Inauguration of various Spiritist Groups and Societies.

— The Spiritist gatherings that are springing up are so numerous that it would be impossible for us to cite all the fine words spoken on the matter, bearing witness to the feelings aroused by the doctrine. The new group that has just formed on the island of Oléron is all the more deserving of sympathy in that Spiritism has, in those regions, been the object of a very lively opposition. We transcribe one of the addresses that were delivered on the occasion, to show how the Spiritists respond to their adversaries.

ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SPIRITIST SOCIETY OF MARENNES.

“Gentlemen and dear Spiritist brethren of Oléron, “The extent that Spiritism daily assumes in our land is the most evident proof of the powerlessness of the attacks of which it is the object. It is as Mr. Allan Kardec says: “One of two things: either it is an error, or a truth. If it is an error, it will fall of its own accord, like all utopias, which have but ephemeral existences, and die for lack of a solid foundation, the only one that can give life; if it is one of those great truths which, by the will of God, must hold a reserved place in the history of the world and mark an era in the progress of Humanity, nothing will halt its march.”

“There stands experience to show in which of these two categories Spiritism must be classed. The ease with which it is accepted by the masses—and we say more: the happiness, the consolation, the courage against adversity that one acquires in this belief, the incredible rapidity of its propagation—are not the marks of an idea without value. The most eccentric system can form a sect and gather around itself a few partisans, but, like a tree without roots, it quickly sheds its leaves and dies without offshoots. Is it thus with Spiritism? No; you know it as well as I do. Since its appearance, it has not ceased to grow, in spite of the attacks of which it has been the object, and today it has planted its banner at every point of the globe; its partisans number in the millions; and if one considers the path traveled in the last ten years, through a countless number of obstacles sown along its route, one can judge what it will be ten years hence, all the more so as the obstacles are leveled the further it advances and the more the number of its adherents increases. Thus, then, one may say, with Mr. Allan Kardec, that Spiritism is today an accomplished fact; the tree has taken root; it has nothing left to do but develop, and everything concurs to be favorable to it, for, despite a few squalls, the wind is favorable to Spiritism. One must be blind not to recognize it. “One circumstance has powerfully contributed to its expansion: it is that it is exclusive to no religion; its motto: Outside charity there is no salvation, belongs to all; it is, at the same time, the banner of tolerance, of union, and of fraternity, around which all may gather, without abdicating their particular belief. One begins to understand that it is a pledge of security for society. As for me, dear brethren, I go further and think that you will agree with me, when I say: At the moment when all peoples have inscribed upon their banner Outside charity there is no salvation, the peace of the world will be guaranteed and all peoples will live as brothers. Is this but a beautiful dream? No, gentlemen, it is the promise made by the Christ, and we are in the age of its realization.

“What are we, we others, in the great movement that is taking place? We are obscure workers bringing our stone to the edifice; but when millions of laborers have brought millions of stones, the edifice will be completed. Let us work, then, with zeal and perseverance, without being discouraged by the smallness of the furrow we trace, for numerous furrows are opening around us. Permit me a comparison which, though material, corresponds to this thought. At the beginning of the railways, each small locality wanted to have its own branch line; each of these branch lines represented little in itself; but when all were brought together, we would have an immense network, which today covers the world and tears down the barriers between peoples. The railways have torn down material barriers; the watchword: Outside charity there is no salvation, will make the moral barriers fall; it will above all cause the cessation of religious antagonism, the cause of so many hatreds and bloody conflicts, because then Jews, Catholics, Protestants, and Muslims will join hands, each adoring in his own manner the one God of mercy and of peace, who is the same for all. “As you see, gentlemen and dear brethren, the aim is great. It would remain for us to examine the organization of our little sphere, in order to transform it into a cog useful to the whole. For this, our task is made easier by the instructions we find in the works of our venerated chief, which have become, one may say, the classic works of the doctrine. By following them punctually, we are certain not to stray onto a false route, for these instructions are the fruit of experience. Thus, let each one meditate carefully upon these works, for in them we shall find all that is necessary to us; moreover, I am certain that the support and counsel of the master will never fail us. None of us is permitted to forget that, if hope and faith have penetrated the majority of our hearts, if many among us have been torn from materialism and incredulity, we owe it to his persevering courage, to his zeal, which neither calumnies, nor diatribes, nor attacks of every sort have shaken. Having been the first to understand the immense reach of Spiritism, from then on he sacrificed everything to spread its benefits among his brothers of the Earth. Let us say it: he was evidently chosen for this great apostolate, for it is impossible to fail to recognize that he is fulfilling among us a moralizing mission. I propose to you, gentlemen, to vote him the thanks that all true and sincere Spiritists owe him. At the same time, let us ask God to continue to sustain him in an undertaking in which he is the only one in a position to make it bear fruit completely. “A few words still, gentlemen, on the character of this gathering. The maxim that serves as our guide is capable of reassuring those whom the name of Spiritism might intimidate. Indeed, what can be feared of people who make the principle of charity toward all, friends and enemies, their rule of conduct? And this principle is for us so serious that we make of it the express condition of our salvation. Is it not the best guarantee we can give of our peaceful intentions? Who, then, could look with an evil eye, even among those who do not share our beliefs, upon persons who preach nothing but tolerance, union, and concord, and whose sole aim is to lead back to God those who stray from Him, to combat the materialism and incredulity that invade society and threaten its foundations?

