Celtic Spirit Lyceum

Andrew Jackson Davis.

A child is the Repository of Infinite Possibilities.

1826-1910

Andrew Jackson Davis was born on August 11, 1826 in Blooming Grove (Orange County), NY. This town is a small hamlet along the Hudson River. His father was unstable and did odd jobs as a cobbler and weaver. His mother was illiterate and strongly religious. The family frequently moved and he had very little schooling. At an early age he became an apprentice to a shoemaker for 2 years.

In 1838, the family moved to Poughkeepsie, NY. When he was 17 (in 1843), he attended a lecture in his town on Mesmerism given by a traveling Doctor (Dr. J.S. Grimes, Professor of Jurisprudence in the Castleton Medical College). At first, he had no success with it. A short time later, a local tailor (William Livingston), who was experimenting with mesmerism, threw him into a trance.

He found that he was clairvoyant and could understand incredible truths from a higher plane of consciousness which he found himself in. He was able to read closed books, diagnose illnesses, and also prescribe treatments which usually worked.

He was able to ‘Journey’ when in the trance state and visit the spiritual planes. He compared the way children were educated in the Summerland (spirit-world) to the way they were educated on Earth and it was his belief that the methods used by Spirit were superior to those here.

A J Davis from 1847. 19 years old. Mary Davis, wife of A J Davis.

Until we feel and comprehend greater truths- we hereby declare that-

Our Book is Nature;

Our Master is Reason;

Our Law is Love to Man;

Our Religion is Justice;

Our Light is Truth;

Our Structure is Association;

Our Path is Progression;

Our Works are Development;

Our Heaven is Harmony;

Our God is the Universal Father!

A. J. DAVIS’S WORK FOR CHILDREN

Perhaps one of the greatest of the many good things accomplished by Dr. Andrew Jackson Davis under spirit instruction was the inauguration of the Children’s Progressive Lyceum, an improved form of Sunday School. The plan of this Lyceum work, which is set forth in full and complete detail in his ‘Manual,’ was not original with him. He says:-

"It is an attempt to unfold and actualise on earth, partially at least, a progressive juvenile assemblage like those in the Summer-Land; whither children are constantly going from earth, and where they are received into groups for improvement, growth, and graduation. In those heavenly societies and spheres the young grow and bloom in love as well as in wisdom – In affection as well as in true knowledge."

Andrew Jackson Davis in later years.

In his later years, he acquired a Medical degree and retired to Boston. There he opened a small book shop and prescribed herbal remedies to his patients. He passed to the higher life in 1910.

Andrew Jackson Davis was cremated and buried at Mt. Auburn Cemetery
in Watertown, MA. in 1910. His remains are in Niche 61, Columbarium 1 in Bigelow Chapel.