Barbanell's Own Obituary

Barbanell's Own Obituary
Maurice Barbanell, always a keen journalist, prepared his own obituary. Who could better
tell this fascinating story? It also affords the reader the opportunity to compare his writing
style with that of Silver Birch.

I have been told that my psychic story really begins in a previous incarnation of which I have
no knowledge. Red Cloud, the guide of Estelle Roberts, who gave me my finest evidence of
individual Survival after death, and in whose séance room “Psychic News” was born, said I
had made a promise in a former existence. This was to reincarnate and devote my life to
spreading Spiritualism.
So far as I am aware my psychic story started undramatically at a meeting of the Ghetto
Social and Literary Club in London’s East End. I was the unpaid secretary with a twofold
task.
It was my job to obtain, without fee, famous literary and artistic figures to speak on a variety
of subjects, a feat I achieved with success. This was mostly because these eminent authors
were intrigued to find cultural yearnings in London’s darkest East End.
My other task was, irrespective of what the speaker said, to lead the opposition so as to
ensure a good discussion. My colleagues always told me that I managed to excel in this
direction.
During my secretary ship some friends invited me to be present at a séance, the first I had
ever attended. Only when it ended did they tell me it was a mock affair staged for fun.
Nevertheless, as a teenager it produced subconsciously an antagonism to Spiritualism.
Like so many young men I had abandoned orthodox religion. My mother was devoutly
religious. My father was an atheist who steadfastly refused to accompany her to any orthodox
services despite her lament that his absence would shock their friends.
In my youth I heard so many arguments about religion between my parents, in which
incidentally my father always won, that I adopted his atheism, which later changed to
agnosticism.
It is necessary to mention this personal background to set the scene for what followed. One
night at our social and literary club there was no eminent speaker. Instead our guest was a
young man named Henry Sanders, who spoke about his experiences in Spiritualism. When he
finished my colleagues turned to me for my usual opposing opening speech from the floor.
I surprised them. Despite my then fairly recent mock séance attendance, I said this was a
subject on which only those with experience could venture any worthwhile opinions. As I had
made no personal investigation my opinions were, therefore, valueless. Naturally the rest of
the evening was not a hectic one for discussion.
When it was over Sanders approached me. Was I serious, he asked, in my statement that only
those with experience based on inquiry should venture to declare their views? If so, was I
prepared to investigate?
“Yes,” I replied. Moreover I would reach no conclusion until I had spent six months on this
quest. I still have the diary in which I noted the date when the six months would end. Here I
am, a half a century later, still inquiring.
Sanders invited me to attend a home circle which met in a nearby tenement. The date was
arranged. I went accompanied by Sylvia, who was then my fiancée and now my wife. The
circle in this dingy block was composed of a mixture of young and old Jews who all seemed
earnest though unprepossessing.
The medium, a middle-aged woman, Mrs Blaustein, was said to go into trance. In that state, I
was told, entities belonging to differing nationalities would control and speak through her.
This happened, but did not impress me. So far as I could tell, there was no evidence which
would satisfy me that these indeed were “dead” foreigners speaking through her lips.
Nevertheless in view of my promise I presented myself at the second sitting where a similar
demonstration by her was given. It seemed to me that at one stage of the proceedings I fell
asleep, either through boredom or being tired. When I woke I apologised. I was told to my
surprise, “You have been a Red Indian.”
It was my first mediumistic trance, but what happened was a complete blank to me.
Nevertheless the guide known as Silver Birch had broken formidable earth barriers and spoke
a few words in a husky and almost guttural voice. It is far different from what I am assured
are the simple but eloquent tones that so many have now heard.
The sequel was the formation of my own home circle where the Silver Birch entity gradually
developed as his control became a seemingly simple process of merging his individuality
with mine. There were degrees of awareness in this unfolding process of my mediumistic
development. I was not keen on the trance condition, probably through my vanity in wanting
to know what was said and done through my bodily mechanism.
At one stage there was a fascinating happening. As I lay in bed on the night after sitting,
everything that had been said through me unrolled on a kind of cinema screen so that I
became familiar with all that the others had heard.
This no longer obtains because of the intervention of Hannen Swaffer, the famous journalist,
whom I came to know intimately. Our association began when we spent three years
addressing public meetings all over Britain, to audiences totalling 250,000, at weekends.
Sometimes there were two and even three meetings on one day.
Always we travelled by car from London on the Saturday morning; often we returned in the
early hours of Monday. The meetings had to be held at weekends because of my commercial
