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Conan Doyle
#13 in our series by Arthur Conan Doyle
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March, 1918
PREFACE
Many more philosophic minds than mine have thought
over the religious side of this subject and many more
scientific brains have turned their attention to its
phenomenal aspect. So far as I know, however, there
has been no former attempt to show the exact relation
of the one to the other. I feel that if I should
succeed in making this a little more clear I shall have
helped in what I regard as far the most important
question with which the human race is concerned.
A. C. D.
1918.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I THE SEARCH
II THE REVELATION
SUPPLEMENTARY DOCUMENTS
II AUTOMATIC WRITING
And now, before entering upon his new life, the new
Spirit has a period of sleep which varies in its
length, sometimes hardly existing at all, at others
extending for weeks or months. Raymond said that his
lasted for six days. That was the period also in a
case of which I had some personal evidence. Mr. Myers,
on the other hand, said that he had a very prolonged
period of unconsciousness. I could imagine that the
length is regulated by the amount of trouble or mental
preoccupation of this life, the longer rest giving the
better means of wiping this out. Probably the little
child would need no such interval at all. This, of
course, is pure speculation, but there is a
considerable consensus of opinion as to the
existence of a period of oblivion after the first
impression of the new life and before entering upon its
duties.
CHAPTER IV,
The clear call for our help comes from those who
have had a loss and who yearn to re-establish
connection. This also can be overdone. If your boy
were in Australia, you would not expect him to
continually stop his work and write long letters at all
seasons. Having got in touch, be moderate in your
demands. Do not be satisfied with any evidence short
of the best, but having got that, you can, it seems to
me, wait for that short period when we shall all be re-
united. I am in touch at present with thirteen
mothers who are in correspondence with their dead
sons. In each case, the husband, where he is alive, is
agreed as to the evidence. In only one case so far as
I know was the parent acquainted with psychic matters
before the war.
AUTOMATIC WRITING