "Diary," +written in the stiff hand of a very methodical +man; a copy of Swinburne's "Poems and +Ballads," which is one of twenty from a recalled +edition, and many other very rare and worthy +volumes carefully housed and clad. I spent a +mellow hour among them.</p> + +<p>I have been looking up all the old books upon +the Maoris which I could find, with the special +intent of clearing up their history, but while doing +so I found in one rather rare volume "Old New +Zealand," an account of a Maori séance, which +seems to have been in the early forties, and,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +therefore, older than the Hydesville knockings. +I only wish every honest materialist could read it +and compare it with the experiences which we +have, ourselves, independently reported. Surely +they cannot persist in holding that such identical +results are obtained by coincidence, or that fraud +would work in exactly the same fashion in two +different hemispheres.</p> + +<p>A popular young chief had been killed in battle. +The white man was invited to join the solemn +circle who hoped to regain touch with him. The +séance was in the dark of a large hut, lit only by +the ruddy glow of a low fire. The white man, a +complete unbeliever, gives his evidence in grudging +fashion, but cannot get past the facts. The +voice came, a strange melancholy sound, like the +wind blowing into a hollow vessel. "Salutation! +Salutation to you all! To you, my tribe! +Family, I salute you! Friends, I salute you!" +When the power waned the voice cried, "Speak +to me, the family! Speak to me!" In the +published dialogue between Dr. Hodgson after his +death and Professor Hyslop, Hodgson cries, +"Speak, Hyslop!" when the power seemed to +wane. For some reason it would appear either by +vibrations or by concentrating attention to help +the communicator. "It is well with me," said +the chief. "This place is a good place." He was +with the dead of the tribe and described them, and +offered to take messages to them. The incredulous +white man asked where a book had been +concealed which only the dead man knew about. +The place was named and the book found. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +white man himself did not know, so there was no +telepathy. Finally, with a "Farewell!" which +came from high in the air, the spirit passed back +to immaterial conditions.</p> + +<p>This is, I think, a very remarkable narrative. +If you take it as literally true, which I most +certainly do, since our experience corroborates it, +it gives us some points for reflection. One is that +the process is one known in all the ages, as our +Biblical reading has already told us. A second +is that a young barbarian chief with no advantages +of religion finds the next world a very +pleasant place, just as our dead do, and that they +love to come back and salute those whom they +have left, showing a keen memory of their earth +life. Finally, we must face the conclusion that +the mere power of communication has no elevating +effect in itself, otherwise these tribes could not +have continued to be ferocious savages. It has +to be united with the Christ message from beyond +before it will really help us upon the upward path.</p> + +<p>Before I left Wellington the spiritualists made +me a graceful presentation of a travelling rug, +and I was able to assure them that if they found +the rug I would find the travelling. It is made of +the beautiful woollen material in which New +Zealand is supreme. The presentation was made +by Mrs. Stables, the President of the New Zealand +Association, an energetic lady to whom the cause +owes much. A greenstone penholder was given +to me for my wife, and a little charm for my small +daughter, the whole proceedings being marked +with great cordiality and good feeling. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +faithful are strong in Wellington, but are much +divided among themselves, which, I hope, may +be alleviated as a consequence of my visit. +Nothing could have been more successful than +my two meetings. The Press was splendidly +sympathetic, and I left by a night boat in high +heart for my campaign in the South Island.</p> + + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<div class="blockquotech extraspacebot"><p>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.</p></div> + + +<p>I am afraid that the average Britisher looks upon +New Zealand as one solid island. If he had to +cross Cook's Strait to get from the northern to +the southern half, he would never forget his +lesson in geography, for it can be as nasty a bit of +water as is to be found in the world, with ocean +waves, mountain winds and marine currents all +combining into a horrible chaos. Twelve good +hours separate Wellington in the north from +Lyttelton, which is the port of Christchurch in +the south. A very short railway joins the two +latter places. My luck held good, and I had an +excellent passage, dining in Wellington and breakfasting +in Christchurch. It is a fine city, the +centre of the famous Canterbury grazing country. +Four shiploads of people calling themselves the +Canterbury Pilgrims arrived here in 1852, built +a cathedral, were practically ruled over by Bishop<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +Selwyn, and tried the successful experiment of +establishing a community which should be as +Anglican as New England is Nonconformist. +The distinctive character has now largely disappeared, +but a splendid and very English city +remains as a memorial of their efforts. When +you are on the green, sloping banks of the river +Avon, with the low, artistic bridges, it would not +be hard to imagine that you were in the Backs at +Cambridge.</p> + +<p>At Christchurch I came across one of those +little bits of psychic evidence which may be taken +as certainly true, and which can be regarded, +therefore, as pieces which have to be fitted into +the jig-saw puzzle in order to make the completed +whole, at that far off date when a +completed whole is within the reach of man's +brain. It concerns Mr. Michie, a local Spiritualist +of wide experience. On one occasion some years +ago, he practised a short cut to psychic power, +acquired through a certain method of breathing +and of action, which amounts, in my opinion, to +something in the nature of self-hypnotisation. I +will not give details, as I think all such exercises +are dangerous save for very experienced students +of these matters, who know the risk and are prepared +to take it. The result upon Mr. Michie, +through some disregard upon his part of the +conditions which he was directed to observe, was +disastrous. He fell into an insidious illness with +certain psychic symptoms, and within a few +months was reduced to skin and bone. Mr. +Michie's wife is mediumistic and liable to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +controlled. One day an entity came to her and +spoke through her to her husband, claiming to be +the spirit of one, Gordon Stanley. He said: "I +can sympathise with your case, because my own +death was brought about in exactly the same way. +I will help you, however, to fight against it and to +recover." The spirit then gave an account of his +own life, described himself as a clerk in Cole's +Book Arcade in Melbourne, and said that his +widow was living at an address in Melbourne, +which was duly given. Mr. Michie at once wrote +to this address and received this reply, the original +of which I have seen:</p> + +<div class="blockquote extraspacetop extraspacebot"> +<p class="nrright"> +<i>"Park Street,</i></p> +<p class="right"><i>"Melbourne.</i> +</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Sir,</span>—<i>I have just received your strange—I +must say, your very strange letter. Yes, I +am Mrs. Stanley. My husband did die two +years ago from consumption. He was a clerk +in Cole's Arcade. I must say your letter gave +me a great shock. But I cannot doubt after +what you have said, for I know you are a complete +stranger to me.</i>"</p></div> + +<p>Shortly afterwards Mr. Stanley returned again +through the medium, said that his widow was +going to marry again, and that it was with his +full approbation. The incident may be taken by +our enemies as illustrating the danger of psychic +research, and we admit that there are forms of it +which should be approached with caution, but I +do not think that mankind will ever be warned off<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +by putting a danger label upon it, so long as +they think there is real knowledge to be gained. +How could the motor-car or the aeroplane have +been developed if hundreds had not been ready +to give their lives to pay the price? Here the +price has been far less, and the goal far higher, +but if in gaining it a man were assured that he +would lose his health, his reason, or his life, it is +none the less his duty to go forward if he clearly +sees that there is something to be won. To meet +death in conquering death is to die in victory—the +ideal death.</p> + +<p>Whilst I was at Auckland Mr. Poynton, a +stipendiary magistrate there, told me of a dog in +Christchurch which had a power of thought comparable, +not merely to a human being, but even, +as I understood him, to a clairvoyant, as it would +bark out the number of coins in your pocket and +other such questions. The alternative to clairvoyance +was that he was a very quick and accurate +thought-reader, but in some cases the power +seemed to go beyond this. Mr. Poynton, who +had studied the subject, mentioned four learned +beasts in history: a marvellous horse in Shakespeare's +time, which was burned with its master in +Florence; the Boston skipper's dog; Hans, the +Russian horse, and Darkie of Christchurch. He +investigated the latter himself, as one of a committee +of three. On the first occasion they got +no results. On the second, ninety per cent. of the +questions were right, and they included sums of +addition, subtraction, etc. "It was uncanny," +he wrote.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + +<p>I called, therefore, upon Mrs. McGibbon, the +owner, who allowed me to see the dog. He was +a dark, vivacious fox terrier, sixteen years old, +blind and deaf, which obviously impaired his +powers. In spite of his blindness he dashed at +me the moment he was allowed into the room, +pawing at me and trembling all over with excitement. +He was, in fact so excited that he was of +little use for demonstration, as when once he +began to bark he could not be induced to stop. +Occasionally he steadied down, and gave us a +touch of his true quality. When a half-crown was +placed before him and he was asked how many +sixpences were in it, he gave five barks, and four +for a florin, but when a shilling was substituted he +gave twelve, which looked as if he had pennies in +his mind. On the whole the performance was a +failure, but as he had raised by exhibiting his +gifts, £138 for war charities, I took my hat off to +him all the same. I will not imitate those psychic +researchers who imagine that because they do not +get a result, therefore, every one else who has +reported it is a cheat or a fool. On the contrary, +I have no doubt that the dog had these powers, +though age and excitement have now impaired +them.</p> + +<p>The creature's powers were first discovered +when the son of the house remarked one day: +"I will give you a biscuit if you bark three times." +He at once did it. "Now, six times." He did so. +"Now, take three off." He barked three times +once again. Since then they have hardly found +any problem he could not tackle. When asked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +how many males in the room he always included +himself in the number, but omitted himself when +asked how many human beings. One wonders +how many other dogs have human brains without +the humans being clever enough to detect it.</p> + +<p>I had an amusing controversy in Christchurch +with one of the local papers, <i>The Press</i>, which +represents the clerical interest, and, also, the +clerical intolerance of a cathedral city. It issued +an article upon me and my beliefs, severe, but +quite within the limits of legitimate criticism, +quoting against me Professor Hyslop, "who," +it said, "is Professor of Logic at Columbia, etc." +To this I made the mild and obvious retort in the +course of my lecture that as Professor Hyslop +was dead, <i>The Press</i> went even further than I +in saying that he "<i>is</i> Professor at Columbia." +Instead of accepting this correction, <i>The Press</i> +made the tactical error of standing by their +assertion, and aggravated it by head-lines which +challenged me, and quoted my statement as +"typical of the inaccuracy of a Spiritualist." As +I rather pride myself on my accuracy, which has +seldom been challenged, I answered shortly but +politely, as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquote extraspacetop extraspacebot"><p>"<span class="smcap">Sir,</span>—<i>I am surprised that the news of the +death of Professor Hyslop has not reached New +Zealand, and even more surprised that it could +be imagined that I would make such a statement +on a matter so intimately connected with the +subject upon which I lecture without being sure +of my fact. I am reported as saying 'some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +years,' but, if so, it was a slip of the tongue for +'some time.' The Professor died either late last +year or early in the present one.</i>"</p></div> + +<p>I should have thought that my answer was +conclusive, and would have elicited some sort of +apology; but instead of this, <i>The Press</i> called +loudly upon me in a leading article to apologise, +though for what I know not, save that they +asserted I had said "some years," whereas I +claim that I actually said "some time." This +drew the following rather more severe letter from +me:</p> + +<div class="blockquote extraspacetop extraspacebot"><p>"<span class="smcap">Sir,</span>—<i>I am collecting New Zealand curiosities, +so I will take your leading article home with me. +To get the full humour of it one has to remember +the sequence of events. In a leading article you +remarked that Professor Hyslop is Professor of +Logic. I answered with mild irony that he +certainly is not, as he had been dead 'some years' +or 'some time'—which of the two is perfectly +immaterial, since I presume that in either case +you would agree that he has ceased to be Professor +of Logic. To this you were rash enough to reply +with a challenging article with large head-lines, +declaring that I had blundered, and that this +was typical of the inaccuracy of Spiritualists. I +wrote a gentle remonstrance to show that I had +not blundered, and that my assertion was +essentially true, since the man was dead. This +you now tacitly admit, but instead of expressing +regret you ask for an apology from me. I have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +engaged in much newspaper controversy, but I +can truly say that I can recall no such instance of +effrontery as this.</i>"</p></div> + +<p>This led to another leader and considerable +abuse.</p> + +<p>The controversy was, however, by no means +one-sided, in spite of the shadow of the Cathedral. +Mr. Peter Trolove is a man of wit as well as +knowledge, and wields a pretty pen. A strong +man, also, is Dr. John Guthrie, whose letter +contains words so kindly that I must quote +them:</p> + +<div class="blockquote extraspacetop extraspacebot"><p>"<i>Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stands above it all, +not only as a courteous gentleman, but as a fair +controversialist throughout. He is, anyhow, a +chivalrous and magnanimous personality, whether +or not his beliefs have any truth. Fancy quoting +authorities against a man who has spent great +part of his life studying the subject, and who +knows the authorities better than all his opponents +put together—a man who has deliberately used +his great gifts in an honest attempt to get at +truth. I do think that Christchurch has some +need to apologise for its controversialists—much +more need than our distinguished visitor has to +apologise for what we all know to be his honest +convictions.</i>"</p></div> + +<p>I have never met Dr. John Guthrie in the flesh, +but I would thank him here, should this ever +meet his eye, for this kindly protest.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> + +<p>It will be gathered that I succeeded at Christchurch +in performing the feat of waking up a +Cathedral City, and all the ex-sleepers were protesting +loudly against such a disturbing inrush +from the outer world. Glancing at the head-lines +I see that Bishop Brodie declared it to be +"A blasphemy nurtured in fraud," the Dean of +Christchurch writes it down as "Spiritism, the +abrogation of Reason," the Rev. John Patterson +calls it "an ancient delusion," the Rev. Mr. +North says it is "a foolish Paganism," and the +Rev. Mr. Ready opines that it is "a gospel +of uncertainty and conjecture." Such are the +clerical leaders of thought in Christchurch in the +year 1920. I think of what the wise old Chinese +Control said of similar types at the Melbourne +Rescue Circle. "He good man but foolish man. +He learn better. Never rise till he learn better. +Plenty time yet." Who loses except themselves?</p> + +<p>The enormous number of letters which I get upon +psychic subjects—which I do my best to answer—give +me some curious sidelights, but they are +often confidential, and would not bear publication. +Some of them are from devout, but narrow +Christians, who narrate psychic and prophetic +gifts which they possess, and at the same time +almost resent them on the ground that they are +condemned by the Bible. As if the whole Bible +was not psychic and prophetic! One very long +letter detailed a whole succession of previsions of +the most exact character, and wound up by the +conviction that we were on the edge of some great +discovery. This was illustrated by a simile which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +seemed very happy. "Have you noticed a tree +covered in spider webs during a fog? Well, it +was only through the law of the fog that we saw +them. They were there all the time, but only +when the moisture came could we see them." It +was a good illustration. Many amazing experiences +are detailed to me in every town I visit, +and though I have no time to verify them and go +into details, none the less they fit so accurately +with the various types of psychic cases with which +I am familiar that I cannot doubt that such +occurrences are really very common. It is the +injudicious levity with which they are met which +prevents their being published by those who +experience them.</p> + +<p>As an amateur philologist of a superficial type, I +am greatly interested in studying the Maori +language, and trying to learn whence these +wonderful savages came before their twenty-two +terrible canoes came down upon the unhappy +land which would have been safer had as many +shiploads of tigers been discharged upon its beach. +The world is very old, and these folk have wandered +from afar, and by many devious paths. Surely +there are Celtic traces both in their appearance, +their character and their language. An old +Maori woman smoking her pipe is the very image +of an old Celtic woman occupied the same way. +Their word for water is <i>wei</i>, and England is full +of Wye and Way river names, dating from the +days before the Germans arrived. Strangest of +all is their name for the supreme God. A name +never mentioned and taboo among them, is Io.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +"J" is, of course, interchangeable with "I," so +that we get the first two letters of Jove and an +approximation of Jehovah. Papa is parent. +Altogether there is good evidence that they are +from the same root as some European races, +preferably the Celts. But on the top of this +comes a whole series of Japanese combinations of +letters, Rangi, Muru, Tiki, and so forth, so that +many of the place names seem pure Japanese. +What are we to make of such a mixture? Is it +possible that one Celtic branch, far away in the +mists of time, wandered east while their racial +brethren wandered west, so that part reached far +Corea while the others reached Ireland? Then, +after getting a tincture of Japanese terms and +word endings, they continued their migration, +taking to the seas, and finally subduing the +darker races who inhabited the Polynesian Islands, +so making their way to New Zealand. This wild +imagining would at least cover the observed facts. +It is impossible to look at some of the Maori faces +without realising that they are of European stock.</p> + +<p>I must interpolate a paragraph here to say that +I was pleased, after writing the above, to find that +in my blind gropings I had come upon the main +conclusions which have been put forward with +very full knowledge by the well-known authority, +Dr. McMillan Brown. He has worked out the +very fact which I surmised, that the Maoris are +practically of the same stock as Europeans, that +they had wandered Japan-wards, and had finally +taken to the sea. There are two points of interest +which show the date of their exodus was a very +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span>ancient one. The first is that they have not the +use of the bow. The second is that they have no +knowledge of metals. Such knowledge once +possessed would never have been lost, so it is safe +to say that they left Asia a thousand years (as a +minimum) before Christ, for at that date the use +of bronze, at any rate, was widespread. What +adventures and vicissitudes this remarkable race, +so ignorant in some directions and so advanced in +others, must have endured during those long +centuries. If you look at the wonderful ornaments +of their old war canoes, which carry a hundred men, +and can traverse the whole Pacific, it seems almost +incredible that human patience and ingenuity +could construct the whole fabric with instruments +of stone. They valued them greatly when once +they were made, and the actual names of the twenty-two +original invading canoes are still recorded.</p> + +<div class="figcenter extraspacetop extraspacebot"><span class='imgnum'><a name="I_208" id="I_208">[208]</a></span> +<img src="images/gs09.jpg" width="320" height="189" alt="THE PEOPLE OF TURI'S CANOE, AFTER A VOYAGE OF GREAT HARDSHIP, AT LAST +SIGHT THE SHORES OF NEW ZEALAND." title="" /><br /> +<p class="blockquotetn nrright"> <i>See page 209.</i></p> +<p class="blockquotetn center caption">THE PEOPLE OF TURI'S CANOE, AFTER A VOYAGE OF GREAT HARDSHIP, AT LAST +SIGHT THE SHORES OF NEW ZEALAND.</p> +<p class="blockquotetn center">From a painting in the Auckland Art Gallery by C. F. Goldie and L. J. Steele.</p> +</div> + +<p>In the public gallery of Auckland they have a +duplicate of one of these enormous canoes. It is +87 feet in length and the thwarts are broad enough +to hold three or four men. When it was filled +with its hundred warriors, with the chief standing +in the centre to give time to the rowers, it must, +as it dashed through the waves, have been a truly +terrific object. I should think that it represented +the supreme achievement of neolithic man. There +are a series of wonderful pictures of Maori life in +the same gallery by Goldie and Steele. Of these +I reproduce, by permission, one which represents +the starving crew of one canoe sighting the distant +shore. The engraving only gives a faint indication +of the effect of the vividly-coloured original.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span></p> + +<p>Reference has been made to the patient industry +of the Maori race. A supreme example of this is +that every man had his tikki, or image of a little +idol made of greenstone, which was hung round his +neck. Now, this New Zealand greenstone is one of +the hardest objects in nature, and yet it is worn down +without metals into these quaint figures. On an +average it took ten years to make one, and it was +rubbed down from a chunk of stone into an image +by the constant friction of a woman's foot.</p> + +<p>It is said that the Tahungas, or priests, have +much hereditary knowledge of an occult sort. +Their oracles were famous, and I have already +quoted an example of their séances. A student +of Maori lore told me the following interesting +story. He was a student of Maori words, and on +one occasion a Maori chief let slip an unusual word, +let us say "buru," and then seemed confused and +refused to answer when the Englishman asked the +meaning. The latter took it to a friend, a Tohunga, +who seemed much surprised and disturbed, and +said it was a word of which a paheka or white man +should know nothing. Not to be beaten, my +informant took it to an old and wise chief who +owed him a return for some favours. This chief +was also much exercised in mind when he heard +the word, and walked up and down in agitation. +Finally he said, "Friend, we are both Christians. +You remember the chapter in the Bible where +Jacob wrestled with an angel. Well, this word +'buru' represents that for which they were +wrestling." He would say no more and there it +had perforce to be left.