Helen McArthur 1943 - 2013... Stacy's Magical Place.... The Grand National...

24^th March... I travelled north to Perth and with the cold wind that met me I could have mistakenly thought I was at the North Pole.    But as soon as I entered the church the usual warm welcome made me forget about the cold outside.  Ivy, Michelle and the rest of the committee make everyone feel welcome.

26^th... Not so far north this time, I was heading for ASK Cumbernauld, another church like Perth which has one of its main aims, a genuine and personal greeting to all that enter.

28^th... Over the past few months I have had the privilege to take a development circle and though only a few attend the enthusiasm and standard of commitment is second to none.

1^st & 2^nd April I was at the Glasgow Central Spiritualist Church, Berkley Street, G3 7DS.  This was after an absence of a year because of booking difficulties and it was great to be back on the platform of the friendly church in the centre of the city. Glasgow Central Spiritualist Church

64 Berkeley Street
Glasgow
Scotland

Tel: 0141 221 6201

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SERVICES §  Sunday 5:00 - 6:00pm Healing §  Sunday 6:30pm Divine Service §  Monday 7:30pm Service with Mediumship §  Tuesday 2:00pm Service with Mediumship §  Wednesday - - §  Thursday 7:30pm Awareness Group §  Friday - - §  Saturday - -

 

4^th... ASK<Dreghorn and again a special pleasure to serve here as I started out at ASK,Stewarton which this group took over from when the latter closed its doors.

6^th...  The second of my workshops at the Glasgow Association.

7^th... It was over to our capital city and the Edinburgh Spiritualist Church in Albany Street. EH1 3QH.  This church is not far from the bus station at St Andrews Square and only a little further to Waverley Station. The Church is run by a small but dedicated committee and is open                                                      Sun. 6:30pm Divine Service with Clairvoyance
Mon. 7:00pm Healing
Thu. 7:30pm Clairvoyance
Fri. 7:30pm Open Awareness Circle
Sat. Specials as advertised.                                                                                
Tel: 0131-556-1749

9^th... The members and committee of the Dalneigh Spiritualist Church gave me a great welcome.  I am always impressed by the enthusiasm those in Inverness and the surrounding area have for Spiritualism.

11^th The Arbroath Spiritualist Centre 20-22 Commerce Street, Arbroath
Angus, DD11 1NB.  Tel: 01241 875 979.  Arbroath is still a holiday destination for many so if you are in the area why not pop along on a Thursday evening at 7.30pm.

 

 

                               Helen McArthur 1943 - 2013...

 

 

The McArthur family from Dunfermline are well known in Spiritualism in Scotland.  Jock, Helen and Liz being founder members of (DASK) Dunfermline Association of Spiritualist Knowledge.  Many special days have been arranged by DASK to further people’s thirst for knowledge about Spiritualism in the Fife area.

 Sadly Jock passed over to the Spirit world last year and a few months ago it was his sister Helen’s time to move over to the higher side of life.

 

I have asked Kerry McLeod .

 

 

“Helen was born on 23rd August 1943, the eldest of 7 children.

 Helen had a sociable and friendly nature and was always smiling and uplifting others, even when times got challenging for herself.  Helen was heavily involved in looking after her brothers and sister, which she did with much care and attention. Helen loved her family, everything was family orientated, she loved the get togethers, family always came first.

 Helen has a daughter, son in law and granddaughter.

 In June 2011, Helen's sister Liz and her husband Alex opened their home to Helen when she became ill, with Helen moving from her own home, across the road to live with Liz and Alex.

 Helen was a spiritualist from a very young age and was indeed the person that took her brother Jock to his first meeting at Dunfermline Spiritualist Church, her beliefs were firm and her trust in the spirit world was absolute.

 Helen was known and loved for being a beautiful person and was amongst others was described as: - “A great friend and irreplaceable”

"Always smiling"

“Always family orientated”

“A wonderful sister”

“The best mother in law in the world”

And

“A true specimen of pure kindness.”

 

Thanks Kerry...

 

 

 

Marie mails...“Would you like to tell us about an unusual research case you have been on, one that is different from the rest and not scary”...     

Marie - there is one that stands out a mile.  As I usually do   I have asked for permission from the family to share this experience.  The names being changed to protect the family and in this case the place where it took place.  

