The Revue Spirite of 1863

Part 4

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 was Kardec’s advice regarding the severe attacks that Spiritism was going through at the time?
B. What problems did Kardec mention when referring to unqualified Spiritists?
C. What, according to Kardec, distinguishes Spiritism from all other philosophies?

Text for reading

32. Dedicated to the Editor of the "Renard" of Bordeaux, Carcassone's tapping Spirit, using typology, wrote the poem "The Sick and the Physician," in which he satirizes Mr. Rochefort's skepticism about Spiritism. (Page 65)

33. Kardec opens the March issue of 1863, saying that at that moment there was a true crusade against Spiritism, consisting of writings, speeches and even acts of violence and intolerance. "All Spiritists should rejoice - says Kardec - because it is clear proof that Spiritism is not a chimera. Would they make so much noise because of a fly that flies?" (Page 67)

34. Stating that people could be divided into three classes: believers, unbelievers and the indifferent, Kardec recalls that the number of believers had centuplicated in a few years, but that the Spirits thought things were not going fast enough. Here, according to Kardec, is the real reason for so much noise. (Page 68)

35. At the end of the article, the Encoder invites all Spiritists to continue their work, working not for a frenetic and unreflective propaganda, but with patience and persistence of the one who knows the time left to sow the idea, and knows how to wait for the harvest. (Pages 69 to 71)

36. It is better to have "a declared enemy than an unqualified friend". This thought expressed by Kardec refers to the confreres who do not think maturely before acting. Among the problems mentioned by the Encoder the untimely or eccentric publications are placed in the first line, because they are facts of greater repercussion. The inconvenience of these publications is highlighted by Kardec, who recommends that in such cases a very strict choice must be made of what will be published in the name of Spiritism. (Pages 71 to 73)

37. Next, the Encoder addresses an even more serious issue: the false brothers. There are several “Judas” in the Spiritist movement too, says Kardec. This is what, according to him, characterizes them: I) the tendency to make Spiritism put aside prudence and moderation; II) the encouragement of eccentric publications; III) the habit of stirring compromising issues about politics and religion at meetings; IV) the habit of arguing while preaching the union between Spiritists; V) the skill of bringing forward annoying and aggressive issues, capable of causing disagreement; VI) the development of envy and the desire for supremacy among the various groups, being charmed when, by mere differences of opinion, groups start to stone each other, flag against flag. (Page 74)

38. Some organize or have meetings organized in which they deal precisely with what Spiritism advises against, involving the Spiritist meeting in ridiculous practices of black magic, fortune-telling, cartomancy, palmistry, reading the buena-dicha and others, the result of which is the discredit to the Spiritist Doctrine. (Pages 75 to 77)

39. Spiritism is distinguished from all other philosophies because it is not the fruit of the philosophical conception of a single man, but the result of a teaching that each one can receive in every corner of this Earth. What made the Spiritist Doctrine a success is the consolations and hopes offered. The anger it arouses is evidence of the role it has to play and of the difficulty his detractors find in opposing something more serious. Having registered this, Kardec concludes: "Spiritists, rise through your thoughts, and look twenty years ahead and the present will not trouble you". (Pages 77 and 78)

40. The Revue reports the death in Lyon of Mr. Guillaume Renaud, one of the most diligent Spiritists in that city. A week after his death, the vicar of the parish of Haute-Saone spoke with disdain about the deceased, saying that he had refused the sacraments offered to him by the Church. The truth, according to Kardec, is that during Mr. Renaud's illness, futile efforts were tempted for him to to abjure his Spiritist beliefs, to which he had strictly refused. In reprisal, the clergy of Lyon did not allow his body to be received in the local church. (Pages 78 to 80)

41. Evoked in Lyon, thirty-six hours after his death, Guillaume Renaud referred to the process of his disincarnating, claiming to have fallen asleep for some time, after which, upon awakening, he saw beside him, surrounding him, Spirits who celebrated him with outpouring joy. (Page 81) (Continues on next issue)

Answers to the issues

A. What was Kardec’s advice regarding the severe attacks that Spiritism was going through at the time?
First, he explained the reason for so much noise with regard to Spiritist ideas. He then invited all Spiritists to continue their work, not by a frenetic and thoughtless propaganda, but with patience and perseverance of the one who knows what time is left to sow the idea and knows how to wait for the harvest. (Revue Spirite of 1863, Pages 69 to 71).

B. What problems did Kardec mention when referring to unqualified Spiritists?
With the word unqualified he was referring to the confreres who do not reflect maturely before acting. Among the problems mentioned above, he put the untimely or eccentric publications in the first line, as they are facts of greater repercussion. The inconvenience of these publications was highlighted by Kardec, who recommended that in such cases a very strict choice of what will be published in the name of Spiritism must be made. (Ibid, Pages 71-74).

C. What, according to Kardec, distinguishes Spiritism from all other philosophies?

Spiritism is distinguished from other philosophies because it is not the fruit of the philosophical conception of a single man, but the result of a teaching that each one can receive in every corner of this Earth. Moreover, what has made the Spiritist Doctrine a success are the consolation and hope it offers. (Ibid, Pages 77 and 78).

Translation:

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