The Gateway Centre Ltd. in London,
England is the parent organization for the Spiritualist Society
and Gateway Centre in Calgary, Alberta. The Gateway's London
branch was first organized in 1936 and then re-organized in
1946 by Lillian Brownfoot. After Lillian passed to spirit on
February 3, 1950 the Gateway was incorporated as a charitable
organization.
Lillian was brought to Spiritualism through the death of her
seven year old son Lawrence. For more then a year after Lawrence's
death Lillian wandered aimlessly around the streets of London.
Her husband, George, never knew where she was.
One night as she was standing on a bridge when an elderly lady,
fearing Lillian might be contemplating suicide, came up to her
and more or less 'dragged' Lillian by the arm to a spiritualist
circle. After that first circle Lillian continued sitting in
that weekly development circle.
She sat for two years and never saw or heard anything. Then
one night she was entranced by her guide whose name was Strongheart.
Lillian, who suffered from a debilitating stutter since her
earliest memories, found as Strongheart's influence grew stronger
her stutter began to disappear until finally it no longer existed.
(An interesting note: when Strongheart first began to come through
he had a very broad Scottish accent that later disappeared.)
When Lillian began working as a trance medium she was not affiliated
with any church or centre. Instead she worked independently,
where she was asked. For a time she worked at Edinburgh College
in Scotland where Strongheart gave evidence of survival as well
as reincarnation (past-life) readings. Even though sittings
with Lillian and Strongheart were always very popular and overbooked
the directors of the college didn't embrace the philosophy of
reincarnation and asked Lillian to tell her guide not to give
past-life readings. Needless to say this made for a very interesting
exchange.
In 1960 Kenneth Saunders, the Gateway Centre's president, walked
approximately 1,000 miles across Britain outlining the form
of a cross. It was Ken's way of honouring Lillian and Strongheart's
teachings and increasing awareness of the Spiritualist beliefs.
He repeated his mission in 1964 by walking approximately 4,000
miles across the United States. He took little more then the
clothes on his back and relied on his belief in God and Spirit
to shelter him.
In 1968 Ken brought together a group of seven members of the
Gateway Centre and formed a troupe that performed drama's illustrating
the gospels. They began by touring throughout Britain focusing
on the path outlined in Ken's walk. Later, in March 1969, they
performed throughout the United States. Again following the
path outlined on the walk. The group moved from the United States
to Canada changing in size but not in purpose.
In 1986 the Gateway Centre was incorporated in Calgary, Alberta.
In the ensuing years we have tried our best to stay true to
the unwavering truths taught by the world of Spirit and all
those that would give service. We pray that in some small way
we have and will continue to make a difference.
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| Lillian Brownfoot |
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| Lawrence Brownfoot |
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| Strongheart |
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| Kenneth Saunders |
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| Fleetwing |
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