My Diary.... Putting others on a pedestal.... The Big Question - still waiting on answers... Jim Brown and Willie Stenhouse...

 

                                                               My Diary...

June...

12^th – Once again it was a pleasure to be part of the Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church’s Development Group.

15^th – 20^th – a wee break in North Devon.  The weather was perfect.

26^th –Another enjoyable visit to the Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU) for their Development Group.

29^th – President Maureen Land could not have selected a better name for her church. The Love and Friendship Spiritualist Church.  There is always a great welcome for everyone who enters  this church at The Couper Institute, 86 Clarkston Road, Cathcart, Glasgow, G44 3DA on a Sunday evening at 6.30pm.  ** Due to anticipated travel delays, we are closed for 2 weeks during the GamesThere will be no Sunday services on 27th July or 3rd August 2014.  There will be no Wednesday Circle for the next two weeks. The church will open this Sunday 20th July and Sunday 10th August 2014.**
The Circle will re-open on Wednesday 6th August 2014.

Maureen Land an excellent medium in her own right of many years standing and runs an excellent development circle. (closed)  Sharing her vast knowledge of Spiritualist the Religion.   Maureen’s fledglings are given personal attention and time to ripen and mature in a natural way to be the ‘real thing before they set foot on the platform. 

3rd – July I was on my way to the Arbroath Spiritual Centre where there is a great welcome for all who walk through the doors.  Anyone in holiday in the area could pay a visit to the Church at20-22 Commerce Street, DD11 1NB on Thursday evenings Divine service starts at 7.30pm.

9^th – A meditation class.

I was not so busy in the past month and that let me get some of my psychic research attended too.

 

 

Another celebrity found guilty of serious crimes that went on for decades and I find it hard to believe, unnoticed.  I think that most of us are guilty of putting others on pedestals and worshiping them.  Look at those who go completely overboard about their favourite singer, actor/actress or sportsperson.  They take whoever it is to a different level in their mind and totally believe they can do no wrong.  These ‘stars’ are made out to be the greatest singer when they actually are only a good singer like so many others. But because of their looks, voice or songs that appeal to you.  They are the greatest and can do no wrong.

Just imagine you heard that some young person from a children’s home had complained about abuse by your ‘superstar’.  What would your immediate reactions be?

Then if the same young person approached you and pointed out a tramp sitting on a park bench and said the same thing about them.  Again – what would your immediate reaction be?

I doubt they would be exactly the same.  Although I am not saying that in the end you would completely dismiss the complaint of your ‘super hero’.

When I was young the singer I liked best was Craig Douglas and still today he is probably my favourite singer.  I supported the football team Ayr United and my favourite players were defender Bill Elliot and goalkeeper Lenny Round.  But I was never fanatical about any of them, singer, team or football players. I would comment negatively if I felt the need to do so.  But from an early age I could never see why so many worshiped certain entertainers or sports people. 

Maybe that was part of the way I was brought up, never to think anyone is better than another.  If the road sweeper does not sweep the streets or the dustman does not empty our rubbish bins our local area will be in a terrible state.

We have also heard in the past few weeks  of allegations of sexual abuse by those in high places.  Those who have so much power, that they can halt such allegations from going any further.  Many put the reputation of their political party before anything else, even before getting justice for the victim who has suffered from the most heinous of crimes.  And those individuals and organizations that know what is going on and keep quiet in my mind are equally to blame as those who have committed the heinous crimes.

I have had several emails connected with all this and most ask “Why do God / Spirit allow all this to go on?”

The answer is simple... We have been given free-will and so many abuse this precious gift.  Take this away from us and we are no more than puppets that act and think when someone pulls a string telling us to do this or that

What we sowed in the past – we are reaping today

 

 

 

 

 

I mentioned in my previous blog the omission of a representative of Spiritualism in BBC’s Sunday morning programme “The Big Question”. The programme as many of you will know is about religious and ethical debate. So why a discussion on “Is there life after death “and have no representative from Spiritualism?  After all the BBC in its website on religion lists Spiritualism as a religion with the comment, “Spiritualists believe in communication with the spirits of people who have died.”