I was asked if I would go out to see if I sensed anything of a paranormal nature at a ruined cottage.  I agreed as long as I was told nothing about what others had experienced or the history of the area.  I met up with Robert, Jean and their daughter Stacy at their home on the edge of a small village. Also tagging along was Tex the dog and Ceara the cat which was carried part of the way by Robert. A biting easterly wind was blowing and large snowflakes were beging to fall as the family escorted me along a narrow country lane to the ruins of an old cottage.  Not just the ruins of any old cottage, as it turned out, but the ruins of what is a very special old cottage. 

Robert grew up in this area and when he was young children roamed all over the fields, but never up this particular lane.  Stories of the lane and cottage being haunted not only kept the children, away but also the adults.    Over the past decade or so when a property is put up for sale in the area it is usually bought by an outsider, and usually by those of retirement age. So there are fewer children in the area and the story of the haunted lane and a cottage is seldom mentioned these days.

As I got closer to the cottage I did feel a difference in the atmosphere.  It did not seem as cold and yet the cottage was not sheltered from the bitterly cold easterly wind.   It is difficult to put into words there was something friendly, comfortable and relaxing about the place. I certainly had no negative feelings which I thought I would have been experiencing by now, especially as the family had requested I visit the area. No matter how one tries not to second guess what is going on, the thought of a negative situation it is always at the back of one’s mind when called out to a property etc.

I then saw something strange. Stacey was running at the back of the property and something black was running behind her. It turned out to be a crow and at first I thought it was attacking her.  But it was running along with her as if playing. I then noticed that there was quite a bit of the local wildlife all closer than one would have expected when there were humans, a dog and a cat about.

Stacey then took a plastic bag from her mother and started feeding the birds.  To my surprise three landed on her arm with several more sitting on the ruins of a wall and taking small morsels from her hand.   I looked around and saw two deer around fifty yards from us.  Jean told me that in spring, summer and autumn there would be lots more animals close to us at this spot.   Jean asked me to take a look at Ceara and Tex, who were both sitting down like they would on a hot sunny day but the wind was still blowing and a few snowflakes still falling.

I wrote in my notebook at that stage there is something strange, then scored that out and replaced it with something magical about this place. It was certainly different from any place I had been asked to investigate before or since.

When we got back to the family home and sitting over a cup of tea, Robert told me why I was invited to the ruins of this cottage.

Stacey was born with learning difficulties and when she could walk she was seldom out on her own. She was happy to play in her own backyard with  Tex and Ceara. But one day she did decide to roam and after a full-scale search by half the village she was found sitting quietly in the ruins of this cottage. Over the next few months Stacey would constantly try to get out of the back gate and make her way towards this ruined cottage. The little one’s parents decided that several times a week they would take her to the cottage with Tex and even Ceara tagging along at times. This became a regular walk two or three times a week and Stacey seemed  content with this arrangement as she did not try to go out on her own.

On their visit to the cottage Robert and Jean started to find it so relaxing and they looked forward to going there as much  as Stacey.  Then they started noticing something else. The wildlife around the ruins did not seem to be as suspicious of them even with Tex and Ceara being with them.   Stacy could get closer to the wildlife than her parents but even they could get closer to the likes of deer, badger, herons, squirrels etc than they normally could elsewhere. Stacy never touched any animal or bird even though some did come as close as an arm’s length from her.   Robert had never got so close to deer as he did at the ruins, even after spending his whole life in the country.   It was not as if the little one had food to entice these large animals close.  The family spent some considerable time telling me of the different incidents and different species of bird and animal that had shown less fear of them around the cottage than they did elsewhere in the countryside.

 I asked if the wildlife around the back garden got as close to Stacey as they did around the ruins. The answer was ‘no’, there was a robin a blackbird and two thrushes which were more trusting towards Stacey than the other birds in the back garden but they did not come as close as birds at the ruined cottage.  So it was looking more like I should be concentrating my thoughts around the area of the old cottage than Stacy. 

I asked the parents if they had got anyone else out to look around the ruins.  Robert said that I was the first person he had mentioned this too.   His first thought was to contact an old school chum who was now a clergyman and stayed at the other end of the country.  But after doing a little research on the Internet he decided it was more of a situation for a medium.   I suggested he asked his friend to  look and see what he experienced. The friend did come out and he was amazed as I had been when visiting the cottage.   He said “Even though I have spent most my life in the country, at the cottage he got closer to the local wildlife than he ever had done.

So what have we here?

A ley-line causing this effect?  We could find no connection with this or any ancient tales about this area.

