{"id":580,"date":"2022-08-10T12:00:57","date_gmt":"2022-08-10T12:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/?page_id=580"},"modified":"2022-09-05T20:03:16","modified_gmt":"2022-09-05T20:03:16","slug":"pioneers-of-spiritualism","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/pioneers-of-spiritualism\/","title":{"rendered":"Pioneers of Spiritualism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-d8z50-ba50f5deefc7d6d6c224f3936db2dd00\">\n.avia-section.av-d8z50-ba50f5deefc7d6d6c224f3936db2dd00{\nbackground-repeat:no-repeat;\nbackground-image:url(https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/saint-pauls-cathedral-m.jpg);\nbackground-position:50% 50%;\nbackground-attachment:fixed;\n}\n.avia-section.av-d8z50-ba50f5deefc7d6d6c224f3936db2dd00 .av-section-color-overlay{\nopacity:0.2;\nbackground-color:#000000;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section av-d8z50-ba50f5deefc7d6d6c224f3936db2dd00 main_color avia-section-large avia-no-shadow  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_section  avia-builder-el-first  avia-full-stretch avia-bg-style-fixed av-section-color-overlay-active container_wrap sidebar_right'  data-section-bg-repeat='stretch'><div class=\"av-section-color-overlay-wrap\"><div class=\"av-section-color-overlay\"><\/div><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><main  role=\"main\" itemprop=\"mainContentOfPage\"  class='template-page content  av-content-small alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-580'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-costs-b38d522a47d699def349a48911ec207f\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-costs-b38d522a47d699def349a48911ec207f{\npadding-bottom:0;\ncolor:#ffffff;\nfont-size:50px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-costs-b38d522a47d699def349a48911ec207f 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av-inherit-size'><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Pioneers of Spiritualism<\/h3><div class='av_custom_color av-subheading av-subheading_below'><p>Every successful individual knows that his or her achievement depends on a community of persons working together.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-17kto-cbe0cf77f573d7896e3914072ebc7fb1\">\n#top .hr.av-17kto-cbe0cf77f573d7896e3914072ebc7fb1{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-17kto-cbe0cf77f573d7896e3914072ebc7fb1 .hr-inner{\nwidth:20%;\nborder-color:rgba(255,255,255,0.76);\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n.hr.av-17kto-cbe0cf77f573d7896e3914072ebc7fb1 .av-seperator-icon{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-17kto-cbe0cf77f573d7896e3914072ebc7fb1 hr-custom  avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_heading  avia-builder-el-last  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8bf' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/main><!-- close content main element --><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_2'  class='avia-section av-brun0-d84796ee2eb1bb5a69bf86cfa7030661 main_color avia-section-small avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_section  avia-builder-el-last  avia-bg-style-fixed container_wrap sidebar_right'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-small alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-580'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n<div class='flex_column_table av-13aw0-07f2f6b51ae5c1ef3790b809514b3b3f sc-av_two_third av-equal-height-column-flextable'>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-13aw0-07f2f6b51ae5c1ef3790b809514b3b3f\">\n#top .flex_column_table.av-equal-height-column-flextable.av-13aw0-07f2f6b51ae5c1ef3790b809514b3b3f{\nmargin-top:-60px;\nmargin-bottom:0px;\n}\n.flex_column.av-13aw0-07f2f6b51ae5c1ef3790b809514b3b3f{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:30px 30px 30px 30px;\nbackground-color:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-13aw0-07f2f6b51ae5c1ef3790b809514b3b3f av_two_third  avia-builder-el-4  el_before_av_one_third  avia-builder-el-first  first no_margin flex_column_table_cell av-equal-height-column av-align-top '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-afom0-fc1b91a2636492c82d7b12347178b130\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-afom0-fc1b91a2636492c82d7b12347178b130{\npadding-bottom:0;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-afom0-fc1b91a2636492c82d7b12347178b130 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-afom0-fc1b91a2636492c82d7b12347178b130 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-afom0-fc1b91a2636492c82d7b12347178b130 av-special-heading-h3 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-5  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Pioneers of Spiritualism<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-a2fu4-3a0c97fb5797447c0bbbdae00e967d4d\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-a2fu4-3a0c97fb5797447c0bbbdae00e967d4d .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:18px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-a2fu4-3a0c97fb5797447c0bbbdae00e967d4d'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Swedenborg was a fore runner of Spiritualism, the basis of his teachings in his\u00a0new church was everything he had seen and heard in the spirit world. His\u00a0followers, however, distanced themselves from the later Spiritualist\u00a0Movement.