History
Long Island Spiritist Doctrine Studies
Joan of Arc
(1412-1431)
Joan of Arc was a powerful medium who
sprung from the labouring class. She had
proclaimed an inspired mission, acclaimed by
the common people and betrayed or disregarded
by the great. Joan excited the bitter hatred of the
church of her time, the high priests of which in
each case conspired for her death. She spoke
with simple definite phrases, short and strong,
clear and concise. Joan’s mission was on the
surface warlike, but it really had the effect of
ending a century of war, and her love and
charity .A girl of nineteen, who could neither
read nor write, and knew nothing of military
affairs, was able in a few months to
(1412-1431)
Joan of Arc was a powerful medium who
sprung from the labouring class. She had
proclaimed an inspired mission, acclaimed by
the common people and betrayed or disregarded
by the great. Joan excited the bitter hatred of the
church of her time, the high priests of which in
each case conspired for her death. She spoke
with simple definite phrases, short and strong,
clear and concise. Joan’s mission was on the
surface warlike, but it really had the effect of
ending a century of war, and her love and
charity .A girl of nineteen, who could neither
read nor write, and knew nothing of military
affairs, was able in a few months to
turn the tide of a hundred years’ war, and to save France from becoming a vassal of
England. Her achievement was attributed by herself (and she was the soul of truth) to her
voices and her visions. Declared a Heretic by the church, she was burned at the stake at
the tender of age of nineteen. Her life shines like a ray from Heaven in the dreadful night of
the Middle Ages. As we now study Joan's life and put into perspective her amazing gifts ,
we can see how her mediumship took varied forms. These faculties, which are scattered
and attenuated among many individuals in our time, were all united in her, forming a single
powerful whole. They were also increased by her great moral strength. The heroine was
the interpreter and the agent of a world which is invisible, subtle, ethereal, extending over
and above our own and communicating its vibrations, its harmonies and its Voices to
certain human beings specially endowed to receive them.
England. Her achievement was attributed by herself (and she was the soul of truth) to her
voices and her visions. Declared a Heretic by the church, she was burned at the stake at
the tender of age of nineteen. Her life shines like a ray from Heaven in the dreadful night of
the Middle Ages. As we now study Joan's life and put into perspective her amazing gifts ,
we can see how her mediumship took varied forms. These faculties, which are scattered
and attenuated among many individuals in our time, were all united in her, forming a single
powerful whole. They were also increased by her great moral strength. The heroine was
the interpreter and the agent of a world which is invisible, subtle, ethereal, extending over
and above our own and communicating its vibrations, its harmonies and its Voices to
certain human beings specially endowed to receive them.
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Franz Mesmer
(1734-1815)
Franz Mesmer was a Swiss-German physician that
founded the doctrine of animal magnetism, often
called mesmerism. Mesmer learned the technique
that allowed him to produce an abnormal condition
resembling sleep in another person. During this
state, the mind of the individual remained passive
and was subject to the will of the operator. Mesmer
used this hypnotic state to heal patients that were
sick.The word "mesmerize" means to hold one's
attention as though that person were in a trance.
Such was the popularity of Franz Mesmer, whose
unorthodox methods of treating illness were highly
(1734-1815)
Franz Mesmer was a Swiss-German physician that
founded the doctrine of animal magnetism, often
called mesmerism. Mesmer learned the technique
that allowed him to produce an abnormal condition
resembling sleep in another person. During this
state, the mind of the individual remained passive
and was subject to the will of the operator. Mesmer
used this hypnotic state to heal patients that were
sick.The word "mesmerize" means to hold one's
attention as though that person were in a trance.
Such was the popularity of Franz Mesmer, whose
unorthodox methods of treating illness were highly
popular with his patients. Those methods were criticized and ultimately dismissed by his
contemporaries, and he lived out his days in obscurity. Yet his initial fame was the result
of his successes with patients. Mesmer did not know the concept of psychosomatic
illness, but he did recognize the role the mind played in disease. His practices evolved into
hypnosis, which today is recognized by many as a valid and highly effective means of
treating certain conditions. Today, most Spiritist Centers provide energy healing services
called Passes based on a technique originally developed by Franz Anton Mesmer.
contemporaries, and he lived out his days in obscurity. Yet his initial fame was the result
of his successes with patients. Mesmer did not know the concept of psychosomatic
illness, but he did recognize the role the mind played in disease. His practices evolved into
hypnosis, which today is recognized by many as a valid and highly effective means of
treating certain conditions. Today, most Spiritist Centers provide energy healing services
called Passes based on a technique originally developed by Franz Anton Mesmer.
