Banquet

OFFERED TO MR. ALLAN KARDEC BY THE VARIOUS GROUPS OF LYONESE SPIRITISTS, ON SEPTEMBER 19, 1861.

Another banquet this year brought together a certain number of Spiritists in Lyon, with the difference that last year there were some thirty guests, whereas now they reached one hundred and sixty, representing the different groups which all consider themselves as members of one and the same family, and among whom there is not a shadow of jealousy or of rivalry, which left us much at our ease. The majority of those present were composed of workers, and all noted the perfect order that did not cease to reign for a single instant. It is that true Spiritists place their satisfaction in the joys of the heart, and not in scandalous pleasures. Several speeches were delivered. We are going to relate them, for they sum up the situation and characterize one of the phases of the march of Spiritism; moreover, they make known the true spirit of this population, formerly regarded with a certain apprehension, because it had been judged badly and, perhaps, badly directed morally. Unfortunately, one of the principal speeches will not be published, and we sincerely regret it: it is that of Mr. Renaud, notable for its considerations and in which we found much praise of our person. Somewhat long, the copy of that speech was not delivered to us before our departure, depriving us of its publication; nevertheless, we are no less grateful to the author for the testimonies of sympathy that he was good enough to give us. It was noted that, by an unpremeditated coincidence, because subordinated to our arrival, this year's banquet took place on September 19, the same date as that of last year.