The Revue Spirite of 1863

Part 3

We continue in this issue the study of the Revue Spirite corresponding to the year of 1863. The condensed text of the mentioned volume will hereby be presented in sixteen parts, based on the translation of Julio Abreu Filho and published by EDICEL.

Issues for discussion 

A. What did Kardec say regarding the accusation that Spiritism drives people to madness?
B. How did Dr. Chavet define the essential purpose of Spiritism?
C. How should we face the sufferings of our life on this Earth?

Text for reading

22. Morzine – Kardec informs - is a commune of the Chablais in Haute-Savoie, 8 leagues from Thonon, near the Alps. Its population, of about 2,500 people, besides the main village, includes several others scattered in this area. Dr. Constant was sent in 1861 by the French government to study the disease. He stayed there for three months and concluded that the cause of the disturbance was purely physical and was rooted in the constitution of its inhabitants. (Pages 38-40)

23. A letter from Lyons, dated 12/7/1862, refers to statements made against Spiritism by a certain gentleman, bishop in Texas (USA), in a sermon given in the church of Saint-Nizier, before an auditorium of about two thousand people; among them was a large number of Spiritists. Commenting on this and other sermons reported by the Revue, Kardec says that thanks to this type of attacks the number of Spiritists increased in France, because the lies and the misrepresentation of the ideas, conveyed in the sermons, were later denied by reading the Spiritist books. (Pages 40 to 46)

24. Kardec adds that it is necessary to be in great lack of reasoning to use slander as presented by a certain priest who said that Spiritism was favorable to family disunity, adultery, abortion and communism. "Do we need to refute these assertions? No, it is enough to refer to the study of the Doctrine, to the reading of what it teaches, which is what is done everywhere", concludes the Encoder from Lyon. (Pages 47 to 49)

25. The “Presse”, dated January 8, 1863, transcribes an article signed by Mr. A. Sanson in which he comments on the work presented at the Society of Medical Sciences by Mr. Philibert Burlet, an internal physician of the Lyon hospitals, on six cases of madness that the author relates to Spiritist practices. Kardec analyzes the matter, shows the superficiality of the study and informs that Spiritism counts in its ranks with a large number of illustrious physicians, many of them presidents of groups and societies of Spiritism, who reached, on the subject, conclusions contrary to Mr. Burlet. (Pages 50 to 53)

26. The Encoder states that Spiritism, far from increasing madness, is an attenuating factor, because the manner in which the true Spiritism views worldly things helps him to dominate in himself the most violent passions and even anger and revenge , as well as accepting with resignation the disappointments and setbacks of life. (Pages 55 to 57)

27. The Revue publishes a speech delivered on November 12, 1862 by Dr. Chavet, a doctor of medicine and president of the Spiritist Circle of Tours, in which the speaker reaffirms that the essential purpose of Spiritism is the destruction of materialism by the experimental proof of the survival of the human soul. (Pages 57 to 60)

28. As the speech was given at the solemnity of the installation of said society, Dr. Chavet concluded by reminding that it was necessary to remove from the meetings, with the utmost care, all matters directly or indirectly related to politics and material interests. "Study of man in relation to his future destiny, such is our program, from which we should never separate", said the president of the Spiritist Circle of Tours. (Page 60)

29. After the speech, the Spirit of Fenelon dictated a spontaneous message, in which he warned that the true Spiritist should have no other feeling than that of doing good and charity, without which he cannot be assisted by High Spirits. "If anyone introduces himself as a Spiritist or medium, do not receive him without knowing who you are dealing with", Fenelon proposes.(Page 61)

The Revue says that it received several letters proving the good application of the medicine indicated in the Revue Spirite of November, 1862 – the prescription was given by a Spirit. Speaking about the spiritual origin of the medicine, Kardec refers to a fact similar to the one that gave rise to the mentioned medicine, explaining that, in the same way that the Spirits can magnetize the water, they can also, according to the circumstances, give healing properties to certain substances. (Editor’s Note: It is an ointment prescribed by mediumship to Miss Ermance Dufaux. The case is very similar to that of Grandpa Peter’s ointment, against which some confreres fight without any relevant motive.) (Pages 62 and 63)

31. FD, a former magistrate, recalls in a message copied by the Revuethe importance of facing bravely and with resignation the misery and sorrows of earthly existence, which are, in fact a test requested by us considering the faults we committed in previous lives. Commenting on a phrase from Jesus, which promises peace to men of good will, the Spirit states that good will for both the rich or poor is called Charity, whether it is a moral Charity or a material Charity. At the end of the communication, the Spirit says: "Believe and love! Love: much will be forgiven to those who loved much. Believe: Faith moves mountains". (Pages 63 to 65) (Continues on next issue)

Answers to the issues

A. What did Kardec say regarding the accusation that Spiritism drives people to madness?
It was in Lyon that this idea turned up, subject of an analysis by Kardec, who sought to show the superficiality of the study and stated that Spiritism had in its ranks a large number of famous physicians, many of them presidents of groups and Spiritist societies, who arrived to an opposite conclusion. According to the Encoder, far from giving rise to the increase of madness, Spiritism is an attenuating factor, due to the way that true Spiritists face the things of this world. (Revue Spirite of 1863, pages 50 to 57).

B. How did Dr. Chavet define the essential purpose of Spiritism?
In a speech delivered on November 12, 1862, Dr. Chavet, a doctor of medicine and president of the Spiritist Circle of Tours, stated that the essential aim of Spiritism is the destruction of materialism by the experimental proof of the survival of the human soul. As the speech was given at the solemnity of the installation of said society, Dr. Chavet concluded by reminding that it was necessary to remove from the meetings of the entity, with the utmost care, all matters directly or indirectly related to politics and material interests. "Man's study of his future destiny, such as our program, from which we must never separate". (Ibid, pages 57 to 60.)

C. How should we face the sufferings of our life on this Earth?

According to a message from the Spirit of FD, who had been a magistrate in the last incarnation, it is important to face bravely and with resignation the misery and sorrows of our earthly life, which are, in fact, a proof requested by ourselves, due to faults committed in previous existences. Then, commenting on the phrase in which Jesus promises peace to men of good will, F.D. said that goodwill for both the poor and the rich is called Charity, whether it be moral Charity or material Charity. At the end of the communication, the Spirit said, "Believe and love! Love: much will be forgiven to those who loved much. Believe: Faith moves mountains". (Ibid, pages 63 to 65.)

Translation:

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