SPIRITUALIST ALLIANCE BIOGRAPHIES
Spiritualist history in NZ in respect of the founding of churches virtually began with 'The Mater', Jane Harris-Roberts. Though her, as she traveled around our country speaking and demonstrating, interested groups were inspired to establish churches. Indeed, many of the early ones still extant that can trace their history back to the late 19th. and early 20th. centuries can claim her as their founder, simply because for she worked for all of them. Accordingly and fittingly the Spiritualist Alliance begins with this one of a kind lady:

Jane Harris-Roberts - fondly known as 'The Mater'
Spiritualist Pioneer of N.Z.
1852 - 1942

Jane was born in St. Johns Wood, London, England. She arrived in NZ in 1866 and in 1873 Thomas Harris and she were married. Actually it was through her husband, a physical medium that she first became interested in Spiritualism. Later in their home circle, she was entranced by Spirit and eventually developed inspirational writing. This resulted in the publication of many articles. Her poems however, were authored under the pseudonym of Jenny Wren. Almost her entire output appeared both in the press and the Spiritualist periodicals of the day in New Zealand, Australia, and U.S.A.
When she became a widow with six children, Jane, at the invitation of the Victoria Spiritualist Union, moved to Australia and in Melbourne and Sydney and she began to work as a medium. On returning to N.Z. in 1897, she soon began her pioneering mission of lecturing. Traversing the length and breadth of the country, she took the opportunity to found, as stated above, many Spiritualist churches. She also re-married in 1900 Mr. Charles Roberts and became Jane Harris-Roberts.
Several months after her return to N.Z. the first Spiritualist Church in Auckland was formed by 'The Mater' under the title, 'Society for Spiritual Progress. The first service was held in the Oddfellows' Hall in Pitt Street. Jane Harris-Roberts truly was an inspirational orator, author, and an outspoken feminist too. Undoubtedly, she ranks among the foremost pioneers of Spiritualism in the   Southern Hemisphere and elsewhere. Mrs. Alice Richards, our then Church President conducted her funeral service.

Claude Rhodes was the Builder and Executive Officer of the
Spiritualist Alliance, and for many years also a Councillor with the Newmarket Borough Council

In 1926, through the foresight, generosity and ability of this gentleman a building was erected in Alma Street, Newmarket for The Progressive Church of Spiritualists, which became an incorporated society in August 1911. Significantly this advanced Spiritualism in Auckland because up until then use was made of rented halls, meaning that no 'real home' existed in Auckland. Accordingly, this resulted in Spiritualists being able to meet in purpose-built premises, where they were able to pursue their spiritual searching, learning and teaching in comfortable, peaceful and permanent surrounding. Notably, at the time of his offer to build a church in Newmarket, other Spiritualists of the day doubted his wisdom. They believed that few people would travel that far [from the city] to attend a church. [Imagine their disbelief to be told that in a comparable short number of years, people would think nothing of flying to the other side of the world just to attend a week's seminar!] In later years, Newmarket was absorbed by the Auckland City Council and is now among the most the thriving commercial and residential areas of Auckland.
Claude Rhodes held office as Vice-President and Trustee and made his transition on September 23rd. 1974, just nine years after the completion of the present building in 1965. See also Spiritualist Alliance History

 

James 'Jim' McPherson [1897-1985]
An Executive Officer of the Spiritualist Alliance

James McPherson was one of our very earliest church members and when aged 88 he transitioned, he had, commendably, given 70 years of service to the church and to Spiritualism.
An article in 'Psychic News' dated 18th.May 1985, records his transition thus: 'Victoria still reigned when Jim was born. Like the queen, his parents too were convinced Spiritualists. As such, they formed their own home circle, the consequence being that Jim was fortunate for, from an early age he experienced many phenomena such direct voice, trumpet levitation and apports. It soon became second nature to him, and developed his own psychic talents [gifts].
Telling of the phenomena of the physical circle held in the family kitchen, Jim mentioned a trumpet flying around the room while voices spoke through it. Then one night a bunch of heather, still wet with dew, suddenly appeared on the kitchen table and sometimes fresh violets were apported as well. Jim developed the talent [gift] of automatic writing during his later years; indeed, some of his work was published in Spiritualist magazines.
His family left Scotland around 1914 to settle in NZ but still carried on their psychic activities. He saw service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in France in 1917/18. During the Second World War he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and was elected an honorary member of the King's Empire Veterans Association'.
Jim's wife, Fredda, became our church organist. In addition, together they conducted a Children's Lyceum, cycling approx. 14 miles from Te Papapa suburb to Newmarket and back again every Sunday to fulfill this great voluntary service.

 

 

Alice Richards
1889-1971
The Alliance President 1933-1966

At the time of her retirement as President in 1966, Mrs Richards had held the office for 33 years. Previously, she was the organist and also a committee member).
She also held the office of General Secretary of the national body, The Spiritualist Church of New Zealand for 25 years. She retired as General Secretary in April 1971, only few months before her transition, aged 82.
The fact that she held the reigns for 33 years was testament to the high regard and esteem in which she was held by the membership. Hers was a truly exemplary role that demonstrated selfless dedication. Though she was not a practicing medium, she possessed a deep, intuitive faculty that helped her to guide the church through many difficulties, including the Second World War.
She was also a registered Minister, a position that she graced with dignity and wisdom.