life, which virtually ended when “Psychic News” was launched in 1932. Then my association
with Swaffer took another form.
He was intrigued by my trance mediumship and came to love Silver Birch. Swaffer said the
guide’s teachings were being wasted as they were heard only by a handful of people. As a
natural propagandist he wanted them to be disseminated, reaching the largest possible
number of people, and thought the perfect vehicle was “Psychic News.”
I demurred. Obviously, I said, I would be open to criticism by publicising my own
mediumship in the newspaper I edited. Finally, after much argument, I agreed to do so,
provided my identity was withheld.
There was another problem to be solved. The guide was then known, as he still is to a few
intimates, by a nickname which was deemed unsuitable for publication. He was asked to
choose one for this purpose. Silver Birch was his selection.
The next morning, in my office, the mail included a postcard from Scotland with no name or
address of the sender, but with a splendid photograph of Silver Birch trees on it.
The teachings of what was called, as it still is, Hannen Swaffer’s home circle regularly
appeared in “Psychic News.” Curiosity was constantly aroused as to the medium’s identity
which for long was kept secret.
Swaff, however, brought so many visitors from among his famous friends that I felt the stage
was reached when the mystery should be ended. I wrote an article announcing that I was
Silver Birch’s medium.
I should mention in passing that, when you work in a confectionery factory, you soon lose
your taste for sweets. And when you are an editor you are not attracted by publicity as too
many humans are.
The Silver Birch teachings have been recorded by two shorthand writers. The first was Billy
Austen, then my assistant editor. His place was taken by Frances Moore, who still acts as “the
scribe,” the name by which the guide always calls her. Occasionally the séances have been
tape-recorded. There are several of these recordings obtainable today. Once even a
gramophone record was made for public sale.
Because all the sessions were being reported in shorthand, I was asked if I would forego the
practice of having the proceedings recalled for me later in bed. It was explained that an
expenditure of psychic power became involved. I agreed.
To test the state of trance Silver Birch once asked Swaff to stick pins into me. Though blood
was drawn I felt nothing. There are critics calling themselves psychic researchers who
dismiss guides as the medium’s secondary personalities. I am aware of all the problems
involved in trance mediumship. Mainly they stem from the fact that a guide has to control the
medium’s subconscious mind.
This, unlike a telephone, is a living thing and, therefore, is bound to colour to some extent
whatever is transmitted from the spirit world. Development consists in obtaining mastery
over the subconscious mind.
In my working life I use words every day. I have never yet written or dictated an article with
which I was satisfied when I read it. Inevitably I find, when looking at the typed material, that
I can improve it by altering words, phrases and sentences.
No such problem arises with the guide’s teachings. These flow perfectly, requiring usually
only commas, semicolons or full stops. Another interesting aspect is the occasional use of
words that I regard as archaic and do not form part of my normal vocabulary.
Silver Birch’s distinctive and separate individuality — I believe there is a spiritual
relationship — has been proved to me and to my wife many times. In the early days we had
what was probably our most remarkable evidence.
He told Sylvia that in connection with a certain matter which presented a seemingly insoluble
problem to us both, he would provide an answer. At the time we both attended the regular
direct voice sittings of Estelle Roberts. Silver Birch said at the next one he would speak
through the trumpet to Sylvia and mentioned the words he would say.
Of course Estelle was told nothing about this. You can imagine how curious we were to see
what would happen. Estelle’s guide, Red Cloud, was obviously in the picture because of the
references he made that only Sylvia and I understood.
As the perfect master of spirit ceremonies he staged the matter admirably by keeping us
waiting almost to the end. Then he said to Sylvia that the next communicator was for her. In
the darkness on which Red Cloud always insisted, the phosphorescent trumpet moved
towards her. Through it spoke Silver Birch and repeated the words he had promised to
pronounce.
Evidence of separate identity came frequently in another circle where I sat regularly. Here
with a non-professional medium named Nena Mayer we always had the direct voice. It was
fascinating for me after Silver Birch had spoken through me in trance to hear him
communicating through the trumpet.
There are other occasions I could mention, but one more will suffice. A Fleet Street editor
was bereaved when his son was killed in the last war. Without mentioning his name I asked
Estelle whether he could be invited to a voice séance.
She replied by reminding me that the rule was that only those whom Red Cloud had agreed
should be there could come. I said I would leave it and ask him when next we met.
The following day she telephoned me to say that Silver Birch had appeared to her and
pleaded for my friend to be invited. So she agreed. Needless to say the “dead” son
communicated to him and to his wife.