Emmanuel Swedenborg
(1688-1772)
Swedish philosopher, theologian, chemist, anatomist, and
mystic, fluent in eleven languages. Swedenborg devoted
the first half of his life to scientific investigations.
Thereafter he turned his full attention to theology,
metaphysics and started to explore mystical experience.
In 1743-45 Swedenborg had a visionary experience and
devoted himself to prophesy and spiritual investigations.
He noted in Amsterdam on the morning of October 1743
that "such dizziness or deliquium (a swooning away)
overcame me that I felt close to death." In a dream a
roaring wind picked him up and threw him on his face.
(1688-1772)
Swedish philosopher, theologian, chemist, anatomist, and
mystic, fluent in eleven languages. Swedenborg devoted
the first half of his life to scientific investigations.
Thereafter he turned his full attention to theology,
metaphysics and started to explore mystical experience.
In 1743-45 Swedenborg had a visionary experience and
devoted himself to prophesy and spiritual investigations.
He noted in Amsterdam on the morning of October 1743
that "such dizziness or deliquium (a swooning away)
overcame me that I felt close to death." In a dream a
roaring wind picked him up and threw him on his face.
A hand clutched his own clasped hand and he saw Christ. Vicious dogs turned up
frequently, and his dead father appeared to him, praising his son's theological work.
Swedenborg described in DE TELLURIBUS his trip around the Solar System, which is
seen as having a spiritual significance. The book also contains some scientific
speculation about the planets. Swedenborg became convinced that he had been
designated by God as a spiritual emissary to explore higher planes and to report his
findings to humankind. He entered ecstatic trances, visiting heaven and hell. However,
contemporaries found him sane and sensible. He claimed that in a waking state his
consciousness wandered in the spirit world and conversed with its inhabitants as freely
as with living men.
frequently, and his dead father appeared to him, praising his son's theological work.
Swedenborg described in DE TELLURIBUS his trip around the Solar System, which is
seen as having a spiritual significance. The book also contains some scientific
speculation about the planets. Swedenborg became convinced that he had been
designated by God as a spiritual emissary to explore higher planes and to report his
findings to humankind. He entered ecstatic trances, visiting heaven and hell. However,
contemporaries found him sane and sensible. He claimed that in a waking state his
consciousness wandered in the spirit world and conversed with its inhabitants as freely
as with living men.
Rev. Edward Irving
(1792-1834)
Scottish preacher, under whose influence the
Catholic Apostolic Church was founded; its
members have sometimes been called Irvingites.
He began as a charismatic Presbyterian minister
who moved from Scotland to London, there
became an enormously popular preacher, and lost
his reputation — and eventually was
excommunicated — after he and his followers
embraced speaking in tongues and an obsession
with a rapidly approaching apocalypse.
(1792-1834)
Scottish preacher, under whose influence the
Catholic Apostolic Church was founded; its
members have sometimes been called Irvingites.
He began as a charismatic Presbyterian minister
who moved from Scotland to London, there
became an enormously popular preacher, and lost
his reputation — and eventually was
excommunicated — after he and his followers
embraced speaking in tongues and an obsession
with a rapidly approaching apocalypse.
His excommunication by the presbytery of London, in 1830, for publishing his
doctrines regarding the humanity of Jesus Christ. The question was whether the Christ
had in Him the possibility of sin, or whether the Divine portion of His being was a
complete and absolute bar to physical temptations. The assessors contended that the
association of such ideas as sin and Christ was a blasphemy. The stubborn clergyman,
however, replied with some show of reason that unless the Christ had the capacity for
sin, and successfully resisted it, His earthly lot was not the same as ours, and His
virtues deserved less admiration. After leaving the church he formed his own religious
following and began to receive messages from spirits through members of his
congregation.
doctrines regarding the humanity of Jesus Christ. The question was whether the Christ
had in Him the possibility of sin, or whether the Divine portion of His being was a
complete and absolute bar to physical temptations. The assessors contended that the
association of such ideas as sin and Christ was a blasphemy. The stubborn clergyman,
however, replied with some show of reason that unless the Christ had the capacity for
sin, and successfully resisted it, His earthly lot was not the same as ours, and His
virtues deserved less admiration. After leaving the church he formed his own religious
following and began to receive messages from spirits through members of his
congregation.
