Periodicity of the Spiritist Review.

The desire to see the Review appear twice a month or every week, even at the cost of an increase in the subscription, has already been expressed to us several times. We are very sensitive to this testimony of sympathy, but it is impossible, at least until further notice, to change our mode of publication. The first motive lies in the multiplicity of the labors resulting from our position, whose extent is difficult to imagine. We are strictly with the truth in saying that there is not for us a single day of absolute rest and that, in spite of all our activity, it is materially impossible for us to suffice for everything. By doubling or quadrupling our monthly publication, we understand that the majority of subscribers would have time to read it; nevertheless, for us, this would be to the detriment of the more important labors that remain for us to do.

The second motive lies in the very nature of our Review, which is not properly a newspaper, but the complement and the development of our doctrinal works. In it the periodical form allows us to introduce more variety than in a book and to take advantage of current events. There come to be grouped together, according to the circumstances and the opportunity, the most interesting facts, the refutations, the instructions of the Spirits; in it are sketched the different phases of the progress of the spiritist science; finally, in it are tried out, in a tentative form, the new theories, which can only be accepted after having received the sanction of universal control.

In a word, the Review is a personal work, the responsibility for which we assume alone, and by which we must not, and do not wish to, be hampered by any foreign will; it was conceived according to a determined plan to contribute to the objective we must attain. If it were transformed into a weekly sheet, it would lose its essential character. The very nature of our labors opposes our entering into detail concerning the preoccupations and vicissitudes of journalism. This is why the Spiritist Review must remain just as it is. We will give it continuity as long as its existence, under this form, is demonstrated necessary to us. Moreover, by changing its mode of publication, we would give the impression of wishing to compete with the new newspapers published on the subject, which could not enter our mind.

By their more frequent periodicity, these newspapers fill the gap pointed out; by the diversity of the subjects they can treat, and which enter into their framework, by the number of enlightened and talented Spiritists who can make their voice heard in them, finally by the diffusion of the idea under different forms, they can render great services to the cause. They are so many champions who fight for the doctrine, whose organs we have the satisfaction of seeing multiply. We will always support those who march frankly in a useful path, those who do not make themselves the instruments of cliques, nor of personal ambitions and, finally, those who conduct themselves according to the great principles of spiritist morality. We feel happy to encourage them and to help them with our counsels, if they judge them necessary. But there our cooperation is limited. We declare that we have no material solidarity with any newspaper, without exception. Consequently, none is published by us, nor under our effective patronage; we leave to each one the responsibility for its publications. When requests for subscription on their account are addressed to the management of the Review, we forward them to the newspapers by way of good fraternity, without seeing in this any interest, not even the normal commission of intermediaries, which we would not accept, even if it were offered to us. We think it well to explain the real state of things, for the edification of those who think that certain spiritist newspapers are bound by interest to our Review. Without doubt all have a common interest, because they tend toward the same objective as we do. On that account, all owe one another reciprocal benevolence, for, otherwise, they would give the lie to their qualification as spiritist newspapers, although each acts in the sphere of its activity and of its means, and under its own responsibility. The doctrine will only gain in dignity and in credit by their independence, whereas the accord of views and of principles existing between them and the Review would have nothing admirable on the part of those who might emanate from the same source. When another periodical publication is made by our initiative and with our effective participation, we will say so openly.

Allan Kardec.

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