Hydesville, a hundred and seventy years later

Almost seventy years ago, precisely on March 31, 1948, Lins de Vasconcellos wrote and published in the Spirit World (Mundo Espírita) newspaper the following text referring to the first centenary of the birth of modern Spiritism:

"Under the auspices of the National Spiritualist Association, at the Lafayette Hotel in Buffalo, United States, on 29, 30 and 31 of the current month, are celebrating the biggest celebrations for the passage today of the first centenary of the first understandings between the sisters Fox and the spirit of Charles Rosma (or Rosna) in Hydesville.

Although mediumship and the manifestation of spirits date back to the earliest times, the systematization of communications between spirits and men began there on March 31, 1848.

For a hundred years, the spirits have not ceased their loving work of elucidating man, 'this biped sickly who struts with the title of king of creation', in the phrase of Eça de Queiroz, but stubborn in being evil, despite everything how much he has observed, and all the exhortations he has heard.

At the dawn of the new century it is reasonable for us to meditate more closely on what we should do. We have already done something, although we have spent so much time. Let us first make peace with one another. Let us reconcile with those of whom we are separated, or at least let us show that we do not hate them, that we know how to appreciate their sacrifices for the sake of perfection.

Spiritism came to save us, to get us out of the prison forged by our vicious defects. Let us show by deeds that we understand the merciful lesson that has come to our distressed heart and make efforts to prepare the dawning of the great day of the spiritual liberation of all men. Let's work."

As stated in the above text, March 31 marks the birth of modern Spiritism, which occurred in 1848 in the village of Hydesville, located 32 km from Rochester, United States. If the reader wishes to find out about the events that occurred on that occasion, just click on this link

We are, as it turns out, six days after the 170th anniversary of a movement that has spread rapidly across the globe, despite the fierce opposition it has encountered since its advent, as long as its message is peace and its motto 'out of charity there is no salvation '.

Let's make peace with each other...

Let us reconcile with those of whom we are separated...

Let us show that we understand the merciful lesson that has come to our hearts...

Let's work...

The above phrases borrowed from the article by Lins de Vasconcellos, as they were seventy years ago, remain valid and updated.

Spiritism will never be able to carry out the task for which it arose in our world if the climate of dissension, discord, and intolerance persists within the spirits themselves.

More than ever, let us meditate on the call made by the Spirit of Truth and which we all know well:

"Spirits! love one another, this is the first teaching; instruct you, this is the second."