Period of struggle.

The first period of Spiritism, characterized by the turning tables, was that of curiosity. The second was the philosophical period, marked by the appearance of The Spirits' Book. From that moment on, Spiritism took on a completely different character. People glimpsed its purpose and its scope and drew from it faith and consolation, the rapidity of its progress being such that no other philosophical or religious doctrine offers a comparable example. But, like all new ideas, it had adversaries who were the more obstinate as the idea was greater, because no great idea can establish itself without injuring interests. It must occupy a place, and the persons thus displaced cannot look upon it with favorable eyes. Then, alongside the interested parties stand those who, out of a spirit of system and without precise reasons, are the born adversaries of everything that is new. In the first years, many doubted its vitality, which is why they paid it little attention. But when they saw it grow, in spite of everything, propagate itself through all the ranks of society and in all parts of the world, take its place among the beliefs and become a power through the number of its adherents, those interested in maintaining the old ideas became seriously alarmed. Then a veritable crusade was directed against it, beginning the period of struggle, of which the auto-da-fé of Barcelona, of October 9, 1861, was in a certain way the signal. Until then it had been the target of the sarcasms of incredulity, which laughs at everything, especially at what it does not understand, even at the most holy things, and which no new idea can escape: it is its baptism of fire. But the others do not laugh: they gaze at it with anger, an evident and characteristic sign of the importance of Spiritism. From then on the attacks took on a character of unheard-of violence. The watchword was given: furious sermons, pastoral letters, anathemas, excommunications, individual persecutions, books, pamphlets, newspaper articles, nothing was spared, not even calumny. We are, then, in the full period of struggle, but this has not ended. Seeing the uselessness of the attacks in the open, they are going to attempt underground warfare, which is being organized and is already beginning. An apparent calm is going to be felt, but it is the calm that precedes the storm; nevertheless, the storm is followed by fair weather. Spiritists, do not be anxious, for the outcome is not in doubt; the struggle is necessary and the triumph will be the more resounding. I have said it and I repeat it: I see the end; I know how and when it will be reached. If I speak to you with such assurance, it is because I have reasons for it, about which prudence bids me keep silent, but which you will know one day. All I can tell you is that powerful helpers will come to shut the mouth of more than one detractor. Yet the struggle will be lively, and if, in the conflict, there are some victims of their faith, let these rejoice, as did the first Christian martyrs, of whom many are among you, to encourage you and set the example; let them remember these words of the Christ: "Blessed are they who suffer persecution for the sake of justice, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they shall insult you, and persecute you, and, lying, shall say all manner of evil against you, for my sake. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven; for so they persecuted the prophets who came before you." (Saint Matthew, chapter V, verses 10, 11, and 12.) n Do these words not seem to have been spoken for the Spiritists of today, as for the apostles of that time? It is that the words of the Christ have this particular quality: they are for all times, because his mission was for the future as well as for the present. The struggle will bring about a new phase of Spiritism and will lead to the fourth period, which will be the religious period; then will come the fifth, an intermediate period, a natural consequence of the preceding one, and which later will receive its characteristic designation. The sixth and last period will be that of social regeneration, which will open the era of the twentieth century. At that time, all the obstacles to the new order of things determined by God for the transformation of the Earth will have disappeared. The generation that is arising, imbued with the new ideas, will be in all its strength and will prepare the way for the one that is to inaugurate the definitive triumph of union, of peace, and of fraternity among men, blended into a single belief, through the practice of the evangelical law. Thus the words of the Christ will be confirmed, since all must be fulfilled and many are being realized at this moment, because the predicted times have come. But it is in vain that, taking the figure for the reality, you seek signs in the sky: these signs are at your side and arise from all parts. It is remarkable that the communications of the Spirits have had a special character in each period: in the first they were frivolous and flippant; in the second they were grave and instructive; from the third on they foresaw the struggle and its various vicissitudes. Most of those obtained today in the various centers have as their object to forewarn the adepts against the intrigues of their adversaries. Thus, everywhere instructions are given on this subject, just as everywhere an identical result is announced. Such a coincidence, on this as on many other points of view, is not one of the less significant facts. The situation is completely summed up in the two following communications, whose veracity has already been recognized by many Spiritists. [On the period of struggle see The silent war.]

[1] Translator's note: In the original French, by error, chapter VI was given.