remark that this book can still be got hold of:
https://bookstore.whiteaglelodge.org/products/arthur-conan-doyles-book-of-the-beyond
or 
https://www.google.com/search?q=the+return+of+arthur+conan+doyle+ivan+cooke&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

                                     *           *           *

This is made audio book of  the deep wisdom book, 
THE RETURN OF
 ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.
 Edited by IVAN COOKE
THE WHITE EAGLE PUBLISHING TRUST,
ENGLAND.

From the Second Edition. October, 1963.
 


 
CHAPTER 1.
HOW THIS BOOK CAME TO BE WRITTEN.


Man has explored his world with some thoroughness by now. Neither land nor sea 
nor air seem to withhold their mysteries; and he makes plans to visit the moon 
and planets. There seems no limit to his ambition, no secret of nature able to 
withstand his search for knowledge, save only one, self, knowledge; for the 
knowledge of his own nature, his own destiny, his whence, why and whither,
 is denied to all but a few.

Man is still largely ignorant of the background from which he came,  if any; he 
sees no reasonable explanation of his own existence, or clear outline of  what 
will happen to him when his mortal span comes to an end.  With these same 
problems students of religion, of philosophy, and in lesser degree of medicine 
and healing, have wrestled throughout the centuries, mostly in vain. This is why 
we are told by priests that man has to live by faith; that is, by an unflinching 
faith in what someone said many centuries ago, recorded in some book now held 
sacred; or else by faith in this or that interpretation of that book by some 
dignitary of this, that, or the other church. Such a faith is enjoined on man 
because, so he is told, there can be no other way of finding out anything about 
himself or his God. However, some progress at least has been made, if only in 
the domain of faith. We have evolved systems of morality, philosophy, conduct 
and religion that on the whole serve the


 
community well enough. Yet one subject remains about which the average man not 
only knows nothing but expects to continue to know nothing, namely, his own 
future (and more important) the future of some loved one after death. Of all the 
mysteries, he believes, death is the most profound, the most unsearchable. This 
is perhaps why the Church has long declared that its God has purposely forbidden 
or debarred man from knowledge. Thus far and no further," said the Lord.  This 
is ironical enough; for if death terminates everything for evermore, then mans 
having existed at all is a baffling, futile and often tragic mystery. Can this 
be true? For nothing is really worth while to us if the grave ends everything. 
Do we believe this? On the whole, no;  we need no telling that so far as worldly 
wealth is concerned none of us can take it with us; but we still believe that 
there is an enduring yet imponderable wealth of the character, mind or spirit 
which might survive. To set forth why we believe this  would deter most of us. 
We inherited our belief, perhaps, so that it has become part and parcel of our 
being. Because of some instinct or intuitive knowledge deep in us we hold fast 
to this belief that something in us can and will survive because it is
worthy to  survive.


 The thought of extinction at death outrages our sense of rightness, fairness 
and justice. We feel that any decent man deserves decent treatment from his God. 
To snuff him out at death is not decent treatment; but why God should have 
forbidden us to inquire into these matters (as the Church has declared over the 
centuries) is puzzling in the extreme. What some of us really want, and want 
desperately to feel sure about, is not so much our own survival but a sure hope 
of reunion with those dear to us who have gone before.  Without this the idea of 
personal survival loses much of its attraction. No one wants to totter off to 
some ghostly location after death, there to wander alone while time drags on and 
on.  We feel unwilling to participate in such a scheme of survival.

 
page 3.
 And yet whither can we flee for definite knowledge, for assurance in these 
matters? Surely, someone must know, perhaps one or other of those several great 
Ones, on whose words and lives the sacred Scriptures of the world are based, has 
told us? Astonishingly enough, it is not so. The various Scriptures contain 
scant promise of personal survival or of reunion with those who have gone 
before. At first sight this will seem too heartless to be true. The Christian 
will ask, what about the resurrection of Jesus; Is not this both a promise and 
demonstration that all of us will survive death in a like manner? True enough; 
but can it be argued that what was possible for Jesus Christ, called the Son of 
God, is also possible not only to the Christian but to any and every man? Does 
this seem reasonable? The pick of the world's mountaineers can scale Everest by 
risk and effort. Could the man in the street? No. Neither can he climb far 
enough up the spiritual heights to  warrant comparison with Jesus Christ. 
Neither do the four Gospels confirm the hope of the bereaved that they will 
rejoin their loved ones again in some better land. The Church burial service, it 
is true, is made up of texts which seem to promise such happenings, but these 
are culled for that special purpose from the vast body of statements which 
constitute the Bible; and in any case it is possible to select another array of 
texts which promise nothing.  The dead know not anything  can be cited as 
typical of these, which can cancel out the others. Nevertheless, the hope and 
belief are prevalent that if there be a God of love He  will surely grant this 
desired reunion; and there the matter rests. Nor can it be said that the 
religions of the East are in much  better case. They hardly mention survival, as 
an isolated   fact.


 Karma, the sequence of cause and effect resulting in exact justice eventually 
and infallibly meted out to each soul, yes; and coupled with  Karma comes 
Reincarnation, which is essential to such a plan. But we are not told what 
happens to the soul between  its incarnations. Before Karma can properly work 
itself out, not one but many lifetimes are required. The  Bhagavad Gita  is an 
impressive literary masterpiece setting forth this philosophy, and in its 
grandeur may bear comparison with the

stellar universe itself, and yet also seem as distant and unapproachable to the 
average man of the West. Certainly there is little here to comfort the mourner 
with any promise of reunion. For in such philosophies a personal and human love 
is somewhat at a discount, and is cited as a form, modified perhaps, of desire
 for someone or something; and desire, we are told, is what the soul must get 
rid of at all costs,  unless it is to remain on the ever, turning wheel of 
Karmic desire and therefore of recurrent incarnations. Get rid of desire, it is 
said in the East, and once and for all the soul is for ever freed of earth with 
all its sorrowful folk, and hears no more that cry of human sorrow   which has 
no language but a cry. If there is little here to comfort the mourner, whither 
then must he turn for what he so desperately needs in the way of assurance and 
comfort in the hour of grief? Can any one of the more modern faiths assuage his 
sorrow? Theosophy, Christian Science, Spiritualism, what of these? It is well 
known that Theosophy is largely compounded from the various religions of the 
East, and as such presents both Karma and Reincarnation to its devotees, but not 
always in an attractive or most reasonable aspect. So also with the Theosophical 
doctrine of the after, life, which appears to some chilly and unappetizing. Not 
here will the mourner find what he needs. So also with that which Christian 
Science proclaims concerning the after, life, which is so seemingly 
contradictory that it is difficult to conceive of the average man (not a 
Christian Scientist) getting much help here. This brings us to Spiritualism as a 
last resort. If the Churches and even their more modern variants have little to 
say about survival, and almost nothing about reunion beyond the grave, 
Spiritualism stands for almost nothing else but survival, and has as its dearest 
theme reunion beyond the grave. For here alone do we find evidence  pointing to 
survival,  proof  of life after death, as against conviction based on faith. 
There is hardly any other evidence of this nature forthcoming. But, no one 
knows, the reader will say; if that evidence is worth anything; if it were 
really valid and true, practically everybody 

 

 would accept it right away. Instead, everybody, or rather, most sensible 
people, simply will not have anything to do with it. The whole thing is 
continually being exposed in the press, considered much too foolish to take on 
trust, and in the past was denounced by the Church. Quite so; all this may be 
true. What everyone is saying merits respect. Yet during all the centuries of 
mankind man has produced nothing else capable of putting aside the sting of 
death. Without it, O grave, thy victory overrides every human  being and wounds 
each loving heart! Even then, to establish survival and reunion is not enough. 
It does not carry us far enough. Of itself it is only one item of what we want 
to know.  An average human life here is bitter and hard, and often seems to drag 
on far too long. Even when a man believes in the after, life, when he waits and 
even longs for it, often it seems too much like pie, in, the, sky which never 
comes. This is because survival by itself is by no means a complete religion. To 
couple this belief or surety of survival possessed by the Spiritualist with any 
of the orthodox religions will not solve the problem. What does then? Only an 
orderly and reasonable explanation of mans being here on earth; only the 
purposeful setting forth of an outline or scheme which will co, relate this 
human life of ours with the life (or successive lives) which follows after 
death, only this can solve our problem of living rightly and dying hopefully and 
happily. The revelation of such a scheme is in fact the purpose of the present 
book, and this in as simple a manner as possible. Its theme falls naturally into 
three parts: the story of the events  which brought about the revelation; the 
revelation itself, the scheme of mans life here and its continuation in the 
hereafter; and finally an evaluation of the facts narrated.

								

 
CHAPTER 2.
THE BOY WHO BECAME WORLD FAMOUS.

Every river has its tributary streams which discharge into its  waters, and one 
or more of these can be claimed as the actual source of the river. This can also 
happen with a story, when several lesser stories just meander separately and 
then merge into the main stream. Thus, the present story might begin with the 
strange tale of the Hermit of Bagnaia in 1908; or with the later career of Sir 
Arthur Conan Doyle; or the early work of the  well, known medium, authoress and 
seer, Mrs. Grace Cooke. The lives of all three are inseparably interwoven in 
this story. But we naturally turn to that of the main protagonist in this  book, 
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, doctor, novelist, playwright, creator of   Brigadier 
Gerard   and   Sherlock Holmes,  military historian, patriot, traveller, 
sportsman, supporter of humane causes, finally leader of the Spiritualist 
movement and lecturer throughout the English, speaking world. His varied life, 
his immense activity, and extraordinary personality have been the subject of 
three biographies since his passing in 1930; even so, it may be that in these 
days the public have almost forgotten his  variety and accomplishment, save only 
the fact that he created the modern vogue for the detective story!

page 7.
 As a boy the present writer looked forward each month to the arrival of a 
monthly magazine bearing on its cover a picture of the Strand, London, with a 
hansom cab in the foreground, and a long vista of other horse, drawn vehicles. 
At the end of the Strand Magazine were entrancing fairy stories by E. Nesbit, 
sometimes about a creature such as was never seen on land or sea called a   
Psammead.  Also there appeared stories by one,  Arthur Conan Doyle, concerning 
the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, ostensibly related by a Doctor Watson. Little 
did he realise that here before his very eyes were all but the first and 
certainly the very best of all detective stories, not to be equaled, far less 
surpassed by others in the subsequent spate of detective stories which they 
originated. Nor did the actual name Arthur Conan Doyle mean much to him until in 
later years he read his  Stark Munro Letters,
 a book which is more or less autobiographical. Its author seemed so British in 
his uncompromising love of truth, sincerity, and enthusiasm for sport and action 
and love of country. Also he had the knack of catching and holding his reader s 
interest with the first sentence of a story, of bringing a character to life in 
a sentence or two. Not until years afterwards did it become plain that this 
vividness occurred because the writer  was himself living in his characters, 
that he was born to his trade, and that his books were veritable expressions of 
himself. Also they were eminently readable because of their technical skill. 
Conan Doyle himself once said that his writing was at its best  but plain 
English. But how plain an English was this, how forceful and sincere a style! It 
is not surprising that stories such as   Silver Blaze   and the   Brigadier 
Gerard   series came to be hailed as literary masterpieces of their time. Arthur 
Conan Doyle was born in Edinburgh on the 22nd of May, 1859. He died on the 7th 
of July, 1930. During his 71  years of vigorous life he wrote about forty full, 
length books, several plays, a history of the South African War, and another of 
the First World War in six volumes (two major works, the  writing of which might 
occupy a lesser writer for years), together with almost innumerable short 
stories of a quality which never flagged. His athletic achievements were no less 
notable.

 
 page 8.
He excelled at boxing, played cricket  at Lords,  was a pioneer motorist, an 
expert at billiards, and the introducer of Norwegian skiing into Switzerland. It 
seems that whereas the ordinary man lives only a life half, alive, this man 
lived throughout his days with a full hundred, percent vigour and enthusiasm. 
Even during his last illness Sir Arthur occupied himself by drawing a pencil 
sketch which he called   The Old Horse , depicting himself as the old horse 
drawing the formidable load of his lifetime s achievement along a road  where 
outstanding incidents of his career took the place of milestones. These included 
his school and university days, his adventures in a whaler, his medical 
practice, his mountaineering adventures, lecturing tours in America, activities 
during the Boer War, electioneering, and world tours as a propagandist for 
Spiritualism. Piled to a colossal height on the wagon were hosts of his books, 
short stories, plays, and so on, together with a series of 500 lectures, the 
whole topped up by an array of golf clubs, boxing gloves, a cricket bat,  
billiard cues, skis, and other instruments symbolic of his love of sport. The 
picture was an epitome of his life, about which, as we have said, no less than 
three biographies have appeared since Iris death. Yet the burden the old horse 
draws largely omits the activity into which he poured his utmost energy, health, 
and finances, and which finally curtailed his life. This mission led him to deny 
almost everything that he had attained, wealth, ease, comfort, home, life, 
recognition and fame, even a peerage  which was offered him, for the sake of an 
unpopular conviction  which demanded all that he had left to give to life. We 
learn from his books that he had been interested in psychical research for many 
years. He had investigated several haunted houses and some poltergeist cases, 
and had met with startling experiences.   Starting,  he says,   from a position 
of comparative materialism I had at least become receptive and continued to 
investigate in the leisure hours of a very busy life.*  But when the (first 
World) War came it brought earnestness into all our souls and made us look more 
closely at our own

 
 beliefs and reassess their values. In the presence of an agonised  world, 
hearing every day of the deaths of the flower of our race in the first promise 
of their unfulfilled youth, seeing around one the wives and mothers who had no 
clear conception whither their loved one had gone, I suddenly seemed to see that 
this subject with which I had so long dallied was not merely the study of a 
force outside the rules of science but that it was really something tremendous, 
a breaking down of the walls between two  worlds, a direct undeniable message 
from beyond, a call of hope and guidance for the human race at the time of its 
deepest affliction. In this passage were expressed the writer s fearless 
confession of faith, and his conviction that here was the most important of all 
subjects open for man to study. Later came the additional conviction that here 
was something in the nature of a basic revelation. If death ended all for every 
person, then a person had lived for no purpose, since all his ideals, his hopes, 
achievements, affections, longings and the deep call of his heart for God all 
ended in extinction. So it must be with the host who had sacrificed their lives 
in Flanders. For if the individual man lived in vain then Christ also had lived 
and died in vain, for man had no soul to save. So also with the other world 
teachers; equally  vain were the various faiths or religions they had inspired. 
St. Paul s cry,   O grave, where is thy victory; O death, where is thy sting;  
was meaningless. Without survival all that remains for man is to practise some 
system of morality, (such as that of Confucius); and systems of morality are 
cold comfort for the loss of a million men during a war, a war which in itself 
constituted the breakdown of international morality. These were the realizations 
that spurred Arthur Conan Doyle onward. He was then the highest paid of short 
story writers,  at the rate of ten shillings a word; but now his income must go, 
except for an occasional short story; no more books must  be written save on 
psychic matters, with survival as their theme. Boldly, trenchantly, he affirmed 
his new faith.   Conan Doyle! ,   went up the public cry of amazement,   He, of 
all men, to  believe in this sort of thing !  It mattered little what people 
said. Everything had to go.

 page 10.

This was his calling, his crusade. Then began those tours (accompanied by his 
family) when the glad tidings had to be told across the world. For eleven years 
he drove himself on exhausting lecture tours through Australia, South Africa,  
America and Britain, never sparing himself, and latterly heedless of warnings by 
his doctors. No man in his sixties could stand the strain. One of the last acts 
of his life was to struggle up to London to head a deputation to the Home 
Secretary about the centuries, old, law under which spiritualist mediums were 
prosecuted. Then came the end. Within a few days, the warrior  was spent; his 
sword of the spirit was laid down at last. His remains were laid in the garden 
of his home near Crow,   borough, near the hut where most of his stories were 
written. It is said that the gathering was more like a quiet garden party than a 
funeral, for summer dresses were worn, and few people  were in mourning. A huge 
crowd attended, and a host of telegrams poured in. A special train brought 
flowers. It seemed that his friends were world, wide. Thus was his body laid to 
rest. The flowers that had been sent covered the whole field. On the headstone 
was later inscribed his name, the date of his birth and four words:  Steel true, 
blade straight. Mr. John Dickson Carr s book,
The Life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, ends with these words,  Let no man write his 
epitaph. He is not dead. It is true. Both his name and reputation have survived. 
In almost every bookshop will be found   omnibus   volumes of his short stories, 
mostly the Sherlock Holmes series, and his books are frequently serialised over 
the air. Only books such as The White Company and Sir Nigel,
 and those about Spiritualism have fallen into the background, and these were 
dearest of all to their writer. Those books of his which have entertainment 
value look like continuing for years to come; his deeper and more thoughtful  
books, not these.  He is not dead.  He lives on in these pages. Here is his 
final message.


 
CHAPTER 3, MINESTA.

The late eighteen hundreds were the days of large families. To one of these a 
little girl was born, who came as the ninth child  with a gap of five years 
between herself and the child before her. Her mother died when she was only 
seven years of age, and the intrusion of death in so poignant a form at so 
tender an age left memories, which she has never wholly forgotten, of her own 
loss through death. Having felt the sting of bereavement so early, her sympathy 
with others in similar circumstances has always been keen, and her desire to 
help and comfort them strengthened. It appears that during her long illness the 
mother discussed  with her husband the possibility of human survival after 
death, and the wife promised to communicate with him, if this were possible, 
after her passing. This for two staunch Nonconformists living in Victorian days 
shows a certain enlightenment. Some time after his wife had passed on, the 
husband was taken  by a friend to the home of a noted medium, Mrs. Annie 
Boddington. The two men sat at the back of the room, listening to the address, 
after which the medium gave   clairvoyance,  or   spirit messages,  to various 
persons in her audience. None came to the bereaved husband; but as he was 
unobtrusively leaving, the medium asked if the gentleman then going out  would 
wait. He did so, and afterwards she came to him saying she had seen 
clairvoyantly that he had recently lost his wife, and that her spirit, waiting 
in the room to speak to him, had stood aside until the other people had gone, a 
form of timidity characteristic of her. Then the medium began to speak, as from 
the wife, giving the husband a message to each of her children  by name, and 
showing by further evidence that she was conversant with all that had been 
happening in the home since her passing. What was so strangely convincing, 
however, was that  while she was giving these messages the medium s hands were 
carefully arranging and rearranging the handkerchief in the husband s outside 
breast pocket; for this had always been a habit of the wifes. Can it be wondered 
that the husband returned home walking on air, with never a doubt that his wife 
had fulfilled her promise, and that he had spoken to her? His certainty was 
shared by all his children, then mostly in their late teens. Forthwith the whole 
family became Spiritualists, and the father an ardent advocate and worker in the 
movement. In course of time he was speaking at one or other of the Spiritualist 
churches or halls every week. Those were the days when to affirm oneself a 
Spiritualist required courage. A Spiritualist might be abused in the street, or 
even have missiles flung at him; while church services were frequently 
interrupted by stones coming through the windows or by  bricks thrown onto the 
roof. Spiritualist mediums, moreover,  were continually being prosecuted under 
an Act for the   suppression of witches   dating back to the middle ages. Of 
course, the little girl, Grace, also became a Spiritualist. At an early age she 
attended the movement s Lyceum or Sunday School, since when she has never 
wavered in her certainty of survival and reunion. This certainty, however, has 
not been based on messages received through other mediums, although she is 
familiar with this procedure, regarding it as natural and normal. Some are  born 
to music, drama, painting or song, with gifts or faculties  which are inherent 
and must be given expression if they are not to languish or die. Grace had 
perhaps the rarest faculty of all; for she was a natural born psychic, with 
gifts of clairvoyance, of second sight or prediction, of spiritual 
sensitiveness, and of power 
to diagnose and heal sickness, which needed no developing, for they were 
spontaneous. These gifts were encouraged, of course,  by her family s and her 
own familiarity with Spiritualism. They might easily have been crushed had she 
been  born  into some harder, headed materialistic family. But their use to her  
was as natural as breathing, and they manifested spontaneously. She was no more 
than thirteen when she gave a description and message to a woman (whom she had 
met for the first time) from someone who had died. She remembers telling the 
amazed woman that she was about to cross the seas to a distant land, where she 
would live in a house surrounded by a broad verandah on three sides.  Afterwards 
little Grace was told that she had described some dearly loved relative of the 
woman who had died, and given her a message she would never forget, especially 
as she was just about to return to her home in South Africa. One can imagine how 
impressive this communication must have been coming through a child who was a 
stranger. After her mother s death Grace s life was none of the easiest. Her 
brothers and sisters were out in the world by now; her father had married again, 
not very happily. She was left alone for long hours in a big house in a somewhat 
lonely part of South London; and being an intensely sensitive child she was 
often frightened. But at such times a visitor whom she called the   old man   
would occasionally come and talk to her and comfort her. She remembers that he 
did not look like an ordinary person  but rather as if he carried some sort of 
light inside him: it shone out so that he seemed illumined. After he had been 
with her she Would fall asleep and dream happily; and so natural did the  
visitant seem to the child that it was not until later that she realized that he 
was not actually of this world. Thus, though she lacked human society and made 
few friends of her own age, another order of existence offered her 
companionship. She grew to love that other world and her desire to serve its 
interests became a dominant factor in her life. So it was that in her late teens 
she appeared on the Spiritualist platform to give an address and clairvoyance; 
and as the simplicity and youth of the exponent created something of a sensation 
she was asked,

in the years that followed, to speak at other centers. Eventually a week rarely 
passed without several of these engagements. This was hard work, for it involved 
journeys about and across London, and also to provincial towns or cities such as 
Birmingham, Edinburgh or Glasgow. In fact, most of such engagements meant a 
wearisome Sunday journey, the giving of an address and clairvoyance, an even 
more wearisome return home, with little more in the way of material recompense 
than enough to cover expenses. This called for devotion to a self, imposed duty 
over a number of years. It was worth while, for the effort developed qualities 
of courage and steadfastness which were to fit her for the work that lay in the 
future, and brought her even nearer in spirit to her teacher and guide. Every 
medium, it is said, has a guide, or   doorkeeper,  in the unseen world who acts 
as guardian, counsellor and friend. These are often coloured folk; and this may 
seem strange to the  westerner who is convinced that some white, skinned person  
would do just as well or better. But the westerner is apt to concentrate on 
intellectual development rather than intelligence; and there is a difference 
between these: indeed it is often the case that the more highly developed a mans 
intellect, the less intelligent he is. It would seem that intelligence is the 
quality needed in a guide; meaning that gentle wisdom which comes  by living 
close to God. It is often discarnate people of the red and yellow races, the 
Tibetans, Indians, Chinese, Red Indians,  who manifest this wisdom of the heart. 
It has been suggested that the visitor who used to comfort the child Grace when 
she was alone and frightened was not of this  world. He was, in fact, the child 
s guide or mentor, given this charge from her birth. His name, she learnt later, 
was White Eagle. During all the many years the writer has known White Eagle, he 
has been extraordinarily reticent about himself, his past and his present 
mission. He says that he is just a friend to all, an old man who drops in 
because he likes to help people in their troubles. Maybe he is wiser than some 
of us because he stands a little higher and can see a little further, and thus 
knows what is going to happen.

 page 15.

 White Eagle s contact with his medium is always by a process of projection. He 
lives, we have learned, in the mountains of the East, and he can project either 
himself or his influence half across the world to her, by functioning, like 
other initiates, in the ethereal body. So while he lives in a physical body, as 
do other initiates, he is able (as are they) to function in the ethereal  world 
which pervades this physical globe, of which the latter is the replica. In that 
ethereal world (the real living  world, in  which our world of the senses is 
cradled,) there is neither time nor space as we know it. Therefore he need not 
journey half across the sense, world to get anywhere. At once he can be at any 
one place, or contact any one person, or answer someone's call for help. Only 
with the resumption of the physical or sense  body does the Sage resume or take 
on himself our mortal limitations and our burden. Not even then to the same 
degree as man. The Sage s body is perfected, is no longer subjected to 
weariness, sickness or death as we know these things. It is a habit of White 
Eagle s to bestow a new name on his friends, and one which usually seems to fit 
them better than the name with which they were christened. Sometimes it is the 
name of a Biblical character, such as Peter, Matthew or Luke, or a name from The 
Pilgrim s Progress. Sometimes it will denote some dominant trait in the 
personality or stimulate some quality which the personality needs. These   soul   
or   character   names carry with them, moreover, an inkling of what is to be 
expected from the person concerned. A Peter, a Luke, or a John will display 
qualities, shortcomings or virtues, similar to those of their prototypes in the 
Gospels. Indeed it often happens that the new name will presently supersede the 
old one, and a man becomes known by it among his friends. The name which White 
Eagle bestowed on his medium is   Minesta,  which means   mother  ; we shall see 
later how apt this name has been. From now on it will be convenient to refer to 
the medium, otherwise Mrs. Grace Cooke, by the name of Minesta. Minesta had been 
conducting services and giving clairvoyance each Sunday, and often on weekdays 
for about twenty years on
 behalf of Spiritualism. During these years her powers of clairvoyance and 
vision must have carried conviction to some thousands of people. Thus, the 
influence of her work had gone far and wide. To contact and to serve the higher 
intelligence a medium must  be a person of unusual and purposefully cultivated 
sensibility, and with qualities of character, of mind, motive and feeling,   
without which his or her gifts could never function. This is  why so long a 
period of hard work and endurance was necessary to toughen and at the same time 
refine her character even while at the same time her sensitivity was increasing 
by reason of her work. At the end of these years of what may be called 
preparation Minesta had reached middle life, and was married with two children 
and a home to look after. By then, however, the nature of her work had changed 
somewhat in consequence of a meeting  with Miss Estelle Stead, daughter of the 
famous journalist, W. T. Stead (who went down in the
Titanic), and leader of the   Stead Borderland Library,  regarded as one of the 
important centers of the Spiritualist movement in London, and where Minesta  
went several times a week. Her task now was mainly to help and convince recently 
bereaved people of survival. Many of these were torn by grief and sometimes so 
embittered that it required a great effort to raise them out of despair. The 
Stead Library was situated in Smith Square, Westminster; and a few hundred yards 
away in Victoria Street, facing the  Abbey, was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle s   
Psychic Bookshop,   which he had opened some years before, aiming not only to 
supply the general public but animated by the hope that clergy from the Abbey 
might drop in to purchase psychic books. It is doubtful if any ever did. The 
Bookshop, which was in the charge of his daughter Mary, must have involved Sir 
Arthur in a very considerable loss for several years. It was not long  before 
such near, neighbours as the Stead Library and the Bookshop, and also Minesta 
and Miss Mary Conan Doyle, became acquainted. A friendship soon sprang up 
between the two, resulting in an invitation to Minesta from Sir Arthur and Lady 
Doyle to visit them at their home near Crowborough in Sussex. Sir Arthur, on 
hearing about Minesta s work for Spiritualism, and about White Eagle (and 
especially the latter,) was deeply anxious to meet Minesta. This happened during 
the summer of 1930 when Sir Arthur  was a very sick man. A week, end visit was 
arranged, and then suddenly cancelled because a turn for the worse came. Soon 
followed the news of Sir Arthur s passing, a great shock, for he seemed a very 
part of the Britain of those days. Every one of these seemingly trivial details 
about Minesta and Sir Arthur have their significance, for they denote a linking, 
a drawing together of the two even before his passing. They never met; but they 
had a community of interests, a likeness of purpose at that time. To the world 
and to themselves they were as strangers; and yet their lives were interwoven 
even then by ties destined to draw them closer in the near future.


