Magnetism and Spiritism.

When the first Spiritist phenomena appeared, some people thought that this discovery — if we may apply such a name to it — was going to deal a fatal blow to magnetism, and that the same thing would happen to it as had happened to the other inventions: the more perfected one causes the preceding one to be forgotten. Such an error was not slow to dissipate, and the kinship of these two sciences was promptly recognized. Both, indeed, being based upon the existence and the manifestation of the soul, far from combating each other, can and must lend each other mutual support: they complete each other and explain one another. Their respective adherents, however, differ on certain points: certain magnetists do not yet admit the existence, or at least the manifestation, of Spirits; they believe they can explain everything solely through the action of the magnetic fluid, an opinion which we limit ourselves to noting, reserving the right to discuss it later. We ourselves shared it in the beginning; but, like so many others, we had to surrender to the evidence of the facts. The adherents of Spiritism, on the contrary, are all partisans of magnetism; they admit its action and in somnambulistic phenomena recognize a manifestation of the soul. This opposition, moreover, grows weaker each day, and it is easy to foresee that the time is not far off when every distinction will have ceased. This divergence of opinion has nothing about it that should surprise. In the early days of a science still so new it is quite natural that each one, viewing things from his own point of view, should have formed a different idea. The most positive sciences have always had, and still have, their sects, ardently upholding contrary theories; the learned have raised schools against schools, banner against banner and, very often to their dignity's detriment, their polemic, made irritating and aggressive by wounded self-love, has gone beyond the limits of a wise discussion. We hope that the partisans of magnetism and of Spiritism, better inspired, will not give the world the scandal of discussions so little edifying and always fatal to the propagation of truth, whatever side it may be on. We may have our opinion, uphold it, discuss it; but the means of enlightening ourselves is not to tear one another apart, a course of action always little worthy of serious men and which becomes ignoble if personal interest is at stake. Magnetism prepared the way for Spiritism, and the rapid progress of this latter doctrine is owed, incontestably, to the popularization of ideas about the former. From the magnetic phenomena, from somnambulism and ecstasy to the Spiritist manifestations there is but a single step; such is their connection that, so to speak, it becomes impossible to speak of one without speaking of the other. If we were to remain outside the magnetic science, our picture would be incomplete and we could be compared to a physics teacher who abstained from speaking of light. However, since among us magnetism already possesses special organs justly accredited, it would be superfluous for us to insist upon a subject that is treated with such superiority of talent and of experience; to it, therefore, we shall refer only incidentally, but in a manner sufficient to show the intimate relations between these two sciences which, in truth, are but one. We owed our readers this profession of faith, which we conclude by paying a just homage to the men of conviction who, braving ridicule, sarcasm and vexations, devoted themselves courageously to the defense of a cause wholly humanitarian. Whatever the opinion of their contemporaries may be about their personal profit, an opinion which in one form or another is always the reflection of lively passions, posterity will do them justice;

it will place the names of baron Du Potet, director of the Journal du Magnétisme, of Mr. Millet, director of the Union magnétique, beside their illustrious predecessors, the marquis de Puységur and the learned Deleuze.

Thanks to their persevering efforts magnetism, popularized, has set foot in official science, where it is already spoken of in whispers. This word has already passed into common language; it no longer frightens anyone away and, when someone says he is a magnetizer, people no longer laugh in his face. [see The magnetic banquets.]

Allan Kardec.

[1] A magnetizer is one who practices magnetism; magnetist is said of someone who adopts its principles. One can be a magnetist without being a magnetizer; but one cannot be a magnetizer without being a magnetist. [2]

[Journal du magnétisme — Google Books.]