Forward

The publishers take pride in the production of this book which has been out of print for too many years.

Its "author", the Rev. W. Stainton Moses, regarded as the man who gave Spiritualism its "bible" was one of the most remarkable mediums of the last century.

Spirit Teachings, which came through his hand in what is called "automatic writing", is regarded as Spiritualism's greatest classic.

Here, in language of matchless prose, is contained the religious, philosophical and ethical implications of Spiritualism, as viewed by the spirit world. The communicators, by sheer brilliant logic, compelled their medium to abandon, stage by stage, his orthodox religious beliefs. They gave clear evidence of their high purpose and furnished him with irrefutable proofs of Survival.

There were twenty-two spirit communicators, headed by one who signed himself "Imperator". Later, he revealed that he was one of the Bible prophets. Others proved that they were ancient philosophers and sages.

The writing of this script--it was done in Stainton Moses's normal waking state--took eleven years and filled twenty four notebooks. With the exception of the third, which has been lost, they are all preserved at the College of Physic Studies.

Stainton Moses was the son of a headmaster of a Lincolnshire grammar school. As a youth he won a scholarship which took him to Oxford. A successful college life, which seemed to offer the highest possible honours, was interrupted by poor health, which forced convalescence abroad.

He was ordained a few years after his return. His first clerical appointment, at the age of twenty-four, was as a curate in the Isle of Man. He won praise for his labours for his parishioners during an outbreak of smallpox which took a heavy toll.

Ill health dogged his footsteps, causing him to resign from the Church. Dr. Stanhope Speer, who attended him, invited Moses to become his son's tutor. Mrs. Speer, confined to bed by illness, read a book on Spiritualism and asked Moses to ascertain whether the experiences described in it were true. Although at that time, he regarded Spiritualism as trickery and fraud, he promised to investigate the subject. Within six months, as a result of attending seances, he became a convinced Spiritualist.

About this time, his own psychic powers began to function, and many kinds of phenomena were experienced. By means of spirit rapping, questions were answered intelligently and long messages given. Materialised lights were often seen. Varying perfumes were poured, by invisible operators, on the sitters' hands and handkerchiefs. Direct writing was obtained on paper out of the circle's reach. Objects were brought from other rooms through bolted doors. There were levitations of the medium and of furniture. Occasionally the voices of the spirit communicators were heard. In trance, Moses delivered many inspirational addresses.

In his Introduction to Spirit Teachings, this tribute to his inspirers was paid by Moses: "There is no flippant message, no attempt at jest, no vulgarity or incongruity, no false or misleading statement, so far as I know or could discover; nothing incompatible with the avowed object, again and again repeated, of instruction, enlightenment and guidance by spirits fitted for this task."