Bulletin

Friday, May 4, 1860. – (Private session.)

Reading of the minutes and of the proceedings of the session of April 17.

Upon the suggestion and proposal of the Commission, and after the reading of the minutes, the Society admits among the number of free members: 1st Mr. Achille R…, employed in Paris; 2nd Mr. Serge de W…, of Moscow.

Various communications: 1st Letter from Mrs. P…, medium, of Rouen, saying that several suffering Spirits, evoked at the Society, came to her spontaneously to thank her for the prayers she made for them.

Since she recovered her mediumistic faculty, she has had to deal only with suffering Spirits. She was told that her mission was principally to help them in their relief.

2nd Reading of a spontaneous dictation on vanity obtained by Mrs. Lesc…, medium, member of the Society, from her familiar Spirit. (Published further on.)

3rd Letter from Mr. Bénardackv, dated from Brussels containing a communication obtained by him on the theory of the formation of the Earth by the encrustation of various planetary bodies, and the state of catalepsy in which its first inhabitants and other living beings are found. Such a communication occurred in connection with a phenomenon of voluntary catalepsy that is said to have been produced with some inhabitants of India and of the interior of Africa. The phenomenon consists in the fact that certain individuals have themselves buried alive, in exchange for payment of money, and return to life, several months later, after being removed from the tomb. Mr. Arnauld d’A…, member of the Society, former friend and counselor of the late king of Abyssinia, and who resided a long time in that country, cites two facts within his knowledge, one of which occurred in England and the other in India, and which seem to confirm the possibility of voluntary catalepsy of short duration; but he declares that he has never known facts of a nature similar to those cited by Mr. Bénardacky. Mr. d’A… being familiar with the language and the customs of that country, which he observed as a man of science, it would be surprising that facts so extraordinary had not come to his knowledge, from which it may be supposed that there has been exaggeration. Studies: 1st Question about the possibility of making a new evocation of Mr. Jules-Louis C…, who died at the Val-de-Grâce hospital under exceptional conditions, and already evoked on February 24 (see the April number). The request is motivated by the presence of a person of his family, who takes a great interest in it and, besides, by the desire to assess the progress he has made since. – Saint Louis answers that the Spirit prefers to be called in an intimate session. 2nd Questions on the theory of the formation of the Earth by encrustation and the cataleptic state of living beings at their origin, in connection with the communication of Mr. Bénardacky. Numerous observations are made on the subject by various members.

3rd Study on the phenomenon, related in the last session, of a dog that recognizes its evoked master. The Spirit of Charlet intervenes spontaneously in the question and develops a theory from which the possibility of the fact emerges. (Published further on.)

FRIDAY, MAY 11, 1860.

(General Session.)

Reading of the minutes and of the proceedings of the session of May 4.

Various communications: 1st Letter from Mr. Rabache, written from Liverpool, in which he relates a spontaneous communication that was given to him by Adam Smith, without his having provoked it; then the interview that follows, in which the answers were given in English, while the questions were put in French. In this interview Adam Smith criticizes the point of view that served as the basis for his economic system. He says that if he were to write his book Moral Sentiments today, he would give it, as a principle: innate conscience, having love as its special motive force. 2nd Second letter from Mr. Bénardacky, completing the communications obtained on catalepsy.

Note. – In a private session, questioned as to the value of such communications, Saint Louis confirms several parts of them, but adds, through Mr. T…, medium:

“You may study these things, but I advise you not to publish them yet. Many other documents are necessary, which will be furnished to you later, and which circumstances will bring. By publishing them now, you run the risk of committing grave errors, which later you would be obliged to reconsider, which would be very disagreeable and would harm Spiritism. Be, then, very prudent in regard to scientific theories, for it is principally there that you must fear the impostor Spirits and pseudo-scholars. Remember what has been said to you many times: the Spirits do not have the mission of bringing you finished science, which must be the fruit of human labor and genius, nor of lifting all the veils before the time has come. Strive, above all, to improve yourselves: this is the essential. God will take more account of your good heart and your humility than of a knowledge in which curiosity, often, holds the greater part. It is by practicing his laws – by practicing them, understand well – that you deserve to be favored with the communications of truly superior Spirits, who never deceive. One cannot fail to recognize the depth and high wisdom of these counsels. This language, at once simple and sublime, marked by extreme benevolence, contrasts singularly with the haughty and categorical tone or the boasting of the Spirits who wish to impose themselves.

