The Revue
Spirite of
1861
Part 14 and
final
We end 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 questions are at
the end of the text for reading.
Issues for discussion
A. What does it take for a Spiritist group to be stable?
B. Who, according to Kardec, is a true Spiritist?
C. Who are the best promoters of Spiritism?
Text for reading
244. When forming a group, there is one condition that
is very important: unity. A group cannot be stable, or
serious, if there is no empathy among its members. (P.
392)
245. What a Spiritist meeting requires, above all, is
self-contemplation. How can we be in a state of
self-contemplation if, we are every moment being
distracted by a bitter argument, and if there are
unfriendly people in the group? (P. 393)
246. Kardec then repeats the classification of
Spiritists in item 28 of The Book of Mediums. (P.
393)
247. The Encoder calls true Spiritists, or rather,
Christian Spiritists, those who do not merely admire the
Spiritist moral, but who practice and accept it. And he
says that a group formed exclusively by elements of this
last class would be in the best conditions, because
among those who practice the law of love and charity it
is possible to establish a serious fraternal connection.
(Pages 393 and 394)
248. For the purpose of improving men, Spiritism does
not seek the perfect, but those who fight to be perfect,
putting into practice the teachings of the Spirits. "The
true Spiritist" – says Kardec - "is not the one who has
attained the goal, but the one who seriously wants to
attain it" (P. 394)
249. Simple logic demonstrates to anyone who knows the
laws of Spiritism the best elements to form truly
serious groups, and these are the ones that have the
greatest influence on the disclosure of the Doctrine.
(P. 394)
250. He who intends to organize a group in good
condition must, above all, assure himself of the help of
some sincere followers, who take the Doctrine seriously
and whose conciliatory and benevolent character is
known. Forming this nucleus, the precise rules for
admissions and the order of business will be made. (P.
395)
251. These rules, according to Kardec, may be modified,
but there are some that are essential to the unity of
principles: prior study, a profession of categorical
faith, and a formal acceptance of the Doctrine of The
Book of Spirits. (P. 395)
252. The order and regularity of the work, Kardec
argues, are equally essential. (P. 396)
253. Kardec also says that it would be useful if there
was a link between the groups, a center of action, made
up of delegates from all groups, which would
significantly help the unity of all. (P. 397)
254. According to Karkec, the main point, however, is
how the original groups are formed. If formed of good
elements, they will be the good roots that will give
good shoots too. If, however, they are formed of
different, unfriendly and suspicious elements, which are
more occupied with form rather than with the content,
who consider morality as a secondary and supplementary
part, we must expect annoying and dead-end polemics,
misunderstandings, susceptibilities and conflicts. (P.
397)
255. Kardec states again, that the true propagation,
which is useful and fruitful, is made by the moral
ascendant of serious meetings. "Be you therefore" - says
the Encoder - "earnest in every sense of the word, and
earnest persons will come to you: they are the best
promoters, because they speak with conviction, and
preach both by example and by word". (P. 398)
256. Saying that some groups spoke about joining the
Spiritist Society of Paris, Kardec explains that the
word affiliation is inappropriate because it would
assume a kind of material supremacy that should not
exist. The relations of the Society of Paris with the
others are moral, scientific relations of mutual
benevolence, but without subjection. (P. 400)
257. Ending his instructions, Kardec recalls that many
accused him of wanting to make an educational guideline
in Spiritism. Why should he not have that right? "Let
there be, then, a school, since they so desire it",
answers the Encoder. "For us," he says, "it will be a
glory to write on its forefront: School of Moral,
Philosophical, and Christian Spiritism. And we invite
all who practice love and charity. To all who bind
themselves to this banner, all our sympathies and our
assistance will never fail". (Pages 401 and 402)
258. The Revue reports the death at the age of 69
of Mr. Jobard of Brussels, honorary president of the
Parisian Society for Spiritist Studies. (P. 402)
259. In embracing Spiritism, Jobard said that the
Doctrine of Reincarnation had marked him like a trace of
light, because by explaining all logically, it was the
key that he lacked to reach the truth so sought after.
(P. 404)
260. As promised, the Revue brings passages from
some Spanish newspapers that were outraged by the Act of
Faith of Barcelona, classified by the Spanish press as a
disgusting show. (Pages 404 to 407)
261. The Revue brings another fable of Mr. Dombre
- "The Warbler Warbler, the Pigeon and the Little Fish"
- in which the fish, when helping the bird, to whom the
pigeon had refused aid, says: "At least in the future /
Do not trust the great ones; the clamor of misery / Only
weakly echoes in hearts on vacation; / Its gifts are
advice and sympathy. / But the cordial assistance / is
only found in the little ones". (P. 410) (Editor’s Note:
Warbler, a kind of bird with dark plumage and pleasant
singing).
262. Lamennais says: "Ideas change, but the ideas and
plans of God, never. Religion, i.e., faith, hope,
charity - one only thing in three - the symbol of God on
Earth, remains unshaken in the midst of struggles and
prejudices". “Religion exists, above all, within our
heart, and thus cannot change" (Pages 415 and 416)
Answers to the issues
A. What does it take for a Spiritist group to be stable?
Unity, says Kardec, is one of the first conditions to
form a group and the meetings can only be stable and
serious, if there is sympathy among its elements. (The
Revue Spirite of 1861, p.392).
B. Who, according to Kardec, is a true Spiritist?
The true Spiritists, or rather, the Christian Spiritists
are those who do not only admire the Spiritist morality,
but practice and accept it too. A group formed
exclusively by elements of this class would be in the
best conditions, because among the practitioners of the
law of love and charity it is possible to establish a
serious fraternal bond. (Ibid, pages 393 and 394).
C. Who are the best promoters of Spiritism?
The true propagation of Spiritism, which is useful and
fruitful, is the one accomplished considering the moral
ascendant of serious meetings. The best promoters are
those who speak with conviction and preach by example
and by word. (Ibid, page 398)