Footnote: Alice M Richards, the Hon. Mary M Dreaver, James McPherson, and Claude Rhodes were the judges of a world-wide motto competition that was held in America during the World-Wide Centennial Celebrations of Modern Spiritualism in 1948. They chose an anonymous entry from Toronto, Canada: Demonstrated survival - this is Spiritualism!

 

Hon. Mary Dreaver, 1887-1961 [photo not available]

Another well-known member of our Church was Mary Dreaver, a local body [in local government] worker, a parliamentarian and a Spiritualist minister. 'Her interest in social work and reform led her to seek office in a variety of local bodies. She was elected onto the City Council in 1938 and later to the Hospital Board. She was the first woman member of both the Transport and Drainage Boards and she also sat for four years on the Auckland Electric Power Board. She later entered Parliament, elected as the Labour Member for Waitemata, and in 1946 was appointed to the Legislative Council and remained there until its abolition in 1950.'
Mary Dreaver was a prominent platform speaker and a minister in the Spiritualist Church. For a time she held office as the National President of the Spiritualist Church of New Zealand. She made her transition in 1961.

 

Harold Sell
President 1966-1972
Vice-President and Trustee1975-1978

Born in Bombay, Harold S. Sell joined the Colonial Police Force and served 10 years in India, followed by 20 years in Fiji. During the Fiji posting he wrote the Fiji Road Code and Police Handbook on Standing Orders, and organized H.M.Queen Elizabeth ll's first visit to Fiji for which he was awarded The Queen's Medal. He also received the Colonial Police Medal for Meritorious Service. He held the position of Senior Superintendent until he retired in the late 1950's.
His study and research of Spiritualism as well as Comparative Religion began in his early years and continued throughout his life.
On his retirement, and having settled in NZ with his wife and family, he became a member of our church and soon became a prominent public exponent for Spiritualism.
He was an Officiating Minister and Licenced Speaker of The Spiritualist Church of New Zealand. It was, in recognition of his knowledge and experience, that the 1974 SCNZ Council commissioned him to write 'A Guide to Modern Spiritualism' some content of which appears throughout our website.
In the preface of this publication, he wrote:
'As Spiritualism is, in my view, the real essence of all religious knowledge, so did it become manifest with the first dawn of religious practice and beliefs. We have no reliable historical records of the most ancient man's religious status. Consequently we date back our researches to those early periods when monumental temples of worship were first discovered, as well as scriptural records, first recognised amongst the vestiges of ancient civilisation. The common origin of all Spiritualistic and religious belief is demonstrated by the universality which certain fundamental principles permeate all relics of antiquity.
To bring light into dark places, to enlarge the vision and to increase humanity's intellectual horizon has been the aim of our pioneers - and remains the aim of our Movement today. We owe much to those torchbearers who have carried forward the light of knowledge in the face of persecution and extermination. Future generations will look back on the past as a time of theological darkness and historical misinterpretation. The truths of Spiritualism will some day fill the world with intellectual light and mankind will know with certainty that 'there is no death.'

Florence and Cheryl Sell photographed with British healer, Matthew Manning,
during his visit to the Alliance in June 1979'

Harold Sell's wife, Florence, and his youngest daughter, Cheryl, were equally involved in the Spiritualist Alliance as well as he. Florence was the chief organist for many years and on her father's transition, Cheryl became a church administrator and then a vice-president and platform speaker. When Cheryl took over the library, mother and daughter catalogued the entire collection of over 2,000 books, and in the process they also repaired and recovered many of them. They ran the Trading Table as well, which they kept stocked with an abundance of handcrafted items, and over several years, raised hundreds of dollars to pay for many of the amenities that we still enjoy today. Florence's transition took place in June 1993. Now residing in Opotiki, Cheryl remains a Life Member of The Alliance.

 

Ken Pretty
Vice-President, Healing Convenor,
Resident Medium and Teacher

Ken Pretty is an international Medium with many talents [gifts]. Despite the fact that Ken claims he has never - preferring to go it solo - been a 'club and or clique' person in Spiritualism, he has been a member of the Spiritualist Alliance since 2002. From the first he applied his great energy to the Alliance by inspiring many changes all of which have helped to create new vitality and fraternity within the Church. It is very noticeable, for instance, that no longer can that hairy old criticism of Spiritualism be applied here. We refer to the phrase of spiritualism being nothing more than 'some little old ladies sitting around in the dark'. The increased attendance of men, of all age groups, indicates that, in their words, they better appreciate Ken's logic and wisdom in his teachings. With Ken's encouragement, the Alliance is moving towards more mid-week meetings to help meet the need of those who do not wish to attend church services or be available on Sundays. (See separate entry to link with Ken's site.)

