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Periodical: The Light of Truth

Summary:   From Pat Deveney's database:

Light of Truth, The.
An Exponent of the New Philosophy of Life, Here and Hereafter / Advocating Altruism and Moral Brotherhood / Advocating Altruism and Universal Brotherhood / Devoted to Spiritualism / A Sixteen Page Weekly Illustrated Paper Devoted to Spiritualism, Hypnotism and Other Occult Subjects / A Sixteen Page Weekly Exponent of the Philosophy of Life, Embracing Spiritualism, Hypnotism, Theosophy, Palmistry, Astrology, and Kindred Sciences / A Fearless and Progressive Journal devoted to an exposition of the Philosophy of a Spiritual Life.
1892--1907 Weekly
Cincinnati, then Columbus, then Lima, OH, and then Chicago, IL.
Publisher: Light of Truth Publishing Co..
Editor: C.C. Stowell; Willard J. Hull; Mrs. M.T. Longley (i.e., Mary Theresa Shelhamer), James B. Townsend, A.F. Melcher, assistant editors. Succeeds: The Better Way Succeeded by: Journal of Man
11/17, October 22, 1892-1907 (the volume numbering continues that of the Better Way).
8-16 pp., 16x11, 4 columns.
$1.00 to $1.50 per year.

This succeeded the Better Way, changing only the name and leaving behind that journal's financial liabilities in the process. The inner workings of the journal, including the fraudulent financial machinations of its principals (who always touted the stock of their King Solomon's Mining Company) and its tolerance of shady mediums are set out in detail in the journal's competitor The Progressive Thinker. In essence, the principals raised money in stock, loans and subscriptions for their predecessor journal, the Better Way, and then fraudulently transferred the assets of that journal (the presses, subscription list and good will) to The Light of Truth for $500, freeing the new journal from the trammels and liens of its predecessor. See, e.g., Progressive Thinker, September 30, 1893. The new journal promptly attempted to float $25,000 in new bonds, secured by the same assets that it had acquired at a valuation of $500. The publishers of Light of Truth, of course, denied the allegations in detail too great to be easily believable, pointing to the growing number of subscriptions it was acquiring. See, e.g., Light of Truth, August 5, 1893. Willard J. Hull was an ardent spiritualist and active in the Cassadaga camp meetings of the 1890s. Townsend ended up in 1907 condemning spiritualism as a sect, an event which ended the journal, which was merged into the Journal of Man. W.E. Coleman, J.M. Peebles Lyman C. Howe, Jay Chaapel, M.J. Savage, Hudson Tuttle, and E.D. Babbitt contributed to the journal, as did the spirit of Henry J. Newton (one of the founders of the Theosophical Society) and many other notables of the period. The journal also occasionally carried serialized novels intended for women. From May to September 1898, the journal carried a noteworthy series of articles by Helen Densmore on reincarnation and its place in spiritualism. At intervals the journal carried on its front page photographs of distinguished spiritualists, like Elliott Coues and Julia Schlesinger and of many lesser lights. In 1895 the journal acquired the services of Mary Theresa Shelhamer Longley (1853-1928) as its assistant editor and "message medium." She had acted in the same capacity for the Voice of Angels in 1878 and for the Banner of Light from 1879 to 1893. Advertisements for the books of Moses Hull, E.D. Babbitt,and of P.B. Randolph. By 1896, the journal was touting itself in advertisements as "The Largest Spiritualist Weekly in the World," a claim that possibly was true, given the state of the Religio-Philosophical Journal and the Banner of Light at the time, but the claim was rejected by The Progressive Thinker, which cited in support the journal's bulk mailing weights. Beginning in June 1895, the journal also published The Light of Truth Library, issued on a bimonthly basis, which for $1.25 a year distributed the likes of The Light of Truth Band's In Higher Realms and The Psychic World, Albert Morton's Psychic Studies, and Mrs. M.T. Longley's, When the Morning Comes. It also published The Light of Truth Album with some 200 photographs of leading spiritualists and reformers. The advertisement in Now, July 1905, indicates that the journal was in the process of conforming to New Thought: "I am an advocate of the Spirit-Man, the real man who lives forever." By 1906 John Hazelrigg, the astrologer, was writing on the journal's front page on "Hermetic Law." In the last issue of the journal, in June 1907, Willard J. Hull announced that he was utterly done with organized spiritualism, and declared that there were only four honest and truthful mediums then practicing in the United States and "warring, sniveling factions . .. now make up the rank and file of what is left of spiritualism," and with his departure from the scene the journal ceased -- though the rival Progressive Thinker was quick to recall Hull's and Townsend's roles in the journal's twenty-year promotion of King Solomon's Mining Company. Ohio Historical Society; WHi; Skidmore, Lily Dale (1897-1906, scattered but extensive), and NSAC.

