The missionaries

I will say a few words to you to give you an understanding of the aim pursued by the Missionaries, who leave homeland and family to evangelize ignorant or ferocious tribes, who, though brothers, are inclined to evil and ignorant of good; or to go and preach mortification, trust in God, prayer, faith, resignation in pain, charity, the hope of a better life after repentance. Tell me: is this not Spiritism? Yes, chosen souls, who have always served God and faithfully observe His laws; who love and aid your neighbor, you are Spiritists. But you do not know this word of recent creation, and in it you see a danger. Well then! Since the word frightens you, we shall pronounce it no more before you, until you yourselves come to ask for that name, which sums up the existence of the Spirits and their manifestations: Spiritism.

Beloved brothers, what are the Missionaries among the nations in their infancy? Spirits on a mission, sent by God, our Father, to enlighten poor, more ignorant Spirits; to teach them to hope in Him, to know Him, to love Him, to be good husbands, good fathers, good toward their fellows; in short, to give them, as far as their uncultivated nature allows, the idea of the good and the beautiful. Now, you who pride yourselves on your intelligence, know that you set out from so low and that you still have much to do to reach the highest degree. I ask you, friends, what would become of these poor people, abandoned to their passions and to their savage nature? But you say: Is it you who, following the example of these devoted men, will go and preach the Gospel to these uncultivated brothers? No; it will not be you: you have a family, friends, a position that you cannot abandon; no; it will not be you who love the sweetness of home; no; it will not be you, who have fortune, honors, in short, all the joys that satisfy your vanity and your egoism; no, it will not be you. Men are needed who will leave the paternal roof and the homeland with joy; men who make little of life, because, often, it is cut short by fire and sword; men are needed who are well convinced that, if they go to work in the Lord's vineyard and water it with their own blood, they will find on High the reward of so many sacrifices. Tell me whether materialists would be capable of such devotion, they who expect nothing more from this life? Believe me, they are Spirits sent by God. Laugh no more at what you call their folly, for they are instructed, and, risking their lives to enlighten their ignorant brothers, they have a right to your respect and your sympathy. Yes, they are incarnate Spirits who have the dangerous mission of clearing the way for these uncultivated intelligences, just as other more advanced Spirits have the mission of making you yourselves progress. What we have just done, my friends, is Spiritism. Do not be alarmed, then, by this word. Above all, do not laugh, for it is the symbol of the universal law that governs the living beings of Creation.

Adolphe, bishop of Algiers. n [1]

[see Antoine-Adolphe Dupuch.]