Amy & Isaac Post

Although the Spiritualist movement has no one single founder, perhaps the most influential couple that set the direction for American Spiritualism were Amy and Isaac Post. 

Amy Post was born Amy Kirby in 1802. She belonged to a family who were members of the Religious Society of Friends, (sometimes shortened to Friends, or Quakers). Isaac Post was born in 1798, also to a Quaker Family. In 1821 he married Amy's eldest sister, Hannah Kirby. In 1827 Hannah fell extremely ill and Amy moved to Hannah and Isaac's home to assist with caring for their children. Hannah passed away shortly after, and Amy stayed with Isaac to assist with caring for the children. 

Amy and Isaac eventually married, and moved to Rochester on North Plymouth Ave (their home was located at the current site of the Hochstein School of Music), Isaac went into business as a Pharmacist; the couple had four children, Jacob, Joseph, Matilda, and Willet. 

Amy and Isaac were devout Quakers; the Quaker movement started in England in the late 1600's with the teachings of George Fox. Quakers believe that each individual can experience God directly, as an inner light, and that one should live a life of simplicity, truth, equality, and peace. At the time, Quakers were also known for their habit of wearing plain clothes, familiar speech, and refusal to swear oaths. 

Amy and Isaac became dissatisfied with their fellow Quakers, when their community voiced that they felt the couple was becoming too worldly due to engaging in political activities. Although all Quakers agreed with the ideals of Abolitionism and Women's Suffrage, most preferred to do so from a distance. Amy and Isaac disaffiliated with their group and joined a more liberal Quaker Meeting which was closer to their own personal belief that it was a moral duty to engage with society in movements in order to promote causes that might bring about peace and reform, rather than disengaging from society. 

Both Amy and Isaac were committed to Women's Suffrage and Abolitionism. The couple were friends with suffragettes Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony. The couple attended the Seneca Falls Women's Rights Convention, and assisted in organizing the Rochester Women's Rights Convention. 

Both Amy and Isaac were also extremely active Abolitionists, and were two of the founding members of the Western New York-Anti Slavery Society. They hosted several speakers in their home in Rochester who they became life long friends with, such as Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and William Cooper Nell. 

With the assistance of Frederick Douglass, their home became a stop on the underground railroad, at one point offering sanctuary to 20 individuals. On a trip to Canada, Amy became good friends with Harriet Jacobs, and encouraged her to write her autobiography, which she later did in 1861 as Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. 

During all of this activity, the Posts took in the two young daughters of the Fox family of Hydesville, a small village just outside Rochester. The girls had become famous over night for their ability to communicate with spirits of the dead through rapping noises and knocks. Amy and Isaac encouraged the girls to develop their gifts, and accompanied them with their older sister Leah to demonstrate mediumship at Corinthian Hall in Rochester. 

Amy and Isaac quickly became devoted Spiritualists. According to the testimony of Leah Fox, one evening when the girls first arrived in Rochester the spirits continued to knock constantly and persistently through out the night. The next morning they were visited by Isaac Post who suggested that the perhaps the spirits would explain what they wanted if they called out the alphabet and allowed for them to spell their messages through the knocks. 

This was the first message given by the spirits in Rochester, New York: "Dear Friends, you must proclaim these truths to the world. This is the dawning of a new era; and you must not try to conceal it any longer. When you do your duty, God will protect you, and good spirits will watch over you." 

Early Spiritualism as a religious movement was incredibly influenced by the Quaker beliefs and practices of the Posts. Their dedication to reform became a hallmark of early Spiritualism, to be a Spiritualist was to be a Reformer. To be a Spiritualist was a statement that you were committed to bettering the world and uplifting the oppressed.  

Isaac in particular felt moved to develop his own mediumship, and found that he was gifted as a Writing Medium and practiced Automatic Writing. He published a book in 1852 called Voices From the Spirit World, the work contained letters he received through Automatic Writing from the Spirits of various individuals such as Quaker leaders George Fox, Elias Hicks, and others figures such as Benjamin Franklin. 

These Spirits gave their blessings to Spiritualists, offered hope and consolation to a positive existence in the Spirit World, and offered courage and admonitions to continue to work for the causes of Reform to aid in assisting the world as the work of God. 

