The Spiritist Review - Journal of Psychological Studies - 1863

Allan Kardec

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Spiritus Circle of Tours President’s speech at the inaugural session

Tuesday, November 12th 1862



Ladies and gentlemen,

First I must thank the Spirits of our small, newly created society the nomination of my name to its presidency. I shall justify the honor of such a choice by executing meetings and activities so that they always have a serious and moral character. We must never forget or be prepared to to many challenges.

Why did we come here, ladies and gentlemen, away from the normal activities? It is because we believe in the knowledge about our destiny. Yes, all of us in this modest circle that will grow and elevate, as I hope, by the greatness and elevation of the objective that we target, we yield to a very natural desire of tearing off the thick veil that hides from the poor humans the scaring secret of death and to determine if it is true, according to the teachings of a false science and as believed by so many unfortunate souls, that the tomb shuts the door to the book of man’s destiny.

I know well that God has placed a spark in the hearts of everyone so that it can illuminate our steps through the rough paths of life: reason and a scale to balance everything in their just value – justice. However, when the pure and vivid light of that driving beam is progressively weakened before the impure draft of negatively influenced passions it fades away. When the scale of justice is contaminated by inaccuracies and lies; when the ulcer of materialism invades everything, even the religions, threatening to devour everything, it is necessary that the Supreme Judge may finally come through the prodigies of his omnipotence and through powerful manifestations capable of drawing everybody’s attention straighten up the paths of humanity to avoid the abyss.

At the point of moral degradation that modern societies have fallen under the influence of pernicious but tolerated doctrines, if not encouraged by those whose mission is exactly to reproach them; amidst the general indifference towards anything that is not material; before that extreme and selfish sensuality; that formerly unknown fierce battle for wealth at any price; the boundless cult to the golden calf; the messy search for profit that drives egotism, hardens all hearts, deceiving intelligences and moving towards the destruction of social links, the revelations from beyond the grave may be considered as a divine revelation, needed by the Providence to call order and that cannot allow its favorite creature to perish.

Given the speed at which the teachings of the Spiritist Doctrine expand to every corner of the globe it is easy to predict that the time for humanity to transpose a new stage is near, after a stationary period it will reach a new level in its intermittent progression through the centuries.

As for ourselves, ladies and gentlemen, we thank Providence for having chosen us to spread and make the Spiritist seed grow in this corner of the world, thus cooperating to the limit of our strength with the great work of regeneration of humanity that is in preparation.

With respect to a medical issue that some of you know about, at this point in time, I am involved with an important philosophical work in which I try to explain rationally the physiological phenomena of Spiritism and connecting them to the general philosophy. Before the publication of this essentially anti-materialist draft work, I propose to submit it to your analysis so that I can receive your advice regarding the opportunity to submit it to the superior Spirits, who are benevolent enough to assist us. Besides we can find in that work the majority of the subjects that must constitute the theme of our Spiritist conversations.

We must never lose sight of the essential objective of Spiritist which is to destroy materialism by illustrating the importance behind the survival of the soul. If the dead respond to our calls, if they communicate with us, it is evident that they are not really dead; the last breath of agony has not marked the final moment of their lives. All sermons of the world are not worth as much as an argument of such a kind.

That is why it is our duty as believers to spread the light around us and not to hide it under the bowl, that is to say in this little room here that much to the contrary shall become a focal point of irradiation through our dedication.

Does it mean that we have to invite everybody to our meetings, receive the first one that shows curiosity wanting to witness our activities as if we were some con artists at work?

This would thoughtlessly expose a very serious thing to ridicule. However, when someone has acquired notions of Spiritism by reading the special books and is in good faith willing to witnesses the facts we must attend his interest. We must regulate such admissions, though, and do not allow strange persons to the meetings unless the society had been consulted previously and had given previous authorization.

Ladies and gentlemen, when we attested just two years ago with one member of our society at the home of a common friend the most remarkable mechanical and intellectual Spiritist phenomena, despite the evidence of the facts and despite a profound conviction that such phenomena were taking place outside the known natural laws, we only dared to timidly expose our own knowledge, such was the fear of having the integrity of our reason exposed.

