THE SPIRITUALIST ALLIANCE SOCIETY

The Spiritualist Alliance Society is a Canadian nonprofit organization and Spiritualist church recognized since 1959. It is dedicated to fostering spiritual growth through the practice of Spiritualism, providing a supportive community for its members and promoting the understanding of spiritual communication and related teachings.

History

Founded in 1959 by Reverends Beatrice Gaulton-Bishop, John Horning, and Doris Horning, the organization was originally known as the International Spiritualist Alliance of New Westminster, British Columbia. It was registered under the Society Act on September 25, 1959, which enabled it to solemnize marriages and operate as a federally registered charity issuing tax-deductible receipts.

Over the years, the Spiritualist Alliance Society established a permanent location in New Westminster in 1979, hosting Sunday services, Wednesday evening speaker events, and mediumship workshops. From 2006 to 2020, services were held at 317 Columbia Street, North Vancouver, British Columbia.

The society has a long history connected to the broader Spiritualist movement in Canada, with ties to the National Spiritualist Association of Canada, which was active from 1928 to 1974 before declining. The founding of the Spiritualist Alliance Society in 1959 followed discussions about unifying spiritualist churches and was inspired by spiritual guidance received by Reverend Beatrice Gaulton-Bishop[1][2][3].

Beliefs and Practices

The Spiritualist Alliance Society embraces core Spiritualist principles, including:

• The fatherhood of God
• The brotherhood of humanity
• The immortality of the soul
• Communion with the spirits of the departed
• Personal responsibility for one's actions
• Compensation and justice for good and evil deeds
• The eternal progress of the soul

These affirmations are generally framed within a Christian theological context that honors God as a loving creator and Jesus as a spiritual leader and redeemer perfected through suffering[5].

Activities and Community

The society offers various activities, including Sunday worship services, mediumship readings, workshops, and speaker events centered on spiritual development and evidential mediumship. Prominent members and spiritual leaders have included Reverend Melba Carlsen and Reverend Shelley Schonwald, known for their mediumship and counseling work.

The organization is committed to inclusivity and accessibility, providing handicap-accessible facilities and free parking for attendees.

Legal Status and Registration

The Spiritualist Alliance Society is a federally registered charity in Canada with Business Registration Number 133617100RR0001. It operates as a nonprofit organization under Canadian law, focusing on charitable, religious, and educational purposes related to Spiritualism[4].

Legacy

With more than six decades of continuous activity since its founding in 1959, the Spiritualist Alliance Society is one of the longstanding institutions representing Spiritualism in Canada. It continues to maintain spiritualist traditions while adapting to contemporary spiritual needs.

This article is based on publicly available information about the Spiritualist Alliance Society, including historical and organizational details.