My Diary...
2nd
March I took the service at The Edinburgh Spiritualist Society (SNU) Albany
Street, EG1 3HQ, where there was a good turnout. This is not far from both bus and railway
station so if any Spiritualist is having a day in Edinburgh on a Sunday it may
be a good idea to catch a later bus or train home. You could take in the service at 6.30pm in this
wonderful old building. There is also an
evening of mediumship on a Thursday at 7.30pm and an Open Awareness Circle at
7.30pm on a Friday evening.
4th
– I attended the Cambuslang Spiritualist Church at the Cambuslang Institute,
G72 8JE.
6th
– I only had a short journey to the Pyramid Spiritualist
Church, Leithland Neighbourhood Centre, Kempsthorn Road, Pollock, G53 5SR.
10th
– Pollockshaws and District Spiritualist Church, Langside Halls, Glasgow. G41
2QR. A church that has been on the go
for many years and is always well supported
11th
– I had an enjoyable afternoon giving a talk to Kilmarnock Spiritualist
Church’s Tuesday Afternoon Group. (SNU).
12th
– Taking part in debate on Spiritualism...
13th
–I was taking the first Development Circle of 2014.
15th
– I attended the SNU’s Scottish and Irish District Council’s AGM which was held
in The Edinburgh Spiritualist Society (SNU) Albany Street, EG1 3HQ.
16th
This was a busy day as first I was at the Glasgow Association’s AGM and then I was off on my longest journey
of the week to take a service at to ASK
Dunfermline... I was surprised to hear
that ASK has been on the go for ten-years.
How time flies as I took either the first or second service at this
church and it does not seem like ten years since I first attended. ASK was founded by Jock McArthur and his
sister Helen both now in Spirit.
17th
– Psychic Research...
20th
– I spend another enjoyable evening with the Development
circle.
“All Things Bright and Beautiful”...
My mother’s favourite
hymn, which was played at her funeral... I feel that these are the finest
words ever put together. And the second
line of the first verse “All Creatures
Great and Small” was my favourite TV programme of all time.
I constantly get asked: “What is the Spirit World like?” Instantly when I hear this question my mind
goes to the words of this hymn. The words create such an idyllic picture - this
could easily be what the Spirit World is like;-
With everything bright and pleasing
to the eye.
All of God’s creatures wandering
about with no fear.
Flowers in abundance and blooming in
every colour of the rainbow, even colours that we have not seen here on
Earth.
Every species of birds known to man singing
their hearts out.
All living things that have ever existed,
still alive and thriving.
Magnificent purple headed mountains
with peaceful rivers running by.
Marvellous sunrises and sunsets.
Will we have cold winds blowing? – I
believe we will have the four seasons in the Spirit World as each season has
its own beauty and grandeur.
Ripe fruits in abundance, there will
be no one starving.
Plenty of tall trees and greenwoods
providing homes and shelter for all species.
Lush meadows where animals graze and
children play.
“We were given eyes to see and lips that that we might tell”. ... To tell our loved ones that a new world
awaits them when their time on Earth is over.
That on the ‘other-side’ we can still communicate with those whom we
have left behind.
Those words by Cecil Francis
Alexander were first published in 1884 for her “Hymns for Little Children”. It
has become one of the most favourite
hymns of all time. In days gone by Cecil could be a boy's or girl's name)
Yet – although I have said - the
words paint a picture in my mind of what the Spirit World will be like;
Ms Alexander was referring to Planet Earth. And her words would be a
perfect description of our Planet if we add in the verse that so many hymnaries
leave out;
The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
God made them, high or lowly,
And ordered their estate.
The poor man at his gate,
God made them, high or lowly,
And ordered their estate.
Now add this verse and you will see
that it is not the Spirit World that Ms Alexander is describing, but here on
Planet Earth. Our World has all that is mentioned in the popular version of
this hymn, but when one adds the verse above it becomes abundantly clear that
it is Our World that she is describing.
In the Spirit World there will be no
rich or poor, no starvation and no illness,
but it will be no five-star hotel. We will still have to work, work our
way towards even another life, another dimension, but with fewer burdens than
we have here on Earth.
I seldom mention reincarnation as it
was a very touchy subject when I first came into Spiritualism. Now-a-days it is
more freely debated. Some by the error
of their ways may have another life, or several lives, back here on Earth. For those that have committed atrocities
while in this life, well, it will be a long time before they enjoy the full
benefits of the Spirit World.
But to those who ask me, “What is it like in the Spirit World? I
try to get them to forget the Spirit World and look at all Planet Earth has to
offer. There is so much around us that
we take for granted or have never paid any real attention too.
Many of us in this life fail to
notice the real beauty around us. We
don’t need to be deep in the country to be enthralled by something that
lightens up our day. Many a time we fail
to notice the goodness in the hearts of many who do voluntary work to help
those less fortunate than themselves.
Not even voluntary work being part of an organization but a kind deed
even as little as a smile to a lonely person...
Let us for the moment forget the
Spirit World and concentrate on this life and making it a bit better for
ourselves and in turn for others as well....
