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. Where did Pythagoras get the idea of reincarnation?
B. Do medals and certain objects considered cabbalistic influence the Spirits?
C. In cases of obsession, can the agent be a High Spirit?
D. Is the influence of the Spirits upon us constant?
Text for reading
154. After recalling that the Spiritist newspaper only addresses those who believe, and it does not draw attention of those who are indifferent, Kardec asks: What will happen when Spiritism has the powerful lever of great publicity? (Page 249)
155. Kardec was of the opinion that the spreading of Spiritism would have four distinct periods: 1) that of curiosity; 2) that of observation; 3) that of acceptance; and 4) that of influence on the social order. (Page 250)
156. Everyone knows that the idea of reincarnation goes back to the Highest Antiquity and that Pythagoras had learnt it when among the Hindus and the Egyptians. The most remarkable, however, is to find that at that time the principle of the doctrine of the choice of tests, taught by the Spirits was already known. (Pages 251 and 252)
157. We find this doctrine in Plato, in his allegory of The Spindle of Necessity, in which he imagines a dialogue between Socrates and Glaucus. (Page 252)
158. The Revue copies the story of the deceased who appeared to a French officer and asked him to bury his body. His request being met, the Spirit thanked him and promised to reappear once more, two hours before his death, which actually occurred thirty years later. (Pages 258 to 261)
159. Kardec does not confirm the case, but accepts that it is possible. (Page 261)
160. He then tells the case of Mr. Watbled, president of the Boulogne Commercial Court, who died on July 12, 1858, after having twice seen his late wife announcing his death for the 12th , as it actually did. (Page 262)
161. The Revue publishes an account of the historian De Saint-Foy in connection with the Saint Bartholomew night massacre on August 23, 1572: eight days after the massacre, a horrible noise of voices and mixed groans, shouts of rage and fury, was heard in the vicinity of the Louvre. Everything indicates that King Charles IX heard such noise, was terrified and did not sleep the rest of the night. (Page 263)
162. Kardec comments on the case of Mrs. Schwabenhaus who died of apparent death and then woke up, informing that she had been transported to the celestial regions. It was, in fact, a state of lethargy. (Pages 264 and 265)
163. The lethargic see and hear what is going on around them and, on awakening, they remember it, says Kardec. (Page 265)
164. Medals and other objects considered cabbalistic resemble superstitious beliefs in the value attributed to certain things, such as numbers, planets, and their correspondence with metals. (Page 268)
165. He, who has studied rationally the nature of the Spirits, will not admit that such objects have any influence on them. The same, however, does not happen with a magnetized object, since it has the power to cause somnambulism or certain nervous phenomena. (Page 268)
166. The suicide episode of Louis A., who dated young Vitorina R., is examined by Kardec. St. Louis says that this suicide, as it was caused by love, and not by cowardice before life, is less sinful in the eyes of God. (Page 270 and 271)
167. Kardec asked Louis if he truly loved the bride. "I had a crush on her: it seems it is everything", the suicide replied. "If I had loved her with pureness, I would not have wanted to hurt her”. (Page 271)
168. In a study on obsession, Kardec clarifies that obsession always happens due to lower Spirits. The degree of embarrassment and the nature of the effects it produces mark the difference between obsession, subjugation, and fascination. (Page 277)
169. Kardec talks about possession – an empire practiced by evil Spirits - but prefers the term subjugation. Thus there are no possessors in the ordinary sense of the word; there are simply obsessed, subjugated and fascinated. (N.R.: In "Genesis" Kardec will change this concept). (Page 278)
170. The Revue shows how the fascination of Mr. F. - an educated and gentle character young man - begun and was treated. (Page 279)
171. Kardec helped him and told him that the boy followed the advice of the Spirits; he got himself a rough job, and with this hard work he would have no time to listen to the evil suggestions. (Page 283)
172. The Spirits exercise upon men a healthy or evil influence; for this, it is not necessary to be a medium. If there is no mediumship, they act in a thousand and one ways. (Page 284)
173. The influence of the Spirits upon us is constant, and all are exposed to it, whether they believe it or not. (Page 285)
174. Kardec states that three quarters of our evil deeds and our evil thoughts are caused by this hidden suggestion. (Page 285)
175. There is no other criterion, but common sense, to distinguish the value of the Spirits. Any given formula for this purpose by the Spirits themselves is absurd and cannot come from the Higher Spirits. (Page 286)
176. The Lower Spirits are afraid of those who analyze their words, unmask their wickedness, and are not cheated by their sophistry. (Page 286)
177. The Revue copies news from Stockholm stating that Mr. Klugenstiern, a reputed European magnetizer, was summoned to Drottningholm Castle to apply a magnetic treatment to King Oscar. (Page 287)
178. Kardec comments on the news to show the respect acquired by magnetism, and claims that Spiritism and Magnetism are linked by intimate ties, as solidarity sciences. (Page 288)
179. Moreover, Kardec reminds us that the Spirits always recommended Magnetism, both as a means of healing, and as the first cause of a lot of things. (Page 288)
180. The Revue informs that the Church, according to a book published in 1853 by the Abbot Marotte, also recognized the value of Magnetism. In his book, Marotte conceptualizes Magnetism and talks about its effects. (Page 289)
181. A curious case of physiology is told by St. Louis: a physician forgot in the parking lot a bottle of rum; not finding it, he told the parking supervisor it was a bottle containing a very strong poison and that they should be careful not to use it. Outcome: three coachmen, who had drunk the rum, looked like as if they had been poisoned. (Page 291)
Answers to the proposed questions
A. Where did Pythagoras get the idea of reincarnation?
The idea of reincarnation dates back to the Highest Antiquity and Pythagoras received it when he was among the Hindus and the Egyptians. In giving this information, Kardec states that the most remarkable thing is to find that since that time there is reference to the principle of the doctrine of choice of evidence, taught by the Spirits. We find this doctrine in Plato, in his allegory of the Spindle of Necessity, in which he imagines a dialogue between Socrates and Glaucus. (Revue Spirite, 1858, Pages 251 and 252).
B. Do medals and certain objects considered cabbalistic influence the Spirits?
No. Anyone who has studied rationally the nature of the Spirits will not accept that such objects can exercise any influence on them. The same, however, does not happen with a magnetized object, since it has the power to cause somnambulism or certain nervous phenomena. (Revue Spirite, 1858, Page 268.)
C. In cases of obsession, can the agent be a High Spirit?
No. According to Kardec, obsession is always produced by Lower Spirits. And it is the degree of constraint and the nature of the effects produced by them that make the difference between obsession, subjugation, and fascination. (Revue Spirite, 1858, Page 277)
D. Is the influence of the Spirits upon us constant?
Yes. The influence of the Spirits upon us is constant, and we are all exposed to it, whether we believe it or not. Spirits exercise a healthy or an evil influence on men; it is not necessary, for this, to be a medium. If there is no mediumship, they act in a thousand and one ways. Kardec states that three quarters of our evil deeds and our evil thoughts are caused by this hidden suggestion. (Revue Spirite, 1858, Pages 284 and 285)
