The Revue
Spirite of
1861
Part 12
We continue 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. The strength of Spiritism has two main causes. What
are they?
B. What is most beautiful in Spiritism?
C. Was Kardec supportive of the existence of small
Spiritist groups?
Text for reading
206. After censoring the excesses of Rome, Dante
(Spirit) warns: "Oh men, who call yourselves Christians,
seeing your attachment to the perishable goods of this
world, you would say that you do not really count on
those of eternity. Rome! You that consider yourself
immortal may the future centuries not seek your place,
as is done today with Babylon!" (Pages 333 and 334).
207. Pascal (Spirit), communicating in Sens, says that
evil will disappear from the face of the Earth if the
charity here reigns. In the face of this, he suggests:
"Begin by setting an example, yourselves; be charitable
to all, indifferently; strive to take the habit of not
noticing those who look at you with disdain; always
believe that they deserve your sympathy and leave to God
the care of all justice, because each day in His Kingdom
he separates the wheat from the chaff". (Page 336)
208. The Revue informs about the decree of
Barcelona, which took place on October 9, 1861. (Pages
337 to 340)
209. Kardec, after referring to the repercussion that
the episode had in Spain, where it was deplored by
several newspapers, says that for the Spiritists this
date should be a day of celebration, not mourning. In a
message copied in the Revue, Saint Dominique
explained: "Nothing is uselessly done in your Earth in
this sense; and we, who inspired the Act of Faith of
Barcelona, knew that by doing so we would contribute to
a great step forward". (Page 340)
210. Kardec talks about his visit to the Spiritists of
Bordeaux, where Spiritism penetrated all levels of
society, and publishes in the Revue the greeting
that was given to him in the city by a
five-and-a-half-year-old boy named Joseph, son of Mr.
Sabo, a great Spiritist leader of the city. (Pages 343
to 346)
211. The speeches of Mr. Sabo, Dr. Bouche de Vitray and
Kardec were published in the Revue. (Pages 346 to
364)
212. Doctor in Medicine, Bouche de Vitray says in his
speech that the testimony of the authenticity of our
Doctrine goes to the dawn of time and that the sacred
books, the basis of Christianity, mention it. (Page 349)
213. With Spiritism, says Vitray, young men abandon the
illusions of their youth and mature men learn to take
life seriously, and Spiritist Centers are founded all
over the world. (Page
351)
214. In his message to the confreres of Bordeaux, Kardec
says that he is not a medium in the ordinary sense of
the word, and considers it a great bliss which helped
him a lot to accomplish his task regarding Spiritism. (Pages
356 and 357)
215. According to Kardec, the strength of Spiritism has
two main causes. (Page 357)
216. The first one is that it makes all those who know,
understand and practice it happy. The second is that it
is not supported by any man who can be overthrown,
because its focus is everywhere. (Pages 357 and 358)
217. They killed the Christ, killed His Apostles, and
yet the Christian idea triumphed, overcoming even the
persecution of the omnipotent Caesars. Why, then, will
Spiritism, which is nothing more than the development
and application of the Christian idea, not triumph over
some mockers or antagonists who could only oppose it
with a mild denial? (Page
358)
218. Up to present what do its enemies oppose?
"Mockeries and denials – says Kardec – which, using our
common sense, never surpassed mere discussions”. (Page
358)
219. After stating that Spiritism is foreign to every
dogmatic question, Kardec says that the most beautiful
side of Spiritism is the moral side, and it is by its
moral consequences that it will triumph, for there is
its strength. (Page 359)
220. The enemies of Spiritism, Kardec understands, are
of two orders: on the one hand, the mockers and the
unbelievers. On the other hand, those interested in
combating the Doctrine; these do not seek light. (Page
360)
221. If the opinions are divided on some points of the
Doctrine, how to know which side is the truth? "It's the
easiest thing," answers Kardec. "To begin with, you have
the weight of your judgment, and as measure your sound
and inflexible logic. Then you will obtain the
acceptance of the majority”. (Page 361)
222. Here is another criterion to know the truth, which
Kardec considers infallible: "Since the motto of
Spiritism is Love and Charity, you will recognize the
truth by the practice of this maxim, and you will be
certain that he, who stones the other, surely cannot be
with the absolute truth". (Page
361)
223. Kardec states with no doubt that in case of
dissidence he would openly separate himself from those
who abandoned the banner of Fraternity, because in his
eyes they cannot be regarded as true Spiritists. (Page
361)
224. Kardec then says that it is impractical to form a
single Spiritist Society in a large city, encompassing
all Spiritists in the locality. And he clearly advocates
the idea of creating multiple and smaller groups. (Continued
on next issue.)
Answers to the issues
A. The strength of Spiritism has two main causes. What
are they?
The first one, says Kardec, is that it makes all those
who know, understand and practice it happy. The second
is that it is not supported by any man that can be
overthrown, because its focus is everywhere. (The Revue
Spirite of1861, Pages 357 and 358).
B. What is most beautiful in Spiritism?
The most beautiful aspect of Spiritism is, according to
the Encoder of Spiritism, its moral side, and it is by
this moral characteristic that it will triumph. (Ibid,
page 359.)
C. Was Kardec supportive of the existence of small
Spiritist groups?
Yes. He thought it would be impractical to form a single
Spiritist Society in a large city, covering all
Spiritists in the locality. And he clearly advocated the
idea of creating multiple and smaller groups. (Ibid,
page 362).