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-91eys-8b2044e8f0939edc77f52262658d0836\">\n#top .hr.av-91eys-8b2044e8f0939edc77f52262658d0836{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-91eys-8b2044e8f0939edc77f52262658d0836 .hr-inner{\nwidth:45%;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-91eys-8b2044e8f0939edc77f52262658d0836 hr-custom  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_slideshow  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8bf' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-slideshow av-7fr48-0eb2d1ee3a7c65bb03b986ee381c7003 avia-slideshow-entry_with_sidebar av_slideshow avia-slide-slider  avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_textblock  av-slideshow-ui av-control-minimal av-slideshow-autoplay av-loop-endless av-loop-manual-endless av-default-height-applied avia-slideshow-1' data-slideshow-options=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:true,&quot;loop_autoplay&quot;:&quot;endless&quot;,&quot;interval&quot;:3,&quot;loop_manual&quot;:&quot;manual-endless&quot;,&quot;autoplay_stopper&quot;:false,&quot;noNavigation&quot;:false,&quot;bg_slider&quot;:false,&quot;keep_padding&quot;:false,&quot;hoverpause&quot;:false,&quot;show_slide_delay&quot;:0}\"  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><ul class='avia-slideshow-inner ' style='padding-bottom: 37.988165680473%;'><li  class='avia-slideshow-slide av-7fr48-0eb2d1ee3a7c65bb03b986ee381c7003__0  av-single-slide slide-1 slide-odd'><div data-rel='slideshow-1' class='avia-slide-wrap '   ><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-550 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-550\"  src=\"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/blessings-1-845x321.png\" width=\"845\" height=\"321\" title='blessings' alt=''  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"   \/><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-vikc-5daf4cd69f51ef3d23d8af2024de046a'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Information gained likewise from the Spirit world was the basis of\u00a0the education in the Lyceums founded by Andrew Jackson Davis.\u00a0Davis had foretold the activities of the Fox Sisters who were to demonstrate\u00a0that communication with spirit was possible, proving survival. Emma\u00a0Hardinge-Britten continued the same message through mediumship and\u00a0speaking in deep trance. She gave structure as well as philosophy to the\u00a0Spiritualist Movement, working tirelessly to achieve the formation of the\u00a0National Spiritualist Federation.\u00a0Respectability was given to the Movement, allowing greater acceptance by the\u00a0public by the two friends Arthur Conanan Doyle and Oliver Lodge who both\u00a0accepted Spiritualist ideas and made their views known.\u00a0Helen Duncan became a Martyr for Spiritualism in1955 despite the Fraudulent\u00a0Mediums Act which was supposed to protect genuine mediums. Spiritualism\u00a0had been recognized as a religion by Act of Parliament the same year as that\u00a0Act.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-1a91rk-e24597153aae7a7e4fc02b2b2f4aa279\">\n#top .hr.av-1a91rk-e24597153aae7a7e4fc02b2b2f4aa279{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-1a91rk-e24597153aae7a7e4fc02b2b2f4aa279 .hr-inner{\nwidth:45%;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-1a91rk-e24597153aae7a7e4fc02b2b2f4aa279 hr-custom  avia-builder-el-10  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_heading  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8bf' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-15m6tk-f2951d2a3b8ca4c89cf76161b12d7b55\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-15m6tk-f2951d2a3b8ca4c89cf76161b12d7b55{\npadding-bottom:0;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-15m6tk-f2951d2a3b8ca4c89cf76161b12d7b55 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-15m6tk-f2951d2a3b8ca4c89cf76161b12d7b55 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-15m6tk-f2951d2a3b8ca4c89cf76161b12d7b55 av-special-heading-h3 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-11  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_textblock '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Andrew Jackson Davis (1826- 1910)<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-vcjq0-7315fe79ef94f2ff3eb1490c76c1d033\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-vcjq0-7315fe79ef94f2ff3eb1490c76c1d033 .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:18px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-vcjq0-7315fe79ef94f2ff3eb1490c76c1d033'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Andrew Jackson Davis (1826-1910) known to contemporaries as \u2018the poughkeepie seer\u2019 and later referred to as the \u2018John the Baptist of Modern Spiritualism\u2019 because he \u2018definitively proclaimed the coming revelation of Spirit communion\u2019 when he foretold the activity of the Fox Sisters.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-ri3xc-136ffbf622b054b2b180b9dec96acea1\">\n#top .hr.av-ri3xc-136ffbf622b054b2b180b9dec96acea1{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-ri3xc-136ffbf622b054b2b180b9dec96acea1 .hr-inner{\nwidth:45%;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-ri3xc-136ffbf622b054b2b180b9dec96acea1 hr-custom  avia-builder-el-13  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_slideshow  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8bf' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-slideshow av-m31js-e2b55fa1a269f26bc8148351075de849 avia-slideshow-entry_with_sidebar av_slideshow avia-slide-slider  avia-builder-el-14  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_textblock  av-slideshow-ui av-control-minimal av-slideshow-autoplay av-loop-endless av-loop-manual-endless av-default-height-applied avia-slideshow-2' data-slideshow-options=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:true,&quot;loop_autoplay&quot;:&quot;endless&quot;,&quot;interval&quot;:3,&quot;loop_manual&quot;:&quot;manual-endless&quot;,&quot;autoplay_stopper&quot;:false,&quot;noNavigation&quot;:false,&quot;bg_slider&quot;:false,&quot;keep_padding&quot;:false,&quot;hoverpause&quot;:false,&quot;show_slide_delay&quot;:0}\"  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><ul class='avia-slideshow-inner ' style='padding-bottom: 79.259259259259%;'><li  class='avia-slideshow-slide av-m31js-e2b55fa1a269f26bc8148351075de849__0  av-single-slide slide-1 slide-odd'><div data-rel='slideshow-2' class='avia-slide-wrap '   ><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-589 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-589\"  src=\"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Andrew-Jackson-Davis-405x321.jpg\" width=\"405\" height=\"321\" title='Andrew Jackson Davis' alt=''  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"   \/><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-962co-91c3dfb7423c4d6f85c962b2d3d1f710'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>As a child Andrew was sickly as a result of being run over by a cart. His father thought he would never amount to anything because of the weakness this had caused, although his mother was more supportive. The family had financial difficulties and moved home several times, adding to his difficulties.