Bulletin of the Parisian Society of Spiritist StudiesFriday, July 27th, 1860
(General Session)
Committee meeting.
The works and minutes of the July 20th session were read.
MULTIPLE COMMUNICATIONS:
1st – Report given by Ms. P… about the poem sent to the Society
by Mr. Pory from Marseille, with the title Linda, Gallic legend.
Ms. P… analyzes the subject of the work and acknowledges the
presence of thoughts of great elevation and expressed very well;
however, with the exception of the Christian ideas, she does not
see much or she sees very little that is related to Spiritism. To her
the author seems to be more spiritualist than spiritist. That does
not make his work less remarkable, she says, and every poetry
lover shall read it with great interest.
2nd – A letter from Mr. X… with a summarized analysis of Mr.
Rigolot’s doctrine, from Saint-Étienne. According to that doctrine
the spiritual world does not exist; the spirits are immediately reunited with God after death of the body. Only three spirits may
communicate with human beings through mediums, they are:
Jesus, mentor and protector of our globe; Mary, his mother and
Socrates. Every communication, whatever their nature, comes
from them. They are the only ones, he says that they manifest
to him and when they tell him coarse things he thinks that it is
a test. A discussion was established about it that can be summarized
as follows:
The Society unanimously declares that reason refuses to admit
that the Spirit of good, by excellence, model of the most sublime
virtues, may dictate bad things and that there is a kind of
profanation in the supposition that communications with revolting
nastiness and even obscenities, as seen sometimes, may come
from such a pure source. On another hand, the admission that
every soul reunites with God after death is the same as denying
punishment to the guilty ones since one could not admit that by
God’s side we are taught to envisage as the supreme reward, there
could simultaneously be a focus of pain to those who led a bad
life. If in such divine fusion where the spirit loses its individuality,
we then have a variation of pantheism. In either case, according
to this doctrine, the sinner has no reason to stop in the avenue of
errors since the efforts to do good are superfluous. That is at least
what sticks out from the general principles that seem to constitute
its foundation.
The Society does not know Mr. Rigolot’s system well enough
to assess it in details.
The Society ignores how he explains a number
of patent facts, such as: the apparitions, for example, through
which the evoked spirit of a relative gives material demonstration
of identity. Would it be Jesus then taking all these roles? Would
it still be Jesus to play the drums or the rhythmic arias, in the
case of the rapping spirits? After having played the hateful role of
tempter, would he come to serve as an entertainer? There is moral incompatibility between the trivial and the sublime, between the
absolute evil and the absolute good.
Mr. Rigolot has always kept himself isolated from other spiritists,
which is a mistake. In order to get to know something well,
it is necessary to see everything, to study everything, comparing
opinions, hear the pros and cons, hear all objections and finally
only accept what the strictest logic may admit.
That is what the spirits that guide us incessantly recommend;
and that is the reason why the Society has taken the name Society
of Studies, a name that implies the idea of analysis and research.
It is licit to think that if Mr. Rigolot had followed this path he
would have acknowledged in his theory the existence of points
in manifest contradiction with the facts. His separation from the
other spirits only allow him communications of the same kind,
naturally impeding him from seeing what could clarify him about
the insufficiency of those spirits to solve all these questions. That
is what happens with the majority of the mediums who isolate
themselves: they are in the position of someone that by hearing
the bell ring only hear a sound. Such is the impression that the
Society has about that doctrine that seems incapable of explaining
the reason for all those facts.
3rd – Reference is made to a letter from Dr. Morhéry, bringing
new details about Ms. Godu and with the continuation of his
observations about the obtained cures. Another letter is also mentioned,
this time from Dr. de Grand-Boulogne, about the role of
the rapping spirits. Given the extension of the letter the reading
was postponed to the next session.
4th – Mr. Allan Kardec reports an interesting fact that took
place in a private session, in his house. The excellent medium Mr.
Rabache was present in that session, through which Adam Smith
had spontaneously communicated in a London café. Having been
evoked through another medium, Mrs. Costel, Adam Smith responded simultaneously in French, through that lady, and in
English, through Mr. Rabache. Several answers showed perfect
identity and even the literal translation of each other.
5th –Facts showing a connection to several physical manifestations
that occurred with Mr. B…, were presented to the meeting.
Among other facts, the transport of a cap thrown into a bedroom
and a flask of magnetized water with a strong musky smell, so
strong that it impregnated the whole apartment.
STUDIES:
1st – Evocation of the Muslim Séih-ben-Moloka, deceased at the
age of 100 years, in Tunisia, and whose life was characterized by
acts of benevolence and generosity. His answers reveal an elevated
spirit but who was not exempt from sectarian prejudices when
alive.
2nd – Two spontaneous essays were received, the first through
Mr. Didier, about the conscience, signed by Lamennais; the second
by Mrs. Lu…, with multiple advices, signed by Paul.
