The Revue Spirite of 1862

Part 16 and final

We end 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. What elements are really essential when treating obsessions?

B. What did Charles Fourier write about reincarnation?

C. Do prayers help the suffering Spirits?

Text for reading

168. Closing the November edition, Erasto discusses the origin of language. Here is some information contained in this communication: I - Mankind has already gone through three great periods: the barbaric phase, the Hebrew and pagan phase and the Christian phase: the Spiritist phase will follow the latter. II - Among the gross ethnic groups, where gross sensations dominated, some superior beings began to appear, with the task of leading them to a better phase. III. Language itself, like social life, did not begin to have a certain character except from the Hebrew and pagan phase. IV - The primitive language was uniform, but, as the number of shepherds grew, these were new families and hence new tribes, gradually differentiating the language then used. This is how the different languages ​​came about. V - Humanity is now moving towards a single language, as a forced consequence of a community of ideas in morality, politics and, above all, religion. (Pages 351 to 354)

(Editor’s Note: “Esperanto” is a new universal language. Its author is the Polish physician, L. Zamenhof, who in 1887 created this language, twenty-five years after Erastus's message was received). (Pages 351 to 354)

169. A curious fact: the Revue, in its November 1862 edition, informs a reader in La Calle, Algeria, that "The Book of Spirits" and "The Book of Mediums" had not yet been translated into Italian. (Page 354)

170. An article by Kardec about what causes obsessions and means of fighting it is the main subject of the December 1862 issue, from which we copied the following teachings: I - If a Spirit wants to act upon a person, it approaches the person, and it wraps around as if it is a cloak; the fluids penetrate, the thoughts and the will become confused, and then the Spirit can use that body as if it were his. The same happens regarding mediumship. II - If the Spirit is good, its action will be smooth and beneficent; if it is evil, it will do evil things; If it is perverse and evil, it forces itself until it paralyzes the person’s will and reason. III. Such is the cause of obsession, of fascination and subjugation, which are shown in several degrees of intensity. The paroxysm of subjugation is generally called possession. IV. In the treatment of obsessions one must strive to acquire the greatest possible sum of superiority by will, energy, and moral qualities. V. But before wanting to dominate the evil Spirit, one must master oneself. Of all means to acquire the strength to achieve it, the most effective is the will, seconded by the prayer. It is necessary to ask the Guardian Angel and the Good Spirits to assist us in the battle. But it is not enough to ask them to cast out the evil Spirit. Remember the maxim: Help yourself, and Heaven will help you, we must ask them, above all, the strength we lack to overcome our evil inclinations, because they attract the evil Spirits, in the same manner as carrion attracts birds of prey. (Pages 355 to 363)

171. The Encoder also recommends that we pray for the obsessing Spirit. With perseverance, in most cases, it ends up leading him to better feelings, transforming him from obsessor into a grateful individual. (Page 363)

172. In summary, says Kardec, earnest prayer and serious efforts to improve themselves are the only means of averting evil Spirits, who recognize as masters those who do well, but laugh at the formulas. (Page 364)

173. Kardec mentions some facts related to his passage through Rochefort, where he had the satisfaction of spending two evenings with the sincere and dedicated Spiritists of the place. He also mentions an unfavorable report on Spiritism signed with the pseudonym “Tony” in the weekly Spectateur of 10/12/1862, in which the journalist makes several objections to the Spiritist practices and Doctrine. Kardec's reply reads as follows. (Pages 365 to 372)

174. Copied from the Écho de Sétif, 09/18/1862, the Revue publishes excerpts from a scientific article by Jalabert, entitled "Mens agitat molem", in which the author rationally demonstrates the possibility of communication between the free Spirits and the incarnated. (Pages 373 to 376)

175. Kardec copied in the December edition a letter sent by a friend of Charles Fourier, in which he quotes passages proving that Fourier was also a reincarnationist, or rather, reincarnation was one of the cornerstones of his theory. Commenting on the fact, the Encoder recalls that Mr. Louis Jourdan, editor of the Siècle, explicitly admitted the Doctrine of Reincarnation in his book Prières de Ludovic, first published in 1849, consequently before even thinking of Spiritism. (Pages 376 and 377)

176. Among Kardec's correspondence, he sought a letter dated July 29, 1860, which deals precisely with the theme focused on the article on Charles Fourier: reincarnation. As said previously, Fourier said that people are seen daily asking for charity at the door of the castles, of which they were owners in a previous life. (Pages 379 to 381)

177. In his barrack in Paris, where several comrades follow the Spiritist Doctrine, Mr. Perche received a communication from his sister Marguerite, who comments about the day the dead are celebrated. In the message, she confirms the Spiritist thesis that prayers are always useful to the suffering Spirits and shows the happiness that many of them feel because they are remembered and the affection that they relatives show for them. (Pages 381 to 385)

178. The Revue informs that Mr. Canelle, an old acquaintance of Kardec, founded a dispensary in Paris in which the treatment is directed by him and by several magnetizing doctors. In addition to the paid treatments, the establishment devotes special sessions for free magnetizations. (Page 386)

Answers to the issues

A. What elements are really essential when treating obsessions?

There are two elements: prayers made with anointing, and serious efforts to improve. These are, according to Kardec, the only means to drive away the evil Spirits, who recognize those who practice good as masters, but laugh at formulas. (Revue Spirite, 1862, Pages 363 and 364).

B. What did Charles Fourier write about reincarnation?

Besides admitting it clearly, Fourier said that people are seen daily asking for charity at the door of the castles of which they were owners in a previous life. (Ibid, Pages 379 to 381).

C. Do prayers help the suffering Spirits?

Yes. Prayers always help the suffering Spirits, and many of them are happy because they are remembered and also due to the love that their relatives show them. (Ibid, Pages 381 to 385).

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