The Portsmouth Temple of Spiritualism

Cleopatra Iola

Housed at the Portsmouth Temple of Spiritualism are two precipitated portraits obtained in the presence of Vice Admiral W.Usborne Moore through the mediumship of the Bangs sisters, Misses Elizabeth S. and May E. Bangs of Chicago.

Cleopatra once Queen of Egypt, produced by precipitation on January 22nd 1909 through the mediumship of May and Elizabeth Bangs, who sat under test conditions. Vice Admiral Usborne Moore who faced the canvas between them during the process at close range. Cleopatra was presented to the temple by Mrs Usborne Moore. Iola spirit guide of Admiral Moore, produced by precipitation on January 20th 1909 in Chicago, through the mediumship of May and Elizabeth Bangs, who sat under test conditions in the presence of Vice Admiral Moore. When the portrait was finished the whole picture turned one hundred and eighty degrees so that the profile of the face, faced the opposite way. Presented to the temple by Mrs Usborne Moore.

Vice Admiral W.Usborne Moore

The following is a description by Vice Admiral Moore as to how the paintings were obtained in his presence.

(Extract from vice Adrimal Moores book of 'Glimpses of the next state 'Published by Watts & Co, London in 1911)

IOLA

"Two thin canvasses were stretched on wooden frames and covered with thin paper and were placed face to face and held up to the window. The blind was drawn to the top of the canvasses and curtains hung up in my presence on either side. The window has a southern aspect, and the light coming in through the two semi-transparent canvasses is sufficient for the purposes of taking notes and seeing everything that goes on. The small oak table was lengthways in the window;the bottom of the canvasses rests upon it. May Bangs sat on my right side, facing me, and pinching together her right hand one side of the canvasses; Lizzie Bangs on my left side, facing me and pinching together the other side of the canvasses with her left hand. I faced the middle of the canvasses, my nose being between two feet and two feet six inches from them. After a few minutes the canvas assumed various hues, rosy, blue and brown;it would become dark and light independently of the sun being clouded or not. On the morning of the 20th January 1909 I went to the Bang sisters for a profile portrait of Iola as arranged on the 18th.Everything was ready at 10.50am and we sat until 11.30am.I had in my pocket a carte-de-visite of Iola taken in the year 1874.The mediums had never seen this or any other photograph in my possession. Fifteen minutes after we sat in the window the face and bust appeared; the portrait was looking to the right, precisely the same aspect as it has now, framed, hanging in my room. Remember, I was looking through the back of the picture, and it was forming on the further side of that one of the two canvasses nearer to me; consequently, had it gone on as it was and been finished, it would now (when framed) be profile left. When the portrait was nearly finished the two canvasses were lowered towards me on to the table (mediums being impressed, apparently to do this).A telegraphic came by taps to May Bangs, who said: "she wants this picture for your wife especially, as well as for you, she thinks that your wife would prefer to see her in pose to which she is accustomed".Up went the canvasses again to the window, and I found that the whole picture was changed round, so that the profile looked to the left instead of the right. In a few minutes the portrait was completed, May Bangs remarking"she says she cannot put in the hand".From the time the face and bust first appeared to the time the canvasses were separated and the finished picture put on the sofa in the next room, twenty five minutes had elapsed.