Andrew Jackson Davis
(1826-1910)
Andrew Jackson Davis was one of the most
remarkable men of whom we have an exact
record. While a young man, he became an
entranced seer and traveling medium, often
psychically diagnosing illnesses of audience
members, and publishing, in New York City,
the contents of his cosmic revelations. Davis
had developed the power, common among
psychics, of seeing without the eyes, including
things which could not be seen with human
vision. What is of importance is the part Davis
(1826-1910)
Andrew Jackson Davis was one of the most
remarkable men of whom we have an exact
record. While a young man, he became an
entranced seer and traveling medium, often
psychically diagnosing illnesses of audience
members, and publishing, in New York City,
the contents of his cosmic revelations. Davis
had developed the power, common among
psychics, of seeing without the eyes, including
things which could not be seen with human
vision. What is of importance is the part Davis
played in the commencement of the spiritual revelation. The contributions made by
Andrew Jackson Davis to the cause of Spiritualism simply cannot be enumerated.
This simple, uneducated man, through whom so very much was given, should be
noted as the prime forerunner to Modern Spiritualism. From 1845 to 1885, he wrote
over 30 books dealing on subjects from cosmological philosophy and dissertation, to
health, to a descriptive analysis of the afterlife.
Andrew Jackson Davis to the cause of Spiritualism simply cannot be enumerated.
This simple, uneducated man, through whom so very much was given, should be
noted as the prime forerunner to Modern Spiritualism. From 1845 to 1885, he wrote
over 30 books dealing on subjects from cosmological philosophy and dissertation, to
health, to a descriptive analysis of the afterlife.
The Fox Sisters
Margaret (1836–1893)
Leah (1814–1890)
Catherine (1841–1892)
Margaret and Catherine claimed to hear
mysterious rapping's in their Hydesville,
NY., home. These sounds appeared to be
communication from the spirits. The sisters
became the founders and most famous
seers of 19th-century, American
spiritualism, which claimed about 1 million
followers by 1855. They moved to
Rochester, NY, and the rapping's followed
them. They organized “performances” in
theaters to which they charged admission,
attracting attention and skepticism. They
demonstrated their communication with the
spirit by using taps and knocks, automatic
writing, and later even voice communication
Margaret (1836–1893)
Leah (1814–1890)
Catherine (1841–1892)
Margaret and Catherine claimed to hear
mysterious rapping's in their Hydesville,
NY., home. These sounds appeared to be
communication from the spirits. The sisters
became the founders and most famous
seers of 19th-century, American
spiritualism, which claimed about 1 million
followers by 1855. They moved to
Rochester, NY, and the rapping's followed
them. They organized “performances” in
theaters to which they charged admission,
attracting attention and skepticism. They
demonstrated their communication with the
spirit by using taps and knocks, automatic
writing, and later even voice communication
as the spirit took control of one of the girls. Skeptics suspected this was nothing but
clever deception and fraud. Indeed, sister Margaret eventually confessed to using her
toe-joints to produce the sound. And although she later recanted this confession, both
her and her sister Catherine were widely considered discredited, and died in poverty.
Nonetheless, belief in the ability to communicate with the dead grew rapidly, becoming
a religious movement called Spiritualism, and contributing greatly to Kardec's ideas. It
was this phenomenon that actually sparked Kardec's interest in the spirit world.
clever deception and fraud. Indeed, sister Margaret eventually confessed to using her
toe-joints to produce the sound. And although she later recanted this confession, both
her and her sister Catherine were widely considered discredited, and died in poverty.
Nonetheless, belief in the ability to communicate with the dead grew rapidly, becoming
a religious movement called Spiritualism, and contributing greatly to Kardec's ideas. It
was this phenomenon that actually sparked Kardec's interest in the spirit world.
| "I cannot think of permanent enmity between man and man, and believing as I do in the theory of reincarnation, I live in the hope that if not in this birth, in some other birth I shall be able to hug all of humanity in friendly embrace." - Mahatma Ghandi |