You are in:
Spiritist Review - Journal of Psychological Studies - 1865 > January
January
To the subscribers of the Spiritist Review
The Spiritist Review starts its eighth year. It is already a considerable time considering a new idea at the same time it belies those that forecasted the premature death of Spiritism. Like in previous years, the time for the renewal of subscriptions is to the majority of the subscribers that come directly to us an opportunity to reiterate their recognition for the benefits of the Doctrine. Since we cannot respond to each one in particular we ask them to accept here our sincere thanks for their testimonies of sympathy that were kindly sent to us on this occasion. If the Doctrine does good, if it gives consolations to those in suffering, if it strengthen the weak and raises the abated courage, it is God that we must thank before the server and to the great Spirits that are the true initiators of the idea and supervisors of the movement. We nevertheless feel profoundly touched by the vows that are addressed to us so that we can preserve the necessary force to reach the end of the mission that is reserved to us. That is what we endeavor to deserve through our zeal and devotion that will not fail us so that we can pass the work on, as much advanced as possible, to the one that shall one day replace us and carry out what has been left unfinished with even more strength.
Spiritism in 1864 at a Glance
Has Spiritism grown or diminished? This question is in the interest of both its followers as well as its adversaries. The former affirm that it grew the latter say that it declines. Who is eluded? Neither ones nor the others because those that proclaim its decadence know their drive well and do demonstrated it permanently by the fear that they express and the importance that they attribute to Spiritism. Some, however, act in good faith for they feel confident after swinging a strong punch in the air, seriously saying: It is dead! Or better, it must be dead!
The Spiritists are based on more positive data, in facts that can be observed. From our stand point we can assess even better the general movement and we are happy to say that the Doctrine incessantly gains terrain in all layers of society and that 1864 was not less productive than previous years in that regard. In the absence of other indicators our Spiritist Review would already be a material proof of the state of opinion with respect to the new ideas. A special journal that reaches is 8th year of existence and that witnesses the number of subscribers grow in a remarkable proportion; that since its inception saw three times the edition of previous years sold out, that does not demonstrates the decadence of the Doctrine that it propagates or the indifference of the followers. Up until December we received new subscription for that very year and the number of subscribers on January 1st, 1865 was already 20% greater than that number at the same time in the previous year. That is a material fact, undoubtedly not concluding to strangers, but that is much more meaningful to us because we have not solicited subscription to no one and we do not impose them in any way or fashion. There isn’t a single one that was forced or that has been put as the price to any private favor. Besides, we flatter nobody to get their adhesion to our cause. We allow things to follow their natural course telling ourselves that if what we do and the way we see things are not good nothing will make it prevail. We know well that for not having flattered certain individuals we send them away from us and they moved to the side where there was flattering. Never mind! The ones that are more useful to the cause, in our view, are the serious ones and we do not see as serious those that are attracted by the mistletoe of self-love, as demonstrated by many. We do not want them and we are sorry for having them given more value to the praise of words than sincerity. We keep our conscience clear that over our whole life we have never acquired any debt with adulation or intrigue. That is the reason why we did not squirreled away a lot and it is not with Spiritism that we would have started. We happily praise our accomplishments and the services done but never in anticipation of the services that can be done or even promised to be done, first by principle and then because we only attribute a mediocre importance to the value of titles accepted by pride.
That is why we never claim them. When we stop approving we do not reproach and keep our silence unless the interest of our cause requires rupture. Hence, those that come to us come out of their free-will, voluntarily, attracted by an idea that is convenient to them and not after any kind of soliciting or due to our personal merit that is a secondary question considering that, irrespective of the merit, one could not attribute value to an idea that one would not have. That is the reason why we say that the testimonies that we receive are addressed to the idea and not to the person and it would be a silly presumption from our side to be flattered by that. From the point of view of the Doctrine the majority of those testimonies come to us from people that we have never seen, frequently from people that we have never written to or to whom we certainly were not the first ones to write. Therefore, ruling out the idea of recruiting or comradery, that is why we say that the situation of the Spiritist Review has a particular significance as an indicator of the progress of Spiritism and that is the only reason why we mentioned it.
Besides, the year saw the birth of a number of promoters of the idea: the Sauveur des Peuples, the Lumière, the Voix d’outre-tombe, in Bordeaux; the Avenir, in Paris; the Médium Évangélique, in Toulouse and in Brussels the Monde Musical, that although is not a special journal it treats Spiritism in a serious way. For sure if the founders of those publications had believed that the idea was declining they would not have ventured into similar endeavors.
In 1864 progress is still marked by an increase in the number of Spiritist groups and societies formed in several places where there was none in France or abroad. Every moment we hear about the formation of a new center. That number is in reality much higher than it seems given the amount of familiar and private gatherings that have no official character. It is against such gatherings that the attacks of a systematic opposition are powerless, even the inquisition type, like in Spain where there occur in more than thirty cities an in the house of persons of the highest social echelon.
Side by side to these material indications there is the part that is revealed through social relationships. It is rare today to meet people that do not know Spiritism at least by name and almost everywhere we find those that are sympathetic to the idea. The ones that do not believe speak with more reservation and everyone can attest how much the mockery has diminished. It generally gives place to a more rational discussion. With the exception of same jokes by the press and a few more or less heated sermons, the passionate and violent attacks are increasingly rarer. This takes place because by repealing the idea the detractors unwillingly feel its upper hand and begin to understand that it has conquered its place before public opinion. As a matter of fact most of them find followers among their own and their friends that they can mock in private but dare not do publically. Finally, we all could observe how many times the Spiritist ideas are reproduced in literature in a serious way and without the use of the word. Never before we had seen so many publications of that kind as we have lately. Be it true belief or fantasy from the part of their authors it is undoubtedly a sign of vulgarization of the idea because if it is exploited it is because they believe that it will find echo.
Progress, however, is far from being uniform. In certain places it is still kept in check by the prejudices or by a hidden force that frequently appears unexpectedly. In several places there are more followers than people think but that are not declared. The proof of that is in the number of books sold that goes much beyond the number of known Spiritists. Then it is just necessary that a person manifests her opinion to make progress move from latent to positive. That is what must have happened in Paris that for a long time was much behind any provincial city. Since two years ago, but in particular in the last year, Spiritism developed here with a surprising speed. The declared groups are in large number today and the private gatherings uncountable. It is not an exaggeration to estimate the number of followers from top to bottom at around a hundred thousand. In short, progress along the year that has just ended is incontestable when considering the whole and not isolated places. Although it has not been manifested through any brilliant sign or exceptional event, it is evident that the idea daily penetrates more and more the spirit of the masses and ever in a stronger way. Nevertheless we must not conclude that the period of struggle is over. No. Our adversaries do not give up so easily. The erect new batteries in silence and because of that we must remain watchful. We shall say a few words about it in a new article.
The Spiritists are based on more positive data, in facts that can be observed. From our stand point we can assess even better the general movement and we are happy to say that the Doctrine incessantly gains terrain in all layers of society and that 1864 was not less productive than previous years in that regard. In the absence of other indicators our Spiritist Review would already be a material proof of the state of opinion with respect to the new ideas. A special journal that reaches is 8th year of existence and that witnesses the number of subscribers grow in a remarkable proportion; that since its inception saw three times the edition of previous years sold out, that does not demonstrates the decadence of the Doctrine that it propagates or the indifference of the followers. Up until December we received new subscription for that very year and the number of subscribers on January 1st, 1865 was already 20% greater than that number at the same time in the previous year. That is a material fact, undoubtedly not concluding to strangers, but that is much more meaningful to us because we have not solicited subscription to no one and we do not impose them in any way or fashion. There isn’t a single one that was forced or that has been put as the price to any private favor. Besides, we flatter nobody to get their adhesion to our cause. We allow things to follow their natural course telling ourselves that if what we do and the way we see things are not good nothing will make it prevail. We know well that for not having flattered certain individuals we send them away from us and they moved to the side where there was flattering. Never mind! The ones that are more useful to the cause, in our view, are the serious ones and we do not see as serious those that are attracted by the mistletoe of self-love, as demonstrated by many. We do not want them and we are sorry for having them given more value to the praise of words than sincerity. We keep our conscience clear that over our whole life we have never acquired any debt with adulation or intrigue. That is the reason why we did not squirreled away a lot and it is not with Spiritism that we would have started. We happily praise our accomplishments and the services done but never in anticipation of the services that can be done or even promised to be done, first by principle and then because we only attribute a mediocre importance to the value of titles accepted by pride.
That is why we never claim them. When we stop approving we do not reproach and keep our silence unless the interest of our cause requires rupture. Hence, those that come to us come out of their free-will, voluntarily, attracted by an idea that is convenient to them and not after any kind of soliciting or due to our personal merit that is a secondary question considering that, irrespective of the merit, one could not attribute value to an idea that one would not have. That is the reason why we say that the testimonies that we receive are addressed to the idea and not to the person and it would be a silly presumption from our side to be flattered by that. From the point of view of the Doctrine the majority of those testimonies come to us from people that we have never seen, frequently from people that we have never written to or to whom we certainly were not the first ones to write. Therefore, ruling out the idea of recruiting or comradery, that is why we say that the situation of the Spiritist Review has a particular significance as an indicator of the progress of Spiritism and that is the only reason why we mentioned it.
Besides, the year saw the birth of a number of promoters of the idea: the Sauveur des Peuples, the Lumière, the Voix d’outre-tombe, in Bordeaux; the Avenir, in Paris; the Médium Évangélique, in Toulouse and in Brussels the Monde Musical, that although is not a special journal it treats Spiritism in a serious way. For sure if the founders of those publications had believed that the idea was declining they would not have ventured into similar endeavors.
In 1864 progress is still marked by an increase in the number of Spiritist groups and societies formed in several places where there was none in France or abroad. Every moment we hear about the formation of a new center. That number is in reality much higher than it seems given the amount of familiar and private gatherings that have no official character. It is against such gatherings that the attacks of a systematic opposition are powerless, even the inquisition type, like in Spain where there occur in more than thirty cities an in the house of persons of the highest social echelon.
Side by side to these material indications there is the part that is revealed through social relationships. It is rare today to meet people that do not know Spiritism at least by name and almost everywhere we find those that are sympathetic to the idea. The ones that do not believe speak with more reservation and everyone can attest how much the mockery has diminished. It generally gives place to a more rational discussion. With the exception of same jokes by the press and a few more or less heated sermons, the passionate and violent attacks are increasingly rarer. This takes place because by repealing the idea the detractors unwillingly feel its upper hand and begin to understand that it has conquered its place before public opinion. As a matter of fact most of them find followers among their own and their friends that they can mock in private but dare not do publically. Finally, we all could observe how many times the Spiritist ideas are reproduced in literature in a serious way and without the use of the word. Never before we had seen so many publications of that kind as we have lately. Be it true belief or fantasy from the part of their authors it is undoubtedly a sign of vulgarization of the idea because if it is exploited it is because they believe that it will find echo.
Progress, however, is far from being uniform. In certain places it is still kept in check by the prejudices or by a hidden force that frequently appears unexpectedly. In several places there are more followers than people think but that are not declared. The proof of that is in the number of books sold that goes much beyond the number of known Spiritists. Then it is just necessary that a person manifests her opinion to make progress move from latent to positive. That is what must have happened in Paris that for a long time was much behind any provincial city. Since two years ago, but in particular in the last year, Spiritism developed here with a surprising speed. The declared groups are in large number today and the private gatherings uncountable. It is not an exaggeration to estimate the number of followers from top to bottom at around a hundred thousand. In short, progress along the year that has just ended is incontestable when considering the whole and not isolated places. Although it has not been manifested through any brilliant sign or exceptional event, it is evident that the idea daily penetrates more and more the spirit of the masses and ever in a stronger way. Nevertheless we must not conclude that the period of struggle is over. No. Our adversaries do not give up so easily. The erect new batteries in silence and because of that we must remain watchful. We shall say a few words about it in a new article.
