A few words on Spiritism

For some time now the world has been agitated, trembling and defiant; its soul suffers and is passing through great difficulties.

Let us admit that Spiritism does not exist and that all that is said about it is the product of error, of the hallucination of a few sickly minds; but does it mean nothing to see six million creatures stricken with the same malady in seven or eight years?

For my part, I see in this many things. I see the presentiment of great events, for, in all times, on the eve of momentous epochs, the world has always been uneasy, even turbulent, without accounting to itself for its malaise. What is certain today is that, after having passed through an epoch of frightful materialism, it experiences the need for a rational spiritualist belief; it wishes to believe with knowledge of the cause, if I may so express myself. These are the causes of its malady, if we admit that there is a malady. To say that nothing exists at the bottom of this movement is rash.

A writer, whom I have not the honor of knowing, has just published, in the Écho de Sétif of last September 18, an article that gives rise to profound reflections. He himself confesses that he does not know Spiritism. He inquires whether it is possible, whether it can exist, and his inquiries lead him to conclude that Spiritism is not impossible.

Be that as it may, Spiritists have today the right to rejoice, for men of distinction wish to devote a part of their studies to the search for what some call truth and others an error.

As concerns myself, I can attest to one fact: it is that I have seen things in which one cannot believe without having seen them.

There is a very enlightened part of society that does not precisely deny the fact, but claims that the communications obtained proceed directly from hell. This is what I cannot admit, in view of communications such as this: “Believe in God, creator and organizer of the spheres; love God, creator and protector of souls… Signed: Galileo.”

The devil has not always spoken thus, for, if it were so, men would have imputed to him an undeserved reputation. And, if it is true that he has been disrespectful to God, let us confess that he has put a good deal of water in his wine.

I too was incredulous; I could never convince myself that God would permit our Spirit to communicate, without our knowledge, with the Spirit of a living person. However, I had to yield to the evidence. I thought, and a sleeper answered me clearly and categorically; no sound, no shock was produced in my brain. The Spirit of the sleeper corresponded with mine, in spite of myself! This is what I attest. Before this discovery I thought that God had interposed an impassable barrier between the material world and the spiritual world. I was mistaken: that is all. And, it seems, the more incredulous I was, the more God wished to draw me out of my error, by placing before my eyes extraordinary and patent facts.

I myself wished to write, in order not to be mystified by a third party; my hand never made the slightest movement. I put the pen in the hand of a young man of fourteen, and he fell asleep without my wishing it. Seeing this, I withdrew to my garden, convinced that this supposed truth was nothing but a dream. But on returning to the house, I noticed that the young man had written. I drew near to read and, to my great surprise, I saw that he had answered all my mental questions. Still protesting, despite the fact, and wishing to confound the sleeper, I asked, mentally, a question about Ancient History. Without hesitating he answered it categorically. Let us stop here and make a few observations in a few words.

Supposing there was no intervention of Spirits from the other world, it is undeniable that the Spirit of the sleeper and mine were in perfect correspondence. In my opinion, here is a fact that merits study. But there are men so wise that they have nothing more to study, and prefer to say that I am a madman.

A madman? So be it! Later, however, we shall see who is in error.

If I had articulated a single word; if I had made the slightest gesture, I would not have been convinced. But I did not move and I did not speak; what am I saying? I did not even breathe!

Well then! Will there be a wise man who is willing to converse with me without saying a word or without writing to me? Someone who is willing to translate my thought without knowing me, without having seen me? And, admitting that there were such a wise man, could I not deceive him, even in speaking to him, without his suspecting it? This would not happen with the medium in question. I tried many times, but I did not succeed. If you will permit me, I shall give in what follows some communications that I obtained.

C***.