<\/p>\n<p>Andrew from an early age had heard voices but it was not until he had been exposed to mesmerism that his clairvoyant and spiritual abilities manifested fully. He was able to work with doctors as a medical clairvoyant, although later in life hewent to a medical school to authenticate his gifts.<\/p>\n<p>His greatest gift, however, was that of trance speaking, although for a while he had to be mesmerised to go into trance state. in trance, though, he could discuss intellectual concepts as an equal with the eminent scientists and philosophers of the day.\u00a0 At the age of 19 he dictated \u2018The Principles of Nature, Her Divine Revelations\u2019 while in trance. It was the first book of Spiritualist philosophy, an amalgam of science and spirituality. Among over 30 books he produced were an auto biography, \u2018The Magic Staff\u2019 and books about the afterlife, medicine and cosmology.<\/p>\n<p>Despite his father\u2019s poor opinion of his prospects, Andrew was an important medium in the eyes of President Lincoln, who was known to attend seances. The two had the same ideas about society, liberty and justice and some civil war documents suggest that Davis may have had some influence with Lincoln.<\/p>\n<p>In 1865 Davis opened the first Spiritualists\u2019 Lyceum, educating children in the way he had learned children were taught in the Spirit world. Lyceums were opened in America and England and played a big part in the development of the Movement, although, regrettably the Lyceum movement in Britain has declined.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-847fw-80d23a919b7b01c2b816aeaf35ee8b60\">\n#top .hr.av-847fw-80d23a919b7b01c2b816aeaf35ee8b60{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-847fw-80d23a919b7b01c2b816aeaf35ee8b60 .hr-inner{\nwidth:45%;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-847fw-80d23a919b7b01c2b816aeaf35ee8b60 hr-custom  avia-builder-el-16  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_heading  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8bf' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-l6mlt3c6-edd10353e7e2500bf9fb8e800e2d412e\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-l6mlt3c6-edd10353e7e2500bf9fb8e800e2d412e{\npadding-bottom:0;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-l6mlt3c6-edd10353e7e2500bf9fb8e800e2d412e .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-l6mlt3c6-edd10353e7e2500bf9fb8e800e2d412e .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-l6mlt3c6-edd10353e7e2500bf9fb8e800e2d412e av-special-heading-h3 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-17  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_textblock '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,1859- 1930<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-l6mluvis-8992ebdcf628fc8c7d3448855f635cb7\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-l6mluvis-8992ebdcf628fc8c7d3448855f635cb7 .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:18px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-l6mluvis-8992ebdcf628fc8c7d3448855f635cb7'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Arthur Conan Doyle, had been born to the poor relations in a prosperous Irish Catholic family in Edinburgh. He was sent to a Jesuit school and studied medicine at Edinburgh University, courtesy of the richer members of the family. He worked as a Surgeon on a whaling ship for a year before graduating as a physician and surgeon in 1881. He took on the role of army surgeon after being rejected as a soldier in the Boer war at the age of 40 and was rejected again at the age of 55 for the First World War.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-utdwo-1936c6e716d6af84b5f78328a4f419c3\">\n#top .hr.av-utdwo-1936c6e716d6af84b5f78328a4f419c3{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-utdwo-1936c6e716d6af84b5f78328a4f419c3 .hr-inner{\nwidth:45%;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-utdwo-1936c6e716d6af84b5f78328a4f419c3 hr-custom  avia-builder-el-19  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_slideshow  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8bf' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-slideshow av-l6mm7jkh-e345953893a83e313c571e79116f0164 avia-slideshow-entry_with_sidebar av_slideshow avia-slide-slider  avia-builder-el-20  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_textblock  av-slideshow-ui av-control-minimal av-slideshow-autoplay av-loop-endless av-loop-manual-endless av-default-height-applied avia-slideshow-3' data-slideshow-options=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:true,&quot;loop_autoplay&quot;:&quot;endless&quot;,&quot;interval&quot;:3,&quot;loop_manual&quot;:&quot;manual-endless&quot;,&quot;autoplay_stopper&quot;:false,&quot;noNavigation&quot;:false,&quot;bg_slider&quot;:false,&quot;keep_padding&quot;:false,&quot;hoverpause&quot;:false,&quot;show_slide_delay&quot;:0}\"  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><ul class='avia-slideshow-inner ' style='padding-bottom: 79.259259259259%;'><li  class='avia-slideshow-slide av-l6mm7jkh-e345953893a83e313c571e79116f0164__0  av-single-slide slide-1 slide-odd'><div data-rel='slideshow-3' class='avia-slide-wrap '   ><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-590 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-590\"  src=\"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Sir-Arthur-Conan-Doyle-405x321.jpg\" width=\"405\" height=\"321\" title='Sir Arthur Conan Doyle' alt=''  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"   \/><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-l6mlnx6y-cfe03b76bedd7e8c85a2e1cf5b2a95a9'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Arthur worked and played hard, and as a result suffered from ill health on occasions While doctoring in the Boer War he was writing a \u2018Pamphlet\u2019, published in 1890, of 500 pages justifying involvement in the war, which earned him his knighthood.