New Cure of an Obsessed Young Lady from Marmande
Mr. Dombre brings to our attention the following report of a new cure of the most remarkable kind obtained by the Spiritist circle of Marmande. Despite its extension we thought appropriate to have it published soon given its level of significance and also to help to connect the dots with respect to the events. We believe the readers will be thankful for that. We only suppressed some details that seem not to have great importance. The consequent teachings are multiple, serious and grave and cast a new light upon this issue of current interest and upon these phenomena that tend to multiply. Given the extension of the article we will give our considerations in a new issue so that we can make the necessary developments.
“Mr. Allan Kardec,
It is with a renovated strength and trust in God corroborated by the facts that give me enthusiasm but without surprising me that I bring you the report of a cure of an obsession, remarkable in several aspects. Ah too blind someone that does not see the touch of God in that. Every principle of the sublime Doctrine is confirmed there: the individuality of the soul, the intervention of the Spirits in the corporeal world, atonement, punishment and reincarnation are demonstrated in an impressive way through the facts with which I am going to entertain you. As I said, I am sorry to have to speak of myself and the role I played in the case as an instrument used by God to shine onto people’s eyes. Should I remain quiet about the events related to me? I don’t think so. You are in charge of controlling, studying and analyzing the facts and spreading light. The minor details must then be become known to you. By reading from the bottom of our hearts God knows that I was not driven by a useless satisfaction of self-love; in fact I am aware that whoever has the privilege of being called to do any good is soon reduced to nothing if only for an instant forgets the divine intervention becoming even unhappy if not punished.
Here are the report of the events:
Since the first days of 1864 in a certain region of the city nobody spoke of nothing else but the convulsive crises experienced by a thirteen year old young lady, Valentine Laurent. Those crises took place several times per day in such a violent way that even five men had difficulties keep her in bed, by holding her head, arms and legs. She had enough strength to shake them away and sometimes to free herself. Her hands would then grab everything. Shirts, dresses, blankets from the bed that were torn off instantaneously; her teeth also had an important role in her fits of rage, not surprisingly scaring the persons around her. Had she not been held back and she would have broken hear head against the wall and despite the efforts and precautions she still showed some cuts and bruises. She had no lack of medical support. She was seen by four doctors successively; she was given doses of ether, pills, all types of medication that she took without resistance; the leeches behind the ears and the vesicatory on her thighs were not spared either but unsuccessfully. During the crises she presented perfectly regular pulse; she had no memory of her suffering and convulsions but a lot of astonishment by seeing the house full of people and her bed surrounded of breathless men, some complaining about a torn shirt or jacket. Vicar X… from a parish located about two or three kilometers from Marmande enjoyed a newly started celebrity for having the gift of healing all kinds of diseases; he was consulted by the young lady’s father. Not knowing the actual nature of the problem the vicar inadvertently prescribed a little bit of a white powder for her to take with water and also offered to pray a mass for her. But not the powder nor the mass precluded the young Valentine from having fourteen crises on the following day, something that had never happened before. After so many unsuccessful efforts must have necessarily created superstitious ideas in the minds of the locals. In fact the gossip around was about the witchcraft and curses cast onto the girl.
During that period and in the silence of our own privacy we consulted with our spiritual guides about the nature of that disease and here is what they told us: - It is an obsession of the most serious whose characteristics will change multiple times. You must act calmly; observe, study and evoke Germaine.
In the first evocation that Spirit did not spare cursing and showed great reluctance in responding to our questions. None of us had entered the patient’s house yet and before our intervention we wanted the family to exhaust all means that they thought appropriate. It was only when the powerlessness of science and Church was attested that we induced the desperate father to attend our meeting in order to learn about the true cause of his daughter’s disease and the moral medicine to be administered. This first meeting took place on September 16th, 1864. Before the evocation of Germaine our guides gave us the following instruction: - Be very careful, observe carefully and with caution. You are going to deal with a mystifying Spirit that adds hypocritical skills to astuteness and a very evil character. Never stop to study and work for the moralization of that Spirit and to pray with that objective. Make the parents a recommendation to never show fear for the state of the girl in her presence. They must, on the contrary, to carry on with her normal activities and in particular they must be kind to her. Above all she must hear that there are no witches: this is very important. A young and flexible brain receives impressions with great easiness and her psychological state could suffer with that; she must not be left with persons susceptible to tell her absurd stories that give false ideas to children and sometimes pernicious ideas. The parents need to ensure that sincere prayer is the only medicine capable of freeing the girl. We told you, Spiritists, that the Spirit Germaine is skillful. He will always find ridiculous beliefs and have rumors circulating around the girl; he will try to retaliate you. Take advantage of the case: the obsession will present itself in new ways. Watch out; think that you must work with perseverance and intelligence observing the minimal details that will give away the maneuvers of the Spirit. Do not trust calmness. If the crises are the shocking effects of obsessions there are much more dangerous consequences. Mistrust the idiocy and infantilism of an obsessed that like in this case did not suffer physically. The more dissimulated the obsessions the more dangerous they are; sometimes they are purely of the moral kind. This one does not think properly, the other one loses memory about what was done and said. However one must not assess too hastily and attribute everything to obsession. I repeat: study, observe and work seriously; do not expect everything from us; we will help you since we work in harmony but do not rest believing that everything will be revealed to you. –
“Mr. Allan Kardec,
It is with a renovated strength and trust in God corroborated by the facts that give me enthusiasm but without surprising me that I bring you the report of a cure of an obsession, remarkable in several aspects. Ah too blind someone that does not see the touch of God in that. Every principle of the sublime Doctrine is confirmed there: the individuality of the soul, the intervention of the Spirits in the corporeal world, atonement, punishment and reincarnation are demonstrated in an impressive way through the facts with which I am going to entertain you. As I said, I am sorry to have to speak of myself and the role I played in the case as an instrument used by God to shine onto people’s eyes. Should I remain quiet about the events related to me? I don’t think so. You are in charge of controlling, studying and analyzing the facts and spreading light. The minor details must then be become known to you. By reading from the bottom of our hearts God knows that I was not driven by a useless satisfaction of self-love; in fact I am aware that whoever has the privilege of being called to do any good is soon reduced to nothing if only for an instant forgets the divine intervention becoming even unhappy if not punished.
Here are the report of the events:
Since the first days of 1864 in a certain region of the city nobody spoke of nothing else but the convulsive crises experienced by a thirteen year old young lady, Valentine Laurent. Those crises took place several times per day in such a violent way that even five men had difficulties keep her in bed, by holding her head, arms and legs. She had enough strength to shake them away and sometimes to free herself. Her hands would then grab everything. Shirts, dresses, blankets from the bed that were torn off instantaneously; her teeth also had an important role in her fits of rage, not surprisingly scaring the persons around her. Had she not been held back and she would have broken hear head against the wall and despite the efforts and precautions she still showed some cuts and bruises. She had no lack of medical support. She was seen by four doctors successively; she was given doses of ether, pills, all types of medication that she took without resistance; the leeches behind the ears and the vesicatory on her thighs were not spared either but unsuccessfully. During the crises she presented perfectly regular pulse; she had no memory of her suffering and convulsions but a lot of astonishment by seeing the house full of people and her bed surrounded of breathless men, some complaining about a torn shirt or jacket. Vicar X… from a parish located about two or three kilometers from Marmande enjoyed a newly started celebrity for having the gift of healing all kinds of diseases; he was consulted by the young lady’s father. Not knowing the actual nature of the problem the vicar inadvertently prescribed a little bit of a white powder for her to take with water and also offered to pray a mass for her. But not the powder nor the mass precluded the young Valentine from having fourteen crises on the following day, something that had never happened before. After so many unsuccessful efforts must have necessarily created superstitious ideas in the minds of the locals. In fact the gossip around was about the witchcraft and curses cast onto the girl.
During that period and in the silence of our own privacy we consulted with our spiritual guides about the nature of that disease and here is what they told us: - It is an obsession of the most serious whose characteristics will change multiple times. You must act calmly; observe, study and evoke Germaine.
In the first evocation that Spirit did not spare cursing and showed great reluctance in responding to our questions. None of us had entered the patient’s house yet and before our intervention we wanted the family to exhaust all means that they thought appropriate. It was only when the powerlessness of science and Church was attested that we induced the desperate father to attend our meeting in order to learn about the true cause of his daughter’s disease and the moral medicine to be administered. This first meeting took place on September 16th, 1864. Before the evocation of Germaine our guides gave us the following instruction: - Be very careful, observe carefully and with caution. You are going to deal with a mystifying Spirit that adds hypocritical skills to astuteness and a very evil character. Never stop to study and work for the moralization of that Spirit and to pray with that objective. Make the parents a recommendation to never show fear for the state of the girl in her presence. They must, on the contrary, to carry on with her normal activities and in particular they must be kind to her. Above all she must hear that there are no witches: this is very important. A young and flexible brain receives impressions with great easiness and her psychological state could suffer with that; she must not be left with persons susceptible to tell her absurd stories that give false ideas to children and sometimes pernicious ideas. The parents need to ensure that sincere prayer is the only medicine capable of freeing the girl. We told you, Spiritists, that the Spirit Germaine is skillful. He will always find ridiculous beliefs and have rumors circulating around the girl; he will try to retaliate you. Take advantage of the case: the obsession will present itself in new ways. Watch out; think that you must work with perseverance and intelligence observing the minimal details that will give away the maneuvers of the Spirit. Do not trust calmness. If the crises are the shocking effects of obsessions there are much more dangerous consequences. Mistrust the idiocy and infantilism of an obsessed that like in this case did not suffer physically. The more dissimulated the obsessions the more dangerous they are; sometimes they are purely of the moral kind. This one does not think properly, the other one loses memory about what was done and said. However one must not assess too hastily and attribute everything to obsession. I repeat: study, observe and work seriously; do not expect everything from us; we will help you since we work in harmony but do not rest believing that everything will be revealed to you. –
- Evocation of Germaine. A. – I am here.
- Do you have anything to say, following our previous conversation? A. – No, nothing gentlemen.
- Do you realize that you did shock us a lot? A. – You were bad to me too.
- We gave you advices. Have you thought about them? A. – Yes, a lot, I swear; I considered them carefully. I was crazy, I acknowledge that. It was delirious but I am calm here.
- Could you then tell us why you torture that girl? A. – It is useless to return to that subject. It would take long to tell you. I suppose this is not a court. Don’t ask me to take the place of the defendant to respond to your questions.
- Absolutely not; you are totally free; we ask out of our interest about you and the girl and what caprice or serious thing could lead you to such attacks. A. – Did you say caprice? Ah you wish it was just out of caprice because as you know caprice is mutable and finishes.
- Are you really calm? A. – As you can see.
- Apparently yes but are you disguising your feelings? A. – I am not here to trap you; I don’t need that.
- Would you state that to the Spirits around us? A. – Let us not put anybody between us. If there is anything to be dealt with be it between you and me. I don’t like the involvement of third parties.
- Well then! We don’t believe that you act bona fide and... A. – That is why you must accept this guarantee. In fact I will force you to believe me if you resist. I don’t lack proofs to convince you of my honesty.
- Have you heard that and understood the vows that we have just expressed? A. – Yes. I am even surprised by all of your promises. I do not deserve that. But I am a doubtful Spirit and dare not believe in them. Let us see if your prayers will give me the calmness that I have lacked for so long. It is true, I am alone, and I know nobody but the one that tries to shatter me.[2] We’ll see.
- Don’t you see good Spirits near you? A. – I want nothing but from you.
