In this issue, we continue the study of the Revue Spirite of 1858, a monthly newspaper focused on the divulgation of Spiritism, founded and directed by Allan Kardec. This study is based on the translation into the Portuguese language made by Julio Abreu Filho and published by EDICEL. The answers to the questions are at the end of the text for reading.
Questions for discussion
A. What does the Revue say about the planet Jupiter?
B. What did Mehemet-Ali, ex-Pasha, and considered the true founder of modern Egypt, say about Muhammad?
C. Is the detachment of the soul slow or quick after the death of the body?
D. What does St. Louis say about pride?
Text for reading
66. Referring to the Druidic Doctrine, Kardec says he has no doubt that the Doctrine of the Spirits is antique and universal, and its traces can be found everywhere. (Page 99)
67. For the Druids there is no Hell. The partition of punishments takes place within the circle of migrations, through the connection of souls in more or less unhappy conditions of life, where they atone for their faults through suffering and, by correcting their vices, they have a better future. (Page 105)
68. According to Druidism, the soul rises on the scale of lives, on the condition that, by its work on itself, it strengthens its own personality. (Page 109)
69. Bernard Palissy, who was a famous potter in the sixteenth century, describes the planet Jupiter, where he is currently reincarnated. (Page 113)
70. The temperature on Jupiter is soft and temperate, water is more ethereal, and a kind of spiritual light illuminates the planet. (Page 114)
71. Their bodies are the same as ours. However, their food is based only on vegetables. (Pages 114 and 115)
72. Physical life on Jupiter lasts, on average, five centuries. (Page 115)
73. The main task of Jupiter’s men is to encourage the Spirits, who dwell in the lower worlds, so that they may walk on the right path. Since there is no misfortune among them to be relieved, they go and seek for it where it still exists. (Page 115)
74. All Jupiter’s inhabitants belong to the second order: all of them are good, but some are more advanced than others regarding perfection. (Pages 117 and 118)
75. Mehemet-Ali, the Pasha of Egypt in 1805, considered the true founder of modern Egypt, is evoked and gives particular information, such as his thinking about Jesus and Muhammad: "the Christian religion raises the soul, and the Mohammedan only speaks to matter". (Page 120)
76. Muhammad had a divine mission, but he distorted it: "Which people were regenerated by Muhammad? The Christian religion left the hands of God pure, the Mohammedan is the work of a man". (Page 120)
77. He tells us that the priests of ancient Egypt knew the Spiritist Doctrine and received demonstrations of it. Moses was initiated by them. (Page 121)
78. The old pasha remembers his previous lives, having lived three times in Egypt: as a priest, as a beggar and as a prince. (Page 121)
79. Kardec, in another article about Mr. Home, recounts the case of the apparition of three hands, which shake hands with the people and disappear. (Page 123)
80. The hand that appears can also write. Sometimes it stops in the middle of the table, picks up a pencil and writes the letters on an already prepared paper. Most of the time, however, it takes the paper under the table and returns it all written down. If the hand becomes invisible, the writing seems to go on by itself. (Page 124)
81. Kardec explains the phenomenon of the music instruments that play, because they are touched by the fingers that can press the keys. (Editor’s note: Kardec's explanation is a misconception corrected soon after.) (Page 124)
82. Mr. Home is a victim of rumors and slander. Some say he has not left for Italy, but is being held in Mazas, under heavy charges. Kardec, in possession of several letters written by Home and dated from Pisa, Rome and Naples, denies the slanderers. (Page 125)
83. The Revue shows how the opponents of Spiritism manipulate the news: "The Gazette des Hôpitaux says that 25 people are being hospitalized at the Zurich hospice, because their lost their minds thanks to the spinning tables and the knocking Spirits." Kardec comments on the fact. (Pages 125 and 126)
84. The idea we have of the nature of the Spirits does not allow us – at first sight – to imagine their physical manifestations. It is believed that the Spirit is the complete absence of matter. Well, this is wrong. (Page 127)