CLEOPATRA

"January 22nd 1909. Sat with the Bangs sisters for a portrait of Cleopatra. As before two canvasses were produced, covered with blank drawing paper, laid face to face and held up against the window, the bottom of the canvasses, in this case, resting on the sill of the window, as they were much larger in size than those used for the two portraits of Iola. I sat between the psychics, as on previous occasions, my eyes looking straight into the centre of the canvasses from the distance of two feet to two feet six inches. We took our places at 10.55. about 11.05 the form began to appear, and it was roughly finished in ten minutes. We were then directed, by taps on the slate, to put the canvasses on the table and sit around it. We moved the table to the centre of the room, placed the canvasses flat upon it, covered them over with a felt table cloth and sat around as directed. At 11.30 we were informed that the picture could be raised; the canvasses were now separated and the picture put on the sofa in a neighbouring drawing room. In all the precipitations through the mediumship of the bangs sisters the picture is found to be on the further side of the canvas which is next to the sitter. The stuff of which the picture is composed is damp, and rubs off at the slightest touch, like soot. Notwithstanding this, the paper on the canvas furthest from the sitter is unsoiled. The picture, while in process, can be seen clearly through the back of the canvas; but of course it presents the reverse aspect to that when it is framed-left arm for the right, and so forth. The portrait of Cleopatra is practically the same now as it was when it was lifted from the table. Afterwards, but not while i was looking at it, the colours deepened a little, flowers were added to the embroidery of the dress, a ring was put on the finger of the left hand and the picture acquired a general appearance of greater richness and finish. It was hanging in the lecture room of the London Spiritualistic Alliance for four months, and it is therefore unnecessary to describe it. It cannot be called a work of high art; the dress is stiff and the anatomical features are deficient; but it is undoubtedly a representation of an Egyptian Queen and considering the way in which it was done, a fine example of spirit power".

Use this PDF link to read GLIMPSES OF THE NEXT STATE by Vice Admiral W.Usborne Moore.

Use this link below, to view a report on precipitation.

Click on link below to find more SNU free books

Andrew Jackson Davis

Born on August 11, 1826 in Blooming Grove (Orange County)-Passed to the higher life January 13^th, 1910

Reported to have had little education as he grew up. A very gifted medium that was able to go into trance and divulge information about many various subjects, much of this knowledge/predictions are still coming true today. His predictions were reported to be so specific. Andrew Jackson Davies is often referred to as “Ploughkeepsie Seer”. Also Andrew was referred to as” John the Baptist of Spiritualism” as he predicted the coming of the age Spiritualism.It has also been reported that Andrew Jackson Davies advised President Abraham Lincoln during the civil war. Davis’s work spanned so many different subjects, he also spoke about how man evolved, and this was reported nine years before Darwin published his book about this subject. Andrew Jackson Davis led a varied life, with over thirty books accredited to him.

Other links

Andrew Jackson Davis web-site

Books

The Great Harmonia

Great Harmonia: The Seer (1852)

Philosophy of Spiritual Intercourse

The Magic

Emma Hardinge Britten

Born 1823 in London -Passed to the higher life October 2^nd1899

On October 2nd 1899 Emma Hardinge Britten passed to the higher life(1823-1899) Born in London in 1823, Emma Floyd. She is remembered as a writer, orator, and practitioner of the movement. Books include, Modern American Spiritualism and Nineteenth Century Miracles, Art Magic. In 1856, Emma was launched to fame as a psychic medium, having accurately predicted the disappearance of the steamship Pacific. Emma married an ardent spiritualist, William Britten, from Boston. She was also one of six founding members of the Theosophical Society with Helena Blavatsky. From 1878 to 1879, Emma and her husband worked as Spiritualist missionaries in Australia and New Zealand. She is credited with defining the seven principles of Spiritualism which, with minor changes, are still in use today by the Spiritualists' National Union in the United Kingdom.

MISS EMMA HARDINGE AT THE WINTER SOIREES, HARLEY STREET, LONDON January 8th, 1866 http://www.snu.org.uk/Images/pdfs/Emma%20Hardinge.pdf

Leslie Flint direct voice recording Emma Hardinge-Britten - 4178K - 22 minutes - recorded 1969 the renowned advocate and proponent in the early Spiritualist movement returns to encourage the advancement of spiritual knowledge http://freewebs.com/afterlife/flint/flintrecordings.htm

Robert Owen

Picture courtesy of http://www.newlanark.org/

Passed to the higher life 17th November 1858

Born 14th May 1771 in Newtown, Montgomeryshire.From an early age Mr.Owen formulated his own ideals concerning his own philosophy, and these ideals would produce many changes and social reforms for many people.Robert's whole life was one that was dedicated to bringing about social change.He spent his time and a large fortune through out his life in always finding and establishing new ways to improve conditions for his fellowmen.One to whom sacrificed so much for so many others, whose reforms brought about so many social justices for the common good.A successful buisness man and employer of social reforms in the work place.The founder of the cooperative society and infant schools.In 1853 he became a spiritualist, Owen embraced Spiritualism whole heartedly.Robert Owen passed to the higher life 17th November 1858.Robert communicated through the mediumship of Emma Hardinge Britten in 1871 the principles that were to lay the foundation of the seven principles of spiritualism.