- Well! As an exchange for the good that we want to do to you can’t you stop harming and tormenting her? A. – And Am I the only cause of that harm? She is as much to blame as I am. Do you say torment? We fight, struggle; we are equally to blame. She was my accomplice. I don’t see why you would blame only me for the responsibility of the violent acts from which I am also a victim.
- Nonetheless the girl will not go after you and if you torment her it is because you want to. You have your own free-will. A. – Who told you so? You are wrong. We are connected by a fatality.
- Tell us everything then. A. – I cannot. One is not totally free here… I am frank.
- Let us pray for you Germaine. Bye for now!
- Now, Germaine, do you believe in our connection with you? A. – I have the right to doubt it for the pariah hardly believes in the fraternal kiss that is given in-passing. I am used to see disdain and neglect chasing me.
- God wants us to love one another. A. – I don’t know that. Here the one that is embraced by or persecuted by remorse is an enemy, a serpent that we stone away. Do you believe that this is not revolting to the damned one? By instinct he becomes the enemy of all; passion and hatred blind him. Unfortunate is the one that falls under the claws of that vulture.
- Germaine, we want to love you and extend our hands to you. A. – Why haven’t you spoken like that earlier on? Nevertheless there are generous hearts in the world where I live. Have I then scared you away? Why haven’t you ever told me: you are our sister and you can share our fate? I still have poison in my soul, particularly when I think about the past. Crime deserves punishment but this has been too much. I had the feeling that everything was falling on me, smashing me. On such occasions God is forgotten. We say blasphemies, denying God, revolting against him and his servers when we are left abandoned.
- The Spirit of Jules that you see around you was also a criminal, a suffering and unfortunate Spirit? A. – My position was worse. Think of everything that can lacerate the soul; think of how a poison burns the guts: I experienced everything, and the worst part to me was solitude, abandoned and damned. I inspired pity on nobody. Do you understand the anger that pops out of my heart? I suffered a lot! I could not die; suicide was not an option. And the most somber future always before me! I never saw a flash of light. Not a single voice said: wait. I then screamed anger and vengeance! Let the victims come! I will at least have companion in suffering. This is not the first time that the girl feels my hugs.[3]
- Thank God for having made you suffer so much. These sufferings are the atonement that purifies you. A. – Thank God! That is too much to ask! I suffered too much! Hell was preferable to what I went through. As I was told, those in hell suffer, cry and scream together; they can fight and debate among themselves, but I was alone. Oh that is horrible! I am ready to say blasphemies and jump onto my prey when I describe these things to you. Don’t you think that I am embarrassed when you interpose an angel between her and myself! I will fight anyone.
- Whatever the feelings that drive you we will only oppose them with calmness, prayer and love. A. – What is mostly pleasant to me is that you speak without pointing fingers, without repealing me and you want me to wait. Ah don’t expect me to give in so easily because I am afraid of disappointment. After making me so beautiful promises, so much that I cannot believe, will you abandon me? What would be of me, then? I am thinking, why such a late consolation? Why you? Would it be a hidden trap? Look, I don’t know what to believe and what to do. In reality all this seems strange, surprising to me!
- Hear me out, Germaine. I will explain what surprises you. Since some years now the immortality of the soul and its relationship with those that are still on Earth were unequivocally demonstrated. Spiritism – that is the name of the new science – gives its followers the duty of loving and helping their brothers. We are Spiritists and out of love towards two of our sisters in suffering, you and the girl victim of yours, we come to offer our hearts and the help of our prayers. Do you understand that now? A. – Not much. I have never seen that kind of reasoning. You then have to deal with those that live like you and the Spirits that suffer like me? It must be a very commendable work.
- If you can see our sincerity would you promise to consider showing good intentions to the girl? A. – Good in proportion to how much you had been good to me. I consider you all sincere. Your language leads me to believe it but I still doubt. If you eliminate this doubt I will be on your side. I will endeavor to do what I promise you. As the doubt fades away there will be less harm and the girl will heal. If you play games with it will be disgraceful! She will die by strangulation. The victim waits for her freedom or the attack that I have ready upon her head, and that depends on you. This is not a threat to intimidate you; it is a warning that hatred and rage would make me blind. You came in time. She would perhaps be dead by now. Since we cannot talk all the time tell your friends that live where I live to continue the conversation; and do not repeal me although my bad actions have not stopped because I have not done much for that. I cannot demand more than I promised you.
- Evocation of Germaine A. – I am here, much more calm. I want to be fair, I believe I owe you that. As you see I did what I said. Good relationships make good friends. Talk to me since you are a friendly voice. This is so strange, so new to me that you allow me to enjoy an entertainment in which hatred will be replaced by… love and I don’t know that. Tell me what to do to love and be loved, me the miserable Germaine, aged by disgrace, misfortune and crime! Do you baptize people? Here you have a novice.
- Germaine, we thank you… A. – Don’t mention that because I feel ashamed. I am the one that bow and say grace. I owe you a great reparation, poor child! The life of the Spirits is eternal. God put in front of me the means and the time to repair the devastations caused by the blindness of passions. Rest assured! Pray sometimes for the unfortunate Germaine, the regretful criminal asks for your forgiveness. Poor child, forget your pains and the one that caused them; only remember that she wants to be your friend now. She is no longer the same Germaine. The prayer said on my behalf made my soul cleaner; it extinguished my thirst for vengeance. The memory of my infame past will be my atonement. My prayer, together with yours, will mitigate the remorse that tortures me. Thank you all for calling me to the path of truth and good when I was lost in the depth of vice and impenitence. I believe you now. The doubt is over. I love you and thank you for having saved and cured me. I also thank you for this poor child to whom you returned health and life. I can say that I am happy because I am among good Spirits that console and strengthen me through their kind and persuasive moral. I am no longer alone; despite all darkness in my soul they admitted me in their blessed family. I am the sick one and they are my guardians. I don’t have the words to tell you everything that I feel. Tell me, all of you and particularly you, poor child, that you forgive me. I need to hear these words from your heart. Please give me that consolation.
When heard the name Germaine the father of the obsessed girl said in astonishment: Ah that is funny! And when he left he still repeated several times: That is funny! (This will be explained a bit later below). On the following day, the 17th, I went to the home o that family for the first time wishing to witness one attack by the Spirit. I was served well. Valentine was having a fit; I entered with locals that ran into the house.
I saw a splendid young lady in bed, strong for her age, sustained by eight or ten strong arms, as described above. Only her head was free then agitating and flogging in the air in all directions, her hair disarranged. The semi open mouth allowed the two rows of white teeth to be seen and particularly threatening. Her eyes seemed lost, the pupils meeting near the corner of the nose. A savage scream would add to that horrible picture that you can imagine. For a while I observed the power of jerk movements; I then inclined upon the body of the girl and placed my right hand on her forehead, the left on her chest. The movements stopped instantaneously, the convulsive behavior ceased, and her head calmly rested on the pillow. I then moved the right hand towards her mouth that gave rise to a beautiful smile. Her large pupils returned to their place the satanic appearance was replaced by the most gracious face. The girl then manifested her surprise for having so many people around her, saying that she was not sick. These were always her words after the crises. I elevated my soul to God and felt two tears of enthusiasm and recognition in her eyes. That had just happened on that morning of the 17th. I returned around 5pm when the crises habitually multiplied but they had happened before the typical hour and had already finished. At 7pm I returned to have dinner in place when they sent for me saying that the girl was experiencing a terrible crisis. I returned immediately. With one hand I then took both arms of the girl, near her wrists, and said to the men that were holding her: Let her go. I then placed the other hand on her chest and we saw her suddenly calming down. I then touched her face provoking a smile and her eyes went back to the normal state. It was the same as in the morning. I remained by her side for part of the night. Her sleep was agitated but she had no crisis. Her face had something of convulsive; I could see the white of her eyes; she seemed to be suffering mentally. She gesticulated, spoke distinctly and said things with an energetic and moved tone: Go! Go! What a villain… the child… the child… the rocks. A kind of ecstasy followed that agitation; she cried and returned in a plangent tone: Ah you suffer the pains of hell! You always want me to suffer… always… always! And then extending her arms in the air she would say: Well, take me, take me! Every time the father would say: Ah that is funny! And the mother added: There is a mystery in all this. From 1am to dawn the girl slept peacefully.
Those agitations, criticisms, ecstasies and cries renovated daily after the violent attacks of the Spirit and lasted much longer on the evenings of September 18th, 19th and 20th. I would be by the patient’s side on a daily basis and in a way I ended up installing myself at her house. While I was around nothing happened; as soon as I left a new crisis took place. I would return and calm her down as seen before. That lasted several days. It was certainly a remarkable phenomenon that the crises would suddenly stop by the imposition of hands. Three was rumors all around town and there was material for a serious study there; I nonetheless was sorry for not having met any of the four doctors that had treated and observed the girl.
During all that time I noticed sometimes an exaggerated happiness in the girl, sometimes something like silliness. Her parents thought that those manners were natural, justifying the predictions of our guides. On September 21st the girl’s parents join me in our session. At the beginning the guides said: Evoke Germaine; ask her to be by your side and tell her this: - Germaine, you are our sister; this young lady is also our sister and your sister. If some sort of dismal action connected you in the past and had the divine justice laying the hand on you both you may touch the Supreme Judge. You must appeal to his infinite mercy; ask for his forgiveness as we do in your favor; have the Lord touched by your fervent prayer and regret. It is useless to you to seek peace to your remorse and refuge in vengeance; and it is useless to seek justification by bulling her with your accusations. Therefore, listen to us. Forgive and you will be forgiven; do not try to deceive us; don’t believe that just the appearance of honesty may seduce us. Whatever the means you are employing we will have them identified and opposed by our strength and will power. May your heart, blinded by suffering and hate, open up to pity and forgiveness. We shall not stop praying to the Eternal and to the good Spirits, God’s faithful messengers, to spread consolation and benefit onto your heart. What we want, Germaine, is to free you from your sufferings. You will always be welcomed by us as a sister; you will be helped. Do not look at us as enemies for we want your happiness; do not be deaf to our words; listen to our advices and soon you will enjoy a peaceful conscience. Remorse will be sent far away and regret will have taken its place. The good Spirits will embrace you like a stray sheep that is found. The bad ones will follow your example. This family that lives with the turmoil that you create will speak highly of you and there will be recognition. This girl will also pray for you and if you are separated by hate you will one day unite by love. The one that seeks vengeance is always unhappy; there is no rest to the one that hates. The one that forgives is close to love. Happiness and tranquility replace suffering and uneasiness. Come, Germaine, join us through your prayers. You want you near us under the happy protection of our guides like Jules[1] and the other Spirits that like you were on the bad path. You are alone. Be the step daughter of this family that prays to the Eternal in favor of those that suffer and teaches everyone to love him to be happy. If you are adamant in remaining cruel to this girl you will prolong and aggravate your sufferings and hear the imprecations from the girl and those around her. Take the friendship offered by your brothers with an open heart; stop these tortures from which you leave kind of dead. Believe in our words; believe above all in the advices of the good Spirits that guide us and in particular in the advices given by the Little Cárita. Don’t remain deaf to this prayer. As a proof that you accept our offer give this girl a few days of peace and rest without disturbance. We will pray for you and shall not stop asking for the end of your suffering. -
We then called Germaine and read what had just been dictated to us.
When we finished the spiritual guides said: - For a few days get together in the greatest possible number. Have your thoughts mostly addressed to her. She will be touched by your honesty and zeal and the results we seek, we hope so, will come quickly thanks to that measure.