Other Spirits such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson offered their own encouragement, and warnings of the evils of racism, slavery, and social inequality; explaining that they were now repentant for not having advocated peace and abolitionism in life. 

In 1883 Amy post and a close circle of eight friends began the Rochester Spiritualist Society, with Amy voted in as Vice-President. The Society regularly met at the Post home on Sophia Street regularly for public demonstrations of mediumship, and lectures from local speakers and other well known Spiritualists. 

In 1885 the Rochester Spiritualist Society hosted an "anniversary meeting" to "commemorate the thirty seventh anniversary of the Modern Spiritualism." In 1886 the society converted two upper rooms of Amy Posts home into a library and reading room, which was "supplied with the works of leading Free Thinkers such as Voltaire, Thomas Paine, and others." The library was free and was open to the public. 

 Isaac passed away in 1872, and Amy passed away in 1889. The graves of Amy and Isaac Post are in Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, NY. Amy and Isaac Post dedicated their entire lives to helping others, and uplifting society through acts of loving-kindness, and a passionate dedication to the belief that we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves.

The Birth of Plymouth Spiritualist Church

In 1893 several prominent Spiritualists met in Chicago to form the National Spiritualist Association. The leaders hoped that by forming an organization it could help promote the teachings of Spiritualism to the greater public, and also assist in preventing fraudulent mediums from taking advantage of the public. Among these early leaders were W. H. Bach, James Martin Peebles, and Cora L. V. Scott. 

Each state would eventually form their own auxiliary organization, and in 1897 the New York State Association of Spiritualists was formed. This auxiliary would then change its name in 1914 to the General Assembly of Spiritualists. 

In Rochester, an organization named the First Spiritual Society of Rochester (sometimes documented as First Spiritual Church of Rochester) was chartered through the National Spiritualist Association as a “lay society” and met in various locations throughout the city, such as the home of Mrs. Roxie H. Joslyn (a fairly well to do Spiritualist Medium and Healer) and also in various Halls and Hotels when they planned large lectures or celebrations.

In the early 1900s the First Spiritual Society began plans to purchase a permanent building for their meetings.  In 1906 under the spiritual leadership of Rev. Benjamin Austin the Society purchased a historic Rochester Church on Plymouth Ave that had formerly belonged to a liberal Protestant congregation that had been temporarily renting their building to a small Restorationist Christian congregation known as the Megiddo Mission. 

The new church was officially registered as the First Spiritual Church of Rochester. However, the church almost immediately became known as Plymouth Spiritualist Church; the name was eventually legally changed to Plymouth Spiritualist Church in 1913.

Up until this point, Spiritualists had never truly organized as churches. There had been Societies, and Lyceums, acting as community centers, clubs, or educational organizations, where Spiritualists might meet and give lectures or demonstrate mediumship. There had also been camps, revival meetings, or temporary 'pop up churches' in rented lecture halls,  but not an organized church with a permanent building with a mission to minister to a public congregation.

Plymouth Church became the very first church that had been organized by a group of Spiritualists, making Plymouth the “Mother Church of Modern Spiritualism”

Plymouth Spiritualist Church quickly became known worldwide as the “International Shrine of Spiritualism.” Rochester became not only one of the main centers of Spiritualism from a historical perspective, but also from a religious one.

Plymouth Spiritualist Church was considered one of the most beautiful churches in Rochester, with an imposing bell tower and clock that many citizens could set their watches too, the great shrine to Spiritualism was quite literally the heart of the Spiritualist movement in the United States. The building could fit about 1200 individuals, contained a magnificent library, and had a massive pipe organ with a full choir to match. 

The pulpit, dating back to the days of the church's progressive Protestant heritage, claimed an impressive array of speakers already well before the property became part of the Spiritualist movement in 1906, particularly including Frederick Douglas and Susan B. Anthony.

Plymouth Spiritualist Church was a representative of a Golden Age of Spiritualism, with Rochester, NY at it's Center. It lasted as the unquestioned center for Spiritualism for almost 50 years until the congregation moved from it's location in the 1950s (which I will write about).

