The History, Principles and Objectives of the SNU
Words from the SNU Diary, 2007
This page concentrates on the history of the 'Spiritualists' National Union,' for the history of Spiritualism and spirit communication then go to the Spiritualism history page.
List of Presidents and Honorary Officers of the SNU
List of Significant Dates
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Some twenty years after the introduction of the
Spiritualist movement to Britain it was becoming apparent that there was a need to unite the many scattered
churches and societies into some kind of federation in order to present a
common front against persecution, win religious recognition and freedom of
worship for its adherents and exponents, achieve a greater unanimity of
opinion concerning the fundamental basis of Spiritualist beliefs, and give a
new impetus and direction to the movement through co-ordination and
co-operation. This task fell to Mrs Britten, a gifted orator and writer, who
had launched the Two Worlds magazine in 1887 and was the joint composer of the Lyceum
Manual published in the same year.
Formation
A number of National Conferences had been held in the early years in
Darlington, Newcastle, Liverpool and London, all with the intention of
establishing a national organisation, but these had proved unsuccessful.
The idea of a National Federation of Spiritualist Churches had been the
subject of several articles written by Mrs Britten in Two Worlds in late
1889 and early 1890, and at her instance a meeting of interested
Spiritualists was convened on 1st April 1891 in Manchester with a view to
discussing plans for the formation of an organisation which would unite
the Spiritualist churches throughout the country. Following a favourable
response from these to a circular the Inaugural Conference of the
Spiritualists’ National Federation was held on the first Sunday in July
1890 in the Co-operative Hall, Ardwick, Manchester.
At first the Federation was little more than a movable annual
conference at which delegates from Spiritualist societies and individual
Spiritualists could discuss problems of common interest. As a result of
these conferences it became clear that the field of co-operation could be
widened if the Federation obtained the legal status of a corporation which
could hold real property. Accordingly, in October 1901 the Spiritualists’
National Union Limited was incorporated under the Companies Acts as a
company not for profit and limited by guarantee, and in July 1902 it
succeeded to, and took over the property, rights and obligations of, the
Spiritualists’ National Federation.
Seven Principles
To provide a definition of Spiritualism and
Spiritualists, for incorporation in the Memorandum of Association of the new
company, the framers of the Union’s constitution in 1901 adapted the
Principles given through Mrs Britten’s mediumship and so established the
following unalterable Seven Principles of Spiritualism as the basis of the
religion and religious philosophy of the Spiritualists’ National Union.
For further explanation about the Seven Principles
follow the link, principles
The Fatherhood of God.
The Brotherhood of Man.
The Communion of Spirits and the Ministry of Angels.
The continuous existence of the human soul.
Personal responsibility.
Compensation & retribution hereafter for all the good & evil
deeds done on earth.
Eternal progress open to every human soul.
Objects
The primary object of the Spiritualists’ National Union is to promote the advancement and diffusion of a knowledge of the religion
and religious philosophy of Spiritualism on the basis of the Seven
Principles.
It aims to unite Spiritualist societies and churches into a
Spiritualist brotherhood and to secure for them full recognition as
religious bodies. Other objects specified in the Memorandum of Association
include the encouragement of Spiritualist research, the certification and
appointment of Ministers, lecturers, exponents and teachers, the
publication and distribution of Spiritualist literature and the promotion
of mission work. The Union has taken a leading part in the foundation of
the International Spiritualist Federation, which unites Spiritualists of
many countries.