The 22nd passed uneventful. As customarily we gathered at night. Evocation of Germaine:
Observation: This last thought of the Spirit is the result of the super excitation in which she finds herself but it raises an important point. “Why they haven’t spoken to me like you do in the world where I live?” Because the ignorance about the future is momentarily part of the punishment of certain guilty persons; it is only after their hardening is overcome by tiredness that they are led to foresee a ray of hope as a relief to their penalties. They need to voluntarily turn their eyes to God. But the good Spirits do not abandon them. They strive to inspire good thoughts in them; watch for the minimal signs of success and as soon as they see the minor sign of regret they provoke instructions that will lead them to good through their enlightenment. Such instructions are given by the Spirits when time is right and can also be given by the incarnate ones so that they can see the solidarity that exists between the visible and the invisible worlds. In the present case it was useful to Germaine’s rehabilitation to have her granted forgiveness from the part of those that should complain about her, something that would simultaneously be their merit. That is the reason why the intervention of humans is frequently requested for the betterment and relief of the suffering Spirits, particularly in the case of obsessions. The intervention of the Spirits would certainly be enough but human charity with respect to their brothers in space is a means of advancement to them that has been reserved by God.
Observation: If we were asked why God allows bad Spirits to throw their rage against innocent people we would say that there is no undeserved suffering and that the one that is innocent today and suffers certainly has something to pay for. Those bad Spirits in such a case act as instruments of atonement. Their malevolence, besides, is a test of patience, resignation and charity.
Observation: In fact experience demonstrates that hard and bad words are an inadequate means of freeing oneself from the bad Spirits. That irritates them even further, leading to a more aggravated bloodthirsty.
We asked our guides to welcome Germaine. They responded:
I saw a splendid young lady in bed, strong for her age, sustained by eight or ten strong arms, as described above. Only her head was free then agitating and flogging in the air in all directions, her hair disarranged. The semi open mouth allowed the two rows of white teeth to be seen and particularly threatening. Her eyes seemed lost, the pupils meeting near the corner of the nose. A savage scream would add to that horrible picture that you can imagine. For a while I observed the power of jerk movements; I then inclined upon the body of the girl and placed my right hand on her forehead, the left on her chest. The movements stopped instantaneously, the convulsive behavior ceased, and her head calmly rested on the pillow. I then moved the right hand towards her mouth that gave rise to a beautiful smile. Her large pupils returned to their place the satanic appearance was replaced by the most gracious face. The girl then manifested her surprise for having so many people around her, saying that she was not sick. These were always her words after the crises. I elevated my soul to God and felt two tears of enthusiasm and recognition in her eyes. That had just happened on that morning of the 17th. I returned around 5pm when the crises habitually multiplied but they had happened before the typical hour and had already finished. At 7pm I returned to have dinner in place when they sent for me saying that the girl was experiencing a terrible crisis. I returned immediately. With one hand I then took both arms of the girl, near her wrists, and said to the men that were holding her: Let her go. I then placed the other hand on her chest and we saw her suddenly calming down. I then touched her face provoking a smile and her eyes went back to the normal state. It was the same as in the morning. I remained by her side for part of the night. Her sleep was agitated but she had no crisis. Her face had something of convulsive; I could see the white of her eyes; she seemed to be suffering mentally. She gesticulated, spoke distinctly and said things with an energetic and moved tone: Go! Go! What a villain… the child… the child… the rocks. A kind of ecstasy followed that agitation; she cried and returned in a plangent tone: Ah you suffer the pains of hell! You always want me to suffer… always… always! And then extending her arms in the air she would say: Well, take me, take me! Every time the father would say: Ah that is funny! And the mother added: There is a mystery in all this. From 1am to dawn the girl slept peacefully.
Those agitations, criticisms, ecstasies and cries renovated daily after the violent attacks of the Spirit and lasted much longer on the evenings of September 18th, 19th and 20th. I would be by the patient’s side on a daily basis and in a way I ended up installing myself at her house. While I was around nothing happened; as soon as I left a new crisis took place. I would return and calm her down as seen before. That lasted several days. It was certainly a remarkable phenomenon that the crises would suddenly stop by the imposition of hands. Three was rumors all around town and there was material for a serious study there; I nonetheless was sorry for not having met any of the four doctors that had treated and observed the girl.
During all that time I noticed sometimes an exaggerated happiness in the girl, sometimes something like silliness. Her parents thought that those manners were natural, justifying the predictions of our guides. On September 21st the girl’s parents join me in our session. At the beginning the guides said: Evoke Germaine; ask her to be by your side and tell her this: - Germaine, you are our sister; this young lady is also our sister and your sister. If some sort of dismal action connected you in the past and had the divine justice laying the hand on you both you may touch the Supreme Judge. You must appeal to his infinite mercy; ask for his forgiveness as we do in your favor; have the Lord touched by your fervent prayer and regret. It is useless to you to seek peace to your remorse and refuge in vengeance; and it is useless to seek justification by bulling her with your accusations. Therefore, listen to us. Forgive and you will be forgiven; do not try to deceive us; don’t believe that just the appearance of honesty may seduce us. Whatever the means you are employing we will have them identified and opposed by our strength and will power. May your heart, blinded by suffering and hate, open up to pity and forgiveness. We shall not stop praying to the Eternal and to the good Spirits, God’s faithful messengers, to spread consolation and benefit onto your heart. What we want, Germaine, is to free you from your sufferings. You will always be welcomed by us as a sister; you will be helped. Do not look at us as enemies for we want your happiness; do not be deaf to our words; listen to our advices and soon you will enjoy a peaceful conscience. Remorse will be sent far away and regret will have taken its place. The good Spirits will embrace you like a stray sheep that is found. The bad ones will follow your example. This family that lives with the turmoil that you create will speak highly of you and there will be recognition. This girl will also pray for you and if you are separated by hate you will one day unite by love. The one that seeks vengeance is always unhappy; there is no rest to the one that hates. The one that forgives is close to love. Happiness and tranquility replace suffering and uneasiness. Come, Germaine, join us through your prayers. You want you near us under the happy protection of our guides like Jules[1] and the other Spirits that like you were on the bad path. You are alone. Be the step daughter of this family that prays to the Eternal in favor of those that suffer and teaches everyone to love him to be happy. If you are adamant in remaining cruel to this girl you will prolong and aggravate your sufferings and hear the imprecations from the girl and those around her. Take the friendship offered by your brothers with an open heart; stop these tortures from which you leave kind of dead. Believe in our words; believe above all in the advices of the good Spirits that guide us and in particular in the advices given by the Little Cárita. Don’t remain deaf to this prayer. As a proof that you accept our offer give this girl a few days of peace and rest without disturbance. We will pray for you and shall not stop asking for the end of your suffering. -
We then called Germaine and read what had just been dictated to us.
When we finished the spiritual guides said: - For a few days get together in the greatest possible number. Have your thoughts mostly addressed to her. She will be touched by your honesty and zeal and the results we seek, we hope so, will come quickly thanks to that measure.
The 22nd passed uneventful. As customarily we gathered at night. Evocation of Germaine:
Observation: This last thought of the Spirit is the result of the super excitation in which she finds herself but it raises an important point. “Why they haven’t spoken to me like you do in the world where I live?” Because the ignorance about the future is momentarily part of the punishment of certain guilty persons; it is only after their hardening is overcome by tiredness that they are led to foresee a ray of hope as a relief to their penalties. They need to voluntarily turn their eyes to God. But the good Spirits do not abandon them. They strive to inspire good thoughts in them; watch for the minimal signs of success and as soon as they see the minor sign of regret they provoke instructions that will lead them to good through their enlightenment. Such instructions are given by the Spirits when time is right and can also be given by the incarnate ones so that they can see the solidarity that exists between the visible and the invisible worlds. In the present case it was useful to Germaine’s rehabilitation to have her granted forgiveness from the part of those that should complain about her, something that would simultaneously be their merit. That is the reason why the intervention of humans is frequently requested for the betterment and relief of the suffering Spirits, particularly in the case of obsessions. The intervention of the Spirits would certainly be enough but human charity with respect to their brothers in space is a means of advancement to them that has been reserved by God.
Observation: If we were asked why God allows bad Spirits to throw their rage against innocent people we would say that there is no undeserved suffering and that the one that is innocent today and suffers certainly has something to pay for. Those bad Spirits in such a case act as instruments of atonement. Their malevolence, besides, is a test of patience, resignation and charity.
Observation: In fact experience demonstrates that hard and bad words are an inadequate means of freeing oneself from the bad Spirits. That irritates them even further, leading to a more aggravated bloodthirsty.
We asked our guides to welcome Germaine. They responded:
- To begin with she is a beloved sister and even more for having suffered so much. Come, Germaine. If you never had your hand shaken by a friendly hand before come closer; we shall extend our hands to you. Our only concern is your happiness. You will always find brothers in us despite the bad action that you still feel capable of doing. We are sorry for that and will not condemn you. Join our family. Happiness smiles to us. There is not bitter tear among us. Happiness replaces pain and love replaces hatred. Sister, your hands!
- Start your work by the evocation of Germaine. She looks forward to that. You must demonstrate to her that you are especially dedicated to her. Avoid anything that may seem indifference or obliviousness to keep any doubt away from her. Understand that her attacks were just suspended. Be sensible. Be happy but without self-love and without pride and above all be heartful in your prayers. If she expresses the desire to keep talking for a long time do not bargain even if that takes the whole night.
- The baptism that you request Jeanne (Germaine) you have already received, I responded; it is in your regret, in your resolution to march on a new path.
- Yes, Germaine, I forgive you; even more, I love you!
- And we too, I immediately added, we all love you as a sister.
- I also begin to love. To whom I owe this transformation? To those that I did harm and that despite all the horror that I must have inspired in them had pity on me, calling me their sister and demonstrated that they were not deceiving me! Yes, you opened up to me a path to a happy future. I was miserable and abandoned and now I live among those that have a lot: I am not to feel sorry for. The good Spirits say that they will prepare me for the atonements that I will have to infallibly endure. It will no longer be to spread death around me but to love and deserve their benevolence and friendship. I would still have a lot to say but I do not want to be inconvenient. Let us pray. It seems that it will be good to me.
- Almighty, eternal and merciful God, hear me prayer. Forgive my blasphemies, my deviations. I did not know the path that leads to the kingdom of the righteous. My earthly brothers made me know it; my spiritual brothers lead me to that. May the infinite justice follow its course to the poor Germaine! She will now suffer but without complaints; not a single groan will leave her mouth. I acknowledge your greatness and benevolence of a Father towards your blessed servants that came to rescue me from the vice. May my prayer be taken to you and may the angels that serve and surround your throne one day welcome me among you as they did to these good Spirits. Today I understand that it is only virtue that may entail happiness. Your grace, oh God, to those that like me still suffer. Give the child that I tortured the sweetness and virtues that constitute happiness on Earth.
- I then asked Valentina’s father, are you well convinced that it is the Spirit of your grandmother?
- Oh Sir, he responded, I was already convinced before this conversation. The name Germaine and the words Valentina used in her crises left no doubt in my mind about it. I promptly told my wife. Even more when you talked to me about Spiritism and reincarnation I immediately thought that my mother was incarnate in Valentine.
The 23rd went by without a crisis, like the day before. The young lady followed her father to our session at night to hear Germaine to whom she was already showing a lot of interest.
Our guides then said:
Your guides
The 24th was as calm as the preceding day. We called Germaine at the session at night.
The young Valentine then said to her:
Germaine then continued:
Germaine
Help yourself and heavens will help you, you were told. The Spirits that guide you will not do the work that is imposed to you as a duty but if you do your part they will abbreviate as much as they can the assigned task under the immortal flag of charity. Go without discouragement and weakness. May your faith becomes stronger and one day you will perhaps ask yourself the origin of that strength. Work for the moralization of your incarnate brothers and the delayed Spirits. Do not be satisfied by preaching the consolations of Spiritism. Show its greatness and power through your actions. That is the best refutation that you can offer to the adversaries. Words fly but the actions strengthen and raise. May the happiness that now takes the family over together with the young doctrine be due to the care and charity of sincere followers! Be confident and humble about what happens to you without which the fruits that you deserve will be lost.