At meetings held by Robert Owen this hymn would be sung

Community to the tune of Hillary

O happy time when all mankind shall competition's evil see; And seek with one united mind The blessings of community

When social love's benignant flow shall peace on earth, goodwill restore; And charity, like oceans flow, Connect and compass every shore.

Then will the chains of wealth and state This goodly world no more deface; Then war and repine, strife and hate, Among mankind will have no place.

Then will mankind, in common share The gifts their industry supplies, And prove, escaped from selfish shore The joys of heaven beneath the skies.

Books by Robert Owen

Owen, Hon. Robert Dale Footfalls on the Boundary of Another world

Owen, Hon. Robert Dale The Debatable Land

Helen Duncan

Born in Callander Scotland 25th November 1897-Passed to spirit 6th December 1956

Helen was born and lived in Callander, a small Scottish town, born into a family who like so many others of her time had to struggle to make ends meet. Helen married at the young age of twenty to Henry Duncan. She was a mother to six children and a good wife to Henry. But what set Helen apart from others was her many gifts of mediumship. It was during the years of the Second World War that Helen Duncan's activities attracted the attention of the Authorities. What Helen is most commonly remembered for was her speaking to a sailor who had passed to spirit in 1941 from the ship HMS Barham, and who was to reveal that the ship he had been on had been sunk, and that he passed to spirit as a result. This was pronounced accurately even though the sinking of HMS Barham was not to be announced for another seven months. It was in 1944 that the authorities raided one of Helens séances in Portsmouth and Helen was arrested. The Act that she was later to be tried under was the Witchcraft act of 1735. After a brief trial Helen was sentenced to nine months in prison. As a direct result of what had happened to Helen Duncan the Witchcraft Act of 1735 was to be amended. In 1954 Spiritualism became a recognised religion. At a later date in 1956 the police raided another séance to try and prove fraud, this was an unsuccessful attempt. Helen passed to the higher life a short time after.

Why then was it that Helen Duncan was targeted and subsequently arrested and charged by means of an ancient act that was long out date and used no more ?.

For a fuller answer to this question and more, please click Spiritencounters

Article extracts from Jennifer Morcoms website. Our special thanks go out to Jennifer for her assistance with this article.

Other Links

UK Medium Gordon Higginson

The Gordon Higginson Fellowship

The Psychic news bookshop (On the side of Angels)

Videos of Gordon Higginson

Audio recordings of Gordon Higginson

Maurice Barbanell

Maurice Barbanell born 3^rd May 1902 London–Passed to the higher life 19^th July 1981)

Spirit Guide, Silver Birch(A psychic portrait by Marcel Poncin)

Maurice Barbanell was born 3^rd May 1902 in a poor area of London's East End. Passed to the higher life 17^th July 1981 aged of 79. The son of a Jewish barber, who also practiced dentistry. Young Barbanell's first job involved sweeping up hair and acting as lather boy. As a young man Barbanell was an atheist like his father. Later after being challenged Maurice joined a home circle of medium Mrs. Blaustein, Maurice Barbanell was not very impressed by this circle and subsequently he fell asleep. When he awoke he learned to his surprise that he had been in a mediumistic trance himself and that an Indian spirit guide had spoken through him. It was at this point that it was decided that Maurice would form his own home circle. Silver Birch gave regular teachings through Barbanell's mediumship. Hannen Swaffer thought the teachings should reach a larger audience, eventually it was agreed that the "Silver Birch" teachings should be published. Maurice Barbanell and Silver Birch worked with each other for over 60 years. In 1932 Barbanell married Sylvia Abrahams, The newspaper Psychic News was also founded in 1932, as a result of a message from "Red Cloud," the spirit guide of the medium Estelle Roberts. This accomplished journalist, who was well known for his literary skills, served as editor of the Psychic News and The Two Worlds for over three decades. Maurice Barbanell was, in his own right, a first class Trance medium.

