The Portsmouth Temple
of Spiritualism

The Religion of Spiritualism

(For those new to Spiritualism)

Spiritualism is not, as is commonly believed, a sinister cult meeting in darkened rooms to"call up the dead" but an officially recognised religious movement with its own churches and Ministers, who possess the same rights and privileges as other religions.

Proof of Survival

Spiritualism is in itself a religion, in that it embodies the main ideas of all religions that there is a life after death, an immortality and the existence of a God. The difference between Spiritualism and other religions is the ability through mediumship to prove that man survives the grave; that is to say certain people called mediums are able to communicate with those who have passed over, thus furnishing conclusive evidence of their continued existence in another world. Mediums cannot call up these people as one would a friend on the telephone-they come to us, but only when they are ready, willing and able so to do. Who are these mediums? They are highly sensitive people who have developed their psychic power-which each one of us possesses to a greater or less degree-women's intuition is an example. Some are born mediums, others take years to develop, while others, through ignorance or lack of opportunity of development are unable to exercise their gift. The Philosophy of Spiritualism is based on seven fundamental principles(with liberty of interpretation).

THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD.

THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN.

THE COMMUNION OF SPIRITS AND THE MINISTRY OF ANGELS.

THE CONTINUOUS EXISTENCE OF THE HUMAN SOUL.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

COMPENSATION AND RETRIBUTION HERE AFTER FOR ALL GOOD AND EVIL DEEDS DONE ON EARTH.

ETERNAL PROGRESS OPEN TO EVERY HUMAN SOUL.

Spiritualists are often accused of being atheists or anti-Christian, yet our first principle recognises God as our Father-but who is God? We do not regard him as a nebulous person sitting on a throne, but an Infinite Power embodied in all that is good and beautiful in our world, the greatest factor in the universe and the controlling force of all nature.

Not Anti-Christian

Spiritualists are not anti-Christian any more than they are anti-Jewish, anti-Hindu or anti-Moslem. Spiritualism is a universal religion recognising such leaders as Budda, Mohammed, Moses as well as Jesus, we do not however, claim a monopoly of religion. One's religion is a personal matter and any person adopting Spiritualism is free to interpret the principles according to their own awareness. Another major difference between Spiritualism and the orthodox Christian religion is embodied in our fifth principle(Personal Responsibility). We do not accept that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins. We are given freewill and the ability to distinguish between right and wrong and we alone are responsible for all our thoughts and actions. What the church calls sin we regard as violation of the Divine laws made by God, which Paul interpreted when he wrote"whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap" Man alone must atone for these"sins" and not shirk his responsibilities.

God Not Vindictive

Further, we do not believe in a vindictive God sitting in judgement over us. We are our own judges here and now and we shall receive compensation or retribution for whatever we have done, whether good or bad. Heaven and hell are not places to which we are destined to go, but states of mind of our own creation. We do not automatically become spiritual when we leave this world. We shall in fact retain our earthly characteristics while the opportunity will be given throughout eternity to make spiritual progress and so undo any wrongs we committed on earth, for both free will and personal responsibility will still be with us in the world to come. Man is spirit now within a mortal body. Death is but the parting of the ways-our body to decay but our spirit to live on in a new environment. If death were the end of everything life would merely have a material motive, whereas the knowledge of a future existence gives life a spiritual motive and purpose beyond mere physical existence. We are living in a material scientific age in which orthodox religion has lost its impact. Any religion therefore which can successfully overcome this materialist influence must be scientific-and Spiritualism is just that. It has turned the pious hope of a hereafter into a scientific fact. The advent of the spirit of man into this world and in the course of time, his transition to another world is a scientific fact proved by mediumship. Religion has been defined as faith without science-and science as faith without religion, Spiritualism embodies science, faith and religion, unfettered by dogma or creed.

Spiritual Healing

Among the great forces of Spiritualism is healing the sick either by personal contact"the laying of hands" or through absent healing, in which patients are treated often at great distances away-by sending out of healing thoughts and prayers. The so-called miracles of healing performed by Jesus and his disciples are regularly performed by spiritual healers today. Many incurable diseases have been successfully treated. No healer can guarantee a cure, but at least he/she can alleviate suffering and ease a passing, and possibly effect a complete cure. Spiritual healing is not faith healing. Patients have been treated without their knowledge as by absent healing, or through being too young to understand. We do not expect you to accept these things blindly but we do invite you to prove our claim for yourself by visiting a Spiritualist church and forming your own conclusions. At Spiritualist services worship and teaching of Spiritualism forms a part of the service with the addition that the medium endeavours to bring those on the other side who may wish to contact their relatives or friends, who may be in the congregation. This is the real meaning of the "Communion of Saints(Spirit) and Life Everlasting."