Your guides
Observation: As seen, the Spirits are not inactive or indifferent with respect to the suffering Spirits that must be brought to good. But when the intervention of humans may be useful they allow them the initiative and merit, but still supporting them with their advices and encouragement.
Starting on September 25th and following the advice of our guides I induced the young Valentina to sleep through hypnosis to completely eliminate the influence of the bad fluids that had involved her and strengthen her physical organization. Since her liberation she felt ill, some stomach discomfort, small nervous commotion, all inevitable consequence of the obsession.
Observation: What would have been the utility of the magnetic sleep if the cause was still there? First it was necessary to eliminate the cause before attacking the effect or at least simultaneously act upon both.
The girl was somewhat spoiled by the care and attention that she had received during the illness. She became a bit capricious and willful and hardly accepted to be put to sleep. One day she even refused and I left. As soon as I got home they sent for me saying that she was having a fit. Well, I said, it is Germaine’s punishment. I returned immediately and saw her agitating in bed. The crisis was not as violent as before but showed the same features. I calmed her down as from the other ones. A few hours later she had a second one that I detained in the same way.
We met at night and Germaine came uninvited; she said that she wanted to give the girl a lesson and warn her when she was not behaving properly and making the girl feel her presence. Besides, she gave her very good advices and made the parents feel the inconveniences of giving in to the caprices of children.
Following the cure and the conversion of the Spirit there was the revelations of the drama whose end result had been the violent obsession of Valentina. However interesting and moving may this part of the report be we suppressed the details for being up to a certain extent strange to our subject and because it is related to contemporary matters whose painful memories are still present and were witnessed by persons that are still alive. We summarized them for the conclusions at which we must arrive. For the same reasons we dissimulate the true names that would add nothing to the instruction that stems from this story.
From those revelations made in the intimacy, outside of the group, and through another medium, results that Germaine was Mr. Laurent’s grandmother, and he was the father of the obsessed Valentina. She had a daughter that had two children, one of which was Mr. Laurent. The other was murdered by the grandmother that threw him from a cliff at… She was sentenced to ten years in prison for that murder and she spent that time at C… jail. She gave the most detailed information about these facts with accuracy of names, places and dates so that there was no doubt about her identity. Those private details, only known by Mr. Laurent and his wife, were confirmed by them. In order to be better recognized by her grandson she called him by his nickname that was unknown to the medium and only spoke through a dialect that she used when alive.
One could not be mistaken. Germaine was really Mr. Laurent’s grandmother, the one that was condemned for infanticide. As for her daughter whose son had been killed she is now Laurent’s daughter, the young Valentina that she still come to torment through a terrible obsession. She explained the cause of her hatred. They had fought one another in Spirit and that struggle continued when one of them incarnate. One fact comes to confirm that assertion: the words pronounced by the young lady in her sleep. It is understandable that her parents kept her oblivious to what had happened in the family. These words: “The child! The child! The rocks!” were evidently the result of the memory that her Spirit kept in a state of detachment.
That is how we can explain the repeated phrases said by Laurent: That is funny. And by his wife: There is a mystery in this.
Starting on September 25th and following the advice of our guides I induced the young Valentina to sleep through hypnosis to completely eliminate the influence of the bad fluids that had involved her and strengthen her physical organization. Since her liberation she felt ill, some stomach discomfort, small nervous commotion, all inevitable consequence of the obsession.
Observation: What would have been the utility of the magnetic sleep if the cause was still there? First it was necessary to eliminate the cause before attacking the effect or at least simultaneously act upon both.
The girl was somewhat spoiled by the care and attention that she had received during the illness. She became a bit capricious and willful and hardly accepted to be put to sleep. One day she even refused and I left. As soon as I got home they sent for me saying that she was having a fit. Well, I said, it is Germaine’s punishment. I returned immediately and saw her agitating in bed. The crisis was not as violent as before but showed the same features. I calmed her down as from the other ones. A few hours later she had a second one that I detained in the same way.
We met at night and Germaine came uninvited; she said that she wanted to give the girl a lesson and warn her when she was not behaving properly and making the girl feel her presence. Besides, she gave her very good advices and made the parents feel the inconveniences of giving in to the caprices of children.
Following the cure and the conversion of the Spirit there was the revelations of the drama whose end result had been the violent obsession of Valentina. However interesting and moving may this part of the report be we suppressed the details for being up to a certain extent strange to our subject and because it is related to contemporary matters whose painful memories are still present and were witnessed by persons that are still alive. We summarized them for the conclusions at which we must arrive. For the same reasons we dissimulate the true names that would add nothing to the instruction that stems from this story.
From those revelations made in the intimacy, outside of the group, and through another medium, results that Germaine was Mr. Laurent’s grandmother, and he was the father of the obsessed Valentina. She had a daughter that had two children, one of which was Mr. Laurent. The other was murdered by the grandmother that threw him from a cliff at… She was sentenced to ten years in prison for that murder and she spent that time at C… jail. She gave the most detailed information about these facts with accuracy of names, places and dates so that there was no doubt about her identity. Those private details, only known by Mr. Laurent and his wife, were confirmed by them. In order to be better recognized by her grandson she called him by his nickname that was unknown to the medium and only spoke through a dialect that she used when alive.
One could not be mistaken. Germaine was really Mr. Laurent’s grandmother, the one that was condemned for infanticide. As for her daughter whose son had been killed she is now Laurent’s daughter, the young Valentina that she still come to torment through a terrible obsession. She explained the cause of her hatred. They had fought one another in Spirit and that struggle continued when one of them incarnate. One fact comes to confirm that assertion: the words pronounced by the young lady in her sleep. It is understandable that her parents kept her oblivious to what had happened in the family. These words: “The child! The child! The rocks!” were evidently the result of the memory that her Spirit kept in a state of detachment.
That is how we can explain the repeated phrases said by Laurent: That is funny. And by his wife: There is a mystery in this.
[1] Obsessing Spirit of the young Teresa B…, from Marmande (Spiritist Review, June 1864)
[2]The continuation of the report will explain this last words
[3] We learned from her parents that she had crises that they could not understand when she was six years old.
Evocation of an Incarnate Deaf-Mute
Mr. Rul, member of the Parisian Society of Spiritist Studies sends us the following:
“In 1862 I knew a deaf-mute young man of twelve to thirteen years old. Wishing to make an observation I asked the protector Spirits if I it would be possible to evoke him. After having a positive answer I invited the young man to my room and made him sit on an armchair with a plate of grapes that he promptly devoured. As for myself I sat at a table, prayed and made the evocation as I customarily did. After a few moments my hand trembled and I wrote: I am here.
I looked at the boy and he was silent, eyes closed, calm and asleep with the plate on his knees. He was done with eating. I then addressed the following questions to him:
Q. – Where are you now? A. – In your bedroom, on your armchair.
Q. – Can you tell us why you were born deaf-mute? A. – An atonement of my past crimes.
Q. – Which crimes were that? A. – I was a parricide.
Q. – Can you tell us if your beloved mother had been your mother or your father in the existence that you mentioned, the object of our crime? I waited for the answer that did not come. My hand remained still. I looked at the boy again and he had just woken up and ate the grapes with appetite. I then asked the guides what had just happened; they responded: He gave you the teachings that you wanted and God did not allow him to give others.
I don’t know how the proponents of the exclusive communication of the devil would explain that fact. I came to my own conclusion that God sometimes allows us to evoke an incarnate Spirit and equally allows with respect to the discarnate when we do that with a spirit of charity.”
Observation: From our side we will make another observation about that. The proof of identity here results from the sleep provoked by the evocation and to the interruption of the writing at the moment of waking up. As for the silence that remained after the last question it demonstrates the utility of the veil that is cast upon the past. In fact suppose that the present mother of the boy had been his victim in another existence and that he wanted to repair his mistakes through the love that he dedicates to her. Wouldn’t the mother be strongly affected if she knew that her son had been her murderer? Wouldn’t her feelings be affected? He was allowed to reveal the cause of his disability as a matter of study and in order to give us another proof that the sufferings here have a previous cause when it is not in the present life and that everything is therefore established according to the justice. But the rest would have been useless and could have reached the mother’s ears and for that reason the Spirits woke him up at the very moment when he would likely respond. Later on we will explain the difference between the position of this boy and that of Valentina in our preceding report.
Besides, the fact demonstrates a point of capital importance: It is not only after death that the Spirit recovers the memory of the past. It may be said that it is never lost, even as incarnate, because during the sleep of the body, when the Spirit enjoys certain freedom, it is conscious of previous actions. The Spirit knows the reason for suffering and that suffers deservedly; the memory is only faded during the life of relationships. But, in the absence of a precise memory that could be painful and damaging to social relationships, the Spirit acquires new forces at the times of emancipation of the soul if she knows how to take advantage of them. Must it follow that every deaf-mute is a parricide? That would be an absurd consequence because God’s justice is not circumscribed to absolute limits like human justice.
Other examples demonstrate that the disability may sometimes result from the bad use that was made of the spoken word. But how come, some will ask. The same atonement to two different faults in their seriousness? Is that fair?
However, those that reason in that manner ignore the fact that the same fault may present infinite degrees of culpability and that God measures the responsibility by the circumstances? Besides, who knows that the boy, supposing an inexcusable crime, has not been severely punished in the spiritual world and if his regret and his desire for reparation have not reduced the earthly atonement to a simple disease?
Admitting hypothetically, since we do not know, that his present mother was his victim, if he did not maintain his resolution to repair the fault with her through his love it is certain that a terrible punishment would wait for him, be it in the world of the Spirits or in another existence.
God’s justice never fails and if it is sometimes late it loses nothing for the wait. But God in his infinite benevolence never condemns in a irremissible way and always leaves the door of regret open. If the guilty person takes a long time to take advantage of that suffering will last longer. Thus, it is always up to oneself to abbreviate her sufferings. The duration of punishment is proportional to the duration of the hardening. That is how God’s justice conciliates with his love and benevolence to his creatures.
“In 1862 I knew a deaf-mute young man of twelve to thirteen years old. Wishing to make an observation I asked the protector Spirits if I it would be possible to evoke him. After having a positive answer I invited the young man to my room and made him sit on an armchair with a plate of grapes that he promptly devoured. As for myself I sat at a table, prayed and made the evocation as I customarily did. After a few moments my hand trembled and I wrote: I am here.
I looked at the boy and he was silent, eyes closed, calm and asleep with the plate on his knees. He was done with eating. I then addressed the following questions to him:
Q. – Where are you now? A. – In your bedroom, on your armchair.
Q. – Can you tell us why you were born deaf-mute? A. – An atonement of my past crimes.
Q. – Which crimes were that? A. – I was a parricide.
Q. – Can you tell us if your beloved mother had been your mother or your father in the existence that you mentioned, the object of our crime? I waited for the answer that did not come. My hand remained still. I looked at the boy again and he had just woken up and ate the grapes with appetite. I then asked the guides what had just happened; they responded: He gave you the teachings that you wanted and God did not allow him to give others.
I don’t know how the proponents of the exclusive communication of the devil would explain that fact. I came to my own conclusion that God sometimes allows us to evoke an incarnate Spirit and equally allows with respect to the discarnate when we do that with a spirit of charity.”
