The Revue Spirite of 1860
Parte 1

We begin in this issue the study of the Revue Spirite of 1860, a monthly newspaper focused on the divulgation of Spiritism, founded and directed by Allan Kardec. This study is based on the translation into the Portuguese language made by Julio Abreu Filho and published by EDICEL. The answers to the questions are at the end of the text for reading.

Questions for discussion

A. What is the importance of God for Spiritism?

B. Can the perispirit take the form desired by the Spirit?

C. Do the disembodied wear clothes?

D. What are the qualities in psychics that most attract the good Spirits?

Text for reading

1. The year of 1860 was a fruitful year for Spiritism, and it was then that Allan Kardec began his journeys for the disclosure and orientation of the French Spiritist movement, beginning with Lyon. (Preface)

2. It is a waste of time to argue with people who are unaware of the ABC of what they are talking about. "Study first, and we'll see later", Kardec says. (P. 1)

3. With the certainty of the future, everything changes its aspect: the present is ephemeral; we see it draining without sorrow; man is less given to earthly joys, for these do not bring him but an elusive sensation. (P. 3)

4. Spiritism is strong, because it relies on the foundations of religion: God, the soul, the punishments and the future rewards, based on what we do. (P. 4)

5. On 12/16/1859, the newspaper "Siècle" reported that animal Magnetism, taken to the Academy by Dr. Paul Broca and tested by several physicians, was the great news of the day. These facts, on 7/7/1852, seven years earlier, were called hypnotism by the Scottish physician, Dr. Braid. (P. 8)

6. Kardec refers to the methods used by Abbot Faria and by Dr. Paul Broca to hypnotize people. (Pages 8 and 9)

7. Here are the phenomena attributed to hypnotism by Dr. Braid: a) exaltation of sensitivity; B) suggested feelings; C) provoked ideas; D) increase of muscle strength. A patient, hypnotized by Dr. Braid, was able to lift a 14-pound weight with his thumb and turn it around his head, sure that the weight was as light as a feather. (Pages 10 and 11)

8. Count R..., while asleep, was summoned by Kardec and said that his body slept, i.e., it was more or less inert, unlike sleepwalkers, who do not sleep. (P. 13)

9. The next day Count R... told how he had dreamed that he was in the Society standing between Kardec and the medium. (P. 15)

10. Evoked again the following week, Count R... reported that he could go to other planets situated in the same degree of the Earth. (P. 18)

11. A family Spirit advises that - when we experience any sorrow - we must resist and make every effort not to abandon ourselves to sorrow, remembering that nothing is gained without work. (P. 21)

12. The same Spirit, speaking of eternity, says that it is made of two periods: that of the test, which could be called incubation, and that of the outbreak, or entrance into the true life, that of the happiness of the elect. (P. 22)

13. It is a serious mistake to imagine that an imbecile, an ignorant, becomes a genius, a sage, when he leaves his material wrap. (P. 26)

14. Jobard criticizes those who hide their names in the propagation of Spiritist facts. Says Jobard: "Nowadays, when academies admit magnetism and somnambulism, first cousins ​​of Spiritism, it is necessary that their supporters are willing to accept this in full. The fear of what might be said is a cowardly and evil feeling". Kardec supports him with reserve. (P. 28)

15. Kardec says that certain Spirits take pleasure in the places where they lived and feel the charm of longing. (P. 29)

16. Mr. Thiry observes that many suffering Spirits ask for the help of prayer to ease their sorrows; but, as they can be out of sight, he proposes that at each session the President remembers their names. (P. 30)

17. The Spirit can give the perispirit the form he desires, as it did with the king of Kanala, who appeared with a white head and black hands. (P. 31)

18. A message received at Lyon says that the reformation of Humanity is prepared by the incarnation on Earth of better Spirits and by the exile of men, who are destined for evil, who will reincarnate in a world inferior to the Earth. (P. 40)

19. After discussing the matter, the Society has concluded that the Spirit may decline in its position, but not as to the acquired abilities. (P. 41)

20. Kardec says that spontaneous apparitions are quite frequent, but accidental and almost always motivated by a special circumstance. (P. 41)

21. Spirits can be seen in various aspects, of which the most frequent is the human form. (P. 42)

22. Their garments usually consist of a drapery, ending in long floating robe. This is about the Higher Spirits, but common Spirits almost always have the clothing worn in recent times. (P. 42)

23. The Higher Spirits always have a beautiful appearance, noble and serene; on the contrary, the lower Spirits show a coarse physiognomy. (P. 43)

24. Among Mr. Home's faculties, one of them allowed tangible hands to be seen and they could be touched and picked up objects. (P. 43)

25. Kardec recommends: When an effect is not intelligent by itself, and independent of the intelligence of men, we should look at it twice before attributing it to the Spirits. (P. 45)

26. The nature of communications is always relative to the nature of the Spirit and bears the stamp of its elevation or inferiority, of its knowledge or ignorance. (P. 45)

27. For communication to be good, it must come from a good Spirit, and a good instrument is necessary for that. (P. 47)

28. Spirits, devoted to good, seek in their interpreters, in addition to their physiological aptitude, certain moral qualities, among which are devotion and detachment. (P. 47) (Continues on next issue).

Answers to the questions

A. What is the importance of God for Spiritism?

The concept of God is so important in the Spiritist Doctrine that Kardec stated that Spiritism is strong because it relies on the foundations of religion: God, the soul, the punishments and future rewards, based on what we do. (Revue Spirite, 1860, page 4)

B. Can the perispirit take the form desired by the Spirit?

Yes. The Spirit can give the perispirit the form it desires, as it did with the king of Kanala, who appeared at the meeting with a white head and black hands. (Ibid, page 31.)

C. Do the disembodied wear clothes?

Spirits can be seen in various features, of which the most frequent is the human form, and their robes usually consist of a drapery, ending in a long floating robe. This as for the Higher Spirits, ordinary spirits almost always have clothes similar to those used in recent times. (Ibid, page 42)

D. What are the qualities in psychics that most attract the good Spirits?

Spirits devoted to good seek in their interpreters, in addition to their physiological aptitude, certain moral qualities, among which devotion and detachment are at the forefront. (Ibid, page 47)

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