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> + +<p>The British Empire may be proud of their +treatment of the Maoris. Like the Jews, they +object to a census, but their number cannot be +more than 50,000 in a population of over a million. +There is no question, therefore, of our being constrained +to treat them well. Yet they own vast +tracts of the best land in the country, and so unquestioned +are their rights that when they forbade +a railway to pass down the centre of the North +Island, the traffic had to go by sea from Auckland +until, at last, after many years, it was shown to +the chiefs that their financial interests would be +greatly aided by letting the railway through. +These financial interests are very large, and many +Maoris are wealthy men, buying expensive motor +cars and other luxuries. Some of the more educated +take part in legislative work, and are +distinguished for their eloquence. The half-castes +make a particularly fine breed, especially in their +youth, for they tend as they grow older to revert +to the pure Maori type. New Zealand has no +national sin upon its conscience as regards the +natives, which is more, I fear, than can be said +whole-heartedly for Australia, and even less for +Tasmania. Our people never descended to the +level of the old Congo, but they have something +on their conscience none the less.</p> + +<p>On December 18th there was some arrangement +by which I should meet the Maoris and see the +historic Pa of Kaiopoi. The affair, however, was, +I am sorry to say, a fiasco. As we approached the +building, which was the village school room, there +emerged an old lady—a very old lady—who uttered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +a series of shrill cries, which I was told meant +welcome, though they sounded more like the other +thing. I can only trust that my informants were +right. Inside was a very fine assemblage of +atmospheric air, and of nothing else. The explanation +was that there had been a wedding the +night before, and that the whole community had +been—well, tired. Presently a large man +in tweeds of the reach-me-down variety appeared +upon the scene, and several furtive figures, including +a row of children, materialised in corners of +the big empty room. The visitors, who were more +numerous than the visited, sat on a long bench +and waited developments which refused to develop. +My dreams of the dignified and befeathered savage +were drifting away. Finally, the large man, with +his hands in his pockets, and looking hard at a +corner of the rafters, made a speech of welcome, +punctuated by long stops and gaps. He then, at +our request, repeated it in Maori, and the children +were asked to give a Maori shout, which they +sternly refused to do. I then made a few feeble +bleats, uncertain whether to address my remarks +to the level of the large man or to that of the row +of children. I ended by handing over some books +for their library, and we then escaped from this +rather depressing scene.</p> + +<p>But it was a very different matter with the Pa. +I found it intensely interesting. You could still +trace quite clearly the main lines of the battle +which destroyed it. It lay on about five acres of +ground, with deep swamp all round save for one +frontage of some hundreds of yards. That was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +all which really needed defence. The North +Island natives, who were of a sterner breed than +those of the South, came down under the famous +Rauparaha (these Maori names are sad snags in +a story) and besieged the place. One can see the +saps and follow his tactics, which ended by piling +brushwood against the palings—please observe +the root "pa" in palings—with the result that +he carried the place. Massacre Hill stands close +by, and so many of the defenders were eaten that +their gnawed bones covered the ground within +the memory of living men. Such things may have +been done by the father of the elderly gentleman +who passes you in his motor car with his race +glasses slung across his chest. The siege of +Kaiopoi was about 1831. Even on a fine sunlit +day I was conscious of that heavy atmosphere +within the enclosure which impresses itself upon +me when I am on the scene of ancient violence. +So frightful an episode within so limited a space, +where for months the garrison saw its horrible +fate drawing nearer day by day, must surely have +left some etheric record even to our blunt senses.</p> + +<p>I was indebted to Dr. Thacker, the mayor, for +much kind attention whilst in Christchurch. He +is a giant man, but a crippled giant, alas, for he +still bears the traces of an injury received in a +historic football match, which left his and my old +University of Edinburgh at the top of the tree in +Scotland. He showed me some curious, if ghastly, +relics of his practice. One of these was a tumour +of the exact size and shape of a boxing glove, +thumb and all, which he cut out of the back of a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +boxer who had lost a glove fight and taken it +greatly to heart. Always on many converging +lines we come back to the influence of mind over +matter.</p> + +<p>Another most pleasant friendship which I made +in Christchurch was with Sir Joseph Kinsey, who +has acted as father to several successive British +Arctic expeditions. Scott and Shackleton have +both owed much to him, their constant agent, +adviser and friend. Scott's dying hand traced a +letter to him, so unselfish and so noble that it +alone would put Scott high in the gallery of +British worthies. Of all modern men of action +Scott seems to me the most lofty. To me he was +only an acquaintance, but Kinsey, who knew him +well as a friend, and Lady Kinsey, who had all +Arctic exploration at her finger ends, were of the +same opinion.</p> + +<p>Sir Joseph discussed the action of Amundsen in +making for the pole. When it was known that +Amundsen was heading south instead of pursuing +his advertised intentions, Kinsey smelled danger +and warned Scott, who, speaking from his own +noble loyalty, said, "He would never do so dishonourable +a thing. My plans are published and +are known to all the world." However, when he +reached the ice, and when Pennell located the +"Fram," he had to write and admit that Kinsey +was right. It was a sad blow, that forestalling, +though he took it like the man that he was. None +the less, it must have preyed upon the spirits of all +his party and weakened their resistance in that cruel +return journey. On the other hand Amundsen's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +expedition, which was conducted on rather less +than a sixth of the cost of the British, was a +triumph of organisation, and he had the good luck +or deep wisdom to strike a route which was clear +of those great blizzards which overwhelmed Scott. +The scurvy was surely a slur upon our medical +preparations. According to Stefansson, who +knows more of the matter than any living man, +lime juice is useless, vegetables are of secondary +importance, but fresh animal food, be it seal, +penguin, or what you will, is the final preventive.</p> + +<p>Sir Joseph is a passionate and discriminating +collector, and has but one fault in collecting, +which is a wide generosity. You have but to +visit him often enough and express sufficient +interest to absorb all his treasures. Perhaps my +protests were half-hearted, but I emerged from +his house with a didrachm of Alexander, a tetradrachm +of some Armenian monarch, a sheet of +rare Arctic stamps for Denis, a lump of native +greenstone, and a small nugget of gold. No +wonder when I signed some books for him I +entered the date as that of "The Sacking of +Woomeroo," that being the name of his dwelling. +The mayor, in the same spirit of hospitality, +pressed upon me a huge bone of the extinct Moa, +but as I had never failed to impress upon my wife +the extreme importance of cutting down our +luggage, I could not face the scandal of appearing +with this monstrous impedimentum.</p> + +<p>Leaving Christchurch in the journalistic uproar +to which allusion has been made, our engagements +took us on to Dunedin, which is reached by rail<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +in a rather tiring day's journey. A New Zealand +train is excellent while it is running, but it has a +way of starting with an epileptic leap, and stopping +with a bang, which becomes wearisome after a +while. On the other hand this particular journey +is beguiled by the fact that the line runs high for +two hours round the curve of the hills with the +Pacific below, so that a succession of marvellous +views opens out before you as you round each spur. +There can be few more beautiful lines.</p> + +<p>Dunedin was founded in 1848 by a group of +Scotsmen, and it is modelled so closely upon +Edinburgh that the familiar street names all reappear, +and even Portobello has its duplicate +outside the town. The climate, also, I should +judge to be about the same. The prevailing tone +of the community is still Scottish, which should +mean that they are sympathetic with my mission, +for nowhere is Spiritualism more firmly established +now than in Scotland, especially in Glasgow, +where a succession of great mediums and of earnest +workers have built up a considerable organisation. +I soon found that it was so, for nowhere had I +more private assurances of support, nor a better +public reception, the theatre being filled at each +lecture. In the intervals kind friends put their +motors at my disposal and I had some splendid +drives over the hills, which look down upon the +winding estuary at the head of which the town is +situated.</p> + +<p>At the house of Mr. Reynolds, of Dunedin, I +met one of the most powerful clairvoyants and +trance mediums whom I have tested. Her name<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +is Mrs. Roberts, and though her worldly circumstances +are modest, she has never accepted any +money for her wonderful psychic gifts. For this +I honour her, but, as I told her, we all sell the +gifts which God has given us, and I cannot see +why, and within reason, psychic gifts should not +also be placed within the reach of the public, +instead of being confined to a favoured few. How +can the bulk of the people ever get into touch +with a good medium if they are debarred from +doing so in the ordinary way of business?</p> + +<p>Mrs. Roberts is a stout, kindly woman, with a +motherly manner, and a sensitive, expressive face. +When in touch with my conditions she at once gave +the names of several relatives and friends who have +passed over, without any slurring or mistakes. +She then cried, "I see an elderly lady here—she +is a beautifully high spirit—her name is Selina." +This rather unusual name belonged to my wife's +mother, who died nearly two years ago. Then, +suddenly, becoming slightly convulsed, as a +medium does when her mechanism is controlled +by another, she cried with an indescribable intensity +of feeling, "Thank God! Thank God to get +in touch again! Jean! Jean! Give my dear love +to Jean!" Both names, therefore, had been got +correctly, that of the mother and the daughter. +Is it not an affront to reason to explain away such +results by wild theories of telepathy, or by anything +save the perfectly plain and obvious fact +that spirit communion is indeed true, and that I +was really in touch with that dead lady who was, +even upon earth, a beautifully high and unselfish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +spirit. I had a number of other communications +through Mrs. Roberts that night, and at a second +interview two days later, not one of which erred +so far as names were concerned. Among others was +one who professed to be Dr. Russell Wallace. I +should be honoured, indeed, to think that it was +so, but I was unable to hit on anything which +would be evidential. I asked him if his further +experience had taught him anything more about +reincarnation, which he disputed in his lifetime. +He answered that he now accepted it, though I am +not clear whether he meant for all cases. I +thanked him for any spiritual help I had from +him. His answer was "Me! Don't thank me! +You would be surprised if you knew who your +real helpers are." He added, "By your work I +rise. We are co-workers!" I pray that it be +so, for few men have lived for whom I have greater +respect; wise and brave, and mellow and good. +His biography was a favourite book of mine +long before I understood the full significance of +Spiritualism, which was to him an evolution of the +spirit on parallel lines to that evolution of the +body which he did so much to establish.</p> + +<p>Now that my work in New Zealand was drawing +to a close a very grave problem presented itself +to Mr. Smythe and myself, and that was how we +were to get back to our families in Australia. +A strike had broken out, which at first seemed a +small matter, but it was accentuated by the +approach of Christmas and the fact that many of +the men were rather looking for an excuse for +a holiday. Every day things became blacker.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +Once before Mr. Smythe had been held up for +four months by a similar cause, and, indeed, it +has become a very serious consideration for all +who visit New Zealand. We made a forced +march for the north amid constant rumours that +far from reaching Australia we could not even get +to the North Island, as the twelve-hour ferry +boats were involved in the strike. I had every +trust in my luck, or, as I should prefer to say, in +my helpers, and we got the <i>Maori</i> on the last ferry +trip which she was sure to take. Up to the last +moment the firemen wavered, and we had no +stewards on board, but none the less, to our +inexpressible relief we got off. There was no food +on the ship and no one to serve it, so we went into +a small hostel at Lyttleton before we started, to +see what we could pick up. There was a man +seated opposite to me who assumed the air of +laboured courtesy and extreme dignity, which is +one phase of alcoholism.</p> + +<p>"'Scuse me, sir!" said he, looking at me with +a glassy stare, "but you bear most 'straordinary +resemblance Olver Lodge."</p> + +<p>I said something amiable.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir—'straordinary! Have you ever seen +Olver Lodge, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have."</p> + +<p>"Well, did you perceive resemblance?"</p> + +<p>"Sir Oliver, as I remember him, was a tall man +with a grey beard."</p> + +<p>He shook his head at me sadly.</p> + +<p>"No, sir—I heard him at Wellington last week. +No beard. A moustache, sir, same as your own."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You're sure it was Sir Oliver?"</p> + +<p>A slow smile came over his face.</p> + +<p>"Blesh my soul—Conan Doyle—that's the +name. Yes, sir, you bear truly remarkable +resemblance Conan Doyle."</p> + +<p>I did not say anything further so I daresay +he has not discovered yet the true cause of the +resemblance.</p> + +<p>All the nerve-wracking fears of being held up +which we endured at Lyttleton were repeated at +Wellington, where we had taken our passages in +the little steamer <i>Paloona</i>. In any case we had +to wait for a day, which I spent in clearing up +my New Zealand affairs while Mr. Smythe interviewed +the authorities and paid no less than +£141 war tax upon the receipts of our lectures—a +heavy impost upon a fortnight's work. Next +morning, with our affairs and papers all in order, +we boarded our little craft.</p> + +<p>Up to the last moment we had no certainty of +starting. Not only was the strike in the air, but +it was Christmas Eve, and it was natural enough +that the men should prefer their own homes to +the stokehole of the <i>Paloona</i>. Agents with offers +of increased pay were scouring the docks. Finally +our complement was completed, and it was a +glad moment when the hawsers were thrown off, +and after the usual uncomfortable preliminaries +we found ourselves steaming in a sharp wind +down the very turbulent waters of Cook's Strait.</p> + +<p>The place is full of Cook's memory. Everywhere +the great man has left his traces. We +passed Cook's Island where the <i>Endeavour</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +actually struck and had to be careened and +patched. What a nerve the fellow had! So +coolly and deliberately did he do his work that +even now his charting holds good, I understand, +in many long stretches of coast. Tacking +and wearing, he poked and pried into every +estuary, naming capes, defining bays, plotting out +positions, and yet all the while at the mercy of +the winds, with a possible lee shore always before +him, with no comrade within hail, and with +swarms of cannibals eyeing his little ship from the +beach. After I have seen his work I shall feel +full of reverence every time I pass that fine +statue which adorns the mall side of the great +Admiralty building.</p> + +<p>And now we are out in the open sea, with +Melbourne, Sydney and love in front of our +prow. Behind the sun sets in a slur of scarlet +above the olive green hills, while the heavy night +fog, crawling up the valleys, turns each of them +into a glacier. A bright star twinkles above. +Below a light shines out from the gloom. Farewell, +New Zealand! I shall never see you again, +but perhaps some memory of my visit may +remain—or not, as God pleases.</p> + +<p>Anyhow, my own memory will remain. +Every man looks on his own country as God's +own country if it be a free land, but the New +Zealander has more reason than most. It is a +lovely place, and contains within its moderate +limits the agricultural plains of England, the lakes +and hills of Scotland, the glaciers of Switzerland, +and the fiords of Norway, with a fine hearty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +people, who do not treat the British newcomer +with ignorant contempt or hostility. There are +so many interests and so many openings that it is +hard to think that a man will not find a career in +New Zealand. Canada, Australia and South +Africa seem to me to be closely balanced so far +as their attractions for the emigrant goes, but +when one considers that New Zealand has neither +the winter of Canada, the droughts of Australia, +nor the racial problems of Africa, it does surely +stand supreme, though it demands, as all of them +do, both labour and capital from the newcomer.</p> + + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<div class="blockquotech extraspacebot"><p>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."</p></div> + + +<p>The voyage back from New Zealand to Melbourne +was pleasant and uneventful, though the boat was +small and there was a sea rough enough to upset +many of the passengers. We were fortunate in +our Captain, Doorby, who, I found, was a literary +confrère with two books to his credit, one of them +a record of the relief ship <i>Morning</i>, in which he had +served at the time of Scott's first expedition, the +other a little book, "The Handmaiden of the +Navy," which gave some of his adventures and +experiences in the merchant service during the +great war. He had been torpedoed once, and +had lost, on another occasion, nearly all his crew +with plague, so that he had much that was +interesting to talk about. Mr. Blake, of the +<i>Strand Magazine</i>, was also on board. A Unitarian +Minister, Mr. Hale, was also a valuable companion, +and we had much discussion over the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +origins of Christianity, which was the more +interesting to me as I had taken advantage of the +voyage to re-read the Acts and Paul's Epistles. +There are no documents which can be read so +often and yet reveal something new, the more so +when you have that occult clue which is needful +before Paul can be understood. It is necessary +also to know something of Mythra worship and +the other philosophies which Paul had learned, and +woven into his Christianity. I have stated elsewhere +my belief that all expressions about +redemption by blood, the blood of the lamb, etc., +are founded upon the parallel of the blood of +the bull which was shed by the Mythra-worshippers, +and in which they were actually baptised. +Enlarging upon this, Mr. Hale pointed out on the +authority, if I remember right, of Pfleiderer's +"Christian Origins," that in the Mythra service +something is placed over the candidate, a hide +probably, which is called "putting on Mythra," +and corresponds with Paul's expression about +"putting on Christ." Paul, with his tremendous +energy and earnestness, fixed Christianity upon +the world, but I wonder what Peter and those +who had actually heard Christ's words thought +about it all. We have had Paul's views about +Christ, but we do not know Christ's views about +Paul. He had been, as we are told by himself, a +Jewish Pharisee of the strictest type in his youth +at Jerusalem, but was a Roman citizen, had +lived long at Tarsus, which was a centre of +Mithraism, and was clearly famous for his learning, +since Festus twitted him with it. The simple<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +tenets of the carpenter and the fishermen would +take strange involved forms in such a brain as +that. His epistles are presumably older than the +gospels, which may, in their simplicity, represent +a protest against his confused theology.</p> + +<p>It was an enjoyable voyage in the little <i>Paloona</i>, +and rested me after the whirlwind campaign of +New Zealand. In large liners one loses in romance +what one gains in comfort. On a small ship one +feels nearer to Nature, to the water and even to +the stars. On clear nights we had magnificent +displays of the Southern heaven. I profited by +the astronomical knowledge of Mr. Smythe. Here +first I was introduced to Alpha Centauri, which is +the nearest fixed star, and, therefore, the cobber +to the sun. It is true that it is distant 3-1/2 years +of light travel, and light travels at about 182,000 +miles a second, but when one considers that it +takes centuries for average starlight to reach us, +we may consider Alpha as snuggling close up to +us for companionship in the lonely wastes of space. +The diamond belt of Orion looks homely enough +with the bright solitaire Sirius sparkling beside +it, but there are the Magellanic clouds, the +scattered wisps torn from the Milky Way, and +there is the strange black space called the Coalsack, +where one seems to look right past all +created things into a bottomless void. What +would not Galileo and all the old untravelled +astronomers have given to have one glimpse of +this wondrous Southern display?</p> + +<p>Captain Doorby, finding that he had time in +hand, ran the ship into a small deserted bay upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +the coast, and, after anchoring, ordered out all +the boats for the sake of practice. It was very +well done, and yet what I saw convinced me that +it should be a Board of Trade regulation, if it is +not one already, that once, at least, near the +beginning of every long voyage, this should be +compulsory. It is only when you come to launch +them that you really realise which of the davits +is rusted up, and which block is tangled, or which +boat is without a plug. I was much impressed +by this idea as I watched the difficulties which +were encountered even in that secluded anchorage.</p> + +<p>The end of my journey was uneventful, but my +joy at being reunited with my family was clouded +by the news of the death of my mother. She was +eighty-three years of age, and had for some years +been almost totally blind, so that her change was +altogether a release, but it was sad to think that +we should never see the kind face and gracious +presence again in its old material form. Denis +summed up our feelings when he cried, "What a +reception Grannie must have had!" There was +never any one who had so broad and sympathetic +a heart, a world-mother mourning over everything +which was weak or oppressed, and thinking +nothing of her own time and comfort in her +efforts to help the sufferers. Even when blind +and infirm she would plot and plan for the benefit +of others, thinking out their needs, and bringing +about surprising results by her intervention. For +my own psychic work she had, I fear, neither +sympathy nor understanding, but she had an +innate faith and spirituality which were so natural<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +to her that she could not conceive the needs of +others in that direction. She understands now.