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182. St. Louis says that the morbid sensation of the coachmen was caused by evil Spirits, the same ones who induced them to drink the rum that did not belong to them. Kardec also considers that there may have been, in this case, a kind of magnetization of the liquid through the influence of the physician’s thought. (Pages 291 and 292)
183. Not always what we say comes from us; our actions are often the consequence of thoughts that are suggested to us. (Page 293)
184. The Spiritist Doctrine accepts, however, in man, free will in all its fullness. Thus, according to the Spiritist Doctrine, there is no irresistible spiritual dragging (evil influence): man can always become deaf to the hidden voice that wants to drag him to do evil. (Page 293)
185. Our faults are mainly caused by the imperfection of our Spirit. The more the Spirit cleanses itself, the less our weaknesses, and thus we will not be an easy prey for the evil Spirits. (Page 294)
186. Kardec tells us about the murder of five children committed by a twelve-year-old boy, who placed them in a trunk, and considers it likely that the offender is one of those Spirits, who belong to the lower planets. (Pages 295 and 296)
187. In the eyes of God, says one Spirit, repentance is sacred, for it is the man who judges himself. (Page 297)
188. An old castle in the Pyrenees was sold, and later the buyer realized that it was a haunted house. Intending to cancel the deal, the matter went to court. Kardec analyzes the fact and states that in such a matter, one must first know whether the spiritual manifestations in the castle occurred before or after the sale of the property. (Pages 297 and 300)
189. The American newspapers reported on the case of Mrs. Park, who appeared shortly after her passing to her sister Miss Harris, as she had promised her moments before she died. (Pages 302 and 303)
190. Kardec talks about Spiritist controversies and says that there is one kind of discussion that he will always keep away from: when it becomes personal. (Page 305)
191. There is, however, a discussion that we would never refuse: a serious discussion about the principles of Spiritism. (Page 305)
192. Speaking of reincarnation, Kardec says that there is a great difference between metempsychosis of the ancients and the modern doctrine of reincarnation: the Spirits absolutely do not accept the transmigration of men into animals and vice versa. (Page 307)
193. Kardec says that reincarnation was not only taught to him, but was discussed in many places, in France and abroad: Germany, Holland, Russia, etc., and this was even before the publication of The Book of Spirits. (Page 308)
194. Since he devoted himself to Spiritism, Kardec informs that he received communications from more than 50 mediums and never did the Spirits contradict themselves regarding this issue. (Page 308)
195. Assuming, however, that the soul is born with the body, how can we explain the different abilities that the children show, the inborn ideas, the early instincts of vices and virtues, the savages? (Page 311)
196. With reincarnation, all this is clearly explained. Men bring, at birth, the intuition of what they have learned before, their flaws and their qualities. (Page 312)
197. Looking at this matter from the point of view of man’s future, the same difficulties present themselves to those who do not accept reincarnation: what is the fate of the savage and the children who die at an early age? (Pages 312 and 313)
198. Kardec promises to show later that religion is less distant from reincarnation than we think, and states that the Spirits’ teaching is eminently Christian, because it relies on the immortality of the soul, on future punishments and rewards, on free will and Christian morality. (Page 313)
199. St. Louis writes about suicide and says that when a man commits suicide he is very nervous, loses his head, and he does it without courage or fear and, therefore, with no knowledge about it. (Page 314)
200. To improve spiritually, man must be tested. He is born simple and ignorant, and it is only through suffering that the Spirit becomes enlightened and better understands the greatness of God. (Page 315)
201. The Revue presents a new communication by Mehemet-Ali, the ancient Pasha of Egypt, who brings us several interesting teachings. One is about the pyramids, a mixture of tombs and temples. (Page 316)
202. The Egyptians imagined that the Spirit returned to the body in which it had lived; hence the idea of mummification of corpses. (Page 317)
203. Evoked on the advice of Mr. Jobard, Dr. Muhr, disembodied in Cairo on 6-4-1857, was a homeopathic physician; as a Spirit he gave the following testimony regarding this science: "Homeopathy is the beginning of the discovery of latent fluids. Many other equally precious discoveries will be made and will form a harmonious whole, which will guide your globe to perfection". (Pages 318 and 319)
204. The Revue refers to a spontaneous communication given by the Spirit of Madame de Stäel, in which she associates Spiritism with a new religion. (Page 319)
205. Madame de Stäel is strict about her work: "If I returned and could begin again, I would change two-thirds and retain only one." (Page 321)
206. The Revue copies from the "Spiritualist", of New Orleans, news about the medium Mr. Rogers, a resident of Columbus, who manages to make portraits of dead people he had never seen. (Page 322)
207. Kardec writes about the powers of Mrs. Roger, a sleepwalker, who can, at a distance, see people and missing objects. (Pages 326 and 327)
208. The Encoder says that the somnambulist clairvoyance is not always a reflection of a strange thought: the somnambulist can have a lucidity of his own, absolutely independent. (Page 328)
Answers to the proposed questions
A. Is the spiritual dragging (evil influence) we suffer irresistible?
No. Not always what we say comes from us; our actions are often the consequence of thoughts that are suggested to us. The Spiritist Doctrine accepts, however, in man, free will in all its fullness. Thus, according to the Spiritist Doctrine, there is no irresistible spiritual dragging (evil influence): man can always become deaf to the hidden voice that wants to drag him to do evil. (Revue Spirite, 1858, Pages 293 and 294)
B. Was Kardec averse to polemics?
Yes and no. He said there is one kind of discussion that he will always keep away from: when it becomes personal. There is, however, a discussion that we would never refuse if its purpose was a serious discussion regarding the principles of Spiritism. (Work cited, page 305)
C. Is there a difference between metempsychosis and the doctrine of reincarnation?
Yes, there is a great difference between metempsychosis of the ancients and the modern doctrine of reincarnation: the Spirits absolutely do not accept the transmigration of men into animals and vice versa. (Work cited, page 307)
D. How did the teaching on reincarnation arise in the Spiritist context?
Kardec says that reincarnation was not only taught to him, but was discussed in many places, in France and abroad: Germany, Holland, Russia, etc., and this was even before the publication of The Book of Spirits. Since he devoted himself to Spiritism, Kardec informs that he received communications from more than 50 mediums and never did the Spirits contradict themselves regarding this issue. (Work cited, page 308)
