Excerpts from Where Two Worlds Meet

 "Mr. and Mrs. Sloan in 1946"

Arthur Findlay's Where Two Worlds Meet (1951 / PDF File of book) is described on the title page as "The Verbatim Record of a Series of Nineteen Séances with John Campbell Sloan, the famous Glasgow Direct Voice Medium."  The Foreword recounts events leading to the publication of the book.

During the Second World War, Mr. John Campbell Sloan kindly gave his services from time to time, without charge, at the houses of different people, so that they and their friends might obtain the phenomenon known as the Direct Voice.  Miss Jean Logan Dearie, who lives at 16 Atholl Gardens, Glasgow, W.2, attended some of these meetings and took verbatim shorthand records of all that took place.

She accumulated twenty-four records of that number of séances, and in December 1950 she wrote to me to ask if I thought anything could be done to  make the contents of these documents known to the public.  I asked her to send them on to me, and, after reading them through, I realized that they formed a valuable addition to the records of the séances I had already published in my book On the Edge of the Etheric.

 
Miss Dearie is an expert stenographer, and is employed as private secretary to one of the principals of one of the leading business concerns in Scotland.  Her ability and integrity are undoubted, and I am satisfied, after careful enquiry, that the records given in this book are accurate.

This is how Miss Dearie is quoted about the seance transcripts.

"I started off with a new notebook for each séance, which I held on my knee, and put my thumb (left hand) at the beginning of the top line before the light was turned out.  When I reached the end of a line, I moved my thumb down a space, and continued doing this until I felt I was at the foot of the page, when I turned over and just guessed where a line started on the next page.  I was not always on the line, but my notes were fairly straight and regular, and the writing always legible.  I never looked down at my notebook while I was writing, but looked about me just like the other sitters, and so was able to see all the spirit lights and phenomena that occurred.  I never felt it tiresome taking the notes, and have no doubt I received help from the other side with that work."

Nineteen of the 24 verbatim Direct Voice seance transcripts are presented in Where Two Worlds Meet.  These 19 meeting transcripts are dated between April 11, 1942 and July 10, 1945.  Findlay reported that 34 different people attended the meetings at various times  —

. . . the names given are those of real live people, and I am grateful to them for allowing their names to be published and their private family matters to be made public.  Finally, this book gives an exact copy of what Miss Dearie transcribed.  The text of what was said, both on this side and from the other, has been scrupulously adhered to, and only on a few occasions have I had to leave out something said from the other side.

Findlay's Foreword of the book was written 20 years after the publication of his book investigating 'psychic phenomena' On the Edge of the Etheric and other works about Spiritualism.  His purpose was "to spread the truth and increase knowledge" and he mentioned: "I have made no money from this work, as my books have never been sold above the cost of printing, binding, selling and advertising them."

In the Introduction, Findlay designated the various 'supernormal occurrences' that have been aspects of John Sloan's mediumship: clairvoyance and clairaudience, Direct Voice phenomena, trance mediumship, telekinesis and apports.  Findlay commented about Sloan's mediumship capacities:

He has never exploited them for money; in fact, he is quite indifferent about money.  Consequently, he has given séance after séance over the past fifty years, and never received a penny.  He was paid nothing for attending the Meetings recorded in the pages which follow.  Instead of gaining anything from them he put himself to both trouble and expense to be present.  He has received gifts from grateful sitters from time to time, but he never asks for anything and never expects a reward for his services.

There are also some background details concerning Sloan's life.

Sloan's home town is Dalbeattie in Kirkcudbrightshire, and when quite a youth he went to sea, to return to take up drapery, and later tailoring.  Then he went to Glasgow, to return home to Dalbeattie, and there he married.  His wife, whom he had known since childhood, was a clerkess in the Post Office at Edinburgh.  After that, he settled down in Glasgow to follow different occupations.  He was employed for several years in various departments of the Post Office, then as a packer in a warehouse, and in middle life he again went to sea for some years, returning to Glasgow to open a small newsagent's shop.  This was followed by other forms of employment, and then lie settled down in a cottage at West Kilbride in Ayrshire, where lie spent the happiest years of his life until his wife passed on.

After listening to the statements of the transcendental communicators whom Findlay sometimes called 'Etherians,' he defined death as "simply the severance of this etheric body, or structure, from the physical body . . . There is another world, about and around us, interpenetrating this physical world, into which we pass at death.  It has been described to me by those who have spoken to me from it, but only in language suited to our finite minds."  The substance of Etheria is stated by Findlay to be "of a higher vibrational frequency than is our earth . . . Mind is the common factor between this earth and the other etheric planes of existence . . . Each one of us has his share of this universal mind . . . Earth, then, is the training ground for mind which has become individualised."