</p> + +<p>Whilst in the Blue Mountains I was forced to +reconsider my plans on account of the strike which +has paralysed all coastal trade. If I should be +able to reach Tasmania I might be unable to +return, and it would, indeed, be a tragic situation +if my family were ready to start for England in +the <i>Naldera</i>, and I was unable to join them. +I felt, therefore, that I was not justified in going +to Tasmania, even if I were able, which is very +doubtful. It was sad, as it spoiled the absolute +completeness of my tour, but on the other hand +I felt sure that I should find plenty of work to +do on the mainland, without taking so serious a +risk.</p> + +<p>It is a terrible thing to see this young country, +which needs every hour of time and every ounce of +energy for its speedy development frittering itself +away in these absurd conflicts, which never give +any result to compare with the loss. One feels +that in the stern contests of nations one will arise +which has economic discipline, and that none +other could stand against it. If the training of +reorganised Germany should take this shape she +will conquer and she will deserve to conquer. It +is a monstrous abuse that Compulsory Arbitration +Courts should be established, as is the case in +Australia, and that Unions should either strike +against their decisions, or should anticipate their +decisions, as in the case of these stewards, by +forcing a strike. In such a case I hold that the +secretary and every other official of the Union<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +should be prosecuted and heavily fined, if not +imprisoned. It is the only way by which the +community can be saved from a tyranny which is +quite as real as that of any autocrat. What +would be said, for example, of a king who cut off +the islands of Tasmania and New Zealand from +communication with the outer world, deranging +the whole Christmas arrangements of countless +families who had hoped to reunite? Yet this is +what has been done by a handful of stewards +with some trivial grievance. A fireman who objects +to the cooking can hold up a great vessel. +There is nothing but chaos in front of a nation +unless it insists upon being master in its own +house, and forbids either employed or employer +to do that which is for the common scathe. The +time seems to be coming when Britons, the world +over, will have to fight for liberty against licence +just as hard as ever they fought for her against +tyranny. This I say with full sympathy for the +Labour Party, which I have often been tempted +to join, but have always been repelled by their +attempt to bully the rest of the State instead of +using those means which would certainly ensure +their legitimate success, even if it took some years +to accomplish. There are many anomalies and +injustices, and it is only a people's party which +can set them right. Hereditary honours are an +injustice, lands owned by feudal or royal gift are +an injustice, increased private wealth through +the growth of towns is an injustice, coal royalties +are an injustice, the expense of the law is a glaring +injustice, the support of any single religion by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +the State is an injustice, our divorce laws are an +injustice—with such a list a real honest Labour +Party would be a sure winner if it could persuade +us all that it would not commit injustices itself, +and bolster up labour artificially at the expense of +every one else. It is not organised labour which +moves me, for it can take care of itself, but it is +the indigent governesses with thirty pounds a +year, the broken people, the people with tiny +pensions, the struggling widows with children—when +I think of all these and then of the man +who owns a county I feel that there is something +deeply, deeply wrong which nothing but some +great strong new force can set right.</p> + +<p>One finds in the Blue Mountains that opportunity +of getting alone with real Nature, which is +so healing and soothing a thing. The wild scrub +flows up the hillsides to the very grounds of the +hotels, and in a very few minutes one may find +oneself in the wilderness of ferns and gum trees +unchanged from immemorial ages. It is a very +real danger to the young or to those who have no +sense of direction, for many people have wandered +off and never come back alive—in fact, there is a +specially enrolled body of searchers who hunt for +the missing visitor. I have never in all my +travels seen anything more spacious and wonderful +than the view from the different sandstone +bluffs, looking down into the huge gullies beneath, +a thousand feet deep, where the great gum trees +look like rows of cabbages. I suppose that in +water lies the force which, in the course of ages, +has worn down the soft, sandy rock and formed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +these colossal clefts, but the effects are so enormous +that one is inclined to think some great +earth convulsion must also have been concerned +in their production. Some of the cliffs have a +sheer drop of over one thousand feet, which is +said to be unequalled in the world.</p> + +<p>These mountains are so precipitous and tortuous, +presenting such a maze to the explorer, +that for many years they were a formidable +barrier to the extension of the young Colony. +There were only about forty miles of arable land +from the coast to the great Hawkesbury River, +which winds round the base of the mountains. +Then came this rocky labyrinth. At last, in 1812, +four brave and persevering men—Blaxland, +Evans, Wentworth and Lawson—took the matter +in hand, and after many adventures, blazed a +trail across, by which all the splendid hinterland +was opened up, including the gold fields, which +found their centre in the new town of Bathurst. +When one reflects that all the gold had to be +brought across this wilderness, with unexplored +woodlands fringing the road, it is no wonder that +a race of bushrangers sprang into existence, and +the marvel is that the police should ever have +been able to hunt them down. So fresh is all +this very vital history in the development of a +nation, that one can still see upon the trees the +marks of the explorers' axes, as they endeavoured +to find a straight trail among the countless +winding gullies. At Mount York, the highest +view-point, a monument has been erected to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +them, at the place from which they got the first +glimpse of the promised land beyond.</p> + +<p>We had been told that in the tropical weather +now prevailing, it was quite vain for us to go to +Queensland, for no one would come to listen to +lectures. My own belief was, however, that this +subject has stirred people very deeply, and that +they will suffer any inconvenience to learn about +it. Mr. Smythe was of opinion, at first, that my +audiences were drawn from those who came from +curiosity because they had read my writings, but +when he found that the second and the third meetings +were as full as the first, he was forced to admit +that the credit of success lay with the matter +rather than with the man. In any case I reflected +that my presence in Brisbane would certainly +bring about the usual Press controversy, with a +free ventilation of the subject, so we determined +to go. Mr. Smythe, for once, did not accompany +us, but the very capable lady who assists him, +Miss Sternberg, looked after all arrangements.</p> + +<p>It was a very wearisome train journey of +twenty-eight hours; tropically hot, rather dusty, +with a change in the middle, and the usual stuffiness +of a sleeper, which was superior to the ordinary +American one, but below the British standard. +How the Americans, with their nice sense of +decency, can stand the awful accommodation +their railway companies give them, or at any rate, +used to give them, is incomprehensible, but public +opinion in all matters asserts itself far less directly +in America than in Britain. Australia is half-way +between, and, certainly, I have seen abuses there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +in the management of trains, posts, telegrams +and telephones, which would have evoked loud +protests at home. I think that there is more +initiative at home. For example, when the +railway strike threatened to throttle the country, +the public rose to the occasion and improvised +methods which met the difficulty. I have not +heard of anything of the kind in the numerous +strikes with which this community is harassed. +Any individual action arouses attention. I +remember the amusement of the Hon. Agar +Wynne when, on arriving late at Melbourne, in +the absence of porters, I got a trolley, placed my +own luggage on it, and wheeled it to a cab. Yet +we thought nothing of that when labour was +short in London.</p> + +<p>The country north of Sydney is exactly like +the Blue Mountains, on a lesser scale—riven ranges +of sandstone covered with gum trees. I cannot +understand those who say there is nothing worth +seeing in Australia, for I know no big city which +has glorious scenery so near it as Sydney. After +crossing the Queensland border, one comes to +the Darling Downs, unsurpassed for cattle and +wheat. Our first impressions of the new State +were that it was the most naturally rich of any +Australian Colony, and the longer we were in it, +the more did we realise that this was indeed so. +It is so enormous, however, that it is certain, +sooner or later, to be divided into a South, Middle, +and North, each of which will be a large and +flourishing community. We observed from the +railway all sorts of new vegetable life, and I was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +especially interested to notice that our English +Yellow Mullein was lining the track, making its +way gradually up country.</p> + +<p>Even Sydney did not provide a warmer and +more personal welcome than that which we both +received when we at last reached Brisbane. At +Toowoomba, and other stations on the way, small +deputations of Spiritualists had met the train, +but at Brisbane the platform was crowded. My +wife was covered with flowers, and we were soon +made to realise that we had been misinformed in +the south, when we were told that the movement +was confined to a small circle.</p> + +<p>We were tired, but my wife rose splendidly to +the occasion. The local paper says: "Carefully +concealing all feelings of fatigue and tiredness +after the long and wearisome train journey from +Sydney, Lady Doyle charmed the large gathering +of Spiritualists assembled at the Central Railway +Station on Saturday night, to meet her and her +husband. In vivacious fashion, Lady Doyle responded +to the many enthusiastic greetings, and +she was obviously delighted with the floral gifts +presented to her on her arrival. To a press +representative, Lady Doyle expressed her admiration +of the Australian scenery, and she referred +enthusiastically to the Darling Downs district +and to the Toowoomba Range. During her +husband's absence in New Zealand, Lady Doyle +and her children spent a holiday in the Blue +Mountains (New South Wales), and were delighted +with the innumerable gorgeous beauty spots there."</p> + +<p>After a short experience, when we were far from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +comfortable, we found our way to the Bellevue +Hotel, where a kindly old Irish proprietress, +Mrs. Finegan, gave us greater attention and luxury +than we had found anywhere up to then on the +Australian continent.</p> + +<p>The usual press discussion was in full swing. +The more bigoted clergy in Brisbane, as elsewhere, +were very vituperative, but so unreasonable and +behind their own congregations in knowledge +and intelligence, that they must have alienated +many who heard them. Father Lane, for example, +preaching in the cathedral, declared that the +whole subject was "an abomination to the Lord." +He does not seem to have asked himself why the +Lord gave us these powers if they are an abomination. +He also declared that we denied our moral +responsibility to God in this life, a responsibility +which must have weighed rather lightly upon +Father Lane when he made so false a statement. +The Rev. L. H. Jaggers, not to be outdone in +absurdity by Father Lane, described all our +fellow-mortals of India, China and Japan as +"demoniacal races." Dr. Cosh put forward the +Presbyterian sentiment that I was Anti-Christ, +and a serious menace to the spiritual life of +Australia. Really, when I see the want of all +truth and charity shown by these gentlemen, it +does begin to convince me of the reality of +diabolical interference in the affairs of mankind, +for I cannot understand why, otherwise, such +efforts should be made to obscure, by falsehood +and abuse, the great revelation and comfort which +God has sent us. The opposition culminated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +in an open letter from Dr. Cosh in the <i>Mail</i>, +demanding that I should define my exact views +as to the Trinity, the Atonement, and other such +mysteries. I answered by pointing out that all +the religious troubles of the past had come from +the attempt to give exact definitions of things +which were entirely beyond the human power of +thought, and that I refused to be led along so +dangerous a path. One Baptist clergyman, +named Rowe, had the courage to say that he was +on my side, but with that exception I fear that I +had a solid phalanx against me.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, the general public were +amazingly friendly. It was the more wonderful +as it was tropical weather, even for Brisbane. +In that awful heat the great theatre could not +hold the people, and they stood in the upper +galleries, packed tightly, for an hour and a half +without a movement or a murmur. It was a really +wonderful sight. Twice the house was packed +this way, so (as the Tasmanian venture was now +hopeless, owing to the shipping strike) I determined +to remain in our very comfortable quarters +at the Bellevue Hotel, and give one more lecture, +covering fresh ground. The subject opens up +so that I am sure I could lecture for a week +without repeating myself. On this occasion the +house was crowded once more. The theatrical +manager said, "Well, if it was comic opera in +the season, it could not have succeeded better!" +I was rather exhausted at the end, for I spoke, as +usual, with no chairman, and gave them a full +ninety minutes, but it was nearing the end of my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +work, and the prospect of the quiet time ahead +of us helped me on.</p> + +<p>I met a kinsman, Dr. A. A. Doyle, who is a +distinguished skin specialist, in Brisbane. He +knew little of psychic matters, but he had met +with a remarkable experience. His son, a splendid +young fellow, died at the front. At that moment +his father woke to find the young soldier stooping +over him, his face quite close. He at once woke +his wife and told her that their son, he feared, +was dead. But here comes a fine point. He +said to the wife, "Eric has had a return of the +acne of the face, for which I treated him years +ago. I saw the spots." The next post brought a +letter, written before Eric's death, asking that +some special ointment should be sent, as his acne +had returned. This is a very instructive case, +as showing that even an abnormal thing is +reproduced at first upon the etheric body. But +what has a materialist to say to the whole story? +He can only evade it, or fall back upon his +usual theory, that every one who reports such +occurrences is either a fool or a liar.</p> + +<p>We had a pleasant Sunday among the birds of +Queensland. Mr. Chisholm, an enthusiastic bird-lover, +took us round to see two very large aviaries, +since the haunt of the wild birds was beyond our +reach. Birds in captivity have always saddened +me, but here I found them housed in such great +structures, with every comfort included, and every +natural enemy excluded, that really one could +not pity them. One golden pheasant amused us, +for he is a very conceited bird when all is well<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +with him, and likes to occupy the very centre of +the stage, with the spot light upon him, and a +chorus of drab hens admiring him from the rear. +We had caught him, however, when he was moulting, +and he was so conscious of his bedraggled +glories that he dodged about behind a barrel, +and scuttled under cover every time we tried to +put him out. A fearful thing happened one day, +for a careless maid left the door ajar, and in the +morning seventy of the inmates were gone. It +must have been a cruel blow to Mr. Baldwin, +who is devoted to his collection. However, he +very wisely left the door open, after securing the +remaining birds, and no less than thirty-four of +the refugees returned. The fate of the others +was probably tragic, for they were far from the +mountains which are their home.</p> + +<p>Mr. Farmer Whyte, the very progressive editor +of the <i>Daily Mail</i>, who is miles ahead of most +journalists in psychic knowledge, took us for an +interesting drive through the dense woods of +One Tree Hill. Here we were courteously met +by two of the original owners, one of them an +iguana, a great, heavy lizard, which bolted up a +tree, and the other a kangaroo, who stood among +the brushwood, his ears rotating with emotion, +while he gazed upon our halted car. From the +summit of the hill one has a wonderful view of +the ranges stretching away to the horizon in all +directions, while at one's feet lies the very wide +spread city. As nearly every dwelling house is +a bungalow, with its own little ground, the +Australian cities take up great space, which is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +nullified by their very excellent tram services. A +beautiful river, the Brisbane, rather wider than +the Thames, winds through the town, and has +sufficient depth to allow ocean steamers to come +within cab-drive of the hotels.</p> + +<p>About this time I had the usual experience +which every visitor to the States or to the +Dominions is liable to, in that his own utterances +in his letters home get into print, and boomerang +back upon him. My own feelings, both to the +Australian people and their country, have been +so uniformly whole-hearted that I should have +thought no mischief could be made, but at the +same time, I have always written freely that +which I was prepared to stand by. In this case, +the extract, from a private letter, removed from +all modifying context, came through as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquote extraspacetop extraspacebot"><p>"Sir Conan Doyle, quoted in the <i>International +Psychic Gazette</i>, in referring to his 'ups and +downs' in Australia, says: 'Amid the "downs" +is the Press boycott, caused partly by ignorance +and want of proportion, partly by moral +cowardice and fear of finding out later that +they had backed the wrong horse, or had given +the wrong horse fair play. They are very backward, +and far behind countries like Iceland and +Denmark in the knowledge of what has been +done in Spiritualism. They are dear folk, +these Australians, but, Lord, they want +Spirituality, and dynamiting out of their +grooves! The Presbyterians actually prayed +that I might not reach the country. This is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +rather near murder, if they thought their rotten +prayers would avail. The result was an excellent +voyage, but it is the spiritual deadness of +this place which gets on my nerves.'"</p></div> + +<p>This was copied into every paper in Australia, +but it was soon recognised that "this place" +was not Australia, but Melbourne, from which +the letter was dated. I have already recorded +how I was treated by the leading paper in that +city, and my general experience there was faithfully +reflected in my remarks. Therefore, I had +nothing to withdraw. My more extended experience +taught me that the general level of +intelligence and of spirituality in the Australasian +towns is as high as in the average towns of Great +Britain, though none are so far advanced as towns +like Manchester or Glasgow, nor are there the +same number of professional and educated men +who have come forward and given testimony. +The thirst for information was great, however, +and that proved an open mind, which must now +lead to a considerable extension of knowledge +within the churches as well as without.</p> + +<p>My remarks had been caused by the action of +the <i>Argus</i>, but the <i>Age</i>, the other leading Melbourne +paper, seemed to think that its honour +was also touched, and had a very severe leading +article upon my delinquencies, and my alleged +views, which was, as usual, a wild travesty of my +real ones. It began this article by the assertion +that, apparently, I still thought that Australia +was inhabited by the aborigines, before I ventured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +to bring forward such theories. Such a remark, +applied to a subject which has won the assent in +varying degrees of every one who has seriously +examined it, and which has its foundation resting +upon the labours of some of the greatest minds +in the world, did not help me to recover my +respect for the mentality and breadth of view of +the journals of Melbourne. I answered, pointing +out that David Syme, the very distinguished +founder of the paper, by no means shared this +contempt to Spiritualism, as is shown by two +long letters included in his published Life.</p> + +<p>This attitude, and that of so many other +objectors, is absolutely unintelligible to me. They +must know that this cult is spreading and that +many capable minds have examined and endorsed +it. They must know, also, that the views we +proclaim, the continuance of happy life and the +practical abolition of death are, if true, the +grandest advance that the human race has ever +made. And yet, so often, instead of saying, +"Well, here is some one who is supposed to know +something about the matter. Let us see if this +grand claim can possibly be established by +evidence and argument," they break into insults +and revilings as if something offensive had been +laid before them. This attitude can only arise +from the sluggish conservatism of the human +brain, which runs easily in certain well-worn +grooves, and is horrified by the idea that something +may come to cause mental exertion and +readjustment.</p> + +<div class="figcenter extraspacetop extraspacebot"><span class='imgnum'><a name="I_240" id="I_240">[240]</a></span> +<img src="images/gs10.jpg" width="320" height="221" alt=" +LAYING FOUNDATION STONE OF SPIRITUALIST CHURCH AT BRISBANE." title="" /><br /> +<p class="blockquotetn nrright"> <i>See page 241.</i></p> +<p class="blockquotetn center caption">LAYING FOUNDATION STONE OF SPIRITUALIST CHURCH AT BRISBANE.</p> +</div> + +<p>I am bound to add that the general public went +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span>out of their way to show that their Press did +not represent their views. The following passage +is typical of many: "The criticism which you +have so justly resented is, I am sure, not in keeping +with the views of the majority of the Australian +people. In my own small sphere many of my +friends have been stirred deeply by your theories, +and the inspiration in some cases has been so +marked that the fact should afford you satisfaction. +We are not all spiritually defunct. Many +are quite satisfied that you are giving your best for +humanity, and believe that there is a tremendous +revelation coming to this weary old world."</p> + +<p>The Spiritualists of Brisbane, greatly daring, +have planned out a church which is to cost +£10,000, trusting to those who work with us on +the other side to see the enterprise through. +The possible fallacy lies in the chance that those +on the other side do not desire to see this immense +movement become a separate sect, but are in +favour of the peaceful penetration of all creeds +by our new knowledge. It is on record that early +in the movement Senator Talmadge asked two +different spirit controls, in different States of the +Union, what the ultimate goal of this spiritual +outburst might be, and received exactly the same +answer from each, namely, that it was to prove +immortality and to unify the Churches. The first +half has been done, so far as survival implies +immortality, and the second may well come to +pass, by giving such a large common platform to +each Church that they will learn to disregard the +smaller differences.