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
174. Before publishing The Book of Spirits, Zephyrus told Kardec something important. Where and when did this take place?
175. When did the idea of publishing the Spiritist Magazine occur?
176. When did the Parisian Society of Spiritist Studies appear?
177. Did the Spirits say anything about the role of Spiritism in the world?
Answers to the proposed questions
174. Before publishing The Book of Spirits, Zephyrus told Kardec something important. Where and when did this take place?
It was on January 17, 1857 at Mr. Baudin’s. Zephyrus spoke first about The Book of Spirits that was already being printed. Then, Zephyrus gave him plenty of advice: "Do not exaggerate; look and evaluate everything in a sound and detached manner; but do not let yourself be carried away by enthusiasts and those that rush everything; assess all your steps and measures so that you arrive to your destiny for sure. Do not believe in what you do not see; do not turn your head around to what may seem weird; you will know better than any other, because the subject of your studies will be set under your eyes.
But, oh, the truth will not yet be known, or believed by all before a long time”! Then, he added: “You will only see in this life the beginning of the success of your work; you will have to return, reincarnated in another body, to complete what you have started, and then you will have the satisfaction of seeing, in full fruit, the seed that you widespread on Earth. You will have envious and jealous people that will try and denigrate and contradict you; do not lose your courage; do not worry about what will be said or done against you; continue your work; always work for the progress of Humanity, and you will be supported by good Spirits while you keep on a good path”.
Commenting on this message, Kardec talks about Zephyrus and confirms that this Spirit disappeared when the Baudin’s family dispersed, and he had been told by Zephyrus that he would soon reincarnate. (Posthumous Works - Second Part - Announcement of the new reincarnation).
175. When did the idea of publishing the Spiritist Magazine occur?
The idea proposed by Kardec was presented on November 15, 1857 at Mr. Dufaux’s. The Spirit that communicated through Ermance Dufaux encouraged him to take the idea forward, acting with or without the help of Mr. Tiedeman, a friend mentioned by the teacher. As for the contents of the Magazine, he advised that Kardec should initially satisfy the curiosity, but joining at the same time, the serious and the pleasant: the serious part to interest the men of Science, and the pleasant to amuse the people. This part is essential, but the other is the most important, because without it the magazine would not have a solid foundation. In a word, it was necessary to avoid monotony by variety, gather solid instruction to the interest, and this would be for all subsequent work, a powerful help.
Kardec says that he soon rushed to write the first number, which appeared in January 1858, without him telling nobody about it. The magazine did not have a single subscriber and he had no capitalist partner. From January 1st, the issues followed without interruption, and as the Spirit had predicted, this magazine became a powerful aid for him. (Posthumous Works - Second Part - The Spiritist Magazine and Paris Spiritist Society).
176. When did the Parisian Society of Spiritist Studies appear?
Its foundation took place on April 1, 1858. Kardec explains how the Society began. He held a meeting at his place in the Street of Martyrs, a meeting with some followers, every Tuesday. The main medium was Miss. Dufaux. Although the room could not hold more than 15 to 20 people, sometimes they were up to 30. The meeting was of great interest due to its serious character and the high importance of the issues that were discussed there, and foreign princes and distinguished names were often seen there. The room was not comfortable and soon became too small. Some of the regulars proposed to share the rent of a more convenient place, but for that it was necessary to have a legal authorization in order to avoid problems with the French authorities. Mr. Dufaux, who personally knew the Police Chief, contacted him to ask for this authorization, but it depended on the Minister of the Interior, General X…, who was, without them knowing, sympathetic to the Spiritist ideas. The authorization that would normally take three months, took 15 days. The Society was then duly constituted and began to meet every Tuesday at the place they had rented in the Palais Royal, Valois Gallery, where it remained for one year, from April 1, 1858 to April 1, 1859. Not being able to stay there for longer, he began to meet every Wednesday in one of the halls of the Douix restaurant in the Palais Royal Montpensier gallery, from April 1, 1859 to April 1, 1860, when it was settled in an own location on the Street and New Sainte Anne Passage, 59. (Posthumous Works - Second Part - the Spiritist Magazine and Paris Spiritist Society).
177. Did the Spirits say anything about the role of Spiritism in the world?
Yes. One of them took place in April 15, 1860, in Marseille, through the medium Georges Genouillat. Here's what the message says: "Spiritism is called to play a huge role on Earth; it will reform the law so often contrary to the divine law; it will correct the mistakes of History; it will bring back the religion of Christ that, in the hands of priests, became a trade and a vile trafficking; it will establish the true religion, the natural religion, the one that comes from the heart and goes straight to God, without stopping on the fringes of a cassock, or the stepladder of an altar. It will forever extinguish atheism and materialism, to which some men were taken by the abuse of those who call themselves the ministers of God, but preach charity with a sword in their hands and sacrifice to their ambition and spirit of domination, the more sacred rights of Humanity". (Posthumous Works - Second Part - The Future of Spiritism).
