Translator's Note.

With the aim of popularizing Spiritism and making its dissemination easier and swifter, Allan Kardec, without prejudice to the basic works of the Spiritist Doctrine, wrote a series of pamphlets and distributed them throughout France, at prices extremely accessible to the interested public. Some of them went through several editions and achieved notable success, continuing to be reissued even after the disincarnation of the Codifier. This work contains the complete translation of four of them: Spiritism in Its Simplest Expression (cover title); Summary of the Law of Spiritist Phenomena; Character of the Spiritist Revelation; and Rational Catalogue of Works for Founding a Spiritist Library. In addition, we have appended, in the form of an appendix, the booklet Speeches Delivered on the Anniversary of Allan Kardec's Death - Inauguration of the Monument, which deals with the inauguration of the Codifier's dolmen at the Cemetery of Père-Lachaise [virtual visit to the Père-Lachaise cemetery], in Paris, which took place on March 31, 1870, with all the speeches that were delivered on that occasion, and which also includes a posthumous message from the Spirit Allan Kardec, received by a medium of the Spiritist Society of Paris. Its contents are distributed as follows:

SPIRITISM IN ITS SIMPLEST EXPRESSION. — This is a summary exposition of the teaching of the Spirits and of their manifestations. It appeared in Paris (Ledoyen), in January 1862, in large in-18 format, with 36 pages.

The second edition, containing the definitive text, was released the following May in the same large in-18 format.

The pamphlet is composed of three chapters: “History of Spiritism,” “Summary of the Teaching of the Spirits,” and “Maxims Drawn from the Teaching of the Spirits.” The Spiritist Review of December 1861 announces its imminent publication, characterizing it as a brochure intended to popularize the elements of the Spiritist Doctrine and setting its price: 25 centimes. In January 1862 Kardec provides more details about the booklet: besides setting its release (January 15), he reduces the price to 15 centimes for a single copy, and to ten centimes for anyone purchasing twenty copies. And he adds: “The purpose of this publication is to give, in a very succinct overview, a history of Spiritism and a sufficient idea of the Doctrine of the Spirits, so that one may understand its moral and philosophical purpose. Through the clarity and simplicity of the style, we have sought to put it within the reach of all minds. We count on the zeal of all true Spiritists to help its propagation.” In April 1862 the Codifier reports that about ten thousand copies had been sold and that the pamphlet was being reprinted with several important corrections; he also reported its translation into German, Russian, and Polish.

SUMMARY OF THE LAW OF SPIRITIST PHENOMENA. — Coinciding with the release of the Imitation of the Gospel According to Spiritism, the Summary of the law of spiritist phenomena appeared in April 1864 as an article in the Spiritist Review, in reduced size - 23 numbered items, formed of one or more paragraphs, only acquiring its definitive form in 1865, with the release of the 2nd edition (42 numbered items) [See:

Compiler's Note].

In the words of the Codifier, “This instruction is made aiming, above all, at persons who have no notion of Spiritism, and to whom one wishes to give a succinct idea in a few words. In Spiritist groups or meetings, where novice attendees are present, it may usefully serve as a preamble to the sessions, according to the needs.”

This publication achieved enormous success, going so far as to exhaust all the copies of its 36 editions, offered to the reader practically at cost price, and which flooded France for more than three decades. We still find a final mention of this pamphlet in the Spiritist Review of October 1865. It was the time of the Davenport brothers' visit to Paris; Messrs. Didier, publishers of The Spirits' Book, upon publishing a biography of those famous conjurers, saw fit to include in the said production the Summary of the Law of Spiritist Phenomena, demonstrating once again their commitment to the dissemination of the Spiritist Doctrine. CHARACTER OF THE SPIRITIST REVELATION. — Originally published as an article in the Spiritist Review of September 1867, the Character of the Spiritist Revelation became the first chapter of Genesis, the miracles and the predictions according to Spiritism, the last work of the Spiritist Codification, released in Paris in January 1868.

At the time of its appearance in the Spiritist Review, this article consisted of 55 numbered items, some formed by two or more paragraphs. The long note of the 2nd paragraph of the original item 44 later disappears, while a second note is added to one of the unnumbered paragraphs of item 53, nonexistent in the original edition; items 56 to 62 are new. We need only compare the original article, published in the Spiritist Review, with the one existing in the 4th edition of Genesis — the last one revised by Kardec — to become aware of such modifications. The version published here is the definitive one, and was translated from the 5th French edition by Luís Olímpio Guillon Ribeiro. We have only restored to its proper place the note that appeared in the 2nd paragraph of item 44, so that scholars may become acquainted with these original writings of the Codifier. As if that were not enough, its inclusion in this pamphlet, which to some might seem redundant, is fully justified if we take into account its extraordinary doctrinal content, not to mention the arguments used by Allan Kardec to refute most of the criticisms directed against Spiritism, within the bosom of a scientistic and materialistic society. RATIONAL CATALOGUE OF WORKS FOR FOUNDING A SPIRITIST LIBRARY.

— The 1st edition of this pamphlet appeared at the end of March 1869. The last work of Allan Kardec, it is a methodical summary of works that would serve as a catalogue for the Spiritist Bookshop, whose inauguration, scheduled for April 1, 1869, was postponed by reason of the disincarnation of the Codifier, which occurred on the eve.