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span></p> + +<p>Be this as it may, one could not but admire the +faith and energy of Mr. Reinhold and the others +who were determined to have a temple of their +own. I laid the foundation stone at three in the +afternoon under so tropical a sun that I felt as if +the ceremony was going to have its immemorial +accompaniment of a human sacrifice and even +of a whole-burned offering. The crowd made +matters worse, but a friendly bystander with an +umbrella saved me from heat apoplexy. I felt +the occasion was a solemn one, for it was certainly +the first Spiritual Church in the whole of Queensland, +and I doubt if we have many anywhere in +Australia, for among our apostolic gifts poverty +is conspicuous. It has always amazed me how +Theosophists and Christian Scientists get their fine +halls and libraries, while we, with our zeal and +our knowledge, have some bare schoolroom or +worse as our only meeting place. It reflects +little credit upon the rich people who accept the +comforts we bring, but share none of the burdens +we bear. There is a kink in their souls.</p> + +<p>I spoke at some length, and the people listened +with patience in spite of the great heat. It was +an occasion when I could, with propriety, lay +emphasis upon the restraint and charity with +which such a church should be run. The Brisbane +paper reports me as follows: "I would emphasise +three things. Mind your own business; go on +quietly in your own way; you know the truth, +and do not need to quarrel with other people. +There are many roads to salvation. The second +point I would urge is that you should live up to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +your knowledge. We know for certain that we +live on after death, that everything we do in this +world influences what comes after; therefore, we +can afford to be unselfish and friendly to other +religions. Some Spiritualists run down the Bible, +whereas it is from cover to cover a spiritual book. +I would like to see the Bible read in every +Spiritualistic Church with particular attention +paid to the passages dealing with occultism. +The third point I would emphasise is that you +should have nothing to do with fortune-telling or +anything of that kind. All fortune-telling is +really a feeling out in the dark. If good things +are going to happen to you be content to wait for +them, and if evil is to come nothing is to be +gained by attempting to anticipate it. My +sympathies are with the police in their attitude to +fortune-tellers, whose black magic is far removed +from the services of our mediums in striving to +bring comfort to those whose loved ones have +gone before. If these three things are lived up to, +this church will be a source of great brightness +and happiness."</p> + +<p>Our work was pleasantly broken by an invitation +to lunch with Sir Matthew Nathan, at +Government House. Sir Matthew impresses one +as a man of character, and as he is a financial +authority he is in a position to help by his advice +in restoring the credit of Queensland. The matter +in dispute, which has been called repudiation, +does not, as it seems to me, deserve so harsh a +term, as it is one of those cases where there are +two sides to the question, so equally balanced that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +it is difficult for an outsider to pronounce a judgment. +On the one hand the great squatters +who hold millions of acres in the State had received +the land on considerable leases which charged +them with a very low rent—almost a nominal one—on +condition of their taking up and developing +the country. On the other hand, the Government +say these leases were granted under very different +circumstances, the lessees have already done very +well out of them, the war has made it imperative +that the State raise funds, and the assets upon +which the funds can be raised are all in the hands +of these lessees, who should consent to a revision +of their agreements. So stands the quarrel, so +far as I could understand it, and the State has +actually imposed the increased rates. Hence the +cry that they have repudiated their own contract. +The result of the squatters' grievance was that +Mr. Theodore, the Premier, was unable to raise +money in the London market, and returned home +with the alternative of getting a voluntary loan +in the Colony, or of raising a compulsory loan +from those who had the money. The latter has +an ugly sound, and yet the need is great, and if +some may be compelled to serve with their bodies +I do not see why some may not also be compelled +to serve with their purses. The assets of the +Colony compare very favourably, I believe, with +others, for while these others have sold their +lands, the Government of Queensland has still +the ownership of the main tracts of the gloriously +fertile country. Therefore, with an issue at 6-1/2 per +cent., without tax, one would think that they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +should have no difficulty in getting any reasonable +sum. I was cinemaed in the act of applying +for a small share in the issue, but I think the +advertisement would have been of more value to +the loan, had they captured some one of greater +financial stability.</p> + +<p>The more one examines this alleged "repudiation" +the less reason appears in the charge, and +as it has assuredly injured Queensland's credit, +it is well that an impartial traveller should touch +upon it. The squatters are the richer folk and in +a position to influence the public opinion of the +world, and in their anxiety to exploit their own +grievance they seem to have had little regard for +the reputation of their country. It is like a man +burning down his house in the hope of roasting +some other inmate of whom he disapproves. A +conservative paper (the <i>Producer's Review</i>, January +10th, 1921), says: "No living man can say how +much Queensland has been damaged by the +foolish partisan statements that have been uttered +and published." The article proceeds to show +in very convincing style, with chapter and verse, +that the Government has always been well within +its rights, and that a Conservative Government on +a previous occasion did the same thing, framing a +Bill on identical lines.</p> + +<p>On January 12th my kinsman, Dr. Doyle, with +his charming wife, took us out into the bush for +a billy tea—that is, to drink tea which is prepared +as the bushmen prepare it in their tin cans. It +was certainly excellent, and we enjoyed the drive +and the whole experience, though uninvited guests<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +of the mosquito tribe made things rather lively for +us. I prayed that my face would be spared, as I +did not wish to turn up at my lecture as if I had +been having a round with Dr. Cosh, and I react +in a most whole-hearted way to any attentions +from an insect. The result was certainly remarkable, +be it coincidence or not, for though my +hands were like boxing-gloves, and my neck all +swollen, there was not a mark upon my face. I +fancy that the hardened inhabitants hardly realise +what new chums endure after they are bitten by +these pests. It means to me not only disfigurement, +but often a sleepless night. My wife and +the children seem to escape more lightly. I found +many objects of interest in the bush—among +others a spider's web so strong that full-sized +dragon flies were enmeshed in it. I could not see +the creature itself, but it must have been as big +as a tarantula. Our host was a large landowner +as well as a specialist, and he talked seriously of +leaving the country, so embittered was he by +the land-policy of the Government. At the same +time, the fact that he could sell his estate at a +fair price seemed to imply that others took a less +grave view of the situation. Many of the richer +classes think that Labour is adopting a policy of +deliberate petty irritation in order to drive them +out of the country, but perhaps they are over-sensitive.</p> + +<p>So full was our life in Brisbane that there was +hardly a day that we had not some memorable +experience, even when I had to lecture in the +evening. Often we were going fourteen and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +fifteen hours a day, and a tropical day at that. +On January 14th we were taken to see the largest +bee-farm in Australia, run by Mr. H. L. Jones. +Ever since I consigned Mr. Sherlock Holmes to +a bee farm for his old age, I have been supposed to +know something of the subject, but really I am so +ignorant that when a woman wrote to me and said +she would be a suitable housekeeper to the retired +detective because she could "segregate the +queen," I did not know what she meant. On this +occasion I saw the operation and many other +wonderful things which make me appreciate +Maeterlinck's prose-poem upon the subject. There +is little poetry about Mr. Jones however, and he +is severely practical. He has numbers of little +boxes with a store of bee-food compressed into +one end of them. Into each he thrusts a queen +with eight attendants to look after her. The +food is enough to last two months, so he simply puts +on a postage stamp and sends it off to any one in +California or South Africa who is starting an +apiary. Several hives were opened for our inspection +with the precaution of blowing in some +smoke to pacify the bees. We were told that +this sudden inrush of smoke gives the bees the idea +that some great cataclysm has occurred, and their +first action is to lay in a store of honey, each of +them, as a man might seize provisions in an +earthquake so as to be ready for whatever the +future might bring. He showed us that the +queen, fed with some special food by the workers, +can lay twice her own weight of eggs in a day, and +that if we could find something similar for hens<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> +we could hope for an unbroken stream of eggs. +Clever as the bee is it is clearly an instinctive +hereditary cleverness, for man has been able to +make many improvements in its methods, making +artificial comb which is better than the original, in +that it has cells for more workers and fewer drones. +Altogether it was a wonderful demonstration, +which could be viewed with comfort under a veil +with one's hands in one's pockets, for though we +were assured they would not sting if they knew we +would not hurt them, a misunderstanding was +possible. One lady spectator seemed to have a +sudden ambition to break the standing jump +record, and we found that she had received two +stings, but Mr. Jones and his assistants covered +their hands with the creatures and were quite immune. +A half-wild wallaby appeared during our +visit, and after some coyness yielded to the fascination +which my wife exercises over all animals, and +fed out of her hand. We were assured that this had +never before occurred in the case of any visitor.</p> + +<p>We found in Brisbane, as in every other town, +that the question of domestic service, the most +important of all questions to a householder, was +very acute. Ladies who occupied leading positions +in the town assured us that it was impossible +to keep maids, and that they were compelled now +to give it up in despair, and to do all their own +house work with such casual daily assistance as +they could get. A pound a week is a common +wage for very inefficient service. It is a serious +matter and no solution is in sight. English maids +are, I am sorry to say, looked upon as the worst<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +of all, for to all the other faults they add constant +criticism of their employers, whom they pronounce +to be "no ladies" because they are forced to do +many things which are not done at home. Inefficiency +plus snobbishness is a dreadful mixture. +Altogether the lot of the Australian lady is not an +easy one, and we admired the brave spirit with +which they rose above their troubles.</p> + +<p>This servant question bears very directly upon +the Imperial puzzle of the northern territory. A +white man may live and even work there, but a +white woman cannot possibly run a household +unless domestic labour is plentiful. In that +climate it simply means absolute breakdown in a +year. Therefore it is a mad policy which at +present excludes so rigorously the Chinese, Indians +or others who alone can make white households +possible. White labour assumes a dog in the +manger policy, for it will not, or cannot, do the +work itself, and yet it shuts out those who could +do it. It is an impossible position and must be +changed. How severe and unreasonable are the +coloured immigrant laws is shown by the fact that +the experienced and popular Commander of the +<i>Naldera</i>, Captain Lewellin, was fined at Sydney +a large sum of money because three Goa Indians +deserted from his ship. There is a great demand +for Indian camel drivers in the north, and this no +doubt was the reason for the desertion, but what +a <i>reductio ad absurdum</i> of the law which comes +between the demand and the supply, besides +punishing an innocent victim.</p> + +<p>As usual a large number of psychic confidences<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +reached us, some of which were very interesting. +One lady is a clairaudient, and on the occasion of +her mother falling ill she heard the words "Wednesday—the +fifteenth." Death seemed a matter +of hours, and the date far distant, but the patient, +to the surprise of the doctors, still lingered. Then +came the audible message "She will tell you +where she is going." The mother had lain +for two days helpless and comatose. Suddenly +she opened her eyes and said in a clear strong +voice, "I have seen the mansions in my father's +house. My husband and children await me +there. I could not have imagined anything so +exquisitely lovely." Then she breathed her last, +the date being the 15th.</p> + +<p>We were entertained to dinner on the last +evening by the Hon. John Fihilly, acting Premier +of the Colony, and his wife. He is an Irish +labour leader with a remarkable resemblance to +Dan O'Connell in his younger days. I was +pleased to see that the toast of the King was +given though it was not called for at a private +dinner. Fihilly is a member of the Government, +and I tackled him upon the question of British +emigrants being enticed out by specious promises +on the part of Colonial Agents in London, only +to find that no work awaited them. Some deplorable +cases had come within my own observation, +one, an old Lancashire Fusilier, having +walked the streets for six months. He assured +me that the arrangements were now in perfect +order, and that emigrants were held back in the +old country until they could be sure that there<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +was a place for them. There are so many out of +work in Australia that one feels some sympathy +with those labour men who are against fresh +arrivals.</p> + +<p>And there lies the great problem which we +have not, with all our experience, managed to +master. On the one side illimitable land calling +for work. On the other innumerable workers +calling for land. And yet the two cannot be +joined. I remember how it jarred me when I +saw Edmonton, in Western Canada, filled with +out-of-workers while the great land lay uninhabited. +The same strange paradox meets one +here. It is just the connecting link that is +missing, and that link lies in wise prevision. The +helpless newcomer can do nothing if he and his +family are dumped down upon a hundred acres +of gum trees. Put yourself in their position. +How can they hope with their feeble hands to +clear the ground? All this early work must be +done for them by the State, the owner repaying +after he has made good. Let the emigrant move +straight on to a cleared farm, with a shack-house +already prepared, and clear instructions as to the +best crops, and how to get them. Then it seems +to me that emigration would bring no want of +employment in its train. But the State must +blaze the trail and the public follow after. Such +arrangements may even now exist, but if so they +need expansion and improvement, for they do not +seem to work.</p> + +<p>Before leaving Brisbane my attention was +drawn to the fact that the State photographer,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> +when he took the scene of the opening of the loan, +had produced to all appearance a psychic effect. +The Brisbane papers recorded it as follows: —</p> + +<p>"'It is a remarkable result, and I cannot offer +any opinion as to what caused it. It is absolutely +mystifying.' Such was the declaration +made yesterday by the Government photographer, +Mr. W. Mobsby, in regard to the unique effect +associated with a photograph he took on Thursday +last of Sir A. Conan Doyle. Mr. Mobsby, +who has been connected with photography since +boyhood, explained that he was instructed to +take an official photograph of the function at +which Sir A. Conan Doyle handed over his subscription +to the State Loan organiser. When he +arrived, the entrance to the building was thronged +by a large crowd, and he had to mount a stepladder, +which was being used by the <i>Daily +Mail</i> photographer, in order to get a good view +of the proceedings. Mr. Mobsby took only one +picture, just at the moment Sir A. Conan Doyle +was mounting the steps at the Government +Tourist Bureau to meet the Acting Premier, +Mr. J. Fihilly. Mr. Mobsby developed the film +himself, and was amazed to find that while all +the other figures in the picture were distinct the +form of Sir A. Conan Doyle appeared enveloped +in mist and could only be dimly seen. The +photograph was taken on an ordinary film with a +No. 3a Kodak, and careful examination does not +in any way indicate the cause of the sensational +result." I have had so many personal proofs of +the intervention of supernormal agencies during +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span>the time that I have been engaged upon this task +that I am prepared to accept the appearance of +this aura as being an assurance of the presence of +those great forces for whom I act as a humble +interpreter. At the same time, the sceptic is +very welcome to explain it as a flawed film and a +coincidence.</p> + +<div class="figcenter extraspacetop extraspacebot"><span class='imgnum'><a name="I_252" id="I_252">[252]</a></span> +<img src="images/gs11.jpg" width="320" height="245" alt="CURIOUS PHOTOGRAPHIC EFFECT REFERRED TO IN THE TEXT." title="" /><br /> +<p class="blockquotetn nrright"> <i>See page 252.</i></p> +<p class="blockquotetn caption center">CURIOUS PHOTOGRAPHIC EFFECT REFERRED TO IN THE TEXT.</p> +<p class="blockquotetn center">Taken by the Official Photographer, Brisbane, "Absolutely mystifying" is his description.</p> +</div> + +<p>We returned from Brisbane to Sydney in the +Orient Liner "Orsova," which is a delightful +alternative to the stuffy train. The sea has +always been a nursing mother to me, and I suppose +I have spent a clear two years of my life +upon the waves. We had a restful Sunday aboard +the boat, disturbed only by the Sunday service, +which left its usual effect upon my mind. The +Psalms were set to some unhappy tune, very +different from the grand Gregorian rhythm, so +that with its sudden rise to a higher level it +sounded more like the neighing of horses than the +singing of mortals. The words must surely offend +anyone who considers what it is that he is +saying—a mixture of most unmanly wailing and +spiteful threats. How such literature has been +perpetuated three thousand years, and how it can +ever have been sacred, is very strange. Altogether +from first to last there was nothing, save +only the Lord's Prayer, which could have any +spiritual effect. These old observances are like +an iron ball tied to the leg of humanity, for ever +hampering spiritual progress. If now, after the +warning of the great war, we have not the mental +energy and the moral courage to get back to +realities, we shall deserve what is coming to us.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span></p> + +<p>On January 17th we were back, tired but +contented, in the Medlow Bath Hotel in the heart +of the Blue Mountains—an establishment which +I can heartily recommend to any who desire a +change from the summer heats of Sydney.</p> + + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<div class="blockquotech extraspacebot"><p>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.</p></div> + + +<p>We recuperated after our Brisbane tour by +spending the next week at Medlow Bath, that +little earthly paradise, which is the most restful +spot we have found in our wanderings. It was +built originally by Mr. Mark Foy, a successful +draper of Sydney, and he is certainly a man of +taste, for he has adorned it with a collection of +prints and of paintings—hundreds of each—which +would attract attention in any city, but +which on a mountain top amid the wildest +scenery give one the idea of an Arabian Nights +palace. There was a passage some hundreds of +yards long, which one has to traverse on the way +to each meal, and there was a certain series of +French prints, representing events of Byzantine +history, which I found it difficult to pass, so that +I was often a late comer. A very fair library is +among the other attractions of this remarkable +place.</p> + +<p>Before leaving we spent one long day at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> +famous Jenolan Caves, which are distant about +forty-five miles. As the said miles are very up-and-down, +and as the cave exploration involves +several hours of climbing, it makes a fairly hard +day's work. We started all seven in a motor, as +depicted by the wayside photographers, but Baby +got sick and had to be left with Jakeman at the +half-way house, where we picked her up, quite +recovered, on our return. It was as well, for the +walk would have been quite beyond her, and yet +having once started there is no return, so we +should have ended by carrying her through all +the subterranean labyrinths. The road is a +remarkably good one, and represents a considerable +engineering feat. It passes at last through +an enormous archway of rock which marks the +entrance to the cave formations. These caves +are hollowed out of what was once a coral reef +in a tropical sea, but is now sixty miles inland +with a mountain upon the top of it—such changes +this old world has seen. If the world were formed +only that man might play his drama upon it, +then mankind must be in the very earliest days +of his history, for who would build so elaborate a +stage if the play were to be so short and +insignificant?</p> + +<div class="figcenter extraspacetop extraspacebot"><span class='imgnum'><a name="I_256" id="I_256">[256]</a></span> +<img src="images/gs12.jpg" width="340" height="233" alt=" + +OUR PARTY EN ROUTE TO THE JENOLAN CAVES, JANUARY 20TH, 1921, IN FRONT OF OLD COURT +HOUSE IN WHICH BUSHRANGERS WERE TRIED." title="" /><br /> +<p class="blockquotetn nrright"> <i>See page 256.</i></p> +<p class="blockquotetn center caption">OUR PARTY EN ROUTE TO THE JENOLAN CAVES, <br /> +JANUARY 20TH, 1921, <br /> +IN FRONT OF OLD COURT HOUSE IN WHICH BUSHRANGERS WERE TRIED.</p> +</div> + +<p>The caves are truly prodigious. They were +discovered first in the pursuit of some poor devil +of a bushranger who must have been hard put to +it before he took up his residence in this damp +and dreary retreat. A brave man, Wilson, did +most of the actual exploring, lowering himself +by a thin rope into noisome abysses of unknown +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span>depth and charting out the whole of this devil's +warren. It is so vast that many weeks would +be needed to go through it, and it is usual at one +visit to take only a single sample. On this +occasion it was the River Cave, so named because +after many wanderings you come on a river about +twenty feet across and forty-five feet deep which +has to be navigated for some distance in a punt. +The stalactite effects, though very wonderful, +are not, I think, superior to those which I have +seen in Derbyshire, and the caves have none of +that historical glamour which is needed in order +to link some large natural object to our own comprehension. +I can remember in Derbyshire how +my imagination and sympathy were stirred by +a Roman lady's brooch which had been found +among the rubble. Either a wild beast or a +bandit knew best how it got there. Jenolan has +few visible links with the past, but one of them +is a tremendous one. It is the complete, though +fractured, skeleton of a very large man—seven +foot four said the guide, but he may have put it +on a little—who was found partly imbedded in +the lime. Many ages ago he seems to have fallen +through the roof of the cavern, and the bones of +a wallaby hard by give some indication that he +was hunting at the time, and that his quarry +shared his fate. He was of the Black fellow type, +with a low-class cranium. It is remarkable the +proportion of very tall men who are dug up in +ancient tombs. Again and again the bogs of +Ireland have yielded skeletons of seven and eight +feet. Some years ago a Scythian chief was dug<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> +up on the Southern Steppes of Russia who was +eight feet six. What a figure of a man with his +winged helmet and his battle axe! All over the +world one comes upon these giants of old, and one +wonders whether they represented some race, +further back still, who were all gigantic. The +Babylonian tradition in our Bible says: "And +there were giants in those days." The big +primeval kangaroo has grown down to the smaller +modern one, the wombat, which was an animal as +big as a tapir, is now as small as a badger, the +great saurians have become little lizards, and so +it would seem not unreasonable to suppose that +man may have run to great size at some unexplored +period in his evolution.