History of Spiritualism
Spiritualism was a religious movement that gained momentum in America during the mid-1800s. The movement essentially held that people could communicate with people who have died - and enabled people to do that through mediums.
Why did Spiritualism become such a phenomenon during the mid-1800s? First, we need to look at the two previous centuries. The 16th and 17th centuries in America were dominated by a very puritanical form of Christianity. Anyone who practiced anything like Spiritualism during that time would have been risking their life. It is estimated that thousands of people were executed for witchcraft in Europe and America during those centuries. Rural life was very harsh and rigid and people were held to very strict mores. It was a matter of life or death to conform.
America was drastically changing in the mid-1800s. There was more industrialization and urbanization, which meant cities were growing and work was evolving. Inventions and science were transforming how people looked at the world around them. Immigrants were bringing in new religious practices and beliefs into American towns. There was literature and scientific discoveries that challenged religious beliefs and the Bible. America was on the verge of a Civil War and tensions were high. People were looking for assurance because life seemed uncertain.
Another big factor for the rise of Spiritualism was that people were not as comforted by traditional Christian beliefs when loved ones died. The death of children especially led parents to seek comfort in other places besides their community church. Spiritualism offered grieving people solace while coping with their loss. All these factors helped create an opening for Spiritualism to rise.
The Fox sisters
Many historians attribute the birth of Spiritualism in North America to the Fox Sisters. Maggie and Kate Fox lived in New York. In 1848, when they were 14 and 11 years old, they relayed some strange experiences to their parents. The two sisters heard knocks on furniture and walls while in their bedrooms at night. The girls demonstrated this for their parents and neighbors. They would ask questions and noises would come in response. Everyone was mystified by these young girls’ abilities to speak to the dead. Their fame and demonstrations catapulted Spiritualism into a phenomenon. Maggie and Kate were joined by their older sister Leah and they spent their lives working as mediums. They were invited to do demonstrations and hold séances where they communicated with the dead.
Many historians attribute the birth of Spiritualism in North America to the Fox Sisters. Maggie and Kate Fox lived in New York. In 1848, when they were 14 and 11 years old, they relayed some strange experiences to their parents. The two sisters heard knocks on furniture and walls while in their bedrooms at night. The girls demonstrated this for their parents and neighbors. They would ask questions and noises would come in response. Everyone was mystified by these young girls’ abilities to speak to the dead. Their fame and demonstrations catapulted Spiritualism into a phenomenon. Maggie and Kate were joined by their older sister Leah and they spent their lives working as mediums. They were invited to do demonstrations and hold séances where they communicated with the dead.
The sisters had a falling out as adults, which led to Maggie coming forward to claim it was all a hoax. She revealed the very first spirit communications in their New York bedroom was a prank. They used an apple on a string to produce the spirit noises. She said at their public demonstrations, they would use their own knuckles, joints and toes. A year later, Maggie recanted all of this, but her reputation was damaged beyond repair.
Despite the way things ended for the Fox Sisters, their contribution to the Spiritualist movement was profound and undeniable. Their work as mediums led many others to take up the profession as well, which led to the growth and popularity of Spiritualism around the country.
Mae West
Notable spiritualists that helped promote this belief system have included such diverse people as Thomas Edison, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Queen Victoria, Mary Todd Lincoln, Mae West and many more.
History of Canadian Spiritualism
By the early 1900's Spiritualism was popular enough in Canada that the Spiritualist National Union (SNU) was incorporated in Canada on April 27th, 1929. Several decades later - on August 23, 1978 - the SNU Canada changed its name to the Spiritualist Church of Canada, as it is still known today. Spiritual churches and centres can be found all across Canada at the present time. Two Worlds has chosen to be known as a centre rather than a church as we want to be clear we do not subscribe to any church dogma and we are are welcoming to all .
By the early 1900's Spiritualism was popular enough in Canada that the Spiritualist National Union (SNU) was incorporated in Canada on April 27th, 1929. Several decades later - on August 23, 1978 - the SNU Canada changed its name to the Spiritualist Church of Canada, as it is still known today. Spiritual churches and centres can be found all across Canada at the present time. Two Worlds has chosen to be known as a centre rather than a church as we want to be clear we do not subscribe to any church dogma and we are are welcoming to all .
Ghostbustors Logo
The Canadian Actor and Director Dan Akroyd, is a 4th generation Spiritualist. In co-writing Ghostbusters he loosely based the film on the life of his great grandfather Sam Akyroyd, a devout Spiritualist who held regular seances at the family farmhouse in Canada.