the last resting place ofEmma Hardinge Britten

Hello folks . Please circulate this post every-where you can L&L.
Doe’s Anybody Care”As a spiritualist do you think that we should replace / restore and upkeep the last resting place of Emma Hardinge Britten If the answer is “YES” please sign below ________________________________________ or Contact Linda Smith at Norwich Church. Chaplefield North, Norwich NR2 1 NY Or kensnu@supanet.com

Could some-one start a poll or a petition page some where on an open site, on our own sites only members can post and it is too much for e mails to cope

merlin wrote:Hello folks . Please circulate this post every-where you can L&L.
Doe’s Anybody Care”As a spiritualist do you think that we should replace / restore and upkeep the last resting place of Emma Hardinge Britten If the answer is “YES” please sign below ________________________________________ or Contact Linda Smith at Norwich Church. Chaplefield North, Norwich NR2 1 NY Or kensnu@supanet.com

Could some-one start a poll or a petition page some where on an open site, on our own sites only members can post and it is too much for e mails to cope

Is EHB resting?

I thought she was in the Spirit World.

zerdini wrote:

merlin wrote:Hello folks . Please circulate this post every-where you can L&L.
Doe’s Anybody Care”As a spiritualist do you think that we should replace / restore and upkeep the last resting place of Emma Hardinge Britten If the answer is “YES” please sign below ________________________________________ or Contact Linda Smith at Norwich Church. Chaplefield North, Norwich NR2 1 NY Or kensnu@supanet.com

Could some-one start a poll or a petition page some where on an open site, on our own sites only members can post and it is too much for e mails to cope

Is EHB resting?

I thought she was in the Spirit World.

Merly a metaphor ///

merlin wrote:Merly a metaphor ///

For what?

I think it is a good idea. At least we would know where to go to hear her rolling in her grave at the current state of mediumship

Yes Obiwan - if Emma Hardinge Britten was alive today she would indeed be rolling in her grave - but whether to protest the state of mediumship or just to try and get attention so someone would get her out of the grave is a matter of debate. Who wants to be alive in a grave I ask?
Lis

On a more serious note - I think it is vitally important that the major Spiritualists of the past are remembered and respected for their efforts in bringing the reality of spirit communication to the world. Emma Hardinge Britten is undoubtedly one of those major Spiritualists and while she is not in that grave - her earthly remains are (though comprising little more than dust by now) and it is a mark of respect to see that her grave site is maintained as a fitting memorial to her life and work.
Lis

Lis wrote:On a more serious note - I think it is vitally important that the major Spiritualists of the past are remembered and respected for their efforts in bringing the reality of spirit communication to the world. Emma Hardinge Britten is undoubtedly one of those major Spiritualists and while she is not in that grave - her earthly remains are (though comprising little more than dust by now) and it is a mark of respect to see that her grave site is maintained as a fitting memorial to her life and work.
Lis

If her body had been cremated then a more fitting memorial to her memory would have been appropriate rather than her grave.

By the way, I remember Arthur Findlay's grave (and that of his wife) in the cemetery at Stansted was marked by a number (no name at all). A gravedigger who had known Findlay pointed them out to me.

Hardly anybody at Stansted Hall even knew (or cared) they were there.

I've lost count of the number of times I've heard a spirit say "why do you visit my grave? I am not there." They suggest putting some flowers in the home would be far more suitable.

zerdini wrote: They suggest putting some flowers in the home would be far more suitable.

Or better still, leave em outside where they belong

If her body had been cremated then a more fitting memorial to her memory would have been appropriate rather than her grave.

By the way, I remember Arthur Findlay's grave (and that of his wife) in the cemetery at Stansted was marked by a number (no name at all). A gravedigger who had known Findlay pointed them out to me.

Hardly anybody at Stansted Hall even knew (or cared) they were there.

I've lost count of the number of times I've heard a spirit say "why do you visit my grave? I am not there." They suggest putting some flowers in the home would be far more suitable

I refute what you say the NEC OF THE SNU are aware of the situation and wish to place a fitting memorial to the good man however the family will not allow it as their rights. I will say a lot of the comments on here are in bad taste of course we know spirit moves on but do you think for one minute they do not appreciate their loved ones remembering them and it helps the bereaved as well who are you to deny them that.