I ranted and raved about this on Facebook, not always the best thing to do. Someone suggested that maybe a Spiritualist organisation was asked to take part but declined for some reason or other.  I could not see this but I suppose it was possible.  So I contacted Minister David R Brunton president Spiritualist National Union (SNU) who sent an immediate reply.

“I was aware of the programme and we did try to get a representative on the panel for the recording of the programme but sadly on this occasion without success”.

I sent a letter to the Director-General of the BBC asking why a representative from Spiritualism was not invited on to the programme, especially when the debate was “Is there life after death?”   I posted the letter first-class on 15/6/14 and only today 17/7/14 have I had a reply, well some sort of a reply.  A standard letter tells me that the BBC aim to reply to complaints within 10 working days and do so for most but not for all.  Well it took 24-working days to contact me about my complaint.  Maybe I just hit a busy time, maybe many Spiritualist writing and emailing with the same complaint.

My complaint has been passed on to the relevant department and it may take longer than ten days to get back to me.  I am not holding my breath.

Then I am told that to use the licence fee efficiently the BBC may not investigate every issue if it does not suggest a substantative breach of guidelines.

 A month further on and I am still waiting on a reply. I am sure I will get a reply but as we all know the wheels of big corporations turn slowly.  . Hopefully there will be an explanation from the BBC by the time my next blog goes online.

So we will wait and see...

 My comments on the BBC opened up another interesting debate and I was surprised at the number of people who commented along such lines as

“Do we be need to be on such programmes? We would only be ridiculed.   We are managing not too bad as it is at the moment – so why not just do our own thing and let others do theirs?”

When I read these comments to a friend he said “Too many Spiritualists are happy to sit back with a little bit of power whether it is committee member or a medium and not look at the big picture.  After a long hard fight by those who want Spiritualism to be given more respect we are now close to our target.  The Interfaith network has changed its rules for membership.  Hopefully this year the SNU will gain provisional membership to this organization”.

That I applaud but it brought the words from an old Spiritualist friend into my head.  “With all these new rules and regulations been put into place by Spiritualist bodies it appears Spiritualism is being dumbing down so it will be accepted by other religions.   Spiritualism should not make and changes so it can become a member of a club – a club of religions.  We must be true to ourselves and Spirit”...

Both, excellent points for debate.  Spiritualism cannot sit back we have to move forward with the times and I feel that is what we have been doing.  But change for the sake of change or change to be accepted is not on.  We have to think of all those who fought hard to get spiritualism where it is today we must not let them down.  Nor, let Spirit down.

 

 

 

                                                   Jim Brown

Jim Brown passed to Spirit a few days ago.  Jim, and May his wife served many of our churches over the years and both thoroughly deserve the title “Great Ambassadors for Spirit”.  I spoke to Jim on the phone a week before he passed and he showed great spirit and determination.  More about Jim in my next blog.

                                            Willie Stenhouse

 

13^th April saw the passing to spirit of 93-year-old Willie Stenhouse a stalwart of Spiritualism in Scotland since 1949. It was in that year after coming home from the army that Willie joined Dunfermline Spiritualist Church (SNU) and immediately became an active member.  Over the years he became Vice President and later honorary vice-president. He represented the church at many Scottish and Irish District Council meetings.  In 2009 the church held a special celebration to mark Willie's 60-years of dedicated service.  He was also an extremely gifted healer and a great mentor to many new healers starting out.

 

Mr Stenhouse had great knowledge of the Spiritualist movement; he was an old school traditionalist.  He loved the teachings of William Stainton, Moses and Sliver Birch and often quoted them in readings.  He also frequently spoke of Helen Duncan and Albert Best.

 On a personal level I always found Willie a kind, caring and compassionate gentleman, a gentleman is every sense of the word.  I remember one evening setting foot on the platform and immediately noticed something was different.  In all my previous visits to the church Willie had been sitting in his usual seat in the front row, but this evening it was empty.  All through the service I was concerned that Willie may be ill or age was finally catching up with him.  I could not wait till near the end of the service when the collection plates were going around and I whispered the chairperson for the evening “Is Willie OK?”  She replied, “Yes – he is away to London for a few days”.  Willie would have been about 87 at this time but still game enough to spend a few days in London.