When remarks are rather vague it is for a purpose, because Etherians are careful not to say anything that would be resented.  They know much about our private lives, but they realise that we do not wish our friends and relations to become aware of all we think and do.  So they are tactful in what they say, though at times they do say something that the person spoken to would rather keep private.  On these rare occasions, when they give something private away, I have deleted the remarks and mentioned that I have done so.

Accompanying lecture transcripts are remarks at the end of each chapter by Findlay about the seances in relation to society.  The following are some of his observations about what he witnessed.

At most séances, lights, the size of half-a-crown, float about the room, the trumpets rattle against each other, and move about at great speed.  A band of luminous paint on them makes it possible to follow their movements, but, without that, the swish they make when going through the atmosphere is easily heard.  They reach as high as the ceiling and at times beat the time of a tune on it.  No one is ever hurt by them, though they pass very near to the heads of the people present.  Sloan has had many a bang on the head, which sounds alarming, but he was never hurt.  This helps to relieve any tension.

The sitters in time get used to the materialised hands stroking their hands and faces.

 
When they ['Etherians'] come to meet and speak to us at these meetings, which we call the Sloan circle, they can often impress us before they even speak with the idea as to who they are.  That is the reason a sitter sometimes mentions a name and immediately afterwards the Etherian speaks.  It may be telepathy or clairaudience on our part, but so it is.

 
It will be noticed that they can keep in touch with distant friends of ours on earth, and report to us at these Meetings as to how they are and where they are.  During the War this was most helpful and many were comforted by the news, especially those who had relations and friends in the East.  Many instances of this form of news service came to my notice during the War, and its accuracy was remarkable.

Another point that comes out in the séance under review is that there we grow to maturity but never get old, and, if we die old on earth, we go back to maturity.  This is emphasised by Etherians on many occasions . . .

 
Emphasis is laid by them on the fact that this happiness comes to all who do their best to live a good and unselfish life on earth.  No theological beliefs or ceremonials are necessary to obtain the position in Etheria which our character alone justifies.  There religion seems to be an enlightened form of Unitarianism; all the creeds, dogmas and rituals of earth religions are soon forgotten, and, as we have sown on earth, so shall we reap in Etheria.

The remainder of this blog article presents transcript excerpts showing some of the aspects of the Direct Voice transcendental communication.  If identified, there are included the names associated with the Direct Voice communication heard in diverse voices that include many known to the witnesses from earlier times before the family member or acquaintance's transition to the ascended realm of existence.

I am 'Star of Peace' (a Red Indian), and I wish that my name would personify that peace feeling in your poor old world.  Our hearts bleed—I am putting it paradoxically so that you will understand how we feel—at the sorrow that goes on in all human hearts in the world to-day, and we pray that calm may be given to those of you who are in the midst of it.  May the Spirit of all Good throw his sheltering arms around each one of your dear ones who are in danger.  This is 'Star of Peace.'"

*

Someone then spoke in a foreign language.  Then a lady spoke, repeating some lines of poetry, the first two of which were lost.  She then continued:

"The time will come when we will all meet again in this land so bright and free from pain.  God bless you all. I am Mrs. Taylor.  Please tell Mary and Jean that I was here.  I think of them all the time, and of my beloved boy who is here."  

Mr. Sloan said: "Aye, that was Robert Taylor.  He was killed." 

A voice then spoke as if from very far away, saying:

"Not killed; I am alive and working yet—doing the Will of the Father—not killed."  

Mr. Sloan said: "Thank you for coming, Robert, we had a few nice words with your Mother."  

Robert Taylor continued in a voice which was clear and distinct.

"Good afternoon, it is Robert Taylor speaking.  I am very glad that I am nearer now, Mrs. Lang.  It is so delightful to be beside you.  It is not every day I get a chance of sending a message.  I am thinking about my beloved friend, Mary Stope.  God bless her for her friendship to me.  It is all fresh to me when I come back and look at you all.  I have passed the way by which all come.  You are filing past the milestones, my friends, Ladies and Gentlemen.  I went over before I had passed many milestones.  I have come to such a wonderful country, and I have got such wonderful work to do."