Friday, August 3rd, 1860
(Private Session)
Committee meeting.
Reading of the minutes and works of the July 27th session.
A letter from Mr. Darcol is read, in which he proposes to the Society
a subscription to the Christians from Syria. He bases his proposal on the
principles of humanity, charity and tolerance, which are the very essence
of Spiritism and must guide the Society.
Having examined the proposal and in all fairness to Mr. Darcol’s
good intentions, the Committee thinks that the Society must abstain
from any manifestation strange to the objective of its studies and that it
must allow each member to freely act on an individual basis.
The Society does not see anything harmful in the proposal, much to
the contrary. However, given the absence of the majority of the members
in the vacation period, it postpones the analysis of the subject to a session
after the current season.
By suggestion of the Committee, the Society decides to go on vacation
during the month of September.
MULTIPLE COMMUNICATIONS:
1st – Letter received from Dr. Morhéry.
2nd – Letter received from Mr. Indermuhle, member of the
Society, speaking about the good reception given to the spiritist ideas
among persons in the rural areas. He mentions the case of a German
brochure under the title Die Ewigkeit kein geheimniss mehr (No more
secrets about eternity) that he proposes to send to the Society.
3rd – Letter from Dr. de Grand-Boulogne about physical
manifestations as a means of conviction. He thinks that it would
not be correct to consider every rapping spirit as from an inferior
order, since he has received himself communications from a very
elevated order through raps.
Mr. Allan Kardec responds that typtology is a means of communication
like any other and which can be used by the most
elevated spirits, when there is no availability of a faster means.
Not all spirits that communicate through raps are rapping spirits
and most of them repudiate such classification, only adequate to
those who could be called professional rapping spirits.
Common sense rejects the idea that superior spirits would
come to spend their time entertaining an assembly by the exhibition
of their skills. As for the physical manifestations themselves,
he has never denied their utility but persists in the opinion
that those are incapable of leading to conviction on their own.
Furthermore, he says, the more extraordinary the facts the more
they excite disbelief. What is needed, before anything else, is the understanding of the principle behind the phenomena. To someone
that knows those principles, the phenomena have nothing of
supernatural, and come to support the theory.
Dr. de Grand-Boulogne says that the letter that was just read
is a little bit old and that his ideas have changed significantly
since then. He agrees entirely with Mr. Allan Kardec since experience
has showed him how important it is to understand the
principle before seeing things. Hence he only admits in his house
persons who are familiar with the theory, thus avoiding objections
and useless questions. He acknowledges that he has made
more proselytes by such a system than by the exhibition of facts
that are not understood.
STUDIES:
1st – Evocation of James Coyle, alienated, deceased at the age of
106 years, in the Saint-Patrick hospital of Dublin, where he was
since 1802. The evocation offers an interesting subject for study
about the condition of the spirit during mental alienation.
2nd – Appeal, without a special evocation, to the spirits what
have requested assistance. Two of them manifested spontaneously:
the Great Françoise and the spirit of Castelnaudary, who
thank those who have prayed in their favor.
3rd – A spontaneous essay is obtained by Mr. D…, signed by
Sister Jeanne, one of the victims of the Syrian massacres.
Friday, August 10th, 1860
(General Session)
Committee meeting.
Reading of the minutes and works of the previous session.
Mr. Allan Kardec announces that a lady member of the Society has
sent the amount of 10 francs to be used in favor of the Syrian Christians
or towards any other charity that the Society finds adequate to apply.
MULTIPLE COMMUNICATIONS:
1st – A letter from Mr. Jobard, from Brussels, about Thilorier, his
former friend, who was evoked on June 15th, 1860. He provides
interesting details about his discovery, his life and habits, and rectifies
several statements given in the news coverage about him,
published in the newspaper la Patrie. Among other particulars
he tells the story of how his hearing was reestablished through
magnetism. To be published in the sequence.
2nd – Mr. B…, foreign observer, mentions several cases of
spontaneous physical manifestations that took place with one of
his friends. Since that person could not come to the session, that
person will report the facts in more details in a future session.
STUDIES:
1st – Several questions and moral issues addressed to St. Louis,
regarding the death of Jean Luizerolle that substituted and saved
his son’s life, who was condemned to the death penalty in 1793.
2nd – Evocation of Alfred de Marignac, who transmitted a
message to Mr. Darcol about penury, using the name Bossuet.
3rd – Evocation of Bossuet regarding the above and several
other questions. He finishes by a spontaneous dissertation about
the dangers of religious quarrels.
4th – Evocation of Sister Jeanne, victim of the Syrian massacres,
who came spontaneously to the last session, having asked
to be called again.
