The Revue Spirite of 1861

Part 1

We begin in this issue the study of the Revue Spirite of 1861, 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 proposed issues are at the end of the text for reading.

Issues for discussion

A. In dealing with a boy's obsession, is the role of the parents important?

B. Why is the future hidden from us?

C. Who was and when did St. Louis live?

Text for reading

1. In the year 1861, when the first edition of "The Book of Mediums" appeared, Kardec made his second Spiritist trip through the provinces, visiting the cities of Sens, Macon, Lyons and Bordeaux. (Introduction)

2. On his return from the trip, Kardec addressed the second edition of "The Book of Mediums", since its first edition had been quickly sold out. (Introduction)

3. In the Spiritist Society of Paris, on 11/30/1860, several members reported an interesting phenomenon: the lifting of a person, through mediumistic influence of two girls of 15 and 16 years old who, by putting two fingers on the bars of the chair, managed to lift a person – no matter its weight - almost a meter high. (Page 4)

4. The Revue informs about the way Spiritism suffered an attack by Mr. Georges Gandy, editor of La Bibliographie Catholique, and publishes an analysis made by Kardec regarding Mr. Gandy's criticisms. (Pages 8 to 16)

5. There is an issue that Mr. Gandy does not forgive Spiritism - says Kardec -: it is not having declared this maxim: "Outside the Church there is no salvation" and admitting that the one who does good can be saved from the eternal flames. (Page 12)

6. Kardec publishes part of a letter from Mr. Canu, a former materialist, in which the writer analyzes the issue of unbelief, in order to enlighten all those whom he had misguided with his materialistic ideas. (Pages 16 to 24)

7. Mentioning the formation of the world, Mr. Canu says that a world does not suddenly come out of nowhere, covered with forests, grasslands and inhabitants: "No: God surely proceeds more slowly; everything follows a slow and progressive law, not because God hesitates or needs slowness, but because His laws are like that and they are immutable". (Page 20)

8. Everything that is not God, says Canu, needs to be perfected: it is precisely for this perfection that a body is given to the Spirit, since without matter it could not manifest itself and thus progress. (Page 21)

9. Canu refers to the suffering experienced by the most evil Spirits, still unapproachable to shame and remorse: driven by evil but powerless to do so, they are envious of seeing others happier than they are. (Page 23)

10. The Revue reports the occurrence of phenomena in the department of Aube, seen in 1856 at Mr. R's house, and to some extent similar to Bergzabern's manifestations (See Revue Spirite, 1858). The person, who was the object of the manifestations, was Mr. R’s son, twelve years old at the time. The phenomena usually occurred when the boy lay down and began to sleep. Upon awakening, the boy had no idea of what had happened. (Pages 25 and 26)

11. In addition to blows, scratches, whistles, noise like a saw, the rocking of the bed and magnetic suspension, the Spirit brought to the place bulky objects. When asked how he got them, he replied that he got them out of dishonest people. If they preached morality, he would get angry and even spit on people's faces. (Pages 25 and 26)

12. Explaining the case, St. Louis teaches that a good Spirit can do nothing over another, but morally; never physically. In the mentioned case, it would be necessary to call for the assistance of good Spirits, to act on the young man and make him less accessible to the impressions of the evil Spirits. (Page 27)

13. "The evil Spirit who obsesses him," says St. Louis, "will not easily leave him, since he is not strongly repelled by anyone". Confirming that in such cases prayer is always good, it would be of no use if it were not followed by those interested in the case, i. e. the parents of the little boy. (Pages 27 and 28)

14. When evoked, the Spirit treated the one who evoked him roughly, but later reported that the rage of the young medium when magnetized was due to him (Spirit) and not to the young man: "It was not he who was angry: it was I". (Pages 29 and 30)

15. Why did he become angry? Kardec asked. The Spirit replied, "I have no power over this man (Mr. L ..., the magnetizer), who is superior to me: therefore I cannot stand him". "He wants to take away the one I have under my dominion. And this I do not want". (Page 30)

16. In analyzing this case, Kardec states: "Without doubt this Spirit is very bad and belongs to the bas-fond of the Spiritist world”. He says, however, that such Spirits are less dangerous than the fascinating Spirits who, with second intentions, know how to inspire in certain people a blind trust in their words. (Page 30)

17. Commenting on the message of the Spirit of Cazotte, Kardec states that the future is hidden from us due to a very wise law of Providence, since such knowledge would harm our free will and lead us to negligence. (Page 33)

18. In a note written by the translator, we see that St. Louis is the same Louis IX, King of France, born in 1215 and who died in 1270. Very virtuous Louis IX was canonized by the Church in 1297. (Page 39) (Continues in the following issue)

Answers to the issues

A. In dealing with a boy's obsession, is the role of the parents important?

Yes. Commenting on the case of a young man suffering from an obsessive process, St. Louis says that a good Spirit cannot influence another one, except regarding morality; never physically. In that case, it would be necessary to call for the assistance of the Good Spirits, to act on the young man and make him less accessible to the impressions of the evil Spirits. Remembering that in these cases the prayer is always good, it would be of no use if it were not followed by those most interested in the case, that is, the parents of the little boy. (Revue Spirite, 1861, pages 27 and 28)

B. Why is the future hidden from us?

Referring to a message from the Spirit of Cazotte, Kardec says that the future is hidden from us by a Law of God, which is very wise, since such knowledge would harm our free will and lead us to negligence. (Ibid, page 33)

C. Who was and when did St. Louis live?

According to a note written by the translator Julio Abreu Filho, Saint Louis was, in an earlier incarnation, Louis IX, King of France. He was born in 1215 and died in 1270, Louis IX, known for his goodness, was canonized by the Church in 1297. (Ibid, page 39) 

Translation:

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