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was first established in 1904 and is named the Union Espiritista _ beautiful, cursive style. The contents of the book were a mystery.
Christiana de Filipinas (the Christian Spiritist Union of the When the archivist of the Union entrusted the book to me, he
Philippines). made it clear that he had no idea what information was contained
The first of the documents I discovered was the textbook of the init. Once again, I began the arduous task of locating a translator.
Union. The President of the Union published it in a limited print- I soon discovered that this old book, brown and crumbling with
ing in San Fabian, Pangasinan, in 1909. His name was Juan age, was the only existing copy of the Minutes of the Union
Alvear, and the textbook's title translates as A Short Spiritist between the years 1919 and 1933.
Doctrine. The text was very difficult to translate because it was As the translator worked, I learned firsthand of the precise
written using a combination of three languages: Ilocano, Spanish, nature of the trials and tribulations that the great-grandparents of
and a local dialect known as Pangasinese. After locating a trans- today's psychic surgeons endured in laying the foundation for "the
lator who knew all three languages, the translation still dragged Coming of the Holy Spirit". As the Christian Spiritists proceeded
on for over a year. to establish their organisation, they encountered intense opposi-
In the textbook, Alvear wrote: "Here in the Philippines, the tion from both the Church and the Philippine Medical
forces of Christ in the spirit world made themselves manifest Association. Whatever challenges they faced, however, were
through our mediums as medicine called 'magnetic fluid’, which overcome by the advice they received from the Spirit Protectors.
flows from the spirit world through the mediums to introduce In 1966, the fourth-dimensional healer Eleuterio Terte led a
Spiritism through healing.” schism from the Union Espiritista and founded the Christian
Alvear described the reaction of the Church to this collective Spiritists of the Philippines. With the arrival of reporters Ron
spiritual intervention when he wrote: Ormond and Ormond McGill, Terte
"The pulpit and the learned claim brought the mission of "the forces of
that the appearance of the spirits was . Christ in the Spirit world" out of the
the work of the devil who settled in I was astounded to discover rural Philippines and into the world at
rea Pine ed: “There is an that this duly registered large.
increasing number infused with association, which appeared THE THIRD DISPENSATION
Spiritism, which is spreading to th A With th ing scientific evi-
provinces, and it rest isnone over | MOKMAl in every respect, WAS FE gence forthe existence of life after
than morality and sanctity and the Officially directed through death and the scientific proof of the
knowledge of God's Spirit." . . efficacy of prayer, the reality of the
Alvear concluded: "So it has mediums by Spirit Protectors unseen world is gaining credence.
become clear that Spiritism is a good from another dimension. As Western culture grapples with
tree because its fruit is good. Now, it
is apparent that God has manifested sion that exists in contradiction to the
in the Third Person of the Holy very premise of scientific material-
Spirit, announcing to the world that those who believe will be ism, the Filipinos have moved into a new and highly advanced
saved." Spiritual Dispensation. They believe that this Third Dispensation,
These Divine spirits, who gained converts through paranormal in which the Holy Spirit will bring about the perfect spiritualisa-
healing, ultimately instructed the Christian Spiritists to establish tion of humanity, is the core of the prophecies of Jesus Christ.
an organisation that would facilitate what they termed "the Having seen the evidence, I believe them. oo
Coming of the Holy Spirit".
The second of the three documents I discovered was the
Constitution of the Union. The Constitution seemed in every way
be al dosnt of sion. ung te ds nd | an, a Thoma iy ace: Th
Sr enerraane an ° oo : Hidden Asset in Healing", Investigations, The Institute of
entirely ordinary that I didn't pay much attention to it. Then, one Noetic Sciences, USA, 1985.
day, I took a closer look at it and found a chapter entitled © Sitter, A. J., "Bleeding them Dry", Arizona Republic, Phoenix,
"Spiritual Direction of the Association". I opened the booklet and Arizona, August 13, 1986.
read the following: "The Spiritual Direction shall be the Supreme + Ader, R. (ed.), Psychoneuroimmunology, Academic Press,
Authority of the Association. This shall integrate a Court of New York, NY, 1981.
Spirits of Light, officially known as Spirit Protectors, who shall True, George Nava Il, website