Title
Records of the First Spiritualist Church of Methuen, MA.
Records of the First Spiritual Church of Methuen, 1894 - 1959, including clerk's records, Ladies Aid Society, Sunflower Club, Lyceum, membership records and a hymnal collection.
pubnotes: Braude, Ann, "Radical Spirits Spiritualism and Women's Rights in Nineteenth-Century America," Boston: Beacon Press, 1989.
admin: Spiritualism was a new religious movement aimed at proving the immorality of the soul by establishing communication with the spirits of the dead. Ubiquitous in mid-nineteenth century America, it began in 1848 in New York state as a religious response to a crisis of faith felt by many Americans at that time. They believed that divine truth was directly accessible to individuals through spirit communication. Spiritualism enjoyed a resurgence during the 1880's and, as a faith, continued to satisfy the one hope that no other movement could - the abolition of death - and therefore people continued to turn to the Spiritualism for consolation. (Braude)
On March 17, 1898 a meeting was held at 25 Broadway, Methuen, MA to form a society called The Progressive Spiritualist Society of Lawrence. Mr. Thomas Mack of Methuen was sworn in as Temporary Clerk and Mr. Robert Driver was elected Temporary Chairman. At that time a Constitution and By-Laws were adopted. Monthly meetings of all members were scheduled to be held once a month on the first Thursday. The annual meetings were to be held on the first Thursday in June. By 1900 the Society referred to itself as the Progressive Spiritualist Society Methuen, Mass. By their own definition ," Spiritualism is the Science, Philosophy and Religion of continuous life, based upon the demonstrated fact of communication, by means of mediumship, with those who live in the Spirit World." A Spiritualist believes in the communication between this and the spirit world and who tries to live according to the teachings derived from this communication. A Medium is a person who is sensitive to vibrations from the spirit world and are able to convey messages and produce the Phenomena of Spiritualism. A Healer is one who is able to impart a vital curative force to pathologic conditions. The First Spiritualist Church of Methuen was a chartered member of the Massachusetts State Association of Spiritualists, which was incorporated in 1894. The Lyceum corresponds to the Sunday School of other religious systems. The ministry of Spiritualism consists of Ordained Ministers, Licentiates and Certified Mediums. The State Association certifies healers, mediums, missionaries and lecturers. The seal of the organization is a circular design with a sunflower in the center. The church building itself was purchased from the All Saints Church and moved by Mr. John Evans from Kirk Street, Methuen to Centre Street, Methuen in 1905. The church was remodeled in 1914 and again in 1936. The final entry in the records regarding the First Spiritualist Church of Methuen is dated 1974.
Collection
First Spiritualist Church of Methuen, MA
Creator
First Spiritualist Church of Methuen
Date (created)
1894 -1974
Collection came from Mary Hagopian.The records were given to the donor by Mr.Thomas Hadfield, President of the Spiritualist Church, 1 Peaslee Terrace, #2, Methuen, MA.
The bulk of the collection is in ledger form.