The Rise and Peak in Popularity of Séances and Spiritualism

The history and popularity of the modern séance was stemmed from the publication of Dialogues with the Dead written by George, Lord Lyttelton in 1760. The publication documented dialogues of the deceased- sometimes famous historical figures such as William Penn, and Plato. Later, with the creation and rise of the religion of Spiritualism in the mid- to late 19th century, séances were becoming increasingly popular. The religion of Spiritualism is a theistic religion that is based around the belief of an omnibenevolent God, and that people can communicate with spirits through a “Spirit Medium,” which is a person capable of connecting to those in the afterlife.Spiritualists believe the afterlife is composed of different planes of existence where spirits are evolving, and have the ability relate knowledge to those in the material world concerning ethics, God, and the afterlife. Séances had become largely popular among average people in America, and it has been noted that many famous figures took an interest in the world of spirits, including President Abraham Lincoln and his wife on behalf of their departed son. Because individual Spirit Mediums were not very common, many people quickly rose to fame such as the famous spiritualists Cora Scott Hatch and Emma Hardinge Britten.

The normal, stereotypical séance consisted of a Spirit Medium and a group of people who would sit around a table together in a dark room. The Medium would relate the messages of the spirits to the people by going into a trance which allows the spirit to talk through the medium, or other paranormal actions, sounds or even smells inside the room. Eventually, many of these famous, self-proclaimed Mediums became exposed as frauds and were accused of scamming people. Scientific skeptics, atheists and Christians alike were all becoming disgruntled by the new wave of psychic beliefs.

Famous figures such as Harry Houdini and other stage magicians debunked many people who claimed their power was real, and not trickery. Today, séances typically only exist in the rooms of curious teenagers with ouija boards and hopeful spectators who visit local psychics. But any genuine belief or advocacy is highly criticized, or ignored. It wasn’t too long until the novelty of psychic connections and spirit communication faded away from it’s being exploited into the mainstream and debunked by skeptics. It has become a short chapter in the history of an era, and remains a consistent theme in popular culture.