</p> + +<p>We all emerged rather exhausted from the +bowels of the earth, dazed with the endless succession +of strange gypsum formations which we +had seen, minarets, thrones, shawls, coronets, +some of them so made that one could imagine +that the old kobolds had employed their leisure +hours in fashioning their freakish outlines. It +was a memorable drive home in the evening. +Once as a bird flew above my head, the slanting +ray of the declining sun struck it and turned it +suddenly to a vivid scarlet and green. It was +the first of many parrots. Once also a couple of +kangaroos bounded across the road, amid wild cries +of delight from the children. Once, too, a long snake +writhed across and was caught by one of the wheels +of the motor. Rabbits, I am sorry to say, abounded. +If they would confine themselves to these primeval +woods, Australia would be content.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span></p> + +<p>This was the last of our pleasant Australian +excursions, and we left Medlow Bath refreshed +not only by its charming atmosphere, but by +feeling that we had gained new friends. We made +our way on January 26th to Sydney, where all +business had to be settled up and preparations +made for our homeward voyage.</p> + +<p>Whilst in Sydney I had an opportunity of +examining several phases of mediumship which +will be of interest to the psychic reader. I called +upon Mrs. Foster Turner, who is perhaps the +greatest all-round medium with the highest +general level of any sensitive in Australia. I +found a middle-aged lady of commanding and +pleasing appearance with a dignified manner and +a beautifully modulated voice, which must be +invaluable to her in platform work. Her gifts +are so many that it must have been difficult for +her to know which to cultivate, but she finally +settled upon medical diagnosis, in which she has, +I understand, done good work. Her practice +is considerable, and her help is not despised by +some of the leading practitioners. This gift is, as +I have explained previously in the case of Mr. +Bloomfield, a form of clairvoyance, and Mrs. +Foster Turner enjoys all the other phases of that +wonderful power, including psychometry, with its +application to detective work, the discerning of +spirits, and to a very marked degree the gift of +prophecy, which she has carried upon certain +occasions to a length which I have never known +equalled in any reliable record of the past.</p> + +<p>Here is an example for which, I am told, a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +hundred witnesses could be cited. At a meeting +at the Little Theatre, Castlereagh Street, Sydney, +on a Sunday evening of February, 1914, Mrs. +Turner addressed the audience under an inspiration +which claimed to be W. T. Stead. He ended +his address by saying that in order to prove that +he spoke with a power beyond mortal, he would, +on the next Sunday, give a prophecy as to the +future of the world.</p> + +<p>Next Sunday some 900 people assembled, +when Mrs. Turner, once more under control, +spoke as follows. I quote from notes taken at +the time. "Now, although there is not at present +a whisper of a great European war at hand, yet I +want to warn you that before this year, 1914, has +run its course, Europe will be deluged in blood. +Great Britain, our beloved nation, will be drawn +into the most awful war the world has ever known. +Germany will be the great antagonist, and will +draw other nations in her train. Austria will +totter to its ruin. Kings and kingdoms will fall. +Millions of precious lives will be slaughtered, but +Britain will finally triumph and emerge victorious. +During the year, also, the Pope of Rome will pass +away, and a bomb will be placed in St. Paul's +Church, but will be discovered in time and removed +before damage is done."</p> + +<p>Can any prophecy be more accurate or better +authenticated than that? The only equally exact +prophecy on public events which I can recall is +when Emma Hardinge Britten, having been +refused permission in 1860 to deliver a lecture on +Spiritualism in the Town Hall of Atlanta, declared<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +that, before many years had passed, that very +Town Hall would be choked up with the dead and +the dying, drawn from the State which persecuted +her. This came literally true in the Civil War a +few years later, when Sherman's army passed +that way.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Foster Turner's gift of psychometry is one +which will be freely used by the community +when we become more civilised and less ignorant. +As an example of how it works, some years ago +a Melbourne man named Cutler disappeared, +and there was a considerable debate as to his fate. +His wife, without giving a name, brought Cutler's +boot to Mrs. Turner. She placed it near her +forehead and at once got <i>en rapport</i> with the +missing man. She described how he left his +home, how he kissed his wife good-bye, all the +succession of his movements during that morning, +and finally how he had fallen or jumped over a +bridge into the river, where he had been caught +under some snag. A search at the place named +revealed the dead body. If this case be compared +with that of Mr. Foxhall, already quoted, one can +clearly see that the same law underlies each. +But what an ally for our C.I.D.!</p> + +<p>There was one pleasant incident in connection +with my visit to Mrs. Foster Turner. Upon my +asking her whether she had any psychic impression +when she saw me lecturing, she said that I was +accompanied on the platform by a man in spirit +life, about 70 years of age, grey-bearded, with +rugged eyebrows. She searched her mind for a +name, and then said, "Alfred Russell Wallace."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> +Doctor Abbott, who was present, confirmed that +she had given that name at the time. It will be +remembered that Mrs. Roberts, of Dunedin, had +also given the name of the great Spiritualistic +Scientist as being my coadjutor. There was no +possible connection between Mrs. Turner and +Mrs. Roberts. Indeed, the intervention of the +strike had made it almost impossible for them +to communicate, even if they had known each +other—which they did not. It was very helpful +to me to think that so great a soul was at my +side in the endeavour to stimulate the attention +of the world.</p> + +<p>Two days before our departure we attended +the ordinary Sunday service of the Spiritualists +at Stanmore Road, which appeared to be most +reverently and beautifully conducted. It is indeed +pleasant to be present at a religious service +which in no way offends one's taste or one's +reason—which cannot always be said, even of +Spiritualistic ones. At the end I was presented +with a beautifully illuminated address from the +faithful of Sydney, thanking me for what they +were pleased to call "the splendidly successful +mission on behalf of Spiritualism in Sydney." +"You are a specially chosen leader," it went on, +"endowed with power to command attention +from obdurate minds. We rejoice that you are +ready to consecrate your life to the spread of our +glorious gospel, which contains more proof of +the eternal love of God than any other truth yet +revealed to man." So ran this kindly document. +It was decorated with Australian emblems, and as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> +there was a laughing jackass in the corner, I was +able to raise a smile by suggesting that they had +adorned it with the picture of a type of opponent +with whom we were very familiar, the more so +as some choice specimens had been observed in +Sydney. There are some gentle souls in our +ranks who refrain from all retort—and morally, +they are no doubt the higher—but personally, +when I am moved by the malevolence and ignorance +of our opponents, I cannot help hitting back +at them. It was Mark Twain, I think, who said +that, instead of turning the other cheek, he +returned the other's cheek. That is my unregenerate +instinct.</p> + +<p>I was able, for the first time, to give a bird's-eye +view of my tour and its final results. I had, in all, +addressed twenty-five meetings, averaging 2,000 +people in each, or 50,000 people in all. I read aloud a +letter from Mr. Carlyle Smythe, who, with his father, +had managed the tours of every lecturer of repute +who had come to Australia during the past thirty +years. Mr. Smythe knew what success and failure +were, and he said: "For an equal number of +lectures, yours has proved the most prosperous +tour in my experience. No previous tour has +won such consistent success. From the push-off +at Adelaide to the great boom in New Zealand +and Brisbane, it has been a great dynamic progression +of enthusiasm. I have known in my +career nothing parallel to it."</p> + +<p>The enemies of our cause were longing for my +failure, and had, indeed, in some cases most +unscrupulously announced it, so it was necessary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +that I should give precise details as to this great +success, and to the proof which it afforded that +the public mind was open to the new revelation. +But, after all, the money test was the acid one. +I had taken a party of seven people at a time +when all expenses were doubled or trebled by +the unnatural costs of travel and of living, which +could not be made up for by increasing the price +of admission. It would seem a miracle that I +could clear this great bill of expenses in a country +like Australia, where the large towns are few. +And yet I was able to show that I had not only +done so, after paying large sums in taxation, +but that I actually had seven hundred pounds +over. This I divided among Spiritual funds in +Australia, the bulk of it, five hundred pounds, +being devoted to a guarantee of expenses for the +next lecturer who should follow me. It seemed +to me that such a lecturer, if well chosen, and +properly guaranteed against loss, might devote +a longer time than I, and visit the smaller towns, +from which I had often the most touching appeals. +If he were successful, he need not touch the guarantee +fund, and so it would remain as a perpetual +source of active propaganda. Such was the +scheme which I outlined that night, and which +was eventually adopted by the Spiritualists of +both Australia and New Zealand.</p> + +<div class="figcenter extraspacetop extraspacebot"><span class='imgnum'><a name="I_264" id="I_264">[264]</a></span> +<img src="images/gs13.jpg" width="275" height="402" alt="DENIS WITH A BLACK SNAKE AT MEDLOW BATH." title="" /><br /> +<p class="blockquotetn nrright"> <i>See page 258.</i></p> +<p class="blockquotetn center caption">DENIS WITH A BLACK SNAKE AT MEDLOW BATH.</p> +</div> + +<p>On my last evening at Sydney, I attended a +third séance with Charles Bailey, the apport +medium. It was not under test conditions, so +that it can claim no strict scientific value, and yet +the results are worth recording. It had struck +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span>me that a critic might claim that there was phosphorescent +matter inside the spectacle case, which +seemed to be the only object which Bailey took +inside the cabinet, so I insisted on examining it, +but found it quite innocent. The usual inconclusive +shadowy appearance of luminous vapour +was evident almost at once, but never, so far as I +could judge, out of reach of the cabinet, which +was simply a blanket drawn across the corner of +the room. The Hindoo control then announced +that an apport would be brought, and asked that +water be placed in a tin basin. He (that is, Bailey +himself, under alleged control) then emerged, +the lights being half up, carrying the basin over +his head. On putting it down, we all saw two +strange little young tortoises swimming about in +it. I say "strange," because I have seen none +like them. They were about the size of a half-crown, +and the head, instead of being close to +the shell, was at the end of a thin neck half as +long as the body. There were a dozen Australians +present, and they all said they had never seen any +similar ones. The control claimed that he had +just brought them from a tank in Benares. The +basin was left on the table, and while the lights +were down, the creatures disappeared. It is only +fair to say that they could have been removed by +hand in the dark, but on examining the table, +I was unable to see any of those sloppings of +water which might be expected to follow such an +operation.</p> + +<p>Shortly afterwards there was a great crash in +the dark, and a number of coins fell on to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> +table, and were handed to me by the presiding +control as a parting present. They did not, +I fear, help me much with my hotel bill, for they +were fifty-six Turkish copper pennies, taken "from a +well," according to our informant. These two +apports were all the phenomena, and the medium, +who has been working very hard of late, showed +every sign of physical collapse at the close.</p> + +<p>Apart from the actual production in the séance +room, which may be disputed, I should like to +confront the honest sceptic with the extraordinary +nature of the objects which Bailey produces on +these occasions. They cannot be disputed, for +hundreds have handled them, collections of them +have been photographed, there are cases full at +the Stanford University at California, and I am +bringing a few samples back to England with me. +If the whole transaction is normal, then where +does he get them? I had an Indian nest. Does +anyone import Indian nests? Does anyone import +queer little tortoises with long, thin necks? +Is there a depot for Turkish copper coins in +Australia? On the previous sitting, he got 100 +Chinese ones. Those might be explained, since +the Chinaman is not uncommon in Sydney, but +surely he exports coins, rather than imports them. +Then what about 100 Babylonian tablets, with +legible inscriptions in Assyrian, some of them +cylindrical, with long histories upon them? +Granting that they are Jewish forgeries, how do +they get into the country? Bailey's house was +searched once by the police, but nothing was found. +Arabic papers, Chinese schoolbooks, mandarins'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> +buttons, tropical birds—all sorts of odd things +arrive. If they are not genuine, where do they +come from? The matter is ventilated in papers, +and no one comes forward to damn Bailey for ever +by proving that he supplied them. It is no use +passing the question by. It calls for an answer. +If these articles can be got in any normal way, +then what is the way? If not, then Bailey has +been a most ill-used man, and miracles are of +daily occurrence in Australia. This man should +be under the strict, but patient and sympathetic, +control of the greatest scientific observers in the +world, instead of being allowed to wear himself out +by promiscuous séances, given in order to earn a +living. Imagine our scientists expending themselves +in the examination of shells, or the classification of +worms, when such a subject as this awaits them. +And it cannot await them long. The man dies, +and then where are these experiments? But if +such scientific investigation be made, it must be +thorough and prolonged, directed by those who +have real experience of occult matters, otherwise +it will wreck itself upon some theological or other +snag, as did Colonel de Rochas' attempt at +Grenoble.</p> + +<p>The longer one remains in Australia, the more +one is struck by the failure of State control. +Whenever you test it, in the telephones, the +telegraphs and the post, it stands for inefficiency, +with no possibility that I can see of remedy. +The train service is better, but still far from good. +As to the State ventures in steamboat lines and +in banking, I have not enough information to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> +guide me. On the face of it, it is evident that +in each case there is no direct responsible master, +and that there is no real means of enforcing discipline. +I have talked to the heads of large +institutions, who have assured me that the conduct +of business is becoming almost impossible. When +they send an urgent telegram, with a letter confirming +it, it is no unusual thing for the letter +to arrive first. No complaint produces any redress. +The maximum compensation for sums +lost in the post is, I am told, two pounds, so that +the banks, whose registered letters continually +disappear, suffer heavy losses. On the other +hand, if they send a messenger with the money, +there is a law by which all bullion carried by train +has to be declared, and has to pay a commission. +Yet the public generally, having no standard of +comparison, are so satisfied with the wretched +public services, that there is a continued agitation +to extend public control, and so ruin the well +conducted private concerns. The particular instance +which came under my notice was the ferry +service of Sydney harbour, which is admirably +and cheaply conducted, and yet there is a clamour +that it also should be dragged into this morass +of slovenly inefficiency. I hope, however, that +the tide will soon set the other way. I fear, from +what I have seen of the actual working, that it is +only under exceptional conditions, and with very +rigorous and high-principled direction, that the +State control of industries can be carried out. +I cannot see that it is a political question, or that +the democracy has any interest, save to have the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> +public work done as well and as economically as +possible. When the capitalist has a monopoly, +and is exacting an undue return, it is another +matter.</p> + +<p>As I look back at Australia my prayers—if +deep good wishes form a prayer—go out to it. +Save for that great vacuum upon the north, +which a wise Government would strive hard to +fill, I see no other external danger which can +threaten her people. But internally I am +shadowed by the feeling that trouble may be +hanging over them, though I am assured that the +cool stability of their race will at last pull them +through it. There are some dangerous factors +there which make their position more precarious +than our own, and behind a surface of civilisation +there lie possible forces which might make for +disruption. As a people they are rather less +disciplined than a European nation. There is no +large middle or leisured class who would represent +moderation. Labour has tried a Labour Government, +and finding that politics will not really +alter economic facts is now seeking some fresh +solution. The land is held in many cases by large +proprietors who work great tracts with few hands, +so there is not the conservative element which +makes the strength of the United States with its +six million farmers, each with his stake in the +land. Above all, there is no standing military +force, and nothing but a small, though very +efficient, police force to stand between organised +government and some wild attempt of the extremists. +There are plenty of soldiers, it is true,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> +and they have been treated with extreme +generosity by the State, but they have been +reabsorbed into the civil population. If they +stand for law and order then all is well. On the +other hand, there are the Irish, who are fairly +numerous, well organised and disaffected. There +is no Imperial question, so far as I can see, save +with the Irish, but there is this disquieting internal +situation which, with the coming drop of wages, +may suddenly become acute. An Australian +should be a sober-minded man for he has his +difficulties before him. We of the old country +should never forget that these difficulties have +been partly caused by his splendid participation +in the great war, and so strain every nerve to help, +both by an enlightened sympathy and by such +material means as are possible.</p> + +<p>Personally, I have every sympathy with all +reasonable and practical efforts to uphold the +standard of living in the working classes. At +present there is an almost universal opinion among +thoughtful and patriotic Australians that the +progress of the country is woefully hampered by +the constant strikes, which are declared in defiance +of all agreements and all arbitration courts. The +existence of Labour Governments, or the State +control of industries, does not seem to alleviate +these evil conditions, but may rather increase +them, for in some cases such pressure has been +put upon the Government that they have been +forced to subsidise the strikers—or at least those +sufferers who have come out in sympathy with +the original strikers. Such tactics must demoralise<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> +a country and encourage labour to make +claims upon capital which the latter cannot +possibly grant, since in many cases the margin of +profit is so small and precarious that it would be +better for the capitalist to withdraw his money +and invest it with no anxieties. It is clear that +the tendency is to destroy the very means by +which the worker earns his bread, and that the +position will become intolerable unless the older, +more level-headed men gain control of the unions +and keep the ignorant hot-heads in order. It is the +young unmarried men without responsibilities +who create the situations, and it is the married +men with their women and children who suffer. +A table of strikes prepared recently by the <i>Manchester +Guardian</i> shows that more hours were lost +in Australia with her five or six million inhabitants +than in the United Kingdom with nearly fifty +million. Surely this must make the Labour +leaders reconsider their tactics. As I write the +stewards' strike, which caused such extended +misery, has collapsed, the sole result being a loss +of nearly a million pounds in wages to the working +classes, and great inconvenience to the public. +The shipowners seem now in no hurry to resume +the services, and if their delay will make the +strikers more thoughtful it is surely to be defended.</p> + +<p>On February 1st we started from Sydney in our +good old "Naldera" upon our homeward voyage, +but the work was not yet finished. On reaching +Melbourne, where the ship was delayed two days, +we found that a Town Hall demonstration had +been arranged to give us an address from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> +Victorian Spiritualists, and wish us farewell. It +was very short notice and there was a tram strike +which prevented people from getting about, so the +hall was not more than half full. None the less, +we had a fine chance of getting in touch with our +friends, and the proceedings were very hearty. +The inscription was encased in Australian wood +with a silver kangaroo outside and beautiful +illuminations within. It ran as follows:</p> + +<p>"We desire to place on permanent record our +intense appreciation of your zealous and self-sacrificing +efforts, and our deep gratitude for the +great help you have given to the cause to which +you have consecrated your life. The over-flowing +meetings addressed by you bear evidence of the +unqualified success of your mission, and many +thousands bless the day when you determined to +enter this great crusade beneath the Southern +Cross.... In all these sentiments we desire +to include your loyal and most devoted partner, +Lady Doyle, whose self-sacrifice equals or exceeds +your own."</p> + +<p>Personally, I have never been conscious of any +self-sacrifice, but the words about my wife were +in no way an over-statement. I spoke in reply +for about forty minutes, and gave a synopsis of +the state of the faith in other centres, for each +Australian State is curiously self-centred and +realises very little beyond its own borders. It +was good for Melbourne to know that Sydney, +Brisbane, Adelaide and New Zealand were quite as +alive and zealous as themselves.</p> + +<p>At the end of the function I gave an account of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> +the financial results of my tour and handed over +£500 as a guarantee fund for future British +lecturers, and £100 to Mr. Britton Harvey to +assist his admirable paper, <i>The Harbinger of Light</i>. +I had already expended about £100 upon spiritual +causes, so that my whole balance came to £700, +which is all now invested in the Cause and should +bring some good spiritual interest in time to come. +We badly need money in order to be able to lay +our case more fully before the world.