*

A woman's voice then said:

"Miss Colquhoun, from your cradle days of life I have been your Guide, my dear little sister.  I am the Indian girl, who speaks to you now.  I have been a sister to you all through life, watching you in your career, your joys and pains, helping you when you knew it not, in your trouble and care, in your trials and your sorrows, and will be with you to the journey's end.  God bless you, from Dewdrop.  Have you ever felt influences when you were going to do something, and you stood and thought—'I will not do that just now,' and you afterwards found that that intuition was the correct thing?  I was behind you there, and I will not disappoint you.  'I will shelter you in the shadow of my wings.'  This is Dewdrop." 

*

A man's voice (which turned out to be that of Pathfinder, an American Indian) then said:

"Up above the stars you see, there are other realms of light.  Don't you bother about where the Spirit World is, you will be there all right when the time comes, the whole lot of you.  What I would like to tell you is to prepare yourself on your side of life, so that you will be fitted and able to take a reasonable place and a reasonable responsibility on the spirit side when you do come over.

"Had I lived a better life in the material I would not have been so sad when I first came over here.  That was a beautiful illustration of a veil being drawn so that dear ones on this side do not always know what is going on among their friends on earth.  It is only the grosser things that are hidden from them.  I hope you will understand.  I am a very plain fellow and I am only putting my own thoughts through, which I have gathered from experience, and which I know to a great extent to be true on this side.

"We only know to a limited extent what is going on on the Earth Plane.  Those in the high planes—the Ministering Angels and Shining Ones—do, however, know all, and shade certain things off that would spoil the happiness of those on this side."

*

Then a new voice said:

"George,"

and Mrs. Lang replied: "Come away, friend, come away.  We are very pleased to have you."  The voice went on to say:

"God bless you all. My son, George."

(Prince George, Duke of Kent, killed in a flying accident on previous day, 25th August, 1942.)

"God support him.  Oh, Father God, support him now, support them all.  Pray for my dear son George, dear friends, and all those with him in that accident."

We replied: "We will send out our thoughts to him and to the others also."  King George V replied:

"It is not my son only.  There are thousands and thousands of my People who are passing at the present time.  Send out your loving thoughts to them all.  There is a sweet hallowed influence I find in your presence here.  I see you understand the sense of sorrow I feel for the manner of the passing of my beloved son, and for those dear ones left behind.  I know there are none of you but sense the pathos of the hurt they have sustained.  Pray that they may be comforted.  Although your physical eyes cannot see them, ministering hands are helping and will hold you up until life's journey is over and a wider vista of God's love is exposed to your gaze.  Good night.  God guard you and bless you and all my beloved people.  I was George the Fifth."

Mr. Sloan asked: "Who was that speaking?" and was very surprised when he was told it was King George V.

We were speaking amongst ourselves, saying what a good king the late King George had been, and what a good man our present King is and how well he worked for his country, when a voice from the other side said:

"That is quite right and as it should be.  It would not do to sit and let others do the work for you.  You want to do a little bit of service while in the world no matter what station the great Spirit God may have placed you in.  Each one should be willing to help those around in need of assistance and not allow it to fall on one shoulder only.  Also, you must not allow anyone to impose on you too much; just see that they take their share of responsibility.  It is a good lesson to each one of you to accept your share of responsibility and it helps to prepare you for the journey here, enabling you to take your proper place in the fuller life which awaits you.  I am just one of the stragglers who has come through it, and I wish I had done my duty better in the earth life."

Mrs. Lang asked if we knew him, and if he had spoken to us before.

He replied:

"I have never had the honour of being in your company, this beautiful company, before to-night.  I have been in the vicinity of such a Meeting but have never spoken.  To-night, however, the light was so bright and the conditions so favourable, that I took the responsibility of asking the door-keeper if I might come in.  He told me I might do so but I was to watch his hand and, if I went beyond what I should say or do, he would signal to me."

Miss Colquhoun remarked: "But you have not seen the signal yet, have you, friend?"

He replied:

"I do not require to see the signal; I would feel it.  There are so many things on this side of life which you cannot understand yet.  Of course you cannot, because I could not understand them myself when I first came over.  It is a gradual unfoldment.  While in earth life I used to wonder what kind of life this would be, and what clothes I would have on the spirit side of life.  In fact, I used to wonder if there was a spirit side at all; I hoped for it but was not at all certain."

*

The trumpet came over to Miss Dearie, and patted her hands, and a very pleasant voice said:

"Have you got your pencil ready?"

