The Revue Spirite of 1860
Parte 7

We continue 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 virtue should always guide us?

B. Should we be rigorous in the analysis of mediumistic communications?

C. Do Spirits, when erratic, also do research?

D. What error did Channing point out in Spiritist studies? 

Text for reading 

144. Speaking of the ghosts, Kardec says that Spirits can show up anywhere, anytime, day or night, and they do so with the appearance they had in life. (P. 215)

145. If dying belongs to human nature, no guardian angel has the power to oppose the course of the laws of Nature. Since the moment and the type of death in the destiny of each one, it is necessary that fate is fulfilled. (P. 218)

146. Charlet (Spirit) says that there is moral progress in animals and also progress of the condition. He later clarified that the progress of animals is enhanced by the education they receive from man. (Pages 220, 221 and 228)

147. Pythagoras remembered his former existence and recognized the shield he wore at the siege of Troy. (P. 221)

148. Animals, says Charlet, have almost the same degree of intelligence; there is a variety of forms in them; in man there is a variety of Spirits. (P. 222) 

149. Charlet says that the Spirit rises by submission, by being humble. What makes it lose is its pride, which makes it despise every subaltern and envy every superior. Envy is the most vivid expression of pride. (P. 223)

150. Charlet states that charity, this virtue of true and noble souls, must always be our guide, for it is the sign of true superiority. (P. 224)

151. Charlet informs that the animals of Jupiter have a more precise and positive language than that of our animals. (P. 226)

152. Kardec says that there is an obvious gap between the most intelligent animal and man. St. Louis corrects him by saying that this lacuna of beings is only apparent, since it comes from the disappeared races. (Pages 226 and 227)

153. The soul of the animal, says Charlet, is not recognized after death; but in certain animals, even in many, it is individualized. (P. 227)

154. Charlet, questioned by Kardec, backs in his thesis about the ferocity of animals, which are ferocious by necessity, by constitution, and have nothing to do with the moral fall of man. (P. 229)

155. Referring to the analysis of the communications received from the Spirits, Kardec lists six principles imperative to this analysis and concludes that, apart from moral questions, one should only accept with reservations what comes from the Spirits, and never without examining it. (Pages 233 and 234)

156. Saint Louis, clarifying a doubt raised in the previous session of the Society, warns: "He who wants to progress in the life of the good must know how to accept the advice and warnings that are given to him, even when they hurt his self-love. Proof of his progress consists in the gentle and humble way in which he receives them". (P. 236)

157. St. Louis suggests that François Arago be evoked with the assistance of another medium and clarifies: "A Spirit comes preferably to a person whose ideas sympathize with those he had in life". (P. 238)

158. Speaking about the Spiritist Society of Paris, Kardec says that the Society is a family, whose members, animated by reciprocal benevolence, should be moved by the only desire to instruct oneself and banish all individual and rivalry feelings, provided they understand the Doctrine as real Spiritists. (P. 240)

159. After the session of July 20, 1860, Kardec asked St. Louis if he was happy. Here is the answer: "Yes and no, you were wrong when you allowed the whispers of certain members while the Spirits are being questioned". After making other observations, St. Louis asks Kardec to read them in the next session: "Tell them this is not a room for conversation". (P. 242)

160. The Revue publishes a letter from the physician Dr. De Grand-Boulogne, Doctor in Medicine and former Vice-Consul of France, who lists the common points of Christian and Spiritist teachings, which he says he sincerely adopts, and states that charity is the greatest virtue. (Pages 242 to 244)

161. Charity, he says, is the special attribute of the soul which, in its ardent aspirations to do well, forgets itself and is consumed by efforts for the happiness of its neighbor. Knowledge is a quality; Charity, a virtue. (P. 244)

162. After reporting on the phenomena of Rua des Noyers, whose veracity was attested by St. Louis, Kardec says that among the inhabitants of the house there was a medium (the maid), who made it possible for the demonstrations to take place. (Pages 246 and 247)

163. The Spirit of Thilorier, the physicist, says that Spirits also do research and discoveries in the wandering state, and it is they who, once authorized, inspire the men of Science involved in the same quest. (P. 256)

164. St. Louis examines the subject and informs that for the communication of the discoveries that transform the outward appearance of things God leaves the idea to mature, like the corn cobs that have their growth retarded by winter. (P. 257)

165. In evoking the man, who committed suicide to rid his son of the war in Italy, Kardec teaches that intention mitigates evil and deserves indulgence, but does not prevent evil to be considered evil. (P. 259)

166. Channing (Spirit) says that in the study of Spiritism there is a serious error that is spreading more and more: it is that of considering the Spirits infallible in their answers. And asks them not to be questioned about what they cannot and should not say. (P. 264) (Continues on next issue.) 

Answers to the questions

A. What virtue should always guide us?

According to Charlet (Spirit), charity, this virtue of truly frank and noble souls, must always be our guide, for it is the sign of true superiority. The Spirit, "said Charlet", is raised by submission, by being humble. And what loses it is its pride, which makes it despise every subaltern and envy every superior, for envy is the most vivid expression of pride. (Revue Spirite, pages 223 and 224.) 

B. Should we be rigorous in the analysis of mediumistic communications?

Yes. In relating six essential principles to this analysis, Kardec said that, besides the moral questions, one should only accept with reservations what comes from the Spirits, and never without examination. (Ibid, pages 233 and 234.) 

C. Do Spirits, when erratic, also do research?

Of course, the Spirit of Thilorier, the physicist, says that Spirits also do research and discoveries in the wandering state and it is they who, once authorized, inspire the men of Science engaged in the same quest. (Ibid, page 256.) 

D. What error did Channing point out in Spiritist studies?

Channing (Spirit) said that in the study of Spiritism there was a serious error that was spreading every day: that of considering the Spirits infallible in their answers. And he gave an objective advice: we should not ask them what they cannot and should not say. (Ibid, page 264.)

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