STAINTON MOSES

A MEMOIR

WILLIAM STAINTON MOSES was born in November, 1839. He was educated at the Lincolnshire Grammar School of which his father was headmaster. Later he attended the Bedford Grammar School, where his brilliant abilities and his industry gained him many prizes and an exhibition to Oxford. Here he broke down from overwork on the eve of his final examination, and was ordered abroad.

He spent nearly a year traveling on the Continent, and passed several months on the old Greek monastery of Mount Athos, which, he afterwards learned, he had been impressed to do as part of his spiritual training.

He returned to England, and, after taking his degree, was ordained to a curacy in the Isle of Man, where his courage and unselfish devotion during an outbreak of small-pox endeared him to all. After a short time in Dorset, Stainton Moses took a curacy in Salisbury, which proved to be his last Church appointment, as throat trouble developed, and obliged him to give up all public speaking for a time.

He came to London, where he stayed with Dr. and Mrs. Speer and acted as tutor to their son. About 1871 he obtained the post of English master at University College School, which he held till ill-health obliged him to relinquish it in 1889.

As a result of reading The Debatable Land, a book lent him by Mrs. Speer, his interest in Spiritualism was aroused, and a circle was formed at which his mediumship quickly developed.

In early life Stainton Moses had been fairly well-to-do, having a small estate on the Lincolndhire coast. By some oversight the maintenance of the sea-wall was not kept up, and one unusual tide swept away the best part of his estate.

Once, when staying in the Isle of White, Stainton Moses was invited to visit Lord Tennyson, who always liked to read Light. They walked over the Downs together, and Stainton Moses wrote a graphic account of his visit. This was unfortunately lost.

About four years before his passing which took place in September, 1892, Stainton Moses was thrown from the top of an omnibus and sustained severe injury. Then, after his recovery, he was attacked with influenza. He rallied, but never threw off its clutches. Overwork sapped his strength, and influenza seized him again.

The memorial edition of Spirit Teachings contains a biographical notice of Stainton Moses by Mr. Charlton Speer, and a full account of the wonderful phenomena given through his mediumship during the circles that were held at Dr. Speer’s house at Alexandra Road, N.W.

Stainton Moses founded the London Spiritualist Alliance, and addressed the inaugural meeting on behalf of the committee at the Banqueting Hall of St. James’s Hall, on May 8, 1884. For some years he contributed frequently to Light, of which paper he subsequently became the editor.