 

CHAPTER 4, 
THE HERMIT OF BAGNAIA.
 If you call me by day or night by these names I will come to assist and to 
help; the Angel will come to assist and help; and the Spirits also come.  The 
Avesta.  

May they who have attained the spiritual life, gentle and righteous, aid us when 
we call them. Rig Veda.


The third tributary story which merges into the main current of events is that 
of the Hermit of Bagnaia, a small town near  Viterbo, about sixty miles north of 
Rome. This account is translated from the  Bulletin des Polaires  for June 9th, 
1930. Following many enquiries as to the circumstances which surrounded the 
transmission of the Oracle de Force Astral by Father Julian to his successor, we 
have much pleasure in citing  briefly where and how this moving episode took 
place: In 1908 a young man found himself during his vacation at Bagnaia, a 
pleasant country town of Viterbais in the neighborhood of Rome.  No sooner had 
he arrived than his attention was drawn to an old man wearing the coarse monkish 
habit. Tall, ascetic, sunburnt, his eyes deep set, he passed along the streets 
as though in a dream.  The lad made enquiries from the country folk. Was this 
man a godly hermit  No. After listening to what was said, he gathered that this 
individual, who was called Father Julian, was
 was published from May 9th, 1930 onwards  by the  Group des Polaires  during 
their existence in Paris. 

 
Although nothing definite in the way of accusation could be brought against him 
the "presumptions" seemed grave, it would be as well, they said, to beware of 
this strange person, who lived as a wild man of the  woods in an old ruined hut 
and fed on herbs and fruits; who  was scorned by all good Christians and was, 
moreover, one who had never been seen to cross the threshold of the House of 
God. Things had come to such a pitch that finally it had been pointed out to 
him, and not too politely, that it might be as well if he did not loiter in 
passing by the vines or com fields, for very potent spells, capable of drying up 
the ripe grapes or of destroying the cattle by a mysterious disease, can be 
quickly cast.  In spite of these tales of magical charms and evil spells the  
young man was greatly drawn to the recluse, by a strange sympathy, and one day 
he decided to visit him in his hut. He  was received as one who had been 
expected for a long time. The lad offered money, clothing, a more suitable 
shelter. The hermit refused in his curiously deep and slightly guttural voice, a 
voice, nevertheless, full of great sweetness; he intimated that he found all he 
required in the woods around him; the herbs and fruits necessary to him as food; 
the running streams to drink from. 

Besides, he must  stay where he was even in spite of the hostility of those 
around him, until the day came for him to set out on a long, a very long, 
journey.  The next day the young man paid another visit with eagerness; and 
never a day passed without a meeting, during which the hermit would speak of 
Goodness, of True Love, and of Brotherhood. Truly, this young Roman boy, firmly 
attached though he was to the things of the world, saw in the recluse an 
initiate and partly understood the gentle foolishness of his self, imposed 
isolation, his way of life, hard and painful though it appeared outwardly, as 
well as his firm resolve to refuse all outside aid.  The boy was moved by such 
sympathy and profound pity for the recluse, so good and of such sweetness of 
nature, that he felt it an almost sacred duty to continue his daily pilgrimage 
on going up the path to the hermit s dwelling, he found Father Julian lying 
unconscious on the road, badly  wounded in the knee. He dressed the deep wound 
as well as he was able, and then assisted the old man to re, enter his hut. The 
next day he found the hermit up and about; three days later the wound was 
completely healed.  What mysterious herbs had been the means of obtaining this 
complete restoration to health? The young man did not dare to inquire. Many a 
time the recluse when questioned somewhat indiscreetly by his young friend would 
remain silent, lost in a dream, the reflection of which shone through his large, 
dark, far, seeing eyes.  The link which united the two men grew stronger and 
stronger. The visits to the hermit s cell became more frequent, the 
conversations between them of greater length and of a more intimate nature. The 
old man spoke meaningly of pain and sacrifice to the younger man whose eyes were 
still fixed on the dreams and illusions of life. At length the end of the 
holidays  was at hand. With a saddened heart the youth made his way for the last 
time to the hermit s abode. It will never be known  what the recluse murmured 
"from mouth to ear" to him whom he called for the first time "his son." We can 
only say that at the moment of leave, taking, he handed to him some leaves of 
paper yellowed by the passage of time. These were " a small fragment from the 
Book of the Science of Life and of Death." The recipient of these mysterious 
pages will remember to the end of his days the last words spoken to him by the 
Sage: " Should you at any time require help or counsel you have only to follow 
the instructions which are contained in this old manuscript, you will receive 
your reply.


 It may even occur that one day  I myself will reply to you.
 But remember never to divulge to anyone in the world what is written on these 
pages, for in so doing you run the risk for yourself, as well as for the one who 
obtains the knowledge, of madness or death. The pages contained an arithmetical 
system which permitted an answer to whatever question was formulated. The youth  
who had little or no inclination to dive into occult mysteries,

 put away the manuscript in a place of safety, without even having had 
sufficient curiosity to consult the marvellous Oracle.  It was not until two 
years later that the young man, who was then in great distress of mind, made use 
of the strange power  which had been confided to him by Father Julian. He 
consulted the manuscript. It was necessary first to dwell very strongly upon one 
s wish, to write it down and to supply the surname and Christian name of the one 
making the enquiry and also the names of his mother. He formulated his question 
and then spent long hours in the prescribed arithmetical calculations.  The 
reply obtained showed itself to be astonishingly correct and to contain great 
wisdom.  Amazed at this result the custodian of the Oracle some time later spoke 
to a group of his friends, who were students of the esoteric, of this strange 
method of obtaining information. Thus the groups came into being. In 1923 Father 
Julian kept his promise. He replied himself.  In April, 1930, by means of the 
Oracle Force Astral, he sent his last message in the flesh  to his well, beloved 
sons.

 And now the Lord Buddha has opened to him the Path of Light. Here the account 
of how the Oracle de Force Astral came to be used comes to an end. A complete 
outline of how it  worked cannot now be given. This no one knows. The system  
was communicated, fulfilled its appointed purpose, and has now ceased. It could 
only be operated apparently by someone possessing the requisite psychic or soul, 
vibration, which perhaps one in ten thousand might have, the youth being one of 
these; doubtless for this reason he was brought to Father Julian. This is why 
what follows must seem somewhat sketchy and inadequate.  What is quite certain 
is that the oracle worked and that its message had a cogency and power which 
made it unique. It was operated, as has been said, by arithmetical calculation. 
So does the ancient science of Astrology operate, although the intuition of the 
astrologer plays its part. No doubt the intuition of the operator of the Force 
Astral was equally important when he was sending or receiving messages.

 
page 22.
God, it is said, geometrises, for He is the great Geometrician of the Universe. 
In other words, the universe of God s creation could be reduced to a geometrical 
or mathematical formula were there any mathematicians capable enough! In a like 
manner mans own inventions have to be reduced to formulae before they can be 
constructed. Much the same principle lay behind the Force Astral. For instance, 
any person asking a question through it had to think out the question very 
clearly and write it down in the fewest possible words. He had also to supply 
his full name and date of birth, together with his mother s maiden name and her 
date of birth. The question had then to be translated into Italian, because the 
Force Astral operated only in that language. The first task of the operator, 
(now a grown man, and known to his intimates as the  magician, was to turn each 
letter  of the words of the question, together with the names  of the questioner 
and his mother, into arithmetical figures. He then, by intricate calculations 
and by use of his own psychic power,   sent out   this question and obtained an 
answer to it, the latter coming in as a mass of figures meaning nothing to the 
Mage until translated back into letters and so into words. From a short question 
a long answer might come, and vice versa. Sometimes even a long course of 
instruction or advice would come through. It was claimed that the mind of the 
operator in no way influenced or affected the quality of the message as might 
the subconscious mind of a medium. That is as may be. What is certain is that 
the instructions were accepted without question. It can be imagined how 
dumbfounded was the young man at this discovery and how eager he and a friend 
were to communicate again with Father Julian. What they wanted to know now was 
the why and wherefore of the secret and why it had  been entrusted to them in 
particular. Many hours were spent in communication, which, it is plain, must by 
reason of the procedure entailed, have necessarily been slow and laborious. A 
later message through the Force Astral bade the two men go to Paris and there 
establish a group which should be called the Polaire Brotherhood. They arrived, 
strangers in a strange
city, and almost penniless. Mysteriously, people introduced themselves and 
became friends. Money was supplied, and soon the Brotherhood occupied handsome 
premises in the Avenue Junot on the western slopes of Montmartre. 

The Bulletin Polaires, a monthly magazine, ultimately reached a circulation of 
ten thousand copies among adherents of the Polaire Brotherhood. All this was 
happening, it should be noted, some few years after the first   War which was to 
end War.  At that time the nations were too busy putting their world together 
again to  bother themselves much over the possibility of war in the future.  
Armed forces were everywhere being disbanded. It is therefore disconcerting to 
find that the early messages communicated through the Force Astral referred to 
the   Years of Fire   that  were surely coming on the world (if it did not 
change its ways), and which would involve an era of destruction and privation 
far exceeding that just experienced. But after these particular communications 
no more came from Father Julian, who, having as it were established relations, 
disappeared. Thereafter the communicator was someone carrying greater weight and 
authority, who became known as the Chevalier Rose, Croix, the Chevalier Sage or 
the Wise Knight, (he has been later identified as the Master   R   who, as it is 
well known, was once the Brother Francis Bacon). 

The Force Astral had been entrusted to the  young man by way of preparation 
against the coming of the  Years of Fire. Henceforward the Wise Knight was to be 
leader; the Force Astral his means of communication. A word about the Masters. 
Long ago, an occult tradition tells us, the area of land and sea around the 
North Pole was not only habitable but possessed of a warm and genial climate. It 
was referred to by the Greeks as the Hyperborean region, where there had once 
dwelt advanced men (and, of course, women) known as Masters; that is, having 
become masters over themselves, over their human weaknesses, they were no longer 
subject to the limitations of time or space as men know them. They were masters 
of time, and over age, illness and death.  While they could live as man lives on 
the physical plane, they could also lay aside their physical bodies, (leaving 
them in a

 
profound slumber or trance, as do some of the Indian mystics today), and 
function in unseen worlds such as the after, death states. Long, long ago when 
the earth was young and innocent they ruled it by loving, kindness. Theirs was 
the golden age to  which folk tales such as the Garden of Eden story refer. But 
then some interstellar convulsion shifted the earth on its axis, and a tide of 
ice and snow followed, which slowly enveloped the polar regions; and co, 
incident with this, the golden age chilled and hardened into one of materialism, 
before whose advance the Sages retreated to the mountains of the far East,  
where in secluded fastnesses they are established to this day, no longer 
mingling with the world of men, unable to endure mans present vibrations. 
Tidings of these Masters occasionally reach the peoples of the East, most of 
whom have heard about and believe in them. Some years ago the writer met a 
professor from one of the Indian Universities visiting Britain, and in 
conversation heard him tell of his meeting with a Master. When asked what he  
was like, the professor simply answered,   He is all love. In these words we 
have the keynote of a Master or Initiate. Since they no longer mingle with men, 
their love is now expressed by a projection of light, which is a ray of love; 
for love takes the form of light when sent out to mankind, and also to certain 
chosen and responsible individuals, who may or may not  be aware of their 
contact with a Master. By this power of projection which they possess they are 
able to inspire, to strengthen, to raise such people (if they be willing) but 
never to influence unduly or override the free will choice and volition of any 
human soul. The symbol of the Polar Star given to the Polaires was therefore an 
ancient symbol descended from Hyperborean times, countless centuries ago, and 
still possessing some of its ancient power. The Oracle de Force Astral may date  
back as long. So also might the method and organisation of the Polaire 
Brotherhood itself be modeled on one far in the past. In any case instructions 
were given how to make use of the methods of projection employed by the Masters, 
but with a difference; for the Brotherhood groups must perforce work on touch 
with Lady Conan Doyle, who would then introduce him to the medium through whom 
the Wise Knight desired the message to come. This medium, it was stated, had 
been long chosen and trained for this particular task. When he met her the 
Polaire Brother would recognize her at once. Let there be no delay.



 
CHAPTER 5, 
THE MESSENGER FROM FRANCE.
  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 reactions a real thing, and to re, assure the human race as to the future 
which awaits it, surely no more glorious message was ever heralded to mankind. 
Arthur Conan Doyle, the Wanderings of a Spiritualist.


These lines are written on January 27th, 1956. Twenty, five  years ago, again on 
January 27th, a group consisting of Lady Conan Doyle, her family, and three 
friends, a Monsieur Zam Bhotiva from Paris, Minesta and her husband, met at the 
Stead Library in Smith Square, Westminster. Whether there is any significance in 
the fact that this account is being written on the same date in January depends 
on how far numbers influence human lives. For some people become aware that 
their lives react to numbers in a strange way. For instance, things mostly seem 
to happen to them on certain days of the week or month. We receive a number at 
birth, our date and year, and we  vibrate to it; each of us being a unit in the 
mathematical, or geometrical, scheme of the universe. The Force Astral, for 
example, was intimately concerned with numbers and depended on arithmetical 
calculations for its efficacy. Indeed, it operated on a three, six, nine 
vibration (nine being thought to be the number of the initiate.) The six, 
pointed star given to the Polaires as their symbol was of course a six, 
vibration. This is  why the Brotherhood, aware that it must conform to the 
three, six, nine vibration for its best work, usually chose a three,  six, nine 
day of the month and hour of the day for its principal activities, and at first 
adopted a diagram depicting the figures   three, six, nine   as an emblem for 
the heading of the
 Bulletin Polaires.


  page 29.

Minesta also was born on the ninth day of the sixth month, and was also a ninth 
child. Here also we have the three, six, nine  vibration evident in her life. 
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was  born  on the 22nd May. May is the fifth month of the 
year; the two's of the 22nd added together make four, and the four coupled  with 
five make nine, so here the three, six, nine vibration becomes evident again. It 
is perhaps worth mentioning that the compiler and editor of this book was also 
born on May 22nd, because this 365 to 1 chance might have significance. Finally, 
we note that all the Conan Doyle work and messages began on the twenty, seventh 
day of the month, which is a day of three, times three, making nine, and three 
times nine making 27.The first message from Sir Arthur, whom we will call   
Arthur Conan Doyle. henceforth for the sake of brevity, came on January 27th, 
1931, and initiated a long series of messages in which he set forth a full 
restatement of Spiritualism; making it clear once and for all that death and 
survival (and occasional communication  between the worlds) can be regarded as a 
normal and natural experience, as much part of human life as the love between 
man and woman or the birth of a child. Those who read his message intelligently 
and receptively should lose the fear of death. Within a few days of Arthur Conan 
Doyle's passing, the Spiritualists held a Memorial Service at the Albert Hall to 
commemorate their leader. Many hundreds were turned away. It would be 
interesting to know how many of the thousands gathered there to demonstrate 
their very genuine grief and their reverence for his service to their cause had 
been convinced of survival by his own mighty effort for Spiritualism over the 
years. They might  well have numbered half of those present, so powerful had 
been  Arthur Conan Doyle's advocacy for Spiritualism. About this time many of 
the leaders of Spiritualism met to discuss proposals designed to commemorate 
Arthur Conan Doyle. s work for the movement. A million shilling fund was one of 
these, and nobody saw a limit to what might be accomplished. We shall return to 
what actually was accomplished later. Ten days after Arthur Conan Doyle's 
passing Minesta paid her first visit to his home in Crow borough, where she was 
welcomed by Lady Conan Doyle and the family. Shortly after a death the soul of 
the person concerned can be readily seen by a   sensitive   or   psychic. This 
was the case with Arthur Conan Doyle. Who joined his family in their welcome to 
Minesta, but was seen by her alone. Incidentally, it must be hard when a man who 
has passed over seeks desperately to make contact with his relatives, and they 
shut him out because of prejudice or fear, religious or otherwise. Arthur Conan 
Doyle. Spoke to all of them that night through Minesta, not  yet himself 
controlling the medium, but with White Eagle acting as his spokesman. The 
message was both intimate and detailed. A family reunion took place so strong 
that none present could doubt or question it. A stranger in these matters may 
want to know how a   dead   man can speak to his family. The process is natural 
enough;  but it can only become possible through a close co, operation  between 
medium and guide, which comes only after long training and constant practice. It 
should be explained that communication between White Eagle and his medium takes 
two forms: either he may draw very close and bring her under a powerful ray of 
thought or inspiration, when she will speak the message he desires to send 
through; or he may bring her under his control, so that she falls into a state 
resembling the natural sleep of a child. This is by far the stronger, however, 
being a trance, state so deep that she has no knowledge of what is said  while 
it lasts and no recollection afterwards. It is then that  White Eagle himself 
speaks through her. Her voice changes, deepening in tone; and she speaks with a 
slight accent, a changed delivery and choice of words. Moreover, the mind and 
personality of the speaker is strongly marked and there is even a facial change, 
so complete is the fade, out of the personality of Minesta. No one could doubt 
that it is now one of the opposite sex who speaks. The awakening out of this 
trance, state is as natural as the awakening from sleep. Minesta normally 
remembers nothing of what has happened. If she shortly afterwards reads a record 
of  what was said through her lips a faint memory stirs, much like the 
recollection of a dream during waking hours; and that is all.


Page 34.
 About ten days later Minesta was asked to arrange for a special meeting on 
behalf of Lady Conan Doyle and her family, together  with a M. Zam Bhotiva who 
had come from Paris with the sole object of getting into touch with Sir Arthur. 
As has  been said, their meeting was held on January 27th at the W. T. Stead 
Library in Westminster, the hostess being Miss Estelle Stead, the group 
consisting of Lady Conan Doyle and her two sons, three friends of the family, 
the messenger from France, Minesta and her husband. Conditions were not as good 
as might have been hoped. There was a certain strain, due possibly to the large 
number of people present, or possibly to the great power which seemed to be 
focused on the group. Minesta entered, crossed the room and seated herself. At 
once M. Bhotiva rose and crossed over to her. (Neither had met before.) He said:  
Yes, I know you. We have worked together long, long ago, that was in former 
lives in ancient Egypt. See, I have brought you this little star. It has been 
sent to you by the  Wise Ones for you to wear. He pinned it onto her dress, made 
a gesture of blessing and protection, and returned to his seat.

 

CHAPTER 6.
THE   NINE, NINE, NINE   DAY AND ITS OUTCOME
 Our American Adventure.
 At  this stage it will be of interest to know what manner of man this messenger 
was. He is not easy to describe. Someone who once met him by appointment at a 
London tube station during the rush hour said that he stood out among the crowds 
like   an eagle among pigeons. This is true, but to say why is not so easy; he 
was, perhaps, slightly under average height, about forty years old, with a mass 
of hair so dark as to be black, dark penetrating eyes, strongly, marked features 
which when he was touched could soften to an almost Christ, like expression; yet  
when he was stirred to anger he looked formidable indeed. His English was of the 
sketchiest, so that it needed some concentration to follow him. Yet such was the 
power of the man that he seemed to drive home his meaning, and that meaning was 
always something very well worth listening to. In all he was a man of mystery, 
an Italian by birth, and had been with the   Mage   one of the founders of the 
Polaires. His love and respect for his chief, the Chevalier Rose, Croix in the 
East was profound, and he lived to further his chief s cause and that of the 
Polaires. He accorded to White Eagle almost a like respect, seeming to recognize 
thus early wisdom in him and power of love, which in later years have been made 
manifest to a great number of people. M. Bhotiva paid many visits to this 
country during the Conan Doyle work, often crossing and arriving in London 
without notice by the customary letter or telegram. Minesta, however, was nearly 
always aware when he had reached this country, saying that she could even   
smell   the particular brand of cigarette he smoked.
Page 35.

 What brought him over to Britain in the first place? Here  we must turn to a 
message from their Master which appeared in the
 Polaire Bulletin. 
 Arthur Conan Doyle has appeared to us, (to the Sages), and among the many 
interesting things of which he spoke was his decision to interest himself in and 
help the Polaire Group. Before his death he had promised his friends to give 
proofs and manifestations of the after life. To, day he let us know, through his 
communication with the Chevalier Rose, Croix, that he will hold to his promise. 
But not yet: for the spirit of Sir Arthur still waits in his  beautiful Scotland 
for the time of the meeting of the red  and violet  rays. This meeting alone 
will enable him to speak to his friends. Those who would help Sir Arthur should 
use a dark red light when they meet, and especially on this special day. The 
medium chosen must carry a six, pointed star to give her the necessary strength.  
When Minesta read this she naturally asked for an explanation. His own 
particular mission, M. Bhotiva then said, was to help Sir Arthur to give his 
message and his proof of identity to the  world. Before Sir Arthur could speak 
with knowledge and authority he must be shown, or even traverse, a wide range of 
the heavenly kingdom. When the average man dies his soul is held within the 
astral world for a long time, a world which is still close to this world, and is 
still   material   although composed of a finer matter than this. The soul of 
Arthur Conan Doyle. Differed from most souls because it had incarnated under 
certain   earth   rays of great power and significance. No common destiny lay  
before such a soul once it was able to assert itself. The   gripping   power of 
those rays had remained unbroken by his death; that  was why it was necessary, 
according to instructions received from the Sages, for Minesta and Sir Arthur s 
family to go to Edinburgh (where Arthur Conan Doyle. was born), to hold there a 
special meeting on May 22nd, the day of his birth. By this means, in conjunction  
with the
red  and the violet, for which read the rays of the time of his birth, and the 
place of his birth, the soul of Arthur Conan Doyle could  be set free from its 
astral limitations.

M. Bhotiva continued,   We know Sir Arthur in France.

 Page 37.
He loved our country and its people. We too know what manner of man he is. The 
Polaires call him the " Great Brother " and think of him as such. Nevertheless, 
no one can escape his destiny, no matter how great, how strong, how good he be. 
Not even Christ could escape His cross. Minesta pondered these matters for a 
long time afterwards, as well as the fact that M. Bhotiva had said that Sir 
Arthur earnestly desired to re, state the case for Spiritualism; that he  wanted 
to correct many of the beliefs to which he had formerly subscribed in the light 
of what he had himself experienced after his passing; and began to realise that 
this contact of hers with his family, with the Polaires and their messenger, 
with the Chevalier Rose, Croix on the inner planes, was but the preliminary of a 
major work to come. It must be made clear that these talks with M. Bhotiva
 followed  the meeting held at the Stead Library on January 27th when he and 
Minesta first met. This account of that meeting is taken from
your Kingdom Come:
  The group waited until the white light in the small chapel  was switched off, 
the ruby light switched on. The hour which followed stands out and is not 
lightly to be forgotten. By my side sat the medium, on my left was Miss Estelle 
Stead; the red glow fell on the earnest and reverent faces around the circle as 
the guide White Eagle rose. Few can realise without sight or hearing the 
wonderful transformation and dignity which comes upon his medium, the deep 
measured voice with which  White Eagle speaks, his tenderness and humanity.  On 
the table before me is M. Bhotiva s account of what followed, as recorded in the
 Polaire Bulletin.
 The account reads:  The meeting was strictly private; the medium was a Mrs. 
Grace Cooke, well known to English Spiritualists. She wore a silver star, symbol 
of our fraternity, and the room was lit by a deep red light. She went into a 
trance almost immediately. She then rose, crossed the room, and in a masculine 
voice recognised by several present as that of her guide, White Eagle, began a 
long conversation with Lady Doyle and her two sons, Sir Arthur speaking


through the mediumship of White Eagle. (On such occasions the guide speaks on 
behalf of some other spirit, he being the more practiced communicator.) We shall 
not repeat the long conversation which ensued here, for it was strictly 
personal.  After nearly an hour, however, the medium rose again. With closed 
eyes and a firm step she approached Zam Bhotiva, writes of himself in the third 
person saying, " There is a gentleman here whom I have not known during my earth 
life,  but with whom I am now linked in view of a common work."  The medium 
stopped in front of our brother, held out her hand and a joyful, manly " I am 
glad to meet you " rang through the room. A long and low pitched conversation 
then took place  between the " dead " and the " living." Conan Doyle made 
himself known to Zam Bhotiva as " brother," and then, turning again to those 
present, proceeded to speak of the Polaires as " a group destined to help in the 
moulding of the future of the  world. For the times are near." He then said, 
turning again to Zam Bhotiva, "I must speak with you again in six days  time. I 
have some important matters to communicate to you. The work, to which I can set 
no limit, begins."  It was thus that a man whom the world calls " dead " made an 
appointment with Zam Bhotiva.  When Minesta returned home on that night she felt 
somewhat disturbed on account of the unusual nature of what had happened. She 
then received the following instruction from White Eagle:   This man (Zam 
Bhotiva) has an important part to play. He is our servant. No harm will come if 
you give yourself to our  work. Great effects will eventually result from this 
first contact, and these will be widely felt and will presently shatter the 
doubts of the many who cannot believe in the life of the spirit. As yet there 
are many conflicting interests which may hinder the work.
This messenger is sent because
of  instructions from Tibet, and he who sent the message knows
of  you from there.' 
The account of the second meeting with the Messenger six days later is again 
from the Polaire Bulletin.
 The group consisted of four people.  The guide of the medium again takes 
control and speaks in 
the same manly voice. The room is lighted with a deep red light, and the medium 
wears the tiny six, pointed star. 