5th – Appeal in favor of the suffering spirits that requested
assistance. A new spirit shows up by the name of Fortune Privat,
giving details about his condition and his penalties. This communication
gives rise to several interesting explanations regarding
the condition of the suffering spirits.
6th – Spontaneous essay about the Nothingness of Life, signed
by Sophie Swetchine, received by Ms. Huet.
Friday, August 17th, 1860
(Private Session)
Committee meeting.
Reading of the minutes and works of the August 10th session.
By suggestion of the Committee and after a verbal report, the Society
accepts Mr. Jules R… from Brussels and residing in Paris as a member.
MULTIPLE COMMUNICATIONS:
1st – In a letter sent by Countess D…, from Milan, to Mr. Allan
Kardec, there is the following passage: “I recently searched old
magazines from Paris and I found a little story by a charming writer,
Charles Nodier, entitled: Lidia or the resurrection. I found myself
inside The Spiritist Review; it is an intuition of The Spirits’ Book,
though written in 1839. Was Nodier a believer? Was Spiritism discussed
in those days? If possible I would like to have him evoked.
He was a pure heart and a loving soul. I ask you to please, if you can
evoke him. If his moral was so smooth, kind, attractive, how should
he be now that his spirit is unraveled from matter!”
For a long time the Society had wanted to call Charles Nodier.
It shall be done in the next session.
2nd – Two essays obtained by Dr. de Grand-Boulogne are
read, signed by Zenon, the first one about the doubt raised regarding
Bossuet’s identity in the previous session and the second
about the reincarnation, where the spirit demonstrates the need to
view from a moral point and its consistency with religious ideas.
3rd – Two communications received by Mrs. Costel and
signed by Georges are read, the first about the spirits’ progress; the
second about the spirit’s awakening.
4th – Reading of the evocation of Louis XIV, done by Ms.
Huet, and a spontaneous essay received by her about the benefit to
be extracted from the advices given by the spirits, signed by Marie,
a familiar spirit.
STUDIES:
1st – Mr. Ledoyen reminds us that some time ago St. Louis had
initiated a series of essays about capital sins. He asks if St. Louis
would like to continue that work.
St. Louis responds that he shall gladly do that and that next
time he will speak about Envy, since it is too late to do it tonight.
2nd – St. Louis is asked if the Queen of Ouda could be called
again in the next session, the one that was already evoked in
January 1858, so that we can assess the eventual progress that she
might have made. He answers: “It would be charitable to evoke
her, speaking to her in a friendly way and at the same time instructing
her a little bit, since she still falls well behind.”
3rd – Charles Nodier is evoked. After having responded with
extreme benevolence the questions addressed to him he promises
to start a new continuous work in the next session.
4th – Spontaneous essay obtained by Mr. Didier about hypocrisy,
signed by Lamennais. The spirit then responds to several
questions about his situation and the character that is reflected
out of his communications.
Friday, August 24th, 1860
(General Session)
Committee meeting.
Reading of the minutes and works of the previous session.
The President reads the following instruction regarding individuals
outside of the Society, in order to forearm them against false ideas that
they may have about the Society’s objectives.
“We believe it is important to remind those persons who are foreign
to the Society and not informed about our activities, that we don’t
carry out any experimentations and that they would be mistaken if they
thought that this is a place where they would find such distractions. We
are utterly involved with very serious things, but of little interest and not much intelligible to whomever ignores the Spiritist Science. Since
the presence of such persons would be useless to them and cause of
disruption to us, we refuse to grant admission to those who don’t know
at least its basic principles and particularly those who are not sympathetic
to the Doctrine. We are, first of all, a society of scientific studies,
and not a teaching society; we have never invited the public because we
know from experience that true conviction is only formed after a long
series of observations and not for having attended a few sessions that
do not present any methodic continuation. That is why we make no
demonstrations that would repeat every time, hindering the continuation
of our works. If, irrespective of all that, there are persons here only
attracted by curiosity or who don’t share our way of seeing things, we
would remind them that they were not invited and that we expect from
them respect to our convictions, as we respect theirs. All we ask for is
silence and deference. Since respect is one of the most expressed recommendations
from the part of the spirits that in good will communicate
with us, we insistently invite those who are present to abstain from any
private conversation.”
The Committee decided that, although there is a 5th Friday on the
31st of this month, this current session will be the last one before the
holidays, and that the first one will take place on the first Friday in
October.
The Committee was informed about a letter with a request for admission
as a member from Mr. B…, from Paris. However, given the fact that
the present session is general, the decision is adjourned to the session after
the period of vacation.
MULTIPLE COMMUNICATIONS:
1st – Reading of a particular evocation of Père Leroy carried out
by Mr. Jules Rob…, who died not long ago in Beirut. The evocation
is remarkable by the elevation of the spirit who confirms
in absolutely everything the character that he had when alive, that of a true Christian. He manifests his intent of being evoked
at the Society.
