Preamble.

People who know Spiritism only in a superficial way are, naturally, inclined to raise certain questions, the solution to which they would surely find if they studied it more deeply. They lack, however, the time and, very often, the will to devote themselves to continuous observations. Before undertaking such a task, many wish to know, at least, what it is about and whether it is worth occupying themselves with it. It therefore seemed to us of real usefulness to present, in summary form, the answers to some of the principal questions that are daily addressed to us; this will be, for the reader, a kind of initiation, and, for us, a saving of time, by sparing us from constantly repeating the same thing. [See: VARIETIES in the Review of July 1859.] The first chapter contains, in the form of dialogues, answers to the objections most commonly made by those who are unacquainted with the fundamental principles of the Doctrine, as well as the refutation of the principal arguments of its opponents. This modality seemed to us the most suitable, since it does not have the aridity of the dogmatic form.

The second chapter is devoted to the summary exposition of the parts of the practical and experimental science upon which, in the absence of a complete theoretical instruction, the inexperienced observer must fix his attention in order to be able to judge with knowledge of the cause; it is, in a certain way, a summary of The Mediums' Book. Now, since most of the time objections arise from false ideas, formed a priori, about that which is not well known, to rectify these ideas is to forestall the objections that may be made, such being the aim of this little work. The third chapter may be considered as the summary of The Spirits' Book. It is the solution, by the Spiritist Doctrine, of a certain number of problems of the highest interest, of a psychological, moral, and philosophical order, which are daily proposed, and to which no philosophy has yet given a satisfactory answer. Let them seek to resolve these by any other theory, without the key that Spiritism provides us, and they will see which are the most logical answers, which are those that best satisfy reason. These summaries are useful not only to beginners, who will be able, in a short time and with little expense, to gather from them the most essential notions of the Spiritist Doctrine, but also to adepts, for they furnish them the means to answer the first objections that will not fail to be presented to them, and, moreover, because they find gathered, in a restricted frame and under a single point of view, the principles that must always be present to their memory.

To answer, here and now and in summary, the question formulated in the title of this little booklet, we shall say that:

Spiritism is, at the same time, a science of observation and a philosophical doctrine. As a practical science, it consists in the relations that can be established between us and the Spirits; as a philosophy, it comprises all the moral consequences that flow from such relations.

We may define it thus:

Spiritism is a Science that deals with the origin and the destiny of the Spirits, as well as with their relations with the corporeal world.