New Thought and Modern Spiritualism
As showing an affinity between what is called the New Thought, and modern Spiritualism, it is significant that the National Spiritualists’ Association, which convened in its twelfth annual session at St. Louis, Mo., October 18, appointed a committee to carry an invitation to Ella Wheeler Wilcox to take part in the sessions of the convention. Mrs. Wilcox is one of the most prominent figures in the New Thought movement. Rev. Thomas Grimshaw, of St. Louis, who presided at the first business session of the convention, made an address in which he said that “while the ministers of other churches are stealing our thunder, and are being complimented for their excellent sermons, we remain weak in numbers.” With this he coupled a plea for earnest work to secure an increase in membership. It is true that the number of those who take the name “Spiritualist” has not of late been greatly on the increase; but vast numbers are being gathered in by latter-day movements, which, while different in name, are closely allied with Spiritualism in character and purpose. Of such movements New Thought is a prominent example.