By Colin Loud
As a new member of the NAS Committee it
was suggested that I contribute an article on my interest in Spiritualism and my
personal views on mediumship, etc.
I will say that I try to maintain a
balanced and open view about these matters. However, I admit to being cautious
on how some aspects of this truth are often presented. My first visit to a
Spiritualist church was two weeks after the passing of a close relative. I do
not think I necessarily wanted proof of their survival, in fact I did not really
know what these 'places' were about.
What I really hoped for was an explanation of the many and varied experiences
that I had been through for some time and which had become more profound at that
time. There was the odd hint of evidence of survival and enough to make me think
that there was something in this and, therefore, it would be a good idea to
continue my visits. Some time on from there and due to a variety of events I
found myself Vice-President and subsequently President of a Spiritualist church.
What did this teach me? It taught me that
there is a great need for Spiritualism and I felt that the church should be the
best shop window for the Movement, providing an introduction and support to
those in need. The downside, sadly, is the much debated point that the standard
of mediumship clearly is not that good. Although some will happily accept
messages about lottery numbers, the car battery being flat or do they have a
Jack? (probably for the car) the real evidence of survival, which a philosophy
can be built upon, was not that good or consistent.
It frightened me that people who were coming into the church, perhaps vulnerable
as I once was, could be misled or disappointed and therefore miss the potential
of what this truth offers. I could recount many stories why this worried me so
much but they are not unique by any means.
Despite this I felt that the truth is the truth and, if sincerely sought after,
could be found. This was in my mind when reading an advertisement for a talk on
physical mediumship to be given by a George Cranley of The Noah's Ark Society at
another church in our area. The experiences recounted in that talk, as many of
you will know, can really inspire and inevitably I decided to find out more.
George subsequently spoke at our church and played some tapes of his direct
voice experiences with Leslie Flint. Talking to others afterwards made me
realise that some people were not interested in anything other than the usual
mundane offerings. I recalled the small ads in Psychic News and I recalled
seeing an advertisement by the Noah's Ark Society. A decision to join the NAS
followed whereupon Julie and I attended our first seance some months later.
There is an account of this seance in a previous Ark Review so I will just
repeat here that the emotion, when Frances came out to sing and Charlie held my
hand for the first time, was overwhelming.
It was not really the way I would have
preferred things to be but the contrast with this and subsequent meeting and
what I was used to made it hard for me to remain committed to the church. This,
along with other reasons, led to my ultimate decision to leave the church and
focus on what The Noah's Ark had to offer, along with healing in which I am very
interested.
People want to experience different things for different reasons. Some may be
interested in physical mediumship while others favour mental mediumship. It does
not seem appropriate to me to say that one is better than the other. For me it
is all about quality and real evidence. If this is provided, by whatever means,
it should be respected and fully supported. Having witnessed the extent of
comfort and reassurance gained by others at Colin's and Stewart's seances it
leaves no doubt as to the value of the evidence provided.
On the occasions when I have spoken to other members, I know that my view is
shared by others. I also know that there is a wealth of experience within the
Committee and amongst individual members which makes me pleased to be a part of
it all. I also know that after a few conversations with members at the NAS
gatherings, you can feel reassured that good work is being done to ensure that
this truth is strongly represented by the physical mediumship that it promotes.
Where I can help in any way I will be pleased to do so.
