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The Spiritist Review - Journal of Psychological Studies - 1863 > November > Spiritist Dissertations > The true Spirit of traditions
Setif, Algeria, October 15th, 1863
Open the sacred scriptures and in every page you will find incomprehensible predictions or allegories to anyone who is not aware of the new revelations that for the majority were interpreted by editors according to their own opinion and too often to their interest. However, using the science that you have just begun to acquire, you will easily discover their meaning. The ancient prophets were all inspired by elevated Spirits but that gave them teachings of a kind only to be understood by high intelligences and whose meaning was not in strong opposition with the knowledge and prejudices of the time. It was necessary to be able to have them adequately interpreted to the understanding of the crowds so that they were not rejected by them as they would had they been in formal opposition to the general ideas. Today our mission is to completely clarify to you and, at the same time, make you understand the proximity between the new revelations and those of former times. We have another task to accomplish and that is to fight falsehood, hypocrisy and error, a very difficult and arduous task but whose objective we will reach for that is the will of God. Have faith and courage. God never finds unbreakable obstacles to his will. Under his commandment unpredictable means are used to beat the evil genius now personified by those who should march ahead of progress and propagate the truth instead of creating obstacles to that out of pride and self-interest. Hence, it is necessary to announce everywhere with safety and confidence that the end of slavery, injustice and falsehood is near. I say the end is near because the events, although realized with the wise slowness of the reforms of the Providence avoiding irreversible disgraces of a great rush, will have their course in a time frame shorter than that expected by those who fear the obstacles that they anticipate, not expected either by those interested in the maintenance of the status quo out of fear or selfishness. Therefore you must be eager in the propaganda but careful with the listeners in order to not scare away the ignorant and fearful consciences. Have no fear since only the egotist do not need skills. You have God’s support. Their resistance is powerless against you. It is necessary to unequivocally show them the terrible future that waits for their own fault and for those who allowed to be converted by their example since everyone is responsible for the harm they do and for the onesthat they cause.
St. Augustine
Open the sacred scriptures and in every page you will find incomprehensible predictions or allegories to anyone who is not aware of the new revelations that for the majority were interpreted by editors according to their own opinion and too often to their interest. However, using the science that you have just begun to acquire, you will easily discover their meaning. The ancient prophets were all inspired by elevated Spirits but that gave them teachings of a kind only to be understood by high intelligences and whose meaning was not in strong opposition with the knowledge and prejudices of the time. It was necessary to be able to have them adequately interpreted to the understanding of the crowds so that they were not rejected by them as they would had they been in formal opposition to the general ideas. Today our mission is to completely clarify to you and, at the same time, make you understand the proximity between the new revelations and those of former times. We have another task to accomplish and that is to fight falsehood, hypocrisy and error, a very difficult and arduous task but whose objective we will reach for that is the will of God. Have faith and courage. God never finds unbreakable obstacles to his will. Under his commandment unpredictable means are used to beat the evil genius now personified by those who should march ahead of progress and propagate the truth instead of creating obstacles to that out of pride and self-interest. Hence, it is necessary to announce everywhere with safety and confidence that the end of slavery, injustice and falsehood is near. I say the end is near because the events, although realized with the wise slowness of the reforms of the Providence avoiding irreversible disgraces of a great rush, will have their course in a time frame shorter than that expected by those who fear the obstacles that they anticipate, not expected either by those interested in the maintenance of the status quo out of fear or selfishness. Therefore you must be eager in the propaganda but careful with the listeners in order to not scare away the ignorant and fearful consciences. Have no fear since only the egotist do not need skills. You have God’s support. Their resistance is powerless against you. It is necessary to unequivocally show them the terrible future that waits for their own fault and for those who allowed to be converted by their example since everyone is responsible for the harm they do and for the onesthat they cause.
St. Augustine