Evening star., 1937-11-11
SP|R|TUA[|ST AIMS
TOLD AT MEETING
National Association Officer
Tells of Growth of
Belief iu u. S.

girls ran into their Hydesville IN. "
home crying to mother" they had
heard strange noises which seemed
to say the body of a missing peddler,
who had been murdered some weeks
before. was buried in their cellar.
That was on March 81, 1848. The
girls, who were z, 9 and IL years old,
later became famous to spiritualist
believers as the Fox sisters.
Investigation of the girls story by
authorities resulted in the discovery
of the peddlers body. Later, a packet
he was known to have had with him
was located a short distance from the
Fox residence, buried in the earth.
News of this phenomenon spread
rapidly and within few months
spiritualism in this country had been
established.
Spiritualism Meeting Held.
The Rev. Harry P. Strack, secretary
of the National Spiritualist Association,
made this known last night In an
address before nearly 100 persons at
a meeting at the Hotel Continental
held for the purpose OF disseminating
"the truth of spiritualism"
Since that long-ago date on which
the Fox sisters received the first
message" in this country from the
spirit world, the movement has
gained such momentum that the Ma
tional Spiritualist Association was
formed at Chicago in November, 1893
lt.Na &c
practice privately, and individual or
ganizations, the N. S. A. has 420
churches. At the last international
meeting in Scotland, % countric we're
represented by delegates. Mr. Strack,
in revealing these figures, added that
Great Britain alone has 900 societies
affiliated with the British Spiritualist
Society
Asked to define the aims OF the as
sociation, which has as its motto, "As
the sunf1ower turns its face to the
light of the sun, so Spiritualism turns
the face of humanity to the light
of truth" Mr.. Strack said:
Continuous Life Philosophy.
"Spiritualism is the science, philoso-
ply and religion of continuous life,
based upon the demonstrated fact of
communication, by means of medium
ship, with those who live in the spirit
world.
"A spiritualiSt is one who believes.
as part of his or her religion. in
the communication between this and
the spirit world by means of medium
ship, and who endeavors to mold his
or her character and conduct il. ac-
cordance with the highest teachings
derived from such communion.
"a medium is one whose organism
is sensitive to vibrations from the
spirit world and through whose in
strumentality, intelligences in that
world are able to convey messages
and produce the phenomena of spir-
itualism.
Analyses Manifestations.
1T is science because it investi-
gates, analyses and Classics facts and
manifestations, demonstrated from the
spirit side of life.
"It is a philosophy because it studies
the laws of nature botS on the seen
and unseen sides of life and bases its
conclusions upon present observed
facts. 1t accepts statements of OBJ
served facts of past ages and conclu-
sions drawn therefrom, when sus-
tanned by reason and by results of OBJ
served facts of the present day.
"Spiritualism is a religion because
1t strives to understand and to COM
ply with the physical mental and
spiritual laws of nature which are
the laws of God"
Ancient spiritualism attributed
everything to the supernatural or mir
acles, Mr.. Strack said. The mission
of modern spiritualiSm is to reveal
Heaven is within reach of the earth.
he added
BY way of citing the growth of this
belief, Mr.. Strack pointed out that
more than 100000 persons in the
United States have received COM
munication."
Ordination Permitted.
Two of the first problems to con-
'front.' spiritualists was whether they
would be accepted on an equal basis
as other ministers apd whether they
would have the right to perform mar
riages. A law permitting ordination
was passed by Congress in 1902, solv-
ing both these questions.
There is only one spiritualist COL
lege in the United States, the Nor
ris Pratt Institute at White Water,
Wis.
Spirit is the foundation of all
life" Mr.. Strack said in conclusion.
God is spirit. Therefore, we should
worship in the spirit of God"
The Rev. Alfred H. Terry, pastor
of the First Spiritualist Church, also
spoke. The Rev. H. Gordon Bur-
roughs, pastor of the Church of Two
Worlds, presided at the meeting.