Note XVII.

Based on what the Spirits themselves say, whether of their tendency to suit the language to the people to whom they address themselves, or of the influence of the milieu upon the nature of the communications, one might ask whether this book is not the reflection of the thought of the one who wrote it under dictation. A few words will answer this question.

For a long time the author was incredulous with regard to spiritist communications; he had, however, to yield before the evidence of the facts. In the second place, and before writing this book, he held, on numerous important points, opinions diametrically opposed to those that are set forth in it, having modified his convictions only in the face of the teaching that the Spirits gave him. This teaching was administered to him by means of several writing and speaking mediums, who differed considerably among themselves as to character and whose knowledge, regarding many questions, did not allow them to have a preconceived opinion. In spite of this, there was always perfect identity in the theory that they transmitted, one of them often, and with several months' interval, completing the idea expressed by another. That upon which the author was able to exercise a real influence was the desire and the will to enlighten himself, the methodical order and sequence that he imprinted upon the work, thus permitting the Spirits to give him a complete and regular teaching, as a professor would do in teaching a science, following the chaining of ideas. Indeed, they are true lessons that the Spirits gave him during nearly two years, marking out for him, they themselves, the days and hours for the interviews. It is above all in the intimate and continuous communications that the intelligence and the hidden force that manifests itself, its individuality, its superiority or inferiority, become evident. Several Spirits concurred simultaneously in these instructions, at which they were present, taking the floor alternately, one speaking in the name of all. Among those who animated known personages, we shall cite: John the Evangelist, Socrates, Fénelon, Saint Vincent de Paul, Hahnemann, Franklin, Swedenborg, Napoleon I; others inhabit higher Spheres and either never lived on Earth, or appeared here only in immemorial times. It is conceivable that from such a gathering only grave words, full of wisdom, could come; and this wisdom never belied itself for a single moment, and never did an equivocal and improper word stain its purity. ALLAN KARDEC