In this issue, we continue the study of the Revue Spirite of 1859, 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. Is it true that Kardec, when in contact with the Spirits, gave preference to evocations?
B. What is necessary to obtain the assistance of the Good Spirits?
C. What tactics do Evil Spirits use to achieve their goals?
D. What contributes for the stability of a Spiritist Society?
Text for reading
101. In the closing speech of the social year (June 1859), Kardec said that the number of titular members of the Spiritist Society of Paris had tripled in a few months and it had numerous correspondents on two continents. (P. 188)
102. Kardec recalled at the time this lesson of St Louis: "They mocked the spinning tables, but they will never mock the philosophy, wisdom, and charity that glow in serious communications." (P. 190)
103. He who really wants to know, says Kardec, must submit to the conditions of the thing itself, and not want it to submit to his conditions. That is why the Society does not lend itself to experiments that would not work, because it knows from experience that Spiritism, like any other science, is not learned at once and in a few hours. (Pages 191 and 192)
104. We do not waste time, says the Encoder, in reproducing the facts we already know, just as a physicist does not enjoy repeating experiences that teach him nothing new. We direct our investigation to everything that clarifies our march, preferring intelligent communications, source of the Spiritist philosophy and whose unlimited field is much wider than that of purely material manifestations. (P. 192)
105. Two ways – professed and practiced in the same manner – are used in receiving communications from beyond the grave: some prefer to wait for spontaneous communications; others prefer evocations. As for us, says Kardec, we only condemn the exclusivity of systems. (P. 192)
106. The way of talking to Spirits is indeed a true art, which demands us to be tactful, thinking and being careful before you speak, i.e., a practical Spiritism. (P. 193)
107. Systematic criticism has accused us, says Kardec, of accepting very easily the doctrines of certain Spirits, especially regarding scientific questions. Well, we are far from accepting all they say as articles of faith. (P. 194)
108. Since not all are perfect, we do not accept their words except with reservation and we are never naive. We judge, compare, arrive to conclusions based on what we saw, and mistakes are lessons to us. (Pages 194 and 195)
109. We consider every opinion uttered by a Spirit as its personal opinion, and we do not accept it until we have submitted it to the control of logic and to the means of investigation provided by the Spiritist Science itself. (P. 195)
110. The assistance of the Good Spirits - is indeed the condition without which the Truth cannot be expected. It is up to us to get this help, and the first condition for deserving their sympathy is: recollection and the purity of intentions. (P. 195)
111. The known proverb states: “Tell me who you go with and I'll tell you who you are. We can simulate this proverb regarding our Friendly Spirits, by saying: “Tell me what you think, and I will tell you who you walk with”. (P. 196)
112. To say that frivolous Spirits never appeared to us - says Kardec - would be a presumption of perfection. The Higher Spirits even allowed it to test our insight and our zeal in the search for truth. (P. 196)
113. The purpose of the Spiritist Society of Paris is not only to study the principles of the Spiritist Science. It goes further: it also studies its moral consequences, because it is mainly in these moral principles that its true utility is found. (P. 197)
114. Life teaches us that punishment is assured if we give in to the influence of Evil Spirits, because their intentions are never good. One of their tactics to achieve their purposes is to cause dissolution for they know very well that they can easily master who is without support. (P. 197)
115. They will ask, then, if we will not attract Evil Spirits by evoking people who have been useless and with no value to society. No, because we have never suffered their influence. There is only danger when it is the Spirit that imposes itself; never, however, when we impose ourselves to the Spirit. (Pages 197 and 198)
116. In his speech, Kardec shows that many confreres criticized him for going too far, claiming that the facts were not yet sufficiently observed and that there was no certainty that the Spirits who gave him instructions had not been mistaken. He replied: "The future will tell whether I am right or wrong." (P. 199)
117. Speaking about the Spiritist Societies, Kardec says that the first condition for the stability of a Spiritist Center is the consistency of principles and the way of seeing the issues. The second condition is the assistance of the Good Spirits, if the Center wishes to obtain serious communications (P. 200)
118. The purpose of Spiritism is to improve those who understand it. Let us try to set the example and show that for us the Doctrine is not dead. Let us be worthy of Good Spirits if we wish their assistance. (P. 202)
119. Joseph Midard, killed in combat, did not immediately realize his situation and was not aware that he was dead. (P. 204)
120. He says that the time of one’s death is determined by God. If we must pass to the spiritual plane, nothing will stop us; so nobody will go through this experience, if it is not the right time. (P. 207)
121. Dressed in a turban and breeches, he could not explain how he got these clothes, since his soldier's uniform had stayed behind on the battlefield. "I have a tailor who arranges them", Midard said. (P. 208)
122. Another soldier killed in the same battle said he recognized himself almost immediately, thanks to the vague notions he had of Spiritism, showing that knowledge can shorten the period of disturbance. (P. 210)
123. The Abbot Chesnel again writes in L'Univers, insisting that Spiritism is, must be and cannot stop being a new religion. Kardec contests him. (Editor’s Note: In this specific case, time gave reason to the Abbot). (P. 211)
Answers to the proposed questions
A. Is it true that Kardec, when in contact with the Spirits, gave preference to evocations?
No. Of the two systems professed and practiced at that time, while some preferred spontaneous communications, others preferred evocations. "As for us - Kardec said - we only condemn the exclusivity of systems." (Revue Spirite, Page 192).
B. What is necessary to obtain the assistance of the Good Spirits?
The first condition to deserve their sympathy is recollection and purity of intentions. Kardec mentions the known proverb that states: Tell me who you go with and I'll tell you who you are. We can therefore simulate this proverb regarding our friendly Spirits, by saying: Tell me what you think, and I will tell you who you go with. (Cited above, Pages 195 and 196).
C. What tactics do Evil Spirits use to achieve their goals?
One of their tactics is to sow dissolution, because they know very well that they can easily dominate those that have no support. Life, says Kardec, has taught us that punishment is assured whenever we abandon ourselves to the domain of Evil Spirits, because their intentions are never good. (Cited, Page 197)
D. What contributes for the stability of a Spiritist Society?
The first condition for the stability of a Spiritist Center is, according to Kardec, the consistency of principles and the way of seeing the issues. The second condition is the assistance of the Good Spirits, if the Center wishes to obtain serious communications. (Cited above, Pages 200 and 202).