One of us remarked: "The two trumpets are still going around, anyway," and received the reply

"Number 1 is.  Number 2 is in use."

We then heard sounds like a bird whistling, and this went on for some time.  The room was in complete darkness, but to our surprise a very bright light appeared on one of the walls of the room.  It was like sunshine shining through a grating or venetian blind.  It remained there during most of the Sitting, though at times it dimmed or disappeared, but always came back again.

We started singing the hymn They are winging, they are winging, and Mr. Sloan went suddenly into trance.  He rose from his chair.  It was one of the Indians who controlled him, one who could not speak English very well, and it was difficult to make out what he said.  He seemed to be a healer, and came round the circle, shaking our hands.  We asked his name, and he said something like "Matouche" and "your bruder."

When he reached Miss Duff he said to her:

“You heal, me heal, you got one, two, three patients in charge, one very bad, me help you."

Miss Duff said that was so, and thanked him.  After he had spoken to Miss Dearie and to Mrs. Potter, who was sitting next to her, he suddenly said:

"Bruder must go.  Cannot hold him too long.  Get back to seat."

Miss Colquhoun helped Mr. Sloan into his seat, and then he came out of trance and asked: "What is the matter?  What has happened?"

Miss Colquhoun said: "It is all right, Mr. Sloan.  You have just been asleep for a little while, that is all."

*

He [Brian “the Irish friend of Mrs. Potter”] laughed heartily, and Mrs. Potter said: "It is nice to hear you laugh, Brian."

He replied:

"Sure, I laugh. Why should I not laugh?  The world is full of sorrow, but why should those who feel like laughing not smile?  Always remember that a smile from you may lessen the sorrow of some weary soul."

Another voice said:

"We have all but a short time on the Earth Plane, and it is up to you who are there to make the best of your opportunities, walking that pathway in such a way as to bring satisfaction to your own soul and joy to those about you, and, in the everlasting time, rejoicing will be yours, yours when you reach Paradise at last.  May the great good Father bless you all.  I am Pathfinder." 

*

Mrs. Lang asked: "Who is speaking, friend?  Have you been here before?"

He replied:

"Jim, Jim, or James.  I liked the name and took it for my own.  It was not the name I had in earth life."

Mrs. Lang said: "But you have been here before, have you not, James?" 

He replied:

"Many times. I have tried for a long time to find means whereby I could get the vibrations to speak to you, and others are helping me.  I am not able to speak as you hear me speaking.  I am registering the sound of those who are above me and showing me the way.  I love you all.  I am only the dictator (intermediary) speaking the words which I am getting handed on to me."

Mr. Cameron said: "I understand your thought is instantly turned into sound."

He replied:

"A thought on the Earth Plane is turned into sound on our side of life.  (Probably he meant our thoughts are sensed telepathically.)  If you are in coequal love and sympathy with each other, that is a cord which never loosens and never breaks." 

*

"There is just such a mass of humanity coming into the spirit side of life at the present time that it is beyond the comprehension of your minds to understand it, and we cannot put it into words, but I might put it in this way: 'It is difficult to get them sorted out.'  I think you will understand what I mean, friend Cameron.  Some are willing to listen and some are just as obstinate and unwilling to be led into the way that leads upwards and onwards.  I say it remains possible for you in the earth life, who understand, to throw out your sympathy and your love to those who have passed over through this war, and to let your kind thoughts go out to them as comrades and friends because it is wonderful how quickly on this side of life they come to see what a foolish, foolish thing they had done to be killing and hating each other, and the feeling of enmity is soon forgotten.

"Your loving thoughts and prayers can help them to arrive more quickly at this conclusion.  If you could just realise the condition of chaos in which they come over you would send all the love possible, but they are immediately put into the hands of those best fitted to help them.  Every loving thought that we give helps them, and every loving thought coming from those on the earth side of life is immediately directed to those who most require it."

Mrs. Bowes asked: "Even when we can give love to our enemy, what happens to that love?"

She got the reply:

"If you give love to your enemy, well, you are giving a love on both sides where it can be used.  Had the nations of the world had more love for each other, the world would not be in the state it is in at the present time.  God bless you.  A thought of love goes to your credit, dear lady, all the time.  I am Thomas Armstrong." 

*

We opened the Sitting with the usual hymn, Nearer, my God, to Thee, and afterwards repeated The Lord's Prayer. We afterwards spoke about the weather, and one of us remarked that snow had already been seen on the hills.

