The Revue Spirite of 1863

Part 11

We continue in this issue the study of the Revue Spirite corresponding to the year of 1863. 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 did Kardec say about magnetism and homeopathy?

B. What is Kardec's position in relation to those who exploit the mediumistic faculty?

C. Why does God allow well-meaning mediums to be deceived by Spirits?

Text for reading

102. Kardec informs, in a note just below that message, that the medium who received it is an illiterate young man who, according to Mr. Dumas, ignores the meaning of most of the words contained therein. Illiterate mediums who receive communications beyond their intellectual reach - says the Encoder - are numerous. (Page 227)

103. The August issue praises the famous philosopher Jean Reynaud, who was born in Lyon in 1808 and died in Paris in June 1863, after a short illness. Author of the book "Terre et Ciel", a work that made him popular, but since it was considered dangerous for the orthodoxy of the Catholic faith, it was put in the Index by the Roman curia; Reynaud is considered by Kardec one of the precursors of Spiritism. Like Charles Fourier, he admitted the indefinite progress of the soul and the plurality of existences, having seen nothing and based only on his high intuition. (Pages 229 to 232)

104. Mentioning the importance for Spiritism of its acceptance by several renowned writers, such as Victor Hugo, who sowed Spiritist ideas here and there, Kardec highlights the value of magnetism and homeopathy in the propagation of the knowledge regarding the perispiritual action, a source of all Spiritist phenomena. In the specific case of homeopathy, the Encoder mentions the ease with which homeopathic doctors accept Spiritism and is not surprised that most Spiritist doctors belong to the school founded by Hahnemann. (Pages 233 and 234)

105. From the work of the writer Lamartine, the Revue copies texts that show some points consistent with the Spiritist ideas, for example, his mentioning the successive lives and the coming of the Comforter promised by Jesus, which Lamartine understands could come as a man or as a doctrine. (Pages 235 and 236)

106. The Presse of July reported the publication of the book "Fate of Man in Both Worlds", by Mr. Hippolyte Renaud, who - according to Kardec - is very directly linked to the Spiritist Doctrine. The Revue published the news and the article that Mr. E. de Pompéry wrote about that work. (Pages 236 to 240)

107. In a letter addressed to the editor of the Presse, Mr. Henri Martin, mentioned in the article by Mr. Pompéry, supported the criticism he made of the belief of some in an undefined metempsychosis and without remembrance of the past, which he also considered absurd and unacceptable. Spiritism, as we know, does not accept metempsychosis. (Page 241)

108. Two facts reported in the Revueshow how the action of the communicating Spirit can extend to the body of the medium: I) In the first case, which occurred in Parma, Italy, the medium's index finger was singularly cold. It was because a brother, who had been dead for more than twenty years, was manifesting through him and he had his forefinger ankylosed. II) In the second case, the Spirit paralyzed a member, or part of the body, of the medium. (Pages 242 to 244)

109. Kardec writes again about the artificial spectra, a scenic trick of such great simplicity that all theaters presented theirs. In addition to regretting the superficiality with which the press treated the subject, Kardec took advantage of the opportunity to inform how the sessions are held in serious groups of Spirits, whose inner recollection is incompatible with the levity of character and the chatter of the curious. Regarding the criticism of those who practice the mediumship faculty as a profession, Kardec said that there is nothing to object to, for serious Spiritists also repudiate any exploitation of this nature, as unworthy of the exclusively moral character of Spiritism and a lack of respect for the dead. (Pages 245 to 248)

110. Why does God allow well-meaning mediums to be deceived by Spirits? The mystifications, Kardec replies, are intended to test the perseverance, firmness in faith, and to exercise judgment. If good Spirits allow them on certain occasions, it is not due to incapacity on their part, but to leave us the merit of the struggle. Good Spirits watch over us and assist us, but on the condition that we also help ourselves. (Page 249)

111. Raised by a reader from St. Petersburg, the objection to the phrase: All that is unknown is infinite, constant from "The Book of Spirits", is examined by Kardec, who, mentioning the French Academy, understands that the infinite word could in this case be replaced, as proposed, by the term indefinite. Although they are synonyms in the general sense, there are times when one word does not replace the other. It is said, for example: infinite duration or indefinite duration, but one cannot say: God's mercy is indefinite, instead of saying: it is infinite. (Pages 250 and 251) (Continues on next issue)

Answers to the proposed issues

A. What did Kardec say about magnetism and homeopathy?

He highlighted, in a Revue article, the importance of magnetism and   homeopathy in the propagation of the knowledge regarding the perispiritual action, a source of all Spiritist phenomena. In the specific case of homeopathy, the Encoder mentions the ease with which homeopathic doctors accept Spiritism and is not surprised that most Spiritist doctors belong to the school founded by Hahnemann. (Revue Spirite of 1863, pages 233 and 234.) 

B. What is Kardec's position in relation to those who exploit the mediumistic faculty?

He fully accepted the criticism regarding those who make a profession by using their mediumship gift, since serious Spiritists also rejected all exploitation of that nature as not worthy of the exclusive moral character of Spiritism and a lack of respect regarding the dead. (Ibid, pages 245 to 248.)

C. Why does God allow well-meaning mediums to be deceived by Spirits?

These mystifications, says Kardec, have the purpose to test our constancy, firmness of faith, and judgement. If the good Spirits allow this in certain occasions, it is not because they do not have the capacity to deal with it, but to leave to us the merit of fighting. The good Spirits protect us and help us, but with the condition that we also help ourselves. (Ibid, page 249) 

Translation:

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