George Chapman (healer)
Encyclopedia
George Chapman was an English
trance
spiritual healer and medium
. Active for 60 years, he was a medium for the spirit of "Dr. Lang", who conducted "spirit operations" on patients.
, near Liverpool
on 4 February 1921, and was brought up by his maternal grandparents after the early death of his mother. After leaving school he took up various manual occupations, became a professional boxer, and, during World War II
, served in the Irish Guards
and the RAF. He joined the Aylesbury Fire Brigade after being demobbed
, a post he held until 1956.
Chapman married Margaret May Dickinson and they had a daughter, Vivian, in 1945, who survived only 4 weeks. The couple were devastated by her premature death, but started to receive "spirit messages" from her through the use of a ouija
board. This was the beginning of Chapman's development as a medium, and in those early years, he channeled spirit guides
with names such Ram-a-din-i and Chang Woo; however, his main spirit guide soon made itself known - a doctor called William Lang (1852-1937), who, it was later discovered, had been an ophthalmic surgeon at London's Middlesex Hospital
up until 1914.
Chapman's body, while in a trance, would be used by Dr. Lang to facilitate "spirit operations" on the etheric bodies
of his patients, which would then manifest as healing of their physical bodies. He performed these operation with either no physical contact or a very light touch, and never promised that he could cure a patient. In 1975 he was awarded "Spiritualist of 1975", the award being presented by Harry Edwards.
Although physical healing was an important aspect of Chapman's work, he stated that the main purpose of Dr. Lang's manifestation was to convince people of the reality of life after death
. He also stressed the importance of testing the spirit to ensure its authenticity, and cross-checking any claims made with information available from physical sources.
George Chapman died on 9 August 2006.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
trance
Trance
Trance denotes a variety of processes, ecstasy, techniques, modalities and states of mind, awareness and consciousness. Trance states may occur involuntarily and unbidden.The term trance may be associated with meditation, magic, flow, and prayer...
spiritual healer and medium
Mediumship
Mediumship is described as a form of communication with spirits. It is a practice in religious beliefs such as Spiritualism, Spiritism, Espiritismo, Candomblé, Voodoo and Umbanda.- Concept :...
. Active for 60 years, he was a medium for the spirit of "Dr. Lang", who conducted "spirit operations" on patients.
Life and work
George William Chapman was born in BootleBootle
Bootle is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England, and a 'Post town' in the L postcode area. Formally known as Bootle-cum-Linacre, the town is 4 miles to the north of Liverpool city centre, and has a total resident population of 77,640.Historically part of...
, near Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
on 4 February 1921, and was brought up by his maternal grandparents after the early death of his mother. After leaving school he took up various manual occupations, became a professional boxer, and, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, served in the Irish Guards
Irish Guards
The Irish Guards , part of the Guards Division, is a Foot Guards regiment of the British Army.Along with the Royal Irish Regiment, it is one of the two Irish regiments remaining in the British Army. The Irish Guards recruit in Northern Ireland and the Irish neighbourhoods of major British cities...
and the RAF. He joined the Aylesbury Fire Brigade after being demobbed
Demobilization
Demobilization is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and military force will not be necessary...
, a post he held until 1956.
Chapman married Margaret May Dickinson and they had a daughter, Vivian, in 1945, who survived only 4 weeks. The couple were devastated by her premature death, but started to receive "spirit messages" from her through the use of a ouija
Ouija
The Ouija board also known as a spirit/fire key board or talking board, is a flat board marked with the letters of the alphabet, the numbers 0-9, the words "yes", "no", "hello" and "goodbye", and other symbols and words are sometimes also added to help personalize the board...
board. This was the beginning of Chapman's development as a medium, and in those early years, he channeled spirit guides
Spirit guide
"Spirit guide" is a term used by the Western tradition of Spiritualist Churches, mediums, and psychics to describe an entity that remains a disincarnate spirit in order to act as a guide or protector to a living incarnated human being....
with names such Ram-a-din-i and Chang Woo; however, his main spirit guide soon made itself known - a doctor called William Lang (1852-1937), who, it was later discovered, had been an ophthalmic surgeon at London's Middlesex Hospital
Middlesex Hospital
The Middlesex Hospital was a teaching hospital located in the Fitzrovia area of London, United Kingdom. First opened in 1745 on Windmill Street, it was moved in 1757 to Mortimer Street where it remained until it was finally closed in 2005. Its staff and services were transferred to various sites...
up until 1914.
Chapman's body, while in a trance, would be used by Dr. Lang to facilitate "spirit operations" on the etheric bodies
Etheric body
The etheric body, ether-body, æther body, a name given by neo-Theosophy to a supposed vital body or subtle body propounded in esoteric philosophies as the first or lowest layer in the "human energy field" or aura...
of his patients, which would then manifest as healing of their physical bodies. He performed these operation with either no physical contact or a very light touch, and never promised that he could cure a patient. In 1975 he was awarded "Spiritualist of 1975", the award being presented by Harry Edwards.
Although physical healing was an important aspect of Chapman's work, he stated that the main purpose of Dr. Lang's manifestation was to convince people of the reality of life after death
Afterlife
The afterlife is the belief that a part of, or essence of, or soul of an individual, which carries with it and confers personal identity, survives the death of the body of this world and this lifetime, by natural or supernatural means, in contrast to the belief in eternal...
. He also stressed the importance of testing the spirit to ensure its authenticity, and cross-checking any claims made with information available from physical sources.
George Chapman died on 9 August 2006.
Further reading
- Chapman, George & Stemman, R. Surgeon From Another World (London: W. H. Allen, 1978).
- Hutton, George Bernard. Healing Hands (W. H. Allen, 1978).