Spiritualism , History
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STORY BY VANESSA ORR
In the late 1800s , spiritualist camps could be found across the country , and most large towns , especially in the North , had at least one . The religion , which first got its start in Hydesville , New York , quickly grew to become one of the most popular religious movements of the 19th century , with a reported 11 million people subscribed to Spiritualism in the mid-1800s , and 35,000 people serving as practicing mediums .
Those who followed the religion , which includes a wide range of beliefs , including that communication through a medium with those in the spirit world is possible , migrated down the I-80 corridor , establishing camps along the way . At one point there were three camps and 50 Spiritualist churches in Indianapolis alone ; today , historic Camp Chesterfield , located outside Anderson , Indiana , is the only one left in the state . It is also one of only three Spiritualist camps left in the nation and in 2002 , was listed on the National Register of Historic Places .
The Chesterfield Spiritualist Camp , which opens each year on the third Saturday of June , continues to draw visitors today . The home of the Indiana Association of Spiritualists , the camp is not only known for its Spiritualist church services , seminary , mediumship , faith healing , spiritual development classes and psychic readings for patrons , but for its largest event — Spirit Fest , which is held every September .
“ Spirit Fest attracts about 1,000 people on Saturday , and about 700 on Sunday ,” said Rev . Michael Schlotterbeck , clairvoyant , astrologer and development
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