The Noah’s Ark Society for Physical Mediumship (NAS) originated in 1990 in a home circle led by Robin Foy. Its inspiration was a spirit message from Noah Zerdin, a spirit ‘personality’ who had been associated with medium Leslie Flint. The NAS helped preserve mediumistic traditions and indirectly fostered the later Scole Circle.
- The NAS aimed to support physical mediumship through circles, seminars and newsletters.
- Its publications preserved material on twentieth-century mediums, séance practice, historical figures and debates over research, fraud and the purpose of mediumistic organisations.
- Its chief legacy for psychical research was helping to incubate the Scole Circle, later investigated extensively by members of the Society for Psychical Research.
History
The Noah’s Ark Society for Physical Mediumship (NAS) was founded on 25 April 1990 in a Spiritualist home circle in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England, led by Robin Foy. As explained on the NAS’s web page,
The people sitting in attempt to communicate heard an independent voice message (heard apart from any of their member’s speaking), that urged those present to form an organization specifically devoted to the promotion of physical mediumship and the development of mediums in whose present physical mediumship occurs. The voice identified himself as Noah Zerdin, a Spiritualist known for his having founded The Link, a network of Spiritualists groups built around small groups that sat for spirit contact in their homes. Zerdin had been the mentor of Leslie Flint, who died in 1994.1See here.
An inaugural seminar took place in January 1991. Foy took on the role of chairman and membership secretary, created and edited a monthly newsletter. The first president was Stuart Hellen.2Foy (n.d.), 2. The NAS web page continues,
Soon after its founding, the society began promoting what it termed the safe practice of physical mediumship and encouraged the development of home circles for the development of all aspects of physical mediumship. The society also held weekend seminars, limited to society members, which incorporate experimental seances. The society had physical mediums presenting among its members. The Society is not affiliated with any religious body, though its primary members appear to be Spiritualists. 3See here.
In 1992 Foy announced the conversion of a cellar at his home in Scole, Norfolk, for use as a séance room for members. It was used by such mediums as Stewart Alexander and Colin Fry throughout that year in pursuit of the ‘… ultimate proof of life after death’.4Foy (2008), 13.
The NAS began publishing the Noah’s Ark Society Newsletter soon after its formation. The Newsletter, which included articles on physical mediumship, became The Ark Review in 1998.
From 1991, the author and Spiritualist Alan E. Crossley was president. At his retirement in September 1992, he was succeeded by medium Stewart Alexander. Alexander was followed by Alf Winchester in 1996. In 1999, George Cranley was appointed president and remained so until the society’s demise in 2004.
Tensions
The NAS received positive feedback from various sources. Journalist Rosemary Dinnage wrote: ‘The Noah’s Ark Society’s initiative in reviving mediumship is to be welcomed. They may be able to raise funds for test-equipped séance rooms.’5Dinnage (1993), 21.
The NAS welcomed genuine ‘seekers’ from all faiths, or none, and accordingly allowed, defended or opposed different viewpoints. For instance, Malcolm A. Lewis published an article bewailing the lack of research undertaken in the society,6Lewis (1995), 4-5. which was opposed by Cranley, Alexander, and ‘Lincoln’.7Cranley, Alexander, & ‘Lincoln’ (1995), 6-11. The correspondence shows how divergent viewpoints could be discussed openly, and a thriving membership lent credence to this attitude.
NAS newsletters contain a wealth of information about mainly twentieth-century mediums and mediumship throughout the Western world, including articles on Helen Duncan, Mary Showers, William Olsen, Rita Goold, John Sloane, Isa Northage, the Eddy brothers, Charles Bailey, and even fraudulent mediums.8Noah’s Ark Society Archive. (n.d.). However, over time, the society’s purpose seems to have changed and tensions developed. Foy recorded that there was some hostility to physical phenomena and that he was effectively banned from the Arthur Findlay College and Stansted Hall.9Foy (1996), 223. When parapsychologist Christine Simmonds stated that the society had conducted research on physical mediums, she was rebuffed by Cranley, who replied: ‘We wish to state quite emphatically that we have not conducted any such research, nor have we any intentions of doing so. This is not (nor will be) our primary purpose’.10Cranley (2000), 27.
Legacy
Arguably the NAS’s greatest legacy in terms of psychical research was its contribution to the formation of the Scole Circle, which in 1993 became a coherent group, separate from the NAS. The Scole Circle produced abundant physical phenomena which were studied by members of the Society for Psychical Research.11Keen, Ellison, & Fontana (1999), 150-452.
Further information
For several book chapters devoted to the early history of the NAS, see In Pursuit of Physical Mediumship, by Robin Foy.12Foy (1996). The Noah’s Ark Society’s web page is preserved Zerdin Phenomenal.13Zerdin Phenomenal (n.d.). NAS publications are archived online.14Noah’s Ark Society (n.d).
Melvyn Willin
Works Cited
Cranley, G. (2000). Letters. Paranormal Review 13, 27.
Cranley, G., Alexander, S., & ‘Lincoln’. (1995). In the right direction. In response. My reply. The Newsletter 4/60, 6-11. [Web page.]
Dinnage, R. (1993). Reports: Survival after death. Psi Researcher 9, 21.
Foy, R. (n.d.). The Noah’s Ark Society for Physical Mediumship: An introduction. The NAS.
Foy, R. (1996/2007). In Pursuit of Physical Mediumship. London: Janus Publishing Company.
Foy, R. (2008). Witnessing the Impossible. Diss, Norfolk, UK: Torcal Publications.
Keen, M., Ellison, A., & Fontana, D. (1999). The Scole report. Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research 58/220, 150-452. [PDF Download.]
Lewis, M.A. (1995). Is the Ark losing direction? The Newsletter 4/60, 4-5. [Web page.]
Noah’s Ark Society (n.d.). The Ark Review (Journals of the Noah’s Ark Society), 1990–2004. [Web page.]
Zerdin Phenomenal (n.d.). The Noah’s Ark Society. Zerdin Phenomenal. [Web page.]
