Spiritism at a distribution of prizes.

One of our colleagues of the Spiritist Society of Paris acquaints us with the following letter, addressed by him to the directresses of the boarding school where one of his daughters is, in this capital.

“Ladies, “I beg you to permit me a few reflections on a speech delivered at the distribution of prizes of your boarding school. My condition as a father of a family and, above all, as the father of one of your pupils, gives me some right to this appraisal.

“The author of the speech, a stranger to your establishment and, as I was told, a professor at the C… College, allowed himself long jests, I do not quite know on what occasion, about the Spiritist science and the mediums. Had he expressed his opinion on the matter in another circumstance, I would understand it. But before an audience such as the one in which he was speaking, in the presence of young girls entrusted to your care, allow me to tell you that the question was inappropriate and that the theme was ill chosen for one who seeks to create a strong impression.

“Among other things, that gentleman said that the persons who occupy themselves with experiments of the tables and other so-called Spiritist phenomena, or of a psychological order, are conjurers, simpletons, or stupid.

“I include myself, ladies, among the number of those who occupy themselves with the subject and do not hide it; and I am certain not to have been the only one in your gathering. I do not pretend to be a sage like your orator, and, in that condition, perhaps I am stupid. Nevertheless, the expression is quite indelicate when directed at unknown persons and when it is generalized. But most certainly my position and my character place me beyond the reach of the epithet of conjurer. That gentleman seems to be unaware that this stupidity counts today its adherents by the millions throughout the whole world, and that the supposed conjurers are to be found even in the highest strata of society, without which he would have reflected that his words might be addressed to more than one of his listeners. If he proved, by that untimely attack, a lack of tact and of civility, he also proved that he was speaking of a thing that he has never studied. “As for me, ladies, for four years I have studied, observed, and the result of my observations has convinced me, as it has so many others, that, in certain circumstances, the material world can enter into relations with the spiritual world. The proofs of the fact I have had by the thousands, everywhere, in all the countries I have visited, and you know that I have had them, and many, in my family, with my wife, who is a medium without being a conjurer, with relatives, with friends who, like me, seek the truth.

“Do not think, ladies, that I believed on a first impulse and without examination. No. As I said, I studied and observed conscientiously, coldly, with calm and without preconceived idea, it not having been until after mature reflection that I had the happiness of becoming convinced of the reality of such things. I say happiness because — I confess it — the religious teaching I had received not being sufficient to enlighten my reason, I had become skeptical. Now, thanks to Spiritism, to the manifest proofs it furnishes, I am no longer so, because I was able to assure myself of the immortality of the soul and of its consequences. If this is what that gentleman calls stupidity, he ought at least to have abstained from saying it in the presence of your pupils, who may well, and perhaps sooner than you think, become aware of the phenomena whose veil has been lifted for them. For that it will suffice that they enter the world. The new science is there making great and rapid progress, I assure you of it. Then is it not to be feared that they will make this reflection: If they led us into error on this matter; if they wished to conceal the truth from us, might they not have deceived us on other points? In doubt, the most ordinary prudence advises abstention. In any case, it was neither the place nor the moment to treat such a subject. “I deemed it my duty, ladies, to convey to you my impressions. I beg you to receive them with your habitual kindness.

“Accept, etc.

A. Gassier.

38, rue de la Chaussée-d’Antin.”

Observation. – As Spiritism spreads everywhere, it is very rare that one does not find, in any assembly whatsoever, a certain number of adherents. To indulge in virulent attacks against an opinion that grows without ceasing; to make use of offensive expressions before an audience one does not know, is to expose oneself to offending the most respectable persons and, at times, to seeing oneself called to order. To do it in a gathering that, more than any other, requires, by its nature, the strict observance of the proprieties, where every word ought to be a teaching, is an error. If one of those young girls, whose parents devote themselves to Spiritism, were to say to them: “You are conjurers, simpletons, and stupid,” could she not excuse herself by saying: “That is what I was taught at the distribution of prizes?” Would that gentleman make such an attack against the Protestants and the Jews, affirming that all are heretics and damned? Against this or that political opinion? No, because there are few boarding schools where there are not pupils whose parents profess different opinions, political or religious, and he would fear to offend the latter. Well then! let him know that today, in France alone, there are as many Spiritists as Jews and Protestants and, before long, they will be as numerous as the Catholics. Besides, there as everywhere, the effect will be contrary to the intention. Here is a number of girls, naturally curious, many of whom have never heard speak of such things and who will want to know about it at the first occasion; they will try mediumship and, inevitably, some of them will succeed; they will speak of it with their companions and so forth. If you forbid them to occupy themselves with such things and frighten them with the idea of the devil, it will be one more reason for them to do it in secret, for they will want to know what the devil will say to them. Do they not hear daily of good devils, of rose-colored devils? Now, there lies the true danger, for, inexperienced and not having a prudent and enlightened guide, they may find themselves under a pernicious influence, from which they will not know how to free themselves, and grave inconveniences may result, because, in view of the prohibition made and fearing a punishment, they will dare to say nothing. To forbid them to write? It is not always easy: the masters of the boarding school know something about this. But what would you do with those who became seeing and hearing mediums? Would you cover their eyes and their ears? Here, Mr. Orator, is what your imprudent speech may produce, with which you certainly remained quite satisfied. The result is completely different in children educated by their parents in these ideas. In the first place, they have nothing to hide, being thus preserved from the dangers of inexperience; then, early it gives them a reasoned piety, which age strengthens and cannot weaken. They become more docile, more submissive, more respectful; the certainty of the presence of their dead parents, who see them incessantly, with whom they can converse and from whom they receive wise counsels, is, for them, a powerful curb, through the salutary fear that the progenitors inspire. When the generation is educated in the Spiritist beliefs, another youth will be seen, more studious and less turbulent. This may already be judged by the effect that such ideas produce in the young people who are imbued with them.