Observation: From our side we will make another observation about that. The proof of identity here results from the sleep provoked by the evocation and to the interruption of the writing at the moment of waking up. As for the silence that remained after the last question it demonstrates the utility of the veil that is cast upon the past. In fact suppose that the present mother of the boy had been his victim in another existence and that he wanted to repair his mistakes through the love that he dedicates to her. Wouldn’t the mother be strongly affected if she knew that her son had been her murderer? Wouldn’t her feelings be affected? He was allowed to reveal the cause of his disability as a matter of study and in order to give us another proof that the sufferings here have a previous cause when it is not in the present life and that everything is therefore established according to the justice. But the rest would have been useless and could have reached the mother’s ears and for that reason the Spirits woke him up at the very moment when he would likely respond. Later on we will explain the difference between the position of this boy and that of Valentina in our preceding report.
Besides, the fact demonstrates a point of capital importance: It is not only after death that the Spirit recovers the memory of the past. It may be said that it is never lost, even as incarnate, because during the sleep of the body, when the Spirit enjoys certain freedom, it is conscious of previous actions. The Spirit knows the reason for suffering and that suffers deservedly; the memory is only faded during the life of relationships. But, in the absence of a precise memory that could be painful and damaging to social relationships, the Spirit acquires new forces at the times of emancipation of the soul if she knows how to take advantage of them. Must it follow that every deaf-mute is a parricide? That would be an absurd consequence because God’s justice is not circumscribed to absolute limits like human justice.
Other examples demonstrate that the disability may sometimes result from the bad use that was made of the spoken word. But how come, some will ask. The same atonement to two different faults in their seriousness? Is that fair?
However, those that reason in that manner ignore the fact that the same fault may present infinite degrees of culpability and that God measures the responsibility by the circumstances? Besides, who knows that the boy, supposing an inexcusable crime, has not been severely punished in the spiritual world and if his regret and his desire for reparation have not reduced the earthly atonement to a simple disease?
Admitting hypothetically, since we do not know, that his present mother was his victim, if he did not maintain his resolution to repair the fault with her through his love it is certain that a terrible punishment would wait for him, be it in the world of the Spirits or in another existence.
God’s justice never fails and if it is sometimes late it loses nothing for the wait. But God in his infinite benevolence never condemns in a irremissible way and always leaves the door of regret open. If the guilty person takes a long time to take advantage of that suffering will last longer. Thus, it is always up to oneself to abbreviate her sufferings. The duration of punishment is proportional to the duration of the hardening. That is how God’s justice conciliates with his love and benevolence to his creatures.
Varieties
Perispirit described in 1805Extracted from the German book The mystical phenomena of human life
by Maximilien Perty, Professor at the University of Berne,
Leipzig and Heidelberg, 1861
Dr. Woetzel published a book with the title – Real apparition of my wife after her death – Chemnitz, 1804 that caused great sensation in the first years of this century. The author was attacked in several publications, particularly the Wieland that ridicules him in the Euthanasia. During his wife disease Woetzel had asked her that would come back and show up to him after her death. However, after a few weeks after her death a strong wind seemed to blow in the bedroom, although it was closed; the light was almost extinguished; a small window in the room opened and with the dimly lit ambient Woetzel saw the shape of his wife that told him in a sweet voice: Charles, I am immortal. One day we will meet again. The apparition and those reassuring words took place again later on. The woman showed up in a white dress with the appearance that she had before her death. The dog that had not moved during the first apparition was then agitated and moved around a circle as if going around a known person.
In a second work about the same subject (Leipzig, 1805) the author speaks of invitations that had been sent to him to belie the matter because otherwise many scientists would be forced to resign to what up until that moment they had considered like true and fair opinions and because superstition would find food for thought there. However, he had already requested the Council of the University of Leipzig to allow him to take a legal oath. The author develops his theory. According to him the soul, after death, would be surrounded by an ethereal, luminous body, through which it could become visible; that she could use other garments on top of that luminous envelope; that the apparition had not acted upon his interior feelings but exclusive upon the exterior senses.
As it can be seen the only missing word is perispirit. However, Woetzel is wrong when he believes that the apparition only acted upon the exterior senses and not onto the interior. Today we know that it is the opposite that happens. But he may have meant that he was awaken and not in a dreaming state that would have made him think that he had perceived the apparition only by the corporeal sight for he did not know the properties of the perispiritual fluid nor the mechanism of spiritual vision.
As a matter of fact, reading the scientific work of Mr. Pezzani about the Plurality of the existences one has the proof that the knowledge about the spiritual body goes back to the high antiquity and that only the name perispirit is modern. St. Paul described it in his first epistle to the Corinthians, chapter XV. Woetzel only recognized it by the force of the reasoning. Having studied them in the numerous facts that were observed, modern Spiritism described its properties and deduced the laws of its formation and manifestations.
With respect to the part that refers to the dog there is nothing special there. Several facts seem to demonstrate that certain animals feel the presence of the Spirits. In the Spiritist Review, June 1860 (The Spirit and the little dog) we cite an example that has remarkable analogy with that of Woetzel. It is not positively proven that they cannot see the Spirits. It would not be impossible that under certain circumstances, for example, the horses that show fear and adamantly refuse to move forward without an apparent reason may suffer the influence of a hidden influence.
In a second work about the same subject (Leipzig, 1805) the author speaks of invitations that had been sent to him to belie the matter because otherwise many scientists would be forced to resign to what up until that moment they had considered like true and fair opinions and because superstition would find food for thought there. However, he had already requested the Council of the University of Leipzig to allow him to take a legal oath. The author develops his theory. According to him the soul, after death, would be surrounded by an ethereal, luminous body, through which it could become visible; that she could use other garments on top of that luminous envelope; that the apparition had not acted upon his interior feelings but exclusive upon the exterior senses.
As it can be seen the only missing word is perispirit. However, Woetzel is wrong when he believes that the apparition only acted upon the exterior senses and not onto the interior. Today we know that it is the opposite that happens. But he may have meant that he was awaken and not in a dreaming state that would have made him think that he had perceived the apparition only by the corporeal sight for he did not know the properties of the perispiritual fluid nor the mechanism of spiritual vision.
As a matter of fact, reading the scientific work of Mr. Pezzani about the Plurality of the existences one has the proof that the knowledge about the spiritual body goes back to the high antiquity and that only the name perispirit is modern. St. Paul described it in his first epistle to the Corinthians, chapter XV. Woetzel only recognized it by the force of the reasoning. Having studied them in the numerous facts that were observed, modern Spiritism described its properties and deduced the laws of its formation and manifestations.
With respect to the part that refers to the dog there is nothing special there. Several facts seem to demonstrate that certain animals feel the presence of the Spirits. In the Spiritist Review, June 1860 (The Spirit and the little dog) we cite an example that has remarkable analogy with that of Woetzel. It is not positively proven that they cannot see the Spirits. It would not be impossible that under certain circumstances, for example, the horses that show fear and adamantly refuse to move forward without an apparent reason may suffer the influence of a hidden influence.
A new egg from Saumur
As it seems, Saumur is prodigal in oviparous wonders. You may remember that in September last a chicken born in that city residing at Rue de Visitation laid miraculous eggs on which shells one could see perfectly embossed drawings of sacred object and inscriptions. That brought a great commotion to certain environments and excited the teasing vein of the nonbelievers.
The Echo Saumurois made a lot of fun out of the fact. The place was visited by crowds; law enforcement was touched by that and suggested that a policeman should watch the chicken waiting for the event. We will not repeat the witty and not less judicious explanation given by the Sauveur des Peuples, in Bordeaux, September 18th, 1864 to which we refer the readers for detailed description of the case.
Not long ago one of our subscribers from Saumur sent us another phenomenal egg originated in that town, asking us to have the bizarre thing carefully examined although it had no drawings or inscriptions. It is not that he believed in a prodigy but on the contrary, he wanted our opinion so that he could it to oppose people that were too credulous in matters of miracles because, as it seems, this had also produced a certain uproar in the public, following the previous series of events. We don’t know if it is from the same chicken. Here is what it is about: the egg shows an alteration at one end in the shape of a thick string, twisted around itself, with the same material of the shell, glued to the shell along its full extension of about 6 to 7 centimeters.
One only needs to understand the formation of eggs to realize the phenomenon. It is a known fact that the egg is formed out of a single membrane similar to a bowl in which the yoke and the white, embryo and food to the future chick. Some are sometimes laid in that state. Before the laying the membrane is covered by a layer of calcium carbonate that forms the shell. In the present case considering that the content was not enough to fill out the vesicular membrane resulted that the empty space forming the bowl contracted and wound itself around the body of the egg. The whole limestone body was hardened later on giving rise to the abnormal formation. It the whole space had been fulfilled the egg would be monstrous for a chicken egg because it would measure about 10 centimeters in its larger diameter whilst in the present case it has a regular dimension.
Which relationship can all that have with Spiritism? Absolutely none. The reason why we talk about the subject is for the fact that people wanted to involve the name of Spiritism in the first case and we don’t know exactly on which premises unless it was a follow up on their habit of looking for any opportunity to ridicule Spiritism, even with the strangest things. We wanted to demonstrate once more that the Spiritists are not as much credulous as they say. If a rare event occurs they seek the explanation in the tangible word, before anything else, and do not mix the Spirits with everything that is extraordinary since they know the limits and the laws that govern their actions.
The Echo Saumurois made a lot of fun out of the fact. The place was visited by crowds; law enforcement was touched by that and suggested that a policeman should watch the chicken waiting for the event. We will not repeat the witty and not less judicious explanation given by the Sauveur des Peuples, in Bordeaux, September 18th, 1864 to which we refer the readers for detailed description of the case.
Not long ago one of our subscribers from Saumur sent us another phenomenal egg originated in that town, asking us to have the bizarre thing carefully examined although it had no drawings or inscriptions. It is not that he believed in a prodigy but on the contrary, he wanted our opinion so that he could it to oppose people that were too credulous in matters of miracles because, as it seems, this had also produced a certain uproar in the public, following the previous series of events. We don’t know if it is from the same chicken. Here is what it is about: the egg shows an alteration at one end in the shape of a thick string, twisted around itself, with the same material of the shell, glued to the shell along its full extension of about 6 to 7 centimeters.
One only needs to understand the formation of eggs to realize the phenomenon. It is a known fact that the egg is formed out of a single membrane similar to a bowl in which the yoke and the white, embryo and food to the future chick. Some are sometimes laid in that state. Before the laying the membrane is covered by a layer of calcium carbonate that forms the shell. In the present case considering that the content was not enough to fill out the vesicular membrane resulted that the empty space forming the bowl contracted and wound itself around the body of the egg. The whole limestone body was hardened later on giving rise to the abnormal formation. It the whole space had been fulfilled the egg would be monstrous for a chicken egg because it would measure about 10 centimeters in its larger diameter whilst in the present case it has a regular dimension.
Which relationship can all that have with Spiritism? Absolutely none. The reason why we talk about the subject is for the fact that people wanted to involve the name of Spiritism in the first case and we don’t know exactly on which premises unless it was a follow up on their habit of looking for any opportunity to ridicule Spiritism, even with the strangest things. We wanted to demonstrate once more that the Spiritists are not as much credulous as they say. If a rare event occurs they seek the explanation in the tangible word, before anything else, and do not mix the Spirits with everything that is extraordinary since they know the limits and the laws that govern their actions.