 In recent years Willie was unable to attend the church but his friends in the church kept in close touch with him.  As I have often said the term “A great Ambassador for Spirit” handed out too freely.  But in this case William Stenhouse certainly deserves such a title...

 

 

 

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My Diary.... Spiritualism needs a spokesperson... Interesting Two Worlds article on Spiritualism in Northern Ireland... Your comments and questions...

                                                     My Diary...

May...

14^th – I was at the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Centre, Edinburgh...

21^st – For the first time in at least five years I returned to the Prestwick Spiritualist Church.  There I found a really enthusiastic committee and members.  After the service instead of taking the development circle I gave a talk on the many different ways spirit communicate with us.

22^nd- My visit to the Langside Spiritualist Church had to be cancelled because the hall was being used as a polling station for the European Elections.

25^th The return to Alloa Spiritualist Church after a break of many years.  The service is held in the OAP Club House, Erskine Street, Alloa, FK10 3RR.  On the church’s website there is a comment “We are a very friendly, loving church and you will be greeted by smiling faces upon entering the church”.  I can vouch for that.

27^th – I was at the Cambuslang Spiritualist Church...

29^th – it is always a great pleasure to be involved with the development Group of Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church.

1 June^st - Falkirk Spiritualist Church (SNU).

2^nd June I was giving a talk to the Friendship of Love and Light Spiritualist Church, Paisley.

3^rd – It is always a pleasure to serve the Neilson Spiritualist Church.  President Sheila Caruthers, an excellent medium in her own right, has been in Spiritualism for many years.  She shares her immense knowledge of Spiritualism at her weekly development circle on a Wednesday evening at 7.30pm in the Glen Hall Main Street Neilston G78 3NL.  Anyone wanting to know more about Spiritualism and their psychic abilities this is the place for you.  The service is at the same venue on a Tuesday evening at 7.30pm.

4^th – It was a short journey to the Kilwinning of Light Spiritualist Church, Nethermains Community Centre.  One of the first churches to ask me to take a service all those years ago.  This church started out 45 years ago and always has been one of our busiest churches in Ayrshire.  President Margaret Jamieson also a medium in her own right has plans to put in place a more varied programme for the members.  In the congregation that night were three other mediums.  Popular Ayrshire medium John Seery, Paul Erroch now back on the platform after an illness and also well respected John Edgar.  John an elder statesman of the Spiritualist movement has had to cut back his church activities but still takes the odd service.

5^th – The Langside Spiritualist Church.

                    We need someone to speak up for our religion....

·    One would not expect to go for a drive in a car that had no engine, nor to expect bread to rise if that was no yeast added to the ingredients. But the BBC’s The Big Question which deals with moral, ethics and religious debate did not have a representative from Spiritualism, even though the question was Is There Life After Death.  Yet the BBC’s online website on religion lists Spiritualism as the religion and tells its readers Spiritualists believe in communication with the spirits of people who have died.  I have for a long time felt that the BBC has not given Spiritualism the country’s 8^th largest religion that respect it is due.

We may be a little to blame for our exclusion from religious programmes because in many ways we are so fragmented. Is it not time that the SNU and other Spiritualist associations formed a coalition and elected spokesperson to speak for Spiritualism in Britain? At the moment two strong candidates come to mind.  President of the SNU Minister David Brunton and David Hopkins, Minister, author and broadcaster. Either of these two men would give Spiritualism a boost and could handle the negative comments we would get from the media. in a very professional way

The last thing we should do is put up mediums for this role. The mediums that would be at the forefront for such a position would be the so-called big names, Celebrities.   It would appear to have of one foot in religion and another in the entertainment industry. Just imagine how easy it would be to shoot down in flames a medium whose name is up in light’s outside a theatre, performs on cruise ships or is the star of a psychic TV programme. And that would do no good for Spiritualism the religion.