White Eagle:
 "I speak of one whom I shall call   Nobleheart (as has been said, White Eagle 
often bestows a name indicative of the character or soul of the person 
concerned), "known to  you as Arthur Conan Doyle. He now recognises that his 
passing  was for a far greater purpose than the ordinary mind can realise. He is 
to be used to bring to the earth  fresh truths
 and light. Instructions were sent to Paris to this brother  so that he might be 
directed to the medium through whom he could speak . Conan Doyle holds out his 
hand to you  in  brotherly love. He is ready to help your Brotherhood. His name 
is a power in this country: if it be a power for good take and use it for good." 
The report goes on:   Another communicator takes the place of White Eagle. The 
voice changes, it would appear that Z.B. now believed the speaker to be no other 
than the Chevalier Sage,  but hesitates to say so directly. "Conan Doyle and the 
Wise Knight are now in harmony; in harmony and brotherly love. Conan Doyle is a 
great spirit now released from the flesh, and so will be able to serve in all  
spheres of life. Reach to his soul if you would contact his true spirit. Only in 
the impersonal spiritual power can you receive divine inspiration to forward  
your work; and indeed the personal must become divine. See, the star rises in 
the East, it is the sign of the Polaires, the sign of the two equilateral 
triangles! "   Then followed details about the " years of fire " or disasters 
drawing near to mankind, details which are withheld, coupled with an appeal for 
friendship  between France and Britain for "the link is now made." The account 
continues:   We do not comment on these two meetings. The Polaires hold no 
dogmas, but have a deep respect for all the faiths and beliefs of man. We have 
summarised and have reported as faithfully as possible the two meetings which 
took place, and can only say that according to the communications of the Sages 
received through the Oracle of the Force  Astral, Sir Arthur spoke to us through 
the mediumship of  White Eagle.

 
page 40.
  Regarding these meetings it must be distinctly understood at the outset that 
neither the medium nor her husband knew anything about the Polaire organisation, 
nor of what it sought to accomplish in London. We went to London to obtain 
certain definite evidence, and employed every safeguard to guarantee that 
evidence. Moreover, the Wise Ones informed us that at the end of the second 
meeting the medium would give direct proof that she was in communication with 
our Chiefs. When she awoke from trance she told M. Bhotiva that she saw a lofty 
mountain and a man with a luminous dark face who held out to her a six, pointed 
star. Here was the proof for which we had  waited. Here ends the Polaire account 
of what must have been a notable display of knowledge on the part of White 
Eagle, such knowledge being entirely unknown to the medium and her husband, who 
had acted as recorder during the two meetings. Together with this account of the 
meeting of Z.B. with Sir  Arthur Conan Doyle a facsimile of a letter from Lady 
Conan Doyle appeared in the  Bulletin des Polaires.

 Even after the lapse of years it is worth reproducing this letter, not only 
because of its intrinsic interest but because it affirms the recognition of Sir  
Arthur as the communicator by the one person whose confirmation was most 
valuable and who could speak with the most authority. Another factor which 
increased the bewilderment of these two  was that, unknown to themselves, they 
were being brought under the ray or projection of a special Polaire group in 
Paris  which had been detailed to help Arthur Conan Doyle. in his mission. This 
group sat for months at regular intervals to project a ray illuminating both Sir 
Arthur and his medium. It must always be under? stood that in their work the 
Polaires were forbidden by their Chiefs to constrain or overrule the freewill of 
any man. They must not attempt to dominate, impose or influence anyone to adopt 
or follow any particular line of conduct, however admirable it might seem to 
other people. 




To illumine a soul, for this Brotherhood was working with its own soul, power 
and not with minds or bodies, and thereby to help it to recognize and follow 
the light within itself was to practise a white magic; to attempt in any way to 
overrule the volition of that soul was a form of  black magic bearing terrible 
penalties in this life and the next. No pains were spared to make this crystal, 
clear to every Polaire. May it be as plainly expressed in this book. Only the 
recipients of this ray of illumination are in a position to testify to its 
reality and power. Here Minesta and her husband  were in a peculiarly favourable 
position, since both now wore the little Polaire star which formed a link or 
point of contact, and both were sensitive enough to be receptive to the Polaire 
ray. It is no easy matter to describe their reactions. We have all seen an actor 
on a darkened stage picked out by a spotlight. That is how it felt to these two. 
They were picked out; something was reaching them, something which was affecting 
them during the weeks and months that followed, and which was greatly helpful in 
its influence. Some readers will doubtless want to know why such an advanced 
soul as that of Arthur Conan Doyle. should suffer any limitation after death. 
They will argue that his years of devotion to good causes, his stalwart 
championship of right against wrong on all possible occasions, his sacrifice of 
income, time, strength and even life itself in the cause of Spiritualism, should 
have set him free. Yes, this is a sound argument. But here is another line of 
thought; most of us can presumably do one or two things pretty  well either with 
hands or head or even with both. The achievement of most of us is small. Indeed, 
how many of us can
excel 
 at any one separate thing? Very few; but here and there someone achieves it. 
This does not necessarily refer to a spiritual genius such as a Jesus, but to 
some ordinary man, living in our midst, immersed in the daily round and common 
task, but doing everything better than other people. One has to read more than 
one biography of the man Doyle to gain appreciation of all that he was and did. 
In almost everything he touched, no matter  whether he followed a beaten trail 
or became a pioneer, (as with the Sherlock Holmes saga, or with a new sport such 
as skiing), he excelled. If his physical size was phenomenal, so was the scope 
of his interests and accomplishments.

 
page 43.
Now it so happens that man can only excel when he devotedly and passionately 
desires to do so. To excel at many things,  sports, writing books, or crusading 
in this, that or the other direction on behalf of many a cause, a passion of 
devotion must  be given to all. This means that the soul of the doer is bound up 
with all that it does. If the inclination of its interests is heavenly, it 
becomes a saint or seer; if earthly, then it ties itself down to earth. Some 
folk live out their lives only a quarter or a half conscious, so that many 
valuable and interesting things escape their notice. Rarely does one meet anyone 
one, hundred,  per, cent alive with fire and energy. This may arise because, as 
occultists say, the majority of us do not incarnate in full. A portion of our 
soul stays behind in the invisible world from  which we come, to call us back 
again home when we lay down our burden here at death; so that anyone who 
incarnates his whole self  has some difficulty at first in breaking his earthly 
ties  when his time comes. This is as it may be. What this line of thought may 
make clear is that if Arthur Conan Doyle. was one of these then his service to 
Spiritualism, noble and selfless as it was, did not differ largely from his 
other material interests. His task was always to try to convince hard, headed 
worldly people of the reality of survival by producing substantial evidence of 
an after life. He largely devoted himself to the search for such evidence rather 
than to the spiritual and religious significance of these matters, so that even 
his Spiritualism in some degree ranked among his material interests.





 
I now show you a symbol,  I want to build on a Square of Four for the future 
work. You will find that the revelation  which has been promised will deal not 
only with the life, beyond,  death but with the coming of the Christ Spirit; and 
this in  years to come will bring a very definite change, a revival of the 
spirit in men s thoughts and literature. So also will the governments of the 
nations be someday directed from the Spirit. The curtain which now shrouds men 
and women from the truth, from the incoming light, will be rent; and 
illumination will dawn so brightly that men will see differently, will see truth 
truly. That is enough. Reflect well. I cannot impress you sufficiently with the 
significance of the words spoken tonight.  "The idea of building on a Square of 
Four will be familiar to all Freemasons. It so happened that all the sitters, 
Minesta and Mrs. Caird included, were Masons, as was Arthur Conan Doyle. It also 
happened that the group finally decided that four members made the ideal number, 
members of the Conan Doyle family and M. Bhotiva being only occasional visitors. 
One more significant incident to close this chapter. In the month of April, 
1931, a photograph was published in the London
 News Chronicle
 of a message written on a photographic plate in Sir Arthur s own unmistakable 
handwriting and signed by himself. It read: 
 My dear all of 
 you. I have greatly looked forward to this, but  I cannot come in contact as I 
ought. There lies my difficulty. My greetings to you all. You are indeed doing 
God s work. Arthur Conan Doyle.  
This photograph was obtained through the mediumship of Mr. William Hope of 
Crewe, a most trustworthy photographic medium, who obtained many of his results 
by merely holding an unopened packet of photographic plates between his hands; 
or else by exposing in his camera a marked plate which had been taken from a new 
packet by someone who had marked it and  who oversaw everything which 
subsequently happened to that plate, so that there was no possibility of mistake 
or fraud. What

 

lends this incident value is that it provides a completely independent proof or 
corroboration of the message of the Force  Astral,  
 I cannot come in contact as I ought. There lies my difficulty.  
 These words substantiate the Polaire message.

 
CHAPTER 8.
THE NEW MAN IN A RENEWED WORLD.
  
 When this fateful meeting took place on May 22nd, 1931, Minesta had been on the 
Spiritualist platform for some eighteen  years. Not every exponent of 
Spiritualism stays the course so long. By then she was a superb natural 
clairvoyant, whose messages from and descriptions of people in the spirit world  
went home with hardly an exception. For years, as has been said, she had been 
working in Spiritualist Churches, a heavy task and duty taken in conjunction 
with the claims of home and family. Having become so immersed in the movement, 
she had little time for matters outside her home and work. Her interest in, say, 
Theosophy and occultism, for example, was only tepid, she having commenced one 
or two books on these subjects and laid them aside. Much the same applied, must 
it be confessed;,  to the writings of Arthur Conan Doyle, of which she had read 
one book only. We have therefore to see her in our mind s eye as a person making 
use to the full extent of her strength and the special powers with which she had 
been endowed, in the belief that her most important mission was to succour the 
bereaved and comfort the heavy, hearted. She did this through Spiritualism, 
which at that time (it must be remembered) was a progressive and lively 
movement, getting a considerable and not always unsympathetic publicity in the 
press, and claiming as advocates a host of men and women prominent in science, 
on the stage, in literature, at the bar, and in many other walks of life. Having

no knowledge of occultism or Theosophy or their literature, her own mind could 
not intrude on the communications which were to come; the channel prepared for 
Arthur Conan Doyle. s message was, therefore, free from preconceived ideas. 
This, being important, should be borne in mind by the reader, as should another 
important matter, this being how strongly the mind and personality of Arthur 
Conan Doyle. came through in his written work, and in his public speaking. The 
generation in which his name was a household  word is passing and a succeeding 
generation may be unfamiliar  with his charm of style and expression. The 
present writer always found this magical, magical is not too strong a word. 
Conan Doyle always wrote in plain English, the plainer and simpler the better, 
making no use of sharply novel or emphatic  words or phrasing in order to jolt 
his reader to attention (as did say, Robert Louis Stevenson). He had no need; 
subtly (or magically) his writing reached out and won attention with his first 
sentence and held it to the end. How this came about is difficult to define, but 
certainly it succeeded. Perhaps it was  because the nature of the man himself 
permeated his writing in no common degree. The love of romance in him held us 
until the book ended. He was someone, we felt as we read on, patently sincere 
and honest whom it would be good to know  because we felt we wanted to know him; 
we gladly made his acquaintance through his books, finding there a sturdy good 
sense and right feeling which again was good to encounter; and lastly we felt he 
was British through and through with the best of Britain, and so his books came 
as a breath of home. These are some of the reasons why the word   magical   was 
made use of in the first place. Why is all this written after this lapse of 
time? Because when your Kingdom Come  was first published, everyone was familiar  
with the Conan Doyle books and with their author. As has been said, his was a 
peculiarly individual style, or rather, the man  vested his style with his own 
individuality; therefore when
your
 
 Kingdom Come
 was published it went out to readers long familiar  with that style and 
therefore able to say whether or not his messages read like messages coming from 
Conan Doyle. It was






 

Eagle used were fluent and wonderfully expressive; now they are few and clumsy, 
as of one too reserved to make open gestures. The very phrasing is changed, it 
is that of one with mastery over  words. Neither is the speech broken or 
sentences clipped, as it  was with White Eagle. There has come the burr of a 
northerner.. It is the voice of one from far places, broken and amazed,  but 
gradually gaining in power. Yes . yes . yes. I am coming, I am coming .  Yes .
Thank God!
 What a gathering! " (The speaker seemed to see or realise the presence of some 
concourse of Beings of  brightness and splendour unseen by the people present). 
" I seem to be among a great company of friends. The Light is  very bright; this 
is grand, grand . Speak . Speak to me! " (A murmur of voices: " We welcome 
you.") Arthur speaks to you again, my wife! " (Here a portion of the record is 
omitted.)Thank God ! God bless you! I am here, I am here!  You must forgive my 
emotion. It is not like me to feel emotion,  but it is so marvellous to speak 
with you all again. You do not,  you cannot, understand what all this means.
 I have come hack!
. Yes, it is all coming to me now. I have spoken, of course I have spoken 
before, but not with power. I have passed through some wonderful experiences, I 
want to tell you, I want to tell  you all about them. It is difficult, yes, I 
have heard you calling me. At such times I have been close, and yet there has 
been some barrier. Now at last I have been given power. But I must keep calm, 
for I have a definite message to give, my friends.  Will you therefore follow 
what I say with close attention?  " I would thank all those who have helped me. 
I seemed to be very puzzled when I first realized where I was. My one desire was 
to get back then, and then . oh, there is so much to explain, so much to tell 
you. I have been to my home, I have been
in
 my home, I have seen my dear ones.  What is it which has prevented me from 
doing all that I intended;
I see a mission before me. I have to give a message to you all. It is 
difficult."  The figure of Minesta lay back apparently completely 

 

exhausted. For a while it seemed the speaker had lost his control.  With growing 
apprehension the group watched her. Was this the end? The minutes slipped away, 
five, ten, fifteen. When the voice spoke again there was more than a timbre of 
White Eagle in the speech, as if he also was supporting the medium. Presently 
the voice gained confidence.  " I am still here, gathering power so that I can 
speak with  you further. No, I have not left you, but I got confused,  although 
I have learned a considerable amount about the process of manifestation from the 
other side of life. Much that is erroneous must be cleared away. I see now that 
there is a part of me which can manifest to a slight degree in various places 
and under various conditions. I see now that some of the phenomena of 
Spiritualism are attributable to astral projection and astral memories. Thus it 
is possible for a sensitive or medium to pick up these astral memories which 
have been registered in certain places and conditions of thought, and which can 
be represented to the people of earth as coming from a spirit being. There have 
already been a variety of communications of this sort as from myself, but not 
always projected consciously from me. I so desire to clear up this point.*  " I 
have passed through what you know as the astral life, and have now been cleared 
from the conditions which were hampering my work. To clear a soul of the astral 
vibrations is not altogether an easy matter; but do not be misguided with regard 
to this state; it is a necessary evil. To be freed from these astral ties does 
not sever a man from those he loves, but it sets free his spirit and allows him 
to enter into the full realisation of his own nature. You do not know the true 
selves of one another as you  will when you pass into the illimitable 
consciousness of God; and the same material ties which bind you down here to the 
earth will still bind your soul when you leave the earth, condition, until you 
wake to the glory of God s love.
* This perhaps refers to the many communications claiming to come from  Arthur 
Conan Doyle. which the post brought almost daily to Lady Conan Doyle at that 
time.

 
Page 56.
By this we mean a loosening of the
 personal 
 and an entering into the
impersonal 
 consciousness of the creative Essence which man calls God; and in that 
consciousness a realisation of the  perfectness  of all those you love.  " I 
must work. I must go forward. The mission which we have to fulfill is now shown 
to me. I see so clearly now, whereas  before I saw as in a glass darkly. Now I 
see you and all men face to face. Most of all I see
myself.
  " I thank God for the many opportunities He gave me to help my fellow men.  " 
I see certain things in which I was mistaken. No man can have the entire truth. 
In some respects I was misled. Before my passing I had had some suspicions 
regarding astral memories, and was aware that certain spiritualistic phenomena 
were attributable to these memories. But I did not believe that
all such communications arose from this cause; nor do they! I tell you 
definitely that it is possible for the human spirit, which is the real man, if 
that man has a definite mission to perform for the good of humanity, to come 
back to execute it and so help forward the evolution of the race. Survival of 
the human soul is a proven fact, is unquestionable. But the world is waiting for 
a greater demonstration and a more evident proof of this mighty truth. Humanity 
must realise that communication with astral memories left behind by a soul after 
its passing and with the real spirit of a man are vastly different. Before any 
true communication can take place it is necessary for
the spirit of the  person left behind on earth
 to be raised to the
consciousness of spiritual reality.
 This is why so much is futile in the spiritualistic movement today; but the 
glorious truth of survival must be given to humanity in clear and perfect form.
 Personal responsibility and the redeeming power of love:
 these are the great things. A mans personal responsibility is an irrefutable 
fact; for I find that it is not only a mans
actions
 in the outer world which count, but his
inmost thought.
 This is  because the spirit world to which he will go is a world of thought, 
his own thought,
an internal state
 rather than an
external condition
in which he lives. Thought promotes action; the actions of each

 

man again promote thought in his fellows; and we thereby return again to the 
thought world. Truly is it said that as a man sows he shall surely reap.  " In a 
broad sense the seeds of thought that he sows are interpreted as actions; but 
now I find that thought is more powerful than action, since one of the first 
things a man is faced  with on his escape from earth life is
a world of his own thought.
Let us pass on from this condition to the next; but not forgetting that it is 
not always pleasant to be isolated
in a world 
 
which represents all the thoughts one has projected during a lifetime.
 But God is Love, Wisdom and Justice. I would not have it otherwise, for it has 
been revealed to me in a most marvellous  way how the love of God can manifest 
in the deepest heart of His children.
 Personal responsibility and the redeeming power of love
, this one great lesson I have learned, and pass it on to all of you. No man can 
really live or die apart from God . God, Christ, Love,, call it what you will. 
The men of earth have seen a supreme manifestation of that great power of Love, 
expressed in One, no, in several personalities."  A long pause ensued. The 
speaker had been under deep emotion and agitation throughout, and his power was 
now obviously flagging. He continued, " Yes, yes, yes. The redeeming power of 
Love is supreme. I must conclude my message with this. Love! Not personal love . 
impersonal . love for all men. Now I see the great need of all men,   yes, the 
Master."
White Eagle interposes:
 " I think we can help now, as our  brother is not able to finish. White Eagle 
speaks. This is  Arthur s birthday, his   second   birthday, and from now on he 
gathers an ever, increasing power. Vibrations are very strong and he is 
overjoyed, although he says, " Nonsense; I did not lose my head! " But when you 
are dealing with conditions  which are entirely unusual you will understand that 
these things happen. He is so full of enthusiasm and desire to serve, to work, 
to fight on and to win. He does so want it   all on the level.  He is sensible 
of your token of love and remembrance to his old

 
 body (this probably refers to flowers laid that morning on his grave). He is 
much more satisfied with the new. I am to say that he gets younger and has now a 
new body strong and   full of beans,  he says. What follows now you may think 
peculiar, but he was  very fond of the living creatures in the woods and gardens 
around his old home, and of a pet squirrel. He still loves to come and watch its 
little ways, and is still friendly with it. His  was always a heart full of love 
for the   little people , so boyish, so simple, so big, honest and sincere with 
its desire to help. His one desire was to give proof and comfort to the broken, 
hearted. There is one more thing he wanted to say (he stands on my left amid a 
group of shining forms most beautiful to behold), and that was about the many 
prophecies of catastrophes to come  which he received a year or two before his 
passing. He says,   Do you not see how linked up we are already with the New  
Age? We have before us a mighty work. There must be a great effort put forward 
to help humanity in its crisis. We must therefore spread the truth, and in that 
way make preparation so that souls do not come over here to dwell in darkness 
and then fall back into, no, he will not complete that sentence. A brief
blessing  or benediction  completes the record of that day, spoken under 
conditions of extreme emotional strain. Already  we see that the dominant urge 
of Arthur Conan Doyle., beyond even that of family and affection, was this 
imperative message waiting to be delivered, this mission to which all else must 
be subordinated. Arthur Conan Doyle. managed to strike a keynote. He laid, as it 
were, a foundation on which all that followed was to be built when he used the 
words,  
 As a man sows so he must surely reap.  
 To this he added,   In a broad sense the seeds of thought that he sows are 
interpreted as actions; but now I find that thought  is more powerful than
action,  since one of the first things a man is faced  with on his escape from 
earth life is a world of his own thought. 
Page 58.




INITIONS; AND THE  MATERIAL PROOF.
 It  seems necessary here to break the continuity of Arthur Conan Doyle. s 
message in order to define one or more of the terms employed, such as   soul   
or the
astral world.  For what does the word   soul   mean? It means
ourself; that is, mans inner self apart from the body physical that we drag 
around, which demands nearly all our strength, time and energy to nourish, 
clothe, house, protect, transport from place to place, amuse and exercise; and 
eight hours  sleep in order to rest it every night. The soul is
ourself.
 We are apart from our body only when we are carried away from it by something 
which absorbs us, by music, poetry, flowers or scenery, by drama or the ballet, 
by deep meditation, aspiration or spiritual illumination. Then do we function in 
our soul. We are
 that soul in all the higher reaches of our being, and our memories, interests, 
enthusiasms, thoughts, feelings, aspirations comprise it. Sometimes we are all 
soul, full; but oftener when the body is sick, sorry and complaining, we are 
mostly body. Nevertheless, our soul is ourselves as we really are, and as we 
shall be after the death of the body when we shall first migrate to astral 
realms. Not that there will be anything very novel in our astral environment, 
since we go there every night when we fall asleep. Sleep being a little death, 
we are well practiced in dying, and in this fashion die three hundred and sixty, 
five times yearly.  With each new day we awake. With the same certainty we shall 
presently awake after death, since both sleeping and dying are natural functions 
of our being. Why then do we not remember anything about the astral places which 
we are said to visit during sleep? But we do,

though we store our knowledge in a different compartment, or department, of 
ourselves, away from the self of every day. We are often ignorant of the extent 
of our ignorance. We know hardly anything, for example, about this physical 
body. We don t know whether physical matter is real, or what electricity really 
is. (The two may be very closely linked, who knows?)  We don t even know what 
our world looks like, because our physical senses have so narrow a range that 
there are colours we cannot see, sounds we cannot hear, scents we do not 
register. This being so, man has a distorted and incorrect impression of the 
world in which he lives. We are, however,
aware
 that everything in it is in a state of vibration, and that we ourselves  
vibrate in accord with a host of other vibrations. This we  believe and accept 
scientifically. We need therefore only one step further to believe that there 
are other vibrations around us, not necessarily physical but ethereal or astral. 
There are indeed astral worlds encompassing this, each in a differing state of 
vibration from coarser to finer.   Encompassing   is the word, for they are not 
distant planets like Mars or Venus,  but are additional departments or colonies 
of this world, which they encase, much as an onion is encased by its various   
skins  ; and yet also interpenetrate our world with themselves, much as  water 
soaks through a sponge. These astral worlds are mostly of a higher vibration 
than the physical, and therefore consist of a finer matter. Human life is less 
burdened since the astral body worn over there by man does not weigh down its 
wearer, but is a thing of beauty, health and  joy. This is the Summerland 
beloved by Spiritualists. Souls go there (souls being humans freed from the 
flesh but otherwise unchanged) and inhabit an astral body. They do not at once  
become greatly wise or spiritual. Rest and refreshment after the toils of their 
earth life is the first necessity. This they obtain, and they remain in the 
astral world while time slips past. Some will say this is too
good 
 to be true. Nothing is too good to be true. Therefore it is perhaps a pity 
willfully to believe, habitually to believe, in things too
bad 
 to be true, of which there are many varieties, most of which are only bogies. 
But if people

 
find this makes them happy, well, why not? What matters to us is that the astral 
worlds are very close to us always; because they interpenetrate our world and 
even influence our daily life,  whether we are conscious or unconscious of the 
fact. Because these worlds are so close, the majority of spiritualistic contacts 
are with people of the astral, who are little changed from their former selves, 
except that their life is more serene than ours, less limited, less burdened, 
and their world more  beautiful. They are not greatly wise, and their message 
lacks power. Great things are not demanded of those living in the restful 
Summerland. There is, unfortunately, another side to the picture. We have 
considered the higher astral worlds (or planes, to be more accurate). But what 
of those of a slower, of a lower vibration; perhaps even lower than this earth? 
These are not pleasant places, for they are peopled by humans whose lives have 
attuned them to such planes. They are grey, misty, dark, November, fog places, 
good to get out of. That is why they exist; to spur their folk to get away, by 
their own spiritual efforts. Some are worse even than the November, fog plane, 
but it does no good to try to frighten people into goodness. The Church tried 
out this method for centuries without success. Hence the decline in the 
popularity of hell, fire preaching. Whither is all this leading us? To a better 
understanding of the   birthday   message of Arthur Conan Doyle., when he said 
that   to be cleared from astral ties was not altogether an easy matter.  This  
was surely an understatement when it meant so great an act, so great a 
surrender, on his part. For at that moment he must have relinquished his 
promised Summerland of rest, refreshment and recreation which was his due after 
his strenuous years. Yet, in the Summerland life there is an element of 
forgetfulness, even of heedlessness of the cry of pain rising from men, that   
cry  which hath no language but a cry!   For Arthur Conan Doyle. there could  be 
no forgetfulness, no lying down of his burden, no sealing of the heart. A new 
dedication, a new crusade was waiting to establish a new truth since the earlier 
truth for which he had formerly labored proved insufficient.

 
page 62.
Therefore he said:   In a broad sense the
Seeds of thought that he (man) sows are interpreted as
actions:
 but now I find that thought is more powerful than action, since one of the 
first things a man is faced with on his escape from earth life is
a world of his own thought. 
Consider these words in the light of what has been written about the astral 
planes, whereon man prepares for himself an abiding place by his own thought and 
feeling during his years on earth. He migrates to a world of his own thought, a 
self,  constructed home or environment. One is reminded of the saying in the 
Bible, to the effect that whatsoever, a man binds to himself on earth shall be 
bound to him in heaven; and whatsoever he shall loose from himself on earth 
shall be loosed from him in heaven.

