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 

210. Still about the schisms, what else did Kardec write? 

211. How did Kardec think of conferring the direction of Spiritism to a central commission?  

212. According to the text, what attributions would be the responsibility of the central committee? 

213. According to the proposal, would the central committee be supplemented by other auxiliary institutions? 

Answers to the proposed questions 

210. Still about the schisms, what else did Kardec write? 

First, he stated that one condition is necessary to ensure unity in the future: that all parts of the whole of the Doctrine are determined with precision and clarity, without leaving anything vague. It is necessary, for this, that the texts - as he tried to do with his writings - do not give rise to any contradictory interpretation. When it has been said firmly and unambiguously that two and two are four, no one can claim to have meant that two and two make five.

Sects can be formed alongside the Doctrine – if they do not embrace its principles, or all of its principles – but not in the Doctrine, by the interpretation of the texts, as so many sects have been originated due the meaning of the words of the Gospel. Here is a first point of capital importance. If, therefore, a sect forms alongside it, founded or not on the principles of Spiritism, two things will happen: either this sect will be with the truth or it will not be; if it is not, it will fall by itself under the ascendancy of reason and common sense, as so many others have fallen for centuries. If its ideas are fair, even if it is only on a single point, the Doctrine, which seeks the good and the truth wherever it is, will assimilate them, so that instead of being absorbed, it will absorb.

If some of its members come to separate, it is because they believe they can do something better; if they really do something better, it will copy them; if they do it even better, it will strive to do it equally, and even more, if that is possible. If they do it wrong, it will let them do it, certain that sooner or later the good will rule over the evil and the truth over the false. This is the only struggle that will occur. (Posthumous Works – Second Part – Constitution of Spiritism). 

211. How did Kardec think of conferring the direction of Spiritism to a central commission?  

According to Kardec, during the period of its elaboration, the direction of Spiritism had to be individual; it was necessary that all the constitutive elements of the Doctrine - emerged in the embryonic state of a multitude of outbreaks - flow into a common center, to be controlled and confronted there, and that a single thought should preside over its coordination to establish the unity in the whole and harmony in all parts. If it were otherwise, the Doctrine would resemble a mechanism whose gears would not mesh precisely with one another. Over the years, the panorama changed and it became necessary for the direction to become collective. First, because there comes a time when its weight exceeds a man's strength, and secondly because there is more assurance of stability in a group of individuals, each one having nothing but his voice and who can do nothing without the help of the others, than in a single one, who may abuse his authority and want to make his personal ideas prevail.

Instead of a single chief, the leadership would be delivered, therefore, to a permanent central commission, whose organization and attributions would be defined in a way that left nothing to will. This committee should be composed of a maximum of twelve members who should, for this purpose, meet certain conditions required, and an equal number of advisers. A special provision would lay down the method for appointing the first twelve and the procedure for their renewal.

The central commission would then be the head, the true head of Spiritism, the head of the collective, and nothing could be done without the consent of the majority. (Posthumous Works - Second Part - Constitution of Spiritism).  

212. According to the text, what attributions would be the responsibility of the central committee? 

This is what, in Kardec's view, should be attributed to the central commission:

1 - The care of the interests of the Doctrine and its propagation; the maintenance of its usefulness for the preservation of the integrity of the recognized principles; the development of its consequences.

2 - The study of new principles, susceptible of entering the body of the Doctrine.

3 - The concentration of all documents and information that may be of interest to Spiritism.

4 - The correspondence.

5 - The maintenance, consolidation and extension of the ties of brotherhood between the followers and the private societies of different countries.

6 - The direction of the Journal, which will be the official journal of Spiritism, and to which may be added another periodical.

7 - Examination and appreciation of works, newspaper articles, and all writings concerning the Doctrine; refutation of the attacks, if any.

8 - Publication of the fundamental works of the Doctrine, under the conditions most favorable to its divulgation; the encouragement given to publications that may be helpful to the cause.

9 - The foundation and conservation of the library, archives and the museum.

10 - The administration of the care box, the dispensary and the asylum.

11 - The management of material business.

12 - The direction of the sessions of society.
13 - Oral teaching.

14 - Visits and instructions to private groups that are placed under its patronage.

15 - The convening of congresses and general assemblies. (Posthumous Works - Second Part - Constitution of Spiritism). 

213. According to the proposal, would the central committee be supplemented by other auxiliary institutions?  

Yes, several supplementary institutions of the central commission would be annexed to it, as local dependences, as circumstances permitted it, namely:

1 - A library, where all the works that are of interest to Spiritism will be gathered, and which can be consulted in the same place or given in reading;

2 - A museum, where the first works of the Spiritist art will be collected, the most remarkable mediumistic works, the portraits of the followers, who have much merit due to their devotion, those of the men whom Spiritism honors, though strangers to the Doctrine, as benefactors of Humanity, great missionary geniuses of progress, etc.

3 - A dispensary for free medical consultations, and treatment of certain diseases, under the direction of a licensed physician;

4 - A welfare and welfare fund, under practical conditions;

5 - An asylum;

6 - A group of followers, with regular sessions.

Referring specifically to the design of an asylum, Kardec recalls that it could not be carried out at the outset, because of the capital that such a foundation would require, and, moreover, because it is necessary to leave to the administration the time to sit down and to operate regularly before thinking of complicating its assignments with ventures that could make them fail. To embrace many things before being sure of the means of execution would be imprudent. This will be easy to understand, reflecting all the details that establishments of this type hold. It is good, no doubt, to have good intentions, but above all, it is necessary to be able to put them into practice. (Posthumous Works - Second Part - Constitution of Spiritism).