Facts, Definitions
Questions And Answers
Association filed for incorporation in Washington,
DC on November 1, 1893. This Association later evolved into the National Spiritualist Association of Churches, that is the governing body of our nationally recognized churches.
Here are some basic definitions:
Spiritualism- is a scientific, philosophical religion
and embraces the science of life, the philosophy of
existence and the religion of humanity. It is based
upon the fact of communication, through the use
of mediumship, with those in the Spirit World.
Spiritualist- is one who believes, as a part of their
religion, in communication between this and the
Spirit World by means of mediumship. A
Spiritualist is also one who endeavors to mold their
character and conduct in accordance with the
highest teachings derived from this communion with Spirit.
Medium- is one whose organisms are sensitive to
vibrations from the Spirit World and through which intelligences, in that world, are able to convey
messages and produce the phenomena of Spiritualism.
The Advent of Modern Spiritualism began when spirit was achieved by the Fox family in
Hydesville, NY on March 31, 1848. Spirit
communication was established with a Russian
peddler named Charles Rosna. He was slain at
a cottage in Hydesville, NY by a family called the Bell family. After he was killed, he was buried in the basement of the cottage. Strange
unexplained phenomena began to happen to the Bells, in the cottage, after this event.Eventually
they had to move to escape these occurences.
Another family named the Weekman family moved in and they also began experiencing strange unexplained "rappings' or knockings
throughout the cottage. They also moved to escape the phenomena. John and Margaret
Fox with their two children Catherine and
Margaretta then moved in. They began having
the same rapping occurences as those who
had lived there before. As they went to bed
early one evening, the rappings began. The
children had given a name of Mr. Splitfoot
to the unknown originator of these rappings.
That night, Catherine, after hearing the rappings, said aloud " Mr. Splitfoot, do as I do"
and clapped her hands twice. The unknown
Mr. Splitfoot responded with two rappings.
Catherine then yelled to her mother "Momma,
Mr. Splitfoot can see as well as hear." The
mother, over a period of time devised a code
to bring meaning to the rappings to learn what
the spirit of Charles Rosna was attempting to
communicate. He told them he was killed and buried in the basement and wanted to get word to his family. Thus began the The New Age
of Modern American Spiritualism After this
event, many people came forward displaying a
hidden sensitivity to Spirit vibrations.