The Spirits’ Book, then little known in Tours, was still in its first or second edition. It had hardly transposed the limits of the capital city. Behold! What a huge progress in just three years! Spiritism today is everywhere; it counts of followers in all echelons of society; big or small groups are formed in every town, large or small, and coming to the villages. The Spiritist books today are sold in all bookshops which can hardly cope with the demand of a thirsty clientele, willing to initiate into the great mysteries of evocations. Spiritism today is common knowledge, somewhat known by everyone, and is no longer feared, a sign of reproach or indifference. We can dare to attend our meetings and reveal their intent without the fear of being considered mad. We can challenge mockery and sarcasm and tell the jokers: - Before ridiculing at least count and weigh us.

With respect to the anathema of a party, we analyzed its reach very well to be worried about it. They say that we cut a deal with the devil. Be it. One must agree, however, that in such a case not all devils are bad. To their eyes our true crime is our pretension, certainly very legitimate, that we can communicate with God and His saints, without their compulsory intervention.

Let us demonstrate to them that thanks to the teachings of what they call demons we understand the sublime moral of the Gospels that is summarized in the love of God and our neighbors and universal charity. We embrace the whole humanity, without distinction of cult, race, and origin and even with more reason family, fortune and social condition. Let them know that our God, that of the Spiritists, is not a ruthless and revengeful tyrant that punishes a moment of weakness with the eternal punishment but a merciful and good Father who watches His lost children with an endless solicitude, trying to attract them back to Him through a series of tests destined to wash every single stain. Isn’t that written that God does not wish the death of the sinner but his conversion?

Furthermore, we reserve the imprescriptible right of reason here, as everywhere else, a reason that ultimately must analyze and dominate everything. We don’t tell the lighthearted ones: Believe or die; we say believe if your reason wishes.

One word still to finish, ladies and gentlemen, for I do not wish to abuse your attention. Since our society does not have and cannot have any other objective but our instruction and our moral improvement, we must carefully keep every personal issue or matters related to politics and material interests away from our meetings.

Study of mankind with respect to its future destiny, such is the program from which we must never depart.”

Hauvet, Doctor in Medicine



This speech is followed by the spontaneous communication transcribed below, received by one of the mediums of the society:

“My friends, the objective of your society is to instruct you and to bring the lost soul back to the light that has been long obscured by the reigning darkness of this century. You must not look at this institution as if it were here to instruct you about Law and Science. It is here pure and simply to drive you through the new path of regeneration that you must walk fearlessly, trusting the instructions that you shall receive. You must fear nothing for God watches those who do good and He does not leave them on their own.

I overheard you discussing an article about the admission of strange persons to the society. Listen to the advice of a friend on this, or even better of a brother that does not speak from his mouth but from his heart and not physically but spiritually because, believe me, to come to you I transpose all levels of the impure Spirits but the path to cover is not painful when I see your hearts animated by good feelings.

When a stranger asks to attend your sessions bring him to the privacy of your office first before admission and through the conversation probe his feelings and make sure that he understands the foundations of the Doctrine. If you detect the desire for the good and not a simple curiosity; if driven by serious intentions, then you can admit him without concerns. But you must reject whoever may come with the idea of disturbing the session and neglecting your teachings. Be aware that spies sneak everywhere. Even Jesus had them around.

If someone comes along saying that he or she is a Spiritist or a medium do not accept until you know whom you are dealing with. You must not ignore the fact that there are lighthearted and proud mediums that for this very reason only attract insensible Spirits. Similar attracts similar, as they say. A true Spiritist must not have but the feeling of good and charity without which one cannot be assisted by elevated Spirits.

There is no doubt that the loss of a medium may leave a void among us but that does not mean that you will no longer be assisted by us because we shall always be ready to come and support your work whenever allowed by God. If a good medium leaves for whatever reason from you, God certainly has a different and more useful mission to that medium. Who know what is coming? There are things that you cannot understand but must accept.

Yours, my friends, is a difficult step to climb but you shall succeed with the help of your brothers who are above you. I hope to give you instructions on more serious issues on another occasion.”

Fénelon

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