Séances Flourish After WWI as Families Seek Comfort from the Dead

In the wake of World War I, a surge in the popularity of séances emerged as families sought to connect with deceased loved ones, including soldiers who had perished in battle. One notable case involved Raymond Lodge, a young British soldier who died at the front lines in September 1915. Shortly after his death, messages purportedly from Raymond began to circulate, providing solace to his grieving family and captivating the public.

Raymond’s father, Sir Oliver Lodge, a respected physicist and member of the Society for Psychical Research, was initially skeptical of spiritualism. However, he became deeply engaged in séances conducted by medium Mrs. Osborne Leonard. Messages from Raymond included affirmations of meeting friends in the afterlife, including F.W.H. Myers, a founding member of the society who had died in 1901. This communication compelled Sir Oliver to compile these messages into a book titled “Raymond, or Life and Death,” published in 1916. The book gained immense popularity, with many soldiers on the front receiving copies from their families.

The roots of spiritualism date back to the late 1840s, evolving from a pseudo-Christian practice that claimed the ability to communicate with the dead. Its appeal waned at the turn of the century but revived dramatically after the war, as the sheer scale of loss prompted widespread engagement with the practice. The success of Lodge’s book inspired numerous similar publications, including “Claude’s Book” in 1919, which was purportedly transcribed from séances with a young soldier named Claude by his mother, L. Kelway-Bamber.

As the war concluded, approximately 9 million soldiers had lost their lives, exacerbating public grief. Death had always been a part of life, but never had it claimed so many young lives in such a short period. This profound loss led many to seek comfort through spiritualism, as the possibility of communicating with the deceased provided a sense of hope and connection.

Although modern perspectives often view these séances with skepticism, they can also be seen as complex sociological phenomena shaped by collective grief. Individuals turned to spiritualism not just to contact their loved ones but to affirm the unique significance of their deaths amid widespread tragedy. For many, the séances offered reassurance that their loved ones were at peace, a stark contrast to the harsh realities of war.

Mary Lodge, Raymond’s mother, expressed the emotional relief these communications provided with a poignant statement included in her husband’s book: “We can face Christmas now.” This statement encapsulates the comfort many derived from the idea of connecting with their deceased family members, even in the face of ethical dilemmas surrounding the authenticity of such claims.

The history of ghost-hunting and séances is indeed filled with instances of fraud, but it also serves as an important lens through which to understand grief and the fear of death at pivotal moments in human history. By examining these practices with empathy, we gain insight into the profound human desire to maintain connections with those lost, making sense of sorrow in a world often marked by sudden and devastating loss.

Alice Vernon, a lecturer in Creative Writing and 19th-Century Literature at Aberystwyth University, suggests that while skepticism is necessary, understanding the motivations behind these séances can reveal significant truths about human experience and the enduring quest for connection beyond death.