<\/p>\n<p>At first Doyle combined writing with his medical career, but he found he could give up medicine when his creation of Sherlock Holmes became popular. He did try to \u2019kill off\u2019 Holmes to concentrate on other writing but was forced to bring him back by popular demand. Altogether he wrote over 200 novels, plus short stories, poems and nonfiction books and pamphlets.\u00a0Doyle wrote a number of books on Spiritualism, including \u2018The History of Spiritualism\u2019\u00a0which records the beginning of the movement and the work of all the great mediums of the 19th Century.<\/p>\n<p>Doyle joined the Society for Psychical Research, having witnessed some table tilting and other physical phenomena while sitting in a group. He was privileged to sit with several of the most gifted mental and physical mediums of the day and was convinced of spirit communication and survival.<br \/>\nIn 1918 he publicly proclaimed his belief in Spiritualism, but was ridiculed in the press\u00a0a few years later when he accepted a fake photograph of \u2018fairies\u2019 as a true picture.<\/p>\n<p>In his later years Doyle toured the country promoting Spiritualism to large audiences\u00a0everywhere. When he passed in 1930, the movement lost a great champion. In appreciation, the SNU made him their Honorary President in Spirit.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-7q2h8-93f79c58a2145b977136ab90c9bf06c2\">\n#top .hr.av-7q2h8-93f79c58a2145b977136ab90c9bf06c2{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-7q2h8-93f79c58a2145b977136ab90c9bf06c2 .hr-inner{\nwidth:45%;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-7q2h8-93f79c58a2145b977136ab90c9bf06c2 hr-custom  avia-builder-el-22  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_heading  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8bf' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-l6mlx83y-2dc3fa08a2a52a582f490378eae455e7\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-l6mlx83y-2dc3fa08a2a52a582f490378eae455e7{\npadding-bottom:0;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-l6mlx83y-2dc3fa08a2a52a582f490378eae455e7 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-l6mlx83y-2dc3fa08a2a52a582f490378eae455e7 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-l6mlx83y-2dc3fa08a2a52a582f490378eae455e7 av-special-heading-h3 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-23  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_textblock '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Emma Hardinge -Britten (1823-99)<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-b2i4k-95a512d82c0c475faad1fbc7e05f178d\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-b2i4k-95a512d82c0c475faad1fbc7e05f178d .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:18px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-b2i4k-95a512d82c0c475faad1fbc7e05f178d'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Born in London, the daughter of a \u2018seafarer\u2019, Captain Floyd Hardinge, Emma was a child with prodigious talents in music, singing and speaking. At the age of 11 she was earning a living as a music teacher. In 1856 she went to America as part of a theatrical company where the mediumistic abilities she had shown as a child became more apparent. In that year, she gave a message from a sailor who had drowned when the Pacific, a mail steamer went down. She avoided court proceedings when a few weeks later she was proven to have been accurate.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-1n1eo-d3250ed03617803ac32ad5cf813bf1e8\">\n#top .hr.av-1n1eo-d3250ed03617803ac32ad5cf813bf1e8{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-1n1eo-d3250ed03617803ac32ad5cf813bf1e8 .hr-inner{\nwidth:45%;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-1n1eo-d3250ed03617803ac32ad5cf813bf1e8 hr-custom  avia-builder-el-25  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_slideshow  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8bf' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-slideshow av-l6mm7amm-d93482c481a54568a18cf6c46de48ef2 avia-slideshow-entry_with_sidebar av_slideshow avia-slide-slider  avia-builder-el-26  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_textblock  av-slideshow-ui av-control-minimal av-slideshow-autoplay av-loop-endless av-loop-manual-endless av-default-height-applied avia-slideshow-4' data-slideshow-options=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:true,&quot;loop_autoplay&quot;:&quot;endless&quot;,&quot;interval&quot;:3,&quot;loop_manual&quot;:&quot;manual-endless&quot;,&quot;autoplay_stopper&quot;:false,&quot;noNavigation&quot;:false,&quot;bg_slider&quot;:false,&quot;keep_padding&quot;:false,&quot;hoverpause&quot;:false,&quot;show_slide_delay&quot;:0}\"  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><ul class='avia-slideshow-inner ' style='padding-bottom: 79.259259259259%;'><li  class='avia-slideshow-slide av-l6mm7amm-d93482c481a54568a18cf6c46de48ef2__0  av-single-slide slide-1 slide-odd'><div data-rel='slideshow-4' class='avia-slide-wrap '   ><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-591 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-591\"  src=\"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/emma-hardinge-britten-405x321.jpg\" width=\"405\" height=\"321\" title='emma-hardinge-britten' alt=''  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"   \/><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-l6mlwihn-433bc6da2f5289a14a0aa2edb806f18e'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Emma built upon the work of the Fox sisters, who were promulgating the message of spirit survival through demonstrations of phenomena. Emma became a deep trance speaker touring and campaigning in America, Australia, New Zealand and England spreading the same message through mediumship and speaking.<br \/>\nAfter the assassination of President Lincoln she gave the \u2018Great Funeral Oration on Abraham Lincoln\u2019 in 1865 which earned her a lot of respect.