The Revue Spirite of 1861

Part 4

We continue in this issue the study of the Revue Spirite of 1861, 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 proposed issues are at the end of the text for reading.

Issues for discussion

A. What meaning did the word God have among the ancients?

B. Can a person, one week after being disincarnated, still doubt his own death?

C. Did Kardec approve of the mediumistic meetings in public? 

Text for reading

55. Kardec says that the issue of tables and drawing boards is accessory and not the main one. They were the introduction to the great and powerful media, as the alphabet is the prelude to the current reading. (Pages 114 and 115)

56. Showing the utility of mediumship, Kardec reminds us that enemies are not lacking in the Spirits’ world. There, the most dangerous are those we do not know. Practical Spiritism allows us to know them. (Page 116)

57. The Revue transcribes the analysis that Mr. Escande made in the journal Mode Nouvelle of the work "History of the Wonderful" by Louis Figuier. (Page 117 to 125)

58. Analyzing an article published by the Siècle of 2/4/1861, Kardec says that among the ancients the word “god” had a great number of meanings: it was a generic qualification, applied to every being that seemed to them to rise above the level of Humanity. This is, in substance, the principle of Mythology. The gods were nothing more than the Spirits of mere mortals, who manifested themselves at that time, as it is today. (Pages 126 and 127) 

59. Christianity deprived these gods of their prestige, and Spiritism reduced them to their present value today, showing that there is only one God, the Creator of all things. (Page 127)

60. Alfred Leroy, 50, of distinguished features, hanged himself on the way to Charenton. In a letter found in his pocket, Alfred says he decided to commit suicide because he had been left to fend for himself. Summoned a week later, at the Spiritist Society of Paris, his Spirit said that suicide was a test against which he had to fight. (Pages 127 and 128)

61. St. Louis, explaining the Leroy case, said that atonement and suffering would be the consequence of his gesture, because guilt is much greater when man is driven to suicide by succumbing to temptation. (Pages 130 and 131)

62. Jules Michel, dead at the age of 14 and evoked eight days after his death, had no doubt that he had died. He could see his mother and his brothers, and even his body, lying down, all hard, but he felt he was no longer in it. (Page 131)

63. Jules Michel explained, speaking of his disincarnation: "I was numb; I wanted to move and I could not; my hands were wet with sweat and I felt a great work on my body; then I felt nothing else and I awoke much relieved; I was no longer suffering and was as light as a feather. Then I saw myself on my bed and yet I was not in it..." (Page 132)

64. Message sent to Kardec by Count X... of Rome, says that, not being a new law, Spiritism is destined to reestablish the unity of belief, since it is the confirmation and clarification of Christianity. (Pages 133 and 134)

65. Speaking of envy among the mediums, the Spirit of Luos says that there are many mediums that become vain rather than humble as their gifts develop and thereby reject important communications. (Page 137)

66. In the medium, concludes Luos, envy is as fearsome as pride. It is not by being envious of the neighbor's gifts that the medium will receive similar gifts. (Page 138)

67. Commenting on the message, Kardec says that the Spirits sympathize with mediums because of their qualities or their defects; now, the defects that most distress the Good Spirits are pride, selfishness and jealousy. (Page 138)

68. In his annual address to the Spiritist Society of Paris, Kardec rejects the idea of ​​making public the sessions of the Society, reaffirming that the person must first study and then attend the manifestations. (Page 140)

69. Spiritism is a Science, says Kardec, and like any science one does not learn it joking. (Page 142)

70. Another criticism of the Society, according to Kardec, says that it was dealing with insignificant things, for refraining from dealing with political and religious matters. Kardec refuted this criticism in his annual speech. (Page 143)

71. Kardec thanked in his speech the invitation received not only from the Spirits but also from the mediums, stating that the Spirits’ world awaits them and there all devotions will be compensated, taking into consideration the detachment, humility and self-denial shown here. (Page 144) 

72. Mentioning the basic principles of Spiritism, Kardec says that all the communications that come from outside have confirmed them, even in relation to reincarnation, now accepted by the force of evidence. (Continued on next issue.) 

Answers to the issues

A. What meaning did the word God have among the ancients?

The word god then had a great number of meanings: it was a generic qualification applied to every being that seemed to rise above the level of Humanity. This was, in substance, the principle of Mythology. The gods were nothing more than the Spirits of mere mortals, who manifested themselves at that time, as it is today. Christianity deprived these gods of their prestige and Spiritism reduced them to their just value, showing that there is only one God, the Creator of all things. (Revue Spirite of 1861, pages 126 and 127).

B. Can a person, one week after being disincarnated, still doubt his own death?

Yes, and this is more common than you think. The Revue mentions the Jules Michel case, which, at the age of fourteen and evoked eight days after his death, was doubtful that he had died. Speaking of his disincarnation, he said: "I was numb; I wanted to move and I could not; my hands were wet with sweat and I felt a great work on my body; then I felt nothing more and I awoke much relieved; I was no longer suffering and was as light as a feather. Then I saw myself on my bed and yet was not in it... "(Ibid, pages 131 and 132).

C. Did Kardec approve of the mediumistic meetings in public?

No. The Encoder rejected this idea because he understood that the person must first study and then watch the manifestations. Kardec said: "Spiritism is a Science and, like any science, one does not learn joking." (Ibid, pages 140 to 142).