Admin comment: I am not about to enter into the rights or wrongs of either remark dealt with in this post. I have however removed the unnecessary and what I consider agressive underlining of a persons remarks in a post that is quoted.

Whether or not the NEC is aware etc has nothing to do with the topic and I would advise that the poster should calm themselves and try to post in a more measured and reasoned manner in future.

Second Admin Jim I have removed the blue emphasis for the same reason

I refute what you say the NEC OF THE SNU are aware of the situation and wish to place a fitting memorial to the good man however the family will not allow it as their rights. I will say a lot of the comments on here are in bad taste of course we know spirit moves on but do you think for one minute they do not appreciate their loved ones remembering them and it helps the bereaved as well who are you to deny them that.

Arthur Findlay passed in 1964.

The Arthur Findlay College itself is a fitting memorial to Arthur Findlay as it is to Emma Hardinge Britten who passed in 1899.

The bereaved can place whatever memorial they like to their loved ones subject to local regulations - nobody is denying them that.

Spiritualists, in particular, know that it is not the body in the ground, or their ashes, that is important but the fact that they live on and can contact us under suitable conditions.

I doubt that anyone believes it is admirable to allow the gravesite of a respected past spiritualist to fall into neglect, however, this should not mean that in discussing this issue people cannot find humour in the situation especially when as spiritualists we know that the person is not in their grave, they have risen from their dead body and entered a new world of spirit and life.

Can we now get back on track please - which is the question of whether we should replace/restore EHB's gravesite. While she is not in the grave it is possible that she would rather like her gravesite to be maintained - after all EHB was a lady who valued her own opinions and her importance!

We also should be able to look back at her contribution and value it whether or not her gravesite continues to exist, however, if there are people who feel strongly that to maintain the site is a sign of respect then let them take what action they can to restore it to a condition that they feel is fitting.

For those who don't see it as important let them remember to honour her contribution or AF's in the manner they see fit - and let each side respect the sincerity and motivations of the other.

Merlin has decided he was offended by the administrators removing the underlining of a posters remarks and the removal of the colour emphasis of his remarks and what he considered were 'bad taste' remarks on this thread. He asked to be removed from the list. He was adament that he be removed and the administrators have respected his request and removed him.

<sounds of rustling skirts leaving the room> - do wish people would have bit more stamina sometimes.

indeed indeed Lis and Jim

Interesting comments !!. I have been trying to get this gravesite sorted out for some 3 years (yes, I know she is not there, but the Spiritualist movement ie, the SNU at any rate) has all bit ignored this woman since her passing. I have visited Emmas grave many times, and helped to tidy it up somewhat. I am unaware of any living relative, but I have furnished at least 3 quotes from local monumental masons who can restore the grave and fix a permanent memorial to her. These have been sent to the SNU ( one reply to date has been 'could we get a quote from a Norfolk mason who may be cheaper' !!) What world are these people in ?.
On a personal level it is a disgrace that nothing is being done. I am attempting to find any relatives, but if not, know the procedures required by the Manchester Council. Unfortunately the gravesite in Manchester General Cemetary was a private victorian site. Records, or at least a lot of them ( including Emmas I think ) were destroyed in a fire. However, despite all this with a little effort and will and less prevarication from the SNU, a permanent memorial could be set up to her. Manchester council to their credit have worked hard on making this overgrown site clear of debri and accesable to the public, so Emmas grave can be viewed by any interested Spiritualists. Unfortunately it is in a sorry state at present.

Wotan

Hi Wotan

I agree that it is sad to see this and surely money can be raised in some way. Surely the SNU could help with this either that or a few mediums could get together and do some fund raising events to provide the money.

Unfortunately I believe the memorial stone to the Fox Sisters in the USA is now in similar disrepair. Having some permanent record of our founders seems eminently sensible. Once she became committed to the idea of an Association Emma, like her US counterpart Cora Scott Richmond, was one of the drivers that helped ensure it was established.

Jim

Hi Jim,

Could not agree more, thank you for your kind comments. I must say that it is nice to see Cora mentioned on here. I have always had a great regared for her, but many Spitualists have no idea who she is. It would be great today if we had mediums who could give inspirational talks of the calibre of Cora or Emma, but I have never heard one !!!

Wotan

http://www.norwichspiritualistchurch.org.uk/html/memorial_fund.html link to the report of the service

http://www.snu.org.uk/news/emma.htm