85. There are in us two kinds of matter: a coarse one, which forms the outer body; and the other one that is subtle and indestructible: the perispirit. (Page 128)
86. The bonds that bind soul and body do not come apart suddenly when death occurs. The period of time of the detachment varies according to each person. In some, it happens in three or four days, while in others it is not completed until after several months. (Page 129)
87. The semi-material wrapping of the Spirit, or perispirit, is subtle enough to escape our sight in its normal state, and this subtlety allows it to pass through solid bodies and walls. (Page 129)
88. It is noted that the hand that appears is part of a complete being, and the proof is that it leaves impressions of the invisible parts, like the teeth. (Page 130)
89. In 1852, in the Rhenish Bavaria, near Spira, phenomena occurred regarding raps, which lasted for many months, in the house of the tailor Pedro Sanger, recorded by the city newspaper. (Pages 131 and 132)
90. Everything indicated that the medium was the daughter of Peter Sanger, then a 12-year-old girl. (Page 132)
91. In order to stop the suspicion, the girl was taken to a strange house. As soon as she arrived there one could hear knocks and scratches. She was then taken to Dr. Bentner and since then the noise at the Sanger family's house has ceased, and it started at Dr. Bentner’s. (Page 135)
92. St. Louis writes about pride, which is to him like the chaff that drowns the good grain. "He who judges himself more than his brother is foolish. Wise is the man who works for himself, as the humble man in his field, without becoming prone to his work". (Page 137)
93. "You that are arrogant, become humble, for the hand of the Lord will bend your pride to the dust! Your riches and your greatness, vanities of nothing, will escape from your hands when the great day comes. From your fortune you will take with you the boards of your coffin, and the titles engraved on the tombstone are words empty of meaning". (Page 138)
94. St. Louis answers to four of Kardec’s questions regarding avarice. The first three gave rise to questions 899 to 901 of The Book of Spirits: they are identical to that of the book. (Page 138)
Answers to the proposed questions
A. What does the Revue say about the planet Jupiter?
Here is what the Spirit of Bernard Palissy, who was here on this Earth a famous potter in the sixteenth century, says in brief about Jupiter: A) The temperature there is soft and temperate, water is more ethereal and a kind of spiritual light illuminates the planet. B) The physical body of its inhabitants is the same as ours, but they basically eat only vegetables. Life here lasts an average of five centuries. D) The chief occupation of the men of Jupiter is to encourage the Spirits who dwell in the lower worlds, so that they may maintain the right path. E) There are no misfortunes in Jupiter to be relieved and their inhabitants belong to the second order - all are good, but some are more advanced than others in perfection. (Revue Spirite, Pages 114 to 118.)
B. What did Mehemet-Ali, ex-Pasha, and considered the true founder of modern Egypt, say about Muhammad?
According to the ex-Pasha of Egypt, Muhammad had a divine mission, but he distorted it. The great Egyptian ruler in his communication, added: “Which people were regenerated by Mohammed?" The Christian religion came out pure from the hands of God; however, the Mohammedan is the work of a man. (Revue Spirite, Pages 120 and 121.)
C. Is the detachment of the soul slow or quick after the death of the body?
The bonds that bind soul and body do not suddenly break through death. The duration of this detachment varies according to individuals. In some, it occurs within three or four days, while in others it is not completed until after several months. (Revue Spirite, Page 129.)
D. What does St. Louis say about pride?
Pride is, in the words of Saint Louis, similar to the chaff that drowns the good grain. Whoever thinks he is more than his brother is foolish. After saying this, the spiritual instructor warned: "You who are arrogant, be humble, for the hand of the Lord will bow your pride to the dust! Your riches and your greatness, vanities from nothing, will escape from your hands when the great day comes. You shall take no more of your riches than the boards of the coffin, and the titles engraved on the tombstone shall be words of empty meaning". (Revue Spirite, Pages 137 and 138.)
