In this issue we continue the study of the book Posthumous Works, published after Allan Kardec disembodied and containing texts written by him. The present work is based on the translation made by Dr. Guillon Ribeiro, published by the Brazilian Spiritist Federation.
Questions for discussion
152. Is Spiritism the result of a personal view or of a prearranged system?
153. To which people is Spiritism addressed?
154. When was the first time Kardec heard about the phenomena?
155. What led him to change his mind about the phenomena?
156. When did this happen?
Answers to the proposed questions
152. Is Spiritism the result of a personal view or of a prearranged system?
No, neither one thing nor the other. Spiritism is based on facts, and it is in accordance with the demands of logic and of the more rigorous justice. This is the main reason why it spread so quickly. The Doctrine is the result of thousands of observation made all over the world. They converged to the center that collected and coordinated them. All of its basic principles, without exception, were deducted from experience. Experience always precedes theory. Therefore, from the very beginning, Spiritism found roots everywhere. History shows no other philosophical or religious doctrine that, in a period of ten years, obtained such a large number of followers. However, to become known, it did not put in practice the means often used for this purpose. It spread by itself because people were fond of it.
Another fact is that nowhere did the Doctrine begin in the poorer classes; it spread from top to bottom of the social scale, but it is in the enlightened classes that it became more known, and illiterate people are in small minority.
People, who were impartial, saw that in the struggles that the Doctrine had to sustain, it used moderation, never returning an insult with another insult. (Posthumous Works - Short answer to the detractors of Spiritism).
153. To which people is Spiritism addressed?
Consistent with its position of respect for all sincere convictions, Spiritism is not imposed on anyone. It presents its doctrine and welcomes those, who approach it voluntarily. It does not try to divert anyone from their religious beliefs and does not address those who have their faith, and to whom that faith is enough, but it approaches those who, not being satisfied with what is given to them, seek for something better.
Spiritism defends the freedom of conscience as a natural right: it wants it for its followers, as well as for everybody else. From the freedom of conscience stems the right to free thought in matters of faith. Spiritism fights the principle of a blind faith and believes that every enforced faith is unfounded. Therefore, we find in one of its maxims: "There is no firm faith but the one that can view reason face to face in every period of time of Humanity". (Posthumous Works - Short answer to the detractors of Spiritism).
154. When was the first time Kardec heard about the phenomena?
It was in 1854 that he, for the first time, heard about the turning tables. Mr. Fortier, the hypnotist, who he knew for a long time, told him: "Do you know the unique property that has just been discovered in magnetism? It seems that not only people can be magnetized, but also tables that turn and easily move by themselves”. Kardec replied: "It is very singular, indeed, but, strictly speaking, it does not seem to me radically impossible. The magnetic fluid, which is a kind of electricity, may well act on inert bodies and make them move".
The reports that the newspapers published on experiments done in Nantes and Marseille, and in some other cities, could leave no doubt about the reality of the phenomena. Later, he met again Mr. Fortier, who told him: "It is much more extraordinary, not only does it make the table turn, by magnetizing it, but it makes it talk; when questioned, it answers”. Kardec replied: "This is another question; I will believe it when I see it, and when you have proven to me that a table has a brain to think, nerves to feel, and that it can become a sleepwalker; until then, let me see in all this but a story to make you sleep". (Posthumous Works - Part Two - The first works).
155. What led him to change his mind about the phenomena?
This only happened the following year. It was early 1855 when Mr. Carlotti, a friend of twenty-five years, entertained him with these accounts for almost an hour, with the enthusiasm he showed in all new ideas. Mr. Carlotti was Corsican, of a passionate and vigorous nature. Kardec had always liked in him the qualities that distinguish a great and beautiful soul, but distrusted his passion. It was he who first told Kardec about the mediation of the Spirits, and so many other amazing things that, far from convincing, he increased the doubts of the future Encoder of Spiritism. Carlotti told him: "One day, you will be one of us". Later, on May 1855, he met at Mrs. Roger, a sleepwalker, Mr. Fortier, who was her magnetizer.
He also met there Mr. and Mrs. Patier, as well as Mrs. Plainemaison, who told him about these phenomena that Mr. Carlotti had already told him, but in another tone. Mr. Patier was a civil servant of a certain age, a very learned man, of a serious, cool and calm character. The way he spoke, firmly but free from any passion, caused a vivid impression in Kardec, and when offered the opportunity to be present at the experiences that took place at Mrs. Plainemaison, at no. 18, Grange-Bateliere Street, Kardec accepted the invitation promptly. (Posthumous Works - Part Two - The first works).
156. When did this happen?
The meeting was held in May 1855, a Tuesday, at eight o'clock at night. It was there for the first time that Kardec witnessed the phenomenon of the turning tables and under conditions such that it was not possible to doubt. At the meeting he also saw some attempts, though imperfect, of mediunic writing on a slate with the help of a basket. (Posthumous Works - Part Two - The first works).
