HISTORY

From 1866 until 1870, the Association existed in Glasgow under the several titles of - "The Glasgow Association of Spiritualists", "Psychological Society" and "The Associated Spiritualists". On 21 February 1871, the Association was reconstituted as the "Glasgow Association of Spiritualists". Meetings were held every Sunday evening at 6.30pm and every Wednesday evening at 8.00pm in the Whyte's Temperance Hotel, Candleriggs. Members were permitted to bring friends and enquirers to the meetings. The Hymn Book adopted was the "Spiritual Lyre".

Healing was being practised in the late 1860s by the Mesmerists, who joined the Association from the "Mesmeric Society". Healing reports were being given to the members in 1873 and, by the turn of the century, a Sunday Healing Circle and a Friday Healing Class had been firmly established.

Byelaws governing the regulation of the Library were formulated in April 1871, and Rules and Regulations for conducting Development Circles were agreed in August 1872. The "Medium", a weekly periodical, was introduced to the bookstall in 1872 and the "Spiritual Record", the forerunner of "The Beacon", was edited by the Association's President, Hay Nisbet. Ladies were first admitted into membership on 21 August 1872, with all the rights and privileges of gentlemen members, without payment of subscription. However, by 1884, ladies were paying half the quarterly subscription of one shilling (5p), which was then paid by gentlemen members. The membership roll at that time recorded 53 gentlemen and 44 lady members.

On 11 February 1873, steps were taken by several members to form a Children's Lyceum and it was agreed that the rented rooms at 164 Trongate could be used for this purpose. Regular Sunday meetings of the Children's Progressive Lyceum were not, however, instituted until 1 April 1888.

In 1876 Meetings of the Association were held in the Trades Hall, Glassford Street, and lectures were given in the City Hall, Candleriggs. Special Propaganda meetings were attended by between 600 and 700 people. In the early part of 1879, Sunday morning services at 11.30am were introduced and also a Friday evening discussion group.

Between 1880 and 1884, the Association moved to rented premises at 2 Carlton Place. Open-air meetings were held at the Monument, Glasgow Green in 1885, and further open-air meetings were held in Jocelyn Square in 1890. There were meetings in the Glasgow suburbs and in nearby towns. By 1898 the Association had spread its wings and extended its activities throughout Scotland.

Between 1884 and 1923, the Association frequently moved its place of residence within the city - from 2 Carlton Place to a church in West Campbell Street; to 15 Kirk Street, Gorbals; to 36 Main Street, Gorbals; back to 2 Carlton Place; then to the Assembly Rooms, 136 Bath Street; to Ebenezer Church, Waterloo Street; to 26 Elmbank Crescent; to the Masonic Hall, 75 Berkeley Street; to the Central Halls, Bath Street; to the Masonic Halls, 100 West Regent Street; to the City Halls, Candleriggs, and finally, as far as rented accommodation was concerned, to the McLellan Galleries, Sauchiehall Street.

On 4 March 1888, a Building Fund was set up from the proceeds of the "Burns Soiree" which had now become an established feature of the social activities of the Association. The purpose of such activities being for the raising of funds so that the Association could provide itself with its own premises.

The Association was a founder member of the Spiritualist National Federation which came into being on 5 July 1891. In order to give it legal standing the Federation was registered on 22 October 1901 as the Spiritualists' National Union Limited, and the Association became affiliated to the new Union. In 1903, the Association was instrumental in forming the Scottish Spiritualist Alliance, and was for many years the mainstay of the Movement in Scotland. In 1919, the Scottish Spiritualist Alliance was merged into the Spiritualists' National Union and now operates as the Scottish District Council of the Union.

The Association published its own hymn book in 1919 with the valuable assistance of D M MacIntyre, MBE, a former Vice-President. The hymn book is still in use and has been adopted by many other Spiritualist Churches throughout Scotland.

On 10 May 1920, the members approved that a Deed should be drawn up, setting forth the purpose for which the Association's premises may be used, and also the duties, powers and privileges of the Trustees in whom the guardianship of the premises and effects of the Association shall from time to time be vested. A joint declaration of trust, known as the Trust Deed of the Glasgow Association of Spiritualists was subscribed to by the Association and the Spiritualists' National Union Limited. This was registered in the books of The Lords of Council and Session in Edinburgh, on 11 August 1920. It is preserved there so that ready access to its terms may be had by the members.

Although a Building Fund was instituted in 1888, the Association had to wait until 23 June 1923 before it formally opened its first home of its own at 26 Holland Street. By 1934 the Association had outgrown the confines of these premises and plans were drawn up for their extension and reconstruction. In 1939, however, the Association purchased the "Greek Thomson" church at the corner of St Vincent Street and Pitt Street. It moved into these premises on 19 November 1939 and remained thre until 1970.

The Corporation of the City of Glasgow acquired the Greek Thomson church by compulsory purchase order in 1964, the intention being to restore and preserve the building because of its architectural importance to the City. Faced with the choice of renting property which it formerly owned, or of seeking new accommodation, the Association decided on the latter course and purchased two houses of the mid-Victorian terrace in Somerset Place. The opening and dedication of the premises in which the Association functions today, took place on 19 December 1970.

Throughout the years, there have been a number of subsidiary organisations meeting under the auspices of the Association. In the past there have been several youth organisations and a women's guild. A choir was formed as early as 1872 and may have continued uninterrupted for many years thereafter. Certainly, between the early 1920s and the mid 1960s, a choir existed under the leadership of a Mrs Nimmo, a teacher of music, and then later under the leadership of succeeding organists. It was a great success and provided excellent concerts as well as enhancing the quality of the singing at the regular services. Socials have always been an important feature of the Association and today strenuous efforts are made to maintain this tradition.

During its life the Association has undergone many changes. However, the purpose for which it was founded in 1866 has not changed in the slightest degree. Although the Constitution is much more elaborate today than in former years, the objectives of the Association are essentially the same.