Rev. Tillie Reynolds

The church archives at Plymouth Spiritualist Church indicate that Rev. Matilda “Tillie” Reynolds was a Pastor of Plymouth, however the documentation is a bit murky, never giving a specific date or confirmation of her as Pastor.


I've managed to confirm through research that my original suspisions were correct, and that Rev. Tillie was an Associate Pastor of Plymouth, rather than the head pastor of the congregation. 

Regardless of her title, she made an impact on the Spiritualist community here in Rochester and deserves recognition.

A very brief introduction to Rev. Tillie Reynolds was mentioned in The Light of Truth (the same book that recorded information on Rev. Herrick): “Mrs. Reynolds is an inspirational lecturer and psychometrist. Her home is at 1637 sixth avenue, Troy N.Y. She is well known in the Eastern United States and seldom without engagement.”

For those that may be unfamiliar with the terms, “inspirational lecturer” implies a form of Mediumship, rather than just being eloquent, in more modern terms, Rev. Reynolds would channel her lectures as a Medium, being instructed from Spirit. Psychometry is the ability to give psychic readings through touch.

A Democrat and Chronicle article from May 16, 1931 that briefly honored the history of Spiritualism in Rochester and Plymouth Spiritualist Church mentions Rev. Reynolds “among well known workers” of the Church.

In the work History of Chautauqua County, New York and It's People, Rev Reynolds is mentioned as one of the "many spiritualists that have spoken from the Lily Dale rostrum." She is mentioned alongside other Pastors of Plymouth such as Austin, Wright, and Erwood.

The Spiritualist Manual of the General Assembly of Spiritualists states that Rev. Reynolds was one of the members of the board of directors of the Assembly, specifically as one of the signers confirming the name change of the New York State Association of Spiritualists, to the General Assembly of Spiritualists.

In the Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Convention of the NSA published in 1896, she is listed as a Spiritualist missionary to Texas.

Rev. Dr. Benjamin F. Austin

Benjamin Fish Austin was born in Brighton, Ontario Canada. He was raised in a Methodist family and studied to be a Methodist minister. An exceptionally bright student he received his B.A in Theology, B.D (Bachelor of Divinity), and eventually D.D. (Doctor of Divinity). For a time he minister of one of the largest Methodist Churches in Canada, and eventually became principle of Alma College for Women in St. Thomas, Ontario. He married Francis Amanda Connell, and the couple had four children, one son and three daughters.

While in his role as both a Methodist minister and Principle he was well known for his strong opinions on social justice and welfare issues such as Feminism, Temperance, and Income Inequality.

Some of his early works as a Methodist minister include:

Sermons on Popular Sins, which collected several of his sermons calling out to individuals to end political corruption, denounced blind devotion to political parties at expense of morality, condemned the use of drugs and alcohol, and chastised uncharitable attitudes to the poor.

“Far too many forget in these times the unchanging obligations that bind them to God, and make it the supreme question of their conduct, 'What will help the party?' and not, 'What is right?' or, 'What will God expect of me?' -B.F. Austin, Sermons on Popular Sins

Several articles in different publications on Women’s Suffrage, which argued that women should be fully equal members of society, condemned forced marriages for economic or social reasons, and stressed the importance of education for women.

“Every young woman, no matter what her circumstances or prospects in life, should be the mistress of some special field of learning, or some useful art, by which she can, if God's providence so order, win her own way in life. No young woman should be placed in circumstances such as to make marriage an only refuge from poverty or dependence on her friends, or from a life of ennui. Having in her own hands the power of self-support, she should be free to accept or reject the marriage lot” -B.F. Austin, Open the Doors For the Women of Today

Gospel to the Poor vs Pew Rents, which condemned the practice of charging money to rent pews in Churches on Sundays essentially ostracizing those who could not afford to pay either to the back of the church, or from even attending.