</p> + +<p>I have already given the written evidence of +Mr. Smythe that my tour was the most successful +ever conducted in his time in Australia. To this +I may add the financial result recorded above. +In view of this it is worth recording that <i>Life</i>, +a paper entirely under clerical management, said: +"The one thing clear is that Sir Conan Doyle's +mission to Australia was a mournful and complete +failure, and it has left him in a very exasperated +state of mind." This is typical of the +perverse and unscrupulous opposition which we +have continually to face, which hesitates at no +lie in order to try and discredit the movement.</p> + +<p>One small incident broke the monotony of the +voyage between Adelaide and Fremantle, across +the dreaded Bight.</p> + +<p>There have been considerable depredations in +the coastal passenger trade of Australia, and since +the State boats were all laid up by the strike it +was to be expected that the crooks would appear +upon the big liners. A band of them came on +board the <i>Naldera</i> at Adelaide, but their methods +were crude, and they were up against a discipline<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> +and an organisation against which they were +helpless. One ruffian entered a number of cabins +and got away with some booty, but was very +gallantly arrested by Captain Lewellin himself, +after a short hand-to-hand struggle. This fellow +was recognised by the detectives at Fremantle +and was pronounced to be an old hand. In the +general vigilance and search for accomplices +which followed, another passenger was judged to +be suspicious and he was also carried away by the +detectives on a charge of previous forgery. Altogether +the crooks came out very badly in their +encounter with the <i>Naldera</i>, whose officers deserve +some special recognition from the Company for the +able way in which the matter was handled.</p> + +<p>Although my formal tour was now over, I had +quite determined to speak at Perth if it were +humanly possible, for I could not consider my +work as complete if the capital of one State had +been untouched. I therefore sent the message +ahead that I would fit in with any arrangements +which they might make, be it by day or night, but +that the ship would only be in port for a few +hours. As matters turned out the <i>Naldera</i> +arrived in the early morning and was announced +to sail again at 3 p.m., so that the hours were +awkward. They took the great theatre, however, +for 1 p.m., which alarmed me as I reflected that +my audience must either be starving or else in +a state of repletion. Everything went splendidly, +however. The house was full, and I have never +had a more delightfully keen set of people in front +of me. Of all my experiences there was none<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> +which was more entirely and completely satisfactory, +and I hope that it brought a very substantial +sum into the local spiritual treasury. +There was quite a scene in the street afterwards, +and the motor could not start for the +crowds who surrounded it and stretched their +kind hands and eager faces towards us. It was +a wonderful last impression to bear away from +Australia.</p> + +<p>It is worth recording that upon a clairvoyante +being asked upon this occasion whether she saw +any one beside me on the platform she at once +answered "an elderly man with very tufted eyebrows." +This was the marked characteristic +of the face of Russell Wallace. I was told before +I left England that Wallace was my guide. I have +already shown that Mrs. Roberts, of Dunedin, +gave me a message direct from him to the same +effect. Mrs. Foster Turner, in Sydney, said she +saw him, described him and gave the name. +Three others have described him. Each of these +has been quite independent of the others. I +think that the most sceptical person must admit +that the evidence is rather strong. It is naturally +more strong to me since I am personally conscious +of his intervention and assistance.</p> + +<p>Apart from my spiritual mission, I was very +sorry that I could not devote some time to exploring +West Australia, which is in some ways +the most interesting, as it is the least developed, +of the States in the Federation. One or two +points which I gathered about it are worth recording, +especially its relation to the rabbits and to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> +the sparrows, the only hostile invaders which it +has known. Long may they remain so!</p> + +<p>The battle between the West Australians and +the rabbits was historical and wonderful. After +the creatures had become a perfect pest in the +East it was hoped that the great central desert +would prevent them from ever reaching the West. +There was no water for a thousand miles. None +the less, the rabbits got across. It was a notable +day when the West Australian outrider, loping +from west to east, met the pioneer rabbit loping +from east to west. Then West Australia made a +great effort. She built a rabbit-proof wire screen +from north to south for hundreds of miles from +sea to sea, with such thoroughness that the +northern end projected over a rock which fringed +deep water. With such thoroughness, too, did +the rabbits reconnoitre this obstacle that their +droppings were seen upon the far side of that very +rock. There came another day of doom when +two rabbits were seen on the wrong side of the +wire. Two dragons of the slime would not have +alarmed the farmer more. A second line was +built, but this also was, as I understand, carried +by the attack, which is now consolidating, upon +the ground it has won. However, the whole +situation has been changed by the discovery +elsewhere that the rabbit can be made a paying +proposition, so all may end well in this curious +story.</p> + +<p>A similar fight, with more success, has been +made by West Australia against the sparrow, +which has proved an unmitigated nuisance elsewhere.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> +The birds are slowly advancing down the +line of the Continental Railway and their forward +scouts are continually cut off. Captain White, +the distinguished ornithologist, has the matter +in hand, and received, as I am told, a wire a few +weeks ago, he being in Melbourne, to the effect +that two sparrows had been observed a thousand +miles west of where they had any rights. He set +off, or sent off, instantly to this way-side desert +station in the hope of destroying them, with what +luck I know not. I should be inclined to back +the sparrows.</p> + +<p>This Captain White is a man of energy and +brains, whose name comes up always when one +enquires into any question of bird or beast. He +has made a remarkable expedition lately to those +lonely Everard Ranges, which lie some distance +to the north of the desolate Nularbor Plain, +through which the Continental Railway passes. +It must form one of the most dreadful wastes +in the world, for there are a thousand miles of +coast line, without one single stream emerging. +Afforestation may alter all that. In the Everard +Ranges Captain White found untouched savages +of the stone age, who had never seen a white man +before, and who treated him with absolute courtesy +and hospitality. They were a fine race physically, +though they lived under such conditions that +there was little solid food save slugs, lizards and +the like. One can but pray that the Australian +Government will take steps to save these poor +people from the sad fate which usually follows +the contact between the higher and the lower.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span></p> + +<p>From what I heard, West Australian immigrants +are better looked after than in the other States. +I was told in Perth that nine hundred ex-service +men with their families had arrived, and that +all had been fitted into places, permanent or +temporary, within a fortnight. This is not due +to Government, but to the exertions of a peculiar +local Society, with the strange title of "The Ugly +Men." "Handsome is as handsome does," and +they seem to be great citizens. West Australia +calls itself the Cinderella State, for, although it +covers a third of the Continent, it is isolated +from the great centres of population. It has a +very individual life of its own, however, with its +gold fields, its shark fisheries, its pearlers, and +the great stock-raising plain in the north. Among +other remarkable achievements is its great water +pipe, which extends for four hundred miles across +the desert, and supplies the pressure for the +electric machinery at Kalgurli.</p> + +<p>By a coincidence, the <i>Narkunda</i>, which is +the sister ship of the <i>Naldera</i>, lay alongside +the same quay at Fremantle, and it was an +impressive sight to see these two great shuttles +of Empire lying for a few hours at rest. In their +vastness and majesty they made me think of a +daring saying of my mother's, when she exclaimed +that if some works of man, such as an ocean-going +steamer, were compared with some works of God, +such as a hill, man could sustain the comparison. +It is the divine spark within us which gives us +the creative power, and what may we not be +when that is fully developed!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span></p> + +<p>The children were fishing for sharks, with a +line warranted to hold eighteen pounds, with the +result that Malcolm's bait, lead, and everything +else was carried away. But they were amply +repaid by actually seeing the shark, which played +about for some time in the turbid water, a brown, +ugly, varminty creature, with fine lines of speed +in its tapering body. "It was in Adelaide, +daddy, not Fremantle," they protest in chorus, +and no doubt they are right.</p> + + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<div class="blockquotech extraspacebot"><p>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.</p></div> + + +<p>It was on Friday, February 11th, that we drew +away from the Fremantle wharf, and started +forth upon our long, lonely trek for Colombo—a +huge stretch of sea, in which it is unusual to see +a single sail. As night fell I saw the last twinkling +lights of Australia fade away upon our +starboard quarter. Well, my job is done. I +have nothing to add, nor have I said anything +which I would wish withdrawn. My furrow +gapes across two young Continents. I feel, +deep in my soul, that the seed will fall in due +season, and that the reaping will follow the +seed. Only the work concerns ourselves—the +results lie with those whose instruments we +are.</p> + +<p>Of the many kindly letters which bade us farewell, +and which assured us that our work was +not in vain, none was more eloquent and thoughtful +than that of Mr. Thomas Ryan, a member of +the Federal Legislature. "Long after you leave +us your message will linger. This great truth,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span> +which we had long thought of as the plaything +of the charlatan and crank, into this you breathed +the breath of life, and, as of old, we were forced +to say, 'We shall think of this again. We shall +examine it more fully.' Give us time—for the +present only this, we are sure that this thing +was not done in a corner. Let me say in the +few moments I am able to snatch from an +over-crowded life, that we realise throughout +the land how deep and far-reaching were the +things of which you spoke to us. We want +time, and even more time, to make them part of +ourselves. We are glad you have come and +raised our thoughts from the market-place to the +altar."</p> + +<p>Bishop Leadbeater, of Sydney, one of the most +venerable and picturesque figures whom I met +in my travels, wrote, "Now that you are leaving +our shores, let me express my conviction that +your visit has done great good in stirring up the +thought of the people, and, I hope, in convincing +many of them of the reality of the other life." +Among very many other letters there was none +I valued more than one from the Rev. Jasper +Calder, of Auckland. "Rest assured, Sir Arthur, +the plough has gone deep, and the daylight will +now reach the soil that has so long been in +the darkness of ignorance. I somehow feel +as if this is the beginning of new things for us +all."</p> + +<p>It is a long and weary stretch from Australia +to Ceylon, but it was saved from absolute monotony +by the weather, which was unusually<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> +boisterous for so genial a region. Two days +before crossing the line we ran into a north-western +monsoon, a rather rare experience, so that the +doldrums became quite a lively place. Even our +high decks were wet with spindrift and the edge +of an occasional comber, and some of the cabins +were washed out. A smaller ship would have +been taking heavy seas. In all that great stretch +of ocean we never saw a sail or a fish, and very +few birds. The loneliness of the surface of the sea +is surely a very strange fact in nature. One +would imagine, if the sea is really so populous as +we imagine, that the surface, which is the only +fixed point in very deep water, would be the +gathering ground and trysting place for all life. +Save for the flying fish, there was not a trace in +all those thousands of miles.</p> + +<p>I suppose that on such a voyage one should +rest and do nothing, but how difficult it is to do +nothing, and can it be restful to do what is +difficult? To me it is almost impossible. I was +helped through a weary time by many charming +companions on board, particularly the +Rev. Henry Howard, reputed to be the best +preacher in Australia. Some of his sermons +which I read are, indeed, splendid, depending +for their effect upon real thought and knowledge, +without any theological emotion. He is ignorant +of psychic philosophy, though, like so many men +who profess themselves hostile to Spiritualism, +he is full of good stories which conclusively prove +the very thing he denies. However, he has +reached full spirituality, which is more important<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> +than Spiritualism, and he must be a great +influence for good wherever he goes. The rest +he will learn later, either upon this side, or the +other.</p> + +<p>At Colombo I was interested to receive a +<i>Westminster Gazette</i>, which contained an article +by their special commissioner upon the Yorkshire +fairies. Some correspondent has given the full +name of the people concerned, with their address, +which means that their little village will be +crammed with chars-à-banc, and the peace of +their life ruined. It was a rotten thing to do. +For the rest, the <i>Westminster</i> inquiries seem to +have confirmed Gardner and me in every particular, +and brought out the further fact that the +girls had never before taken a photo in their life. +One of them had, it seems, been for a short time +in the employ of a photographer, but as she was +only a child, and her duties consisted in running +on errands, the fact would hardly qualify her, as +<i>Truth</i> suggests, for making faked negatives which +could deceive the greatest experts in London. +There may be some loophole in the direction of +thought forms, but otherwise the case is as complete +as possible.</p> + +<p>We have just returned from a dream journey +to Candy. The old capital is in the very centre +of the island, and seventy-two miles from Colombo, +but, finding that we had one clear night, we all +crammed ourselves (my wife, the children and +self) into a motor car, and made for it, while +Major Wood and Jakeman did the same by train. +It was a wonderful experience, a hundred and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span> +forty miles of the most lovely coloured cinema +reel that God ever released. I carry away the confused +but beautiful impression of a good broad red-tinted +road, winding amid all shades of green, +from the dark foliage of overhanging trees, to the +light stretches of the half-grown rice fields. Tea +groves, rubber plantations, banana gardens, and +everywhere the coconut palms, with their graceful, +drooping fronds. Along this great road +streamed the people, and their houses lined the +way, so that it was seldom that one was out of +sight of human life. They were of all types and +colours, from the light brown of the real Singalese +to the negroid black of the Tamils, but all shared +the love of bright tints, and we were delighted by +the succession of mauves, purples, crimsons, +ambers and greens. Water buffaloes, with the +resigned and half-comic air of the London landlady +who has seen better days, looked up at us from +their mudholes, and jackal-like dogs lay thick on +the path, hardly moving to let our motor pass. +Once, my lord the elephant came round a corner, +with his soft, easy-going stride, and surveyed us +with inscrutable little eyes. It was the unchanged +East, even as it had always been, save for the neat +little police stations and their smart occupants, +who represented the gentle, but very efficient, +British Raj. It may have been the merit of that +Raj, or it may have been the inherent virtue of +the people, but in all that journey we were never +conscious of an unhappy or of a wicked face. +They were very sensitive, speaking faces, too, and +it was not hard to read the thoughts within.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span></p> + +<p>As we approached Candy, our road ran through +the wonderful Botanical Gardens, unmatched for +beauty in the world, though I still give Melbourne +pride of place for charm. As we sped down one +avenue an elderly keeper in front of us raised his +gun and fired into the thick foliage of a high tree. +An instant later something fell heavily to the +ground. A swarm of crows had risen, so that we had +imagined it was one of these, but when we stopped +the car a boy came running up with the victim, +which was a great bat, or flying fox, with a two-foot +span of leathery wing. It had the appealing +face of a mouse, and two black, round eyes, as +bright as polished shoe buttons. It was wounded, +so the boy struck it hard upon the ground, and +held it up once more, the dark eyes glazed, and +the graceful head bubbling blood from either +nostril. "Horrible! horrible!" cried poor +Denis, and we all echoed it in our hearts. This +intrusion of tragedy into that paradise of a garden +reminded us of the shadows of life. There is +something very intimately moving in the evil +fate of the animals. I have seen a man's hand +blown off in warfare, and have not been conscious +of the same haunting horror which the pains of +animals have caused me.</p> + +<p>And here I may give another incident from our +Candy excursion. The boys are wild over snakes, +and I, since I sat in the front of the motor, was +implored to keep a look-out. We were passing +through a village, where a large lump of concrete, +or stone, was lying by the road. A stick, about +five feet long, was resting against it. As we flew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span> +past, I saw, to my amazement, the top of the +stick bend back a little. I shouted to the driver, +and we first halted, and then ran back to the spot. +Sure enough, it was a long, yellow snake, basking +in this peculiar position. The village was alarmed, +and peasants came running, while the boys, wildly +excited, tumbled out of the motor. "Kill it!" +they cried. "No, no!" cried the chauffeur. +"There is the voice of the Buddhist," I thought, +so I cried, "No! no!" also. The snake, meanwhile, +squirmed over the stone, and we saw it +lashing about among the bushes. Perhaps we +were wrong to spare it, for I fear it was full of +venom. However, the villagers remained round +the spot, and they had sticks, so perhaps the story +was not ended.</p> + +<p>Candy, the old capital, is indeed a dream city, +and we spent a long, wonderful evening beside the +lovely lake, where the lazy tortoises paddled +about, and the fireflies gleamed upon the margin. +We visited also the old Buddhist temple, where, +as in all those places, the atmosphere is ruined by +the perpetual demand for small coins. The few +mosques which I have visited were not desecrated +in this fashion, and it seems to be an unenviable +peculiarity of the Buddhists, whose yellow-robed +shaven priests have a keen eye for money. Beside +the temple, but in ruins, lay the old palace of the +native kings.</p> + +<p>I wish we could have seen the temple under +better conditions, for it is really the chief shrine +of the most numerous religion upon earth, serving +the Buddhist as the Kaaba serves the Moslem,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span> +or St. Peter's the Catholic. It is strange how the +mind of man drags high things down to its own +wretched level, the priests in each creed being the +chief culprits. Buddha under his boh tree was a +beautiful example of sweet, unselfish benevolence +and spirituality. And the upshot, after two +thousand years, is that his followers come to adore +a horse's tooth (proclaimed to be Buddha's, and +three inches long), at Candy, and to crawl up +Adam's Peak, in order to worship at a hole in the +ground which is supposed to be his yard-long +footstep. It is not more senseless than some +Christian observances, but that does not make it +less deplorable.</p> + +<p>I was very anxious to visit one of the buried +cities further inland, and especially to see the +ancient Boh tree, which must surely be the doyen +of the whole vegetable kingdom, since it is undoubtedly +a slip taken from Buddha's original +Boh tree, transplanted into Ceylon about two +hundred years before Christ. Its history is certain +and unbroken. Now, I understand, it is a very +doddering old trunk, with withered limbs which +are supported by crutches, but may yet hang on +for some centuries to come. On the whole, we +employed our time very well, but Ceylon will +always remain to each of us as an earthly paradise, +and I could imagine no greater pleasure than to +have a clear month to wander over its beauties. +Monsieur Clemenceau was clearly of the same +opinion, for he was doing it very thoroughly +whilst we were there.</p> + +<p>From Colombo to Bombay was a dream of blue<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span> +skies and blue seas. Half way up the Malabar +coast, we saw the old Portuguese settlement of +Goa, glimmering white on a distant hillside. +Even more interesting to us was a squat battleship +making its way up the coast. As we came +abreast of it we recognised the <i>Malaya</i>, one of +that famous little squadron of Evan Thomas', +which staved off the annihilation of Beatty's +cruisers upon that day of doom on the Jutland +coast. We gazed upon it with the reverence +that it deserved. We had, in my opinion, a +mighty close shave upon that occasion. If +Jellicoe had gambled with the British fleet he +might have won a shattering victory, but surely +he was wise to play safety with such tremendous +interests at stake. There is an account of the +action, given by a German officer, at the end of +Freeman's book "With the <i>Hercules</i> to Kiel," +which shows clearly that the enemy desired +Jellicoe to close with them, as giving them their +only chance for that torpedo barrage which they +had thoroughly practised, and on which they +relied to cripple a number of our vessels. In +every form of foresight and preparation, the +brains seem to have been with them—but that +was not the fault of the fighting seamen. Surely +an amateur could have foreseen that, in a night +action, a star shell is better than a searchlight, +that a dropping shell at a high trajectory is far +more likely to hit the deck than the side, and that +the powder magazine should be cut off from the +turret, as, otherwise, a shell crushing the one will +explode the other. This last error in construction<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span> +seems to have been the cause of half our losses, +and the <i>Lion</i> herself would have been a victim, +but for the self-sacrifice of brave Major Harvey of +the Marines. All's well that ends well, but it was +stout hearts, and not clear heads, which pulled +us through.