<\/p>\n<p>In 1870 she wrote the book \u2018Modern American Spiritualism, considered the classic history of the Movement in America and married Dr Britten a fellow worker for Spiritualism the same year<\/p>\n<p>Back home she turned her attention to the work of the Lyceums and with others she compiled the first Lyceum Manual which was published in 1887. She had already written three books and in 1887 she started \u2018The Two Worlds\u2019 which she edited for the first five years.<\/p>\n<p>Although she had been born into an Evangelical family, Emma was by this time strongly anti-Christian and tried to get Spiritualist societies to stress the religious side of spirit teachings. She was the channel for Robert Owen when he gave the philosophy which became the basis of the Seven Principles, the cornerstone of spiritualist beliefs.<\/p>\n<p>Emma had always advocated and worked for a national body of Spiritualists, succeeding in 1890 when the National Spiritualist Federation was formed, stating that the basis of the religion of Spiritualism should be a belief in the Seven Principles, a decision repeated when the Spiritualists\u2019 National Union Ltd succeeded the earlier Federation. Spiritualists and Modern Spiritualism owe a lot to Emma Hardinge Britten.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-7m9wk-44eaeb0be5315d4e24463984dd3e7078\">\n#top .hr.av-7m9wk-44eaeb0be5315d4e24463984dd3e7078{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-7m9wk-44eaeb0be5315d4e24463984dd3e7078 .hr-inner{\nwidth:45%;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-7m9wk-44eaeb0be5315d4e24463984dd3e7078 hr-custom  avia-builder-el-28  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_heading  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8bf' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-l6mm11yk-83f3eee7de10abe8c33eedc19707de1b\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-l6mm11yk-83f3eee7de10abe8c33eedc19707de1b{\npadding-bottom:0;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-l6mm11yk-83f3eee7de10abe8c33eedc19707de1b .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-l6mm11yk-83f3eee7de10abe8c33eedc19707de1b .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-l6mm11yk-83f3eee7de10abe8c33eedc19707de1b av-special-heading-h3 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-29  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_textblock '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Helen Duncan, 1897-1956<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-l6mm1u8n-647fb95076e8eabb27d22e5feac065fb\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-l6mm1u8n-647fb95076e8eabb27d22e5feac065fb .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:18px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-l6mm1u8n-647fb95076e8eabb27d22e5feac065fb'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>\u2018Hellish Nell\u2019 as she was known to some of her contemporaries (because of her temper, not her psychic abilities!) was born Victoria MacFarlane in Callender in 1897, she married Henry Duncan in 1916.<\/p>\n<p>From an early age she showed psychic abilities. While at school she found the location of a missing person by remote viewing and was able to go into trance and produce ectoplasm from her mouth. She was, however, not a keen scholar.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-9kq4o-2caf35441925d5f87d568ebeb89ffe45\">\n#top .hr.av-9kq4o-2caf35441925d5f87d568ebeb89ffe45{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-9kq4o-2caf35441925d5f87d568ebeb89ffe45 .hr-inner{\nwidth:45%;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-9kq4o-2caf35441925d5f87d568ebeb89ffe45 hr-custom  avia-builder-el-31  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_slideshow  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8bf' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-slideshow av-l6mm6axz-d438ea2744e45e24cae2d179aa3a5568 avia-slideshow-entry_with_sidebar av_slideshow avia-slide-slider  avia-builder-el-32  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_textblock  av-slideshow-ui av-control-minimal av-slideshow-autoplay av-loop-endless av-loop-manual-endless av-default-height-applied avia-slideshow-5' data-slideshow-options=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:true,&quot;loop_autoplay&quot;:&quot;endless&quot;,&quot;interval&quot;:3,&quot;loop_manual&quot;:&quot;manual-endless&quot;,&quot;autoplay_stopper&quot;:false,&quot;noNavigation&quot;:false,&quot;bg_slider&quot;:false,&quot;keep_padding&quot;:false,&quot;hoverpause&quot;:false,&quot;show_slide_delay&quot;:0}\"  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><ul class='avia-slideshow-inner ' style='padding-bottom: 52.11038961039%;'><li  class='avia-slideshow-slide av-l6mm6axz-d438ea2744e45e24cae2d179aa3a5568__0  av-single-slide slide-1 slide-odd'><div data-rel='slideshow-5' class='avia-slide-wrap '   ><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-597 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-597\"  src=\"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Helen-Duncan-1-616x321.png\" width=\"616\" height=\"321\" title='Helen-Duncan' alt=''  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"   \/><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-l6mm5m17-16f27f8907b9e8a6eb6c9951ed7a2365'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Helen\u2019s family were poor. Her husband became ill. She, herself suffered poor health throughout her life. She therefore turned to her mediumship to support her family,\u00a0 giving seances in private houses and spiritualist churches. She built up a good following but was plagued by accusations of fraud.<\/p>\n<p>The fraud accusations culminated in 1944 in a trial on a charge under the Witchcraft Act of 1735, a trial that Winston Churchill described as \u2018absolute tomfoolery\u2019. It has been said the charge against her was to prevent the public hearing disheartening information at a time when the war effort was at a low point. (She had previously brought drowned sailors from the battleship \u2018Hood\u2019 and HMS Barham to the s\u00e9ance room, which the authorities hadn\u2019t made public). Of course, there might have been a Nazi spy at her s\u00e9ance!