2nd – Reading of a spontaneous essay received by Mr. Dacol,
about the mediums and signed by Salles. This essay was delivered
in the previous session and not read yet because there was not
time to have it previously analyzed, an imperiously established
formality by the regulations of the Society.
3rd – Another spontaneous essay received by Mrs. B… about
Moral Charity, signed by Sister Rosalie.
4th – Two other spontaneous essays received by Mrs. Costel,
one about the multiple categories of errant spirits and the other
about the punishments, signed by Georges. Both communications
are regarded amongst the most remarkable by the elevation of
the expressed thoughts, by the truthfulness of the images and the
eloquence in style. To be published along with the other more
important communications.
Mr. President reinforces that the Society is necessarily limited
in time but everything that is received in private by the
members must be considered as a complement of their work, as
long as they wish to bring it over. The Society must not consider
as part of its archives only what is received in its sessions, but
also everything that comes from outside and may be useful to
everyone’s enlightenment. It is the center to which the private
studies converge, to the benefit of all. It is a means of control
to the mediums by helping them to understand the nature of
the received communications, protecting them against deception.
Besides, the spirits frequently prefer to communicate in
the intimacy where there is necessarily more reverence than in
sessions with a large number of people, by the instruments of
their choice, at the time of their convenience and under circumstances
that we cannot always appreciate. By concentrating
those communications, everybody makes use of the advantages
that they can offer.
STUDIES:
1st – St. Louis is asked about the spirit of Georges. He was a painter
when alive and used to teach painting to the person who serves
him as a medium. His life does not offer any special particularity,
but the fact that he was always good and benevolent. As spirit, his
communications always show such an elevation that we would
like to know the position that he occupies in the spiritual world.
St. Louis responds:
“He was a fair spirit on Earth; his whole greatness consists
on his benevolence, charity and faith in God that he professed;
hence, today he is among the superior spirits.”
2nd – Evocation of Charles Nodier, by Ms. Huet. He starts the
work that he promised in the previous session.
3rd – Evocation of Pere Leroy. Since the choice of medium was
left open, we preferred that he did not use the previous medium
in order to avoid any influence and for us to be able to better assess
his identity through his answers. These are in agreement with
the previously expressed feelings, in all points, and are worthy of
an elevated spirit. He finishes with advice of the highest wisdom
through which Christian humility, tolerance of the evangelical
charity and a superiority of intelligence are revealed.
4th – Evocation of the Queen of Ouda, already evoked in
January 1858 (see the March 1858 issue of the Review). Medium
Mr. Rob… A slight disposition towards progress is detected but
in reality her character has not changed much.
OBSERVATION: A lady that had lived in India for a long
time and has known her personally was present at the session.
She says that all her answers are in perfect agreement with her
character and that it is impossible not to acknowledge a proof of
identity in those answers.
5th – Three spontaneous essays are obtained: the first through
Ms. Huet, about Envy and signed by St. Louis; the second received
by Mr. Didier about the Original Sin, signed by Ronsard;
the third by Ms. Stephanie, signed by Gustave Lenormand.
During these last communications Ms. L. J…, a drawing medium,
obtained two pieces of work signed by Jules Romain.
After a few nice thoughts written by an anonymous spirit,
another spirit who had already communicated through Ms. L.J…
interferes, breaking the pencil and making doodles indicative of
rage. The spirits communicates through Mr. Jules Rob… at the
same time, arrogantly responding the questions addressed to him.
It is the spirit of a foreign sovereign, known by his violent
character. Once invited to sign his name he does so in two ways.
One of the attendees, connected to the government of his country
and has frequent access to documents signed by him, recognizes
one as from official documents and the other from private
letters.
Once the general session is over the members were invited to
stay a little bit longer for one communication.
In a very warm address, Mr. Sanson exposes the recognition
that he owes St. Louis for his intervention in the instantaneous
cure of a illness in his leg, which had resisted to every treatment
and would likely lead to amputation. He continues saying that
he owes his truly miraculous cure to his knowledge of Spiritism
and his trust in God’s mercy and power, all that he gave almost
no attention to before. Since he owes the Society for his initiation
in the truth taught here he adds the Society into his recognition.
Since then he offers flowers to the spirit of St. Louis
on the very day consecrated to him, in memory of the received
favor. That tribute is renewed today, August 24th and the eve of
St. Louis’ day.
The Society adds to the testimony of gratitude from Mr.
Sanson, thanking St. Louis for his benevolence and requesting
his continual protection. St. Louis responds:
“I feel three times happy my beloved brothers by what I see
and hear tonight. Your emotion and recognition are still the best
tribute that you could address to me. May the God of benevolence
keep you with those good and generous feelings! I shall continue
to watch over the Society united by the feelings of charity
and a true fraternity.”
Louis