3rd Reading of a notice sent by Mr. de T. containing the description of a much superior world, to which his Spirit was transported during sleep. It seems that this world has much analogy with the state indicated for Jupiter, but to a still higher degree.

Studies: 1st Two spontaneous dictations are obtained, one by Mrs. Parisse, signed Louis, and the other by Mr. Didier the Son, signed Gérard de Nerval.

2nd Questions relating to the vision of Mr. T…, addressed to Saint Louis. Vague and incoherent, the answers betray the evident interference of a deceiving Spirit.

3rd Evocation of Adam Smith, in connection with the letter of Mr. Rabache. Questions on his present opinions, compared with those expressed in his works. He confirms what he said to Mr. Rabache, regarding the error of the principle that served as the basis for his moral appreciations.

FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1860.

(Private Session.)

Reading of the minutes and of the proceedings of the last session.

Upon the advice and proposal of the Committee, and after a verbal report, the Society received, among the number of its free associates: 1st Mr. B…, merchant in Paris; 2nd Mr. C…, merchant in the same city.

Various communications: 1st Reading of the following communication, received in a private session, in connection with the proceedings of the last session, by Mrs. S…, medium.

Q. Why did Saint Louis not communicate last Friday through Mr. Didier, and let a deceiving Spirit speak?

Answer. – Saint Louis was present, but did not wish to speak. Besides, did you not recognize that it was not he? This is the essential. You were not deceived, since you became aware of the imposture.

Q. With what aim did he not wish to speak?

Answer. – You may ask him himself. He is here.

Q. Could Saint Louis clarify the reason for his abstention?

Answer. – You were vexed by what happened; nevertheless, you must know that nothing happens without a reason. Often there are things, whose purpose you do not understand, that at first seem bad, because you are very impatient, but whose wisdom you later recognize. Be, then, at peace and do not trouble yourselves over anything; we know how to distinguish those who are sincere and we watch over them.

Q. If it was a lesson that you wished to give us, I would understand it, when we are among ourselves; but in the presence of strangers, who might be left with a bad impression, it seems that the evil outweighs the good.

Answer. – You labor under an error, seeing things thus. The evil does not consist in what you believe, and I assure you that there were persons in whose eyes this kind of setback was a proof of the good faith on your part. Besides, from evil good often results. When you see a gardener cut the beautiful branches of a tree, you deplore the loss of the verdure, and this seems to you an evil; yet, once these parasitic branches are removed, the fruits are more beautiful and tasty: behold the good, and then you find that the gardener was wise and more prudent than you supposed. In the same way, if a limb of a sick person is amputated, the loss of the limb is an evil, but, after the amputation, if he becomes better, behold the good, because perhaps they have saved his life. Reflect well on this and you will come to understand.

Q. It is very just. But how is it explained that, appealing to the good Spirits and asking them to keep away the impostors, the appeal is not heeded?

Answer. – It is heeded, do not doubt it. But are you quite sure that the appeal proceeds from the depth of the heart of all those present, or that there is not someone who, by an uncharitable and malevolent thought, or by desire, attracts the evil Spirits into your midst? This is why we tell you incessantly: Be united; be good and benevolent toward one another. Jesus said: “When you are gathered together in my name, I shall be among you.” Do you believe, on that account, that it is enough to pronounce his name? Do not think it and be convinced that Jesus goes only where he is called by pure hearts; to those who practice his precepts, since these are truly gathered together in his name. He does not go to the proud, nor to the ambitious, nor to the hypocrites, nor to those who speak ill of their neighbor. It was to them that Jesus referred: “They shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Q. I understand that the good Spirits keep away from those who do not heed their counsels; but if, among those present, there are ill-intentioned ones, is this a reason to punish the others?

