'Mr. Spiritualism' Maurice Barbanell and his Life as a Twentieth-Century Spiritualist Propagandist

Abstract

This dissertation explores the life and career of Maurice Barbanell, British businessman, journalist, newspaper editor, medium, and long-time propagandist of Spiritualism. Spiritualism—a religion, a science, and a philosophy—is based around the belief, or knowledge, that the human soul survives death and that communications with discarnate spirits is possible. Barbanell spent sixty-one years sharing the wisdom and teachings of his spirit guide, Silver Birch. Born into a Jewish/Atheist family, Barbanell was scornful of Spiritualism until he attended his first séances in his late teenage years, and it was during his second séance that Silver Birch began communicating through him. This dissertation follows Maurice Barbanell from his humble beginnings in east London, to meeting his spirit guide for the first time, and the medium’s involvement with a group of séance sitters known as the ‘Hannen Swaffer home circle’. Barbanell’s impact on Spiritualism is discussed in relation to lectures he gave about Spiritualism across the United Kingdom as well as the leading spiritualist newspaper he founded. The movement has long endured criticisms and accusations of fraudulent mediumship and Maurice Barbanell’s many legal cases are explored in this dissertation, as he defended the religion he fervently supported. Further, Barbanell’s rapid rise as a Spiritualist leader came as people turned away from organized religion towards Spiritualism after the First World War, and this dissertation will continue to study the medium’s endeavors during and after the Second World War, a lesser studied period of Spiritualism. This dissertation studies in detail, for the first time, the contributions one man made to a movement that has ebbed and flowed in popularity, leading to him being called ‘Mr. Spiritualism’. Leading figures of Spiritualism came before him; however, this dissertation will argue that Maurice Barbanell was well-deserving of the moniker ‘Mr. Spiritualism’ as this dissertation clearly demonstrates his unwavering support and defense of Spiritualism.