History

The charity named the “Institute for the Study of Hierological Values” (with the abbreviated name “ISHVAL”) was founded by Eugene Halliday in 1966. The suggestion to form the charity was made by his friend, Fred Freeman, a Merseyside businessman who hada close involvement with the voluntary sector and a keen interest in Eugene’s teachings.

Fred was at that time consulting Eugene on a book he was writing, with the title “The SU-VOC Application”, on why and how to develop substantial new resources for the UK voluntary sector through workers’ payroll giving. SU-VOC is an acronym for Society of United Voluntary Organisations within Community. A limited number of copies of the first edition of the book were selectively circulated. This led directly to the granting of tax relief on charitable payroll giving, to the formation of a connected national charity with an office in London, and to the development of a national group on Inland Revenue approved payroll giving agency-charities. The second edition of The SU-VOC Application was more widely distributed, and some national sales were made through bookshops. Further information is in the catalogue section of this website.

To provide an educational centre and to enable Eugene’s teachings to become better known, Fred and his wife Yvonne invited Eugene and his wife Peg, atogether withtheir close friends David and Zero Mahlowe, to occupy as their guests a large house they had purchased near Manchester, named Parklands. Parklands was actively and fully used for that purpose until 1994, when ownership of the house was transferred to a charity and sold. The proceeds from the sale were used to support the development both of the SU-VOC idea, and of activities to make Eugene’s teaching better known.

Eugene died in 1987. He did not seek to obtain media coverage of his work during his lifetime. He considered that much of his teaching was addressed to a future generation, and that premature media attention could be a distraction which might interfere with his other work.

After Eugene’s death David, as Eugene’s literary executor, founded The Melchisedec Press which published a special group of eight volumes, written by Eugene and known as “The Collected Works”. The eight volumes contain fifteen books and are considered to be Eugene’s most important written work. Not infrequently in private conversation Eugene would say: “My day will come, and on my day I shall be believed!”

Today ISHVAL’s main activity is the development of a large comprehensive archive and general purpose website. Eventually this will hold freely downloadable audio and tape texts of most, if not all, of Eugene’s many lectures; books; and artwork. The archive websites are directly linked to the existing ISHVAL website via the 'Archive' button on the 'Menu Bar' situated at the top of every page. The Archives themselves are regularly updated as and when suitable material is made available.

The trustees of ISHVAL wish to place on record their sincere appreciation to Bob Hardy, who was the person directly responsible for the decision to develop the archive website. He was introduced to Eugene’s ideas in the mid-1970's. and worked with David Mahlowe at Parklands from 1979 until 1984. He has generously contributed considerable skilled assistance and knowledge to the development of the website, and plans to continue to assist with this work in the future.

The stated aim of ISHVAL is to make the works of Eugene Halliday known worldwide. In view of that aim, and of the importance on the worldwide-web of search engines and of how they operate, the words “Eugene Halliday” have been added to the original name of this charity. No change has been made to the abbreviated name “ISHVAL".