After the programme was finished I was so angry that I voiced my opinions on Facebook – not always the best thing to do. But there were several interesting comments connected to my outburst

D - “Tom, There is a slight issue here, how do we know that they never asked a Spiritualist to take part and they refused? In case they were being faced with hostile people.” .......................... Yes I had thought that and I have contacted the BBC and the SNU hopefully I will have an answer in my next blog.

T - “They could also have asked a psychical researcher like myself whose book deals completely in evidence.”   ...........This is  a programme dealing with moral ethical and religious debate. There are other religions that have views that are not readily accepted and they do not take along researchers to prove the point.

? - “We are better out of it let them have difficulty little chats we would only be ridicule. Let us keep our heads down as we are at the moment do our own thing not bothering with the rest think about us.”....    A very good point aI am tempted to say yes to his but for one thing. Too many look on Spiritualism is nothing more entertainment and money making ventures. As a have already said, a big part of needing a strong spokesman is because of the celeb and entertainment image we have at the moment.

 

 

In the June issue of the Two World magazine is an interesting interview with Pat James President of the Belfast Spiritualist Church (SNU). It is good to see that local mediums are now taking the platform at the church.  On my four visits to Belfast I was impressed with the enthusiasm of both committee and members and the high quality of education that is on offer.  The church has its own premises and uses it to the full, with something taking part within the building most nights of the week.   We seldom see a representative from Northern Ireland at the Scottish and District Council meetings and that is understandable because of the distance.  Maybe the DC could consider funding or part funding the trip for a NI representative.

 

 

Gwen emails; - “Tom do you wear a tie on the platform? 

Yes – always have done...

To be honest I have not seen a medium on a church platform without a tie but recently I have heard the complaints that “The medium was on the platform without a tie”.  I have to be blunt here and say if I was president of a spiritualist church it would be – no tie – no platform.  We have to give spirit respect and also remember we are representing a religion.

 

Bob asks; - “If you entered a Spiritualist Church today for the first time do you think you would stay, stay as long as you have done since you first came through our door over twenty years ago.

Again I will be blunt and say “No”.  I found Spiritualism in those days different, maybe magical in a way.  Today in many ways for the newcomer it is hard to distinguish Spiritualism from entertainment and money making ventures...

 

CR; - “I agree with you 100% about Spiritualist of the year”.

Marie; - “I liked your comments about subtle changes to our services and I also feel that ‘sanctuary’ is a better term to use than ‘church’.

Thank you Marie.  I only mentioned change when all in the church were happy with slight changes nothing to be forced on a church.

My Diary /Take a little more time / A Star but wanted a quiet life./.. A Rude Interruption... / My usual gripe at this time of year... / An extremely brave young man...

 

 

                                                   My Diary

 26^th April - I attended the Glasgow Central Spiritualist Church’s  Coffee Afternoon which was well attended.

30^th – I received the usual friendly welcome at the College of Parapsychology in Edinburgh.

1^st May – Another interesting evening working with Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church Fledglings.

4^th - It’s always a pleasure to take the Divine Service at Ayr Spiritualist Centre.  There was a good turnout considering it was a holiday weekend.

5^th – A Meditation Circle.

7^th – A short journey to the Paisley Spiritualist Church.

8^th – Larkfield Spiritualist Church, Larkfield Community Hall, Stonefield Road,  Blantyre. G72 9PQ.   Although on this night the service was held in The Archway Centre, Newton, G72 8RN.   The service is held in this hall on the second Thursday of each  month.  .   A well run church which has from their first night 7 Years ago been well supported by the local community.

10^th – It was a great pleasure to help out at the Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU) on their Open Day.  Almost £800 was raised for Daldorch House.  Daldorch House School offers fully individual care and education to children with autism from across Scotland. Their tailored mix of care and support provides the pupils with a stepping stone into a positive future.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                Take a little more time...

When I get a message from the platform or at a private sitting... I find is never complete till I think of the person who came forward and the content of the message over the next few days.