Light Of Truth V11 N17 Oct 22 1892
Light Of Truth V11 N18 Oct 29 1892
Light Of Truth V11 N19 Nov 5 1892
Light Of Truth V11 N20 Nov 12 1892
Light Of Truth V11 N21 Nov 19 1892
Light Of Truth V11 N22 Nov 26 1892
Light Of Truth V11 N23 Dec 3 1892
Light Of Truth V11 N24 Dec 10 1892
Light Of Truth V11 N25 Dec 17 1892
Light Of Truth V11 N26 Dec 24 1892
Light Of Truth V11 N27 Dec 31 1892
Light Of Truth V12 N1 Jan 7 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N2 Jan 14 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N3 Jan 21 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N4 Jan 28 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N5 Feb 4 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N6 Feb 11 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N7 Feb 18 1893 (Partial_
Light Of Truth V12 N8 Feb 25 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N9 Mar 4 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N10 Mar 11 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N11 Mar 18 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N12 Mar 25 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N13 Apr 1 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N14 Apr 8 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N15 Apr 15 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N16 Apr 22 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N17 Apr 29 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N18 May 6 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N19 May 13 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N20 May 20 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N21 May 27 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N22 Jun 3 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N23 Jun 10 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N24 Jun 17 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N25 Jun 24 1893
Light Of Truth V12 N26 Jul 1 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N1 Jul 8 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N2 Jul 15 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N3 Jul 22 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N4 Jul 29 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N5 Aug 5 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N6 Aug 12 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N7 Aug 19 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N8 Aug 26 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N9 Sep 2 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N10 Sep 9 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N11 Sep 16 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N12 Sep 23 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N13 Sep 30 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N14 Oct 7 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N15 Oct 14 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N16 Oct 21 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N17 Oct 28 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N18 Nov 4 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N19 Nov 11 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N20 Nov 18 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N21 Nov 25 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N22 Dec 2 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N23 Dec 9 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N24 Dec 16 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N25 Dec 23 1893
Light Of Truth V13 N26 Dec 30 1893
Light Of Truth V15 N1 Jan 5 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N2 Jan 12 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N3 Jan 19 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N4 Jan 26 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N6 Feb 9 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N7 Feb 16 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N8 Feb 23 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N9 Mar 2 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N10 Mar 9 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N11 Mar 16 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N12 Mar 23 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N13 Mar 30 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N14 Apr 6 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N15 Apr 13 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N16 Apr 20 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N17 Apr 27 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N18 May 4 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N19 May 11 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N20 May 18 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N21 May 25 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N22 Jun 1 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N23 Jun 8 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N24 Jun 15 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N25 Jun 22 1895
Light Of Truth V15 N26 Jun 29 1895
Light Of Truth V16 N5 Feb 2 1895 R
Light Of Truth V18 N13 Mar 28 1896 R
Light Of Truth V18 N14 Apr 4 1896 R
Light Of Truth V18 N15 Apr 11 1896 R
Light Of Truth V18 N16 Apr 18 1896 R
Light Of Truth V18 N17 Apr 25 1896 R
Light Of Truth V18 N18 May 2 1896 R
Light Of Truth V18 N19 May 9 1896 R
Light Of Truth V18 N20 May 16 1896
Light Of Truth V18 N20 May 16 1896 R
Light Of Truth V18 N21 May 23 1896 R
Light Of Truth V18 N22 May 30 1896 R
Light Of Truth V18 N23 Jun 6 1896 R
Light Of Truth V18 N24 Jun 13 1896 R
Light Of Truth V18 N25 Jun 20 1896 R
Light Of Truth V18 N26 Jun 27 1896 R
Light Of Truth V19 N10 Sep 5 1896
Light Of Truth V19 N18 Nov 7 1896 R
Light Of Truth V19 N19 Nov 14 1896 R
Light Of Truth V19 N20 Nov 21 1896 R
Light Of Truth V19 N21 Nov 28 1896 R
Light Of Truth V19 N22 Dec 5 1896 R
Light Of Truth V19 N23 Dec 12 1896 R
Light Of Truth V19 N25 Dec 26 1896 R
Light Of Truth V20 N1 Jan 2 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N2 Jan 9 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N3 Jan 16 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N4 Jan 23 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N5 Jan 30 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N6 Feb 6 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N7 Feb 13 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N8 Feb 20 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N9 Feb 27 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N10 Mar 6 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N11 Mar 13 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N12 Mar 20 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N13 Mar 27 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N14 Apr 3 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N15 Apr 10 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N16 Apr 17 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N17 Apr 24 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N18 May 1 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N19 May 8 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N20 May 15 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N21 May 22 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N22 May 29 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N23 Jun 5 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N24 Jun 12 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N25 Jun 19 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N26 Jun 26 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N1 Jul 3 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N2 Jul 10 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N3 Jul 17 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N4 Jul 24 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N5 Jul 31 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N6 Aug 7 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N7 Aug 14 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N8 Aug 21 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N9 Aug 28 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N7 Feb 13 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N8 Feb 20 1897
