The Bright Light Spiritual Mission appears to have been organized in the Algiers section of New Orleans sometime prior to June 1938 when the body held its first board meeting. By 1948 the records are referring to the congregation as the Bright Light Spiritual Church. The congregation had a small membership, with no more than twenty-five communicants active at any time during the period covered by the records.

The records comprise two manuscript volumes in which are recorded minutes, financial records, and membership rolls. MS-170-1 contains primarily minutes of general meetings of the body along with a membership roll at the end of the minutes. At the rear of the volume various financial, and additional membership, details are recorded. The financial records deal with "taxes" levied for various special purposes, dues, and church collections. Membership records include dates of birth and "blessed" dates for members as well as detailed listings of dues paid by each congregant.

MS-170-2 contains minutes of board meetings as well as additional financial records (dues, special taxes, light bills) and membership rolls.

These records were separated from Civil District Court suit record #300397, filed in 1951. The remainder of the suit record should be available through the office of the Clerk of Civil District Court.

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9/3/1997--wme