Deirdre Meintelcongregation became primarily francophone in its clientele and activi-
ties. At least five other Spiritualist groups function in Montreal at pres-
ent, four of them seem to be primarily English-speaking; one mainly
anglophone congregation was founded at around the same time as the
Spiritual Church; another is a prayer group that has split off from an
established Spiritualist church and meets in a member’s home. Unlike
the Spiritual Church, not all of the older congregations have the legal
status as churches that would allow their ministers to perform mar-
riages and hold funerals.^5 Spiritualist ministers in the Montreal area
collaborate informally on occasion, and from time to time officiate
as guests in congregations other than their own. As I have discussed
elsewhere (Meintel 2003 ), members of one congregation may some-
times go to services at other Spiritualist churches (or to Catholic ser-
vices or those of other denominations, for that matter).
In general, churches that call themselves Spiritualist share the seven
basic principles of Spiritualism, albeit worded a bit differently from
one church to another. These include the existence of God (sometimes
called Universal Intelligence), the fraternity of mankind, the respon-
sibility of individuals for their own actions, the consequences, good
or bad, of these actions in the afterlife, the eternal spiritual progress
possible for every individual, the continued existence of the human
soul (many believe that animals have souls and an afterlife as well),
and the communion of spirits. The latter implies the possibility of
communication between the living and spirits of the dead, especially
those considered spirit guides.^6
The sch has some 175 members at present, and like most of the other
Spiritualist groups in Montreal, is located in the city center, making it
easy for the many members who depend on public transportation to
get to it.^7 None of its five ministers (who include two women), are paid
for their services, nor are healers or mediums; expenses such as heat-
ing, rent, repairs, and the recently installed air-conditioning are paid
for by collections during the services or personal offerings by mem-
bers.^8 Most Spiritualist churches have limited means (see Zaretsky
1974 , 177 ). Indeed, the church is modestly furnished with paintings
of angels, spirits, Jesus, and usually a few flowers or seasonal decora-
tions. In front, on a low platform, stand a podium and several chairs