Bibliographic News
The plurality of the existences of the soulby André Pezzani, Lawyer at the Imperial Court of Lyon
This book, impatiently expected for some time, has just appeared at Mr. Didier & Co. store. All of those that know the author, his erudition and analytical and investigative mind, did not doubt that this serious issue of the plurality of the existences would be dealt with by him according to its importance. We are pleased to say that he did not fail in his undertaking. Nonetheless he did not do much to use his own reasoning to demonstrate this great law of humanity, although he dedicated himself to the subject. However wise he may be, he is humble, very humble even and that rarely is the corollary of knowledge. He says that his personal opinion would not be relevant and would weigh little on the scale and that is why he bases the work more on other people’s opinion than on his own. He wanted to demonstrate that the principle had not been foreseen by the greatest geniuses of all times; that it is found in every religion, sometimes clear and categorically formulated, but frequently disguised by allegory that implicitly is the source of a number of dogmas. He proves by authentic documents that the theory of the immortality and progression of the souls was part of secret teachings, only reserved to the initiated in the mysteries. That could have utility in those remote times, as he demonstrates, by hiding from the masses certain truths that they were not mature enough to understand, and that would have confused instead of enlightened them. His work is then rich in citations from the sacred books of the Hindus, Persians, Jewish, Christians, Greek Philosophers, the Neo-Platonic, the doctrines of the Druids, to modern writers such as Charles Bonnet, Ballanche, Fourier, Pierre Leroux, Jean Reynaud, Henri Martin, etc. and by conclusion and final expression the Spiritist books.
In that vast horizon the revises every opinion and the diverse theories about the origin and destinies of the soul. He gives a large space to the doctrine of animal metempsychosis, treating it in a new way. He demonstrates that the plurality of human existences preceded it and that the transmigration into the bodies of animals is just a derivation of that and not the principle. It was the belief reserved to the masses, incapable of understanding the high abstract truth, and as a brake to the passions. The incarnation in animals was a punishment, a kind of visual and present hell that was supposed to impress more than the fear of a spiritual punishment. Here is what Timaeus of Locri, that Cicero affirmed to have been the teacher of Plato, says about it: “If someone is vicious and violates the laws of the state it is necessary that the person be punished by the laws and censorships; the person must then be spanked by the fear of hell, by the anxiety of the continuous penalties, punishments and the horrors and inevitable punishments that are reserved to the unfortunate criminals down below Earth.”
“I praise a lot the Ionic poet (Homer) for having turned men religious, for old and useful fables, because like we heal the bodies with stinky medication if they do not respond to more pleasant one, we also repeal the souls for their false speeches if they are not led by the truthful ones. It is for the same reason that one must establish transient penalties based on the belief in the transmigration of the souls, so that the souls of shy men take, after death, the bodies of women exposed to scorn and injuries; the souls of the murderers to the bodies of wild animals to receive punishment there; the souls of sinners to the bodies of pigs and wild boars; the souls of inconstant and frivolous to the bodies of flying birds; the souls of the lazy, idle, ignorant and mad ones to the bodies of sea creatures. All these things are judged by the goddess Nemesis in the second period, that is, in the circle of the second region around Earth, with the demons, avengers of crimes that are the earthly Inquisitors of human action and to whom the conductor God of everything assigned with the administration of the world full of gods, men and other animals that were produced according to the excellent image of the eternal form.”
It follows from that and from several other documents that the majority of the philosophers openly professed animal metempsychosis as a means because they did not believe it themselves and that they had a secret and more rational doctrine about future life. That seems also to have been Pythagoras’ feelings; as it is known he was not the author of the idea of metempsychosis but he was only its spreader in Greece after having found it among the Indians. As a matter of fact incarnation in animals was only a temporary punishment of a few thousands of years, more or less according to the culpability, a kind of prison from which the soul would enter humanity. Animal incarnation, therefore, was not an absolute condition but it was connected, as one can see, to human reincarnation. It was a kind of scarecrow to the simple ones, much more than an article of faith to the old philosophers. Hence, as people say to children: “if you are bad the bad wolf will devour you”, in Antiquity they said to the criminals: “you will become a wolf”.
The doctrine of the plurality of the existence, coming out of fables and from the times of ignorance, today evidently tends to take part in modern philosophy, abstraction made of Spiritism, because serious thinkers find in that idea the only possible solution to the greatest moral problems of human life. Mr. Pezzani’s work then comes just in time to cast the historical light upon that important question. It will spare laborious and difficult researches, many times impossible to a lot of people. The author did not write the book from Spiritism’s point of view that is only used as an accessory and as a teaching. He wrote it from a philosophical point of view in order to open to him doors that would have been closed given the label of a new belief. It is the complement of the Plurality of Inhabited Worlds by Mr. Flammarion that on his side vulgarized one of the great principles of our Doctrine without talking about that.
We shall return to Mr. Pezzani’s work, making several citations to that.
In that vast horizon the revises every opinion and the diverse theories about the origin and destinies of the soul. He gives a large space to the doctrine of animal metempsychosis, treating it in a new way. He demonstrates that the plurality of human existences preceded it and that the transmigration into the bodies of animals is just a derivation of that and not the principle. It was the belief reserved to the masses, incapable of understanding the high abstract truth, and as a brake to the passions. The incarnation in animals was a punishment, a kind of visual and present hell that was supposed to impress more than the fear of a spiritual punishment. Here is what Timaeus of Locri, that Cicero affirmed to have been the teacher of Plato, says about it: “If someone is vicious and violates the laws of the state it is necessary that the person be punished by the laws and censorships; the person must then be spanked by the fear of hell, by the anxiety of the continuous penalties, punishments and the horrors and inevitable punishments that are reserved to the unfortunate criminals down below Earth.”
“I praise a lot the Ionic poet (Homer) for having turned men religious, for old and useful fables, because like we heal the bodies with stinky medication if they do not respond to more pleasant one, we also repeal the souls for their false speeches if they are not led by the truthful ones. It is for the same reason that one must establish transient penalties based on the belief in the transmigration of the souls, so that the souls of shy men take, after death, the bodies of women exposed to scorn and injuries; the souls of the murderers to the bodies of wild animals to receive punishment there; the souls of sinners to the bodies of pigs and wild boars; the souls of inconstant and frivolous to the bodies of flying birds; the souls of the lazy, idle, ignorant and mad ones to the bodies of sea creatures. All these things are judged by the goddess Nemesis in the second period, that is, in the circle of the second region around Earth, with the demons, avengers of crimes that are the earthly Inquisitors of human action and to whom the conductor God of everything assigned with the administration of the world full of gods, men and other animals that were produced according to the excellent image of the eternal form.”
It follows from that and from several other documents that the majority of the philosophers openly professed animal metempsychosis as a means because they did not believe it themselves and that they had a secret and more rational doctrine about future life. That seems also to have been Pythagoras’ feelings; as it is known he was not the author of the idea of metempsychosis but he was only its spreader in Greece after having found it among the Indians. As a matter of fact incarnation in animals was only a temporary punishment of a few thousands of years, more or less according to the culpability, a kind of prison from which the soul would enter humanity. Animal incarnation, therefore, was not an absolute condition but it was connected, as one can see, to human reincarnation. It was a kind of scarecrow to the simple ones, much more than an article of faith to the old philosophers. Hence, as people say to children: “if you are bad the bad wolf will devour you”, in Antiquity they said to the criminals: “you will become a wolf”.
The doctrine of the plurality of the existence, coming out of fables and from the times of ignorance, today evidently tends to take part in modern philosophy, abstraction made of Spiritism, because serious thinkers find in that idea the only possible solution to the greatest moral problems of human life. Mr. Pezzani’s work then comes just in time to cast the historical light upon that important question. It will spare laborious and difficult researches, many times impossible to a lot of people. The author did not write the book from Spiritism’s point of view that is only used as an accessory and as a teaching. He wrote it from a philosophical point of view in order to open to him doors that would have been closed given the label of a new belief. It is the complement of the Plurality of Inhabited Worlds by Mr. Flammarion that on his side vulgarized one of the great principles of our Doctrine without talking about that.
We shall return to Mr. Pezzani’s work, making several citations to that.
The Evangelical Medium
New Spiritist Journal of Toulouse[1]
The last month of last year saw the birth of a new vehicle of Spiritism, and that corroborates our thoughts contained in the article above about the state of art of Spiritism in 1864. According to its beginning and the letter that its director kindly sent to us before the publication, we must count on another champion in the defense of the true principles of the Doctrine. We talk about those that today are sanctioned by the great control of general agreement. Welcome!
Expecting that one may be judged by their works we say that if the saying “nobility obliges” is true we can say even with more reason that the title obliges. The Evangelical Medium has a full and beautiful program that imposes great obligations but nonetheless could be understood in two ways. It could mean that the journal would deal mainly with religious controversies, from a dogmatic point of view, or that by understanding the essential objective of Spiritism that is the moralization, it will be edited according to the Evangelical principle that is synonym of charity, tolerance and moderation. In the first case we will not follow it because the very interest of the Doctrine requires extreme reservation in the development of its consequences and because we many times have to step back for wanting to move too fast. “There is no need to rush; one must leave on time”.
In the second case we will be entirely with him. In fact here you have a summary of his profession of faith as a heading to his first issue:
“The journal that we endeavor to found with the title Evangelical Medium has the objective of entering the new paths that the world is concerned with today, I mean, the avenues of Spiritism. We thought this journal was needed in Toulouse at a time in which the Spiritists are already uncountable among us and their numerous groups grow every day. Publicity will be in fact a means of spreading the work done by those several groups and making them more useful to the moral progress to which all of our destinies are invited. However, to avoid fluctuating with the winds of the taste of the Doctrine in these still difficult paths we thought we should fly a flag to sponsor our sincere and resolute march, certain that the great principle of the moral renovation is no longer where the Greek and Romans are, that is, Jewish, Protestants and Catholics, but instead a great family united by the links of fraternity and tending to a common objective in its eager career through the mysterious solitudes of life. You know that flag. It is not the golden cross, daughter of pride and vain thoughts of mankind, but the wooden cross, daughter of devotion and sacrifice, say daughter of true charity.”
We are sorry for not having enough space to dedicate to the entire profession of faith. However we have no doubt that we will come back to that on another occasion.
[1] Published every Saturday, since December 15th. Price: Toulouse 8 francs per year, 4.5 per semester – Departments 9 francs and 5 francs. Subscription in Toulouse Rue de la Pomme, 34. In Paris, Boulevard St. Germain, 68
Expecting that one may be judged by their works we say that if the saying “nobility obliges” is true we can say even with more reason that the title obliges. The Evangelical Medium has a full and beautiful program that imposes great obligations but nonetheless could be understood in two ways. It could mean that the journal would deal mainly with religious controversies, from a dogmatic point of view, or that by understanding the essential objective of Spiritism that is the moralization, it will be edited according to the Evangelical principle that is synonym of charity, tolerance and moderation. In the first case we will not follow it because the very interest of the Doctrine requires extreme reservation in the development of its consequences and because we many times have to step back for wanting to move too fast. “There is no need to rush; one must leave on time”.
In the second case we will be entirely with him. In fact here you have a summary of his profession of faith as a heading to his first issue:
“The journal that we endeavor to found with the title Evangelical Medium has the objective of entering the new paths that the world is concerned with today, I mean, the avenues of Spiritism. We thought this journal was needed in Toulouse at a time in which the Spiritists are already uncountable among us and their numerous groups grow every day. Publicity will be in fact a means of spreading the work done by those several groups and making them more useful to the moral progress to which all of our destinies are invited. However, to avoid fluctuating with the winds of the taste of the Doctrine in these still difficult paths we thought we should fly a flag to sponsor our sincere and resolute march, certain that the great principle of the moral renovation is no longer where the Greek and Romans are, that is, Jewish, Protestants and Catholics, but instead a great family united by the links of fraternity and tending to a common objective in its eager career through the mysterious solitudes of life. You know that flag. It is not the golden cross, daughter of pride and vain thoughts of mankind, but the wooden cross, daughter of devotion and sacrifice, say daughter of true charity.”
We are sorry for not having enough space to dedicate to the entire profession of faith. However we have no doubt that we will come back to that on another occasion.