WHAT IS A MEDIUM

In the beginning God, or the Great Spirit, created the universe through the natural process of what we call evolution and in the course of time man evolved, endowed as a spirit; that is to say man is spirit now on this earth. That being so, every child is born with varying degrees of psychic powers. We make a joke of women's intuition, but that is an elementary form of psychic development. There are those with exceptional powers who are known as mediums or instruments, through which those on the other side of life communicate with people they have left behind. Some people manifest their psychic powers at an early age, some need quite a long period of development, while some never show any sign of such gifts at all. It is sad thought that through ignorance of this subject that many potentially valuable mediums and healers are lost to the world. Mediums although possessing this power, are fundamentally no different from the rest of us. There is nothing supernatural about them-one cannot be above nature, but they are supernormal. Mediumship takes two forms, mental and physical. The former is the more common. In this, spirit works through the mediums mind and he or she is able to see, or hear clearly spirit forms or sounds. This is called clairvoyance or clairaudience. Again, a medium may only sense these things, but all mediums possess one, or a combination of these three forms. One thing must be stressed here-there is no question of fortune telling being practised. It is true that many fortune tellers, including the gypsy who wants you to cross his/her hand with silver, possess the gift of clairvoyance, but in the vast majority of cases there is nothing very spiritual about them. How do mediums work? In the days before automation three persons were necessary in the making of a telephone call-the caller, the boy/girl at the exchange and the person being called. No connection could be made without the operator. So it is with spirit communication. In this case the medium is the operator making contact with someone in the spirit world who wishes to communicate with a person on earth. There is however a big difference between a telephone call and spirit communication. In the former a two-way conversation can be effected, while in the latter only spirit can contact us. One of the charges levelled at us is that we call up the dead. This we cannot do. They can only come to us and then only when they are able and so wish. In spirit communication there is a fourth link-the spirit guide or helper, who controls the medium and brings the spirit entity into contact with the person on earth. Between the medium and his/her helper a close harmonious partnership exists, thus providing the line of communication between the two worlds. The helper is able to enter the medium's mind and control it so that thoughts are submitted from the spirit world, which are in turn translated by the medium into descriptions of places or people and the words of a message, through clairvoyance, clairaudience or trance. Where do mediums work? In a church service or public meeting, in the smaller limits of group or circle, or in the even more intimate contact between the medium and the person seeking communication or help in a private sitting. Mediums also hold circles for the development of potential clairvoyants or speakers, and the larger open circle for initial development in which those present can take part. Another form of mediumship is psychometry in which a medium, while holding an object can obtain impressions of the person to whom it belongs; his/her character, habits and incidents connected with his/her life. There have been many instances where psychometry has been used to aid the police in finding missing persons or bringing criminals to justice. The other form of mediumship is physical and demands a very high degree of psychic power which many mediums do not possess. These include direct voice-communication in which the spirit person speaks through the medium in his/her own recognisable voice using a 'spirit' larynx and materialisation, when those in the spirit present themselves solid and visibly to those they wish to contact and to persons present. Often they can be touched and felt as though they were physically present. In these forms of mediumship, the medium goes into trance, that is, becomes oblivious to immediate surroundings, while generally still retaining partial consciousness. Trance is also used in home circle, which is a very intimate form of contact with spirit. In this a small group of sincere sitters gather around and the medium's guide talks through the medium to those present and they in turn, can ask questions and receive replies. There is no end to the ways in which the spirit world endeavours to communicate with us through mediumship, to prove that they still live on and can give us help and guidance. It is very desirable that a medium be a highly spiritual and dedicated person who recognises the great responsibilities, not only to oneself, but to the guide and the recipients of messages from the other side, as only through the medium are these communications made possible. You may be told that you could be a medium. It is quite possible that you could with proper development. You cannot learn to be a medium-you either are one or you are not-but you can be helped if the latent power which is in all of us can be brought to the surface. Some would-be mediums ask if it is possible to sit alone for development. It is possible, but not advisable, as one lays ones 'self open to undesirable influences. Join a good circle run by an experienced medium and composed of sincere sitters, for mutual help and protection. Besides the will to sit, two things are essential, punctuality and regular attendance. If you cannot fulfil these conditions do not join until you are able to do so. Remember you are making an appointment with spirit and they are never late! The right attitude of mind for would-be mediums is contained in these words of Tennyson:-"How pure in heart, how sound in head, with what divine affection bold, should be the heart of him who'd hold an hour's communion with the dead." If you have not been to a Spiritualist Church, visit one at the first opportunity. There is nothing like personal experience and we believe you will be drawn to come again and again. Attend an open circle and see what that brings forth, then at a later stage join a development circle. Do not expect immediate results, it may take months, even years, but you will get there in the end.