Rational Spiritualism.

This remarkable and conscientious work is the work of a distinguished scientist, who set out to draw from Science itself and from the observation of facts the demonstration of the reality of spiritualist ideas. It is an additional piece in support of the thesis we maintained above. [Reaction of spiritualist ideas.] All the more so because it is a first step, almost official, of Science, on the Spiritist path; moreover, it will soon be followed, and of this we are certain, by other still more resounding endorsements, which will lead the deniers and the adversaries of all schools to reflect seriously. It will suffice to quote the following passage to show in what spirit the work is conceived. It is found on page 331.

“One sees — and it is undoubtedly a sign of the times — the Spiritist sect, which I have already had occasion to mention in § 15, taking a rapid expansion among persons of all classes and of the most enlightened, not to mention the lamentable and sorely missed Jobard, of Brussels, who had become one of the most attentive champions of the new doctrine.

“It is a fact that, in examining this doctrine, even in Mr. Allan Kardec’s small brochure, What Is Spiritism? it is impossible not to notice how clear its morality is, homogeneous, consistent with itself, how much satisfaction it gives to the spirit and to the heart. Even if one were to take from it the reality of communications with the invisible world, this would always remain to it, and it is much, it is enough to provoke numerous endorsements and to explain its ever-growing success. As for communications with the invisible world, I believe I have demonstrated scientifically that not only were they possible, but that they ought to occur every day during sleep. Inspiration while awake, whose authenticity or nature, according to what I have said, it is impossible to call into doubt, is, moreover, a communication of this kind, although there may be cases in which it is nothing but the result of a greater degree of activity of the Spirit. Now, that it is observed that the communication translates into notions foreign to the medium who receives them, I see nothing in this that is not eminently probable; in any case, it is a question that can be resolved in the absence of the learned, which every medium, who has the measure of his knowledge in the normal state, and the persons of his family and of his circle can judge better than anyone, in such a way that if Spiritism every day makes proselytes apart from the moral question, it is that it apparently produces enough mediums to furnish the proof of their particular state to whoever wishes to examine them without preconceived ideas. “Morality, such as I understand it and have deduced it from scientific notions — I do not fear to acknowledge it — has numerous points of contact with that transmitted by Mr. Allan Kardec’s mediums; nor am I far from admitting that if among the pages written by them there are many that do not exceed the ordinary reach of the human spirit, including their own, there must be some, and there are some, of such a reach that it would be impossible for them to write others like them in their ordinary moments. All this leads me no less to desire that a doctrine, which offers not the slightest danger, but, on the contrary, elevates the spirit and the heart as much as one could wish, in the interest of society, should expand daily more and more. For, according to what I have read, I reckon that it is impossible to be a Spiritist without being a man of good and a good citizen. I know few religions of which the same can be said.” Allan Kardec.

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One volume in-12. 3 fr. 50 c., Didier bookshop.

Le spiritualisme rationnel - Google Books.

Paris. — Typ. de Cosson et Ce rue du Four-St-Germain, 43.