 Here the same truth is conveyed again. To the  world of our own thought which 
we go to inhabit, our sins and shortcomings will be grafted, but also the 
goodness that  we do. It must be realized that this Arthur Conan Doyle. 
communication was coming to us, not from an astral world of people like 
ourselves, but from a source wiser, higher, purer, with a message far more 
powerful and enduring. This being so, what of the medium or instrument through 
which the message was to come! Surely the transmission of this message entailed 
some pains? Indeed, yes; for Minesta had to forego much. It is true that the 
power and light of the Wise Knight made this contact possible, and was 
continually sustaining her. But that contact was a continually shattering 
experience. After the Bletchley meeting she was exhausted for some days. What 
intensified the problem was that she was pledged to speak at or work for 
numerous Spiritualistic centers, and the alternation between the astral contacts 
of the latter and  with Arthur Conan Doyle. meant the eventual abandonment of 
her work for organized Spiritualism, one hesitates to say   orthodox   
Spiritualism, but it is the more accurate designation. After the meeting of the 
22nd, the Polaires returned to France, and the other sitters to their homes. The 
task of obtaining the  Arthur Conan Doyle. message now rested with Minesta and 
her three helpers, that is, with the   Square of Four   anticipated by White 
Eagle.

 
On the whole we shall find this   Square   proved steady at its task during many 
months to come.


Those who know White Eagle best are aware that he never comes without prayer, 
that he is always composed and leisurely, always dignified and serene.   Why 
hurry,  he says on occasion,  when you have all eternity before you?   Perhaps 
this is why nobody has ever seen him ruffled, hasty or irritable, or heard him 
speak ill of any man. Only kind words pass his lips. This being so, the 
impetuosity with which Arthur Conan Doyle jumped in, in his haste to convince us 
that none other than he had spoken on May 22nd, was surprising as was the 
assertion that he had  been trying for days to get this confirmation through; he 
managed also to confirm the salient points of his message of the 22nd, although 
White Eagle had to help him time and again. It was obvious that Arthur Conan 
Doyle. had much to learn before delivering his message, and that contrary to 
Spiritualistic beliefs communication between the worlds was proving a matter of 
much difficulty. Nearly a month had passed since the last meeting.
 Arthur Conan Doyle.:
  I have been trying for days to come through. Now let me thank all of you for 
your gallant help on my  birthday. Be patient! I shall get stronger, I shall 
never give up, I shall stick to it, and this is what you too must do, stick to 
our task. I am trying to attune myself again with the medium, and shall improve 
with practice.  I desire to confirm that it was
 I 
 who manifested at Bletchley on the day of my birth. I was trying with all my 
strength to let my dear ones know that I was there. You do not understand the 
difficulties we have in coming through .  (A spasm of coughing ensued).  All 
right, I shall overcome this, wait  (a pause of some moments). Then,   Hold it, 
White Eagle ! hold it for me ! I so want to do it! As we watched we saw White 
Eagle s presence   grow   on the medium. Then followed White Eagle s invocation:  
Great White Spirit of the open sky, the wide prairies and the quiet valleys; you 
who does dwell in the mighty places of the
heavens, and does speak within the human heart as it waits on you in its quiet 
hours; O spirit of truth and love, we come.  We love you, O Father of Love; may 
we deem it a gift of you that we are given opportunity of serving you by 
sacrifice of desire. O God, we pray for your power on our labours. 
White Eagle  continued:   

Our brother is very disturbed, very anxious to speak with you. It means so much 
to him that his new realisation of truth should be made known; it means all the 
difference between heaven and hell. Finding these things are true he must needs 
give them forth. It does not matter  what opponents say. God will fight for him. 
He is out for the universal truth, out to spread those fuller truths which he 
has come back to bring. If you could but see from his present point of view of 
how little account is any human personality!  Yet, since a well, known name may 
be used to bring this universal truth through into the hearts of men, in so far 
as the man Conan Doyle is concerned, let him be that channel.  There are still 
many folk who cannot reconcile the teachings of Spiritualism with the outworking 
of laws divine and immutable. When Arthur Conan Doyle. arrived on the spirit 
side of life he found contact with the earth was not as easy as he had once 
thought. A great sea of astral memories tosses between the two aspects of life, 
and mediums can tap these unconsciously. He found that the one vital thing had 
been the inner and secret thought, life of his soul. All that he had ever
thought 
 now became his world. Thus, after death the souls of men enter into a world 
which is really
self, created,
 and their heaven reveals itself as that which was once within their secret 
heart. Bearing this fact in mind, much that has been accepted as evidence of 
survival and spiritual
life
 is open to question. Real evidence can only be found in spiritual contact of 
heart with heart. Man has only power to see a spirit with his own quickening 
spirit. Evidence must be spiritually discerned or else may only consist of 
husks, mere figments; although there are of course exceptions to this rule. 
Arthur Conan Doyle. s one desire is to make a re, statement which will 
eventually clear out of Spiritualism all that is unreal and confusing. His soul 
is charged, and has clearer teaching to unfold, a glorious


 
mission to fulfill. In the light of this teaching only will the Memorial be 
built, for there can be no advance otherwise. The Conan Doyle Memorial is not in 
the hands of the Spiritualists (as they are to, day) but is being watched over 
by the universal Light. Until all are united in aim they cannot advance. Yet the 
noble work wrought by Arthur Conan Doyle cannot be halted but must ever 
progress. Now that he has deeper knowledge of the after, life and its conditions 
he will still lead its advance.  White Eagle was asked if he could obtain a 
clearer outline of  what was to come. Arthur Conan Doyle. then spoke. It is 
interesting to note the change in words and phrasing. Would that print could 
indicate the change in diction, manner, in the whole personality that now 
manifested.
 Arthur Conan Doyle.:
   It all lies within these words, the kingdom of heaven is within.
 That is why I now see so clearly mans need for a Master. In Christ you have 
all; the secrets of life and death he in his teaching. Man must take up his 
cross and follow the light of love, for the cross symbolises the crucifixion of 
all selfish aims and desires, the complete submission of the personal man to the 
impersonal love of God, the Creator of all. This is the secret of life both here 
and hereafter. Man must live not for himself, not for his good name, nor to 
acquire personal power or prosperity, nor for success, but to contribute to the 
common good. In giving all he receives all. Thus and thus only will he enter 
into the kingdom of heaven.  Truly it is said that man must be born again, not 
of the flesh, but of the Spirit. This means that he must die to self; that every 
man, whether incarnate in the body or discarnate, must eventually pass through a
death of his mortal self,
 and awaken into new life, into a fuller and richer consciousness of the 
presence of the one all, loving God. Only thus will he find himself and find 
again those whom he loves. From this sphere of Christ, consciousness descend all 
those whom you love, who have entered the spiritual life; and until you can 
raise yourself in spirit, attune yourself to their light, your power of 
communication with them must lack something most beautiful and pure.


Consider the gulf that was fixed between the Rich Man and Lazarus; the 
bridgeless gulf which, after all, was of mans own creation. Yet there was still 
one way to cross that gulf, the way of love; but not, mark you, any personal or 
possessive kind of love, but rather the impersonal love of self, giving, self, 
forgetting, and self, sacrifice.
Unless a man is born  again he can in no wise enter the kingdom of  heaven.

 This is true indeed; yet there remain some souls  which are still bound closely 
to earth, and which seek to regain contact with earthly things through the 
channels provided by medium ship. They too need showing the better way; for the 
veil between this world and yours is thin indeed compared to the severance 
between the earthly man, even when discarnate, and the real man of heaven.  We 
make a mistake when we stress the importance of this, that or the other person, 
forgetting that there must always be mutual co, operation in the spreading of 
eternal truth. That is  why I would prefer no personal reference in the Memorial  
Appeal (were this possible), since you are working not for a person but for a 
principle, for an ideal which will embody both the broad charity of the 
Christian teaching and the pure principles of Christ; or of the great White 
Light of Truth, it matters not whether interpreted through Buddha, Krishna or 
any other master.  My wife will admit that I was a man of strong opinions out of 
which I was not easily persuaded. Nevertheless, Spiritualism eventually 
compelled me to admit certain facts. I changed my mind again when I accepted the 
leadership of Jesus Christ in the movement of Spiritualism. Again I change 
concerning the after, death state. Surely, surely, my friends would expect a man 
to have greater knowledge and clearer vision when freed from the limitations of 
the earthly tabernacle? Else where would progress be?  I am not prepared to say 
more at the moment. These things cannot be forced. I am content to leave them in 
the hands of God. This is the chosen instrument or channel for this special 
work, but another means will shortly be used to satisfy 




 


certainty and indeed made it possible. Mrs. Caird went many times afterwards to 
try to obtain a second picture of Arthur Conan Doyle.,  but in vain. It was 
again the Master s power which was lending life to this message from Arthur 
Conan Doyle., a power which originates from  beyond astral realms and contacts, 
as we shall see later. By this photograph Arthur Conan Doyle. signed, sealed and 
delivered his message of the 22nd. This was one proof, but not the conclusive 
proof  which was to come later and, as M. Bhotiva said, would   crash all 
critics ; but substantial nevertheless.

 
CHAPTER X.
  YOU CAN SEE FOR YOURSELVES, I AM A HAPPY MAN.
  People ask me what it is which makes me so perfectly certain Spiritualism is 
true. That I am perfectly certain is surely demonstrated by the fact that I have 
abandoned my congenial and lucrative  work and subjected myself to all sorts of 
inconveniences, losses and even insults in order to get the facts home to the 
people. Sir Arthur in a Letter.
 At the next meeting on June 22nd, M. Bhotiva was again present. It will be 
noted that the group met when possible on the 22nd of a month, this being a day 
of power so far as the  Arthur Conan Doyle. work was concerned.
White Eagle spoke fast 
:   It may interest you to know that I was aware of this particular work before 
Arthur passed from the body. I already knew about it when I spoke to a group in  
Wales about twelve months ago (Miss Mary Conan Doyle and Minesta were on holiday 
there) when I gave a good deal of information which will be valuable some day. 
Long after your own passing, this work will go onwards. Arthur Conan Doyle. 
comes. He is so happy: now he speaks. 
 Arthur Conan Doyle.:   
 Cannot you see that by my old face in the picture? That is what
you
 have produced, it is
your
 power in this group  which has sent to them (to his family) a message so that 
they  will now know how I am feeling about things, and that I am a happy man. 
This you can see for yourselves in the picture.  I want you to compare this 
impression of myself (which we  were able to imprint on a photographic plate) 
with some of the spirit, photographs received by others. I particularly want a 
close comparison, for this will teach you much. I want you to realise the 
difference between an   astral impression   and the

real thing. For this is the very truth we are determined to make clear. There is 
so much humbug about these psychic things,  largely unconscious, I admit, but 
what is needed is sane discrimination between the substantial and the nebulous 
type of proof. This is what Spiritualism s critics, good men at heart, stand out 
for. You must help your people to discriminate  between the real and the unreal. 
This does not lessen but will rather increase their strength to mount to a 
spiritual consciousness  which will reveal reality.  My mission is to indicate 
the difference between what is foolish and nonsensical, and what is a jewel of 
eternal truth. The truth will reveal heaven itself; the false will make a fool 
of a man. So long as a man remains enmeshed in intellectual pride he can never 
find truth. With this I am afraid some of my friends will disagree. Yet I must 
insist that,
Except a man become as a little child he can in no wise enter the Kingdom
of  Heaven.

 I stress this again and again. 


 A questioner.
   Will you define, except a man become as a little child? 

   Arthur Conan Doyle.
   Except a man be stripped of all pride and egotism; except he realise that he 
is nothing  without the power of Almighty Spirit; unless a man breaks out from 
the prison, house of arrogance to an understanding that of himself he can do 
nothing, he is dulled to the glories of heaven.

 Each soul must eventually be stripped of all possessions,  whether of mind or 
heart, and stand forth naked, an infinitesimal nothing  bathed in a vast ocean 
of universal knowledge and power. The man must literally go through the valley 
of death, not of the physical body, but of himself, naked of all things.  Then 
and then only for him can the Light dawn. For then the spiritual sunlight breaks 
on the way, which is also the truth and the life. Thus only can there come 
growth in power, peace and joy to the soul entering on the universal, to the  
babe, in, spirit about to grow to spiritual manhood in the tender and 
everlasting arms.


 Has it never seemed strange to you that the souls of men of forcefulness and 
intellectual power should never return from the 
unseen to communicate with the men of earth? The answer lies in the foregoing. 
They cannot.  I look to all of you here to put forward this message of mine,  
which will increase in power and clarity as I become more accustomed to this 
medium. You realise my utter dependence on you to give this message to the 
world? I am sure you will  be faithful.  I can but hope that what I am able to 
tell you will clear away the doubts of those who question and the credulity of 
those who too readily accept the teachings of Spiritualism. No  words of mine 
can detract one iota from the great love and true communion which can assuredly 
take place between those on earth and those in spirit. Not for one instant would 
I shake the belief of thousands who have received comfort from know, ledge of 
the spirit world; I would give a higher conception of it, something not only 
ennobling to the Spiritualists themselves  but to the whole community. We work 
for an impersonal, for a more divine love to be brought into the hearts of men, 
so that they may live in truth as brothers rather than only talk about  
brotherhood. I hold no other desire. May God grant it! I believe that He will 
give me the power and opportunity to carry this message to the uttermost parts 
of the earth.  Even then I do not speak of immediate or wide success.  What is 
required of you is to be as babes, ready to be guided, ready to be used as 
willing channels for the power of the spirit. This may seem an ideal, perhaps; 
but only in fulfilling it will  you find your joy, your own kingdom of heaven. 
You may  well thank God for the opportunity which is offered.  God bless old 
White Eagle ! He is one of the shining ones! To you he is just old White Eagle;
to us  something more; but sufficient be it that he is just your loving 
companion. Let us leave it there. 
 Now follows the record of the next meeting. White Eagle.   
 In the silence, in your hearts, know Gods love. Then you cannot fail. Those 
assembled here have placed a sacred trust on you. God sees purity of heart and 
sincerity of purpose, and knows that in spite of the dross and weariness of 
the flesh a spiritual illumination will pour through these channels.  We desire 
you to continue, but only at intervals as the power assembles. For at present 
only a small amount of material can come through at any one time; but we shall 
endeavour to give quality  in the message. 


 Arthur Conan Doyle continued after a long pause.  When I have managed to adjust 
myself better to the medium  we will continue our pleasant little talk. It 
requires a certain amount of practice, I find, that is, in the control of the 
physical  body of the medium, to be able to give through her consecutive and 
clear ideas. (taps meditatively with fingers of right hand on chair). Yes, yes, 
yes, let us just have a friendly chat. I think it is easier, so that we warm up 
to our subject later, yes, a friendly chat is the best way to commence.  I used 
to think that everything was very easy in the spirit  world. In fact, I made a 
point of painting pretty pictures of it. I would not take away one iota of 
anyone s belief and hope;  but I would like now to give a clearer idea of the 
state to which one passes after leaving the physical body. It is extremely 
difficult to explain to a finite mind the actual facts concerning the mental 
state of the individual soul after the change of death;  because a different 
experience comes to each man, so one cannot lay down any hard and fast rules. 
There is nevertheless a state, or intermediate condition through which one 
passes, the experience lasting perhaps for a few days, weeks, months, or 
continuing for many hundreds of years
.
........
Question:
 What was your first impression after passing?  It was entirely different from 
what I had expected, and that is what most people, Orthodox and Spiritualist 
alike, will find, a very different Summerland or heaven from what they had 
expected. The nature of that new life turns largely on the quality of the new 
arrival s mentality, but still more on what his attitude has been during his 
former life towards his fellows and towards human life in general. That is to 
say, a man may find himself much better off in the next life than he or anyone 
else had anticipated; on the other hand he may find himself in complete bondage.

 

  The power to create, either mentally or physically, is the gift of every man. 
On his creative power rests the crux of the whole  business of the after life. 
The man of ability whose bent lies in the creating of characters in literature, 
or in the painting of pictures, or the writing of poetry, in the creation either 
of  beauty or the reverse by his
 positive creative thought 
, is very surely creating his environment and his habitation when he is freed 
from the flesh.  What of my first impressions? Well, I can speak only for 
myself. Everyone does not at once realise that he has passed out of his physical 
body. One seems to be in process of leaving but has not actually left. One is 
still able to see, and to some extent contact, earth and earth conditions. It is 
rather a terrible sensation  when one endeavours to express oneself to one s 
friends and is unable to make any impression on them; and when some souls here 
find (as they do) their former deeds are still working evil in the minds and 
hearts of souls on earth, it is terrible to be unable to arrest the forces one 
has loosed.  That is the main idea; that the creations of one s own brain go on 
and on like the waves of a rolling sea that are ever beating against the minds 
of many fellow creatures. When these creations are beautiful, it is a heavenly 
and immeasurable joy to see the good in them radiating through the human 
universe; but  when it is otherwise . I dare paint no picture of this state.  I 
would explain that there are differing degrees of mental activity in the 
spiritual world. The more highly developed is the released soul mentally and 
spiritually, the greater will be the degree of joy it will experience; whereas 
in the lower grades of astral life, the light and shade effect on the soul is 
not so apparent.  Astral memories and interferences: I intend to deal fully with 
that question because there is so much in Spiritualism of, I would not say 
untruth, but of misrepresentation. You have already, of course, gained some 
knowledge of the power of thought, and are perhaps aware that a thought in your 
own mind if powerful enough can be photographed. If you will compare a spirit 
photograph of myself (lately published in a psychic journal) with

 

the photograph you yourselves have received, you will observe that the former 
lacks intelligence and vitality; while the latter gives, I flatter myself, an 
intelligent representation.  This lack of intelligence and vitality can be found 
throughout the phenomena of Spiritualism, in manifestations by means of Ouija 
boards or materialisations, or the direct voice. These phenomena are comparable 
to bubbles; prick them, and if they lack a sustaining intelligence, they fall to 
nothing. Investigate this for yourselves by your own observation, and you will 
prove the existence of a great sea of etheric impression, which lingers around 
or clings to particular places such as the former scenes of a soul s life on 
earth. Unknown to the person concerned such thought, forms, if very intense, 
will live on. For instance, in a house much loved by its former owner people may 
feel " presences " passing them on stairways, hear " whisperings " in rooms, and 
even an apparition may appear to scare the inhabitants. These phenomena are not 
due to spirits, of course,  but to memories that cling to places and live on. In 
churches and other old buildings with accumulated power many such forms and 
lingerings will frequently be seen by clairvoyants and described as spirits. Not 
at all; they are merely the thought, vibrations of a bygone age.  I do not wish 
for one moment to belittle the value of all spiritualistic phenomena. 
Undoubtedly there are genuine manifestations. But there still remains much which 
is merely shadowy. There are many spheres in which human thought can manifest 
and these must be considered; but it must also be remembered that unprincipled 
spirits can manipulate astral thought, forces to suit their own mischievous 
purposes.  The crux of the whole matter depends on the quality of the mind or 
the purity of the aspirations of the person who would communicate with a spirit. 
If a human mind is attuned to a spiritual sphere of love and service a perfectly 
intelligent communication will be the result; but if the mans mind be only 
nebulous, untrained and lacking in spiritual understanding, trouble of some sort 
will be the outcome. 
 Speaking
of 
 his personal self, Arthur Conan Doyle. continued:
   It is not that

 

personal part of me that I want to continue to live in the spirit  world. I want 
to forget the old personal self of Arthur Conan Doyle., for over here 
personalities (although sweet and dear to us all) take a subsidiary place. It is 
the Christ Light that we should all follow. We must endeavour to bring it to 
clear and perfect expression in the hearts and lives of men. When I think of my 
former errors of thought, and when I see what resulted from them; oh, my 
anguish! oh, my despair! Dear God, I ask no more than to be able to give a 
clearer description of this truth to others! Only one thing in human life truly 
matters, and this is that men should realise for themselves the redeeming power 
of Christ s love. For only if the Christ spirit is awake in them, is abiding 
within them,
do they live!
 All these phenomena, all this continual running to mediums by people who want 
to keep in continual touch with the dead, is wrong. Men must seek rather for the 
living light of truth, and for realisation of the redeeming love, which 
knowledge of the laws governing human survival may help them to understand. Only 
with this object in  view should men seek to lift the veil between the two 
worlds. 


a under consideration, namely, psychic or supernormal phenomena, are 
incomparably the most important among all the facts presented to us by the whole 
of experience from the philosophical point of view, so that it is the duty of 
every man of science to get acquainted with them and study them thoroughly. 
Schopenhauer.

