按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
THE VITAL MESSAGE
THE VITAL MESSAGE
ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
1
… Page 2…
THE VITAL MESSAGE
PREFACE
In 〃The New Revelation〃 the first dawn of the coming change has
been described。 In 〃The Vital Message〃 the sun has risen higher； and one
sees more clearly and broadly what our new relations with the Unseen
may be。 As I look into the future of the human race I am reminded of how
once； from amid the bleak chaos of rock and snow at the head of an Alpine
pass； I looked down upon the far stretching view of Lombardy；
shimmering in the sunshine and extending in one splendid panorama of
blue lakes and green rolling hills until it melted into the golden haze which
draped the far horizon。 Such a promised land is at our very feet which；
when we attain it； will make our present civilisation seem barren and
uncouth。 Already our vanguard is well over the pass。 Nothing can now
prevent us from reaching that wonderful land which stretches so clearly
before those eyes which are opened to see it。 That stimulating writer； V。 C。
Desertis； has remarked that the Second Coming； which has always been
timed to follow Armageddon； may be fulfilled not by a descent of the
spiritual to us； but by the ascent of our material plane to the spiritual； and
the blending of the two phases of existence。 It is； at least； a fascinating
speculation。 But without so complete an overthrow of the partition walls
as this would imply we know enough already to assure ourselves of such a
close approximation as will surely deeply modify all our views of science；
of religion and of life。 What form these changes may take and what the
evidence is upon which they will be founded are briefly set forth in this
volume。
ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE。
CROWBOROUGH；
July； 1919。
2
… Page 3…
THE VITAL MESSAGE
CHAPTER I
THE TWO NEEDFUL READJUSTMENTSTHE TWO NEEDFUL READJUSTMENTS
THE TWO NEEDFUL READJUSTMENTSTHE TWO NEEDFUL READJUSTMENTS
It has been our fate； among all the innumerable generations of
mankind； to face the most frightful calamity that has ever befallen the
world。 There is a basic fact which cannot be denied； and should not be
overlooked。 For a most important deduction must immediately follow
from it。 That deduction is that we； who have borne the pains； shall also
learn the lesson which they were intended to convey。 If we do not learn it
and proclaim it； then when can it ever be learned and proclaimed； since
there can never again be such a spiritual ploughing and harrowing and
preparation for the seed？ If our souls； wearied and tortured during these
dreadful five years of self… sacrifice and suspense； can show no radical
changes； then what souls will ever respond to a fresh influx of heavenly
inspiration？ In that case the state of the human race would indeed be
hopeless； and never in all the coming centuries would there be any
prospect of improvement。
Why was this tremendous experience forced upon mankind？ Surely it
is a superficial thinker who imagines that the great Designer of all things
has set the whole planet in a ferment； and strained every nation to
exhaustion； in order that this or that frontier be moved； or some fresh
combination be formed in the kaleidoscope of nations。 No； the causes of
the convulsion； and its objects； are more profound than that。 They are
essentially religious； not political。 They lie far deeper than the national
squabbles of the day。 A thousand years hence those national results may
matter little； but the religious result will rule the world。 That religious
result is the reform of the decadent Christianity of to…day； its simplification；
its purification； and its reinforcement by the facts of spirit communion and
the clear knowledge of what lies beyond the exit…door of death。 The shock
of the war was meant to rouse us to mental and moral earnestness； to give
us the courage to tear away venerable shams； and to force the human race
to realise and use the vast new revelation which has been so clearly stated
and so abundantly proved； for all who will examine the statements and
3
… Page 4…
THE VITAL MESSAGE
proofs with an open mind。 Consider the awful condition of the world
before this thunder…bolt struck it。 Could anyone； tracing back down the
centuries and examining the record of the wickedness of man； find
anything which could compare with the story of the nations during the last
twenty years！ Think of the condition of Russia during that time； with her
brutal aristocracy and her drunken democracy； her murders on either side；
her Siberian horrors； her Jew baitings and her corruption。 Think of the
figure of Leopold of Belgium； an incarnate devil who from motives of
greed carried murder and torture through a large section of Africa； and yet
was received in every court； and was eventually buried after a panegyric
from a Cardinal of the Roman Churcha church which had never once
raised her voice against his diabolical career。 Consider the similar crimes
in the Putumayo； where British capitalists； if not guilty of outrage； can at
least not be acquitted of having condoned it by their lethargy and trust in
local agents。 Think of Turkey and the recurrent massacres of her subject
races。 Think of the heartless grind of the factories everywhere； where work
assumed a very different and more unnatural shape than the ancient labour
of the fields。 Think of the sensuality of many rich； the brutality of many
poor； the shallowness of many fashionable； the coldness and deadness of
religion； the absence anywhere of any deep； true spiritual impulse。 Think；
above all； of the organised materialism of Germany； the arrogance； the
heartlessness； the negation of everything which one could possibly
associate with the living spirit of Christ as evident in the utterances of
Catholic Bishops； like Hartmann of Cologne； as in those of Lutheran
Pastors。 Put all this together and say if the human race has ever presented
a more unlovely aspect。 When we try to find the brighter spots they are
chiefly where civilisation； as apart from religion； has built up necessities
for the community； such as hospitals； universities； and organised charities；
as conspicuous in Buddhist Japan as in Christian Europe。 We cannot deny
that there has been much virtue； much gentleness； much spirituality in
individuals。 But the churches were empty husks； which contained no
spiritual food for the human race； and had in the main ceased to influence
its actions； save in the direction of soulless forms。 This is not an over…
coloured picture。 Can we not see； then； what was the inner reason for the
4
… Page 5…
THE VITAL MESSAGE
war？ Can we not understand that it was needful to shake mankind loose
from gossip and pink teas； and sword…worship； and Saturday night drunks；
and self… seeking politics and theological quibblesto wake them up and
make them realise that they stand upon a narrow knife…edge between two
awful eternities； and that； here and now； they have to finish with make…
beliefs； and with real earnestness and courage face those truths which have
always been palpable where indolence； or cowardice； or vested interests
have not obscured the vision。 Let us try to appreciate what those truths are
and the direction which reform must take。 It is the new spiritual
developments which predominate in my own thoughts； but there are two
other great readjust