History

During the Christmas of 1945, Beatrice Brunner has a breakthrough with the gift of clairvoyance and clairaudience, and soon afterward her ability to speak in deep trance is revealed.

On 23 October 1948, spirit-teacher Joseph gives a lecture in front of a larger group of people for the first time. This day is regarded as the founding of the Geistige Loge Zürich (Spiritual Lodge Zurich), known today as GL Zürich. From then on, Joseph gives a lecture every Saturday through the medium Beatrice Brunner and, in addition, answers audience questions one evening a week.
The name Geistige Loge (Spiritual Lodge) is based on the following considerations: while the word “geistig” (spiritual) refers to a world beyond, the term “loge” (lodge) denotes a place, a worthy setting, where likeminded people come together.
GL Zürich (Geistige Loge Zürich) is the oldest Christian spiritual community in German-speaking countries. According to its statutes, it is an association for the preservation, development, and spread of Christian spirituality. It is free from denominational and political ties.

The lectures from spirit-teacher Joseph, already published since October 1948, appear for the first time under the title Geistige Welt (The Spiritual World) in journal format. In the first few years, the journal appeared fortnightly. It is the community’s publication channel.

Inauguration of the community’s first hall (120 seats) at Münchhaldenstrasse 9 in Zürich. At the inauguration ceremony, spirit Linus speaks though the medium of Beatrice for the first time. He introduces himself as the guardian spirit of Beatrice and spiritual leader of the community.
The office of GL Zürich and a small printing press are also set up in the property of Münchhaldenstrasse.

First lecture tour with medium Beatrice Brunner to Germany and Denmark. Further lecture tours to various cities in Germany follow until the year 1967. They establish the foundations for the community’s subsequent “circles of friends” in Germany.

5 March 1958 is the beginning of a lecture series given by ascending spirit beings – that is, deceased human beings who report on their experiences in the beyond after earthly death. By 1970, 91 such firsthand testimonies have been conveyed. In 1962, a selection of these personal accounts is published for the first time in the book Was uns erwatet – Erfahrungsberichte aus der Geistigen Welt (What Awaits Us – Personal Accounts from the Spiritual World).

Establishment of the “Hilfsaktion gegen Hunger” (Relief Action Against Hunger). To date, the community has raised over 10 million Swiss francs for people in need. In order to better administer this commitment, the charitable association Hilfswerk GL Zürich was founded in 2009.

In September 1966, with over 300 attendees, the community’s annual meditation week takes place in Flims in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland for the first time. The hotel Flims-Waldhaus, with its historic hall, remains the venue for this week of inner reflection until 2014.

Publication of the book Geborgenheit by Prof. Dr. Walther Hinz. This introduction to Christian spirituality is reprinted five times by 1977 and achieves a total circulation of 100,000 copies. An English translation is published under the title The Corner Stone in 1977.

First service in the large hall of Zurich’s Tonhalle, with over 1,200 visitors. At the Christmas celebration in December 1982, more than 1,700 visitors mean that an additional seating area has to be opened so that everyone can take part in the service.

Inauguration of the hall at Letzigraben 117 in Zurich. It serves the community of GL Zürich as a spiritual home and educational center. This is where the lectures recorded on audio and videotape are replayed every second weekend at services held by GL Zürich, and also where the community’s range of literature is published.

German-language services taking place in Zurich are transmitted via Livestream over the internet and can thereby be listened to live at home. There is also an audio archive with lectures, personal accounts, and meditations that can be listened to at any time. In addition, a keyword search (German-language only) enables an unrestricted search of specific terms within our entire published literature.