 At the next meeting Arthur Conan Doyle returned to this important theme.
  Sometimes  we see those people who can act as mediums as a light radiating 
through the fog which envelops the earth, and  we must make contact with that 
light as best we can. Picture  yourself in a London street on a foggy winter s 
night, and you  will see how the earth looks to us, and perhaps grasp some of 
our difficulties. Yet it need not always be so. Sometimes when  we return and 
find things clear, cut and true, the mind of the medium happy and bright with no 
ripple of depression or worry to disturb reception, we are able to sail in and 
make a clear impression on her brain. It is comparatively rare, however, to get 
a perfectly clear and definite message through, since there is always a residue 
of the medium s mentality through which  we have to press. Mediumship is a fine 
art as well as a calling; and as mankind in general is only just awaking to the 
value of the spiritual life, mediums themselves remain strangely ignorant of the 
increased powers which might be theirs. It is necessary for a medium to be well 
balanced, sane, sound and true.  The majority of the communications received by 
the Spiritualists come from the denizens of the higher astral, from souls both 
good in intention and pure in motive, although of limited knowledge and outlook. 
What they pass on is more or less their own personal opinion. For this reason we 
find that many controls in spiritualistic circles set out only their own

 viewpoint and outline their own ideas. For he who dwells in the astral spheres 
narrows down his experience of the after, life, much as a man on earth clings to 
fixed opinions, political or religious. Maybe he thinks that he possesses the 
whole truth, and that his convictions are final. Every soul, however, and this 
is important, must eventually walk that path whereon he  becomes
cleansed from all assertion.
 It is of this heaven world that I would continue to speak tonight.  The 
Spiritualist may not declare that in his contact with the first three or four or 
even seven astral planes he has found all heaven. He has yet far to go and will 
find many snares, pitfalls, and illusions in his contacts with the astral. 
Psychic or magnetic forces which surround the human environment are often 
responsible for phenomena which are too readily accepted as evidence of 
communication from a spirit. Much can be found in the sitter s own mentality and 
magnetism to account for these; and then also there are deceiving spirits which 
find their amusement in the impersonation of well, known personalities. This I 
have myself witnessed with some disquiet.  Sometimes a medium will himself 
create a thought, form  which in time becomes so endowed with animation as to 
attach itself to its creator, be seen by other clairvoyants, and actually give 
messages through its medium. This also I have seen.  This is not necessarily due 
to conscious fraud. Many people  when they come into Spiritualism strongly 
desire to become mediums. Circles for development are formed, and when the 
sitter is told that he has mediumistic powers a condition of self, hypnotism can 
take place. A thought, form can thus become so " backed " and clothed that it 
becomes realistic. We have already said that astralities, and these are also 
astralities, are merely dead things, or masks which can be easily detected. Any 
true spiritual contact holds always its own ring of truth.  It is certainly not 
wrong, nor is it undesirable, for you to seek communion with those in the spirit 
life. Neither is it  wrong for you to give your friends an opportunity of 
returning to communicate. In many instances such communication is of the utmost 
value and help to both of the parties concerned. But

 

having had that experience, the man in the spirit world having  been able to 
send his messages of reassurance, both of those concerned should realise that 
there is work to be accomplished in the next world which cannot be done if the 
spirit is continually  being held back by those who mourn its passing. 
 After a pause Arthur Conan Doyle. continued:  
 It may help you to understand me better if I give my own experience of control. 
I find the easier way to use this particular medium is not through her 
subconscious but through her super, conscious mind. We have already said that 
man, broadly speaking, can make contact with several planes of the next life. If 
he be attuned only to the lower astral he must not expect anything very 
uplifting; but if a medium can be induced to raise his or her consciousness, so 
as to open up the superconscious, a true spiritual contact can be established.  
My best work through Minesta has always been through her superconscious self and 
not by control through the brain.  Although I cannot hold her by an automatic or 
hypnotic control, I can pour facts and teaching through her spiritual 
intelligence. Therefore do not attempt to discuss these messages with her 
afterwards, or confuse her conscious mind with ideas. Leave her alone as much as 
possible, and mentally isolated. Then I can do my work.  During that work, seen 
clairvoyantly, you would witness an illumination around the head which projects 
for two or three  yards, of which the upper part tapers into a golden beam of 
light.  In many communications through mediumship you will get the automatic 
control of which I speak. Then you will some, times see much that will remind 
you of departed friends, or hear short sentences so like in style and manner 
that the identity seems certain. It cannot be sustained for very long, however, 
for this is the product of the automatic trance control, which is a kind of 
hypnosis of mind and body. In such cases little more than an automaton will be 
functioning and the flow of inspiration is checked.  Control of the 
superconscious self of the medium, on the

 

other hand, will bring about a clear and satisfactory reflection of the
nature  and   personality  rather than the mannerisms of the communicating 
spirit.  There is but a small percentage of what is called " subconscious mind 
stuff" coming through spiritualistic channels.  What is usually called " 
subconscious " can be attributed rather to the conscious mind of the medium 
interfering with the spirit control. The core or inner life of the subliminal 
self remains always in contact with the universal life, and thus can be and is 
inspired and influenced by higher beings, which usually operate in a band rather 
than singly.  In our particular instance the messages are transmitted down 
through the spheres. Sometimes we obtain a clear channel, and are able to 
express our theme clearly and well, while at others there is a certain crossing 
of currents and vibrations, so that when  we read the message afterwards, 
through your minds, we feel a sense of dissatisfaction and sadness. Obviously 
our thoughts have not reached you with the clarity we could have wished. 
Sometimes we find it impossible to convey our exact meaning. In spite of all 
these barriers the veil thins between the two worlds; and we shall find proofs 
of survival in the years to come will not so much depend on communications 
coming through recognised mediums, but rather will win acceptance because the 
majority of men and women will have become awakened and
alive
 to the reality and presence of unseen powers around them. At present man is 
dulled to them, or even dead, as was Lazarus in his tomb until called to life by 
the Master.  A medium s mind must be flexible and easily influenced, yet under 
perfect control. It is no easy matter to attain and retain this combination of 
self, control with the sensitivity of the  visionary and idealist. Yet all this 
is essential before a perfectly attuned instrument can open to receive the 
perfect message.  I impress on you that only in certain conditions can a shaft 
of pure light come through. Unquestionably, mediumship is something that can be 
developed and improved; but I would not advocate this development for everyone, 
but only for the chosen vessels. The mistake made in the Spiritualist movement

 

is to advocate development of mediumistic faculties wholesale.  As in the days 
of old, so today; there are souls who are chosen and dedicated to the task; for 
the rest the dangers of forcing psychic development cannot be over, stressed.  
Some people think that a medium becomes like an empty  vessel when in a state of 
trance. This is not so; for although the medium s body serves to express the 
message of the communicating spirit, a residue of its owner s personality and 
mentality is retained which has to be cleared, or else penetrated. In the 
process of this clearing the message can become coloured more or less. This is 
why a medium can become either the greatest help or hindrance to a communicator.  
If a medium strives to cultivate his, or her, mentality and spirituality, that 
medium can become of infinite use and importance. An ignorant medium does not 
always make the  best instrument. Should an unlettered or ignorant medium be 
chosen for a specific task, this choice will be due to some spiritual quality or 
faculty inherent in the medium. Let me impress on  you that the medium s 
intelligence must never be overbearing,  but rather so docile that it lends 
itself to the communicator. An ignorant medium, while useful in so far as the 
mind does not hold back the thoughts coming through, labours under the 
disadvantage of being unable to bring forth the message with clarity and force.
  
 We ourselves are dealing with thoughts which have to be expressed
in words  to make them intelligible to you. We must always clothe them with the 
language we find in the mentality or power of comprehension of the medium. 
Therefore you will see the necessity of that mind being well trained. We are 
hoping to use this medium in this way, perhaps Minesta will forgive an old man 
for saying that it is sometimes no easy matter to play a fine tune on an 
instrument which sometimes seems to have only one string, and that she can help 
much in days to come.  Later I shall finish many a theme commenced in our 
earlier sittings. In this you will recognize the handiwork of an individual and 
outside communicator, so do not judge until you see the finished article. 

Before my passing I had little understanding
of the many difficulties holding up communication with the spirit world, but I 
became convinced of the reality of that communication on cold evidence, which I 
now recognize might not have been so valid as I once thought. Another problem, I 
find, is that when I come back hundreds of ideas attempt to pour through. I must 
learn to regulate this overcrowding. From where I am now living I find that it 
is difficult to get a human mind to receive ideas from me with clarity, although 
this resistance is eventually overcome. I so want to link you all together in a 
bond which gets ever closer, for there is so much for you all to learn. M. 
Bhotiva was present at the next meeting, and Lady Conan Doyle and her family 
arranged to   tune in   from their home in Sussex.

 Arthur Conan Doyle. (to Bhotiva):
  You have been asking for further proof, my friend, that this is Conan Doyle 
communicating; that it is he who has come back to bring to his friends the glad 
truth of life after death. I can assure you these proofs will be given. They are 
in the words I speak, in the talks I have already given. Even so, far more 
tangible proofs are yet to come,
after
 the message has been delivered in its entirety.  People will accept my message, 
indeed they must accept it, for so much depends on their acceptance. I am only 
the spokes, man for greater ones than I, and when my mission is finished I shall 
leave this earth and advance. I have not hurried my own family in this matter 
because I know they will find it difficult to accept the changed man that I am. 
I find that I have a certain difficulty in tuning in to the extra vibrations 
which are here tonight. 
 A lengthy pause ensued. Arthur Conan Doyle.:
  It is not finished. But I have been brought back  by the thoughts of my 
family, who are in my old home and thinking about me. What a strong personal 
link I feel here tonight, quite different, quite different. You will remember 
that I have told you that we function on all the different planes of being, and 
that even from the earth man can touch all planes of being? So also with me: 
when I come back to earth

 

conditions I have to attune myself to the degree of mental life possessed by 
those whom I contact. Thus, sometimes I speak from the astral plane, sometimes 
from planes above; but I have always to attune my vibration to the conditions 
provided.  We must resume our discussion of these matters next week. I am now 
directed to speak about the work which is ahead of us. You have been prepared 
for years for this work, much as I myself was prepared, although I did not 
realise my mission. I am under the direction of the Wise Ones. I am their 
servant, their instrument, and I have to organise this group, this work in 
London. This teaching, these messages are to be the foundation of that work. I 
now come back to reveal a finer life, a nobler path than had ever dawned on my 
earthly conception. All must be put right. Man must be taught the truth 
concerning his life after death. I shall give it to you. Send it out into the  
world. No man who really knows me, knows my thoughts and writings will ever 
doubt these words, they will recognize me therein; they will and must understand 
what I am trying to tell them.  Why was I once inundated with prophecies of the 
disasters and catastrophes to which humanity is now heading? Because, as I see 
now, I was a pivot, a central point. Thousands then hung on my words. Because of 
this fact I was destined to be used  by the White Brotherhood in order to bring 
a clearer, a truer, a more exact teaching about the life beyond death.  In this 
connection you may wonder why the Conan Doyle Memorial has been kept in 
abeyance? The reason is that had it gone ahead it might have got into the wrong 
hands, been run on the wrong lines. Men s minds have to be prepared gradually 
for new ideas. 
White Eagle said afterwards:   Evidence is not always what the mind of man 
considers evidence. The unseen Brotherhood has its own way of producing 
evidence, and the inner self of man must be ready to receive it. Otherwise it 
will mean nothing to him. We say that the foundation of the English group of the 
Brotherhood will lie in this message, and that when this message goes out many 
people will accept and believe.

 
People will say,  This is true. We are prepared to follow." Eventually all 
classes of men will be brought to believe. Your faith and loyalty must carry 
this thing through. Then you will never fail, never fail. 










 
CHAPTER 12,
 A RESUME.

While the Spiritualists, being familiar with the terms employed and knowing 
their meaning, may find these earlier Arthur Conan Doyle. messages 
comprehensible, some of those who are not Spiritualists may feel at a loss. 
Perhaps what follows may help, before we go on to the main Arthur Conan Doyle 
message in Part 2.

The writer once lived in an old house, all oak beams and draughts, which had 
been built on a site where long ago had stood a monks  hostel. Queer things used 
to happen. Voices,  whisperings and mutterings were heard in empty rooms, and 
footsteps passed one on the stairs or walked across the room overhead, to and 
fro, to and fro, sometimes for hours. In the charming gardens was a lake with a 
path round it on which  were frequently seen the spirit forms of three monks 
always together, whom we named Brothers Clement, Joseph and  Amyas. In course of 
time we got to know the real nature or cause of the sounds, footsteps and 
whisperings, they were astralities, and caused by thoughts powerful enough to 
have impressed themselves on the etheric fabric of the building (everything 
having its etheric replica), where they had remained perhaps for centuries. They 
were not real sounds in the physical sense, although they might have been semi, 
physical. They were real only to those who could hear them. Sensitive folk 
registered these things and were sometimes frightened. Denser people, hearing 
and seeing nothing said it was all nonsense and were duly satisfied. One cannot 
be too dogmatic about the monks, for they seemed alive, interested and aware of 
the human folk around, unlike the cold astralities indoors. They may even have




heir love for the gardens, the lake, and their associations with it. Or it may 
be that their thoughts and affections still linked them to their former home, 
animating what would have otherwise  been only astralities. What we have all to 
understand is that we leave traces of ourselves on the etheric world, wherever 
we go. Our auras impinge both on things and on people. Our auras being infused  
with ourselves, that is, with our personality, character and thoughts, affect 
everything they touch. Much depends on  whether we are strong characters or not. 
If the former, we leave a deeper impression on the etheric world, on the 
substance, or etheric   matter   which permeates the physical. Unlike physical 
impressions, those on etheric matter do not fade away. Now for another 
illustration, this time more fanciful; we have all heard of old houses where 
some famous person once slept. Elizabeth the First, for example, seems to have 
conferred fame on innumerable bedrooms by sleeping in them. Suppose that someone 
known to us happens to spend a night in one of these notable bedrooms, being 
unaware of its fame. Surely that person might dream about or have contact with 
the Queen?  And if sensitive or mediumistic our friend might even receive 
messages from Elizabeth by, say, automatic writing, and go away elated by the 
honour d distinction. The message would be inanimate, of course, poor stuff, 
just as shades, thought, forces or astralities are inanimate. These things 
happen. They
exist,
they cannot be denied. Every ancient battlefield, or place of some former crime 
or tragedy carries the   feeling   of its stain of crime or sadness for 
centuries to come, so that sensitive people register and shrink from it. In such 
a world as this, with these strange happenings about us, Spiritualism has grown. 
Now for another example: many Spiritualist services are held,  we may say, in 
some public building, or in an ex, Baptist chapel or mission, hall. For owing to 
lack of means very few Spiritualist Churches acquire their own premises. The 
hall will probably  bear signs of having been hastily cleared after a whist 
drive or dance held on the previous evening. No atmosphere of religion


has been built up, and cannot be in a building which houses such diverse 
activities. This condition is typical of the average Spiritualist meeting. 
Contrary to expectation, the people attending seem normal middle class folk. As 
they settle down in their seats they bring an air of expectation, even of 
excitement. This is because the medium or exponent tonight is no other than Mrs. 
X, famed in the movement for her gifts. While they wait members of the audience 
are either reading psychic journals they have purchased at the door, or 
whispering among themselves. At length the chairman introduces Mrs. X, a person  
who looks kind, sincere and in no way remarkable or weird.  After a prayer and a 
hymn sung with hearty emphasis rather than any display of musical talent, comes 
what all have been waiting for. Mrs. X is to give a   demonstration of 
psychometry , that is, of reading the   aura   of articles sent up by members of 
the audience. Those articles are even now being collected on a tray, and 
presently they go up to a table beside Mrs. X. All these articles have been worn 
by their owners, and consist of oddments of jewellery, pens, pencils, keys, 
pocket, books, watches, necklaces and rings in great variety. Mrs. X bends over 
the tray. Everyone holds their breath. Mrs. X selects an article, and handling 
it continually (as though drawing forth her knowledge
out 
 of that article) begins her   reading. She is astonishingly accurate. The first 
article is one which might be worn either by a man or a woman. Mrs. X makes no 
mistake. A description of the owner is given, of the owner s character, and of 
his state of health and happiness. The owner s Christian name and the Christian 
names of some of his relatives and friends who have passed on, all these are   
given out,  but none come easily. There is a feeling that a great effort of 
concentration goes into each   reading , no mere knitting of the brows or head, 
concentration, but concentration of the  woman s whole being, of all her vital 
forces.   Readings   follow in rapid succession, nearly all being accepted, and 
some, giving notably detailed and accurate facts recognised with some 
excitement. Now the meeting is drawing to a close. Mrs. X looks played out. 
Another hymn is sung, and a brief prayer

 
of benediction follows. Afterwards the audience foregather, animatedly talking 
things over. The weary Mrs. X is hemmed in by people who want just another 
private little message for themselves, and is at length rescued by the chairman. 
Anyone attending that meeting for the first time would be puzzled by Mrs. X s 
accuracy, which was far beyond the utmost range of chance or coincidence; more 
puzzled still because she so often seemed to bring out happenings which had long 
been forgotten by the person receiving the reading, happenings which had to be 
recalled from deep recesses of memory; puzzled again  because the audience so 
readily believed that everything was done  by spirit people working through Mrs. 
X, who had only just to   put across   their messages to someone in the 
audience. Could it be that everything was as simple as that
? 
 If so, why did Mrs. X get so exhausted? Far from being powerfully helped, it 
looked as if she was contending with great difficulties. A stranger might not 
have been so puzzled had Mrs. X been out of form, or if some lesser demonstrator 
had only got half or a quarter of the   readings   recognised. But this was a  
wonderful demonstration which did not seem in the least like mind, reading; and 
thought, transference was far too facile an explanation to be entertained. An 
enquirer, let it be assumed, would be sufficiently interested to pay a second 
visit on the following week. By good fortune Mrs. X is again the demonstrator, 
this time of   public clairvoyance   instead of   psychometry.  No articles are 
required. The demonstrator stands on the platform and speaks direct to persons 
she selects among the audience, this time mostly describing   spirit people   
who, she claims, are   with   the persons whom she addresses. Again she is very 
accurate, most of her descriptions being readily recognised; and one or two 
refused at first are later accepted by persons who at last recall the identity 
of the spirit while on earth. Again there seems no likelihood of thought, 
transference being the explanation, because recognition of some of the spirits 
had to be laboriously extracted from the person concerned. This is a 
demonstration of the extraordinary frailty or fallibility of the human memory, 
if of 



nothing else; and the whole performance is at least as puzzling as was that of 
the previous week. For the convinced Spiritualist the explanation which had 
sufficed last week sufficed again. The spirits were doing everything. Mrs. X had 
only to stand there and be   used   by them. Noting the effort put forward by 
Mrs. X it is not easy to accept so facile an explanation. But certainly both 
meetings had been a wonderful demonstration of something. But of what? They were 
not comparable, for instance, with the displays of   thought   or   mind   
reading seen on public platforms or on television. They were not so slick, for 
one thing.   Mind   reading or   telepathy,  where not due to some pre, arranged 
system, differs widely in that it deals only with things which are
 foremost 
 in people s minds; as when a blindfolded lady on the stage describes with 
complete accuracy articles held by her assistant which he has just taken from a 
member of the audience.  With Mrs. X, however, it was often the things   
hindmost   in people s minds. She would describe happenings, or people who had 
died long ago, rather than more recent migrants to spirit life. This again 
requires consideration. It is worth taking all possible pains to solve this 
problem. It has been argued in these pages that if Spiritualism is true and can 
truly demonstrate that men survive death, then no event of comparable importance 
has happened for at least two thousand  years. These two demonstrations by Mrs. 
X, we have to realise, are typical of what is happening all over the country in 
Spiritualist churches and halls, where demonstrations of  public clairvoyance  
are the means most frequently employed to carry conviction to the general 
public. Not every demonstrator is up to the standard of Mrs. X, far from it. 
Otherwise our description has tried to be typical of all the others. Tins sort 
of demonstration has convinced the Spiritualists. Has it convinced our enquirer?  
Yes, that this had been a display of a human faculty previously unknown to him. 
Does it prove human survival? No. Many people feel there must be some 
alternative explanation. They cannot believe that the souls of men and women who 
have passed onward to something far more beautiful than our world

 
can return, however much they may desire it, to conditions as crude as those 
which prevailed at the two meetings. This is no fault of Mrs. X s, who did her 
part valiantly. But intuitively some people will feel that for a real spiritual 
manifestation there should  be beauty and harmony in the hall, and devotion on 
the part of the worshippers. These were mostly lacking. Where then shall  we 
seek an explanation of these phenomena? Here the Arthur Conan Doyle. message can 
help. He speaks of   astral   memories. Where are they, what are they? They 
often remain embedded in the aura, the human aura being an extension of mans 
etheric body, a body which permeates his physical body. It is the etheric body 
which has the true sense of   feeling.  Drive it out by a blow on the head or by 
an anaesthetic, and the physical  body feels nothing! The aura is an emanation 
extending beyond the physical body for some inches. Being a semi, material 
complement to the physical body it must register and retain a memory of all that 
has happened to that body, a memory of the people it has met and loved or hated, 
of the happenings which have pleased or saddened it, all these are stamped on 
the etheric body and aura. Thus each man bears around with him a complete record 
of all that has happened to himself. Now, this aura by its nature permeates 
physical matter, impregnating it with itself. Therefore an article worn by 
anyone becomes saturated by the wearer s aura, and can be sensed or   read   by 
a sensitive such as Mrs. X. Here we have the explanation for the evening of   
psychometry,  when the aura of Mrs. X read or extracted information from the 
aura of the article handled. She was enabled to link up instantaneously with the 
aura of its owner, and thereby extract additional information. This was done by 
an immense effort of concentration on the part of Mrs. X. 
So also with the demonstration of   public clairvoyance.  Here Mrs. X, again by 
a mighty effort of concentration, was so able to extend her own aura (for auras 
are capable of such an extension) that she could reach and draw out from the 
person selected the information required; Mrs. X wholeheartedly 



 believing, as did others present, that all was being done by   the spirits.  
Are the Spiritualists all wrong, and are we completely right in our supposition? 
Let us not be too sure. It is said that you can fool all the people for some of 
the time and some of the people all the time, but not all the people all the 
time. Why do the Spiritualists so wholeheartedly believe in their spirit land 
and people? Because they have sound reasons which were not, however, very 
apparent in the two meetings described. One cannot lay down hard and fast rules 
about these subtle matters, or declare that these Spiritualistic phenomena 
consist of mere auric readings or   husks,  with never a real spiritual contact. 
It is possible, even likely; the more material the people and their outlook, the 
less reverent the service and the conditions of the  building which houses it, 
the more probably will our explanations fit. For these are the sort of things 
which can be   pricked like  bubbles   and fall away. Still our explanation is 
insufficient. Something remains. The something which not only remains but 
prevails is human love. If there be pure, selfless love, strong and vibrant in 
the heart of any one of those present in the audience, the power of that love 
might reach out and call a loving presence or message back from the spirit 
realms. Such a contact is possible. Then, instead of a dreary recital of 
astralities or auralities, to coin a word, something real, poignant and 
sometimes intensely moving happens, such as the startling overshadowing of the 
medium by the actual spirit who is trying to communicate, so that his identity 
is proved beyond all shadow of doubt, not by anything he says  but by the 
manifestation of his inmost spirit, his personality, mannerisms and 
characteristics through the medium. This, then, is the strength of Spiritualism.

 
PART 2,THE MESSAGE OF ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.

 
FOREWORD TO PART 2.
 
Little has yet been said which can give any real idea of the conditions ruling 
when Arthur Conan Doyle. spoke at the later series of meetings when he gave the 
full import of his message. That which follows is an eye, witness account taken, 
slightly abbreviated, from your Kingdom Come.

 It first describes the little upper room furnished as a chapel in which the 
meetings were held, the great power which gathered there, and the spiritual 
upliftment of all present as White Eagle opened the meetings with prayers of 
deep sincerity which filled the listeners with the wonder and awe of God.  It 
was strange to see the day, to, day personality of Minesta sink into abeyance 
when White Eagle came. After the prayer followed a change. White Eagle had gone 
and the medium  became absolutely still. The presence of another personality 
gradually became evident. For I saw the medium s form settle in the chair, the 
hands fall loosely, as in the characteristic attitude of someone else. 
Occasionally a hand would lift to stroke and meditatively smooth an upper lip, 
as if a heavy moustache hung there. Then again the figure settled. The face was 
now changed, almost remoulded, so far as a person s face is capable of change. 
The face now actually became, it was witnessed, like the face of  Arthur Conan 
Doyle. The voice now held a northern burr, whereas Minesta s  voice is clear, 
her words clipped. Now the voice sometimes slurred its words.  Slowly fell the 
words at first, each sentence building up upon another. The glow of the lamp 
fell on the wall beyond, lighting

 

an engraving of the Master which hung there. Wonderful indeed  was the sense of 
the power of the spirit within those walls. The  voice continued, now swept 
along as by a torrent, now silenced as if by the glory of some vision that it 
was about to try to form into words; now, stroke by stroke, like a smith at an 
anvil,  beating out thought into expression in words. Then after a period came a 
check, heralding always a change of subject; a pause while the mind behind 
switched over to a new theme. Then again came the steady torrent of words. Or 
perhaps there  would come a mistake, the beginning of a sentence to which the 
mind behind could not see a logical ending. Then came a crisp " Stop, score that 
out! " The voice would then retrace and recommence the particular message.  Yet 
all this time, one side of my mind was noting how strangely formal, even 
businesslike the gathering was. Apart from a few words of greeting, it was 
obvious that the speaker  was continuing a theme from where it had ended a week 
or more ago, and that every atom of power, every moment of time must  be 
utilized to the full. So also, when the meeting drew to a close and all the 
power was spent, the speaker would conclude with  just a word of thanks, a 
message of affection or a blessing, and a brief farewell.  I shall long 
remember, indeed, I shall never forget, the passionate earnestness of the 
speaker, his purposeful voice, his forceful gesture as he attempted to emphasise 
some meaning not  wholly clear in words. This was in truth a wonderful 
experience. The period of reception for these final messages was about seven 
months, ending on June 1st, 1932; which was almost two years since the first 
contact had been made with Arthur Conan Doyle. after his passing. The account 
which we have just quoted will, it is hoped, serve to set the scene for the 
reader; so that from now on,  throughout this Second Part of the book, the 
messages can be given without further comment or interruption. For the 
convenience of the reader, the brief words of greeting and farewell with which 
Arthur Conan Doyle. began and ended his discourses have been

 

omitted, and the discourses themselves arranged in ordered sequence. Only some 
of the prayers with which White Eagle opened the meetings, before Arthur Conan 
Doyle. took over the control, have  been placed at the head of the chapters, 
but, to distinguish them, in italic type. Apart from these all that follows in 
this Part proceeds from Arthur Conan Doyle. himself; it is he alone who now 
speaks.






ACTION OF HIMSELF, AND OF A LIFE EVER MORE ABUNDANT
  Fearlessness, singleness of soul, the will always to strive for  wisdom . be 
the signs of him whose feet are set on that fair path  which leads to heavenly 
birth., Krishna.
We call upon the centers of Love, Wisdom and Power, and we
worship at the foot of the Cross, the Emblem of Sacrifice and renunciation
 
of all personal aims and desires. We seek to be at, one with you,
 
 Divine and Living Christ, the Great White Light. We await your
 
coming, O Spirit of Love. We worship you, and through your
 
 Love may the truth of life beyond death of the body dawn upon man,
 
so that all fear of death be lifted from man, woman, and child. May
 
they have clear vision of the progress and beauty which opens before them. Thus 
shall man come to know his brother and to love him, even as you hast loved all.
 So mote it be!   

