The Revue
Spirite of
1860
Parte
1
We begin in this issue the study of the Revue Spirite
of 1860, 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 is the importance of God for Spiritism?
B. Can the perispirit take the form desired by the
Spirit?
C. Do the disembodied wear clothes?
D. What are the qualities in psychics that most attract
the good Spirits?
Text for reading
1. The year of 1860 was a fruitful year for Spiritism,
and it was then that Allan Kardec began his journeys for
the disclosure and orientation of the French Spiritist
movement, beginning with Lyon. (Preface)
2. It is a waste of time to argue with people who are
unaware of the ABC of what they are talking about.
"Study first, and we'll see later", Kardec says. (P. 1)
3. With the certainty of the future, everything changes
its aspect: the present is ephemeral; we see it draining
without sorrow; man is less given to earthly joys, for
these do not bring him but an elusive sensation. (P. 3)
4. Spiritism is strong, because it relies on the
foundations of religion: God, the soul, the punishments
and the future rewards, based on what we do. (P. 4)
5. On 12/16/1859, the newspaper "Siècle" reported that
animal Magnetism, taken to the Academy by Dr. Paul Broca
and tested by several physicians, was the great news of
the day. These facts, on 7/7/1852, seven years earlier,
were called hypnotism by the Scottish physician, Dr.
Braid. (P. 8)
6. Kardec refers to the methods used by Abbot Faria and
by Dr. Paul Broca to hypnotize people. (Pages 8 and 9)
7. Here are the phenomena attributed to hypnotism by Dr.
Braid: a) exaltation of sensitivity; B) suggested
feelings; C) provoked ideas; D) increase of muscle
strength. A patient, hypnotized by Dr. Braid, was able
to lift a 14-pound weight with his thumb and turn it
around his head, sure that the weight was as light as a
feather. (Pages 10 and 11)
8. Count R..., while asleep, was summoned by Kardec and
said that his body slept, i.e., it was more or less
inert, unlike sleepwalkers, who do not sleep. (P. 13)
9. The next day Count R... told how he had dreamed that
he was in the Society standing between Kardec and the
medium. (P. 15)
10. Evoked again the following week, Count R... reported
that he could go to other planets situated in the same
degree of the Earth. (P. 18)
11. A family Spirit advises that - when we experience
any sorrow - we must resist and make every effort not to
abandon ourselves to sorrow, remembering that nothing is
gained without work. (P. 21)
12. The same Spirit, speaking of eternity, says that it
is made of two periods: that of the test, which could be
called incubation, and that of the outbreak, or entrance
into the true life, that of the happiness of the elect.
(P. 22)
13. It is a serious mistake to imagine that an imbecile,
an ignorant, becomes a genius, a sage, when he leaves
his material wrap. (P. 26)
14. Jobard criticizes those who hide their names in the
propagation of Spiritist facts. Says Jobard: "Nowadays,
when academies admit magnetism and somnambulism, first
cousins of Spiritism, it is necessary that their
supporters are willing to accept this in full. The fear
of what might be said is a cowardly and evil feeling".
Kardec supports him with reserve. (P. 28)
15. Kardec says that certain Spirits take pleasure in
the places where they lived and feel the charm of
longing. (P. 29)
16. Mr. Thiry observes that many suffering Spirits ask
for the help of prayer to ease their sorrows; but, as
they can be out of sight, he proposes that at each
session the President remembers their names. (P. 30)
17. The Spirit can give the perispirit the form he
desires, as it did with the king of Kanala, who appeared
with a white head and black hands. (P. 31)
18. A message received at Lyon says that the reformation
of Humanity is prepared by the incarnation on Earth of
better Spirits and by the exile of men, who are destined
for evil, who will reincarnate in a world inferior to
the Earth. (P. 40)
19. After discussing the matter, the Society has
concluded that the Spirit may decline in its position,
but not as to the acquired abilities. (P. 41)
20. Kardec says that spontaneous apparitions are quite
frequent, but accidental and almost always motivated by
a special circumstance. (P. 41)
21. Spirits can be seen in various aspects, of which the
most frequent is the human form. (P. 42)
22. Their garments usually consist of a drapery, ending
in long floating robe. This is about the Higher Spirits,
but common Spirits almost always have the clothing worn
in recent times. (P. 42)
23. The Higher Spirits always have a beautiful
appearance, noble and serene; on the contrary, the lower
Spirits show a coarse physiognomy. (P. 43)
24. Among Mr. Home's faculties, one of them allowed
tangible hands to be seen and they could be touched and
picked up objects. (P. 43)
25. Kardec recommends: When an effect is not intelligent
by itself, and independent of the intelligence of men,
we should look at it twice before attributing it to the
Spirits. (P. 45)
26. The nature of communications is always relative to
the nature of the Spirit and bears the stamp of its
elevation or inferiority, of its knowledge or ignorance.
(P. 45)
27. For communication to be good, it must come from a
good Spirit, and a good instrument is necessary for
that. (P. 47)
28. Spirits, devoted to good, seek in their
interpreters, in addition to their physiological
aptitude, certain moral qualities, among which are
devotion and detachment. (P. 47)
(Continues on next issue).
Answers to the questions
A. What is the importance of God for Spiritism?
The concept of God is so important in the Spiritist
Doctrine that Kardec stated that Spiritism is strong
because it relies on the foundations of religion: God,
the soul, the punishments and future rewards, based on
what we do. (Revue Spirite, 1860, page 4)
B. Can the perispirit take the form desired by the
Spirit?
Yes. The Spirit can give the perispirit the form it
desires, as it did with the king of Kanala, who appeared
at the meeting with a white head and black hands. (Ibid,
page 31.)
C. Do the disembodied wear clothes?
Spirits can be seen in various features, of which the
most frequent is the human form, and their robes usually
consist of a drapery, ending in a long floating robe.
This as for the Higher Spirits, ordinary spirits almost
always have clothes similar to those used in recent
times. (Ibid, page 42)
D. What are the qualities in psychics that most attract
the good Spirits?
Spirits devoted to good seek in their interpreters, in
addition to their physiological aptitude, certain moral
qualities, among which devotion and detachment are at
the forefront. (Ibid, page 47)
Translation:
Eleni Frangatos -
eleni.moreira@uol.com.br
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