[1] Published every Saturday, since December 15th. Price: Toulouse 8 francs per year, 4.5 per semester – Departments 9 francs and 5 francs. Subscription in Toulouse Rue de la Pomme, 34. In Paris, Boulevard St. Germain, 68
Spiritist Alphabet
teaching to be happy
With this title our very honorable brother in Spiritism, Mr. Delhez, from Vienna, Austria, and whose zeal for the cause of the Doctrine is indefatigable, has just published a brochure in German with a part translated into French. It is an interesting collection of mediumistic communications in prose and verses received at the Spiritist Society of Vienna about several moral subjects, placed in alphabetical order. The brochure can be found in Vienna at the author’s address Singerstrasse, 7 and in all bookstores. Price: 1 florin. Mr. Delhez is the translator of The Mediums’ Book from French to German.
Instructions by the Spirits
Antwerp Society – 1864
I
Acknowledge the greatness and mercy of God towards every creature. The voice of the Almighty has been heard. Bow and be humble because the Lord’s power is great. The whole planet must shake under his merciful hand and those that abide by his laws will be blessed like Abraham of old marching towards an unknown land because the voice of the Eternal spoke to his heart.
The Almighty will support those that march under his paternal eyes, humble and believing. Let them treat you as poor of Spirit and the strong God will gracefully attract you to him. Be firm working in his vineyard and neglect the disdain of the impious because the Eternal has touched you with his protecting hand. Be courageous and move on not knowing where he is leading you. God protects those that support their own weaknesses on his force. The Creator is great. Be impressed by his work. Spiritism spreads around Earth like the soothing dew of the night, refreshing a very dry land. He will spread the celestial dew in your souls and your hearts will produce good fruits by the unction of the divine grace and your work will propagate His glory and greatness. God is Almighty and haven’t the tables of Moses shaken the planet when his force led Moses by the arm? What is it that you fear? Will God abandon you to your weakness when He gave his force to Moses? Hasn’t the Almighty sent the mana to the desert? Will it be the case that God will be less merciful to you than He was to the sons of Israel, allowing your hearts to be driven by ignorance? God is as just as great. Have trust in God and God will inundate you with his grace. Your hearts will expand and become the dwelling of faith and charity because truth has shone upon Earth and you were touched by the benevolent hand of the Almighty. Courage Spiritists! The powerful God watches you. May your souls be the tables on which God writes his laws and may nothing stain the temple of the Eternal so that you become worthy of publicizing the commandments. Have no fear of waking in darkness when the divine light leads you. The times designated by the Almighty have come. Darkness shall be vanished from Earth giving rise to the divine rays that will inundate your souls, if you do not repeal the voice of God. The force of the Almighty will spread over his people and your children will bless him singing praises from the purity of their hearts. May nothing stop you! May nothing discourage you! Be firm in the works of God. Be you all children of a great family and may you be conducted by the eyes of our Celestial Father and may your work be fruitful.
II
The kingdom of Christ is near. The precursors announced that; the quiet fights multiply; the incarnate Spirits agitate to the breath of impure princes of darkness: it is the devil of pride that throws its fire like the crater of a volcano in eruption. The invisible world stands up by the cross and the whole spiritual hierarchy of heavens is at motion towards the divine struggle. Spiritists, stand up; hole your brothers’ hands, the apostles of faith, so that you are strong when facing the terrible army that wants to destroy you. Bow before the cross that is your safeguard in danger, your reward in victory. The fighting field is covered in danger, we do not hide that, but the struggle is needed to make the triumph of faith shinier and stronger and so that these words of Jesus Christ be accomplished: the doors of hell will not prevail.
III
Man is never as strong as when he feels his weakness; he can do everything under the gaze of God. His moral strength grows in proportion to his confidence, because he feels the need to reach out to the Creator to protect his weakness from the failures that he can be led to by human imperfection. He who puts his will into that of God can face the Spirit of evil with impunity without becoming intimidating. If the Supreme Being allows the struggle between the angel and the devil, it is to give the creature the opportunity to triumph and sacrifice oneself in the struggle. When St. Paul felt the voice of God vibrating in him, he said: "I can do everything in Him who strengthens me.” And the greatest sinner became the most zealous apostle of the faith. St. Augustine, abandoned to the weaknesses of his ardent and passionate nature, succumbs; he becomes strong by the eyes of God, who always gives strength to the one who asks to resist evil. But man, in his blindness, believes to be powerful by himself; and in abandoning the support of God, he falls into the abyss that he digs out of self-love. Courage, then, for no matter how strong the Spirit that blocks the way, by leaning on the cross you have nothing to fear; on the contrary, you have everything to gain for your soul, which will grow under the divine ray of faith. Let yourself be led through the storms, and you will reach the end of your journey, where Jesus waits for you.
Every man needs advice. Unfortunate is the one thinks himself strong enough in his own light, for he will have many disappointments. Spiritism is filled with pitfalls even in the groups, and even more so in isolation. The excessive fear of being deceived is good for you because it has been your safeguard in more than one circumstance. Your communications, however, need control; some appreciations alone are not enough. That is why your protecting Spirits advised you to speak to your Spiritist leader, so that you may learn about their worth.
It is necessary to prove, by their union, that all the serious followers work together in the vineyard of the Lord who will extend his branches onto the whole world. The more the workers get together, the faster the great Spiritist chain will be formed, and sooner also the human family will be inundated with the divine fragrances of faith and charity that will regenerate souls under the power of the Creator.
May each of you bring their stone to the edifice to the extent of their strength; but if everyone wants to build as they please, without taking into account the instructions we have given, and that form the foundation; if there is no agreement among you; if you do not have a common ground, then you will build a Babel power. We have shown you this point: let every one of you make it their only goal. We have given you this sign. Let each one inscribe it on their flag and then you will recognize each other and you will hold each other’s hands. But God will scatter the presumptuous ones that have not listened to his voice. He will blind the proud ones that believe to be strong enough by themselves, and those that deviate from the path which he has traced to them will wander in the wilderness.
Spirits, be strong in courage, perseverance and firmness, but humble of heart, according to the precept of the Gospel, and Jesus will lead you through torments and bless your work. Every struggle courageously endured under the gaze of God is an ardent prayer that rises to him like the pure incense of a pleasant aroma. If it were enough to mumble words to address God, the lazy ones would only need to take a book of prayers to satisfy the obligation to pray. Work, the activity of the soul, is the only good prayer that purifies and makes it grow.
Fénelon
I
Acknowledge the greatness and mercy of God towards every creature. The voice of the Almighty has been heard. Bow and be humble because the Lord’s power is great. The whole planet must shake under his merciful hand and those that abide by his laws will be blessed like Abraham of old marching towards an unknown land because the voice of the Eternal spoke to his heart.
The Almighty will support those that march under his paternal eyes, humble and believing. Let them treat you as poor of Spirit and the strong God will gracefully attract you to him. Be firm working in his vineyard and neglect the disdain of the impious because the Eternal has touched you with his protecting hand. Be courageous and move on not knowing where he is leading you. God protects those that support their own weaknesses on his force. The Creator is great. Be impressed by his work. Spiritism spreads around Earth like the soothing dew of the night, refreshing a very dry land. He will spread the celestial dew in your souls and your hearts will produce good fruits by the unction of the divine grace and your work will propagate His glory and greatness. God is Almighty and haven’t the tables of Moses shaken the planet when his force led Moses by the arm? What is it that you fear? Will God abandon you to your weakness when He gave his force to Moses? Hasn’t the Almighty sent the mana to the desert? Will it be the case that God will be less merciful to you than He was to the sons of Israel, allowing your hearts to be driven by ignorance? God is as just as great. Have trust in God and God will inundate you with his grace. Your hearts will expand and become the dwelling of faith and charity because truth has shone upon Earth and you were touched by the benevolent hand of the Almighty. Courage Spiritists! The powerful God watches you. May your souls be the tables on which God writes his laws and may nothing stain the temple of the Eternal so that you become worthy of publicizing the commandments. Have no fear of waking in darkness when the divine light leads you. The times designated by the Almighty have come. Darkness shall be vanished from Earth giving rise to the divine rays that will inundate your souls, if you do not repeal the voice of God. The force of the Almighty will spread over his people and your children will bless him singing praises from the purity of their hearts. May nothing stop you! May nothing discourage you! Be firm in the works of God. Be you all children of a great family and may you be conducted by the eyes of our Celestial Father and may your work be fruitful.
II
The kingdom of Christ is near. The precursors announced that; the quiet fights multiply; the incarnate Spirits agitate to the breath of impure princes of darkness: it is the devil of pride that throws its fire like the crater of a volcano in eruption. The invisible world stands up by the cross and the whole spiritual hierarchy of heavens is at motion towards the divine struggle. Spiritists, stand up; hole your brothers’ hands, the apostles of faith, so that you are strong when facing the terrible army that wants to destroy you. Bow before the cross that is your safeguard in danger, your reward in victory. The fighting field is covered in danger, we do not hide that, but the struggle is needed to make the triumph of faith shinier and stronger and so that these words of Jesus Christ be accomplished: the doors of hell will not prevail.
III
Man is never as strong as when he feels his weakness; he can do everything under the gaze of God. His moral strength grows in proportion to his confidence, because he feels the need to reach out to the Creator to protect his weakness from the failures that he can be led to by human imperfection. He who puts his will into that of God can face the Spirit of evil with impunity without becoming intimidating. If the Supreme Being allows the struggle between the angel and the devil, it is to give the creature the opportunity to triumph and sacrifice oneself in the struggle. When St. Paul felt the voice of God vibrating in him, he said: "I can do everything in Him who strengthens me.” And the greatest sinner became the most zealous apostle of the faith. St. Augustine, abandoned to the weaknesses of his ardent and passionate nature, succumbs; he becomes strong by the eyes of God, who always gives strength to the one who asks to resist evil. But man, in his blindness, believes to be powerful by himself; and in abandoning the support of God, he falls into the abyss that he digs out of self-love. Courage, then, for no matter how strong the Spirit that blocks the way, by leaning on the cross you have nothing to fear; on the contrary, you have everything to gain for your soul, which will grow under the divine ray of faith. Let yourself be led through the storms, and you will reach the end of your journey, where Jesus waits for you.
Every man needs advice. Unfortunate is the one thinks himself strong enough in his own light, for he will have many disappointments. Spiritism is filled with pitfalls even in the groups, and even more so in isolation. The excessive fear of being deceived is good for you because it has been your safeguard in more than one circumstance. Your communications, however, need control; some appreciations alone are not enough. That is why your protecting Spirits advised you to speak to your Spiritist leader, so that you may learn about their worth.
It is necessary to prove, by their union, that all the serious followers work together in the vineyard of the Lord who will extend his branches onto the whole world. The more the workers get together, the faster the great Spiritist chain will be formed, and sooner also the human family will be inundated with the divine fragrances of faith and charity that will regenerate souls under the power of the Creator.
May each of you bring their stone to the edifice to the extent of their strength; but if everyone wants to build as they please, without taking into account the instructions we have given, and that form the foundation; if there is no agreement among you; if you do not have a common ground, then you will build a Babel power. We have shown you this point: let every one of you make it their only goal. We have given you this sign. Let each one inscribe it on their flag and then you will recognize each other and you will hold each other’s hands. But God will scatter the presumptuous ones that have not listened to his voice. He will blind the proud ones that believe to be strong enough by themselves, and those that deviate from the path which he has traced to them will wander in the wilderness.
Spirits, be strong in courage, perseverance and firmness, but humble of heart, according to the precept of the Gospel, and Jesus will lead you through torments and bless your work. Every struggle courageously endured under the gaze of God is an ardent prayer that rises to him like the pure incense of a pleasant aroma. If it were enough to mumble words to address God, the lazy ones would only need to take a book of prayers to satisfy the obligation to pray. Work, the activity of the soul, is the only good prayer that purifies and makes it grow.
Fénelon