I will find myself in an unspeakably beautiful   heaven world  . I desire above 
all things to be able to bring such a reality as this home to my friends; but I 
also realise only too well that it can be shared only if they can understand the 
nature of the heaven to  which I have gone. All this has made me feel a deeper 
urge to spread the truth concerning the after, life. I believe that during my 
earth, life I have already won something of a reputation as a missionary. I 
carry on this work still for the people of earth, but  by different ways and 
means from those which I used to follow. How difficult it is to make a true 
contact with the earth and its people! All is so different from what I once 
anticipated. A 
95

 
true conception of the real life of the spirit has yet to dawn upon man. Thank 
God, the mists begin to thin, so that I can see with a clearer vision than once 
seemed possible. Can it be that my friends still expect me to talk with them 
about the trivialities of the personal earth life? I have now done with 
trivialities, having found the realities of mans being and existence. Yet, shall 
I ever find it possible to paint, with the language which I find at my disposal 
in the mind of Minesta, any adequate picture of the glory, wonder and beauty of 
heaven? Yes, it can, it must be attempted; it must be done.
Page 96.
It
 is a fact that after passing through what are known as the astral places we 
shed a   shell , the   dress   or   envelope   which once contained or housed 
the soul during its astral life. This   shell   or body remains in that astral 
condition from which we   die   to rise again to true spiritual life, and it can 
be reanimated or resurrected temporarily by psychic powers. Note, this is purely 
an artificial animation, but can appear to a medium as a reality, as a real 
spirit person. This is why we wish to raise people s minds to a truer 
appreciation of the life of the spirit, for in this alone can they make real 
contact with those who have passed on. Let us remember, however, that a large 
percentage of people living in the astral worlds have no desire whatever to 
return to earth, being no longer interested either in its progress or the people 
they have left behind. That is why it is not for everyone to seek out or try to 
force communication between the so, called dead and the living. I repeat that in 
this new life of mine intercourse between the two worlds proves not nearly so 
simple as I had been led to think; nevertheless,
communion,
 holy communion, between soul and soul can be a more glorious reality than is 
yet understood. Indeed, psychic communications as they are accepted today must 
some day give place to this truer communion of spirit between incarnate and 
arisen souls. At present the
 personal 
 aspect of communication is over, stressed; personal memories are mostly sought 
after, and if forthcoming are regarded as evidence of 

 
97
identity and proof of an after, life. Yet while these personal traits and 
mannerisms can endear a soul to its former friends on earth it is well to 
remember that these may prove to be a pitfall, indicating that there exists too 
much surface relationship and insufficient recognition or understanding of the 
needs of mans spirit. Here, then, lies a basis from which much of the 
Spiritualism of the future will evolve. It must change from that present free,  
and, easy, happy, go, lucky contact of the man of earth with the
 personal selves
 of those people who have passed on, thereby stimulating personal memories of 
earthly pleasures, desires and happenings; and grow into a deeper understanding 
between souls, and through that a deeper recognition of the spiritual needs of 
each soul. When such a
reality of reunion
 becomes a part and parcel of the soul, life of the man still incarnate and of 
the man discarnate, then mortal mans fear of transient things such as sickness, 
poverty and death will be swept away. For this same spirit which will quicken in 
man is the very Spirit of the living Christ, and can heal the ills of all 
people.  
 For He shall wipe
 
away all tears.
 .  With all the strength of my newly, released spirit I desire to reveal to my 
new friends that new man which is Doyle. I am no longer concerned with the many 
trivialities of the old earth,  life, or of earthly affairs, except in so far as 
these affect the spiritual development of the person concerned, not, alas, that 
I can greatly help the individual save by telling him about the foundation of 
the spiritual life. Yes, yes; the old Doyle seems to be passing, but I will 
prove to you all that while I die yet I live again! Yes.
 But there are no trimmings left on a man when
 
he has passed the Second Death.
 Only his purified spirit remains after that supreme experience . Oh, that 
second awakening! Then was I conscious of only one thing; of only one thing!,  
and that was the wonder, the infinitude, the allness of God s love for me and 
for all men. In that supreme moment I knew that there could be no such thing as 
separate existence apart from God. For at that moment
the personality which separates man from God had died, while

 
98
his individuality had been reborn. For then I saw before me a great pulsating 
throng of spiritual life and being, into which had passed all the souls of men 
who had lived in innocence and forgetfulness of self. As units of this mighty 
host of souls, those  who have passed through an earth life, 
which is really an earth, death, quicken and live, giving forth from themselves 
with gladness and with joy all that will benefit God s mighty Plan for men.
Not for a moment do I wish to destroy the beliefs
Of Spiritualism. Not so; rather am I trying to bring back a larger, wiser and 
finer understanding of this glorious truth of survival and of communion  with 
the beyond. But not with everyone there; some men pass onwards weary in mind and 
spirit to a condition of dreaminess wherein they live for long periods, just 
breathing, as it were. Other souls speedily traverse the lower spheres, shed the 
dense astral body which is theirs on quitting the still denser physical body, 
and enter the heaven world. Realise that only in a state of consciousness such 
as this is the soul of man brought face to face with his Judgment, or with God. 
When faced with this Judgment, 
which is but a
 
mans realisation of himself as he truly is
, he is able to look back once and for all into his own depths. Aware at last of 
his own frailty when set beside the radiance and glory of the Godlike life, he 
is filled with compassion towards all men, and with that redeeming love of 
Christ which can also redeem his own soul. New ways open for him. He can go 
forward, onward, upward, leaving the earth plane behind for ever, onward and 
upward into ever higher and more wondrous realms of spiritual conscious, ness 
and understanding, ever opening himself to the inflow of a life ever more 
abundant; or he can be arrested by a bitter cry, by the anguish of those sorely 
struggling in shadow and sorrow on the earth. Is it for that soul to ignore this 
heart cry of humanity?  Who shall say?
 Rest in peace.' 
 Yes, at last I understand those words. For had

 
99
 you ever experienced the peace, the tranquillity and the restful  beauty of the 
heaven world you would realise that there are many  who would choose to rest in 
peace in such conditions. Does not man on earth also seek rest after strenuous 
labours? I find that I do not like the personal pronoun very much now. It has 
become we instead of I. And this is how every man  will feel after his entry 
into that realm of spiritual life where there is no separation either from his 
fellows or from God.  Although the individuality  of a man can become greater 
here than you on earth can well conceive, in its greatness it becomes unified 
with the whole, with all creation, with all living creatures. Thereafter no 
person speaks of himself as   I because he thinks in terms of we in place of I. 
Man will then know that he can neither think, speak nor act entirely of himself, 
because his every thought, word and act has an effect on the entire community. 
We, we!
 Did not the Master Jesus say,   Of myself I can do nothing     Does not the 
truly great man say,   I am nothing? Feeling himself nothing he becomes a sharer 
with God in every, thing; he becomes all, an infinite being in an infinite 
universe. Does this seem like undue humility  No. This is one of the first and 
most necessary lessons a man learns when he has passed the Second Death. 
Spiritualism has a vital message to bring, because some souls newly released 
from physical life need contact with those left  behind when they first come 
over here. Then communication  between the two states of life is right and true. 
The fault arises  when there is clinging by earthly people to an arisen soul 
which should pass onward. To establish true communion man must always seek for a 
pure spiritual contact, which is never obtainable through the cruder forms of 
psychic phenomena.


Today, I believe, is my birthday on earth; and although most people would 
consider this long passed and finished so far as I am concerned, yet the links 
of the earth seem to hold. The day of a spirit s incarnation in the flesh is 
always a day of power for that spirit, and can be used for either good or evil. 
Thus on the anniversary of a birth, a death, or of any happening which vitally 
affects a human soul, the psychic vibrations will recur at the scene of that 
experience. seem now to be far removed from earth memories, that is, to a point. 
Experiences which were trivial have faded, and only those which deeply affected 
me remain. The memory of much that I wrote has also vanished, while other works 
of my pen and imagination I know will live on, live on, sometimes to sadden, at 
others to inspire. Thank God that many a writing of mine dwells in my heart as a 
glowing memory of happiness. As I am speaking, or shall we rather say, pouring 
my spirit through this human channel which was so long prepared for this special 
task, I am caught up again in a ray of power and can express with increased 
vigour my experiences since my release.

 In very truth a man does not fall into a honeypot when he passes from the earth 
to the spirit world.

 Of course, everything depends on his mental and spiritual quality at the time 
of his release. He who has lived a life which was grossly material, sensual and 
selfish will find himself in   queer street  . Understand, my friends, that the 
human soul must pass once again through every condition or phase of desire which 
it has formerly encouraged,  pass through while still remaining the conscious 
self which had grown so familiar, longing, yearning, desiring with all its being 
to gratify the thirst and hunger for similar experiences which now torture its 
astral body, and unable in most cases even to obtain alleviation. In course of 
time the man is shattered, as it  were driven by unquenched longings, until at 
last the realisation dawns that the grey astral plane is barren of anything 
likely to gratify him. No picture can really paint, no description do
more than attempt to speak of a mans life while driven by these longings through 
this underworld of the coarser astral plane. Of course, eventually and 
inevitably the man reaches a state of exhaustion because the fire of his being 
has all but flamed away.  As a last resort his soul cries upon God. Where else 
can it turn in its last extremity? As soon as this aspiration to God finds  
birth, when at last the soul cries,   My God, why hast you forsaken me? , then, 
according to the mans capacity, some tiny germ of the divine quickens, 
sufficient in itself to awaken a desire for more. Still the soul passes onwards, 
traversing the underworlds. Its every step to salvation must be earned. Even in 
the next sphere, the grey astral, which is lighter and brighter, the same law of 
salvation by effort operates. Not even there  will the soul obtain satisfaction, 
but must strive ever onward and upward. My friends, there is always the other 
side of the picture.  While a man may suffer tortures of mind and body both on 
earth and afterward in the world beyond, there are always times  when he can and 
does attain the heights. So far as the earth
life
is concerned we have always to remember that we come back into incarnation by 
our own volition. By right of the power of choice inherent in us, we volunteer 
for, we accept earthly conditions such as the ego, the true inner man, knows 
will yield the most valuable experiences during an incarnation. Do not imagine 
that any mans time of birth, or place of birth, or condition or environment of 
birth, happens by accident. The  whole of his earth life, which is meant as a 
focal point from  which a succeeding life in the beyond will evolve, must 
eventually fall into accord with a definite and divine Plan.  With what precise 
knowledge of this plan did the Master Jesus speak when he said:  ..
a sparrow shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs 
of your head are all numbered.  

Such is very truth. The whole Plan lies in the Mind of God; and He holds you 
ever in the cup of His Hand. What man has to learn is to support himself through 
all experiences by means of his own courage and effort. He must not only find 
his real self, but also gain control over his own

 

nature. Until this happens he cannot begin to realise the tremendous 
potentialities of his spirit. The object of all life s discipline and experience 
is to awaken man to such a realisation. By the word   life   I mean the soul s 
existence, not as you see it through mortal eyes but as a
whole',
 as one vast experience passing from its apex, which is God; and travelling the 
full cycle of its existence, to return to that apex once more. Yes, yes; I can 
speak of these things because I was given a glimpse of these heaven worlds. 
Sometimes I seem to be lifted up, to be borne as on angel's  wings, to see these 
surpassing  wonders revealed. Perhaps I have spoken too gravely about the 
underworlds. Do not mistake me; I have said before that in many cases, in most 
cases, these underworld conditions are never experienced. The newly released 
soul can rapidly traverse them while in an unconscious state. Then they make but 
a dim impression, much as when you dream at night. To such souls, which have set 
their hearts higher, they remain only like a dream (thank God); and most of them 
will wake on the plane known to the Spiritualist as the   Summerland , and there 
find a comfort and peace. On this subject you may have many questions to ask. I 
will try to give lucid answers. Question:
 I assume from your teaching that the seventh astral plane
 
is the underworld of desires and lusts? 
 Yes, the lowest astral plane is one of burning and persistent desire, all of 
which the sufferer has engendered and fostered during his earth life. Those who 
go there are souls which have lived with neither consideration nor affection for 
any creature  but themselves. You will ask about the plane above? Well, there we 
find life a little brighter. Although it is still shadowed with a grey, ness 
like that of a November morning, a dim light shines here and there, because the 
inhabitants are developing affection for something, although perhaps only for 
nature or for animals. Throughout the soul s journey through the spheres, light 
comes only because the inner self is awakening. Stunted trees and

 
103
 vegetation become visible but the inhabitants still dwell in mists and are 
themselves clothed in grey. Being in fact wrapped up in self, centredness they 
still create for themselves similar clothing and environment. In this manner 
does their self, centredness  become outwardly actualised in a perfectly logical 
and natural manner. Question:
What about the next, the third astral plane? 
Here we find brighter conditions, because there is a desire to do something for 
the fellow, next, door, a wakening interest in ones neighbour. Here normal earth 
conditions tend to reproduce themselves. We gather for public worship, we dwell 
in houses which are perhaps somewhat dilapidated and not over salubrious. Again,
the inward spiritual conditions
 of the inhabitants become externalized in this manner. Men s souls here, 
however, are striving towards the light, and this is why conditions grow more 
hopeful, more harmonious. We pass to the fourth plane, where things are 
decidedly better. Now we find beautiful scenery, happier and on the whole finer 
conditions than on earth. We see the types of home described in many 
Spiritualist books, the lakes, rivers, mountains, flowers and animals. This is 
in all a bright second edition or continuation of a comfortable life lived on 
earth. Here the soul has attained to some mental and spiritual development, and 
having thus attained begins to create these conditions of harmony and beauty
out
of 
 itself;
 for they are after all only the reflex of the soul s mental and spiritual 
level. Cannot you understand the reason why this should be? Paradoxical though 
it will appear, these conditions come about because the human spirit is at last 
able to modify the conditions and environment which surround it
 from itself, from out of itself;
 much as a man on earth is continually contributing harmony (or disharmony) to 
his family and home life. This is why, and how, comfort, serenity, harmony and 
beauty come into being in the next life. Question:
 If the astral planes number seven, how can this be
 
reconciled with the dominant number, twelve? You have given us
 
seven astral, three mental and three celestial planes, thirteen in all? 
There are actually twelve planes. The seventh or lowest

 
104
astral is so closely interwoven with the earth, so identified with earthly 
interests and influence that it should be considered with the earth. The first 
real astral is the first grey plane. Therefore the planes number twelve, six 
astral and six heavenly. The last mental plane marks the stopping place or the   
Nirvana   where the soul meditates, contemplates and absorbs the experiences of 
its past. This is the resting place after every incarnation before the soul 
returns to gather fresh experience. Beyond these mental planes awaits, we will 
not call it the  Third death, but the final liberation from incarnation; for the 
soul then goes onward through the   Waiting Halls   into the celestial or cosmic 
consciousness.







	
 
io8
 With such prospect as this in view the man advances into the
mental 
 condition of his being. I would, however, make it clear that the soul does not 
pass through every mental plane of the spiritual life, but automatically 
migrates to the particular mental plane to which it is attuned. Thereafter in 
succession the soul  will work its way up through every plane or grade of
spiritual 
 existence; and this is not because of the single existence on earth  which it 
is supposed each man undergoes (and thinks of as his only mortal life) but by 
and through every incarnate life which he has ever experienced. For the soul of 
each man lives through many incarnations. During each separate incarnation it 
will mark out the plane or place on the mental plane to which it will some day 
travel, and where it will for a period dwell. Thus, in the course of time that 
soul will experience every phase and every condition of the spiritual life. Is 
this clear? Do you understand that during his life in the physical world man is 
always laying a foundation for the particular astral, mental, or celestial home 
to which he must go; so that he will attain a lesser or fuller degree of freedom 
and happiness in his astral, mental or celestial life in exact accordance  with 
the degree of his aspirations and spiritual growth during his span on earth?

I have now to endeavour to show the difference between the
mental planes (whereon the soul emerges to dwell after the Second Death), the 
mental activities on these planes and the celestial  life which lies beyond. For 
the mental body which man inhabits after quitting his experience in the astral 
worlds is a purely mental state, which differs widely from the spiritual state  
beyond.


 
 ACCORDING TO Arthur Conan Doyle.
SPHERES OF EVOLVING LIFE AND CONSCIOUSNESS.

The mental plane is one of great power, on which the soul must exercise its full 
mental faculties, which, as it were, become unleashed and augmented when it 
enters this plane of existence. Nor can it quit the mental plane until a ducat 
balance has been reached between its mental and spiritual qualities. For a 
period it would seem that the soul must remain on the mental plane to grow in 
quietude, much as a seed is sown in the soil and left to germinate. Having 
passed into the mental world, man has to dwell there to obtain soul, growth 
before emerging into the celestial world, bringing with him the spiritual power 
and equipment he has gathered during his journey. It is in the
celestial 
 world that the work of creation really  begins. That is the glory and 
magnificence of the celestial  world, and of its creative art which is the real
becoming
 of all creation. In this heaven world the soul of man absorbs a potency from 
the divine quality of Christ; having itself become almost angelic, it dwells 
among angelic beings sharing their lustre. Would that we could endow you with 
some flash of intuition or insight which would reveal a glimpse of the harmony, 
the perfection and the glory of this heaven life! For it is here that the soul 
of man becomes conscious at last of its true nature, here that the ego knows 
itself a very part of God. After their passing from earth life the souls of men 
reach this celestial sphere of being in about thirty years of time (as men gauge 
time) and in the normal course of their development. Nothing drives the soul 
onward against its own inclination. Man s own power of freewill is ever 
operative. If he wants to linger in the astral conditions, he can stay as long 
as he desires, so that a century or more may pass; or if he wishes he can 
sometimes pass quickly onwards, but only when he is longing with all his heart 
to become re, united with the God, consciousness  which is his real home. What 
can it mean to such a soul to relinquish everything,  willingly to renounce its 
heaven world in order to retrace its steps earthwards to serve men? To 
understand you would first have to conceive a tithe of the wonder and harmony of 
the heaven life. Yes, there are forms there which one sees as angelic,

 perfect in their beauty, with faces most tranquil and peaceful, and shining 
with the glory of a great peace and love. Each mind there is softened, serene, 
and has become beatified. The air  we breathe is shining, rare and fine. The 
harmony of a divine music breathes continually within the soul, which finds its 
supreme joy in some form of service, some form of self, giving. For you must not 
conceive this heaven world as a sphere of idleness or perpetual rest, although 
it is a place of eternal peace; for it is by dwelling in such peace as this that 
we learn something about the ways of creation, and in so learning we become 
ourselves creative. Yes, there are souls among
us who willingly sacrifice such  joys as these to descend again to the lower 
planes of earth to labour there. Like a diver descending to the deep, or a 
collier to the bowels of the earth, so can the descending soul, donning its 
astral garb, take on itself something of the limitations of a personality again. 
Even then it can labour in those lower spheres only for a period, for it must 
ascend again, as it were to  breathe, unable to sustain for too long so dense an 
atmosphere. Is it possible for souls dwelling in these celestial spheres to 
communicate from there with the earth; Yes. There are messengers for that very 
purpose. Few people understand the  wonderful mysticism of parts of the Bible, 
as when Jacob dreamed he saw a ladder placed between heaven and earth, and saw 
angels descending and ascending it. People will perhaps regard this as a 
childish story. Yet that is just what is still happening. Communications are 
indeed coming down from the heaven world to the earth people: alas, that so much 
is lost in transit and that so much confusion exists concerning the right 
methods of communication! We have spoken before about St. Paul s words:
 In the twinkling
 
of an eye we shall be changed,
 and
When the last trump shall sound!
 This means the great call which comes forth from the Supreme, from the Christ 
heart, to which all men shall some day find they are related. For soon or late 
each and every soul must awaken to that call, hear that peal of the trumpet of 
the spirit  which is summoning it homewards. Men will then leave

 
112
 behind all that was of the earth, earthy, in themselves. By this surrender all 
their individuality will be preserved and enhanced, and their lower personality 
die and be shed. Do not regret it; for although personality is of the earth and 
soiled by earth it has  yet been a means to an end, a means necessary if man is 
to undergo experiences which are invaluable on his upward climb to God. Yes; 
teach the people about communion with the spirit  world, but for God s sake 
teach them the truth. Do not offer them a fool s paradise by telling them that 
everything will be lovely there. I can assure you that the life after death is a 
serious matter, not to be regarded lightly, not a subject to be glossed over as 
with a varnish paint. For when a man passes from his physical to an astral 
condition he has to face the fruits of his past life on earth. There can be no 
more backsliding then, for life has to resolve itself into a forward march. 
Proofs, what are these proofs that the people of the earth cry out for? They do 
not know what constitutes proof of the after, life. They only consider something 
that is capable of  being conveyed to any of their five physical senses as proof 
of spirit power; and yet the great proof, the proof there is no gainsaying is 
manifesting itself in a very definite and drastic manner all over the face of 
the globe.*Ill
L
et
 
us
 
return to a further description of the mental plane,  which is not to be 
confused with the celestial. Although these terms may appear baffling, the 
several planes in the mental world must be clearly subdivided. Thus, after the 
Second Death, the soul enters first a mental plane where it finds itself 
surrounded  by the previous creations of its own mind. It is here that the chief 
characteristics of the man of cold, hard, intellectual thought
* The last sentence seemed incomprehensible at the time, but the proof of the 
existence of a spiritual law has since been demonstrated. For in these  years 
which preceded the outbreak of war in 1939 the nations were surely sowing the 
seeds of war by reason of sloth, selfishness, godlessness. The war  when it came 
was a demonstration of how certainly, how speedily spiritual laws operate even 
in the material world.

 
have found expression. The delicate balance which exists  between the 
intellectual and the intuitional part of man must now be taken into account, for 
on the next or second mental plane the soul responds to the intuitional or 
spiritual light  which is now drawing it upwards and onwards, ever higher and 
nearer to the central focus of its being, which is the Godhead. On this second 
mental plane the man becomes conscious of an intuitional inflow which tones down 
his hard intellectuality and enforces a purer intuitional conception of 
existence. In this condition the man himself becomes creative, since from this 
plane springs all the creative urge or activity which takes an ultimate form on 
earth as art, literature, music, religion, science, all of  which are varying 
expressions of creative energy derived from a higher source: here, in short, man 
finds himself able to contact the Source of all his higher inspiration and 
creation. From this intuitional (but still mental plane, you understand) he 
passes to the higher, the third and last mental plane. Now he enters a state of 
quiescence. For, as the man journeys upwards, he is ever shedding the  vestiges 
of that stratum of himself which is of the earth, earthy;  but absorbing the 
lessons he learns on his journey, lessons which are retained by his ego and 
become a part of himself. When the man attains the condition of quiescence, 
peace and tranquillity on the intuitional plane (which is not mere lethargy), 
his spirit remains perfectly conscious, although mentally in a state of 
soliloquy, able at last
to see himself as he really is;
 to gauge the complete effect of his life, not only as it has affected the lives 
of his fellows on earth, but in relation to the whole creative principle; to 
estimate the magnitude or otherwise of his personal contribution towards God s 
evolving Plan of Creation.
The third mental plane is a condition of withdrawal from outer form into an 
inner relationship with the universal power; a condition where mans inner ego 
contacts that universal sphere of spiritual being and attainment. Whereas life 
on the planes below has been in definite form, now there is
to some extent 
 an

 
absence of form. It will be very difficult for the man of earth to imagine such 
a condition, concerned as he is with his form,  life. When you attempt to 
visualize or imagine the Universal, that great Omnipotence whom you worship and 
love as God,  your mind cannot conceive Him in any particular form; yet  within 
your being and outside in the whole universe at all times and in all places, God 
s pulsating life radiates power, the effect of which you recognize by its myriad 
manifestations as an Intelligence ever proclaiming its handiwork. When you pray, 
you pray to a Mind that understands
your 
 mind, to a Heart that loves and is compassionate to
you.
 It is nevertheless utterly impossible to formulate that Mind or Heart. For this 
reason the Cosmic Christ manifested as a man on the earth, that he might give 
form or provide a nexus, in order that men and women might make contact, 
according to their capacity, with the Godhead. So when we reach the third mental 
plane we find absence of form: that is, mans ego is no longer limited, confined 
or bound down to any particular form of being, to any particular kind of  body. 
He is rather spending his time, not only in withdrawal into the centre of 
himself, but also in expansion from that centre until his being contacts the 
whole, the life universal. It is true that it is possible for men and women 
still living on earth to contact this sphere; but the effect is so powerful, the 
plane so tremendous in its vibration that the effect can even be harmful to the 
human organism. We touch on a vast theme. You have occasionally seen advanced 
souls living in your midst at whom men wonder; yet for some unknown reason a 
sudden collapse and death awaits them. They sometimes die of a disease which the 
medical world cannot diagnose. Again we say that until medicine deigns to study 
the laws governing mans spiritual being it will continue to be confronted and 
baffled by obscure diseases. Do not mistake us; we do not mean to convey that 
every one who dies from an obscure disease is necessarily of high spiritual 
consciousness whose end was due to contact with this third mental plane !It has 
seemed necessary, however, to explain that this universal power can shatter mans 
body, unless it is sought in humility and
H4

 
truth, and with a pure and selfless motive. You will ask what is meant by this? 
We reply that within us all lies an inmost centre of our being, a divine 
birthplace of mans spirit, which even to reach, much less to comprehend, is 
beyond all intellectual striving or attainment. If a man attempts to reach this 
power  by intellect alone, without due attunement, without growth of the spirit, 
there must inevitably be disaster. Yet if that same man  will strive with mind 
and heart and spirit to seek the kingdom, holding fast in simple and childlike 
faith, he must reach that plane of the universal and there receive truth and 
power and life from the fount of all life. We repeat, my friends, that on this 
third heavenly plane there is a withdrawal from expression through mans outer 
form into his inmost depths, and that in such withdrawal there must follow 
expansion and absorption into the universal life. With this the question will 
immediately arise: has such a man forever sunk his individuality and shed all 
traces of desire for evermore? No, my friends, no; the man has then become 
greater, nobler,  with his individuality enhanced. Having tasted at last of the 
divine fruit, being at last aware of his own inherent divinity, he has become
at, one
 with God, even as the Gentle One once said,  
 My Father and I are one.  
Even then, the man can still return to earth. Although his ego has become like a 
seed deeply sown or embedded in the life, more, abundant of which Jesus spoke, 
his ego can emerge again, assume a form and step by step re, enter its former 
state of being, until if the man so desires he takes mortal life on himself once 
more.