An Etherian remarked:

"There is snow on some hills all the time."

We next spoke about clan tartans, and Mr. Cameron remarked that the colourings of some of the ancient clan tartans were very beautiful.

A voice asked:

"Are you a Cameron?"

and the trumpet touched Miss Colquhoun.  She replied: "No, I am a Colquhoun."

The voice then asked Mr. Cameron:

"And what clan do you belong to, Sir?"

Mr. Cameron replied: "I am a Cameron," and the Etherian remarked:

"I thought there was something Highland about you, and I appreciate your beautiful compliment about the tartans, friend Cameron.  I am also a Highlander, but I do not fight now for any one clan.  We are all fighting under the same banner, for truth and liberty for all men and all women, that all the world may be free, irrespective of clan, nation, or color, all one brotherhood of the great 'I Am,' Whom, not having seen, we love and adore His Majesty, His Purity, and the wonder of His Love."

*

Mr. Sloan's son in Etheria then said:

"This is Dougal speaking.  You have not lost me at all, Dad.  I am often with you, and very often help you.  Why should I not?  It is Dougie."

Mr. Sloan replied: "Dougie, when I said good-bye to you at the Docks I did not think it was for the last time."

His son answered:

"It is just as well we do not know these things, Dad, but just wait until the time comes when you come over beside us.  We will go over all the glorious scenes of the past, and walk in the new country and the new land which God has prepared for all His children.  I am Dougal Sloan.  If you walk according to God's laws you will have a wonderful life in the land of light.  God bless you.  Thank you, Dad, for you were a good Dad to me.  I know you miss Mother, but she is here, and it will be all right.  We will all meet again by and by.  Just you go on and do the best you can.  You have got strength in you yet for a while."

Mr. Hardman then spoke to Miss Dearie:

"I would like to pay appreciation to you, Miss Dearie.  My devoted thanks go out to you for the beautiful way in which you transcribe my thoughts and feelings to my dear friend in the Orkneys.  May God bless you for it.  I will do my best to show my appreciation.  I think you have someone very dear to you, whom your thoughts are very greatly centred upon.  I shall try and help you there also as far as I can from this side of life.  John Hardman is speaking to you.

"For the lucid way in which you portray my thoughts, I thank you very, very much, and for your kindly bearing with me, one and all, a stumbling disbeliever.  Oh, what will I call myself I do not really know.  I do not know how to put it, friend Cameron, but I did not believe in an after-life.  I did not believe it, but could not get away from the thought that there might be something.  I very speedily found out that there was something, and something far more real than I ever experienced in my earth life.  It is my duty to my friend, Miss Dearie, to express my deep appreciation for portraying my thoughts so minutely.  Thank you."

Miss Dearie replied: "Thank you very much indeed, Mr. Hardman."

Miss Colquhoun's Grand-uncle, David Johnston, and her Grandfather, William, who is David's brother, now spoke to her.  Since their passing on she has come to know them so well that they are to her what she describes as "intimate friends."  First of all David, sometimes known as Davie, spoke to her in a clear, distinct voice:

"Hello, Crissie, Davie Johnston speaking.  I was trying to give you a wee punch on the nose with the trumpet, but I could not manage it.  I would not hurt you, Crissie.  I am as happy, as happy as you could wish me to be, and that is saying a good deal, and now, my dear, dear Crissie, I do wish you could see your Mother—Davie and Mrs. Colquhoun going off for a stroll.  What are you laughing at?  We have far lovelier scenery than you ever see on your side of life.  It is similar but far more beautiful.  The colours are magnificent, and there is no decay.  It just seems to fade away.  You see the growth from the bottom, just as you do in earth life, and when it comes to full maturity it just vanishes."

Miss Colquhoun asked Davie Johnston: "Can you pull the flowers?," and he replied:

"Oh, certainly, you can decorate your homes, your houses where you live, with anything you like, and, if you are passing some place, and have seen some particular flower, and thought 'I would like to have that flower in my garden,' when you return home you will find it there.  The Spirit Overseer of the various plants and flowers will bring the same plant to grow in your garden, without you troubling about it."

Mr. Cameron asked: "Where do you put the flowers when you decorate your homes with them?"

He received the reply:

"We just put them in a vase, the same as in your own house, and you don't need to worry about breaking the vases, because you cannot break them."