Bob – the clergyman - put forward the suggestion that someone had stayed in that cottage at one time and most of their time taking care on injured and unwanted animals – a modern-day St Francis.  That had also been on my mind.   We looked into the history of the area and as far as we could find out the cottage had been uninhabited since 1932.  We have names of owners and tenants of the building going back a few centuries but we were unable to find any information about them.  A local historian did give us a few bits and pieces but nothing appeared to connect to what we had experienced. Both Bob   and I had met people who have had an amazing rapport with animals but not an area where animals acted as they did at the site of the ruined cottage.

The four of us decided that we could go no further forward with this and to ask others to come in to do some research was not on - as this was Stacy’s special place and it should remain this way.

This was a few years ago and neither Bob or myself has visited the cottage since but I have kept in touch with Robert and Jean.  Little has changed, Stacy visits the cottage two or three times a week always accompanied with one or both of her parents.  Tex has passed on but Ceara still goes to the cottage with the family.

One concern I had was that what if a hunter stumbles across that cottage with the animals being so placid and not frightened of humans, According to Robert this has either not happened or if such a person did come across this area the animals would be aware of their intentions and not have been so trusting.

 

 

 

It is shocking that the National Hunt fraternity were overjoyed that there were no deaths in this year’s Grand National.  Yes, so notorious is this race for fatalities that a ‘death free race’ gets as much publicity as the winner.  I have the feeling that as well as relief of no deaths among the runners, the hype was made that little bit greater to mask the fact that two horse came under starters orders at the meeting and yet their lives ended on the race course.  On Thursday Battlefront got no further than the 11th fence in the John Smith's Fox Hunters' Chase for amateur riders. The horse collapsed and died soon afterwards.  And then on Friday another death, this time of Little Josh who fractured a shoulder and had to be put down.

This year there were changes to the course and we will have to wait to see if such alterations will reduce the number of deaths or the changes were just cosmetic surgery to pacify the general public in the short term.  What the National Hunt fraternity could, if they really love their horses so much, is to ban the use of the whip in all National Hunt races.  Unless it is used by a rider to correct a horse which has veered off a straight line and is likely to cause an accident.  Any jockey using a whip to improve the position of his mount should be given a lengthy ban and the horse losing any prize money it may have earned during that race.   Plans could be put in place for this new ruling to start at the 2014 Grand National meeting

Some of the most horrific scenes on TV screens over the years  is riders in the Grand National using their whips like carpet beaters on horses at the end of this gruelling  4 ½ mile race over  very large fences?

I was shocked on a TV programme the morning after the Grand National to hear three people connected to this industry – yes industry – not a sport – come out with the following.  “We are not here to defend the Grand National – we are here to promote it”. And several comments similar too “Horses jump obstacle in the wild”.  Yes – but not so many and not at such a speed in so short a time.

“Horses like to jump – look at them in races where they may have fallen, and got  rid of their rider.   They continue to run with the field and jump the fences”.  Yes – let us look at that situation.  After a fall a horse may be in panic mode, see nowhere to get off the course and follow its herd instinct. 

Let us look at the situation a little more in-depth...  It is easy for a racing commentator to say “A particular horse has fallen but it is  unscathed”.  If the same commentator fell while out walking I am sure he would feel some degree of pain, so what about a ½ ton horse falling while jumping at racing pace must also feel pain.

What can Spiritualism or Spiritualists do in this situation?

Spiritualism is not a religion that issues decrees on its members to do this or not to do this or that.  So I would not expect any of our Spiritual organizations to come out publicly in this debate.  To all Spiritualists I say – look again at our 5^th Principle “Personal Responsibility “and then make up your mind.  Remember... a percentage of every bet on horse racing goes to the upkeep of the horse racing industry.

...........................................................................................................................

I have decided to leave out the comments I received on my “2013 a crucial year for Spiritualism” but will include some in my next blog.

 

 

Monday Night is Fledglings Night...“2013 – A Crucial Year for Spiritualism” Debate Still Goes On and On...... Glasgow's Spiritual Museum...

23^rd – February... There was a good turnout for my workshop at the Glasgow Association of Spiritualists.  Workshop-1 was starting off from the basics, something that I feel is neglected today.  Even many development circles these days seem to start off from the first senior school level and those taking part have missed out on nursery and primary school

24^th – I was over in the Kingdom of Fife to  ASK Dunfermline A.S.K. is a non denominational organisation, which promotes Spiritualism through Divine Services every Sunday, Demonstrations of Mediumship, Spiritual Healing, Private Consultations,(readings), having regular Workshops and Open Days for the public.  Recently one of ASK’s co-founder members Helen McArthur made the transition to the higher side of life

26^th –I attended the Free Spirit Spiritualist Church,  Kilmarnock...