Answer. – I am astonished at your insistence. It seems that I have explained myself very clearly for whoever wishes to understand. Is it necessary to repeat that you should not concern yourselves with such things, which are puerilities beside the great edifice of the doctrine that is being raised? Do you believe that your house is going to fall because a tile comes loose? Do you doubt our power, our benevolence? No? Well then! let us act and rest assured that every thought, good or bad, has its echo in the bosom of the Eternal. Q. You have said nothing regarding the general invocation that we make at the beginning of each session. Can you say what you think?

Answer. – You should always appeal to the good Spirits; the form, you well know, is insignificant: the thought is everything. You are astonished at what happened; but did you observe well the faces of those who were listening to you when you made that invocation? Did you not perceive, more than once, the smile of sarcasm on certain lips? What Spirits do you think such persons bring? Spirits who, like them, laugh at the most sacred things. This is why I tell you not to admit the first comer, avoiding the curious and those who do not come to be instructed. Each thing will come in its time and no one can prejudge the designs of God. In truth I tell you that those who today smile at these things will not laugh for long. Saint Louis.

2nd Note addressed by Mr. Jobard, of Brussels, on the evocation made by him of Mr. Ch. de Br…, recently deceased.

3rd Reading of a communication obtained by Mrs. Lesc…, medium, member of the Society, with interesting explanations on the story of the Spirit and the little dog. (Published further on.)

4th Another spontaneous dictation from the same medium, on sadness and sorrow.

5th Letter from Mr. B…, professor of sciences, on the theory given to him, of the fixed hours, at which each Spirit can manifest itself. This theory is considered by all, without exception, as the result of an obsession on the part of systematic and ignorant Spirits. Experience and reasoning demonstrate to satiety that it does not deserve serious examination.

6th Account of a curious fact, concerning a portrait painted under the influence of a natural intuitive mediumship. Mr. T…, painter, had lost his father at an age when he could retain no recollection of his features. Like the other members of the family, he keenly regretted not having any portrait of him. One day, when he was in his studio, he had a kind of vision, or, rather, an image took shape in his brain and he set himself to reproduce it on the canvas. Its execution took several sessions and, each time, the same image presented itself to him. The idea came to him that it might be his father, but he spoke of it to no one. When the portrait was completed he showed it to his relatives and all recognized him without hesitation. Studies: 1st Four spontaneous dictations are obtained simultaneously: the first, by Miss Huet, from the Spirit who began to write his memoirs; the second, by Mrs. S…, on the Fantasy, of Alfred de Musset; the third, by Miss Stéphanie S…, from a familiar Spirit, deceased some years ago, and who in life was called Gustave Lenormand. He is a Spirit still little advanced, of a cheerful and witty character, but very good, very obliging, and who is regarded, in several families where he appears much, as a friend of the house. One day he had said that he would come to drive out the evil Spirits. The fourth, by Miss Parisse, signed Louis. 2nd Evocation of Mr. B…, professor of Sciences, living, of whom we spoke above, and who had been designated by another Spirit as being able to give information on François Bayle, a physician of the seventeenth century, whose biography they wish to make. The result of this evocation tends to prove that Bayle, dead, and Mr. B…, living, are the same person. Indeed the latter furnished the desired information and gave several explanations of the highest interest. (They will be published.) FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1860.

(General Session.)

Reading of the Minutes and of the proceedings of the last session.

Various communications: 1st Letter from Dr. Morhéry, containing an appreciation, from the scientific point of view, of the medication employed, under his direction, by Miss Désirée Godu. (Published further on.)

2nd Reading of a spontaneous dictation obtained by Mrs. Lesc…, medium, on human misery.

3rd Reading of a series of truly remarkable communications, received in private sessions by various members of the Russian family W… (They will be published.)

4th Reading of the evocation made in a private session of Mrs. Duret, who died at Sétif (Algeria), on May 1. It contains important appreciations on the mediums.

Studies: 1st Evocation of Mrs. Duret; series of her communications.

2nd Evocation of Charles de Saint-G…, a mentally feeble person of 13 years. He makes curious revelations about the state of this Spirit, before and during his incarnation. (Published further on.)

3rd Study on Mr. V…, naval officer, living, who retained the precise recollection of his existence and death at the time of Saint Bartholomew. (It will be published.)