</p> + +<p>It is all very well to say let bygones be bygones, +but we have no guarantee that the old +faults are corrected, and certainly no one has been +censured. It looks as if the younger officers had +no means of bringing their views before those in +authority, while the seniors were so occupied with +actual administration that they had no time for +thinking outside their routine. Take the really +monstrous fact that, at the outset of a war of +torpedoes and mines, when ships might be expected +to sink like kettles with a hole in them, no least +provision had been made for saving the crew! +Boats were discarded before action, nothing +wooden or inflammable was permitted, and the +consideration that life-saving apparatus might be +non-inflammable does not seem to have presented +itself. When I wrote to the Press, pointing this +out with all the emphasis of which I was capable—I +was ready to face the charge of hysteria in such +a cause—I was gravely rebuked by a leading naval +authority, and cautioned not to meddle with +mysteries of which I knew nothing. None the +less, within a week there was a rush order for +swimming collars of india rubber. <i>Post hoc non +propter</i>, perhaps, but at least it verified the view +of the layman. That was in the days when +not one harbour had been boomed and netted,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> +though surely a shark in a bathing pool would be +innocuous compared to a submarine in an anchorage. +The swimmers could get out, but the ships +could not.</p> + +<p>But all this comes of seeing the white <i>Malaya</i>, +steaming slowly upon deep blue summer seas, +with the olive-green coast of Malabar on the +horizon behind her.</p> + +<p>I had an interesting conversation on psychic +matters with Lady Dyer, whose husband was +killed in the war. It has been urged that it is +singular and unnatural that our friends from the +other side so seldom allude to the former occasions +on which they have manifested. There is, I think, +force in the objection. Lady Dyer had an excellent +case to the contrary—and, indeed, they are not +rare when one makes inquiry. She was most +anxious to clear up some point which was left +open between her husband and herself, and for +this purpose consulted three mediums in London, +Mr. Vout Peters, Mrs. Brittain, and another. In +each case she had some success. Finally, she +consulted Mrs. Leonard, and her husband, speaking +through Feda, under control, began a long conversation +by saying, "I have already spoken to +you through three mediums, two women and a +man." Lady Dyer had not given her name upon +any occasion, so there was no question of passing +on information. I may add that the intimate +point at issue was entirely cleared up by the +husband, who rejoiced greatly that he had the +chance to do so.</p> + +<p>Bombay is not an interesting place for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span> +casual visitor, and was in a state of uproar and +decoration on account of the visit of the Duke of +Connaught. My wife and I did a little shopping, +which gave us a glimpse of the patient pertinacity +of the Oriental. The sum being 150 rupees, I +asked the Indian's leave to pay by cheque, as +money was running low. He consented. When +we reached the ship by steam-launch, we found +that he, in some strange way, had got there +already, and was squatting with the goods outside +our cabin door. He looked askance at Lloyd's +Bank, of which he had never heard, but none the +less he took the cheque under protest. Next +evening he was back at our cabin door, squatting +as before, with a sweat-stained cheque in his hand +which, he declared, that he was unable to cash. +This time I paid in English pound notes, but he +looked upon them with considerable suspicion. +As our ship was lying a good three miles from the +shore, the poor chap had certainly earned his +money, for his goods, in the first instance, were +both good and cheap.</p> + +<p>We have seen the Island of Elephanta, and may +the curse of Ernulphus, which comprises all other +curses, be upon that old Portuguese Governor +who desecrated it, and turned his guns upon the +wonderful stone carvings. It reminds me of +Abou Simbel in Nubia, and the whole place has an +Egyptian flavour. In a vast hollow in the hill, +a series of very elaborate bas reliefs have been +carved, showing Brahma, Vishnu and Siva, the +old Hindoo trinity, with all those strange satellites, +the bulls, the kites, the dwarfs, the elephant-headed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span> +giants with which Hindoo mythology has +so grotesquely endowed them. Surely a visitor +from some wiser planet, examining our traces, +would judge that the human race, though sane in +all else, was mad the moment that it touched +religion, whether he judged it by such examples +as these, or by the wearisome iteration of expressionless +Buddhas, the sacred crocodiles and hawk-headed +gods of Egypt, the monstrosities of Central +America, or the lambs and doves which adorn our +own churches. It is only in the Mohammedan faith +that such an observer would find nothing which +could offend, since all mortal symbolism is there +forbidden. And yet if these strange conceptions +did indeed help these poor people through their +journey of life—and even now they come from far +with their offerings—then we should morally be +as the Portuguese governor, if we were to say or +do that which might leave them prostrate and +mutilated in their minds. It was a pleasant +break to our long voyage, and we were grateful to +our commander, who made everything easy for +us. He takes the humane view that a passenger +is not merely an article of cargo, to be conveyed +from port to port, but that his recreation should, +in reason, be considered as well.</p> + +<p>Elephanta was a little bit of the old India, +but the men who conveyed us there from the +launch to the shore in their ancient dhows were +of a far greater antiquity. These were Kolis, +small, dark men, who held the country before +the original Aryan invasion, and may still be +plying their boats when India has become Turanian<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span> +or Slavonic, or whatever its next avatar may +be. They seem to have the art of commerce +well developed, for they held us up cleverly +until they had extracted a rupee each, counting +us over and over with great care and +assiduity.</p> + +<p>At Bombay we took over 200 more travellers.</p> + +<p>We had expected that the new-comers, who +were mostly Anglo-Indians whose leave had been +long overdue, would show signs of strain and +climate, but we were agreeably surprised to find +that they were a remarkably healthy and alert +set of people. This may be due to the fact that +it is now the end of the cold weather. Our new +companions included many native gentlemen, +one of whom, the Rajah of Kapurthala, brought +with him his Spanish wife, a regal-looking lady, +whose position must be a difficult one. Hearne +and Murrell, the cricketers, old playmates and +friends, were also among the new-comers. All +of them seemed perturbed as to the unrest in +India, though some were inclined to think that +the worst was past, and that the situation was +well in hand. When we think how splendidly +India helped us in the war, it would indeed be +sad if a serious rift came between us now. One +thing I am very sure of, that if Great Britain +should ever be forced to separate from India, it +is India, and not Britain, which will be the chief +sufferer.</p> + +<p>We passed over hundreds of miles of absolute +calm in the Indian Ocean. There is a wonderful +passage in Frank Bullen's "Sea Idylls," in which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span> +he describes how, after a long-continued tropical +calm, all manner of noxious scum and vague evil +shapes come flickering to the surface. Coleridge +has done the same idea, for all time, in "The Ancient +Mariner," when "the very sea did rot." In our +case we saw nothing so dramatic, but the ship +passed through one area where there was a great +number of what appeared to be sea-snakes, +creatures of various hues, from two to ten feet +long, festooned or slowly writhing some feet below +the surface. I cannot recollect seeing anything +of the kind in any museum. These, and a couple +of Arab dhows, furnished our only break in a +thousand miles. Certainly, as an entertainment +the ocean needs cutting.</p> + +<p>In the extreme south, like a cloud upon the +water, we caught a glimpse of the Island of Socotra, +one of the least visited places upon earth, though +so near to the main line of commerce. What a +base for submarines, should it fall into wrong +hands! It has a comic-opera Sultan of its own, +with 15,000 subjects, and a subsidy from the +British Government of 200 dollars a year, which +has been increased lately to 360, presumably on +account of the higher cost of living. It is a curious +fact that, though it is a great place of hill and plain, +seventy miles by eighteen, there is only one wild +animal known, namely the civet cat. A traveller, +Mr. Jacob, who examined the place, put forward +the theory that one of Alexander the Great's +ships was wrecked there, the crew remaining, +for he found certain Greek vestiges, but what +they were I have been unable to find out.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span></p> + +<p>As we approached Aden, we met the <i>China</i> on +her way out. Her misadventure some years ago +at the Island of Perim, has become one of the +legends of the sea. In those days, the discipline +aboard P. & O. ships was less firm than at present, +and on the occasion of the birthday of one of the +leading passengers, the officers of the ship had been +invited to the festivity. The result was that, +in the middle of dinner, the ship crashed, no great +distance from the lighthouse, and, it is said, +though this is probably an exaggeration, that the +revellers were able to get ashore over the bows +without wetting their dress shoes. No harm was +done, save that one unlucky rock projected, like a +huge spike, through the ship's bottom, and it cost +the company a good half-million before they were +able to get her afloat and in service once more. +However, there she was, doing her fifteen knots, +and looking so saucy and new that no one +would credit such an unsavoury incident in her +past.</p> + +<p>Early in February I gave a lantern lecture upon +psychic phenomena to passengers of both classes. +The Red Sea has become quite a favourite +stamping ground of mine, but it was much more +tolerable now than on that terrible night in August +when I discharged arguments and perspiration to +a sweltering audience. On this occasion it was +a wonderful gathering, a microcosm of the world, +with an English peer, an Indian Maharajah, +many native gentlemen, whites of every type +from four great countries, and a fringe of stewards, +stewardesses, and nondescripts of all sorts, including<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span> +the ship's barber, who is one of the most +active men on the ship in an intellectual sense. +All went well, and if they were not convinced +they were deeply interested, which is the first +stage. Somewhere there are great forces which +are going to carry on this work, and I never +address an audience without the feeling that +among them there may be some latent Paul +or Luther whom my words may call into +activity.</p> + +<p>I heard an anecdote yesterday which is worth +recording. We have a boatswain who is a fine, +burly specimen of a British seaman. In one of +his short holidays while in mufti, in Norfolk, he +had an argument with a Norfolk farmer, a stranger +to him, who wound up the discussion by saying: +"My lad, what you need is a little travel to +broaden your mind."</p> + +<p>The boatswain does his 70,000 miles a year. It +reminded me of the doctor who advised his +patient to take a brisk walk every morning before +breakfast, and then found out that he was talking +to the village postman.</p> + +<p>A gentleman connected with the cinema trade +told me a curious story within his own experience. +Last year a psychic cinema story was shown in +Australia, and to advertise it a man was hired +who would consent to be chained to a tombstone +all night. This was done in Melbourne and +Sydney without the person concerned suffering +in any way. It was very different in Launceston. +The man was found to be nearly mad from terror +in the morning, though he was a stout fellow of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span> +the dock labourer type. His story was that in the +middle of the night he had heard to his horror the +sound of dripping water approaching him. On +looking up he saw an evil-looking shape with +water streaming from him, who stood before him +and abused him a long time, frightening him +almost to death. The man was so shaken that +the cinema company had to send him for a +voyage. Of course, it was an unfair test for any +one's nerves, and imagination may have played +its part, but it is noticeable that a neighbouring +grave contained a man who had been drowned +in the Esk many years before. In any case, it +makes a true and interesting story, whatever the +explanation.</p> + +<p>I have said that there was an English peer on +board. This was Lord Chetwynd, a man who +did much towards winning the war. Now that +the storm is over the public knows nothing, and +apparently cares little, about the men who brought +the ship of State through in safety. Some day +we shall get a more exact sense of proportion, but +it is all out of focus at present. Lord Chetwynd, +in the year 1915, discovered by his own personal +experiments how to make an explosive far more +effective than the one we were using, which was +very unreliable. This he effected by a particular +combination and treatment of T.N.T. and ammonia +nitrate. Having convinced the authorities +by actual demonstration, he was given a free +hand, which he used to such effect that within a +year he was furnishing the main shell supply of +the army. His own installation was at Chilwell,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span> +near Nottingham, and it turned out 19,000,000 +shells, while six other establishments were +erected elsewhere on the same system. Within +his own works Lord Chetwynd was so complete +an autocrat that it was generally believed that he +shot three spies with his own hand. Thinking +the rumour a useful one, he encouraged it by +creating three dummy graves, which may, perhaps, +be visited to this day by pious pro-Germans. It +should be added that Lord Chetwynd's explosive +was not only stronger, but cheaper, than that in +previous use, so that his labours saved the country +some millions of pounds.</p> + +<p>It was at Chilwell that the huge bombs were +filled which were destined for Berlin. There +were 100 of them to be carried in twenty-five +Handley Page machines. Each bomb was capable +of excavating 350 tons at the spot where it fell, +and in a trial trip one which was dropped in the +central courtyard of a large square building left +not a stone standing around it. Berlin was saved +by a miracle, which she hardly deserved after the +irresponsible glee with which she had hailed the +devilish work of her own Zeppelins. The original +hundred bombs sent to be charged had the tails +removed before being sent, and when they were +returned it was found to be such a job finding the +right tail for the right bomb, the permutations +being endless, that it was quicker and easier to +charge another hundred bombs with tails attached. +This and other fortuitous matters consumed +several weeks. Finally, the bombs were ready +and were actually on the machines in England,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span> +whence the start was to be made, when the Armistice +was declared. Possibly a knowledge of this +increased the extreme haste of the German +delegates. Personally, I am glad it was so, for +we have enough cause for hatred in the world +without adding the death of 10,000 German +civilians. There is some weight, however, in +the contention of those who complain that +Germans have devastated Belgium and France, +but have never been allowed to experience +in their own persons what the horrors of war +really are. Still, if Christianity and religion +are to be more than mere words, we must be +content that Berlin was not laid in ruins at +a time when the issue of the war was already +decided.</p> + +<p>Here we are at Suez once again. It would +take Loti or Robert Hichens to describe the +wonderful shades peculiar to the outskirts of +Egypt. Deep blue sea turns to dark green, +which in turn becomes the very purest, clearest +emerald as it shallows into a snow-white frill +of foam. Thence extends the golden desert +with deep honey-coloured shadows, stretching +away until it slopes upwards into melon-tinted +hills, dry and bare and wrinkled. At one point a +few white dwellings with a group of acacias mark +the spot which they call Moses Well. They say +that a Jew can pick up a living in any country, +but when one surveys these terrible wastes +one can only imagine that the climate has greatly +changed since a whole nomad people were able to +cross them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the Mediterranean we had a snap of real cold +which laid many of us out, myself included. +I recall the Lancastrian who complained that he +had swallowed a dog fight. The level of our lives +had been disturbed for an instant by a feud +between the children and one of the passengers +who had, probably quite justly, given one of +them a box on the ear. In return, they had fixed +an abusive document in his cabin which they had +ended by the words, "With our warmest despisings," +all signing their names to it. The passenger +was sportsman enough to show this document +around, or we should not have known of its +existence. Strange little souls with their vivid +hopes and fears, a parody of our own. I gave +baby a daily task and had ordered her to do a +map of Australia. I found her weeping in the +evening. "I did the map," she cried, between +her sobs, "but they all said it was a pig!" She +was shaken to the soul at the slight upon her +handiwork.</p> + +<p>It was indeed wonderful to find ourselves at +Marseilles once more, and, after the usual unpleasant +<i>douane</i> formalities, which are greatly +ameliorated in France as compared to our own +free trade country, to be at temporary rest at the +Hôtel du Louvre.</p> + +<p>A great funeral, that of Frederic Chevillon and +his brother, was occupying the attention of the +town. Both were public officials and both were +killed in the war, their bodies being now exhumed +for local honour. A great crowd filed past with +many banners, due decorum being observed save<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> +that some of the mourners were smoking +cigarettes, which "was not handsome," as Mr. +Pepys would observe. There was no sign of +any religious symbol anywhere. It was a Sunday +and yet the people in the procession seemed very +badly dressed and generally down-at-heel and +slovenly. I think we should have done the thing +better in England. The simplicity of the flag-wrapped +coffins was however dignified and pleasing. +The inscriptions, too, were full of simple +patriotism.</p> + +<p>I never take a stroll through a French town +without appreciating the gulf which lies between +us and them. They have the old Roman civilisation, +with its ripe mellow traits, which have never +touched the Anglo-Saxon, who, on the other +hand, has his raw Northern virtues which make +life angular but effective. I watched a scene +to-day inconceivable under our rule. Four very +smart officers, captains or majors, were seated +outside a café. The place was crowded, but there +was room for four more at this table on the sidewalk, +so presently that number of negro privates +came along and occupied the vacant seats. The +officers smiled most good humouredly, and remarks +were exchanged between the two parties, which +ended in the high falsetto laugh of a negro. +These black troops seemed perfectly self-respecting, +and I never saw a drunken man, soldier or civilian, +during two days.</p> + +<p>I have received English letters which announce +that I am to repeat my Australian lectures at the +Queen's Hall, from April 11th onwards. I seem<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span> +to be returning with shotted guns and going +straight into action. They say that the most +dangerous course is to switch suddenly off when +you have been working hard. I am little likely +to suffer from that.</p> + + + +<hr class="r65" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<div class="blockquotech extraspacebot"><p>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.</p></div> + + +<p>One long stride took us to Paris, where, under the +friendly and comfortable roof of the Hôtel du +Louvre, we were able at last to unpack our +trunks and to steady down after this incessant +movement. The first visit which I paid in Paris +was to Dr. Geley, head of the Institut Metaphysique, +at 89, Avenue Niel. Now that poor +Crawford has gone, leaving an imperishable name +behind him, Geley promises to be the greatest +male practical psychic researcher, and he has +advantages of which Crawford could never boast, +since the liberality of Monsieur Jean Meyer has +placed him at the head of a splendid establishment +with laboratory, photographic room, lecture +room, séance room and library, all done in the +most splendid style. Unless some British patron +has the generosity and intelligence to do the same, +this installation, with a man like Geley to run it, +will take the supremacy in psychic advance from +Britain, where it now lies, and transfer it to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span> +France. Our nearest approach to something +similar depends at present upon the splendid private +efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Hewat MacKenzie, in +the Psychic College at 59, Holland Park, which +deserve the support of everyone who realises the +importance of the subject.</p> + +<p>I made a <i>faux pas</i> with the Geleys, for I volunteered +to give an exhibition of my Australian slides, +and they invited a distinguished audience of men +of science to see them. Imagine my horror when +I found that my box of slides was in the luggage +which Major Wood had taken on with him in the +"Naldera" to England. They were rushed over by +aeroplane, however, in response to my telegram, +and so the situation was saved.</p> + +<p>The lecture was a private one and was attended +by Mr. Charles Richet, Mr. Gabrielle +Delanne, and a number of other men of science. +Nothing could have gone better, though I +fear that my French, which is execrable, must +have been a sore trial to my audience. I gave +them warning at the beginning by quoting a +remark which Bernard Shaw made to me once, +that when he spoke French he did not say what +he wanted to say, but what he could say. Richet +told me afterwards that he was deeply interested +by the photographs, and when I noted the wonder +and awe with which he treated them—he, the +best known physiologist in the world—and compared +it with the attitude of the ordinary lay +Press, it seemed a good example of the humility +of wisdom and the arrogance of ignorance. After +my lecture, which covered an hour and a quarter,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span> +we were favoured by an extraordinary exhibition +from a medium named Aubert. This gentleman +has had no musical education whatever, but he +sits down in a state of semi-trance and he handles +a piano as I, for one, have never heard one handled +before. It is a most amazing performance. He +sits with his eyes closed while some one calls the +alphabet, striking one note when the right letter +sounds. In this way he spells out the name of +the particular composer whom he will represent. +He then dashes off, with tremendous verve and +execution, upon a piece which is not a known +composition of that author, but is an improvisation +after his manner. We had Grieg, Mendelssohn, +Berlioz and others in quick succession, +each of them masterly and characteristic. His +technique seemed to my wife and me to be not +inferior to that of Paderewski. Needles can be +driven through him as he plays, and sums can be +set before him which he will work out without +ceasing the wonderful music which appears to flow +through him, but quite independently of his own +powers or volition. He would certainly cause a +sensation in London.</p> + +<p>I had the honour next day of meeting Camille +Flammarion, the famous astronomer, who is deeply +engaged in psychic study, and was so interested +in the photos which I snowed him that I was +compelled to leave them in his hands that he +might get copies done. Flammarion is a dear, +cordial, homely old gentleman with a beautiful +bearded head which would delight a sculptor. He +entertained us with psychic stories all lunch time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span> +Madame Bisson was there and amused me with +her opinion upon psychic researchers, their density, +their arrogance, their preposterous theories +to account for obvious effects. If she had not +been a great pioneer in Science, she might have +been a remarkable actress, for it was wonderful +how her face took off the various types. Certainly, +as described by her, their far-fetched precautions, +which irritate the medium and ruin the harmony +of the conditions, do appear very ridiculous, and +the parrot cry of "Fraud!" and "Fake!" has +been sadly overdone. All are agreed here that +spiritualism has a far greater chance in England +than in France, because the French temperament +is essentially a mocking one, and also because the +Catholic Church is in absolute opposition. Three +of their bishops, Beauvais, Lisieux and Coutances, +helped to burn a great medium, Joan of Arc, six +hundred years ago, asserting at the trial the very +accusations of necromancy which are asserted +to-day. Now they have had to canonise her. +One would have hoped that they had learned +something from the incident.