Mr. Cameron said: "The flowers won't require water," and the reply came back:

"We have a liquid, but it is not exactly water.  We have the equivalent of many material things here.  It would not be a real home life, if you had not the same things as you had in earth life.  You see the flowers growing up here, so very beautiful, and fading away when they come to full maturity.  There is no waste or decay."

*

[A man's voice] "I am afraid, my friends, I must go now.  I have been the door-keeper.  I have not apparently been taking much notice but I have been doing my best for you.  I feel I must say adieu, because I am required elsewhere.  Good night, my Brothers and my Sisters, and may the blessing of God rest upon you.  Those who are less fortunate than yourself, give them all your thoughts and your sympathy, and God will reward you for it.

"I do not feel that I am adequately adapted to speak to you, Ladies and Gentlemen, in a way that you ought to be spoken to.  It has been a joy and a great upliftment to me to-day that I have been a recipient of the joys and pleasures which you have received in this little Meeting to-night. I have also been uplifted and my soul has been refreshed and strengthened in the labour of the work which lies before me, by being in your presence to-day.

"As one who traversed the Earth Plane long before your time and who has been traversing the planes and spaces for many years, as you count time, I have been in touch time and again with your surroundings but I have never been able to articulate or speak to you until to-day. To-day I feel uplifted and have joy in the thought that I have got a contact and I pray that the Great Spirit of Love will allow me to keep in touch with you, to do you some little good from time to time.  God bless you all."

*

[A man’s voice] "Progress all the time, until, in God's good time, you reach the fulfillment of a purified soul, that can work in harmony with the Great Spirit of All Life.  Progress will go on until the full theme and completion of the Master's Will is accomplished, and you are able to mix with those Shining Ones, in a glorified condition, whom you hope to join some day."

Mr. Cameron asked: "Are you referring to Jesus?," and received the reply:

"Oh, he is the Great Master, you know.  The influence of Jesus, we know, is embodied in many who are working on the spirit side of life.  Not many, as you know, were called 'Jesus of Nazareth,' but there were many Christs, and there will be many more Christs while many worlds exist.  There is a stage when some of us can know no further.  There is a world inside another world, but we have not progressed to that knowledge, nor will we, until we have advanced to a stage much above our present knowledge."

Mr. Cameron asked: "Have you any further knowledge of God than we have?"

The voice said:

"The Kingdom of God, that inner consciousness which emanates from the spirit of the Great Eternal, is within you, and it is in all of you to raise it to an understanding which will help you and help others.  God bless you, keep you, and help you to understand.  I must go now, but I will come again.  I have to go away just from your immediate surroundings, but I shall deem it a favour to come some other time to greet you all again.  Your earthly experiences are just a stage in your spiritual progress."

*

Mr. Cameron remarked: "I just sometimes wonder whether God's ministering angels direct one to the place one has to go."

Wallaho replied:

"Oh no, a higher hand guides that.  It depends first on the life you have lived on earth, and the attitude of the mind on your spirit body when it comes to the other side of life, in what condition you will arrive.  That entirely lies with yourself, with the persons themselves—you know what I mean.  It depends on the life you have lived in the body, and what you have done to help others and to serve the Great Master's cause, without any thought of yourself but for the great glory of God and for the extension of His Kingdom."

*

"Good evening, Mrs. Lang.  How do you do?  I am glad to see you.  I have met you before, in earth life, you know.  Doyle speaking.  It is just a privilege to come in here and say a few words."

Mrs. Lang replied: "That is very nice of you, and we are very pleased to know you are here."

He replied:

"I am just looking around to see you all.  Miss Dearie, I see you are writing.  You will have heard of Doyle."

The trumpet came on to Miss Dearie's head, and then a hand stroked her hair.

Miss Dearie said: "Are you a friend of Arthur?"

Mrs. Lang said: "It is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle."

Miss Dearie, now rather confused, replied: "Oh, of course, I know who you are now, Sir Arthur.  Of course, I have heard about you often, and have read some of your books."

He replied:

"I am just what you call 'Sir Arthur,' but never mind the 'Sir.'  I am here now to do some service to any of you that I can.  God bless you all."

Mrs. Bowes asked: "What do you think of the world situation now, Sir Arthur?  The fighting that is still going on?"

He replied:

"It is rapidly drawing to a finish now, my dear."

Miss Dearie asked: "Do you think this truth will spread and be more generally accepted when the war is all over?"

Sir Arthur replied:

"There is no doubt there will be more understanding of it.  It will be more completely understood, I should say.  Good day."