 

 

Charles 'Chic' P. Lowson Church President 1972-1974
[No photo available]

A committee member and Vice-President Scotsman Chic Lowson's great contribution to Spiritualism is his collection lyrics of songs and hymns put to popular tunes. These reflect better Spiritualism's message and truths. They can be found in church hymnals, etc. throughout NZ, Australia, and other countries. No longer an 'actual' member of a Spiritualist church, he describes himself as a 'Rational Spiritualist'. He works now as a 'behind the scenes' man in psychic educational areas.

 

Elizabeth Pretty
Church President since 1974 -

Following a very evidential spirit communication in 1962, Elizabeth joined the Alliance and became a committee member and the librarian in 1964-1967; church secretary from 1968-1974 and was elected as president in 1974. She was appointed the Minister of the Alliance in 1978. She also served on the Executive of the National Body, The Spiritualist Church of New Zealand as General Secretary from 1971 until her retirement from that position in 1980.
A student of comparative religion, Elizabeth's pursuit of understanding Spiritualism and spirit teachings has continued throughout her adult life and has been a guiding influence thus ensuring the church has fulfilled its aims and objects, resulting in the production of a very high standard of presentation. Through her professional chairmanship she has become the 'face' of the Alliance, has lectured regularly since 1974, and is part of the Healing Team. Elizabeth is also the official publicity officer and media representative having appeared in press, on radio and TV.
Simultaneously, Elizabeth's career in the printing industry at managerial level provided the church with the administration skills required for moving the church forward whilst maintaining the standards set in place by past presidents.
It was under Elizabeth's guidance that the Alliance developed its promotion of sponsored mediums from other countries, principally the UK.
In November 2002, Elizabeth married [see following biography] Ken Pretty.

ROBERT AND ANNA [NEE LOGAN] STOUT

The Encyclopædia of New Zealand states that Robert Stout was born in the Shetland Islands and that he claimed descent from Sigurd the Stout. Sigurd was the elder brother of the famous Viking Hrolf, or Rollo, who became Duke of Normandy and ancestor of the Norman Kings of England. As a young man Robert was already a temperance advocate, a radical land reformer. Under the influence of his scientific reading, he was too a strong opponent of dogmatic religion. Fired by reports of the Otago Gold Rush he came to New Zealand, landing in April 1864. Apparently he couldn't find work as a surveyor so he turned to teaching. He began to study law and ultimately entered into politics, becoming successively, Attorney General, Prime Minister and Chief Justice when he received a knighthood.
He began as a Rationalist but later, following his wife, whose family were already Spiritualists he too became one. Indeed, at one time he was both President of the Free-Thought Association and President of the Spiritualist Association, the latter coinciding with his appointment as Chief Justice in 1899. He was Attorney General when he chaired Emma Hardinge Britten's public meeting at the Garrison Hall, attended by some 1800 people. In those days, opposition toward Spiritualism was quite virulent and it was in that hall that Emma Hardinge Britten, despite being a brilliant inspirational orator, gave her only prepared address in her career as a Spiritualist exponent. M. W. Green was one of the leaders of that opposition to her and Spiritualism both. Accordingly, the address had a lengthy title: 'Spiritualism Vindicated And Clerical Slanders Refuted In Answer To M. W. Green, A Christian Minister Of Dunedin'.
Another example of the prevailing religious intolerance revolved around a Mr. John Logan described by EHB in her fascinating book, 'Nineteenth Century Miracles', as a 'prominent and influential citizen of Dunedin who also held a high position in Dunedin's First Presbyterian Church'. Mr. Logan had become interested in Spiritualism through the mediumship of a family member. He incurred the wrath of his church by actually appearing on stage at the Princess Theatre with Dr. Peebles, and was subsequently 'tried in a Star Chamber for his act of heresy'.
Incidentally, Robert Stout married Anna Paterson Logan, a Spiritualist and the daughter of John Logan. Encyclopaedic reference states that 'she shared her husband's same public interests' and through their liberal beliefs, no doubt largely influenced by some of the great social developments in New Zealand's early history. These included giving women the vote, opposing Biblical teaching in schools, thereby supporting secular education and also the establishment of the freedom to make affirmations instead of the swearing of oaths on the Bible. Later becoming Lady Stout she was also an ardent feminist and on a visit to England staunchly marched with the Suffragette Movement there. She was also a founder for the Society for the Protection of Woman and Children and the Plunket Society as well. [It's worth noting too that in her aforementioned book, Emma Hardinge Britten wrote about the hall having been built by the Free thought Association, the foundation stone of which was laid on 15 October 1881 by Mrs John Logan [Stout's mother-in-law] before an assembly of approximately 3,000 people.] The Hon. Robert Stout was one of the principal speakers on that occasion too and she also wrote that this hall was the home of the Lyceum.

[Credit! Material sourced from the notes of the late Mr. Harold Sell, Mrs. Alice Richards, Mr. J. W. Graham, Mrs. Emma Hardinge Britten and Encyclopædia of New Zealand.]
N.B. As and when completed other biographies will be published in this section.