Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Moses, William Stainton
MOSES, WILLIAM STAINTON (1840–1892), spiritualist, born in 1840, was eldest son of William Stainton Moses of Dorrington, Lincolnshire. He was educated at Bedford and Exeter College, Oxford, where he matriculated on 25 May 1858, graduated B.A. in 1863, and proceeded M.A. in 1865. He took holy orders, and was curate of Maughold in the Isle of Man from 1863 to 1868, and assistant chaplain of St. George's, Douglas, from 1868 to 1872, when he became interested in spiritualism, and resigned his cure for the post of English master at University College School. This office he held until 1890, when ill-health compelled his resignation. During his residence in London he devoted his leisure almost entirely to the exploration of the mysteries of spiritualism, to which he became a convert. He was one of the founders of the London Spiritualist Alliance, an active member and one of the vice-presidents of the Society for Psychical Research, a frequent contributor to 'Human Nature' and to 'Light,' and for some years editor of the latter journal. He died on 5 Sept. 1892.
Moses was a 'medium,' and conceived himself to be the recipient of spiritual revelations, which he published under the title of 'Spirit Teachings,' London, 1883, 8vo. He also wrote, under the disguised name 'M.A. Oxon.,' the following : 1. 'Carpenterian Criticism, being a Reply to an Article by Dr. W. B. Carpenter/London, 1877, 8vo. 2. 'Psychography, or a Treatise on the Objective Forms of Psychic or Spiritual Phenomena,' London, 1878, 8vo; 2nd edit. 1882. 3. 'Spirit Identity,' London, 1879, 8vo. 4. 'Higher Aspects of Spiritualism,' London, 1880, 8vo. 5. 'Spiritualism at the Church Congress,' London, 1881, 8vo. Moses also contributed introductions to 'Ghostly Visitors,' published under the pseudonym 'Spectre-Stricken,' London, 1882, 8vo, and William Gregory's 'Animal Magnetism,' London, 1884, 8vo.
[Light, 10 Sept. 1892; Foster's Alumni Oxon.; Clergy List, 1867; Univ. Coll. Cal. 1872-3, and 1889-90; Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1889; Kirk's Suppl. to Allibone's Dict. of Engl. Lit.; Proceedings of the Soc. of Psychical Research.]