José Eduardo, a Spiritist since 1964, is retired from the banking sector. He is the Vice-President of the Américo Bairral Spiritist Foundation and treasurer of Allan Kardec Rest Home, both in Itapira, in the state of São Paulo. In this interview, he shows his dedication and passion for this important mental health institution.

How did you get involved in the Américo Bairral Spiritist Foundation?

I was a friend of Dr. José Carlos Camargo Ferraz, a staunch Spiritist who invited in November 1966 to join the board of directors of the organisation. I accepted and have been in the board since. I’m now its vice-president.

Who was Dr. José Carlos de Camargo Ferraz?

He was the local prosecutor, or attorney, and had moved to Itapira around 1956. Before moving to the city, he took part in a mediumship meeting where he was fully convinced about the reality of the Spiritual World. He began then to work hard to study Spiritism and practice charity and that is how he lived his life until he returned to Spirit.

What was his involvement with Bairral Institute?

As public prosecutor, he was the legal curator of the foundation in charge of the psychiatric hospital called Psychiatric Institute Bairral. As it was a Spiritist organisation, he became interested in a number of activities carried out there. He eventually became more involved in the administration side of the activities and became its leader, having dedicated himself in full to the organisation until the end of 2001.

How about his interest in writing Spiritist music? Where did that come from and what was it aimed at?

He was always passionate about music. He was a songwriter and became very popular with the university lecturers in São Paulo when he read Law. He wrote many songs. Many of them were recorded by acclaimed singers at the time. He had the idea of introducing music to the patients at the hospital in order to create an appropriate atmosphere for the healing. The patients, who received healing at the organisation’s hall, were told to sing as a band played live for them. Most of the songs were written by him and the lyrics were always about love, charity and spiritual development.

Tell us a bit about the booklet, Hinário Espírita (Spiritist Anthems).

It was the way found to gather in a single book all the anthems that were sung during that healing work. There are 30 anthems. José Carlos wrote the lyrics and melody for 13 of them and the lyrics only for 12. Three others come from the Presbyterian Church and two of them are from unknown authors. The booklet is now on its seventh edition.

How was it sharing so many years of your life with him? And what are the memories you keep from those years?

We were friends for nearly 40 years. His main characteristic was his passion for the truth and the courage to say it. His intelligence was amazing. My friends and I at the Bairral Institute have learned so much with him, not only about Spiritism but also about the Gospels, which he knew in depth. And we enjoyed so much when he recited more than 1,000 sonnets from Portuguese language literature that he knew by heart.

What was his importance in the history of the Bairral Institute?

I often say that there are four great missionaries in the history of the Bairral Institute, Spirits of a higher level who agreed to dedicate their time to create, develop and consolidate this blessed organisation: the founders, the couple Onofre and Gracinda Batista; their son-in-law, César Bianchi; and Dr José Carlos de Camargo Ferraz. We, the current directors of the organisation, never cease to praise the merits of these wonderful Brothers and sisters, who pursued their ideal throughout their existence with courage that we cannot emulate.

What is the most striking memory of the time you have spent at Bairral?

I wouldn’t be able to highlight a particular moment or event. I remember with satisfaction and happiness all the steps taken to develop the hospital from a technical perspective. We introduced pioneer aspects in treatment, including specific treatment units for each diagnosis, the creation of an Intensive Therapy Unit and the creation of a medical residency course in Psychiatry, which currently forms eight professionals every year.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

We carry on with the same work that inspired Dr José Carlos to produce the Hinário Espírita (Spiritist Anthems). It is carried out by a team of which I have been a member for more than 25 years. Healing is given to the patients who spontaneously agree to take part.

What are your final thoughts?

This interview fills me with emotion as it brings back dear memories of Dr José Carlos, a great friend, a great Spiritist and someone who has made an indelible impact through a whole important period of my life.