The Atlantean Research Society

I have been told over the years that James Churchward was the Vice-President of the Atlantean Research Society founded by Dr. A. E. Strath-Gordon (1873-1952). The Society was formed in 1928 in East Orange, New Jersey (coincidentally where my grandfather, Alexander James Churchward [1872-1933] was living.)

Letterhead of the ARS

Letterhead of the ARS

A new website about Strath-Gordon is being created by his great-grandson, Christopher Volpe at http://strathgordon.worpress.com/ where his association as a field operative with British Intelligence is discussed, as well as his exciting life as a

spiritualist, researcher, author, and public lecturer on esoteric and paranormal subjects including Atlantis, the pyramids, self-reliance, comparative mythology, Native American medicine and shamanism, extra sensory perception (ESP), and the “reunion” of science and religion.

I am interested in any further information about the Atlantean Research Society (ARS) that may provide dates and venues where the ARS held meetings or lectures, elected members to office, or had a group picnic. In James’ scrapbooks there are no mentions of the Atlantean Research Society, no copies of letters from/to Strath-Gordon, or anything to indicate that it was my great-grandfather as opposed to my grandfather that was a member of the organization. (My grandfather’s name has been spelled James Alexander and Alexander James in different places.)

Another question to answer would be: if the society was created in 1928 (as mentioned in numerous places on the WWW,) why would the letterhead read “1906” ?

Any amplifying information would be greatly appreciated and add to the story and understanding of both men and their theories.

Have a great day.

Old News and the ‘Origin of Man’ Debate Continues

In an online article entitled “Oldest Prehistoric Human Fossil Discovered In Serbia Dated Between 397.000 And 525.000 Years Old” from a couple of years ago is another point of reference that slipped through my net of news and fact-gathering.

As I mentioned previously, our understanding keeps changing when it comes to the who, what, where, when, and how questions.

Other evidence has indicated that humans of today have varying amounts of Denisovan, Neanderthal and/or an unknown hominid DNA in us. The examination and study of the jawbone from the Mala Balcanica cave in Serbia has pushed back the date when hominids existed in Europe to well before other dates expressed in previous histories, but that really is not the amazing part.

This study shows that this hominid had a lack of Neanderthal traits and combined with other evidence indicated that evolutionary forces worked on these folks differently than those further west.

The story continues to be written and some day we may know the truth.

Have a great day.

In Response To A Comment on “Genetics and the Lost Continent of Mu”

Almost five years ago I published a video entitled, “Genetics and the Lost Continent of Mu.”

A transcript is available at: http://www.my-mu.com/podcasts/pc15.html

First, in the past five years, the evidence has changed. As I mentioned recently in another posting that the video was released before the discovery of Denisovian or Homo Florensis or that ‘we’ share DNA with Neaderthal. At the time, scientific evidence did not support man’s origins from the lost continent of Mu and it still does not. That is the scientific bottom line, the other bottom line is still: “Let’s try to build bridges between people instead of walls.”

One of the comments I received on the video is copied below and I am never shy about providing my thoughts (which follow.)

You say that James Churchward “named” the lost continent “Mu”. That statement is totally false and without any merit. My proof lies in the books written by Mr. Baird T. Spalding called “The Life and Teachings of the Masters of the Far East”, a set of 7 books which were produced in 1927. The scientists in the book (including Mr. Spalding), who spoke with the Masters referred to in the books, were given the information about Mu from these Masters! This group of scientists traveled to India, Tibet, China and Persia in 1894 and as the book was published in 1927 it must have taken any number of years to compile, thus the information about “Mu” was known to Mr. Spalding long before 1927 (when you say Mr. Churchward published his own book). Again I will say that the Masters of the Far East who are documented in this set of books are the ones who told Mr. Spalding about “Mu” (which they spell “M-O-O-H”): Mr. Churchward did no such thing as NAME the lost continent – that is a ludicrous statement! The continent was known to these Masters and had been known to them for many many years, if not centuries, as Mu. Mr. Churchward is taking credit for information already printed in these books about Mu”. According to the Masters in the book (many of whom were more than hundreds of years old) Mu was already named in the tablets and other artifacts which Mr. Spalding and his friends were shown while in Asia! It is unthinkable of Mr. Churchward to say he was the one who named Mu! As it was a continent which had been around since the beginning of mankind! Churchward’s fairy story about “naming Mu” discredits him entirely. ?

My initial response in the YouTube comments section was short and to the point:

Hi,
a. My great-grandfather wrote that he discovered the Naacal tablets in India in the 1860s where he first found out about Mu. His first book was written in 1926 (i.e., before 1927.)
b. I have newspaper clippings that reach back to 1924 where James talks about Mu (i.e., before 1927.)
c. Spaulding and his wife were friends of James Churchward, my great-grandfather.
You may make your accusations about being ‘false and without merit,’ but your posting makes excellent fodder to set the record straight on my blog (http://blog.my-mu.com.)
btw, were you aware that Baird T. Spaulding spent time in a mental institution??

And, to the point – setting the record straight.
1. My great-grandfather did not name the sunken Pacific continent, “Mu.” According to his works, ‘Mu’ was written on the Naacal tablets which he witnessed and translated with the Rishi in India in the 1860s.

2. According to the faq at bairdtspaulding.org, Baird T Spalding only wrote 4 books while he was alive.

3. The purported 1894 ‘scientific’ trip to India-

Spalding was only 22 years old in 1894, and he spent most of the 1890’s in the Yukon mining for gold. Spalding’s first visit to India was in 1935 at the behest of his publisher, after the release of Life and Teaching Volume 3.
faq at bairdtspaulding.org

btw, there was a picture on the internet of the folks that were on their way to India in December of 1935 and James Churchward was in the picture, however he did not make the voyage as he died the next month in Los Angeles.

4. James was friends with Baird and Stella Spalding. Stella typed out the manuscript for ‘Colonies of Mu,’ a never released book.
ColoniesofMu

5. James was also friends with Augustus and Alice LePlongeon in New York of the 1890s and did discuss the origins of man with them. Churchward’s work appears to be more heavily influenced by LePongeon rather than by Spalding, especially since there were no mention of interacting with the centuries-old ‘Masters.’

I offer the original commenter to post their response at their convenience.
I will gladly link their response to this posting in whatever format they desire and/or provide them a spot on the my-mu.com guestblog with a link as well.

Have a great day.

PS For full disclosure, I have had email communications with the researcher at www.bairdtspalding.org in the past.