The Revue Spirite of 1860
Parte 6

We continue 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. Why does Kardec say that Spiritist ideas can reduce madness and suicide?

B. Should we correct the spelling mistakes in Spiritist communications?

C. What happens to the Spirit in idiotic cases?

D. Why do animal instincts prevail in man? 

Text for reading

123. In a new letter, Dr. Morhery tells us about the cures obtained by Miss. Desiree Godu: "Miss Godu is not a sleepwalker. She never consults at a distance, not even in my home, except under my direction and control". "When we agree, and this happens almost always, we begin the treatment". The medium then makes the dressings and acts like a nurse, with an unprecedented zeal, in the modest improvised nursing home. (P. 190)

124. In most cases, Ms. Godu applies an extractive topic, composed of one or two materials, found everywhere, in the hut and in the castle. At other times, she uses an ointment so simple, but that produces safe and varied effects. (P. 191)

125. Madness derives from a natural predisposition and has as its primary cause a relative moral weakness, which renders the individual incapable of bearing the shock of certain impressions, in which at least three-quarters of the cases contain sorrow, despair, disappointment and all the tribulations of life. (P. 192) 

126. To give man the necessary strength to see these things with indifference is to mitigate the most frequent cause that leads to madness and suicide. Now, the Spiritist Doctrine gives him this power. (P. 192)

127. One of the effects of Spiritism is to give the soul the strength it lacks in many circumstances and it is based on this that it can reduce the causes of madness and suicide. (P. 193)

128. Kardec copies from the book "Three Years in Judea" a curious occurrence with the prophet Esdras who, guided by an angel, wrote uninterruptedly the text that composes the Torah or Mosaic Pentateuch. (Pages 194 and 195)

129. A mistake in spelling made by the Spirit of Channing in a message obtained by direct writing aroused Mr. Mathieu's protest and Kardec's comment: "If the form of the message contains an error, we must correct it; man is supposed to care for this. And we must keep it intact only when the fact can serve as a piece of teaching. And that was not the case. (P. 196)

130. Vanity, says Georges, tarnishes all thoughts; it takes over heart and brain. A bad plant suppresses goodness in its germ and all qualities are annihilated by its poison. To fight against it, we must use prayer, because it alone gives us humility and strength. (P. 197)

131. Only the Higher Spirits, says Alfred de Musset, can communicate indistinctly through all mediums and maintain the same language with all. When we communicate through a medium, the aura of his nature is more or less reflected on us. (P. 200)

132. High communications do not depend on the culture of the medium, for only the essence of his soul is reflected upon the Spirits. (P. 200)

133. The Revue informs that the newspaper "L'Amore del Vero" is published in Genoa, directed by Dr. Pietro Gatti, director of the Homeopathic Institute of Genoa and enlightened adept of Spiritism. (Pages 200 and 201)

134. In the Spiritist Society of Paris a letter is read stating that in certain localities the clergy are seriously concerned with the study of Spiritism and that enlightened members of the Church speak of it as something of great influence on social relations. (P. 206)

135. Kardec says that there is a great tendency to see in Spiritism a means of divination, which is contrary to its objective. (P. 207)

136. Referring to the case of a 13-year-old boy, who offered a curious subject for study, because of his originality, St. Louis advises that such phenomena should not be provoked and suggests that the Society continue to occupy itself, as it did up to then, with important issues; otherwise, the serious Spirits would leave. (P. 208)

137. Kardec talks about phrenology, the science that deals with the functions assigned to each part of the brain, founded by Dr. Gall; and he criticizes the materialism of those who think that the brain organs are the very source of human faculties. (P. 209)

138. In the madman, if the organ serving the manifestations of thought is in disorder due to some cause, then thought cannot manifest itself in a regular way. Now the brain is the instrument of thought, as the eye is the instrument of vision. If the instrument is deteriorated, there is no manifestation, just as one who loses his eyes can no longer see. (P. 210)

139. In the case of idiocy, the Spirit is as if imprisoned and suffers this constriction, but nevertheless does not cease to think as Spirit. By isolating the Spirit from matter, it is proved that the organs are not the cause of the faculties, but simple instruments. (P. 211)

140. In the materialist concept, who is an idiot? Nothing, he is just a human being. But he is a being endowed with reason, like everyone else; he is just sick from birth in the brain, in the same manner as others are sick in the legs. (P. 211)

141. The physiognomy is based on the indisputable principle that it is thought that puts the organs at play and that imprints certain movements to the muscles. (P. 211)

142. Man’s animal instincts are due to the imperfection of his Spirit, which has not yet been cleansed and which, under the influence of matter, gives more importance to physical needs over morals. (P. 213)

143. A Spirit, in reincarnation, bears no resemblance to the previously inhabited body, for it is rare that the Spirit does not come into a new life with provisions that are substantially modified. Thus, from the physiognomy signs it is not possible to draw any indication of the previous existences. (Pages 213 and 214) (Continued on next issue.)

Answers to the questions  

A. Why does Kardec say that Spiritism ideas can reduce madness and suicide?

After explaining that madness derives from a natural predisposition and has as its primary cause a relative moral weakness, which makes the individual unable to bear the shock of certain impressions such as heartache, despair, disappointment and all the tribulations of life, Kardec says that the Spiritist Doctrine gives man the necessary strength to see these things with indifference and thus attenuates the more frequent cause that leads to madness and suicide. (Revue Spirite, Pages 192 and 193). 

B. Should we correct the spelling mistakes in Spiritist communications?

Yes. If the form of the message contains an error, we must correct it. This is the opinion of Kardec, who says that it is up to men to take care of this. The message should only be kept intact when the fact can serve as a teaching. (Ibid, Page 196). 

C. What happens to the Spirit in idiotic cases?

In the case of idiocy, the Spirit is as if imprisoned and suffers this constriction, but never ceases to think like Spirit. The idiot is a being endowed with reason, like everyone else, just sick from birth by the brain, as others are in the legs. (Ibid, Pages 210 and 211). 

D. Why do animal instincts prevail in man?

This is due to the imperfection of his Spirit, not yet cleansed, which, under the influence of matter, gives preponderance to physical needs over morals. (Ibid, Page 213). 

Translation:
Eleni Frangatos - eleni.moreira@uol.com.br