File 88 - Reel 45.

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Reel 45.

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File

Reference code

SCA258-GA270-88

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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • September 11, 1963-September 17, 1963 (Creation)
    Creator
    Lacey, Thomas

Physical description area

Physical description

1 audio reel (2 hrs., 40 min.)

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Name of creator

(1895-1966)

Biographical history

Thomas Lacey, a trance and direct voice medium, was born in Glossop, Derbyshire England on November 4, 1895.

Thomas married Edith Emma Lomas on March 18, 1918 in Whitfield. Edith was born in Whitfield, Derbyshire England on September 28, 1895.

Thomas and Edith immigrated to Canada in March 1923 and April 1924 respectively. Thomas worked as a mechanical engineer at companies including Dominion Rubber and Sutherland and Schultz.

Records of Thomas conducting séances in the Kitchener-Waterloo region begin in 1924. Edith, although not a medium, was an active participant in the séances. Thomas and Edith moved to Hamilton in the 1950s before returning to Kitchener-Waterloo in the 1960's. The séances recorded in the 1960s were held in the home of Otto and Nelda Smith in Kitchener. Otto Smith, a local businessman, played the organ at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Kitchener and his organ playing can be heard throughout the séances.

Thomas and the séance sitters believed his main control during the 1960s was a spirit named Amirah and they maintained that his younger brother Walter, who died at a young age, acted as his gate keeper. Thomas Lacey purportedly channeled the spirits of Thomas Edison, Emmanuel Swedenborg, and John Wesley, amongst others. Sitters at the séances were said to have experienced apports, materializations, and automatic writing. One séance recording also contains what is believed to be an example of Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP).

The séances fall into three general categorizations: Masters Night when philosophical discussions took place; Visiting Night when spirits of friends and family were welcomed; and Rescue Night when the sitters would help spirits who had not crossed over the veil to do so.

Thomas Lacey died on June 17, 1966 at age 70. Edith Lacey died in 1993 at age 97. Thomas and Edith Lacey were buried in Parkview Cemetery, Waterloo, Ontario.

Custodial history

Scope and content

One audio reel recording of séances held under the supervision of medium Thomas Lacey. A handwritten note on the original audio reel box provides the following descriptions for each side of the reel:

Side 1. Wed. Sept. 11/63 rescue night. Music - let the lower lights be burning; Amirah - opening remarks; Icelander - brother Kamouk broke through ice; Ben Stafford - on trail to mining camp has been in same condition for 175 yrs - came from Yorktown. Finally found the change; Happy Wolfe - I come to help stranger he will be well looked after; John - of submarine thresher all of the boys now are accustomed to this life; Sam Long - servant of Ladich his master. He was a kind man. Described his master's home. A wonderful experience he had; Lord Twelvetrees - comes back again. Very pleased. Is helping in the works; Walter - closes with some appropriate remarks.

Side 2. Tues. Sept. 17/63 master's night. Music - deal lord, king lord; Amirah - a most enlightening address on the law of change. Spoke on change from mortal to the spiritual life. Followed by interesting discussion; Charles Steinmetz - greeted Mrs. Steiss and the sitters. Spoke of Gordon's progress and his own interest in our endeavours; Hermes - trismagistus (a later reincarnation of Amirah) explained how earth was first inhabited; John Wesley - was delighted with the talk and also the question period; Marguerite - guide of O.G.S. heard the singing and encouraged further efforts; Arch Deacon Colley - after absence of many years. Spoke on behalf of Drs. Hoffman and Hall; Walter - closes after Running Deer writes a few words on paper.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Donated by Stanley McMullin in 2015.

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  • English

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This audio reel was digitized in 2022 and access copies are available for research purposes. Transcription not available.

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Described by JB in 2015.
Revised by NM in 2024.

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  • English

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