1 - History of Spiritualism Flashcards
Who is Andrew Jackson Davis?
Andrew Jackson Davis (1826-1910) was an American-born medium who, through his ‘out of the body’ experiences to the spirit world, which he called the ‘Summerland’, initiated Lyceum education and is acknowledged today as the Father of the Lyceum Movement.
He was an American medium of great quality who brought us the Lyceum, he described a system of teaching used in the spirit realms and based the first lyceum on it.
Who has the title Father of the Lyceum Movement?
Andrew Jackson Davis.
When did the Hydesville rappings occur?
March 31st, 1848
What happened on Friday, March 31st, 1848?
The Hydesville rappings at the Fox family residence.
Give the date in which modern Spiritualism was born?
March 31st, 1848.
What did the Hydesville Rappings establish?
It is possible to communicate with the spirits of the so-called dead.
The communications were made possible because of the development of an easily understood code.
Certain people are mediums.
Who are the Fox family?
Mr and Mrs John Fox and their daughters, Katherine and Margarette, moved into temporary accommodation in Hydesville, a small hamlet in the town of Arcadia, New York State, USA. For approximately two weeks unusual noises were heard every night. On Friday, March 31st, 1848 the noises were heard again. These are the Hydesville Rappings.
Name all the Fox sisters.
Leah, Margarette and Katherine
What was the source of the Hydesville Rappings?
The communicator, claimed to be the spirit of a peddler who allegedly had been murdered for his money and possessions in the same house by a former tenant and buried in the cellar around five years previously to March, 1848.
How was news of the rappings spread?
The phenomena was recorded by Mr E. E. Lewis, who in April 1848 gained twenty two signed statements from those who witnessed and those who were involved in the events, and published the statements. The report describes how communication with the spirit world was able to confirm for example the ages of those present. The report also includes the account of two previous incumbents of the house who also had heard unexplained rappings.
How long did the rappings continue?
The rappings continued over a number of years and were heard by hundreds of people. The Hydesville rappings aroused great interest among the people in the local area and, as the news spread further afield, the phenomena was recorded by Mr E. E. Lewis, who in April 1848 gained twenty two signed statements from those who witnessed and those who were involved in the events, and published the statements. The report describes how communication with the spirit world was able to confirm for example the ages of those present. The report also includes the account of two previous incumbents of the house who also had heard unexplained rappings.
How did the Rappings influence Spiritualism in America?
Many circles were established all over America and a huge amount of spectacular phenomena took place. A number of Spiritualist associations were established in America, based not only on the psychic phenomena but the religious implications which were present in communications from the spirit world.
What is the significance of Hydesville?
The significance is that it showed us the following; the communication was made possible by a code; certain people are mediums.
What happened in 1852 in England?
Maria B. Hayden brought Spiritualism from America.
Who brought Spiritualism to the UK and when?
Maria B. Hayden brought Spiritualism from America in October 1852.
Who is Maria B. Hayden?
Maria B. Hayden came from America in October 1852 and was the first professional Spiritualist medium to work in England.
Who was Robert Owen?
One of the many public figures who defended Mrs Hayden was Robert Owen, founder of the cooperative movement. Robert Owen had a number of private sittings with Mrs Hayden and became convinced of spirits ability to communicate.
What happened in 1855 in England?
First Spiritualist newspaper
The Yorkshire Spiritual Telegraph
Keighley, Yorkshire
David Weatherhead.
The first Spiritualist newspaper, The Yorkshire Spiritual Telegraph, was published in Keighley by David Weatherhead.
When, where and by whom was the first Spiritualist society formed in England.
In 1853, The Spiritual Brotherhood was formed in Keighley by David Weatherhead. Later known as the Heber Street Spiritualists’ Society.
Where is the Mother Church located?
-Keighley Yorkshire
The Spiritual Brotherhood now known as the Heber Street Spiritualists’ Society
When was the first Spiritualist newspaper published in England?
1855
Keighley, Yorkshire
David Weatherhead
Yorkshire Spiritual Telegraph
The Yorkshire Spiritual Telegraph was first published in 1855 at Keighley by David Weatherhead.
What happened in 1853 in England?
David Richmond brought Spiritualism to the attention of the people of Keighley and with the assistance of David Weatherhead delivered three lectures on Spiritualism. David Weatherhead took steps, resulting in the formation of a society called The Spiritual Brotherhood later known as the Heber Street Spiritualists’ Society.