Notwithstanding that, already at that time, a good part of the books cited in the said catalogue were out of print, many of them analyzed in the Spiritist Review, we deemed its publication in this work opportune by reason of its inestimable historical value and also to show that Allan Kardec did not shrink from commenting on and recommending to his readers any work that, directly or indirectly, had some relation to Spiritism, including those directed against the Spiritist Doctrine itself, since, according to him, “to prohibit a book is to show that we fear it.” The pamphlet is divided into three parts: “I Fundamental Works of the Spiritist Doctrine by Allan Kardec,” including books, leaflets, and the Spiritist Review; “II - Various Works on Spiritism (or complementary to the Doctrine),” including poetry, music, and drawings; “III - Works Produced outside Spiritism” (Philosophy and History, novels (fiction), theater, sciences, magnetism; and works against Spiritism). SPEECHES DELIVERED ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF ALLAN KARDEC'S DEATH.

— INAUGURATION OF THE MONUMENT. (APPENDIX) — Having disincarnated on March 31, 1869, Allan Kardec was buried two days later at the Cemetery of Montmartre, in Paris, the cortege numbering more than a thousand people. Among the orators who made themselves heard at the edge of the tomb, there stood out, in a long speech, the learned astronomer Camille Flammarion, who underscored the role of Allan Kardec in worldwide scientific and philosophical thought, at one point dubbing him “common sense incarnate.”

At a meeting of the Spiritist Society of Paris that immediately followed the Codifier's obsequies, the Spiritists present, members of the Society and others, expressed the unanimous opinion that a monument, witness of the sympathy and gratitude of Spiritists in general, should be erected to honor the memory of the coordinator of the Spiritist philosophy, a great number of adherents from the province and from other countries associating themselves with this idea. It is quite evident to Spiritists, as to all who knew him, that Allan Kardec, as a Spirit, is in no way interested in a manifestation of this kind, but here the man fades before the head of the Doctrine, for it is the dignity, I will say more, the duty of those whom he consoled and enlightened, that the place where his mortal remains repose be consecrated by an imperishable monument. Thus, on March 29, 1870, the exhumation of the body was carried out and its transfer to the definitive tomb, at the Cemetery of Père-Lachaise, a monument that was to be inaugurated two days later, around two o'clock in the afternoon, in the presence of Mrs. Allan Kardec, of Mr. A. Desliens, Secretary-Manager of the Spiritist Review, of Mr. Pierre-Gaëtan Leymarie, Administrator of the Joint-Stock Company of Spiritism, Director and Editor-in-Chief of the Review, besides other Spiritists and sympathizers. Four speeches were delivered and two letters were read, one of which was sent by Alexandre Delanne, who could not attend the ceremony because he was held back by an illness. The description of the dolmen, the speeches delivered on the occasion, the reading of the letters sent, as well as the posthumous communication of Allan Kardec, alluding to the event, were gathered into a pamphlet published in 1870 by the Spiritist Bookshop (Rue de Lille, 7), under the title: Speeches Delivered on the Anniversary of Allan Kardec's Death - Inauguration of the Monument. [Note: This pamphlet is not part of this compilation] It is an almost unpublished document, practically unknown to Brazilian Spiritists, were it not for the partial transcription of some excerpts, including passages from Alexandre Delanne's letter, translated by Zêus Wantuil and inserted in the third volume of his work, co-authored with Francisco Thiesen, entitled: Allan Kardec - Bibliographic Research and Essays of Interpretation. We hope that Spiritist readers, especially those who devote themselves to research and are interested in the beginnings of Spiritism on European soil, will find, in this unpretentious work, some contribution that enriches their knowledge. It is the erudite and inspired pen of Allan Kardec that, once more, reveals itself in all its splendor. Brasília (DF), January 10, 2006.

Evandro Noleto Bezerra.

Translator.

[1] BARRERA, Florentino. Resumo Analítico das Obras de Allan Kardec. Translation by David Caparelli. 1st ed. São Paulo: Madras Editora Ltda., 2003, p. 127.

[2] KARDEC, Allan. Revista Espírita, Dec.

Translation by Evandro Noleto Bezerra. 2nd ed. Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 2004, p. 528.

[3] Idem: Revista Espírita, Jan. 1862. p. 50-51.

[4] Idem, ibidem, Apr. 1862. p. 181.

[5] Idem: Revista Espírita, Apr. 1864. p. 147.

[6] BARRERA, Florentino. Resumo Analítico das Obras de Allan Kardec. Translation by David Caparelli. 1st ed. São Paulo: Madras Editora Ltda., 2003, p. 128.

[7] KARDEC, Allan. Revista Espírita, Oct.

Translation by Evandro Noleto Bezerra. 2nd ed. Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 2004, p. 412.

[8] Idem: Revista Espírita, Sep.

Translation by Evandro Noleto Bezerra. 1st ed. Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 2005, p. 355-387.

[9]

KARDEC, Allan. Catálogo Racional das Obras para se Fundar uma Biblioteca Espírita. See the Note that comes right after the title “Works against Spiritism,” which is part of its part III. (“Works produced outside Spiritism.”)

[10] WANTUIL, Zêus. Grandes Espíritas do Brasil. 4th ed. Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 2002, p. 47.

[11] KARDEC, Allan. Revista Espírita, Jun.

Translation by Evandro Noleto Bezerra. 1st ed. Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 2005, p. 248.

[12] Idem, ibidem. p. 248.

[13] Revue Spirite, May 1870. Excerpt translated by Evandro Noleto Bezerra. Inauguration du monument funèbre d'Allan Kardec, p. 149-150.

[14] WANTUIL, Zêus, THIESEN, Francisco. Allan Kardec, vol. III. 4th ed. Rio de Janeiro: FEB, 1998, p. 133-152.

Compiler's Note: Until the French edition, with 42 numbered items, is digitized by Google Book Search, we will use the reduced version, which will later be replaced by the definitive one. [Résumé de la loi des phénomènes spirites - Google Books.]