<\/p>\n<p>The trial was something of a setup. There was no physical evidence, the ectoplasm was alleged to have been a white sheet, but it could not be produced. Testimonial evidence only was given, and it has been said the prosecution witnesses were coached by the self-appointed psychic investigator Harry Price. Helen was found guilty and sentenced to nine months in Holloway Prison.<\/p>\n<p>After her release from prison Helen continued to give seances although her abilities seemed to have waned somewhat. The harassment continued, however. Despite the Witchcraft Act being replaced by the Fraudulent Mediums Act of 1951, which was meant to protect genuine mediums and an Act recognizing Spiritualism as a religion, in 1955 the police invaded a s\u00e9ance she was holding in Nottingham. All the rules for the safety of a physical medium were broken; lights were switched on; there was a lot of shouting and Helen was manhandled causing the ectoplasm to return to her body quickly which resulted in internal injuries. She died five weeks later.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-yfm7w-cb89442a3ba51879ef3c1f6da11feb8f\">\n#top .hr.av-yfm7w-cb89442a3ba51879ef3c1f6da11feb8f{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-yfm7w-cb89442a3ba51879ef3c1f6da11feb8f .hr-inner{\nwidth:45%;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-yfm7w-cb89442a3ba51879ef3c1f6da11feb8f hr-custom  avia-builder-el-34  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_heading  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8bf' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-l6npyh48-f73f7a66ed8e3fda4c1cbf5b3ee6dbe8\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-l6npyh48-f73f7a66ed8e3fda4c1cbf5b3ee6dbe8{\npadding-bottom:0;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-l6npyh48-f73f7a66ed8e3fda4c1cbf5b3ee6dbe8 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-l6npyh48-f73f7a66ed8e3fda4c1cbf5b3ee6dbe8 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-l6npyh48-f73f7a66ed8e3fda4c1cbf5b3ee6dbe8 av-special-heading-h3 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-35  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_textblock '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Oliver Lodge<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-l6npz4x6-6c139d2ec41a25c2b37cba39deaf7299\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-l6npz4x6-6c139d2ec41a25c2b37cba39deaf7299 .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:18px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-l6npz4x6-6c139d2ec41a25c2b37cba39deaf7299'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Two men who became close friends after meeting at the palace where they both received knighthoods on August 9th1902 added respectability to the Spiritualist Movement. They were Oliver Lodge (1851-1940) and Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-stir8-9211aaba5731ab612ac9256fe41426d7\">\n#top .hr.av-stir8-9211aaba5731ab612ac9256fe41426d7{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-stir8-9211aaba5731ab612ac9256fe41426d7 .hr-inner{\nwidth:45%;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-stir8-9211aaba5731ab612ac9256fe41426d7 hr-custom  avia-builder-el-37  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_slideshow  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8bf' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-slideshow av-jabtg-7895180eddaa9c97735f7017c2c7ee82 avia-slideshow-entry_with_sidebar av_slideshow avia-slide-slider  avia-builder-el-38  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_textblock  av-slideshow-ui av-control-minimal av-slideshow-autoplay av-loop-endless av-loop-manual-endless av-default-height-applied avia-slideshow-6' data-slideshow-options=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:true,&quot;loop_autoplay&quot;:&quot;endless&quot;,&quot;interval&quot;:3,&quot;loop_manual&quot;:&quot;manual-endless&quot;,&quot;autoplay_stopper&quot;:false,&quot;noNavigation&quot;:false,&quot;bg_slider&quot;:false,&quot;keep_padding&quot;:false,&quot;hoverpause&quot;:false,&quot;show_slide_delay&quot;:0}\"  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><ul class='avia-slideshow-inner ' style='padding-bottom: 79.259259259259%;'><li  class='avia-slideshow-slide av-jabtg-7895180eddaa9c97735f7017c2c7ee82__0  av-single-slide slide-1 slide-odd'><div data-rel='slideshow-6' class='avia-slide-wrap '   ><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-593 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-593\"  src=\"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Oliver-Lodge-405x321.png\" width=\"405\" height=\"321\" title='Oliver Lodge' alt=''  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"   \/><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-l6npxgcx-93fce63e9f7425233b36ed945518e539'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oliver Lodge was a physicist and inventor of some repute. One of his studies was in the propagation and reception of electromagnetic waves which led to his invention of a detector which could transcribe Morse code radio signals onto paper.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He was a member of the \u2018Ghost Club\u2019 and was involved with the Society for Psychical Research (he was President 1901-1903)<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His first investigation for the society was the mediumship of the American Leonora Piper. Lodge reported favourably on the evidence she had given to him.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After other investigations he reported in 1898 \u2018having received many evidential messages, he was now convinced of survival\u2019.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following the return from spirit of two old friends through the mediumship of Mrs Piper, Lodge wrote \u2019The Survival of Man\u2019 in 1909. \u2018Raymond or Life after Death\u2019 the<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">story of how the message reporting the death of his son Raymond was validated was published in 1917. It did, however, attract the criticism that as evidence it could not be objective because of Lodge\u2019s closeness to the subject.