27^th – Paisley Spiritualist Church, Glenburn Community Centre....
8^th – 12^th March I had a busy few days at the Glasgow Association of Spirituists. 

During my days at the Glasgow Association I was tempted so often as a mountain of Easter eggs grew higher and higher in the church.  The eggs are being donated by churchgoers to a Children’s Charity.  The church also hosted a night of clairvoyance with Nita Saunders on the Platform and a donation was given to this charity. 

                                                              Fledglings...

The committee of the Glasgow Association of Spiritualists have decided that after the service on Monday evenings to let their fledglings (developing mediums) on to the platform to gain valuable experience.  After I took the Monday evening service I nipped downstairs for a cup of tea and changed my mind about not going back up to watch the fledglings.  My original decision not to go was based on when I was at the fledgling stage.  I found it so stressful to go on the platform as it was - but if the medium had stayed behind for the fledgling’s participation - then I found it almost impossible to put a foot on the platform.  So my first decision not to attend was to save the two fledglings any more stress than they would normal have.  But the two on that evening Elaine Claire O’Neil and Kay Baxter were not as sensitive as I was at that stage in my development.  They gave really good evidence.  Good training, dedication, patience and the opportunity to take part in such an evening is all part and parcel of the development of a good Spiritual Medium.  I really enjoyed the second part of the evening and if I am close to Somerset Place on a Monday evening I will make sure I drop in.  Why not go along also and see the Mediums of the future developing on a Monday evening.

I was going to move on to other comments made about my “2013 – A Crucial Year for Spiritualism” but here are three comments to end the Spiritualism is earning that label of entertainment rather than religion.  I have tried to balance showing both sides of the argument and a neutral comment.

? Emails – “Spiritualism became entertainment when tutors at our colleges, churches, and circle leaders forgot that they should be working in harmony with Spirit for the betterment of all mankind.  What we are trying to develop is a gift and a privilege that we should not abuse.  There are a lot of actors (I am not prepared to demean true Mediums by giving these people the “M” title) who discover if they put on a show that is what the enlightened people want, it would reflect on themselves rather than Spirit.  They only want to hear that their loved one is OK nothing else.  The actors only want their egos polished and money as new people coming in do not know any better.    The best Mediums of MODERN Spiritualism were the ones from the older era of the lower classes or the uneducated...  Why?  Because they could not pull the wool over people’s eyes as they believed that they were of lesser value to the social elite and that kept their egos in check.  They understood that they were there to aid and assist NOT to demand anything.  All religions are suffering from actors”’

Now from Daisy –

“Tom you are a dinosaur and if Spiritualism listens to you it will disappear like those large creatures.  Orthodox religion is on the wane because like you it will not change, it will not come into the modern world.  In fact we should stop using the words “Church” and “Religion” when communicating with those who have moved on from the Earth Plane. I read an article that you wrote comparing dying with emigrating to another part of Planet Earth.  We can communicate with those who have moved to America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the likes without ‘religion’ or ‘churches’.  So should we not open up the Spirit World to all?  Surely it does not matter whether it is a pub, club or in the open air.  Let those who have this gift be free to communicate to the whole of society without you trying to shackle them.  Tom I know you will not put this up on your website but I have to send it just the same”.

And now “H” steps in to the affray like a blue helmeted UN peacekeeper...

“There is no need for conflict but I agree a line should be drawn between those who are on the side of religion and those who look to use their gifts in other ways.  A medium usually does not ask a church to put them on their platform they certainly did not in the past.  So each church has the power to select who they want on their platform.  Should churches not give their blessing to those who wish to go down the entertainment and financial path their blessing but not allow them on the platform of their church.  It is then up to the medium to decide what path they take”.  So simple...

Three different side of the argument...  My own thoughts are more in line with”?” I also agree with “H” it could be simple to sort out if personal responsibility and common sense prevailed.  Daisy – why did you think I would not put your comments on this site?  I look on this as a serious issue and all sides of the argument have to be heard if we are going to sort it out.