“Thus, we address ourselves to those who do not believe, for the field to be reaped is quite vast, as Mr. Allan Kardec said. By virtue of the very principle of charity that serves as our guide, let us take care not to go disturbing any conscience; let us welcome as brothers those who come to us, and let us seek to coerce no one in his religious faith. We have not come to raise an altar against an altar, but to raise one where none existed. Those who find our principles good will adopt them; those who find them bad will set them aside, and we shall consider them no less as brothers for that; if they cast a stone at us, we shall ask God to forgive them their lack of charity and to remind them of the Gospel and the example of Jesus Christ, who prayed for his executioners.

“Let us pray, then, dear brethren, that God may deign to extend His mercy over us and forgive our faults, as we forgive those who wish us ill. Let us all say, from the bottom of our hearts:

“Lord, Almighty God, who read into the depths of souls and see the purity of our intentions, deign to sustain us in our work and protect our chief; give us the strength to bear with courage and resignation, and as trials for our faith and our perseverance, the miseries that malevolence may stir up against us; grant that, after the example of the first Christian martyrs, we may be ready for every sacrifice, to prove to you our submission to your holy will. Besides, what are the sacrifices of the goods of this world when one has, as all sincere Spiritists must have, the certainty of the imperishable goods of the future life? Grant, Lord, that the preoccupations of earthly life may not turn us aside from the holy path along which you have led us, and deign to send us good Spirits to keep us in the way of good; may charity, which is your law and ours, make us indulgent toward the faults of our brothers; may it stifle in us every feeling of pride, of hatred, of envy, and of jealousy, and make us good and benevolent toward all, so that we may preach as much by example as by word.”

— The delegates of various groups from the neighboring localities had gathered, on this occasion, with their new brothers in belief. Several other addresses were delivered, all bearing witness to a perfect understanding of the true spirit of Spiritism. We regret that the lack of space does not permit us to cite them, as well as a notable communication obtained during the session, signed by François-Nicolas Madeleine, who, in simple and touching terms, traces the duties of the true Spiritist.

At Lyon a new group has just formed under special conditions, which deserve to be noted, as an encouragement and a good example. This gathering has a twofold aim: instruction and benevolence. As regards instruction, it proposes to devote a smaller part than that generally devoted to mediumistic communications and, in return, to consecrate a larger part to oral instructions, with a view to developing and explaining the principles of Spiritism. As regards benevolence, the new society proposes to come to the aid of needy persons, by means of donations of common objects, such as linen, clothing, etc. Besides what it can gather, the ladies who are part of it give their share of personal labor in the making of clothes and in visits to the poor sick. One of the members of this society writes to us about it: “Thanks to the zeal of Mrs. G…, Lyon will soon count one more Spiritist gathering. Will such a gathering attain the aim it sets for itself? Only the future will tell. If it is still not very numerous, at least it counts devoted elements, full of faith and charity. We may fail in the undertaking, but, at least, our intentions are good. It will suffice that the Society of Paris, under whose aegis we place ourselves, approve us and help us with its counsel, for us to persevere, aided by its moral support.” This support will never fail any work founded according to the true spirit of Spiritism, and which has for its aim the realization of good. The Society of Paris always rejoices to see the doctrine produce good fruits. It will only decline any solidarity with regard to groups or societies which, disregarding the principle of charity and of fraternity, without which there are no true Spiritists, would look upon the other gatherings with an evil eye, cast stones at them, or seek to denigrate them under any pretext. Charity and fraternity are recognized by their works, and not by words; it is a measure of appreciation that will deceive none but those who blind themselves as to their own merit, but not disinterested third parties; it is the touchstone by which the sincerity of feelings is recognized. And in Spiritism, when one speaks of charity, one knows that it is not only a matter of that which gives, but also and above all of that which forgets and forgives, which is benevolent and indulgent, which repudiates every feeling of jealousy and of rancor. Any Spiritist gathering not founded upon the principle of true charity would be more harmful than useful to the cause, because it would tend to divide, instead of to unite; besides, it would carry within itself its own destructive element. Thus, our personal sympathies will always be won by all those that prove, by their acts, the good Spirit that animates them, because good Spirits can inspire nothing but good. In the next issue, we shall speak of the new Spiritist societies of Brussels, Turin, and Smyrna, which likewise place themselves under the patronage of the Society of Paris.