The Revue Spirite of 1862

Part 7

We continue in  this issue the study of the Revue Spirite corresponding to the year of 1862. The condensed text of the mentioned volume will hereby be presented in sixteen parts, based on the translation of Julio Abreu Filho and published by EDICEL.

Issues for discussion

A. Having in mind the persecutions that the Spiritists suffered, what did St. Augustine recommend?

B. How did the European public receive the book The Spiritism in its simplest expression?

C. What is necessary to fight unbelief?

Text for reading

69. In St. Augustine’s opinion, Martyrs of Spiritism are those who are constantly insulted, called crazy, foolish, dreamers – not only the offenses of those who do not believe, but even more bitter sufferings. However, their reward will be beautiful, because the place that Christ prepares for the Martyrs of Spiritism will be even brighter. (P. 122)

70. Lazarus and Lamennais point out that only the ideas will now be fought and mocked, but the time for bonfires and physical torments has passed. (Pages 123 and 124)

71. Commenting on the attacks made on Spiritism by Catholics in theology courses and in the Catholic Magazine, which attributes the Spiritist Doctrine to the work of the devil, Erasto recommends that they should be allowed to speak and act, because, in the depths of their consciences, they feel that only the Spiritists are with the truth. (Pages 124 and 125)

72. Focusing further on the issue of persecution of the Spiritists, Saint Augustine recommends courage and work, saying that the time will come when it will not be just behind closed doors that the Holy Doctrine of Spiritism will be preached. "Prepare yourselves," advises Augustine, "for the persecutions by studying, praying and doing charity" (P. 125)

73. The Revue informs that the book The Spiritism in its simplest expression, of which about ten thousand copies have already been sold, is in a new impression with several important corrections. About ninety days after it was released, the book was already translated into German, Russian, and Polish. (P. 126)

74. After more than a year of cruel suffering, one of Kardec's colleagues, Mr. Sanson, died on 04/21/1862. Summoned, at his request, an hour before the funeral, Sanson - who recovered his lucidity after eight hours – he said that he was still weak and trembling, but lucid and with none of his previous pains. (Pages 127 to 130)

75. The Revue transcribes Kardec's speech at the funeral of Sanson, the friend who endured long and cruel sufferings with a very Christian patience and resignation, worthy of the true Spiritist he was. (Pages 132 to 136)

76. Converted to Spiritism by simply having read the book Spiritism in its simplest expression, which he saw in a bookstore window, Captain Nivrac disembodied ten days later with his ideas completely changed. In that short period, he decided to read The Book of Spirits, The Book of Mediums and some issues of the Revue Spirite, becoming a zealous promoter of Spiritism. (Pages 136 and 137)

77. The Captain was evoked and he said that when he read the first Spiritist book, he was touched, because he saw there a doctrine so clear and precise, that God appeared to him in His goodness, and the future seemed less gloomy. Speaking about the acceptance of Spiritism by French army officers, Nivrac said that it is necessary for the head to become serious, so that the body can follow it, and said that with Spiritism the officer better understands his duty, confirming a message of another Spirit, who also understands that the Spiritist soldier is easier to command. (Pages 137 to 139)

78. The Revue publishes the case of Maximilian V ..., twelve years old, who committed suicide out of love. The boy's Spirit was evoked and said he was a poet in another incarnation, when he met Elvira, the same woman by whom he ended up killing himself. When consulted, the Medium’s Guide reported that the punishment of his act, despite his age, would be terrible. (Pages 139 to 143)

79. After reporting on the conversion of Gauzy, a former official in Paris, Kardec says that this conversion is another example of the most frequent cause of unbelief. To make believe, it is necessary to make understood. As long as things that reason rejects are given as absolute truths, they will only make more unbelievers and materialists. (Pages 143-145) (Continues on the next issue).

Answers to the issues

A. Having in mind the persecutions that the Spiritists suffered, what did St. Augustine recommend?

In the first place, he recommended courage and work, stating that the time would come when it would not be just behind closed doors that one would preach the Spiritist doctrine. "Prepare yourselves," advises Augustine, "for the persecutions by studying, praying and doing charity" (Revue Spirite, 1862, P. 125)

B. How did the European public receive the book The Spiritism in its simplest expression?

The acceptance of this work by Kardec was unusual because, in addition to having sold about ten thousand copies shortly after its release, in three months it was already translated into German, Russian and Polish. (Ibid, page 126).

C. What is necessary to fight unbelief?

To make someone believe, it is necessary to make them understand. As long as things that reason rejects are given as absolute truths, people will become unbelievers and materialistic. (Ibid, pages 143-145).