I have spoken of a period of quietude where the soul reviews its past. This is 
before it passes onwards; for on those mental planes the man is more or less 
concentrating on himself, is labouring within himself, concerned now not so much 
with his output, (as he had been on earth), as with his intake  of truth 
regarding himself.

 
To cover the ground again: we have outlined three
mental planes, i.e. the lower mental or intellectual; the intuitional; and the 
higher mental which contacts the cosmic forces. We then pass onwards to the true 
spiritual planes, the celestial.
 The Buddhists refer to this heavenly condition as nirvana, a term which well 
expresses that peace, that tranquil retracement  by the soul of man over all the 
experiences it has gained. Have you ever heard about the Waiting Halls of 
Heaven?  Yes, there are such places; and the soul whose fulfillment is 
incomplete lives for a period in this mental state or plane, as a dweller in the 
Waiting Halls, having then gathered up its knowledge and reviewed all its past 
experiences both on earth and elsewhere. There the soul waits until the call 
comes for it to go forward, or else until it accepts the order to descend again 
into mortal life; to take another dip, as it were, much as a diver goes down 
into the sea.
n6
 W 
e
 
have now referred in turn to the astral, the mental, the celestial, and the 
Christ spheres. There may have been some confusion of terms, and this is a 
matter I wish to clarify. After the astral and mental planes, then from the 
celestial we pass to  what has been referred to as the Christ sphere, but which 
I desire to name henceforth the
cosmic or universal sphere.
 In this condition of heavenly life dwell great Beings which are freed from 
rebirth on any physical plane of existence, and which are now concerned not only 
with the earth life but with all life,  with the life of the universe. From this 
plane creative masters are sent forth, responsible for the life of the souls of 
lesser beings dwelling on other planets and in other spheres of existence. 
Thousands of years (I can only speak in terms of earth time) must elapse before 
the ego attains its full expression and development; and only after gaining all 
possible knowledge through physical existence does it pass beyond the Halls of 
Waiting,  beyond even the celestial planes into a still higher plane. What term 
can prove adequate for this? The Christ sphere . the place of at, one, ment with 
Christ . the rapture of love perfected, of perfect fulfillment which is found, 
yes, even these arc waiting for the perfected soul of man. When in transit 
between the mental and celestial spheres the soul becomes conscious of a 
spiritual element which it lacked  before. This is due to its closer contact 
with the Christ sphere, from which the creative ones, the exalted ones, may 
descend to merge themselves into an earthly existence, to take on themselves 
mortality by supreme sacrifice. This is what happened  when the Master Jesus 
made his renunciation, but you have yet so much to learn concerning his life and 
death.
 It is unnecessary for man to pass through physical death in order to
 
contact all the planes of spiritual life. This is knowledge vital to the
 
being and happiness of every man.
 For man has power to reach out, to contact, and to respond to the influences 
which emanate from all the planes of spiritual being even while enmeshed in the 
flesh; the difference being that when he is released his spiritual life gains a 
sweet intensity. Having lost a physical body, the more surely does the soul, 
experience which he now undergoes afford him a richer and greater sense of 
reality in his being.  Again and again we say that all the spheres of spiritual 
life are, or can be, reached by incarnate man, who can thus draw his experiences 
either from a hell of desire or a heaven of ecstasy.






 
CHAPTER 6.
THE PROBLEM OF GOOD AND EVIL.
 
 Most high and perfect Spirit of the Universe, great Architect, we come before 
you praying that you wilt guide us in all our ways. May the wisdom of your mind 
inspire our work. May the beauty of your form be made manifest in our work; may 
your love inspire our every thought and action towards our fellows. May we pass 
through life s journey in safety, and come at last into your glorious Presence, 
perfected through you. Amen.  
Tonight power seems to come with such dynamic force that I am almost swept off 
my feet, and could be driven like a straw  before the blast. This seems a good 
simile for the power of the spirit which is poured down onto the earth at this 
time. In the course of this outpouring you will see both national calamities and 
international disturbance; but ultimately a rebuilding of
humanity wing to this power of the spirit.
The same message was given to me during my earth life. I can but repeat it, and 
say there will be physical catastrophes. As a result a great new continent will 
emerge where there is now but a waste of ocean, and there will be an equivalent 
subsidence of land. The fiat has gone forth; even now we can see these creative 
Powers at work. A race of men will evolve considerably in advance of the 
humanity of today. Together with these changes  will come refinement of the 
physical substance of the earth itself, and of the spheres which surround it.
 No time factor is given for these happenings, which may lie in the distant 
future.

 
Page 132.
But this is a diversion. We now return to the subject of the planes above the 
astral; to the first mental, to the intuitional plane above it, and to the third 
plane of intelligence or wisdom. We have explained that Christian Science as a 
collective body draws its power from the first mental plane. On the next plane, 
the intuitional, there is withdrawal from the hard intellectual condition. On 
the third plane, where the influence of the first and second planes becomes 
perfectly balanced and merged, we arrive at a state of consciousness or 
intelligence which might be called divine wisdom. We must differentiate between 
intellect, which conditions life on the first mental plane, and that wider 
consciousness  which exists on the third mental plane which we call   
intelligence.  This is a very part of the Divine Mind. Very many men, alas, who 
are thought by their fellows to be clever and intellectual really lack 
intelligence. From this plane of divine intelligence or wisdom we can draw 
creative power, but not that power which produces
 form
 on the astral planes; the power  which can produce an actual
substance,
 as Jesus demonstrated in the story of the loaves and fishes. On all the planes 
of being we have described dwell angels of light and angels of darkness. Can you 
grasp this fact with all its implications? Perhaps you have hitherto imagined 
that all the dark angels are flung down to exist in some pit of degradation, 
while the angels of light are raised to the highest heaven to sit at God s right 
hand? Nothing can be more erroneous than any such idea, which has for centuries 
falsified mans outlook on both good and evil. Tonight it is my mission to awaken 
men to the realisation that these dual armies of intelligent beings, or if you 
will, the angels of light and darkness, work and evolve side by side, and are 
necessary one to the other. This fact must be assimilated before any clear 
conception of the real nature of good and evil can dawn. Hitherto men have 
conceived that good must always oppose evil. Nothing is farther from the truth. 
Evil is always an essential complement to that quality or condition man calls   
good , and without the existence of evil good could not evolve or exist.

 
133
Let us consider again the angels of light and darkness, realizing that these two 
Powers labour hand in hand unceasingly for the soul of man, in order to perfect 
in him that Divine Intelligence which ever strives to manifest itself through 
all  varieties of form and substance. From every plane of spiritual activity, 
including the third mental plane of meditation and contemplation, this angelic 
work goes forward. From this third plane can be drawn power, which, reaching the 
earth, can penetrate down even to the lower forms of creation, much as the rays 
of sunlight and sun, power descend upon the earth. The lower the plane of 
existence, however, the less active is that power from on high. We have said 
that from all the planes of spiritual life and consciousness there can be drawn 
a power which can be and is being utilized by men, either for good or ill. Never 
run away with the idea that all spiritual power from on high must necessarily  
be   good   or   white  . What then of the Principalities and Powers of 
Darkness, the Adversaries and Princes of the Shadow spoken of by St. Paul, who 
being a disciple of the Ancient  Wisdom knew both good and evil at their true 
worth  We can recognize many an instance of men and women utilizing such powers 
for their own selfish and evil purposes. Think  back, over the life, history of 
many a war, lord and conqueror, many a financier who has enriched himself by 
beggaring other men, if you want an example. Are these ideas too difficult for 
you to accept at present  Surely not. Take for example a man who becomes 
overanxious to acquire wealth in order to benefit himself. Once he has attracted 
these powers to himself something within him more forceful than his own will for 
gain drives him onward. Eventually he reaches a state when despite his own 
longing to stop money, grabbing he cannot, even if by now he loathes the  wealth 
which enslaves him. Control is lost; the money piles up in an influx he is 
unable to arrest, although by now no man knows better than he the burden and 
curse of wealth. Other examples of this nature can be found in the successful 
writer, the dramatist, the statesman, and indeed in any walk of life

 
134
 where men lust for wealth or power. Beware lest the driver himself becomes the 
driven soul. Beware! The angels of darkness arc at work! If you wish you can 
trace out for yourselves the operation of this shadowing power overriding many a 
life which has ended in failure and disaster. Would it not be altogether better 
for the world if all evil could be destroyed for evermore, so that only good 
would remain? If such a happening as this is conceivable, would it be desirable? 
or would it end in disaster? We ourselves cannot see that any such happening 
would make for a suddenly perfected world, but rather the reverse. Will it help 
if you visualize two great wheels, two rings, two cycles ever revolving one 
against the other, each holding and main, tainting as it were by a magnetic 
force, the position of the other? Does this give any indication how Providence 
works towards the enlargement of mans soul, towards its harmonisation with the 
Divine
!* 
 We would impress this on all people, were we able:
That 
 
which man calls   evil 
  
is also of God; the Universal Intelligence
 
which man calls God contains in Itself both good and evil!
I know that such a statement as this must create controversy. I can only give 
the truth as I know and see it to be. For each of us must labour and strive so 
to live that we attain a perfectly  balanced
life
, so that darkness shall never overcome the light in us; but rather that good 
and evil shall together, not as masters  but as our servants, work out in us the 
perfect law with perfect precision. At the present time there comes an 
overruling, an overshadowing of the world by the powers of darkness. The earth 
has to readjust herself, or to find again and maintain her moral balance, to 
strive after a balanced perfection which in itself is beyond good and evil. For 
it is ordained that good and evil shall become servants to man, even as they are 
now God s
* Here Arthur Conan Doyle. partially failed to get his meaning across in words; 
but by his gestures endeavoured to indicate two immense Cycles ever turning one 
against the other, ever in a perfect rhythm and by this rhythm maintaining the 
moral balance of the world, much as centrifugal and centripetal force keep a 
planet poised in the solar system.

 
135
servants helping to work out His perfect Plan. That is the ultimate. It is only 
when individual man is raised above his physical and personal thought, life that 
he can realise life as
one stupendous whole',
 and see life revealed as one comprehensive  allness of God wherein there is no 
enduring difference between good and evil, black and white. At this some 
questioner will ask,   If what you say is true, are  we not robbed of all 
impetus towards good? What need is there for anyone to try to improve the world, 
or himself, if after all there is no real difference between right and wrong?  
We might just as well rub along in any old way, if everything is going to come 
right in the end.  We remind you that as the stars are poised in the heavens so 
also is every human soul poised in the eternal cycle of life; is held there by 
and within the unsleeping consciousness of the Divine Intelligence. It is true 
that the soul has been given a measure of freewill, or power of choice, so that 
it can accept or reject good or evil; but it has no power at any time to sever 
its link with the Supreme Soul, God
, and there is always an upward 
 
 pull towards God.
 True enough, for a time the soul may deride, deny or reject God; but it can 
never escape from Him, never  break its link with Him; and in its extremity it 
must surely yield to Him, and return to Him like the Prodigal Son in the 
parable. What is happening while the soul is resolved to resist the pull of God 
which draws it upward? It means that by his own will the man chooses the 
downward instead of the upward path. Mark, he has not escaped from God, not even 
for a moment. The magnetic power of the Divine Intelligence ever holds fast, is 
ever inclining him to tread the path back to God. Yet through myriad 
transgressions he will follow the path of evil, down? wards, downwards. At last 
comes the inevitable change of heart, the arising, the beginning of the long 
upward climb with  bleeding feet back to God. This is why no man can ever escape 
his destiny, which is to attain to ultimate perfection through an ultimate 
return to his Creator. Yet it is true that before man can become godlike he must 
pass through the lowest arc, must bottom the depths of evil as

 
 well as attain the heights; must pass through the deepest hell and touch the 
high heaven which is his eventual home. When the personal man can grasp a truth 
so tremendous as tills he will cease to condemn any fellow creature; for then 
the  bright ideal of mans perfect soul, towards which both he and all his fellow 
creatures are striving through good and through evil will fill his heart with 
gladness. He will then think,   My  brother s path is his choice alone; my path 
is mine. What matter? Why should I condemn anyone? 
   The human ego can attain by this path alone to mastership; first over its own  
weaknesses and failings, then over its environment and the many limitations with 
which human life is encompassed. We are endeavoring to reach up to spheres of 
cosmic life  which are above both the mental and celestial spheres we have 
described. From such spheres beings of the highest spiritual consciousness can 
ascend and descend, and are still able to maintain touch with mortal man. When a 
man by continual effort can get into touch with such beings he can receive clear 
communications from the inhabitants of other planets. Although man has long 
tried to invent an instrument in order to obtain such communications, he will 
eventually learn that only within his own inner self, interpreted by his own 
spiritual intelligence, can anything of the kind be established. First man must 
attain to brotherhood with his fellow, man in social and national life; and then 
to brotherhood between nations. Later will follow an interplanetary brotherhood, 
born of the interplanetary communication which will some day become possible 
when the consciousness of humanity is raised.*First, however, we have to learn 
the basic elements of such  brotherhood. Man cannot live by bread alone, but by 
every  word which proceeded out of the mouth of God. In other  words man can 
only accomplish or attain to fullness of living through constant contact with 
spiritual truths. We are well aware that our statements about the real nature
* It is worth recalling that this prediction of interplanetary communication  
was given some twenty years before the advent of space ships and   saucers   
from other planets was reported.
136

 
of good and evil will evoke much criticism. Nevertheless we are, emphasise the 
fact that these two are not so opposed in nature as their appearance seems to 
warrant. Marching in step with the creative power of good must always tread the 
destructive power of evil. During his earth life man finds it essential to 
destroy or consume rubbish and garbage. So it is with the economics of the 
universe. Might we not describe the angels of darkness, therefore, as the 
individualised powers of evil, representative of great destructive forces which 
consume all that is unwanted in the scheme of existence in a process of 
perpetual absorption and destruction of things, habits, customs, of modes of 
thought and living, which have become out of date and undesirable? You see, we 
are suggesting that the powers of evil come under a cloak which hides an 
ultimate goodness. Being themselves negative in nature they must absorb from 
life, from human and universal life, all that needs to be cast off or discarded. 
But while they appear to destroy, in reality they do not destroy; although we 
have said they consume, actually they
transmute.
Let us conceive them as agents which are ever active transmuting all that is 
undesirable in our midst to the eventually useful and beautiful. Let us recall 
our idea of the two mighty cycles, shall we say of God s evolving Purpose or 
Plan?,   which men call positive or negative, or, roundly,   good and evil  . 
Each is the complement of the other; both are necessary to the scheme of 
creation of the absolute. As certainly as night follows day and day night, does 
evil balance good and good evil. This process of transmutation of good to evil, 
of evil to good is ever proceeding. In this fashion the great cycles roll onward 
through aeons of time, their eventual purpose being to help the soul of all 
humanity to attain perfect balance and perfect harmony. When attained at last, 
this perfect culmination always heralds yet another putting forth of God s 
energies for the creation of new worlds destined for the habitation of new races 
of men. The House of God is thus ever in process of enlargement to make ready 
for the Day when His children return from their wanderings in time and space.
137

 
These are only some of the reasons which make it utterly impossible for the 
finite mind ever to comprehend eternity.  Again we can only help you by 
suggesting that eternity is best represented by the great wheel which is never 
checked, never halted on its course. Yes,
God is both good and evil;
 God contains both good and evil within Himself. It is only your conception of 
evil which is wrong. Therefore you must accept what we say. May we suggest that 
evil as man sees it is rather mans
thought, concept 
 of evil than its real self? If any person exists thinking only about satisfying 
himself and his desires, he lives a selfish one, pointed existence in a state of 
darkness which men call evil. If on the other hand, sparing nothing for himself, 
he lives and labours to help and serve his fellows in common brotherhood he then 
dwells in the light, and draws fresh light to himself by opening himself to the 
heaven world. Cannot you see that that which seeks either good or evil is merely 
a
reflection,
 is only the outer or personal self of the real man; and that the inner man, 
made in God s image, knows that both are one and the same in that they serve 
God? Man looks out at the world around him and seeing much ignorance, cruelty 
and evil asserts that it is impossible to deny the reality of evil. His 
conclusion is based on false premises.  What possible means has any man of 
judging whether a fellow creature serves either good or evil? His opinion is 
largely based on the conventions of his age, or the customs of his particular 
country. What seems good at one time is often declared wholly evil by a later 
generation, or by people of another continent. We have yet to speak of an order 
of beings seldom described,  but I think they are usually known as angelic 
beings,   winged  beings , the great devas whose powers hold the ordering of 
many lives; who command such wondrous power that without it mans world would 
lack much of its fragrance and sweetness. I speak also of the angels of birth 
and of motherhood, and of  
the kindly angels of death; of the angels of music, of art and literature.
Inserted, The devas control the group, souls of the nature kingdom, of which 
ants and bees are a prominent example, but their powers extend beyond the insect 
to the vegetable, animal and bird life.
Page 138.

Does the creative artist ever dream that the emotions of which music, art and 
beauty are the outcome, that the  vibrations which are so fine, so delicate, 
originate from spheres  beyond the dull earth environment, from heights outside 
the compass of human mentality? All spiritual beauty must emanate from the 
heaven worlds and the heavenly beings in, habiting it. Yes, these winged angels 
are dual personalities crowned by the love borne one to the other and to the 
whole universe. It is profoundly difficult to express spiritual realities with 
words fitted only to describe material and physical conditions. Nevertheless, I 
would hold out to all people a hope beautiful and true beyond compare. I would 
assure them of the progress to be won by mans constant desire for beauty, love 
and wisdom. I would describe a life perfect in its power to express all the 
higher feelings and attributes which lie hidden in the depths of mans nature. 
Not one soul, whether it be of a white, a black, a  yellow or a red man, but 
finds provision made for it in the vast universe of spirit. I would paint such a 
picture of the heaven  world, were I able, that it must satisfy every desire and 
fire the imagination of every living soul on earth. Were the words mine I would 
show a world of spirit ever evolving, opening to new vista after vista of 
beauty. As one attains one sees fresh heights beyond. The air grows finer, 
brighter. Exultation fills one s being, nerving one to fresh effort and 
attainment.
139




 
might almost segregate communications into two separate grades: communication 
which is but experimental; and communion of the spirit, which will some day grow 
so pure and blessed as to become sacramental. Communion such as this must come 
as a holy and blessed form of dedication, meant for the ennoblement of life both 
incarnate and discarnate. It is true that time, new education and realizations 
are necessary to dispel the present, day ignorance of these matters. May this  
work of ours serve that purpose, at least to a degree, by bringing a gleam of 
God s truth to men! The other branch of investigation, that of psychical 
research, should have its doors rigidly shut against the curious and the 
sensation, seeker. There should no longer be exploitation of the sensitive human 
instruments through which contact with the  beyond comes. All must be put into 
proper place; law and order must come in these matters, and a more reverent 
understanding of the beauty and wonder of mediumship. Let us realise that the 
rituals of the Roman Catholic and High  Anglican Churches are designed to call 
on the planes of power. One can at once feel this potency on entering any church 
where high ritual is practised. Everything, the incense, the way the censer is 
used, and even the form of administration of the blessing, is practised with 
deliberate intention to create this power and distribute it among the 
worshippers. I have visited many a church since I became discarnate to witness 
this process at work. I have seen how the strains of music influence the minds 
of the  worshippers; how they themselves contribute to the power by the action 
of their emotional body. On the other hand, in nonconformist churches, where 
ornate ritual has become a plain and simple devotion, if a true purity of heart 
and purpose be present a power will also gather, but of a somewhat different 
order. In some of these, however, a spiritual coldness creeps in, a lack of fire 
and life due to complacency, so that those who gather to worship tend to become 
over, satisfied with themselves, to think themselves Gods chosen people. I shall 
be severely criticized, but this also has been noted in my journeyings.

 As to the wisdom and rightness of using ritual, music, and the 
like, to attract and to maintain power over the people, we remind you that there 
can be use and abuse of all things. Doubt, less power rightly obtained and 
rightly put to use forms part of the creative plan, since such powers lie within 
man waiting for use; and if by knowledge and intelligence and by purity of 
ideals and aspirations the man becomes linked to the higher celestial spheres, 
he attracts these powers to himself by his own spiritual growth. We have told 
you that the Christian religion was the purest, containing as it does a kernel 
of pure truth. We would now elucidate this statement: we shall be challenged as 
to the doctrine of the vicarious atonement and the meaning of the words,  
 I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by Me.  
 This is still a sad stumbling block to many people. They have yet to realise, 
as I now realise, the spiritual meaning  behind these words. We do not propound 
any gospel of vicarious atonement.  We are assured that as a man sows so must he 
surely reap: that nobody else can ever take from him the responsibility of his 
own evil thinking and doing. But when a man, however sunken, reaches that point 
where his soul is illumined by a truth created  by and through the power and the 
love of Christ, he is born again and his old self dies. In that way only does 
Christ preserve him, redeem him from ignorance, sin and darkness, and point him 
to eternal life. To every soul, whether Spiritualist, Orthodox Christian, 
Buddhist, Atheist, there will come this dawning of the light of God; or, in 
other words, this coming of Christ the Beloved; for every soul, no matter what 
its label, however much it deny its Master, must some day enter heaven through 
the   narrow gate , through the immeasurable love and the perfect  wisdom of the 
compassionate Christ. On the last occasion we spoke of the Buddhist belief. This 
too needs amplification. The Buddhist of today holds that the ultimate and 
supreme goal of his existence is to enter the sphere of life known to him as 
nirvana. He therefore desires to reincarnate as speedily as possible in order 
that he may hasten through many a life and ultimately reach freedom from 
rebirth. He
156

 
157
 believes that nirvana will release him from this eternal round. In nirvana he 
will find peace, having lost himself in desireless,  ness, in nothingness. His 
error lies in his interpretation of the teachings of the Buddha. So also are the 
teachings of Jesus presented in very different guise from the truths given to 
his disciples two thousand years ago. The Lord Buddha came to point the way to 
that ultimate surrender which every human soul must make, which is the 
resignation of itself to the Supreme. By his own profound experience he had 
proved that only as a little child in simplicity and trust can a man enter the 
kingdom. This he taught his people. One more point; if you follow the true 
vision of the spirit,  you will find all this truth in the ancient wisdom, the 
source of all religion both of the East and West. You will find the place of the 
disquieted spirits described, the higher astral spheres, the mental, celestial 
and universal spheres of life. All the teachers through all the ages have 
returned to earth with much the same revelation.  What a glorious destiny is 
thus revealed to any man ready to renounce self and its desires for the service 
of man and God.

 
CHAPTER IX.
THE HEALING OF ALL DISEASE.

 It will be seen that Arthur Conan Doyle assumes that his reader both 
understands and accepts the existence and reality of the etheric and astral 
bodies as part of earthly man; and furthermore that some day the medical world 
will accept this truth, and find its outlook, and treatment of disease, 
revolutionized because of it; realising that disease of the body is something at 
its final stage of externalisation after a long period of inner causation. In 
other words, some day medicine will study the causes, where it is at present 
trying to cure the effects of disease. It is from this standpoint that Arthur 
Conan Doyle begins his message on this, the cause and cure of all disease.

