Arthur Findlay Society Launched

4th January 2004


Dear Friends,

Introduction To The Arthur Findlay Society

On 11th November the idea of an Arthur Findlay Society was floated and due to the enthusiastic response there are plans to set up the Society early in 2004. (It is in July 2004 that the 40th anniversary of Arthur’s passing occurs). The purpose of this letter is to generate support for the Society and to gather names and addresses of people who wish to become members and/ or volunteers.

The Arthur Findlay Society will promote Arthur Findlay’s scientific approach and will network with other organisations that recognise that proving survival is based only on scientific experiments and personal experiences and not on belief, faith or superstition.

Spiritualist National Union
The Arthur Findlay Society has no relationship or connection with the Arthur Findlay College, which is run by the Spiritualist National Union. The College and the head office of the SNU are situated in Arthur Findlay’s former home, Stansted Hall in Essex. Arthur bequeathed his substantial property to spiritualists in order for them to pursue scientific research into the after-life, sadly, this has not worked out as he had wished. The SNU backs the religious concept of spiritualism and they have helped to create another one-god religion (see the first of the Spiritualist Seven Principles – The fatherhood of God).

Arthur Findlay was clear in his views about religion for in his epic book “The Curse of Ignorance” he distances himself from religion when he said: “I have a choice of two paths, one is the secular way (non religious) and the other is the theological (religious); one is democratic and the other the despotic; one is the sane and the other the insane.”

Religious Beliefs Protected by Human Rights Law
The Arthur Findlay Society respects everybody’s right to follow any religion of their choice. We do not seek to undermine or attack people’s personal beliefs. But we do part company with those that see survival and matters relating to the etheric world as being tied up in some way with belief or faith. Because survival has been proved scientifically we see no reason as a Society to get involved in faith matters.

Aims Of the Arthur Findlay Society
The final set of aims will be decided democratically at the inaugural meeting of the AFS early in 2004. But for the time being here is a “draft” set of aims, which includes:
- promote Arthur Findlay’s scientific view on Survival and communicatoin with those who have passed away;
- recognise Arthur Findlay’s contribution to the understanding of the etheric world,
- promote his books (particularly “The Curse of Ignorance”) and other writings;
- promote his views on ethics, democracy, justice and peace and in particular his support for Thomas Paine;
- establish a network of Survival Forums for people seeking confirmation of survival and
- raise money to set up an Arthur Findlay Foundation to educate people about the scientific proof of survival.


Overcoming Ignorance
One of Arthur’s main successes has been his series of books that explain the etheric world, mediumship, the nonsense of the “supernatural”, how religions came about, the innate psychic abilities we all have and details of communications he’d witnessed, from people in the etheric world.

He recorded the history of mankind from the time of primitive man to the end of the Second World War and made clear what an important influence psychic phenomena have had on world history (The Curse of Ignorance). He researched supernormal occurrences and discovered that they were responsible for the origin, beliefs and rituals of all religions (The Psychic Stream).

Arthur realised his views would upset materialists and religious people and was under no illusion about what would happen to his ground-breaking books. For instance he said this of The Curse of Ignorance: "Such, however, is still [the Church's] influence that this book, which tells the story of the past honestly and fearlessly, will be kept out of our schools and universities by the authorities, and consequently, only in later life will those with enquiring minds discover the truth."

Arthur was absolutely right – for today schools, universities and libraries are still not aware of his books, of Arthur himself or the scientific proof of survival. It is the task of the Arthur Findlay Society to turn this around – make him a household name and bring awareness of the scientific proof of survival to all.

Proposed Plan for the AFS
The first step will be to set up a Steering Committee for the Society and have our first meeting in January 2004.
The proposed agenda for this meeting will include:
1. Agree a constitution and election of officers i.e. Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer etc.
2. Decide what kind of publicity campaign is needed for the Society to become better known.
3. Set up the Society as a Charity.
4. Set up a website (any website designers out there please?)
5. Network with like-minded organisations, for example the Thomas Paine Society and the Campaign for Philosophical Freedom (see below for details).
6. Raise funds for the Arthur Findlay Foundation for education.
7. Plan a major event for the 40th anniversary of Arthur’s passing in July 2004.

NETWORKING AND OUTREACH
For the Society to be sure of success it is important that it connects with like-minded people. It needs to approach organisations that support the secular case for survival and ones that echo Arthur’s views on ethics, democracy, peace and justice.
Thomas Paine
Arthur Findlay believed strongly in the principles of freedom and democracy and devoted over a dozen pages of his book The Curse of Ignorance Vol. 2 (P397- 410) to the greatest “champion of liberty and justice … Thomas Paine (1736-1809). Arthur Findlay was very clear about the role democracy and justice should play in all our lives and throughout his later works he made many references to the great contribution Thomas Paine made to unshackling people from the yoke of the Christian Church.

The Arthur Findlay Society will continue with Arthur’s promotion of Thomas Paine. Because the aims of the Arthur Findlay Society coincide with some of those of the Thomas Paine Society, there is a proposal to cross affiliate with the TPS. (The Thomas Paine Society contact is Robert Morrell of 43 Eugene Gardens, Nottingham, NG2 3LF Tel 0115 9860010 email:  r.morrell1@ntlworld.com).


Please contact me as soon as you can and let me know if want to take part in the first meeting. If you wish to join the Arthur Findlay Society return the enclosed application to become a member of the Society.
If you know of any other organisations you consider to be of like-mind please let me know.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Arthur Findlay Society
88 Cobden Street, Luton, LU2 0NG Email:  kittyplant@aol.com
01582 512184 fax 01582 619218 Mobile 07984 375991

Arthur Findlay Society
88 Cobden Street, Luton, LU2 0NG Email:  kittyplant@aol.com
01582 512184 fax 01582 619218 Mobile 07984 375991


APPLICATION TO JOIN THE ARTHUR FINDLAY SOCIETY


The Aims of the Arthur Findlay Society

The final set of aims will be decided democratically at the inaugural meeting of the AFS early in 2004. But for the time being here is a “draft” set of aims, which includes:

promote Arthur Findlay’s scientific view on Survival and communicating with those who have passed away;
recognise Arthur Findlay’s contribution to the understanding of the etheric world,
promote his books and other writings;
promote his views on ethics, democracy, justice and peace and in particular his support for Thomas Paine;
establish a network of Survival Forums for people seeking confirmation of survival;
raise money to set up an Arthur Findlay Foundation to educate people about the scientific proof of survival.



IF YOU AGREE WITH THESE AIMS AND WISH TO FURTHER ARTHUR FINDLAY’S CAUSE THEN PLEASE JOIN US NOW OR LET US KNOW IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION

If you are interested in joining or want more information, please cut off this slip and return it to:
Peter George Wakeham, the Arthur Findlay Society, 88 Cobden Street, Luton, LU2 0NG
or email to  kittyplant@ntlworld.com.
Please tick

I / we wish to join the Arthur Findlay Society ______ £8 individuals /£11 groups

I/ we wish to donate money to the Arthur Findlay Society ______ please make cheques payable to “The Arthur Findlay Society”

I / we wish to receive information about the Society ______

(Data Protection)
I / we consent to be included on the Society database ______ to be used only for the purposes of the Society


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