National Spiritualist Association of Churches

National Spiritualist Association of Churches

The National Delegate Convention of Spiritualists of the United States of America was organized in Chicago, Illinois, in 1893. The first Convention of the Association was held at 77 Thirty-First Street, Chicago, on September 27-29 of that year. Harrison D. Barrett was elected President by unanimous ballot of the convention. He remained in that position through 1906, when Dr. George B. Warne took over.

The National Spiritualist Association of Churches of the United States of America (NSAC) is a religious body whose Declaration of Principles was first adopted in Chicago in 1899, as the National Spiritualist Association. It declares, “Spiritualism is the Science, Philosophy and Religion of a continuous life, based upon the demonstrable fact of communication, by means of mediumship, with those who live in the spirit world … “The Phenomena of Spiritualism consist of Prophecy, Clairvoyance, Clairaudience, Gift of Tongues, Laying-on of Hands, Healing, visions, Trance, Apports, Levitation, Raps, Automatic and Independent Writings and Paintings, Voice, Materialization, (Spirit) Photography, Psychometry and many other manifestations proving the continuity of life as demonstrated through the Physical and Spiritual senses and faculties of man.”

Today the NSAC is headquartered in Lily Dale, New York and Washington, D.C. It offers church charters for Spiritualist groups of four auxiliary types: state association, church, camp, and educational auxiliary. It also ordains of Ministers, certifies Mediums, Teachers, and Spiritual Healers, and commissions Missionaries. Through the Morris Pratt Institute and the College of Spiritualist Studies, various courses and diploma programs are offered. The Association has several departments and bureaus: Lyceums, Phenomenal Evidence, Endowments, Public Relations, Education, Publications, and Missionaries.

The National Spiritualist Summit is the official journal of the NSAC, published monthly. The Lyceum Spotlight Magazine is published ten times a year. There is a free monthly e-mail newsletter available from newsletter@nsac.org.

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