The Silence of Dr. Lang.
London: Psychic Press Ltd, 1942. First Edition. Softcover. Octavo. Booklet. 18pp + ii adverts. Stapled booklet. Original beige textured printed wrappers. In 1937 the Primate of All England, Rev. Cosmo Gordon Lang commissioned a committee to investigate and report on Spiritualism on behalf of the Church of England. After two years the committee made its report which was sent to the Archbishop of Canterbury and other senior clergy. The report, which was said to have been broadly sympathetic to Spiritualism, was then suppressed. This rare booklet, published in 1942, gives the background to the report and calls for its immediate public release. The Rev. Lang died in 1945, and the report was never officially released, although a copy was leaked to the Spiritualist newspaper Psychic News in 1947 and the full text was apparently finally published (without official sanction) in 1979 in the journal of the Churches' Fellowship for Psychic and Spiritual Studies (CFPSS). Curiously after his death a number of spiritualist reported receiving communications from Lang "on the other side" repenting his decision to suppress the report. A most uncommon memento of a very interesting clash between the Church and spiritualism, which apparently still resonates in some circles. From the collection of Dr. M. H. Coleman, although not marked as such. Covers somewhat darkened, worn and creased, pages toned but unmarked. Overall a complete near VG copy. Item #62100
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