An act of justice.

Sunday, April 3, 1864 was a day of great celebration for the commune of Cempuis, near Grandvilliers (Oise). Thousands of people were gathered there for a touching ceremony, which will leave indelible memories in the heart of all those present. Mr. Prévost, our colleague, member of the Spiritist Society of Paris, founder of the Cempuis asylum and of the mutual-aid societies of the district, was the modest hero. An immense procession, preceded by the band of Grandvilliers, conducted him to the town hall, where he received from the hands of the departmental authority the medal of honor of which he had made himself worthy by his devotion to the cause of suffering humanity. In the speech delivered on the occasion by the delegate of the prefecture, we single out the following passage: “Gentlemen, if in this summary review I have succeeded in having each one receive the deserved part that falls to him in the consecration of this great day, may I be permitted to rejoice with you, as though it were the fulfillment of a duty which, on every count, was very dear to me.

“It is, then, with unspeakable joy and legitimate pride that all will see upon the noble breast of Mr. Prévost this honorific symbol, which the Emperor wished to see attached there in his name, hoping — let us not doubt it — that the star of honor will come to shine there with its most vivid light.

“Before closing this beautiful ceremony, which the youth are, by full right, impatient to replace with their joyful animation, let us trace our joy and our gratitude back to its august author, the Emperor, as well as to his faithful interpreter, the Prefect of Oise.”

The Spiritist Society of Paris also takes pride in the honor rendered to one of its highly esteemed members. (For details on the Cempuis asylum, see the Spiritist Review of October 1863.)

Allan Kardec.

Paris. – Typ. of COSSON ET Ce, rue du Four-Saint-Germain, 43.