The Revue
Spirite of
1861
Part 13
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. According to Kardec, how can we recognize the true
Spiritist?
B. What commitments do those, who become Spiritists,
make?
C. Does Spiritism preach proselytism?
Text for reading
225. "It is very serious" - says Kardec - "to entrust to
someone the supreme direction of the Doctrine," since an
individual may, with wrong ideas, drag society down a
dangerous ramp and even to its ruin. (P.
362)
226. The true Spiritist is recognized for his qualities,
and the first is the self-denial of personality. It is
therefore by his acts that we recognize him, rather than
by words. The true Spiritist is not driven by ambition,
or by self-love. (P.
363)
227. The Revue publishes the letter that Erastus
addressed to the Spiritists of Bordeaux. (Pages 364-368)
228. Encouraging them to maintain harmony, which had
hitherto proved brilliant, Erastus reminded the
Spiritists in Bordeaux: "Facing as subversive any
doctrine contrary to the morality of the Gospel and to
the general principles of the Decalogue, which are
summarized in this concise law: Love God above all
things and your neighbor as yourselves, you will always
be united”. (P. 365)
229. At the banquet offered to the Encoder by the
Spiritists from Bordeaux, Mr. Lacoste, Mr. Sabo, Mr.
Desqueyroux and, finally, Allan Kardec, spoke and their
speeches were copied by the Revue. (Pages 368 to
374)
230. Representing the group of Spiritist workers, Mr.
Desqueyroux, a professional mechanic, said: "There are
no words to express our happiness for having been born
in an age when we can be enlightened by Spiritism”. (P.
371)
231. "But," says Desqueyroux, "it is not enough to know
and enjoy this happiness. With the Doctrine, we
committed ourselves to four different duties: duty of
submission, which makes us listen with meekness; duty of
affection, that makes us love with tenderness; duty of
zeal, to defend its values with vehemence; and the duty
of practice, to make us honor the Doctrine through our
work" (P. 371)
232. Next, Mr. Desqueyroux recalled that "there are
moments in life when reason might be able to sustain us,
but there are others in which we need all the faith that
Spiritism gives, not to surrender”. (P. 371)
233. In his speech, Kardec said that it was a blessing
to inaugurate a Spiritist group that began with the
spontaneous gathering of about 300 people, attracted not
by vain curiosity, such as that of Bordeaux. (P. 372)
234. Attributing this interest to the campaign against
Spiritism by a journalist from the Courrier de la
Gironde, Kardec concluded his speech by thanking the
author of the article for his unintentional
collaboration. (P.
374)
235. The Revue publishes two fables in verses,
written by Mr. Dombre, of Marmande, which also went to
the Spiritist meeting in Bordeaux. In the second one,
entitled "The hedgehog, the rabbit and the lark”, its
author emphasizes the importance of charity, when the
rabbit helps the hedgehog, although discouraged by the
lark: "The rabbit replied: - No restlessness /should
distance us from good impulses; / It is worth much more
to expose oneself to ingratitude /than to fail helping
the sufferers (Pages 374-378)
236. Informing about the publication of the second
edition of The Book of Mediums, revised and
enlarged by Kardec, he says that, following it strictly,
we will avoid so many of the pitfalls that often shock
the inexperienced beginners. (P. 379)
237. Commenting on the launch of the 1st publication by
the Spiritist Society of Metz, Kardec praises it and
warns that untimely publications may be more harmful
than useful for the propagation of Spiritism. (Pages 379
and 380)
238. Speaking of Spiritism in America, highlighting the
work of Judge Edmonds of New York, Kardec copies part of
a text written by Dr. Edmonds in 1854, three years
before the advent of The Book of Spirits: "Our
conduct will define our future destiny and not our
adherence to this or that religious sect, but from our
submission to this great precept: Love God and our
neighbor… We should not delay our conversion. We
ourselves must work for our salvation, not later, but
now; not tomorrow, but today". (P. 384)
239. Spiritists, says Kardec, have a beautiful and
important mission to fulfill: to spread the Light around
them. (P.
388)
240. It is their task to speak openly about Spiritism
without affectation and, above all, without seeking or
forcing convictions, or proselytizing at all costs.
"Spiritism should not be imposed: we come to it because
we need it”. (P.
389)
241. A determined supporter of the idea of creating
several groups, rather than a large one, in the larger
cities, Kardec says that when the first group becomes
very numerous, it should do what the bees do: create
other groups. (P. 391)
242. The new groups will becomemany other centers
of action, radiating in their respective circles, and
more powerful for propaganda than a single society. (P.
391)
243. Uniformity in the Doctrine, whether the society is
one, or fractioned, will be the natural consequence of
the basic unity that groups adopt. It will be complete
in all, who follow the guidelines of The Book of
Spirits and The Book of Mediums. (Editor’s
Note: At the time, there were then no other books
that later on made up theKardecian Pentateuch). (P.
391) (Continued
on next issue.)
Answers to the issues
A. According to Kardec, how can we recognize the true
Spiritist?
The true Spiritist, said the Encoder, is recognized for
his qualities, and the first one is self-denial of
personality. It is therefore by his acts that we
recognize him, rather than by his words. The true
Spiritist is not driven by ambition, or by self-love. (Revue
Spirite of1861, pages 363).
B. What commitments do those, who become Spiritists,
make?
In the opinion of Mr. Desqueyroux of Bordeaux, with the
Doctrine we make commitments that consist, in fact, of
four duties: a duty of submission that makes us listen
with meekness; a duty of affection, that makes us love
with tenderness; a duty of zeal, to defend its interests
with passion; and a duty of practice, to make us honor
it through our work. (Ibid, 371).
C. Does Spiritism preach proselytism?
No. It is up to the Spiritists to speak openly of
Spiritism, without arrogance and, above all, without
seeking to force convictions or make proselytes at all
costs. Kardec wrote: "Spiritism should not be imposed:
we come to it because we need it”. (Ibid, Pages 388 and
389).