Altrurian Society
The Altrurian Society, also called the Altrurian Church or Altrurian Order of Mystics, was a religious organization based on the practice of healing. It was founded in Birmingham in 1911 by Blount native L. A. Fealy. Fealy had begun his healing ministry after receiving a vision in 1892. Through the vision he was instructed to heal the sick and to await instructions for freeing others from the "bonds of matter" and ensuring their "health, happiness and abundance". He ordained himself a bishop and traveled to heal and preach.
Fealy's message, drawn largely from Christian doctrine, taught that through obedience of the law, individuals could become conduits for the power of the Holy Spirit and thereby become sons of God, the same as Christ. The Society practiced seven ordinances: belief, faith, baptism, repentance, redemption through good works, divine consciousness and healing by laying on of hands. Fealy participated in national conventions of the "New Thought Alliance", which grew out of several movements advocating "mental-healing" or "mental science".
The Altrurian Society was structured with a heirarchy of Apostles, Bishops, Ministers, Deacons and Desciples. Lay matters were administrated by an executive board of trustees which kept offices in the Farley Building at 1929 3rd Avenue North. The group published several books and pamphlets outlining its doctrine.
Members of the Altrurian Society used healing not only as a devotional practice, but also as a source of funds. His published accounting statements were valued by others in the New Thought Movement for quantifying the power of his message, but also opened the door to legal troubles. Fealy was arrested in 1916 for practicing medicine without a license. The Society continued into the late 1930s before fading away.
Publications
- Fealy, L. A. (1913) Breath. Birmingham: Altrurian Society
- Fealy, L. A. ( ) Jesus of Nazareth. Birmingham: Altrurian Society
- Fealy, L. A. ( ) The Master Man. Birmingham: Altrurian Society
- Fealy, L. A. ( ) Success. Birmingham: Altrurian Society
- Fealy, L. A. (1913) Emaculate Conception [sic]. Birmingham: Altrurian Society
- Fealy, L. A. (1914) Mind Powers (Law of the Way). Birmingham: Altrurian Society
- Fealy, L. A. (1914) Law of the Way: Primary Principles. Birmingham: Altrurian Society
- Fealy, L. A. ( ) Four Keys. Birmingham: Altrurian Society
- McCulloch, Bonnie (1913) Fealy Aphorisms. Birmingham: Altrurian Society
- Fealy, L. A. (1926) Fealy's Log Book: Concerning Laws Objective and Subjective. Birmingham: Altrurian Society
- Fealy, L. A. (1927) Love's Way. Birmingham: Altrurian Society
- Fealy, L. A. (1938) The Pilgrim, Prophet and Me, Vol. I (I Am I). Birmingham: Altrurian Society
References
- Militz, Annie Rix (July 1912) "Harvest News Letter". Master Mind Magazine. Los Angeles, California