Church Hobo | Church's theology is rooted in the spirit world
By Ted Drake
Memorial Spiritualist Church, 307 W. 37th St., is part of the National Spiritualist Association of Churches (NSAC) whose theology is rooted in contact with loved ones in the spirit world. (Ted Drake)
There's a good chance you have driven by Memorial Spiritualist Church and wondered about the little white elevated building, nestled in the trees on the corner of Llewellyn Avenue and 37th Street.
Built as a Spiritualist church in 1943, the 80-member congregation is part of the National Spiritualist Association of Churches (NSAC). According to the organization's website, "Spiritualism is the Science, Philosophy, and Religion of continuous life, based upon the demonstrated fact of communication, by means of mediumship, with those who live in the Spirit World."
The popularity of Spiritualism has grown and waned over the last 200 years. After the Civil War and World War II, there was a lot of interest in getting messages from lost loved ones. Interest peaked in the 1920s when there were eight million followers in the United States and Europe. My grandmother had me bring her to MSC to get a message.
According to the church website, Spiritualism is a science, a philosophy and a religion. A science because it investigates and analyzes manifestations from the spirit side of life. It is a philosophy because it studies the laws of nature – both the seen and unseen. It is a religion because it strives to understand and comply with the physical, mental and spiritual laws of nature – which are the laws of God.
At MSC, there are services and classes. Some of the classes relate to developing mediumship talents. Students can study a 30-lesson course with the Morris-Pratt Institute to become ministers.
The typical service has songs, a healing service, a topical lecture on Spiritualism, and messages delivered at the end of the service. During the service there are two people on the podium – one to be the narrator and one to give the lecture and deliver the messages. At the Jan. 6 service attended by 22, the songs included "O Spirit Let Me Walk With Thee," "I'll walk with God," and "Let There be Peace on Earth."
The Rev. Lelia Cutler, a certified medium and national spiritualist teacher, has been with MSC since 1965. She was ordained in 1985.
Cutler explained the major difference between traditional Christianity and Spiritualism. She told me about "vicarious atonement" – also known as substitutionary atonement.
"In Christian religions, Jesus is substituted for human sins and Christians live forever in heaven," she said. "The question is whether all of our sins and records are forgiven by Jesus Christ, or whether when our bodies die we are still responsible for all of our deeds and words and our souls continue to live working it out."
The Rev. Lynn Streeper, a certified hypnotherapist, Reiki master, medium and healer, said she "had never heard of Spiritualism until the year 2000." Lynn retired from a career as a critical care nurse and began studying spiritualism through the Morris-Pratt Institute.
"I don't believe that we lay in our grave waiting for Jesus to come; that instead our spirit never dies and it transforms to another place. ... We spirits come here to learn and reality is like walking through quicksand."
Shalane Davis, whose mother was a medium in Massachusetts, said she came to MSC in 2009 after a message from Carol Brown said "welcome home." Davis is now taking classes in public speaking, healing and Morris-Pratt to become a minister.
James McMillan, a member of MSC for 57 years, grew up attending Knox Presbyterian. For years, he walked by MSC. Eventually, he went in and never left. He loves the Spiritualist message.
Mary Kay Whitehead, the church treasurer, started attending MSC in 1980. She came to the psychic fair and then started studying Spiritualism. She also studies Reiki, healing and Morris-Pratt.
Several MSC members said they take workshops, conferences and study groups at the Edgar Cayce ARE (Association for Research and Enlightenment) in Virginia Beach.
When you visit MSC, the people will welcome you and your questions.
Memorial Spiritualist Church
Where: 307 W. 37th St.
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Pastors: The Rev. Lelia Cutler, senior pastor; the Rev. Lynn Streeper, secretary
Contact: 757-622-5070 or visit www.memorialspiritualistchurch.org
Services: Adult Lyceum, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Sundays; children's Lyceum, 11-noon Sundays; worship, 11-noon Sundays; Wednesdays, 7:30-8:30 p.m.; psychic fair, second Saturdays 1-4 p.m.
Donations: The church is planning fundraisers for its building fund. Repairs are needed for the sanctuary ceiling.
Ted Drake, draketeam@aol.com
National Spiritualist Association Of Churches
Mediumship
Morris-Pratt Institute
Lelia Cutler
Edgar Cayce Are
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