 

Glasgow has many museums and one that few may know about, will be of interest to readers of this site. The Glasgow Association of Spiritualist, Church Museum. 6/7 Somerset Place, Glasgow,

The museum was instigated by the discovery of photographs of Spirit extras, which also coincided with the celebration of Glasgow Association of Spiritualist 140 years. A number of committee members then worked together and created the museum as you see it today.

Many of the items on display at the museum were donated by Minister James Biggin, Mr George Biggin and his wife Irene. The Association are grateful to them for their generosity which will allow future generations of Spiritualists to see some of the wonderful experiences that had occurred.

With donations from kind people, the Church Museum reached its present excellent state of presentation.

A personal visit to the museum is very much worthwhile in order to appreciate some of the history of modern spiritualism. 

The museum is open before and after services which are; -

Sundays - 11.30am and 6.30pm

Mondays - 7.30pm

Tuesdays - 2.00pm

There is also; -

 Private Readings are available as follows and can be booked at the office.

• Saturdays (six readings) starting at 10.00 am.
• Mondays (eight readings) starting at 10.30 am.
• Tuesdays (four readings) starting at 10.30 am.

And our Healing Centre runs on:

Tuesdays from 12.30pm till 1.30pm

Saturdays from 10.00am till 11.30am

The Awareness Group is held every Friday at 7.30pm (doors close at 7.25pm prompt)
This is a general development / awareness group which is taken either by the visiting medium, or by a member of the Church.
Content varies from talks to practical sessions, but one thing remains constant - everyone is very friendly, so don't be afraid to come and join in!
The cost for this is £3 and includes a cup of tea or coffee.

So if you are visiting Glasgow why not take in the museum and a service.

A Special Little Lad.......Comments by others on - Is Spiritualism Leaning Towards Entertainment?....Do we really care about horses”? Egg dilemma... A Horse’s Prayer... An Eskimo quote...

 

 

                                                                    MY DIARY

3^rd February saw me at the Sunnyside Spiritualist Church, Coatbridge.  Robert provided the live music with his guitar and that fairly raised the atmosphere.

4th – I was at the Cumnock Spiritualist Church and although there was a good turn out one little fellow was missing - Jack young, son of founders of the church Jacqueline and Iain McConnachie. Jack has been a little poorly recently and it was felt that staying cozy at home was best rather than taking the little lad out into the frost and snow. Jacqueline is an excellent Spiritual Medium and Iain when called upon gives a wonderful Spiritual address. Jack is a little star in his own with the article in the Scottish Sun “The Bravest Smile in the World”. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/scottishnews/4768271/The-bravest-smile-in-the-world.html.

I look forward to seeing Jack on my next visit.

 

11^th -15^th  I combined a few days holiday in Yorkshire with meeting up with a psychic researcher who is working on an unusual case at the moment.

 

17^th _ It is always a pleasure to attend the Friendship of Love and Light Spiritual Church, Foxbar, Paisley.  This church is also referred to as “Eddie’s Church” after its founder Spiritualist medium Eddie Docherty.

 

18^th – I had the short drive to Saltcoats Spiritualist Church which holds its service in the Argyll Centre.  Wendy, Jean and Irene are always at hand to greet all who enter the church.

 19^th – I was at the Glasgow Central Spiritualist Church (SNU) Berkley Street, Glasgow, for their afternoon service which is always well attended. 

 21^st   Now that the M74 has been completed it is a much shorter journey for me to the White Dove Spiritualist Church in Toryglen, Glasgow.

 

 

 

 

There have been many comments to “2013 - a Crucial Year for Spiritualism – The Religion” which appeared in my first blog of the New Year.  The comments came by email, text, phone, face to face and even two letters.  They were on all aspects of Spiritualism, so for the next few months my blogs will look at these comments as far as different aspects of Spiritualism are concerned.  I have tried my best to give a balanced view of the comments sent to me.

There are many who agree that the general trend these days is that Spiritualism is moving towards ‘showbiz’.  Some favour this while others have either stopped attending our churches or have moved to another Spiritualist Church where there is a more staid atmosphere.

Flo comments - “I am all for a more upbeat service than what I experienced when I came into Spiritualism 25-years- ago, but some of what we are seeing on our platform these days is  going a bit over the top”.

James – I have been attending Spiritual services for over twenty years and. I notice little change, but I only attend SNU churches.

Joan – “The only difference at my church is that there is not a break between the medium’s address and the clairvoyance.  This I find is a good move for the medium as they continue with the flow of the energies they have created”.