tmmw wrote:

Thanks Z for sharing that truly amazing story. I'm curious as to the nickname that Silver Birch was known as before he choose his name.

Take care,
Lynn

obiwan wrote:

Left Behind wrote:

obiwan wrote:

KatyKing wrote:I agree. Cover pic on paperbcks shows the well known American Indian brave complete with feather who I rather think resembles an austere Home Counties provincial bank manager circa 1947.
Winnie Moyes Zodiac rather had the wise old Jewish guide angle sewn up and it never really caught on outside GW so a 'Red Indian' was maybe more marketable. The SB books were commercial entities and still selling.

Yes and we all know he designed the book cover don't we?

I don't know that story, Obi, but would love to hear it.

Jim

It was an attempt at sarcasm Jim, sorry

KatyKing wrote:Buffs was mainly an all male drinking fraternity. Handy when posted somewhere new you could pitch up at a lodge and immediately be amongst new chums. In London many lodges met at ten on a Sunday morning lodge rooms are generally in pubs and pubs could not open legally until noon so lodge brotherrs gained an extra two hours boozing every Sunday. Masonry in England then was for the wealthy unlike Scotland Scottish non commissioned soldiers who were Masons if posted in England would usually come to a Buffs lodge as Masonic lodges were too expensive and snobbish. In England officers were Masons other ranks Buffs.
The attraction for me disappeared at the same time as did my fondness for booze.
I suspect that one had to be slightly drunk to get the best out of Buffs lodge meetings.

KatyKing wrote:We had Scottish Masons join our lodge in London which was Grand Executive Banner.
Not sure what the protocol was but my impression was that Masonry in Scotland was more inclusive than in England so they felt more at home with us. No one ever told me not to join Masons but I only got as far as Primo second degree maybe further up the line that came into it. S&S were the same I can spot a Mason via my Buff 'greeting'. Tile Passwords also certainly in Grand Executive Banner were identical so Scottish friends reported.
Buffs had
Grand Lodge of England
Grand Lodge of England Ltd [in London those were mainly Caribbean brethren]
Grand Executive Banner
Royal Surrey Banner
and we could and did visit and host Brethren from all groups especially for 'raisings'. Some attended lodges in more than one jurisdiction.
Got me thinking back this strand. Dug out my old Primo 'jewel' last night. Not handled that this twenty years and more past. Had forgotten what a thing of beauty it is. Lovely old fashioned workmanship.

_Leslie_ wrote:'Z' like virtually all conversations they tend to drift off topic as people discuss them

obiwan wrote:

Left Behind wrote:

obiwan wrote:

I don't know that story, Obi, but would love to hear it.

Jim

It was an attempt at sarcasm Jim, sorry

See, when you're new, like me, you fall for all this stuff.

Jim

Quiet wrote:I think this is a hilarious discussion!

Silver Birch himself says in one of the trance lectures that he is NOT an American Indian but that character was a symbol that would make it easier for you Brits to visualise him. Ramadahn said something similar to Ursula Roberts - that he wasn't an Egyptian King or Pharaoh as depicted by spirit artists.

As a relative newcomer to Spiritualism I was always a bit perplexed about the plethora of American Indian guides around the place and the most tenuous of grounds used by people claiming to have them .

All this shows that our first British Spiritualists were quite canny marketers. Good on them. I am so glad those books remained in print because they have been life savers to me in terms of knowledge and guidance.

An ex-Catholic, I was delighted that those entities behind this promising new faith actually had something much more significant to say than the Roman Pontiff and his entourage. I also delighted in seeing the parallels between what Ramadahn, Silver Birch and Chan say with Catholicism and Christianity as distilled through history and other filters.

Quiet wrote:

Peter, you are a compulsive poster

_Leslie_ wrote:

Quiet wrote:

Peter, you are a compulsive poster

I agree but they do make interesting reading (I think I'm becoming an addictive subscriber )

obiwan wrote:

Left Behind wrote:

obiwan wrote:

Left Behind wrote:[quote="obiwanI don't know that story, Obi, but would love to hear it.

Jim

It was an attempt at sarcasm Jim, sorry

See, when you're new, like me, you fall for all this stuff.

Jim

lol there are worse thing that can befall us.

Quiet wrote:I think this is a hilarious discussion!

Silver Birch himself says in one of the trance lectures that he is NOT an American Indian but that character was a symbol that would make it easier for you Brits to visualise him. Ramadahn said something similar to Ursula Roberts - that he wasn't an Egyptian King or Pharaoh as depicted by spirit artists.

As a relative newcomer to Spiritualism I was always a bit perplexed about the plethora of American Indian guides around the place and the most tenuous of grounds used by people claiming to have them .

All this shows that our first British Spiritualists were quite canny marketers. Good on them. I am so glad those books remained in print because they have been life savers to me in terms of knowledge and guidance.

KatyKing wrote:There seemed to be more Red Indian guides than there were Native Americans in the old days. I wonder how it came about?
Can't generalise I know but the Native Americans I met on visits to USA were running Bingo Halls, Casinos or Gift Shops.
When we went to Lily Dale last there was a dearth of old lady mediums....
'They're off to the Indian Bingo' we were told.
Sort of in keeping with Medium/Red Indian liaison tradition I suppose.

KatyKing wrote:Or was it Colonel Cody's Wild West extravaganza?

_Leslie_ wrote:Yes going 'off topic' can be annoying - but... its the nature of conversation (they develop). If we're to strictly adhere to the 'subject' and not expand on it - then 99% on the posts on this forum would be considered 'off topic'. No offence intended - Buts that's why they are called 'discussion forums'