“We are to be imitators of God. Hence the divine kindness to the poor, as revealed to us in Scriptures, is as much a law to the Church of Christ today as through promulgated amidst the thunders of Sinai, or written in letters of fire across the heavens. Should anyone ask, therefore, how should the Christian Church treat the Poor? The answer is ready: As God has taught us by example and precept.” -B. F. Austin, Gospel to the Poor

While a Methodist Austin became interested in studying spiritual phenomena as well as Spiritualist teachings. This interest became even stronger at the death of his youngest daughter, Kathleen. Austin, longing to see her again, began to attend seances and develop his own mediumship, eventually succeeding and contacting her spirit. Austin began to incorporate discussions and lectures on Spiritual phenomena and philosophy into his sermons. Eventually culminating in a sermon that caused him to be accused by the Methodist Church of heresy.

The record of his trial for the charges of heresy by the Methodist Church is still available to read, and he was cited on the points of denying the doctrine of eternal punishment, questioning the divinity of Jesus of Nazareth, denying that the teachings of Jesus were the last and final revelation to mankind, and promoting the practices and ideas of Spiritualism. He did not attend the trial but rather submitted a written defense for himself, which also still survives. He (no surprise), was not cleared of his charges and was expelled from the Methodist Church

Austin afterwards moved to the United States in 1903 where he became the principle of William Smith College for Women in Geneva, New York. Though the college was officially non-sectarian, the founder of the college Mr. William Smith was a Spiritualist and was impressed by Austin’s background in education, ministry, and Spiritualism.

Austin became active in the Spiritualist community of Rochester. Before Plymouth Church was an official congregation it was chartered as a lay Spiritualist Society through the National Spiritualist Association (now National Spiritualist Association of Churches). The society grew to the point where they wanted to become chartered as an official church, and elected Austin to be their Pastor. The society purchased a church that had formerly belonged to a liberal Baptist congregation that had been temporarily renting their building to a small Restorationist Christian movement known as the Megiddo Mission. The Rochester Spiritualist society purchased the building and founded The First Spiritual Church of Rochester, located on Plymouth Ave. The church quickly became known as Plymouth Spiritualist Church, and eventually changed its name.

While Pastor in Rochester Austin actively wrote essays, articles, books, and pamphlets on the teachings of Spiritualism. His most known pamphlet is probably The ABC’s of Spiritualism, which is a simple yet detailed overview of Spiritualist history, teachings, and practices in an easy to read question and answer format. He also wrote a book titled What Converted Me to Spiritualism, which contained one hundred testimonies of individuals that he had collected (one of whom would eventually become the fifth Pastor of Plymouth Church, William Joseph Erwood).

Austin was a pioneer in Spiritualist philosophy and education. While there were already several books available on Spiritualist thought, it was still a fairly new religious movement and had not yet fully developed its principles and doctrines.  While he continued to actively promote the popular Spiritualist positions of the day, such as the teachings of Andrew Jackson Davis , he also directed the teachings Spiritualism in a way very different from Davis.

Rather than the esoteric and extremely dense teachings of Davis, Austin presented a Spiritualism that was practical. He promoted self cultivation, affirmative prayer, positive thinking, and discussed Healing and Mediumship in a way that was simple to understand and easily accessible to everyone.

“Through right thinking and action, man can steadily rise in the scale of intelligence, power, wisdom, and efficency, expressing more fully his divinity to the world.” -B.F. Austin, The ABC of Spiritualism

Instead of borrowing from other religious movements, he claimed that Spiritualism could stand on its own as a unique and independent tradition. He eloquently debated and compared Spiritualism in his writings to other spiritual movements of the day such as New Thought groups, Christian Science, and Christianity explaining that Spiritualism contained the truths of all of these traditions without the sectarian trappings that came with them.

While living in Rochester, attending to the congregation of Plymouth, and writing his books, he also worked as founder and editor of a popular Spiritualist magazine called Reason. Reason was organized and published under a printing company that Austin had founded called The Austin Publishing Company, which was dedicated to publishing Spiritualist and Metaphysical books. He regularly traveled throughout the East Coast visiting various Spiritualist Churches, Camps, and Societies giving lectures and discussing Spiritualist teachings and principles.

In 1913 Austin and his family moved from Rochester to Los Angeles, California to take the position of pastor of the Central Spiritual Church of Los Angeles. He continued to write and publish his magazine as well as other pamphlets and articles, while regularly traveling throughout the state of California giving lectures up until his transition into Spirit in 1933.