Jen - “My daughter I attends drama school and I am beginning to wonder if some mediums have been on the same course. This has only started to show in the past few years”.

Peter – “Never been in a Spiritualist church other than a SNU one and I feel things are as they should be”.

Pat – “I have been attending Spiritualist services for over thirty years in both Scotland and England.  In those far off days I preferred the Scottish services as they were always that bit more relaxed and informal than in England.  Both have now moved on and I am finding that these days services south of the border services are upbeat but not as glitzy as some of those in Scotland.  

B – “Spiritualism caters for all... One can go dressed in a suite and a tie while another goes in very casual attire yet no one bats an eyelid.  This is as it should be and another big plus for Spiritualism compared to other religions is the different ways each medium work, making every service different”.

Patricia – “I know of many whom say openly they go to our church for a laugh as it is the cheapest form of entertainment in town.  As this group grows in numbers there is talk of leaving out the address so if that goes so do I also”.

Don – “Laughter has always been part of Spiritualism but these days I feel that many a medium feels they have got to have laugh after laugh after laugh.   Why not leave it to Spirit as was done in the past?"

? – “Over the years I have taken many friends and work colleagues with me to church and in doing so giving them their first introduction into our religion.  But not so often these days as I am embarrassed by what is going on in some of our so-called churches. 

John – “I have only been attending Spiritualist Churches for two years so I cannot compare then with now.  The Sunday night Divine Service is the highlight of my week.  I only wish I had turned towards Spiritualism many years ago”. 

Pete – I only attend the church because it is a good distance from our home.   With poor public transport and my mother’s health not being that good I drive her there each week.  I can take what you are saying about the change over the past few years.  On many occasions the medium appears to be a celeb and Spirit is only the supporting cast.  . In recent years my old mum has been a bit put out by mediums on the platform referring to her as ‘dear’, ‘pet’ and ‘love’.  This would never have happened in the past.  On saying all this when the time comes that my mother moves over to the Spirit World I will not attend any more services”.

E – “Notice how we don’t get any hassle from other regions these days?  My theory is that Spiritualism moved towards new ageism and now on to entertainment that we will continue to destroy ourselves from within and soon will be no more.”

Betty –Each church has its own way of working as does each medium.  With such variety there is something for everyone”.

Marie – “I am shocked that there are some congregations applauding not only after the clairvoyance but an odd time after the address.  Who are they applauding the Medium or Spirit?”

Vera – “The way some churches advertise their medium on the Internet and from the platform is something that should be looked at.  It is at time like an entertainer is being introduced”.

So a wide variety of thoughts about how Spiritualism is evolving.   

The SNU and other major Spiritual organizations have strict guidelines but there are many independent Spiritualist churches which have their own way of working.  It is just like the many different facets of Christianity.    There will always be change; my gripe is not if it is working don’t fix it, but that we don’t just have change for the sake of change. 

We hear of drastic proposals being suggested to bring in the young.  I don’t know where these people are coming from as most the churches I serve have a good percentage of young people in the congregation.  There will be sections of the community who steer clear of the word “church” so some of our Spiritualist Churches centres have dropped this work and replacent it with “Centre” or “Sanctuary”.

One new Spiritualist group not only dropped the word ‘Church’ for ‘Sanctuary’ but also decided to change a part of the Divine Service.  It omitted the opening prayer and replacing it with a period of contemplation.   That has been a well thought out change and does not take anything away from the Divine Service.

I agree with Marie about applauding after a service I find it embarrassing and just wonder what anybody visiting the church for the first time must think of us.  But I realize that the applause is meant in good faith the congregation showing that they have enjoyed the service but it is a service not an evening of entertainment.  This can easily be sorted out by the chairperson quietly mentioning this to the congregation.... BUT... here again I experienced after the service where the chairperson asked very respectfully that the congregation show their sincere gratitude to the Medium AND TO SPIRIT for their participation in the service. To which the congregation gave a short applause.  The way it was done I found it to be very respectful...

Churches dropping the address is something that I have always been adverse too.   As Patricia says some church committees will say “The congregation have told us they cannot be bothered with the address”.  But those on the committee of a Spiritualist church have a responsibility.  A responsibility to our religion, to Spirit and to the pioneers of our movement.    People are more likely to be vocal if they don’t like something than if they do like it.    What other religion would drop part of what their religion is about because a few say they don’t like it? 