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although he was not actually a proponent of Spiritualism- he remained a Christian- he strongly believed in Spiritualist concepts and risked his reputation by making his beliefs public knowledge<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-88z18-c820cb9dd20a27cee6897a5fbdbd7f9b\">\n#top .hr.av-88z18-c820cb9dd20a27cee6897a5fbdbd7f9b{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-88z18-c820cb9dd20a27cee6897a5fbdbd7f9b .hr-inner{\nwidth:45%;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-88z18-c820cb9dd20a27cee6897a5fbdbd7f9b hr-custom  avia-builder-el-40  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_heading  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8bf' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-l6nq1f5k-f544d97921e3f9292b8fcab5e22978f3\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-l6nq1f5k-f544d97921e3f9292b8fcab5e22978f3{\npadding-bottom:0;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-l6nq1f5k-f544d97921e3f9292b8fcab5e22978f3 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-l6nq1f5k-f544d97921e3f9292b8fcab5e22978f3 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-l6nq1f5k-f544d97921e3f9292b8fcab5e22978f3 av-special-heading-h3 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-41  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_textblock '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Count Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772)<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-l6nq1vn0-8432ad27e826da291e16a2405abaff8b\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-l6nq1vn0-8432ad27e826da291e16a2405abaff8b .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:18px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-l6nq1vn0-8432ad27e826da291e16a2405abaff8b'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Swedenborg has been variously described as a pioneer of Spiritualism, a Swedish Scientist and a Lutheran Theologian by modern commentators, and as a \u2018sensible, pleasant and open-hearted man and scholar\u2019 by a contemporary.<br \/>\nHe lived at the time of the Age of Enlightenment when intellectuals were anti-dogma and preferred to trust reason and science. Among his sympathetic contemporaries were the Wesley Brothers, the founders of Methodism and William Blake.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-n2a3w-1854eee3ec5b377b5b79503717dcdfcb\">\n#top .hr.av-n2a3w-1854eee3ec5b377b5b79503717dcdfcb{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-n2a3w-1854eee3ec5b377b5b79503717dcdfcb .hr-inner{\nwidth:45%;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-n2a3w-1854eee3ec5b377b5b79503717dcdfcb hr-custom  avia-builder-el-43  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_slideshow  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8bf' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-slideshow av-fy4no-402bded97b2b5b7495819ea36a1a7349 avia-slideshow-entry_with_sidebar av_slideshow avia-slide-slider  avia-builder-el-44  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_textblock  av-slideshow-ui av-control-minimal av-slideshow-autoplay av-loop-endless av-loop-manual-endless av-default-height-applied avia-slideshow-7' data-slideshow-options=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:true,&quot;loop_autoplay&quot;:&quot;endless&quot;,&quot;interval&quot;:3,&quot;loop_manual&quot;:&quot;manual-endless&quot;,&quot;autoplay_stopper&quot;:false,&quot;noNavigation&quot;:false,&quot;bg_slider&quot;:false,&quot;keep_padding&quot;:false,&quot;hoverpause&quot;:false,&quot;show_slide_delay&quot;:0}\"  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><ul class='avia-slideshow-inner ' style='padding-bottom: 79.259259259259%;'><li  class='avia-slideshow-slide av-fy4no-402bded97b2b5b7495819ea36a1a7349__0  av-single-slide slide-1 slide-odd'><div data-rel='slideshow-7' class='avia-slide-wrap '   ><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-594 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-594\"  src=\"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Count-Emanuel-Swedenborg-405x321.jpg\" width=\"405\" height=\"321\" title='Count Emanuel Swedenborg' alt=''  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"   \/><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-l6nq2ix7-fbe81de247f7bb8ddc29ac0c9f9ecc5e'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Scientist, Swedenborg was an authority on physics, metallurgy, zoology, astronomy, and anatomy and included books on all these subjects among his thirty plus published over his lifetime. In 1745 he had a \u2018spiritual awakening\u2019 and came to believe that God wanted him to reform Christianity. He wrote books on biblical interpretations, which were studied by at one time about 15 reading groups in England.\u00a0 In daily sessions with his \u2018angel friends\u2019, as he called his spirit guides, he found out about the two worlds, physical and spiritual, and was taught much of what can be accepted as Spiritualist philosophy. His book \u2018Heaven and Hell\u2019 describes possible destinations after death, with a spirit life before reaching those destinations.<\/p>\n<p>Swedenborg\u2019s scientific mind led him to keep accurate records of everything he had seen and learaned through his gifts of clairvoyance and remote viewing, and his teachings were accepted by an increasing number of churches. The Lutheran church and the state, however objected, with charges of heresy against two men who followed his teachings in 1768 and assigning cult status to the new religion.<\/p>\n<p>He was the only scientist of repute who had made contact with the Spirit world and dared to speak out about it, although he knew it was a threat to his reputation. Because of him, when Spiritualism developed in the mid19th century, it became a subject worth investigating. but the Swedenborgians had distanced themselves from the Spiritualist movement.