Who is David Richmond?
David Richmond (1816-1891) was a native of Darlington, in County Durham. He worked in a local mill as a weaver but because of his interest in social reform he went to London, where he met Robert Owen, another Social Reformer. He then went to America and joined a religious group who were called ‘Shakers’; he also met the Fox sisters and Andrew Jackson Davis. He became an ardent Spiritualist whilst living in America but upon his return to his native town of Darlington he failed to convince the local people. In 1853 David Richmond brought Spiritualism to the attention of the people of Keighley and with the assistance of David Weatherhead delivered three lectures on Spiritualism.
When were the first Lyceums opened?
Lyceums were opened in 1870 at Keighley and Sowerby Bridge.
What is a Lyceum?
The Lyceum became a branch of the SNU in 1948, being given special responsibility for the education of the young. It promotes a religious philosophy that teaches us how to live. We embrace the Natural World and all the elements of this world, and the Lyceum teaches Social and Humanitarian skills.
Who is Alfred Kitson?
Lyceums were opened in 1870 at Keighley and Sowerby Bridge. Alfred Kitson (1855-1934) attended the first anniversary of the latter and thereafter devoted himself to this cause. He began to develop a system of Lyceum teaching for the U.K. based upon the American model of Andrew Jackson Davis. Alfred Kitson was jointly responsible, with Harry Kersey and Emma Hardinge Britten, for the British Lyceum Manual.
When was the Spiritualists National Federation constituted?
The Spiritualists’ National Federation was constituted in 1891 following the 1890 National Conference of British Spiritualists and gathered many churches, societies and individual members under its wing.
Why was the Spiritualists’ National Federation formed?
The Spiritualists’ National Federation was formed in an attempt to consolidate and unite the various Churches, Societies and groups into a single religious organisation.
What happened in 1890?
In 1890 Emma Hardinge Britten (1823-1899) called a meeting of all Spiritualists to establish a national movement, the Spiritualists National Federation.
Who has the title Mother of Spiritualism?
Emma Hardinge Britten
Name some of Emma Hardinge Britten’s achievements in Modern Spiritualism.
British Lyceum Manual
Spiritualists’ National Federation
Co-founder of and first editor of “The Two Worlds”
The Seven Principles
What replaced the Spiritualists’ National Federation and why?
The Spiritualists’ National Federation had no legal status, and so in October 1901 a limited company was formed incorporated under the Companies Act and called the Spiritualists’ National Union Limited which had power to hold properties, etc. as a company limited by guarantee.
What happened in 1902?
The first scheme to regulate certification of Exponents and Demonstrators was in 1902. In 1902 the new SNU discussed and agreed that an exponents committee be established to arrange for “the examining, recommending, appointing and certificating of exponents and demonstrators of phenomena”
Why is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle considered a Spiritualist?
1916 came out as a Spiritualist
member of SPR
researched and published The New Revelation
travelled and was named St. Paul of Spiritualism
president of London Spiritualist Alliance
honorary president of SNU
In 1916 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) publicly identified himself as a Spiritualist. He was a member of the Society for Psychical Research and as a result of prolonged investigation Doyle openly championed the cause of Spiritualism and published his book ‘The New Revelation’. Owing to the widespread sorrow after the First World War (1914 – 18) Doyle decided to make Spiritualism his life’s mission. He travelled very widely in his missionary zeal and became known as ‘The St. Paul of Spiritualism’. He was President of the London Spiritualist Alliance, and prior to his death Honorary President of the SNU and he has been regarded, since his transition, as an Honorary President of the SNU in Spirit.
Why is Ernest Oaten important?
devoted life to build up SNU
1916 campaign for legal changes
parliamentary fund to help mediums
Arthur Conan Doyle’s tour organiser and right-hand
1919 editor of Two-Worlds
1934 first to talk about Spiritualism on BBC radio
In 1916 Earnest Oaten began the campaign for legal changes in relation to mediumship. Ernest Oaten was Conan Doyle’s tour organiser and right-hand man, but years prior to this he had devoted his life to the building up of the SNU. A parliamentary fund was set up to support mediums being prosecuted under the Vagrancy Act 1824 and to work towards its repeal. In 1919 he became editor of ‘The Two Worlds’, in 1934 he gave the first radio broadcast through the BBC about Spiritualism.
