To the members of the Society of Paris who are departing for Russia

Note. – Several distinguished Russian personages came to spend the winter in Paris, chiefly with a view to completing their Spiritist instruction and, with that aim, became members of the Society, in order to be able to attend the sessions. Some had already departed, such as Prince Dimitry G… [See in Scenes from Private Life, Kardec receiving the prince's visit, and also To H. H. Prince G.]; others were on the eve of departure. It was this circumstance that gave rise to the following spontaneous communication: “Go and teach, said the Lord. It is to you, children of the great family that is being formed, that I address myself this night. You are returning to your homeland and to your families. In the home, do not forget that another father, the heavenly Father, wished to communicate and to make Himself known to you. Go; may the seed always be ready to be cast into the furrows that you will open in that land, whose rocks from its entrails are not sufficient to impede the action of the plow. Your homeland is destined to become great and strong, not only through literature, through Science, through genius, and through numbers, but also through its love and devotion to the Creator of all things. May your charity, then, become generous and powerful. Do not fear to scatter it by handfuls around you; know that charity is not done with alms alone, but also with the heart!… The heart — there is the great source of good, the source of the effluvia that must be spread to warm the life of those who suffer around you!… Go and preach the Gospel, new apostles of Christ. God has placed you in high position in the world so that all may see you and well understand your words. But it is always by looking at Heaven and Earth, that is, God and Humanity, that you will attain the great objective you propose to reach, and toward which we help you. The field is vast. Go, then, and sow, so that soon we may make the harvest. “You may announce everywhere that the great kingdom will soon arrive, a kingdom of happiness and of joy for all those who have been willing to believe and to love, for they will partake of it.

“Receive, then, before departing, the last counsel that we give you beneath this beautiful sky that all love — the sky of France! Receive the last farewell of the friends who will help you still on the rough path you are going to travel there; meanwhile, our invisible hands will make it easier for you and, if you have perseverance, will, and courage, you will see the obstacles crumble before you.

“When they hear these words come out of your mouths: ‘All men are brothers and must support one another in order to march forward,’ how much admiration and how many exclamations! They will smile when they see that you profess such a doctrine, and will say, softly: ‘They speak fine and great things; but will they not be like signposts, which indicate the roads without traveling them?’ “Show them; show them, then, that the Spiritist, this new apostle of Christ, does not stand in the middle of the road to point out the path, but that he arms himself with the axe and the cutlass, hurling himself into the midst of the most somber and obscure forests to open a passage and to turn aside the brambles from the steps of those who follow them. Yes, the new disciples of Christ must be vigorous, must march with firm step and heavy hand. No barriers before them. All must fall under their efforts and under their blows; the dense forests, the lianas, and the thorn-bushes will break so that, at last, they may let a little of the sky be seen! “Then, there will be the consolation and the happiness. What a reward for you! The blessed Spirits will exclaim: ‘Bravo! bravo!’ Children, soon you will be of our number, and before long we will call you our brothers, for you knew how to carry out the task that you voluntarily imposed upon yourselves! God generously rewards him who is willing to work in His vineyard; He gives the harvest to all who contribute to the great labor! “Go, then, in peace. Go: we bless you. May this blessing give you happiness and fill you with courage. Do not forget any of your brothers of the great society of France; all make wishes for you and for your homeland, which Spiritism will render powerful and strong. Go! the good Spirits assist you!”

Saint Augustine. n [1]

[v.

Saint Augustine.]