Light Of Truth V20 N9 Feb 27 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N10 Sep 4 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N11 Sep 11 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N12 Sep 18 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N13 Sep 25 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N14 Oct 2 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N15 Oct 9 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N16 Oct 16 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N17 Oct 23 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N18 Oct 30 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N19 Nov 6 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N20 Nov 13 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N21 Nov 20 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N22 Nov 27 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N23 Dec 4 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N24 Dec 11 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N25 Dec 18 1897
Light Of Truth V21 N26 Dec 25 1897
Light Of Truth V22 N1 Jan 1 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N3 Jan 15 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N4 Jan 22 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N5 Jan 28 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N6 Feb 5 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N7 Feb 12 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N8 Feb 19 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N9 Feb 26 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N10 Mar 5 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N11 Mar 12 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N12 Mar 19 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N13 Mar 26 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N14 Apr 2 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N15 Apr 9 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N16 Apr 16 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N17 Apr 23 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N18 Apr 30 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N19 May 7 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N20 May 14 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N21 May 21 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N22 May 28 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N23 Jun 4 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N24 Jun 11 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N25 Jun 18 1898
Light Of Truth V22 N26 Jun 25 1898
Light Of Truth V23 N1 Jul 2 1898
Light Of Truth V23 N2 Jul 9 1898
Light Of Truth V23 N3 Jul 16 1898
Light Of Truth V23 N4 Jul 23 1898
Light Of Truth V23 N5 Jul 30 1898
Light Of Truth V23 N6 Aug 6 1898
Light Of Truth V23 N7 Aug 13 1898
Light Of Truth V23 N8 Aug 20 1898
Light Of Truth V23 N9 Aug 27 1898
Light Of Truth V23 N10 Sep 3 1898
Light Of Truth V23 N11 Sep 10 1898
Light Of Truth V23 N12 Sep 17 1898
Light Of Truth V23 N13 Sep 24 1898
Light Of Truth V23 N14 Oct 1 1898
Light Of Truth V23 N15 Oct 8 1898
Light Of Truth V23 N16 Oct 15 1898
Light Of Truth V23 N17 Oct 22 1898
Light Of Truth V23 N18 Oct 29 1898
Light Of Truth V23 N19 Nov 5 1898
Light Of Truth V24 N1 Jan 7 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N2 Jan 14 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N3 Jan 21 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N4 Jan 28 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N5 Feb 4 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N6 Feb 11 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N7 Feb 18 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N8 Feb 25 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N9 Mar 4 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N10 Mar 11 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N11 Mar 18 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N12 Mar 25 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N13 Apr 1 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N14 Apr 8 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N15 Apr 15 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N16 Apr 22 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N17 Apr 29 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N18 May 6 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N19 May 13 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N20 May 20 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N21 May 27 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N22 Jun 3 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N23 Jun 10 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N24 Jun 17 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N25 Jun 24 1899
Light Of Truth V24 N26 Jul 1 1899
Light Of Truth V25 N1 Jul 8 1899
Light Of Truth V25 N2 Jul 15 1899
Light Of Truth V25 N3 Jul 22 1899
Light Of Truth V25 N4 Jul 29 1899
Light Of Truth V25 N5 Aug 5 1899
Light Of Truth V25 N6 Aug 12 1899
Light Of Truth V25 N7 Aug 19 1899
Light Of Truth V25 N8 Aug 26 1899
Light Of Truth V25 N16 Oct 21 1899
Light Of Truth V26 N9 Mar 3 1900 R
Light Of Truth V26 N10 Mar 10 1900 R
Light Of Truth V26 N11 Mar 17 1900 R
Light Of Truth V26 N12 Mar 24 1900 R
Light Of Truth V26 N13 Mar 31 1900 R
Light Of Truth V26 N14 Apr 7 1900 R
Light Of Truth V26 N15 Apr 14 1900 R
Light Of Truth V26 N16 Apr 21 1900 R
Light Of Truth V26 N17 Apr 28 1900 R
Light Of Truth V26 N18 May 5 1900 R
Light Of Truth V26 N19 May 12 1900 R
Light Of Truth V26 N20 May 19 1900 R
Light Of Truth V26 N21 May 26 1900 R
Light Of Truth V26 N22 Jun 2 1900 R
Light Of Truth V26 N23 Jun 9 1900 R
Light Of Truth V26 N25 Jun 23 1900 R
Light Of Truth V26 N26 Jun 30 1900 R
Light Of Truth V27 N5 Aug 6 1900 R
Light Of Truth V27 N6 Aug 13 1900 R
Light Of Truth V27 N8 Aug 25 1900 R
Light Of Truth V27 N9 Sep 1 1900 R
Light Of Truth V27 N10 Sep 8 1900 R
Light Of Truth V28 N1 Jan 5 1901 R
Light Of Truth V28 N2 Jan 12 1901 R
Light Of Truth V28 N3 Jan 19 1901 R
Light Of Truth V29 N14 Oct 5 1901
Light Of Truth V29 N15 Oct 12 1901 R
Light Of Truth V29 N16 Oct 19 1901 R
Light Of Truth V30 N7 Feb 15 1902 Partial R
Light Of Truth V34 N2 Jan 9 1904

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