I was amazed that the first person to come forward was an aunt. Why not my mother or father?  But I put these thoughts out of my mind as I listened to the medium. 

“Strange I see a cupboard door opening and lots of lemonade bottle on the floor...  The all seemed to have been opened – not like finishing off one bottle and opening another.  As I have said they have all been opened and are still half full of different flavours of lemonade” This was spot-on about a house on my father’s side of the family.  But who?  As it could have been grandmother, grandfather, an uncle or two aunts...  Although one particular aunt was foremost in my mind as she was the one who would tell her nephews and nieces to select whatever flavour you want even though the parents were saying ‘Take the bottle that is open’.

“This lady has a very pale complexion, slim and it appears she wore a lot of brown.  It is like heavy knitted cardigans and she always seemed to feel the cold – she was never warm.”  This narrowed it down to one aunt – the one mentioned above.   Lots more evidence that was very accurate, left me stunned.  I was so surprised at the accuracy of the evidence I could not remember what the message - if there actually was one. 

On the way home and for the next few days I kept thinking “Why this aunt and not my mother and father or even grandparents?”  Every time this question came into my head I kept thinking of what I had been told when I asked this question to mediums – “The right person comes forward at the right time”.

So I started to look at the life of this aunt and a new picture emerged in my head of her.  She was a kindly soul who never had a bad word to say about anyone -and I mean that.  No matter what anyone had done she could always manage to see some good in them.  I have to admit that infuriated me at times.   She always used to embarrass me by making me recite a poem when I was small “I will help my mummy all I can.  So much so that when I saw her coming along the street I would hide from her.  Now I feel ashamed at taking this action - because she was one of the nicest people I have ever come across.

Her health was never all that good but that did not stop her working in a laundry for a great many years, only leaving to care for her ailing parents.  Again never a moan because she had a great love for her parents and when they passed over she was content to stay about the house rather than go out always giving a loving welcome to the family when they paid a visit.

In fact she probably was one of the two family members that were likely to come forward first because on information I was to hear a few years later.  She had a connection with spiritualism be it only loosely.  During the war she befriended a lady who came to stay in the town who was a spiritualist.

I was sure her visit would be to encourage me on the new path I have taken unlike some other members of the family.  That gave me a big boost and I went into the development circles at the church with more confidence in myself.  

And not forgetting the medium who gave me such an accurate message... A lady who only took the platform a few times a year and today she has it down to two churches.  Her close link with spirit has taken her almost away from our churches and platforms to work with very vulnerable people.

                                                    

 

                                                       A Star but wanted a quiet life...

 I still get the odd email asking me if I have been in touch with famous people who are now in Spirit.  Even at a question and answer session one night I was asked the same question and when I said “No” a group of young girls looked very displeased and sat the rest of the evening looking bored

Yet on thinking back I did really get a message from a gentleman in the spirit world who was a celebrity when he was here.  But not in the way many film stars are worshipped today. It started off and ended as a normal message and I would have been none the wiser if the lady receiving the message and not given me feedback later. There was no mention during the message of grandeur or fame it was just a message from one friend to another.  As the lady told me later he kept out of the limelight as much as possible..

When I was told who he was and I thought back to the description – yes it was spot on... The friend went on to comment something like; - “He came to our home regularly to get away from the glare of publicity.   he just wanted to be an ordinary person enjoying the simple things of life once his working day was over..  Two pieces of evidence you gave was spot-on and would not have been in the media only his closest friends would know.”  This gentleman would receive a good welcome into the spirit world not because he was a well known actor but for the good deeds he would have done here on Earth. 

 

                                                      

                                              A Rude Interruption

I wonder if it is said in other churches before a service “Please put your mobiles off - or if you are on call please put them on silent?”  It is common sense to put your mobile phone off before entering a church, hospital’ doctor’s surgery to listen to a talk/lecture etc... That is unless you are on-call or waiting on an urgent call your mobile can be put on silent. BUT... we all forget at times. 

