The Revue
Spirite of
1860
Parte
7
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. What virtue should always guide us?
B. Should we be rigorous in the analysis of mediumistic
communications?
C. Do Spirits, when erratic, also do research?
D. What error did Channing point out in Spiritist
studies?
Text for reading
144. Speaking of the ghosts, Kardec says that Spirits
can show up anywhere, anytime, day or night, and they do
so with the appearance they had in life. (P. 215)
145. If dying belongs to human nature, no guardian angel
has the power to oppose the course of the laws of
Nature. Since the moment and the type of death in the
destiny of each one, it is necessary that fate is
fulfilled.
(P. 218)
146. Charlet (Spirit) says that there is moral progress
in animals and also progress of the condition. He later
clarified that the progress of animals is enhanced by
the education they receive from man. (Pages 220, 221 and
228)
147. Pythagoras remembered his former existence and
recognized the shield he wore at the siege of Troy. (P.
221)
148. Animals, says Charlet, have almost the same degree
of intelligence; there is a variety of forms in them; in
man there is a variety of Spirits. (P. 222)
149. Charlet says that the Spirit rises by submission,
by being humble. What makes it lose is its pride, which
makes it despise every subaltern and envy every
superior. Envy is the most vivid expression of pride.
(P. 223)
150. Charlet states that charity, this virtue of true
and noble souls, must always be our guide, for it is the
sign of true superiority.
(P. 224)
151. Charlet informs that the animals of Jupiter have a
more precise and positive language than that of our
animals. (P. 226)
152. Kardec says that there is an obvious gap between
the most intelligent animal and man. St. Louis corrects
him by saying that this lacuna of beings is only
apparent, since it comes from the disappeared races.
(Pages 226 and 227)
153. The soul of the animal, says Charlet, is not
recognized after death; but in certain animals, even in
many, it is individualized. (P. 227)
154. Charlet, questioned by Kardec, backs in his thesis
about the ferocity of animals, which are ferocious by
necessity, by constitution, and have nothing to do with
the moral fall of man. (P. 229)
155. Referring to the analysis of the communications
received from the Spirits, Kardec lists six principles
imperative to this analysis and concludes that, apart
from moral questions, one should only accept with
reservations what comes from the Spirits, and never
without examining it. (Pages 233 and 234)
156. Saint Louis, clarifying a doubt raised in the
previous session of the Society, warns: "He who wants to
progress in the life of the good must know how to accept
the advice and warnings that are given to him, even when
they hurt his self-love. Proof of his progress consists
in the gentle and humble way in which he receives them".
(P. 236)
157. St. Louis suggests that François Arago be evoked
with the assistance of another medium and clarifies: "A
Spirit comes preferably to a person whose ideas
sympathize with those he had in life". (P. 238)
158. Speaking about the Spiritist Society of Paris,
Kardec says that the Society is a family, whose members,
animated by reciprocal benevolence, should be moved by
the only desire to instruct oneself and banish all
individual and rivalry feelings, provided they
understand the Doctrine as real Spiritists. (P. 240)
159. After the session of July 20, 1860, Kardec asked
St. Louis if he was happy. Here is the answer: "Yes and
no, you were wrong when you allowed the whispers of
certain members while the Spirits are being questioned".
After making other observations, St. Louis asks Kardec
to read them in the next session: "Tell them this is not
a room for conversation".
(P. 242)
160. The Revue publishes a letter from the
physician Dr. De Grand-Boulogne, Doctor in Medicine and
former Vice-Consul of France, who lists the common
points of Christian and Spiritist teachings, which he
says he sincerely adopts, and states that charity is the
greatest virtue. (Pages 242 to 244)
161. Charity, he says, is the special attribute of the
soul which, in its ardent aspirations to do well,
forgets itself and is consumed by efforts for the
happiness of its neighbor. Knowledge is a quality;
Charity, a virtue. (P. 244)
162. After reporting on the phenomena of Rua des Noyers,
whose veracity was attested by St. Louis, Kardec says
that among the inhabitants of the house there was a
medium (the maid), who made it possible for the
demonstrations to take place. (Pages 246 and 247)
163. The Spirit of Thilorier, the physicist, says that
Spirits also do research and discoveries in the
wandering state, and it is they who, once authorized,
inspire the men of Science involved in the same quest.
(P. 256)
164. St. Louis examines the subject and informs that for
the communication of the discoveries that transform the
outward appearance of things God leaves the idea to
mature, like the corn cobs that have their growth
retarded by winter. (P. 257)
165. In evoking the man, who committed suicide to rid
his son of the war in Italy, Kardec teaches that
intention mitigates evil and deserves indulgence, but
does not prevent evil to be considered evil. (P. 259)
166. Channing (Spirit) says that in the study of
Spiritism there is a serious error that is spreading
more and more: it is that of considering the Spirits
infallible in their answers. And asks them not to be
questioned about what they cannot and should not say.
(P. 264)
(Continues on next issue.)
Answers to the questions
A. What virtue should always guide us?
According to Charlet (Spirit), charity, this virtue of
truly frank and noble souls, must always be our guide,
for it is the sign of true superiority. The Spirit,
"said Charlet", is raised by submission, by being
humble. And what loses it is its pride, which makes it
despise every subaltern and envy every superior, for
envy is the most vivid expression of pride. (Revue
Spirite, pages 223 and 224.)
B. Should we be rigorous in the analysis of mediumistic
communications?
Yes. In relating six essential principles to this
analysis, Kardec said that, besides the moral questions,
one should only accept with reservations what comes from
the Spirits, and never without examination. (Ibid, pages
233 and 234.)
C. Do Spirits, when erratic, also do research?
Of course, the Spirit of Thilorier, the physicist, says
that Spirits also do research and discoveries in the
wandering state and it is they who, once authorized,
inspire the men of Science engaged in the same quest.
(Ibid, page 256.)
D. What error did Channing point out in Spiritist
studies?
Channing (Spirit) said that in the study of Spiritism
there was a serious error that was spreading every day:
that of considering the Spirits infallible in their
answers. And he gave an objective advice: we should not
ask them what they cannot and should not say. (Ibid,
page 264.)
Translation:
Eleni Frangatos -
eleni.moreira@uol.com.br
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