Silver Birch books can be obtained by clicking this link

Leslie Flint

Leslie Walter Flint born London (Hackney) 1911-Passed to the higher life 16^th April 1994.

Leslie Flint was born in a Salvation Army home in the London district of Hackney in 1911. Was probably the most famous direct voice medium of modern times, this being demonstrated throughout his 42 years as a professional medium. From an early age Leslie realised that he was different from others. Seeing and hearing spirit. Soon after his thirteenth birthday, he left school and took a job as a gardener in a local cemetery. At first Leslie had no real interest in Spiritualism but this was to change, for the intention for Leslie was strong. It was Edith Mundin who persuades Leslie to become a medium at her private circle. His mediumship develops rapidly. Their association ends in marriage. From the time, in the mid-1930's, Leslie was soon filling the biggest halls in London. Mickey, his main guide, was a newspaper boy.

Psychic portrait of Mickey

In 1935 the young Leslie Flint was to give his first public demonstration. Soon after the beginning of world war two Leslie got his call-up papers. This was a time that Leslie did bring great comfort to the countless. Throughout his Spiritual service Leslie was tested by many investigators and found to be genuine. Leslie Flint was one of Britain's best-known Spiritualists, packing the churches, halls and theatres in their hundreds and thousands.

Leslie Flint web-site

Leslie Flint Educational Trust

Leslie Flint Voice recordings

Leslie Flint Books to order

Leslie Flint recordings

Daniel Dunglas Home

Born-March 20^th 1833–Passed to the higher life June 21^st 1886

Daniel Dunglas Home was born in Edinburgh (Scotland) March 20^th 1833 to parents William and Elizabeth Home.By the age of 17, his household was experiencing poltergeist type events - knocking sounds, furniture moving about the house on its own accord, lights mysteriously flashing off and on. It was however in August 1852, that Daniel first accomplished levitation. Home was seen to levitate twice and then rise to up to the ceiling, with louder rapping’s and knocking than ever before, more aggressive table movements and the sounds of a ship at sea in a storm.

In the 1500 reported séances and physic demonstrations, tables were reported to have levitated with as many as five grown men seated upon the table whilst it was floating. During these sessions, he produced spectral lights, rapping’s, ghostly hands, moved tables, chairs and other objects, played spectral music, spelled out messages using lettered cards. While he was doing these things, he would ask the sitters to hold his hands and feet to prove that he was not somehow manipulating the objects with secret devices or wires. His last séance was in March 1855, in Hartford, Connecticut, before he travelling to England. Home married twice. In 1858, he married Alexandria de Kroll and had a son with her called Gregoire, and then to Julie de Gloumeline. In 1866; the Spiritual Athenaeum was founded with Home as the Secretary. It was during this time, in 1868, that one of Home's most legendary events occurred. During a séance at the home of Mr. S.C. Hall Ashley Place, Home demonstrated his abilities before a crowd of people. Home effortlessly floated across the room, passed out an open third story window, and returned the same way he left. In 1871, Sir William Crookes, a physicist and chemist, conducted rigorous tests on Daniel in a series of highly controlled experiments. In 1873, after two years of testing with Crookes, Home announced that he was retiring. Daniel decided to travel with his wife and son. Daniel wrote his book in 1877 Lights and Shadows of Spiritualism, It was in France in 1886 that Daniel Dunglas Home Passed to the higher life. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stated that Home, had the ability and was unusual in that he had four different types of mediumship: direct voice, trance speaker, clairvoyant and physical medium.