Emma Hardinge Britten
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Emma Hardinge was born in 1823 in the Eastend of London. As a child, Emma could predict coming events and often saw the spirits of dead relatives and family friends. In 1855 Emma first visited America. At the boarding house where she was living Emma met a Spiritualist couple and was persuaded to have a sitting with a medium. The sitting was a remarkable experience that changed Emma’s entire outlook on life and she determined to develop herself as a medium. Emma discovered that she had a mediumship gift for table tipping and wrapping, where spirits made themselves known by table movements and noises. In 1856, Emma held a table séance that spelt out a message from a friend who had died in the ship ‘Pacific.’ However, this ship had only recently sunk and at the time no one knew. Following this message Emma became well known as a medium and demonstrated several forms of mediumship. Emma practised her mediumship along with Miss Kate Fox who was one of the ‘Fox’ sisters from Hydesville where modern Spiritualism came to the attention of the public. After a while Emma gave up platform mediumship and séances to concentrate on inspirational speaking about spiritual matters; she would take the platform, pass into a light trance and knew little of what then happened until she again came to herself. Emma travelled throughout America and to many parts of the world giving lectures and inspired addresses on the subject of Modern Spiritualism. By public speaking and prolific writings Emma work for spirit encouraged the formation of many Spiritualist groups, societies and churches. |
Emma Hardinge Britten helped to establish the Spiritualists movement. Emma was a Spiritualist medium who travelled the world giving public talks on the philosophy of Spiritualism. In her public speaking Emma was often in a light trance state where she allowed her spirit guides to inspire her words or even to speak through her directly.  Emma Hardinge Britten |