If I am on the platform and someone’s phone rings it does not bother me as over the years such a thing has only happened the odd occasion.  But at a recent service a member of the congregation took exception to a lady texting during the service and their attitude caused more disruption than the lady’s actions.

It was during my address the lady’s mobile must have alerted her on silent mode and she texted back a reply.  I was aware of none of this.  .  But a member of the congregation took it upon themselves to walk down from the back of the church and tell the lady to get her phone off as in texting she was being disrespectful.  Disrespectful to whom?  Not to myself and I am sure not to spirit. It turned out the lady received some very good news about her family and not wanting to walk out during the service she texted back to say she would be home as soon as the service was over. The atmosphere did drop considerably after that rude interruption and it was midway through the clairvoyance before it recovered.  The interruption had nothing to do with a mobile phone, the lady or texting but by a member of the congregation taking it upon themselves to ??

In a spiritualist church we know that the link with spirit is for all involved to send out thoughts of love and understanding.  If I felt that a mobile going off on silent and someone quietly texting put me off then I would feel that is was time for me to vacate the platform.  I have also heard complaints about children making a noise something I have only experienced on the rarest of occasions.  When the latter happens the little one is usually taken out for a few moments.  In spiritualism these days I feel that ‘spirit’ is being eroded and one puts themselves before spirit. 

                                                     

                                  My usual gripe at this time of year...

 I receive a letter from the SNU asking me to consider nominating someone for this year’s Spiritualist of the Year Award....  This award was established some years ago with view to recognising a person who has made considerable contribution to Spiritualism in recent years through their hard work and dedication to the movement.  So many Spiritualists fall into this category and it would be unfair to select one over the other.  Many Spiritualists from Land’s End to John O’ Groats have put their life and soul into Spiritualism it would be unfair to put one before another.  How on Earth could an Awards Committee sitting at Stanstead select one before another.  Do they go on letters written by a church or an individual?  If that is the case then the individual who has a friend who has a talent for writing stands the better chance.  If it goes by the most nominations for one person then the individual whose church can muster the most members to write in will win.  What other Religion has such Awards? If we are to call Spiritualism a religion then we will have to discard such an Award or be looked upon as part of the entertainment industry.

 

 

                                                     

 

 

                                            An extremely brave young man...

 The words “sorry” “love” and “hero” are often abused.  Take the latter, how often is someone taking part in a sporting event called a “hero”.  They may have put a lot of hard work into perfecting their skills and went through the pain barrier to achieve success – but a hero?  No...  Heroes are those who put their lives on the line to protect others Police, firemen and those in the armed services who go over and above the call of duty to help others in life threatening situations.  Also ordinary members of the public who for example run into a burning house to try and save someone’s life etc.

One young gentleman who was not in the categories I have mentioned above - but was a real hero and an inspiration to us all –19-year-old Stephen Sutton.  Stephen was diagnosed with terminal cancer aged 15. And rather than dwell on his misfortune, the teenager drew up a "bucket list" of things he wanted to achieve before he died.  This led to him completing a skydive and playing drums in front of 90,000 people before the Uefa Champions League final at Wembley last May, among various achievements.  That in its self showed great guts and determination for one so young knowing he had not long to live – but Stephen’s amazing spirit blossomed even further as he thought helping others in the short time he had left.

Stephen dedicated the short time he had left to raising money for charity and as we all know Teenage has benefited by over £4m and the money will be dedicated to improving the quality of life and chances of survival for young cancer patients aged 13-24. The charity fund builds specialist units in NHS hospitals and provides dedicated staff, bringing young people together so they can be treated by teenage cancer.  But all this goes beyond such a brave, selfless and inspirational young man it shows the kindness of so many who have contributed towards Stephen’s dream of helping other people in need.  The media would have us believe that the world is a terrible place but the good and decent folk by far outweigh the bad in our society. 

Stephen Sutton is a REAL HERO in every sense of the word.  A brave, selfless and inspirational young man who brought the best in so many who donated to the charity of his choosing.  If anyone should be put on a pedestal and looked up to it is Stephen Sutton....