The Revue Spirite of 1861

Part 13

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. According to Kardec, how can we recognize the true Spiritist?

B. What commitments do those, who become Spiritists, make?

C. Does Spiritism preach proselytism?

Text for reading

225. "It is very serious" - says Kardec - "to entrust to someone the supreme direction of the Doctrine," since an individual may, with wrong ideas, drag society down a dangerous ramp and even to its ruin. (P. 362)

226. The true Spiritist is recognized for his qualities, and the first is the self-denial of personality. It is therefore by his acts that we recognize him, rather than by words. The true Spiritist is not driven by ambition, or by self-love. (P. 363)

227. The Revue publishes the letter that Erastus addressed to the Spiritists of Bordeaux. (Pages 364-368)

228. Encouraging them to maintain harmony, which had hitherto proved brilliant, Erastus reminded the Spiritists in Bordeaux: "Facing as subversive any doctrine contrary to the morality of the Gospel and to the general principles of the Decalogue, which are summarized in this concise law: Love God above all things and your neighbor as yourselves, you will always be united”. (P. 365)

229. At the banquet offered to the Encoder by the Spiritists from Bordeaux, Mr. Lacoste, Mr. Sabo, Mr. Desqueyroux and, finally, Allan Kardec, spoke and their speeches were copied by the Revue. (Pages 368 to 374)

230. Representing the group of Spiritist workers, Mr. Desqueyroux, a professional mechanic, said: "There are no words to express our happiness for having been born in an age when we can be enlightened by Spiritism”. (P. 371)

231. "But," says Desqueyroux, "it is not enough to know and enjoy this happiness. With the Doctrine, we committed ourselves to four different duties: duty of submission, which makes us listen with meekness; duty of affection, that makes us love with tenderness; duty of zeal, to defend its values with vehemence; and the duty of practice, to make us honor the Doctrine through our work" (P. 371)

232. Next, Mr. Desqueyroux recalled that "there are moments in life when reason might be able to sustain us, but there are others in which we need all the faith that Spiritism gives, not to surrender”. (P. 371)

233. In his speech, Kardec said that it was a blessing to inaugurate a Spiritist group that began with the spontaneous gathering of about 300 people, attracted not by vain curiosity, such as that of Bordeaux. (P. 372)

234. Attributing this interest to the campaign against Spiritism by a journalist from the Courrier de la Gironde, Kardec concluded his speech by thanking the author of the article for his unintentional collaboration. (P. 374)

235. The Revue publishes two fables in verses, written by Mr. Dombre, of Marmande, which also went to the Spiritist meeting in Bordeaux. In the second one, entitled "The hedgehog, the rabbit and the lark”, its author emphasizes the importance of charity, when the rabbit helps the hedgehog, although discouraged by the lark: "The rabbit replied: - No restlessness /should distance us from good impulses; / It is worth much more to expose oneself to ingratitude /than to fail helping the sufferers (Pages 374-378)

236. Informing about the publication of the second edition of The Book of Mediums, revised and enlarged by Kardec, he says that, following it strictly, we will avoid so many of the pitfalls that often shock the inexperienced beginners. (P. 379)

237. Commenting on the launch of the 1st publication by the Spiritist Society of Metz, Kardec praises it and warns that untimely publications may be more harmful than useful for the propagation of Spiritism. (Pages 379 and 380)

238. Speaking of Spiritism in America, highlighting the work of Judge Edmonds of New York, Kardec copies part of a text written by Dr. Edmonds in 1854, three years before the advent of The Book of Spirits: "Our conduct will define our future destiny and not our adherence to this or that religious sect, but from our submission to this great precept: Love God and our neighbor… We should not delay our conversion. We ourselves must work for our salvation, not later, but now; not tomorrow, but today". (P. 384)

239. Spiritists, says Kardec, have a beautiful and important mission to fulfill: to spread the Light around them. (P. 388)

240. It is their task to speak openly about Spiritism without affectation and, above all, without seeking or forcing convictions, or proselytizing at all costs. "Spiritism should not be imposed: we come to it because we need it”. (P. 389)

241. A determined supporter of the idea of ​​creating several groups, rather than a large one, in the larger cities, Kardec says that when the first group becomes very numerous, it should do what the bees do: create other groups. (P. 391)

242. The new groups will becomemany other centers of action, radiating in their respective circles, and more powerful for propaganda than a single society. (P. 391)

243. Uniformity in the Doctrine, whether the society is one, or fractioned, will be the natural consequence of the basic unity that groups adopt. It will be complete in all, who follow the guidelines of The Book of Spirits and The Book of Mediums. (Editor’s Note: At the time, there were then no other books that later on made up theKardecian Pentateuch). (P. 391) (Continued on next issue.)

Answers to the issues

A. According to Kardec, how can we recognize the true Spiritist?

The true Spiritist, said the Encoder, is recognized for his qualities, and the first one is self-denial of personality. It is therefore by his acts that we recognize him, rather than by his words. The true Spiritist is not driven by ambition, or by self-love. (Revue Spirite of1861, pages 363).

B. What commitments do those, who become Spiritists, make?

In the opinion of Mr. Desqueyroux of Bordeaux, with the Doctrine we make commitments that consist, in fact, of four duties: a duty of submission that makes us listen with meekness; a duty of affection, that makes us love with tenderness; a duty of zeal, to defend its interests with passion; and a duty of practice, to make us honor it through our work. (Ibid, 371).

C. Does Spiritism preach proselytism?

No. It is up to the Spiritists to speak openly of Spiritism, without arrogance and, above all, without seeking to force convictions or make proselytes at all costs. Kardec wrote: "Spiritism should not be imposed: we come to it because we need it”. (Ibid, Pages 388 and 389).