03rd January 2012

David Bruton OSNU

 

As we cross the threshold of another year I am sure, like me, you have reviewed last year's highs and lows and look forward to the blank canvas of the year ahead with all the possibilities it holds. 2011 was in so many ways a positive year for the Union, albeit a year marked with many changes. Looking back to my personal high point, this has to be the Presidents' Day held during Open Week at Stansted Hall, with 102 Churches represented: we were all afforded a wonderful opportunity to meet together as Spiritualists and share our thoughts and hopes for the future. Other notable events include the dedication of Emma Hardinge Britten’s headstone as it found a new home at Stansted Hall, a fitting memorial for one of our greatest pioneers.

 

I was pleased to accept an invitation to address the Lyceum Annual General Meeting in May at Ossett Church; the history of the Lyceum Union predates that of the Union and moves to bring the two bodies even closer together are, I believe, a positive step.

 

2011 also saw the dedication and rededication of many Churches and Centres around the country, too many to mention here by name, though it was a wonderful opportunity to meet many dedicated Spiritualists working for the movement and share their special day. The dedication of the new Arthur Findlay Centre at Stafford marked the culmination of many plans and a considerable effort to establish a teaching centre as an alternative to the Arthur Findlay College, and it has been interesting to see how the Centre has developed in its first year of operation. Then we move on to the dedication of Edinburgh Association's new home at Palmerston Place in the West End of Edinburgh; the Centre is such that it holds great promise for the future as it becomes established as a teaching centre in Scotland and, most importantly, plays a part in the local community, which we should all be seeking to do.

 

In July we revisited the National Memorial Arboretum for our Peace Walk, which followed a Service of Peace. I know that many people travelled to join in and enjoy the day; we provided quite a spectacle to the many onlookers as we all walked from the marquee where we had held the service to our Memorial in an act which was reminiscent of the rallies of yesteryear. Launching the Peace Minute at Conference at Warwick University later that same month was also a special experience, which seemed to add purpose to the act of the prayer for peace, though it was only when we recently observed the Peace Minute during an NEC meeting that I became aware of the immense spiritual power of that moment, which I am confident many of you have also experienced.

 

Sadly, we saw the passing to spirit of Minister Jean Bassett. I am sure we share Jean's joy at being reunited with her beloved husband, Bob, but in seeing Jean make her transition we lost another wonderful and dedicated worker who has given so much to the Union. Joining family, friends and colleagues for her Memorial Service at Stansted in October was a great honour.

 

Much work has been done to improve the way the Union works and presents itself to the world. The introduction of the new database at Redwoods and the launch of the new website are both crucial parts of this strategy, together with the introduction of the new suite of leaflets to provide support to the Churches in their propagation of Spiritualism. The Union was recently approached by Sky Television to provide a spokesman to be interviewed on the Kevin Moore Show: we invited Minister David Hopkins to undertake this task and David took part in an in-depth interview focusing on Spiritualism and spirituality today. This interview is now available on YouTube and I have included a link at the base of this article should you like to view it for yourself. The manner in which the interview was conducted attests to how far we have come when working with the media and how differently we are treated from perhaps ten or twenty years ago - a real step forward.

 

I am sure that many Officers, Committee members and speakers have enjoyed their Christmas break, allowing them time to spend with family and friends. During Christmas I have been reading the autobiography of Alfred Kitson, who is truly one of our early pioneers who has helped to shape the modern movement. His work to establish and develop the British Lyceum movement has made a tremendous contribution to the movement as a whole. Despite the fact that his book was written over one hundred years ago it provides a great insight into how our early pioneers worked to establish so much of what we take for granted today.

 

Looking forward to 2012, the NEC meet in a couple of weeks for the one meeting in the year when we do not deal with minutes and reports; instead, we use the time to plan policy and our strategic direction for the future. Last year we established our five-year plan and, on reviewing this, it is heartening to note what progress has been made on so many fronts; the challenge is now to move this process forward and develop the plan in a way that will bring great benefit to the future of the movement.

 

I will shortly be travelling to Leeds to dedicate our first new Pioneer Centre for 2012; the following day the focus moves to Beech Hill and in February I will be visiting Southern Ireland, which will mean that by the end of February we will have established three new Centres for Union Spiritualism, with several more at the planning stage for later in the year.

 

A considerable amount of work has been undertaken in creating a teaching pack for schools, which we plan to issue to every secondary school throughout the UK to provide a fitting resource to support the teaching of Spiritualism. Alfred Kitson recognised over a hundred years ago the importance of teaching the young and I hope this project will certainly provide a greater understanding about Spiritualism in the wider society and, most importantly, for the next generation. The interest in spirituality is reflected in many aspects of our world and many are searching to understand life and gain a purpose for living. Spiritualism can answer so many of the questions asked in the modern world; we all need to strive together to bring forward a greater awareness of our truth, which I am confident will bring about a greater respect for each other and re-establish the values and foundations of a good and progressive society, which will, in turn, have a greater effect on our physical world and beyond.

 

On behalf of the NEC can I wish everybody a happy, progressive and spiritually stimulating 2012. May your work in whatever field bring you great fulfilment and the opportunity to truly serve the spirit.

 

David R. Bruton

 

View Minister David Hopkins TV Interview on YouTube.