It s truly said that medical science will be compelled some day to study psychic 
and spiritual laws. When I recall the operations I once had to witness as a 
doctor, I now shudder with horror and disgust. Yet I appreciate the fact that 
many lives are being saved by the skill of the surgeon. But I dare to add that 
many more lives (and the sanity thereof) will be saved when the medical  world 
makes a study of mans astral body and its well, being. Certain rays exist which, 
when men can open themselves to the Divine Intelligence, can be used to heal 
their bodies. This  will depend not so much on the quality of the healer s 
intellect as on his spiritual intelligence or insight, which will enable him to 
attract these rays to himself (much as a magnet attracts), and redirect the 
light through his patient. This is only one of the new ways of healing some day 
to be assimilated when Medicine is open to receive information concerning light 
and colour rays. How truly has it been said that all that is needed for health, 
healing and sustenance waits in the Universal for mans use and comfort. 
Unfortunately, however, those who are spiritually ignorant cannot draw on this 
abundance of God s supply. It is equally difficult, if not impossible, for those 
who possess
 
this knowledge to convey it to others. It must dawn from the soul s own 
understanding; and the time will surely come when Light from the Cosmic Christ 
will thus illumine mans enshadowed understanding. He will then awaken out of 
darkness.
Page 159
I am not working singly in this matter: I am but one of a hand of workers and 
have been purposely strengthened and taught many things. It has been my 
particular task to be the spokes, man, and so bring these messages back. Much 
that I pass on has  been given to me for that special purpose, although my mind 
has caught many a glimpse of the glories I attempt to describe. I know that 
these things are, but cannot truly say that I have experienced all these 
wonders; and yet  it would seem at times as though the whole panorama of human 
life opens before me, and I see not only into the past but into the future of 
the  world and of humanity. Great changes are coming; a wonderful light is 
streaming down on to the earth, and humanity is responding. According to the 
degree of its response, so will humanity become more spiritual and its world 
more etherealised. Maybe, my friends, you would like us to speak of something 
more akin to your own human life, more simple, more understandable to you.
 Dear friends, these things of which we speak are among the simplest of God s 
gifts to His children.
During past centuries many methods of healing sickness have  become known and 
practised. Each would appear to be effective,  but only in certain cases, and 
none in all. It is now our task to trace the source of the healer s power, as 
well as seek out the origin of disease. In spite of the controversy these 
statements may arouse, disease originates, not as may be thought in the mental 
state of the patient, but usually far deeper. It may sometimes  begin in mans 
conscious mind, it is true, sometimes in the subconscious, but more often in the
 preconscious.
 By the last term we mean a condition of consciousness far older than the

 
life now being lived, but one which can be brought over from the mans past 
lives; a consciousness which extends back through many   ages   or incarnations. 
But this must not be confused  with what is known to the psychologist as mans   
racial instinct.  We suggest that the pre, conscious mind appertains to mans 
ego, to his spirit, whereas what might be called his instinctive mind appertains 
to the animal and racial instincts which may be inherent; but are not 
necessarily related to or coordinated with the pre, consciousness of man, which 
is a part of the universal or spiritual heritage which all men share. It would 
seem that this pre, conscious state is unknown in the animal world. The public 
today is more concerned with mans conscious and subconscious minds, recognising 
that they are responsible for many of the minor complaints of the body and can 
even aggravate some of its major complaints. There are also many diseases the 
cause of which cannot be traced to the conscious or subconscious minds. We have 
mentioned the healer's  source of supply, but have  yet to classify the healers 
into their several sections. We now do so as follows: Magnetic or Psychic 
Healers; Mental Healers such as the Christian Scientists; Hypnotic Healers; 
Dietist or Nature Healers; Spiritual Healers; Sacramental Healers; Manipulative 
Healers such as the Osteopaths; Occult Healers; Colour, Ray Healers. Each of 
these can bring about cures in some cases, but none in all. It should be made 
clear that each type, when treating pain and disease, treats not only the 
physical but also the etheric and mental bodies of the patient. We repeat that 
all major diseases result from lack of harmony between mans psychic and physical  
bodies, and that the physical is the last to manifest the illness. In all the 
varieties of healing set forth the healer must discover
 
some point of contact with his patient, otherwise he cannot  bring about a cure. 
Thus, it is obvious that no one healer can cure every case. We would also 
suggest that herbal remedies should not be forgotten, because many cases can be 
more effectively treated in this manner than by pouring out psychic power on a 
localized infection. It is true, but not generally realized, that certain herbs 
and drugs act not only on the physical but also on the etheric body of man, 
which is very similar but of much looser texture. Some of these drugs cause the 
etheric body to loosen its grip on poisons and congestions which are the outcome 
of the patient s conscious, subconscious or pre, conscious disharmony in the 
mental body. Here, it is as well to emphasise that the term   mental body   does 
not necessarily apply to the physic, mental body, the outer mentality of man 
which is directly related to the brain. For there is an astral, mental body 
directly related to the desire or emotional nature; and a third mental body to 
the celestial or universal mind. I hope that this does not confuse the issue, 
but will help you to realise that as the conscious mind, by thinking 
erroneously, an so influence and weaken the cell, consciousness of the physical  
body as to create disease, so also can the universal or pre, conscious mind 
control and purify the cell, consciousness by operating through mans higher 
mind, and thus cure all disease by a process of elimination. And that is why we 
say that there is no disease on the earth, plane which is incurable. We declare 
that all human life is divided into rays of varying  vibrations, and that it is 
ruled by such rays. We will describe only twelve of these rays, and be content 
with that. Shall we say that all humanity vibrates to one or other of these 
twelve rays or vibrations? Therefore, if a healer attempts to treat a man 
vibrating on, say, a number seven ray with a number five method of treatment he 
will certainly fail, and may do more harm than good. If, however, he treats his 
number seven patient with treatment suitable for number seven, he will effect a 
cure. Vibrations are expressed in colour; that is to say, colour is the outward 
and visible symbol of vibration. We will try to

 
enumerate the colours corresponding to their respective numbers as follows:,  
First, the Red ray; second, the Green; third, Blue; fourth, Pink; fifth, Yellow; 
sixth, Purple; seventh, Violet; eighth, Lavender; ninth, Pearl; tenth, Silver; 
eleventh, Golden; and twelfth, pure White. It will be the first task of the 
colour healer to discover the colour of the ray on which his patient vibrates. 
In accordance  with the colour and number of his ray, so will the patient be 
liable to certain weaknesses, and will need either a sedative or stimulating ray 
to balance and restore harmony in his  being. It will be found that the yellow 
ray is a particularly fine colour for treating tuberculosis; that the blue ray 
gives the best results in nervous diseases; that the red ray is useful for all 
poisonous conditions of the blood; and that the violet and the green rays are 
both curative of cancer. With certain patients the psychic centers to be treated 
will  vary (we are aware that we have not yet specified them and in due course 
shall do so). In some cases the throat is the most sensitive and therefore 
receptive spot on which to direct the green ray. With others the heart will give 
a powerful response to the violet ray, and will also prove an efficacious centre 
through  which to treat blood diseases or blood poisoning; for the violet light 
cleanses and purifies the bloodstream as it flows to and from the heart.
 W 
e
 repeat that we cannot claim that this light, ray treatment  will prove 
effective for every person. We have given the table of colours and their 
corresponding numbers. We are trying to suggest rather than dogmatise. A 
prevalent cause of disease is the sufferer s inability to relax. Most of you, 
unconsciously or consciously, live taut and tense, in both your waking and your 
sleeping hours. When you fall asleep with a tense mind, unconsciously your 
finger, elbow and knee joints, the spinal column and all such bony parts, retain 
a corresponding tensity. This is often because much the same

 
condition prevails during the daily life. The tension of the body is due to a 
mental condition of fear, worry, suppressed emotion or suppressed desire. Hence 
during sleeping or waking a hold, up occurs at the various centers of the 
sufferer s psychic bodies. I f people would learn from childhood the importance 
of relaxation by making it a habit, thus going through daily life restfully, in 
harmony with themselves, with others and with God, they  would retain that vital 
and perfect rhythmic flow round and
through their psychic and physical bodies. This flow by its very nature carries 
away all waste matter, which is cast off or eliminated, and caught up by the 
universal to be absorbed and transformed into fresh power. When breathing out 
you exhale poison. For exhaling is the continual casting away of outworn 
physical and psychical matter. Conversely, inhaling should be an in drawing of 
the pure  prana, the universal life, force which can sustain the body in 
rhythmic and perfect health. It is therefore misleading to state, as does the 
Christian Scientist that all disease originates in what Christian Science calls 
the mortal mind  . Disease lies deeper. Nevertheless, as soon as a person can 
relax his mortal mind, and reach out to draw on the fresh and universal life 
force, he automatically sets an inflow in motion which will in time create a 
perfect body.

Does the cause of an accident lie hidden in the pre, conscious mind of its 
victim; or is the person merely the victim of some cruel mischance? Even 
accidents are the result of in harmony previously created deep within the pre, 
conscious self. This may seem a hard doctrine, but on examination is not so; any 
soul falling victim to accident knows well in its pre, consciousness that it has 
a lesson only to be learned by undergoing such an experience. Soon somebody will 
be asking us about children; about poor little sufferers who have been
 Born  as the result of drunken lust, or from diseased parents. Are we to 
conclude that these innocents have been doomed by fate to undergo a life of 
suffering?


in some cases the ego definitely decides to bear this sort of burden in a future 
incarnation, how can we reconcile this belief (or truth) with the various 
methods of healing now outlined; For if certain souls destined to suffer cannot 
escape from suffering, how is it that the people in the spirit world are allowed 
to give information which will cure disease; We answer that truly there is a law 
of redemption by suffering. But as the man evolves and becomes more conscious 
spiritually, the cruder conditions of the outworking of sin through so stern a 
discipline can be transmuted. Man may eradicate his past and rebuild his future 
by the higher and finer discipline of spiritual conquest over his baser self. 
Sometimes we are able to watch a spiritual healer at work on his patient. The 
patient fails to respond, so the treatment seems futile. In some of these cases 
even the Great Ones who hold humanity in their care do not interfere, knowing 
that only  by its own effort and striving, by attainment of mastery over itself 
can the soul transmute its own dark inheritance. Let us remember that Jesus 
Christ said to such a sinner,   your sins are forgiven thee; go and sin no more.  
The power and presence of Christ can accomplish even this if the erring soul 
will only seek to gain Him through victory over itself. All diseases can be 
healed, and will some day be eradicated  when the mass of humanity, of its own 
freewill and accord, comes to the temple of the living God to receive that pure 
white light, that truth, that living love, which flows from the heart of the 
Eternal, and is the very water of life. Then there will be no more weeping and 
wailing, but only man perfected. As real happiness can only be earned, so also 
must perfect health and harmony between all of mans bodies be earned. No man 
need trail through fires of suffering to learn of God. Man can find God more 
readily through peace of heart, through  joy. This is rather an ultimate path 
Godward, for man must first learn self, denial, self, conquest. But the way lies 
open. Here again we touch on good and evil, positive and negative,

 pain and joy. Man can settle with himself to go either way, to take the left or 
the right hand path. He can return to the Father either by his own aspiration or 
through some form of transmutation of his sin. The arms of the Father are ever 
open and waiting for His son.
 We have said that all humanity can be grouped into the four divisions of Fire, 
Air, Earth and Water. The horoscope will enable the healer to place his patients 
correctly. He might, of course, allocate them by intuition or sensing, but the 
more scientific method is to cast the horoscope, thereby finding the exact ray 
of birth. Some months ago you received a description of the rays under which I 
myself was born. This unusual combination has caused me difficulty both during 
my life and immediately following death, as you will remember. We could almost 
say that all disease is fundamentally caused  by broken rhythm, by broken 
vibrations. The twelve rays hold humanity as it were in a grip of iron. In them 
lies the secret of mans well, being. When more is known of them, life will be 
simplified; much of its strain and stress will disappear, as well as obscure 
diseases which baffle medical science. They are due to mans inharmonic 
relationship to the magnetic forces and universal powers in which he has his 
being. Some people may jeer at this, saying,   Nonsense, we understand and know 
how to treat the body perfectly well.  

My friends,  you do not; you have not even begun to understand the physical  
body of man. Medical science must go farther a field, open wider its gates. 
Certainly surgery has become a fine art from which remarkable cures are 
resulting; and for accidents which cause torn and broken bodies surgery has its 
place. Even so surgery  will some day be supplanted. So far we have dealt with 
diseases common to all humanity,  with the exception of those classified as 
infectious. It must seem confusing, in view of what we have said about the 
preconscious origin of many diseases, to find that infection can spread like 
wildfire through a community without apparent cause or reason. Yet numbers of 
people prove immune to it. Among these will be those who practise Christian 
Science, thus demonstrating that mans conscious mind holds a measure of control 
in these matters. The Christian Scientist protects himself not only through 
mental action, but mainly because he has arrived at a point in his evolution 
when the need for this particular form of experience has been erased. We suggest 
that people who are subject to contagious diseases are ripe for the experience, 
and have a lesson to learn thereby. With this few will agree, and will ask why 
little children should become infected. Should not their innocence protect them? 
To disclose the underlying cause of any physical disease  we must cover a wide 
area; and we again suggest that the child comes prepared to undergo certain 
experiences which may take form as illness or suffering, or as health and 
happiness, and all the various fluctuations which go to mould human life and 
character. But contagion is not a necessary evil. In course of time, when 
spiritual laws are better understood, infection will go. Nor need anyone suffer 
now if he knows how to protect himself. The cell, life of the body, which is 
controlled by both the conscious and subconscious minds, can be held responsible 
for these invasions. If there is sufficient resistance by healthy conscious and 
subconscious thought, action, the cells of the body  will repel the enemy. 
Therefore a child should be trained in right thinking from the first. The child 
s education should begin not at the age of seven or so, but from birth. Parents 
and nurse must realise that an infant absorbs thought either good or harmful 
into its very being from the atmosphere, from its environment, from the aura of 
parent, nurse, relatives and friends. A child fed with
 positive thought 
 is fed with the breath of health, and will thrive physically, mentally and 
spiritually, and resist ill from every source. These truths of child health and 
welfare will gradually dawn.  At no distant date the human family must realise 
its responsibility 

 
towards the young souls entrusted to its care, and through this realisation 
awake to the responsibility it bears to the whole community.
 We have spoken of the broken rhythm or vibrations of mans physical body, which 
can cause a premature death. You may also apply this same law of broken rhythm 
to the human family, to man both individual and collective, and to the world as 
a whole. Let us pause to reflect, for this is vastly important. Must not this 
broken rhythm or harmony bring out a mind disease, a moral infection, which can 
affect nations and the well, being of a whole world? t must be so. It is already 
happening. The world is sickening almost unto death in this year of 1932. We 
might despair did we not know of the great spiritual powers which can  yet save 
mankind, if man will be saved. What is most needed now is the healing of all 
peoples, the healing of the nations. Pray God that it may come about.

 
CHAPTER X.
THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS.
    
 We would emphasise again and yet again the need for a common  brotherhood among 
men and nations. For only when humanity as a whole quickens, realises and 
understands that the whole race lives, moves, and has its being in a universal 
spiritual Force which continually sustains everything, can it save itself from 
eventual destruction. Let us not lose hope; it is indeed true that the values of 
life will some day be entirely changed.  Would that conditions would change with 
them; for man will  be forced through the sheer suffering and privation he will 
presently undergo to seek this greater truth to sustain him. How simple it would 
seem to tell men about this truth, which is everywhere and in everything. But 
what a complicated conundrum it is for the worldly, minded ! Yet over here in 
the spirit land all souls are brought at last to this understanding, and are 
only too thankful to believe, share and live safe within the fold of universal 
brotherhood. No other way of living is open to the world. At present the nations 
subsist on suspicion and fear. None will give way, for each is afraid of the 
other. In the business world nearly every 


 
man is fighting against his fellow to secure and hold to himself his own 
particular grain of com. Whither is all this leading man? Most surely neither to 
security nor to enduring prosperity,  but to the fast tearing down of all that 
civilisation has laboriously established.
Let us take heart; in days to come we shall see humanity ennobled. There will 
presently dawn a vision of true brother, hood to uplift mans heart. He will then 
know that all life,  his own and that of everyone else, is contained within one 
stupendous Heart of Love; and he will recognize that even his physical life 
pulses with its beating. He will know that he cannot hurt his brother without 
suffering a corresponding injury him, self; for to hate or go to war with any 
man or nation is to go to  war with himself. To slay another man is spiritual 
death to the slayer. That is why it is said that those who draw the sword must 
surely perish by the sword. The new man to come will know that he can draw no 
breath, think no thought, without reaction throughout the world. He  will know 
that death can never ultimately reign in Gods Universe; that when man once 
understands himself and God, neither heaven nor earth can hold aught for him of 
death. For the new man there can be neither beginning nor ending, for he  will 
see life as one unending Cycle, ever evolving, ever revolving,  which holds 
every human soul in its embrace for evermore. If he violates one law, one truth 
of God, he must affect the well,  being of all men. It is true; adversity must 
bind the soul of man to its fellow ere the world shall find such salvation as 
this. We are witnessing on your earth today the havoc wrought by materialism. 
This is death; death through materialism; and incidentally, the beginning of
death to materialism* 
Materialism will die hard; hence the suffering which must come. How else can it 
be when man has worshipped Mammon so often and so long? 


It should be remembered that these words were spoken in 1932, in an age of 
selfish materialism which ushered in the Second World War.


After sore pangs of suffering we see a 
new birth, the dawning of a new, a glorious Day of spiritual realisation, 
spiritual recognition. A spiritual basis for mans communal life will come. In 
every art and culture, in science, statecraft, and religion, man will be 
inspired and directed from the Halls of Wisdom.
Page 178.
Much more can be said about this universal brotherhood of  which we tell. Alas, 
few men understand the meaning of the  word; for most men have been taught from 
childhood to fight for themselves, to assert themselves at the expense of others 
even if they destroy their neighbour. Man has erroneously believed that the 
whole object of life is the enhancement of his personal self. At all costs he 
must become a man superior to others if he desires to be a master of life and of 
his brother man. This way of living sins against the cosmic law of brotherhood 
at every turn. A man who seeks to gain only for himself breaks every spiritual 
law; and while collective man continues to do the same the result can only be 
diseased bodies and minds, chaos and war. The truly great man is he who submits 
to the infinite and eternal power of love in place of his own desires. Each soul 
must lose itself in order to find itself. No man will ever discover God while 
under the error that his power and his accomplishments come about by and through 
himself. The soul when it has arisen and thrown off the grave clothes of its 
egotism must pass a supreme test, and let all sense of self fall away. It must 
then face an abyss of blackness and seeming extinction. One desire only must 
sustain that fainting soul, to yield, to surrender, to be deprived utterly, to 
sacrifice every vestige of self so that it can merge into the infinite and 
eternal love which is God. Surrender such as this is never extinction; it is 
expansion. For when a m an reaches that point when his love of God becomes so 
overwhelming that he desires only to identify himself with God, then his love 
can draw God to him and enfold even the Deity; then every man will seem godlike 
to him because he sees God dwelling in all. The man who would understand 
universal brotherhood must

 
indeed   leave all and follow Me He must render up, must efface himself, must 
lose self in order to find the universal selflessness which is God. In this 
supreme moment the man becomes at, one not only with God, but with himself and 
with each and every creature. This is atonement, at, one, ment with God. This is 
the meaning of the Brotherhood of Man.
Mans  bitter travail, his evolution, his progress, will bring him some day to 
such an end as this; he strives ever forward to the time when there will be but 
one brotherly thought prevailing, one pure harmony, one selfless desire and pure 
love abroad in the world. Never, never will man become established in aught  but 
his own sorrow so long as he seeks for personal gain or supremacy. Only one true 
religion exists, only one Reality behind all form,  belief, sect, creed and 
ceremony. This is a universal religion, neither bound nor circumscribed by 
geographical limitations, convention or prejudice. It has but one name. That 
name can  be understood by any and every man, white, black, yellow or red; by 
every woman and child; by animal and by bird, by tree and flower, and every 
creature instinct with the breath of life. The religion of true brotherhood has 
but one meaning and one name, and that is Love.
Love such as this must surely come; and love will teach men that forms and 
ceremonies, creeds and dogmas avail nothing without the living spirit. Every 
living creature can bear witness and respond to spiritual power. Man has racial 
diversities and many a diverse belief. Let each man have his due. But all must 
ultimately recognize and bow to the infinite love of the Creator. Then at last 
will man learn that he who works for all men works for God. Not until that great 
day will the earth be wholly freed from death. Yes, with the dawning of that day 
when all men live 
in harmony, bowing their will to yet worshipping the supreme Law, death will 
indeed be swallowed up in victory. Then the flesh of man will yield no longer to 
the overlordship of death, for it will be transmuted. Sin in very truth is 
death; death, the result of sin. We mean that exactly as it is said. Sin will 
assuredly bring death in some form; but love, wise, pure and true, will give 
eternal life. Every word uttered by the great Master rings with truth, a truth 
unsullied by passing time, eternal and absolute.


 bomb, new premises, more suitable in every way for the ever expanding work, 
were soon found, and the work continues there to this day. Later, under White 
Eagle s guidance and instruction, a country centre for spiritual retreat and 
instruction was sought and found at New Lands in Hampshire. The London Lodge, 
New Lands, and the rapidly growing third branch of the  work, the White Eagle 
Publications, all became registered as Charitable Religious Trusts, thus not 
only safeguarding the future of the work but also ensuring that no private 
profit could ever  be made from it. It was realized from the outset that with a 
horizon as wide as that opened up by the Arthur Conan Doyle. message many 
subjects were dealt  with far too briefly and this has been rectified gradually 
by the publication of books of White Eagle s teaching which expand  Arthur Conan 
Doyle's. original statements. Many thousands of   White Eagle   books are being 
dispatched each year from New Lands,  which has become the administrative centre 
for the work of the Lodge and Publishing Trust. There must be few, if any 
English speaking countries in the world where these books are not being read 
today, and it is felt that they carry an influence with them, a ray maybe, from 
the Chevalier Rose Croix or from the Brothers of the Mountain. What started as a 
venture of faith has continued in faith until today its influence touches 
thousands of lives through its books and through the Lodges at London and New 
Lands and daughter lodges and small groups in many parts of the world.* 
Spiritual healing, originally based on the chapter on the,   Healing of all 
Disease,   in the Arthur Conan Doyle message, has ever been an important aspect 
of the work of these Lodges and groups, and the White Eagle healers now treat 
hundreds of patients every year, with some outstanding results. Establishing the 
fact of mans survival after death is a vital part of Arthur Conan Doyle's 
message, and so one asks, what has  been done about this in the White Eagle 
Lodges? In the early 
* Full details of all the White Eagle publications, records and cassettes can be 
obtained from the White Eagle Publishing Trust.

 
days of the Lodge individual proof of survival was given in numbers of people, 
especially to the recently bereaved; but .o the years went by, it became clear 
that White Eagle and tin,   brothers wished to help people to find their own 
contact with the world of spirit through meditation and spiritual communion. 
Now, individual messages are seldom given, but countless sad,  bereaved people 
have found their own consolation and certain knowledge that their loved ones are 
still with them. ' This knowledge, which we can surely call the consolamentum, 
and the certainty that all life is one, is strong in the Lodge, strong in the 
lives of its members and friends and many who just read its  books. It is now 
plain that Minesta was taken to the mountain top all those years ago to 
establish the link with the ancient consolamentum. This was the treasure she 
brought away. There has been a perfect plan behind all that has happened,   
behind the bestowal of the Force Astral, the formation of the Polaire Group, 
their linking with Arthur Conan Doyle, his message through Minesta, and the 
founding of the Lodge. In 1966 another stage of the plan was revealed. The sages 
directed that a White Temple should be built on the hill top by New Lands, and 
that this Temple was to be the focal point, from which the spiritual light and 
teaching, the spiritual treasure of the consolamentum, was to be given to the 
world. The White Temple was eventually built and opened to the public on 9th 
June 1974, but preparations for this, (although unknown to anyone on earth) 
began many years before. In 1956 Minesta again visited the Pyrenees, impelled by 
a hidden spiritual purpose. Again she climbed to the crest of the hill, almost a 
small mountain in itself, and found the shrine of the adepts, despite other 
changes in the neighbourhood, as remote and isolated as  before. There were 
still traces of the excavations by the Polaires twenty, five years earlier, but 
all sense of their restlessness and haste had departed, leaving the place 
entirely peaceful. As  before, the Brethren were waiting for her, seemingly as 
real,  more real, to Minestas trained vision than would have been mortals 
standing at her side. They spoke with her, and through her to a group of 
brothers

 
198 who had accompanied her, saying that in the mountains around  were certain 
air currents which made it easier for the cosmic rays to penetrate, and that the 
pure and holy devas who guard those heights also watch over human evolution. 
They said that humanity as a whole was about to rise to a higher level of life. 
Therefore the watchers from the heavens were on the alert. It  was also 
literally true that St. John the Beloved had once come to this holy place on the 
heights. This was the source of its ancient power which had kept the ALL, loyal 
even to death; the source of the consolamentum, the   consoling , which could 
overcome the dark veil between the physical and heavenly  worlds. Knowledge and 
power to use this consolamentum had long  been the desire of men, who searched 
for it and called it by various names; it was part of the mystic's attainment of 
the   holy grail  ; it was the   lost word   for want of which Freemasonry 
languished. But it could only be imparted to those who lived in purity and 
truth; all others would be blind and deaf to its significance. These brothers of 
an older time had watched over the delivery of Arthur Conan Doyle's message and 
its outcome in London. They saw the effect of that work as a great etheric 
building already taking shape in the world invisible which interpenetrated this 
world. They had constantly held that work within their ray of love and 
compassion, which took away the fear of death from those who could respond to 
it. During the great massacre of the Albigenses, their enemies had power only to 
kill men's bodies. Sometimes this had set souls free to inherit a greater power, 
a more vigorous life; and this power they retained for service even in the world 
today. They had been able to sustain Minesta in the same way that they  were 
behind every true and dedicated brother of these or earlier times. Much more was 
said but these words epitomise the message. Minesta came away exalted by the 
wonder of this experience; and  yet it was but a preparation for what was to 
come. For in 1966,

 
 when in Italy,* in a simple chapel of what was once a monastery the contact was 
again made with the sages and the plan for the  building of the Temple was 
revealed. The   etheric building   described by the Brothers in 1956 was to take 
physical form; and so it did, as already described, in the summer of 1974.It is 
difficult to compress any account of the history of the Lodge into a few pages, 
but at least this brief synopsis helps to demonstrate that the tangible proof 
promised by Arthur Conan Doyle. at the end of his message has indeed been given. 
The Arthur Conan Doyle. message has proved itself and continues to do so with 
every passing  year. Every patient healed is a living testimony to the scheme of 
healing he set out; every person who finds that Arthur Conan Doyle's message 
provides a good working philosophy of life, a practical and hard,  working 
religion which answers his questions and resolves his doubts, by so doing 
testifies to its truth. The existence of the Lodge, its expansion and the birth 
of many daughter groups, and then the building of the White Temple, these are 
all the promised tangible proofs. The White Temple, its design a subtle blend of 
classical and modern architecture, a symbol of the ancient wisdom restated for 
the new age, is surely a fitting memorial to the spiritual work of Arthur Conan 
Doyle. The Conan Doyle message laid the foundation stone upon which the White 
Eagle Lodge and teaching has been built. As the light is sent forth daily (its 
focal point, the Temple), in prayer, meditation, healing of individuals, nations 
and the world, so his message lives on; and it may be that in time to come men 
will look back on this message and deem it the greatest and most significant 
among the works of Arthur Conan Doyle.199
* The full account of this stage of the story is told in the booklet
the
 
temple
 
 angel
,
 White Eagle Publishing Trust.


 
INDEX at last, not read.