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-7nh44-a90d5c076b4c5651c7a691bb0b0b8a59\">\n#top .hr.av-7nh44-a90d5c076b4c5651c7a691bb0b0b8a59{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-7nh44-a90d5c076b4c5651c7a691bb0b0b8a59 .hr-inner{\nwidth:45%;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-7nh44-a90d5c076b4c5651c7a691bb0b0b8a59 hr-custom  avia-builder-el-46  el_after_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-last  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8bf' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-3qw8w-abc194b6aea42c9a79726f0b85dcf7ba\">\n#top .flex_column_table.av-equal-height-column-flextable.av-3qw8w-abc194b6aea42c9a79726f0b85dcf7ba{\nmargin-top:-60px;\nmargin-bottom:0px;\n}\n.flex_column.av-3qw8w-abc194b6aea42c9a79726f0b85dcf7ba{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:30px 30px 30px 30px;\nbackground-color:#f0f0f0;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-3qw8w-abc194b6aea42c9a79726f0b85dcf7ba av_one_third  avia-builder-el-47  el_after_av_two_third  avia-builder-el-last  no_margin flex_column_table_cell av-equal-height-column av-align-top '     ><p><div  class='avia-builder-widget-area clearfix  avia-builder-el-48  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '><section id=\"nav_menu-3\" class=\"widget clearfix widget_nav_menu\"><div class=\"menu-test-menu-container\"><ul id=\"menu-test-menu\" class=\"menu\"><li id=\"menu-item-625\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-625\"><a href=\"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/about-2\/\">About<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-627\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-627\"><a href=\"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/church-history\/\">Church History<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-640\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-640\"><a href=\"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/the-philosophy-and-teachings-of-spiritualism\/\">The Philosophy and Teachings of Spiritualism<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-635\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-635\"><a href=\"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/pioneers-of-spiritualism\/\">Pioneers of Spiritualism<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-666\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-666\"><a href=\"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/development\/\">Development<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-712\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-712\"><a href=\"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/about\/case-studies\/\">Case Studies<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-643\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-643\"><a href=\"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/about\/our-mission\/\">Our Mission<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-634\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-634\"><a href=\"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/philosophy\/\">Philosophy<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-621\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-621\"><a href=\"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/about\/new-here\/\">New Here?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><span class=\"seperator extralight-border\"><\/span><\/section><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-2qilo-8fb87e1540b58ebd22ea596d52d7ed58'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><strong>Swedenborg<\/strong> was a fore runner of Spiritualism, the basis of his teachings in his\u00a0new church was everything he had seen and heard in the spirit world. His\u00a0followers, however, distanced themselves from the later Spiritualist\u00a0Movement.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-1vzls-8114341cff2293b14680ea57bcbfc1ba\">\n#top .hr.av-1vzls-8114341cff2293b14680ea57bcbfc1ba{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-1vzls-8114341cff2293b14680ea57bcbfc1ba .hr-inner{\nwidth:45%;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-1vzls-8114341cff2293b14680ea57bcbfc1ba hr-custom  avia-builder-el-50  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_animated_numbers  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8bf' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class=\"avia-animated-number av-1a4yc-86a086ff9a42bbcb6866480366d389e9 av-force-default-color avia_animate_when_visible  avia-builder-el-51  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_hr  \" data-timer=\"3000\"><strong class=\"heading avia-animated-number-title\"><span class=\"avia-single-number __av-single-number\" data-number_format=\"\" data-number=\"1\" data-start_from=\"0\">1<\/span><span class=\"avia-no-number\">.<\/span><span class=\"avia-single-number __av-single-number\" data-number_format=\"\" data-number=\"300\" data-start_from=\"0\">300<\/span><\/strong><div class=\"avia-animated-number-content\"><p>Community Members<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-351c-6ce2f416a87668483b5713f1067f449a\">\n#top .hr.av-351c-6ce2f416a87668483b5713f1067f449a{\nmargin-top:30px;\nmargin-bottom:30px;\n}\n.hr.av-351c-6ce2f416a87668483b5713f1067f449a .hr-inner{\nwidth:45%;\nmax-width:45%;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-351c-6ce2f416a87668483b5713f1067f449a hr-custom  avia-builder-el-52  el_after_av_animated_numbers  avia-builder-el-last  hr-center hr-icon-yes'><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><span class='av-seperator-icon' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8bf' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><span class='hr-inner inner-border-av-border-thin'><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/p><\/div><\/div><!--close column table wrapper. Autoclose: 1 --><\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div><div id='after_section_2'  class='main_color av_default_container_wrap container_wrap sidebar_right'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-small alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-580'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/580"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=580"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1082,"href":"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/580\/revisions\/1082"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/manchesterspiritualistcentre.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}