Spiritualists can have their say...
On the 15th I attended the SNU’s Scottish
and Irish District Council’s AGM at The Edinburgh Spiritualist Society. I have attended this AGM for a good many
years and the numbers attending have been steady for the past few years. This is extremely poor considering the number
of members the SNU has in Scotland and Ireland.
The numbers attending were the same or slightly less that the numbers
attending the service in this church two weeks before when I took the service. There are excuses for our Irish members not
attending because of the distance and the cost, but surely more Scottish members
could make that little bit more effort to attend. No matter whether the AGM or half-yearly
meetings are held in Edinburgh, Glasgow or Falkirk there is always a good turnout
from the Aberdeen Churches. Surely it
should be possible for all the SNU Churches in Scotland to sent at least one
representative. Maybe the DC could think
of fund or part funding at least one representative from Ireland to attend.
There are many who complain of SNU policies – myself
included at times, but instead of complaining we should use the facilities open
to us to make our points know. Attend
these meetings and make your voice heard or write to the Secretary of the DC
and your comments will be raised at their next meeting.
The following day I was at the Glasgow Association’s
AGM and although there appeared to be good turnout there was only about
one-third of the membership attending.
Still... I suppose that a one-in-three members turning out in this day
and age for such a meeting is not bad.
A friend connected to one of the major religions is envious
that Spiritualists, have such avenues
open to us to make our voices heard. He thinks is great that as individuals we
can have our say on what is going on in our church and our religion. This is something we should not take for
granted or abuse. Become a member of
your church and an individual member of the SNU and you can have your say and
vote on major issues. But if recent years is anything to go by we
are not valuing the opportunities open to us.
Spiritualism has become a place
for infighting instead of harmony and open discussion.
If a Spiritualist has something they are not happy
with then they should sleep on it for a few days, to rush in to any situation
is usually fatal. Then to think “This may be what I would like to see happen
– but what would Spirit’s views be on it?”
If one still feels that their point of view is valid and it is about
your church then talk to a committee member or send a letter to the secretary
of the church. If it is on broader
issues of Spiritualism then contact the Secretary of the DC.
But committees and church members all have to play a
part...
Committees should hold at least one meeting a year
apart from the AGM where members of the committee and church members can
discuss what is going on within the church.
We should not moan over a cup of tea after the service or on the
doorstep of the church. Usually ongoing rumblings can be sorted out if
both sides get the chance to quietly discuss the issues.
At the Church’s AGM it was suggested that a
‘suggestion box’ be put in place in the church, something I have mentioned many
a time over the years and a few years ago GAS did have one. Every Spiritualist Church should have one. It was
suggested that anyone putting a slip of paper in the ‘suggestion box’ need not
sign it but this was turned down. I
would agree with this in most cases but there maybe the odd time where someone wants
to point out a situation without getting involved and I would say that in
certain cases an unsigned comment should be discussed.
When I brought the ‘suggestion box’ in an earlier
blog I had a lot of feedback and most said roughly the same thing – “We don’t need a ‘suggestion box’ our church
as members all know they can approach a committee member with anything that
they are not happy about”. It is precisely
that way of thinking that makes me feel that we definitely need a ‘suggestion
box’. Many may not want to speak to a
committee member but put a few words on a piece of paper.
Your comments...
Martha comments
on my “God’s Gift” from a previous
blog.... “I certainly can take on board what you wrote about flowers all my
adult life I worked with people in extremely poor health and nothing cheers
them up more than a bunch of flowers”.
Maud; - “My mother worked all through the war in a
hospital where injured soldiers from the front line were treated. The Matron had someone out every day summer
and winter searching for flowers, so each ward had flowers for the patients to
look at. Many a time during the winter
is was one flower per ward, even a small branch with a few leaves on it. Your article brought back old memories to
me.”
Bill; - “I read a quote once ‘Flowers are words that
even a babe understands’. And that is
spot-on as I make all my grandchildren aware of flowers from a very early age
and their delight is plain for all to see’.
J. Frew “I keep a small part of my garden for what
others may call weeds. I can see the
beauty in the daisy, the dandelion and many more which other gardeners would be
quick to destroy. I do not only get
enjoyment from this small patch in the garden from the flowers but from the
insects and birds that they attract.
Thanks to
all who comment on the flowers...
And there were several comments on my
comparing the Seven Principles, The Ten North American Commandments and the
Bibles Ten Commandments...
Jake; - “You don’t need any of the three to lead a good life”.
Jock; -“The Ten Commandments are right to the point the other two are
wishy-washy especially the 7 Principles”.
Ron; - I will stick with the Bible’s Ten Commandments if you don’t mind”.
Marie; - The Ten Commandments miss out the environment... I try to combine
all three”.
. Photo by Stephanie Wilson...
My campaign
for protection for the racehorse is never more needed than it has been this
month. With March still not out there
has been 22 horses breathed their last on British racecourses. And the total for 2014 so far if 41. 3 of the 41 fatalities saw horses collapsing while
racing – raced till they dropped dead.
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