There is also “The medium will give a quick address”.    This makes it seem that the address is not important and can put the medium under pressure.  To be fair I once witnessed a medium’s address that lasted for 45-minutes and after that there was only time for two messages from Spirit. If that was to happen too often it would close our churches.   Again if the medium is working through Spirit then let us trust Spirit to do the correct thing and usually that is a 10-12 minute address.

Joan makes an interesting comment “The only difference at my church is that there is not a break between the medium’s address and the clairvoyance”.  I can work either way but some mediums feel that they need that little break while others are happy to keep going.  Usually churches and mediums are flexible with this and there is no problems whatever way it goes.

Vera also brings up a good point “The way some churches advertise their medium on the Internet and from the platform is something that should be looked at.  It is at time like an entertainer is being introduced”.  Yes I have to agree with this.  In recent years it is as if a few church notices and introductions are as if an entertainer is being introduced.  One night the chairperson sounded like an MC in a boxing ring as he introduced me.  BUT... this is not rife and should be nipped in the bud.  Many doing this just don’t think that over playing the medium is putting Spirit and our religion in the background.   Overall most of what has been mentioned in a negative sense can easily be put right if there is more training for those about to sit on a committee of a Spiritualist Church.   

Spiritualism as a Religion will be judged by the way we behave in our churches so let us get it right.

 

 

No matter where I have been in the past few weeks the main topic of conversation has been horsemeat ending up on supermarket shelves.  There are many who are shocked that they may have consumed the meat of a horse.  They have no problem in eating beef, pork or chicken so why is horse flesh taboo?  Maybe it is because of man’s closeness to the horse over centuries.  The war horse was cherished as it carried knights of old into battle; in fact the British army were still using horses as pack animals in WWII.  For centuries the horse did all the heavy work on farms and industry.  Nearly all of us have had a ride on a pony or a donkey at the beach.  And some have been lucky to have owned a horse or a pony as a pet.  So there are many reasons why we find it abhorrent to eat the flesh of a horse.  Usually when we think of a cow or a sheep we think of them being as part of a herd or a flock we don’t think or get to know them as individuals. 

But our love for the horse has its limitations as we turn a blind eye when it comes to the racehorse.   Most of us will have had a bet on a horserace at one time or another, even though it is only an annual bet on The Derby or The Grand National.  Yet a percentage of each £ bet goes to help fund an industry - yes - an industry not a sport.  And I don’t feel that this is the place to go into gory details of the Racing Industry other than to say it would not make good reading. 

So should a Spiritualist abstain from betting on horseracing?  Spiritualism is not a religion with a list of do’s and don’ts – so with our 5^th Principle in mind – Personal Responsibility - it is up to the individual.

 

Roughly in parallel with my comments above....  A friend was in a supermarket the other day and as she went to lift down a dozen eggs she heard a conversation between a mother and her young son and daughter.

The young lad was telling his mother than she had put the wrong eggs in her trolley.   “Those are not free range” he said”.  The mother told the two youngsters that money was short this week and that she only could afford the cheapest eggs from caged hens.  The two youngsters burst into tears saying that they were not going to eat eggs from hens that were treated so badly.  They were so strong in their convictions that the mother put the eggs back on the shelf and said! “Well - we will do without eggs this week”. 

As my friend was waiting till the mother was away from other shoppers and was going to give her the extra money for the free range eggs – three people came up to the family and discreetly gave them some money to get eggs from hens that would have room to move during their life.   There are a lot of decent people around but we seldom notice them or their good deeds get reported.

But surely in a case like this no one should feel guilty if their finances could only stretch to eggs from caged hens?  Not an excuse but saying to themselves “When I am in a better financial position the first think I will do is buy the eggs from birds that maybe have not been treated perfectly but then have not been confined to a few inches of space”.

 

 

The poem page this week has “A Horse’s Prayer”.  This has been taken from a wonderful website In Praise of the Horse is Hoofbeat in Heaven's library of horse poems, prayers and stories that celebrate the spiritual horse as well as the unique bond between horse and human. This is a one-of-a-kind equine poetry site because the majority of selections were written by visitors to Hoofbeats in Heaven and/or members of our horse loss support group in honour of their heavenly horses.  To date the  library contains 131 poems, stories, and prayers. So relax, stay a while, and experience first-hand the wondrous bond that only a horse and his/her human know.

I am having a wee bit of a problem with the email address for this site but if you put up on your search engine; - 

Hoofbeats In Heaven - In Praise Of The Horse