The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-03-15
THE FACTS AND PALACES OF
MODERN SPIRlTISM-IS SIR CO.
NAN DOYLE IN COMMUNICATION
WITH THE SPIRITS OF THE
DEAD?

The following article is the first of
a series of five short treatiseS on the
subject of Spiritism by Sir J. Godfrey
Raupert, K S. c., Of England now
sojourning in this country. The au-
thor is an acknowledged authority on
this subject, having conducted re-,
searches in this particular field for
number of years; his authority is
readily evidenced by his books. some
of which are: Modern Spiritism,'
The Dangers of Spiritualism," Spir-
itistic Phenomena and their lnterpre-
tation" Moreover, Mr.. Raupert's
work as writer and lecturer has re-
ceived the recognition of Rome. And
only a few months ago the Papal Sec
rotary of State, Cardinal Gasparri,
convey the blessing and encourage
ment of the Holy Father to the author
in a letter dated October 81, 1918.
In this letter-which emphasizes
| the timely character Of an educa-
tional campaign regarding the danger
of spiritism-the Papal Secretary
says: g. Indeed, among the
evils which at the present time are
| causing havoc to humanity, we may
number those occult practices of spir-
| itism, which, if permitted to spread
unchecked, threaten to infict on
countless persons the loss of body
and soul.
Therefore His Holiness can but es-
TEEN worthy of praise and of real
benefit to humanity the work that is
accomplished either by word or by
writing, in order to save men from
the meshes Of such intricate and per-
! ilous practice. His Holiness
encourages your whole-hearted zeal.
The subject is particularly timely,
since after practically every war a
sort of religious revival takes place,
the faithful seeking consolation and
shelter in their faith, while those who
have not true faith turn to various
forms of superstition. This conten-
ton is being borne out by the promi-
nence given to communion with the
dead by such men as Sir A. Conan
Doyle and Sir Oliver Lodge. 1t was
in view Of the emphasis laid on spir
itism at this after-war moment that
the Central Bureau requested Mr.
Raupert to prepare these articles.
Spiritism.
| know of nothing in our modern
literature which SO forcibly and clear
ly reflects and illustrates the Zeitgeist
as the recent statements and articles
by Sir Conan Doyle.
The age in which we live is, as al
thinking men know, increasingly de
parting from belief in the supernat
ural as revealed in the Gospels ant
the traditions of historical Chris
tianity, and is relapsing into paganism
even though this paganism hides it
: self behind attractive and scientific
and even academic terms. But the
human heart cannot altogether eXis
without home contact with that I'm
seen world which it knows to eXis
and with which it feels itself to bt
, related. AS a consequence very dis
tinct blank is created which cause!
the distressed mind to cast about TO
,, some kind of substitute which is cal
culated to fill this blank and to sat
isfy it's cravings. Spiritism, in it:
modern scientific form is, beyont
doubt, the most attra ctive and accept
able substitute for this lost supernat
ural that could be presented. 1t sat
, isles, or claims to satisfy, longing
which all men experience more O.
less, and which in a sense constitute
. the very basis and conditions of an.
.. kind of religious life and belief. On
can therefore fully understand how i
comes to pass that statements sucl
as those of Sir Conan Doyle and ST
Oliver Lodge are creating a world
wide attention and why the interes
y, in the subject is such keen an,
y widespread one.
a Reality of Phenomena.
. Now it is not proposed in thes
:, articles to raise the question as, to tn
= reality and objectivity of the phenom
ena themselves. They have been ur
: der the observation of experts