</p> + +<p>Dr. Geley has recently been experimenting +with Mr. Franek Kluski, a Polish amateur of weak +health, but with great mediumistic powers. These +took the form of materialisations. Dr. Geley +had prepared a bucket of warm paraffin, and upon +the appearance of the materialised figure, which +was that of a smallish man, the request was +made that the apparition should plunge its hand +into the bucket and then withdraw it, so that +when it dematerialised a cast of the hand would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span> +be left, like a glove of solidified paraffin, so narrow +at the wrist that the hands could not have been +withdrawn by any possible normal means without +breaking the moulds. These hands I was able +to inspect, and also the plaster cast which had +been taken from the inside of one of them. The +latter showed a small hand, not larger than a +boy's, but presenting the characteristics of age, +for the skin was loose and formed transverse +folds. The materialised figure had also, unasked, +left an impression of its own mouth and chin, +which was, I think, done for evidential purposes, +for a curious wart hung from the lower lip, which +would mark the owner among a million. So far +as I could learn, however, no identification had +actually been effected. The mouth itself was +thick-lipped and coarse, and also gave an impression +of age.</p> + +<p>To show the thoroughness of Dr. Geley's work, +he had foreseen that the only answer which any +critic, however exacting, could make to the +evidence, was that the paraffin hand had been +brought in the medium's pocket. Therefore he +had treated with cholesterin the paraffin in his +bucket, and this same cholesterin reappeared in +the resulting glove. What can any sceptic have +to say to an experiment like that save to ignore +it, and drag us back with wearisome iteration to +some real or imaginary scandal of the past? The +fact is that the position of the materialists could +only be sustained so long as there was a general +agreement among all the newspapers to regard +this subject as a comic proposition. Now that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span> +there is a growing tendency towards recognising +its overwhelming gravity, the evidence is getting +slowly across to the public, and the old attitude +of negation and derision has become puerile. I +can clearly see, however, that the materialists +will fall back upon their second line of trenches, +which will be to admit the phenomena, but to put +them down to material causes in the unexplored +realms of nature with no real connection with +human survival. This change of front is now +due, but it will fare no better than the old one. +Before quitting the subject I should have added +that these conclusions of Dr. Geley concerning +the paraffin moulds taken from Kluski's +materialisation are shared by Charles Richet and +Count de Gramont of the Institute of France, who +took part in the experiments. How absurd are +the efforts of those who were not present to contradict +the experiences of men like these.</p> + +<p>I was disappointed to hear from Dr. Geley that +the experiments in England with the medium +Eva had been largely negative, though once or +twice the ectoplasmic flow was, as I understand, +observed. Dr. Geley put this comparative failure +down to the fantastic precautions taken by the +committee, which had produced a strained and +unnatural atmosphere. It seems to me that if a +medium is searched, and has all her clothes +changed before entering the seance room, that is +ample, but when in addition to this you put her +head in a net-bag and restrict her in other ways, +you are producing an abnormal self-conscious +state of mind which stops that passive mood of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span> +receptivity which is essential. Professor Hyslop +has left it on record that after a long series of +rigid tests with Mrs. Piper he tried one sitting +under purely natural conditions, and received +more convincing and evidential results than in +all the others put together. Surely this should +suggest freer methods in our research.</p> + +<p>I have just had a sitting with Eva, whom I +cannot even say that I have seen, for she was +under her cloth cabinet when I arrived and still +under it when I left, being in trance the whole +time. Professor Jules Courtier of the Sorbonne +and a few other men of science were present. +Madame Bisson experiments now in the full light +of the afternoon. Only the medium is in darkness, +but her two hands protrude through the cloth +and are controlled by the sitters. There is a +flap in the cloth which can be opened to show +anything which forms beneath. After sitting +about an hour this flap was opened, and Madame +Bisson pointed out to me a streak of ectoplasm +upon the outside of the medium's bodice. It was +about six inches long and as thick as a finger. I +was allowed to touch it, and felt it shrink and contract +under my hand. It is this substance which +can, under good conditions, be poured out in +great quantities and can be built up into forms +and shapes, first flat and finally rounded, by +powers which are beyond our science. We +sometimes call it Psychoplasm in England, +Richet named it Ectoplasm, Geley calls it +Ideoplasm; but call it what you will, Crawford +has shown for all time that it is the substance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span> +which is at the base of psychic physical phenomena.</p> + +<p>Madame Bisson, whose experience after twelve +years' work is unique, has an interesting theory. +She disagrees entirely with Dr. Geley's view, that +the shapes are thought forms, and she resents +the name ideoplasm, since it represents that +view. Her conclusion is that Eva acts the part +which a "detector" plays, when it turns the +Hertzian waves, which are too short for our +observation, into slower ones which can become +audible. Thus Eva breaks up certain currents +and renders them visible. According to her, +what we see is never the thing itself but always +the reflection of the thing which exists in another +plane and is made visible in ours by Eva's strange +material organisation. It was for this reason +that the word Miroir appeared in one of the +photographs, and excited much adverse criticism. +One dimly sees a new explanation of mediumship. +The light seems a colourless thing until it passes +through a prism and suddenly reveals every +colour in the world.</p> + +<p>A picture of Madame Bisson's father hung +upon the wall, and I at once recognised him as +the phantom which appears in the photographs +of her famous book, and which formed the culminating +point of Eva's mediumship. He has a +long and rather striking face which was clearly +indicated in the ectoplasmic image. Only on one +occasion was this image so developed that it +could speak, and then only one word. The word +was "Esperez."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span></p> + +<p>We have just returned, my wife, Denis and +I, from a round of the Aisne battlefields, paying +our respects incidentally to Bossuet at Meaux, +Fenelon at Château Thierry, and Racine at La +Ferté Millon. It is indeed a frightful cicatrix +which lies across the brow of France—a scar +which still gapes in many places as an open wound. +I could not have believed that the ruins were still +so untouched. The land is mostly under cultivation, +but the houses are mere shells, and I cannot +think where the cultivators live. When you +drive for sixty miles and see nothing but ruin on +either side of the road, and when you know that +the same thing extends from the sea to the Alps, +and that in places it is thirty miles broad, it helps +one to realise the debt that Germany owes to her +victims. If it had been in the Versailles terms +that all her members of parliament and journalists +should be personally conducted, as we have +been, through a sample section, their tone would +be more reasonable.</p> + +<p>It has been a wonderful panorama. We +followed the route of the thousand taxi-cabs +which helped to save Europe up to the place +where Gallieni's men dismounted and walked +straight up against Klück's rearguard. We saw +Belleau Wood, where the 2nd and 46th American +divisions made their fine debut and showed +Ludendorff that they were not the useless soldiers +he had so vainly imagined. Thence we passed +all round that great heavy sack of Germans +which had formed in June, 1918, with its tip at +Dormans and Château Thierry. We noted Bligny,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span> +sacred to the sacrifices of Carter Campbell's 51st +Highlanders, and Braithwaite's 62nd Yorkshire +division, who lost between them seven thousand +men in these woods. These British episodes seem +quite unknown to the French, while the Americans +have very properly laid out fine graveyards +with their flag flying, and placed engraved tablets +of granite where they played their part, so that in +time I really think that the average Frenchman +will hardly remember that we were in the war +at all, while if you were to tell him that in the +critical year we took about as many prisoners and +guns as all the other nations put together, he +would stare at you with amazement. Well, what +matter! With a man or a nation it is the duty +done for its own sake and the sake of its own +conscience and self-respect that really counts. +All the rest is swank.</p> + +<p>We slept at Rheims. We had stayed at the +chief hotel, the Golden Lion, in 1912, when we were +en route to take part in the Anglo-German motor-car +competition, organised by Prince Henry. We +searched round, but not one stone of the hotel was +standing. Out of 14,000 houses in the town, +only twenty had entirely escaped. As to the +Cathedral, either a miracle has been wrought or +the German gunners have been extraordinary +masters of their craft, for there are acres of absolute +ruin up to its very walls, and yet it stands +erect with no very vital damage. The same +applies to the venerable church of St. Remy. On +the whole I am prepared to think that save in one +fit of temper upon September 19th, 1914, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span> +guns were never purposely turned upon this +venerable building. Hitting the proverbial haystack +would be a difficult feat compared to getting +home on to this monstrous pile which dominates +the town. It is against reason to suppose that +both here and at Soissons they could not have +left the cathedrals as they left the buildings +around them.</p> + +<p>Next day, we passed down the Vesle and Aisne, +seeing the spot where French fought his brave +but barren action on September 13th, 1914, and +finally we reached the Chemin des Dames—a good +name had the war been fought in the knightly +spirit of old, but horribly out of place amid the +ferocities with which Germany took all chivalry +from warfare. The huge barren countryside, +swept with rainstorms and curtained in clouds, +looked like some evil landscape out of Vale Owen's +revelations. It was sown from end to end with +shattered trenches, huge coils of wire and rusted +weapons, including thousands of bombs which are +still capable of exploding should you tread upon +them too heavily. Denis ran wildly about, like +a terrier in a barn, and returned loaded with all +sorts of trophies, most of which had to be discarded +as overweight. He succeeded, however, in +bringing away a Prussian helmet and a few other +of the more portable of his treasures. We returned +by Soissons, which interested me greatly, +as I had seen it under war conditions in 1916. +Finally we reached Paris after a really wonderful +two days in which, owing to Mr. Cook's organisation +and his guide, we saw more and understood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span> +more, than in a week if left to ourselves. They +run similar excursions to Verdun and other points. +I only wish we had the time to avail ourselves of +them.</p> + +<p>A tragic intermezzo here occurred in our Paris +experience. I suddenly heard that my brother-in-law, +E. W. Hornung, the author of "Raffles" +and many another splendid story, was dying at +St. Jean de Luz in the Pyrenees. I started off at +once, but was only in time to be present at his +funeral. Our little family group has been thinned +down these last two years until we feel like a +company under hot fire with half on the ground. +We can but close our ranks the tighter. Hornung +lies within three paces of George Gissing, an +author for whom both of us had an affection. It +is good to think that one of his own race and +calling keeps him company in his Pyrennean +grave.</p> + +<p>Hornung, apart from his literary powers, was +one of the wits of our time. I could brighten +this dull chronicle if I could insert a page of his +sayings. Like Charles Lamb, he could find +humour in his own physical disabilities—disabilities +which did not prevent him, when over fifty, +from volunteering for such service as he could do +in Flanders. When pressed to have a medical +examination, his answer was, "My body is like a +sausage. The less I know of its interior, the +easier will be my mind." It was a characteristic +mixture of wit and courage.</p> + +<p>During our stay in Paris we went to see the +Anglo-French Rugby match at Coulombes. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span> +French have not quite got the sporting spirit, and +there was some tendency to hoot whenever a +decision was given for the English, but the play +of their team was most excellent, and England +only won by the narrow margin of 10 to 6. I can +remember the time when French Rugby was the +joke of the sporting world. They are certainly +a most adaptive people. The tactics of the game +have changed considerably since the days when I +was more familiar with it, and it has become less +dramatic, since ground is gained more frequently +by kicking into touch than by the individual run, +or even by the combined movement. But it is +still the king of games. It was like the old lists, +where the pick of these two knightly nations bore +themselves so bravely of old, and it was an object +lesson to see Clement, the French back, playing on +manfully, with the blood pouring from a gash in +the head. Marshal Foch was there, and I have +no doubt that he noted the incident with approval.</p> + +<p>I had a good look at the famous soldier, who +was close behind me. He looks very worn, and +sadly in need of a rest. His face and head are +larger than his pictures indicate, but it is not a +face with any marked feature or character. His +eyes, however, are grey, and inexorable. His +kepi was drawn down, and I could not see the +upper part of the head, but just there lay the ruin +of Germany. It must be a very fine brain, for in +political, as well as in military matters, his judgment +has always been justified.</p> + +<p>There is an excellent clairvoyante in Paris, +Madame Blifaud, and I look forward, at some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span> +later date, to a personal proof of her powers, +though if it fails I shall not be so absurd as to +imagine that that disproves them. The particular +case which came immediately under my notice +was that of a mother whose son had been killed +from an aeroplane, in the war. She had no details +of his death. On asking Madame B., the latter +replied, "Yes, he is here, and gives me a vision +of his fall. As a proof that it is really he, he +depicts the scene, which was amid songs, flags +and music." As this corresponded with no +episode of the war, the mother was discouraged +and incredulous. Within a short time, however, +she received a message from a young officer who +had been with her son when the accident occurred. +It was on the Armistice day, at Salonica. The +young fellow had flown just above the flags, one +of the flags got entangled with his rudder, and +the end was disaster. But bands, songs and flags +all justified the clairvoyante.</p> + +<p>Now, at last, our long journey drew to its close. +Greatly guarded by the high forces which have, +by the goodness of Providence, been deputed to +help us, we are back in dear old London once +more. When we look back at the 30,000 +miles which we have traversed, at the complete +absence of illness which spared any one of seven +a single day in bed, the excellence of our long +voyages, the freedom from all accidents, the undisturbed +and entirely successful series of lectures, +the financial success won for the cause, the double +escape from shipping strikes, and, finally, the +several inexplicable instances of supernormal,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span> +personal happenings, together with the three-fold +revelation of the name of our immediate guide, +we should be stocks and stones if we did not +realise that we have been the direct instruments +of God in a cause upon which He has set His +visible seal. There let it rest. If He be with +us, who is against us? To give religion a foundation +of rock instead of quicksand, to remove the +legitimate doubts of earnest minds, to make the +invisible forces, with their moral sanctions, a real +thing, instead of mere words upon our lips, and, +incidentally, to reassure the human race as to +the future which awaits it, and to broaden its +appreciation of the possibilities of the present +life, surely no more glorious message was ever +heralded to mankind. And it begins visibly to +hearken. The human race is on the very eve of a +tremendous revolution of thought, marking a +final revulsion from materialism, and it is part of +our glorious and assured philosophy, that, though +we may not be here to see the final triumph of +our labours, we shall, none the less, be as much +engaged in the struggle and the victory from the +day when we join those who are our comrades in +battle upon the further side.</p> + +<hr class="r45" /> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Printed in Great Britain by Wyman & Sons Ltd., London, Reading and Fakenham</i><br /> +</p> + +<hr class="r65" /> +<hr class="r65" /> + +<p class="center extraspace3top">"Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has given us a classic."—Sir W. Robertson Nicoll</p> + +<hr class="r45" /> + +<p class="blockquotech"> +<i>The First Volume of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's +History of the War</i><br /> +<br /> +<b>THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN in FRANCE +and FLANDERS 1914</b> +</p> + +<div class="blockquotech"> +<p><b>With Maps, Plans and Diagrams. FOURTH EDITION</b></p> + +<p>"After reading every word of this most fascinating book, the writer +of this notice ventures, as a professional soldier, to endorse the +author's claim, and even to suggest that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has +understated the value of a book which will be of enormous help to +the student of this wondrous war as a reliable framework for his +further investigations."—Colonel A. M. Murray, C.B., in the <i>Observer</i>.</p> + +<p>"A book which should appeal to every Briton and should shame those +who wish to make of none effect the deeds and sacrifices recounted +in its pages."—Professor A. F. Pollard in the <i>Daily Chronicle</i></p> +</div> + +<hr class="r45" /> + +<div class="blockquotech"> +<p> +<i>The Second Volume of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's +History of the War</i><br /> +<br /> +<b>THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN in FRANCE +and FLANDERS 1915</b><br /> +</p> + +<p><b>With Maps, Plans and Diagrams. SECOND EDITION</b></p> + +<p>"If any student of the war is in search of a plain statement, accurate +and chronological, of what took place in these dynamic sequences of +onslaughts which have strewn the plain of Ypres with unnumbered +dead, and which won for the Canadians, the Indians, and our own +Territorial divisions immortal fame, let him go to this volume. He +will find in it few dramatic episodes, no unbridled panegyric, no +purple patches. But he will own himself a much enlightened man, +and, with greater knowledge, will be filled with much greater pride +and much surer confidence."—<i>Daily Telegraph</i></p> +</div> + +<hr class="r45" /> + +<div class="blockquotech"> +<p> +<i>The Third Volume of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's +History of the War</i><br /> +<br /> +<b>THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN in FRANCE +and FLANDERS 1916</b><br /> +</p> + +<p><b>With Maps, Plans and Diagrams</b></p> + +<p>"We gave praise, and it was high, to the first and second volumes of +'The British Campaign in France and Flanders.' We can give the +same to the third, and more, too. For the whole of this volume is +devoted to the preliminaries and the full grapple of the Battle of the +Somme—a theme far surpassing everything that went before in +magnitude and dreadfulness, but also in inspiration for our own race +and in profound human import of every kind."—<i>Observer</i></p> +</div> + +<hr class="r45" /> + +<div class="blockquotech"> +<p> +<i>The Fourth Volume of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's +History of the War</i><br /> +<br /> +<b>THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN in FRANCE +and FLANDERS 1917</b><br /> +</p> + +<p><b>With Maps, Plans and Diagrams</b></p> + +<p>"If Sir Arthur can complete the remaining two volumes with the same +zest and truth as is exhibited here, it will indeed be a work which +every student who fought in France in the Great War will be proud +to possess on his shelves."—<i>Sunday Times</i></p> + +<p>"It will find with others of the series a permanent place in all military +libraries as a reliable work of reference for future students of the war."—<i>Observer</i></p> +</div> + +<hr class="r45" /> + +<div class="blockquotech"> +<p> +<i>The Fifth Volume of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's +History of the War</i><br /> +<br /> +<b>THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN in FRANCE +and FLANDERS January to July, 1918</b><br /> +</p> + +<p><b>With Maps, Plans and Diagrams</b></p> + +<p>"The history shows no abatement in vigour and readableness, but +rather the opposite, and a final volume describing the great counter-attack +of the Allies, leading to their final victory, will bring to a close +a series which, on its own lines, is unsurpassable."—<i>Scotsman</i></p> + +<p>"Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has stuck to his great work with admirable +assiduity.... He has produced an accurate and concise record of +a campaign the most glorious and the most deadly in all the history +of the British race, and a record well qualified to live among the +notable books of the language."—<i>Edinburgh Evening Dispatch</i></p> +</div> + +<hr class="r45" /> + +<div class="blockquotech"> +<p> +<i>The Sixth Volume of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's +History of the War</i><br /> +<br /> +<b>THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN in FRANCE +and FLANDERS July to November, 1918</b><br /> +</p> + +<p><b>With Maps, Plans and Diagrams</b></p> + +<p>"Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's concluding volume of the interim history +of the British Campaign on the West Front is as good as any of its +predecessors."—<i>Morning Post</i></p> + +<p>"Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'History of the British Campaign in +France and Flanders' is an authoritative work, which is destined +for immortality.... With full confidence in the historian, with +congratulations on a noble task accomplished, we open the sixth and +final volume."—<i>British Weekly</i></p> +</div> + +<hr class="r65" /> +<p class="center"> +HODDER & STOUGHTON LTD., Warwick Square, London, E.C.4<br /> +</p> + +<hr class="r65" /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wanderings of a Spiritualist, by +Arthur Conan Doyle + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WANDERINGS OF A SPIRITUALIST *** + +***** This file should be named 39718-h.htm or 39718-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/7/1/39718/ + +Produced by Dianna Adair, Suzanne Shell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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