Mr. Grégoire Girard - Mr. Degand - Mrs. Vauchez.

Spiritism has just lost one of its most fervent adherents in the person of Mr. Grégoire Girard, who died in Sétif (Algeria), in the first days of last July.

Mr. Girard was one of the founders of Sétif and one of our oldest subscribers. He was one of the Spiritists who contributed most to the development of our beliefs in that locality. A simple man of irreproachable conduct, he saw death approach without fear; for him it was the liberation, the return of the exile to the true homeland. His detachment was swift and the disturbance of short duration; thus, he was able to manifest himself a few days after his interment. His death and his awakening were those of a Spiritist of the heart, who strove constantly to put into practice the precepts of the Doctrine. Spiritism saw another of its representatives depart in the person of Mr. Hippolyte Degand, who died at the age of fifty-one, on July 25, in Philippeville (Algeria), after a few days of illness. Mr. Hippolyte Degand was likewise, for a long time, a sincere and devoted adherent, who understood the true purpose of the Doctrine; he was, in the full sense of the term, a man of good, loved and esteemed by all who knew him, and one of those whom Spiritism is proud to count in its ranks. Although he departed almost suddenly for the world of Spirits, we have no doubt that his situation is satisfactory. Without fear of the unknown, full of confidence in God, he knew where he was going, and the tranquility of his conscience allowed him to hope to be welcomed with sympathy by our brothers of space. We are convinced that his hope will suffer no disappointment, and that, on high, he will occupy the place reserved for men of good. At the moment of going to press, we received a letter announcing the death of Mrs. Vauchez, or Anne-Octavie Van Metcher when unmarried, who died on August 16, at 27 years of age, at her home, 51, rue de la Montagne, in Brussels (Belgium).

Her husband, Mr. Vauchez, one of our oldest adherents, was one of those who consecrated themselves with the most zeal and dedication to the development of our philosophy. President for several years of the Spiritist Society of Brussels, he always knew how, by his moderation and perseverance, to make our principles appreciated and respected in his locality.

Mr. Vauchez, who always distinguished himself by his courage of opinion, did not wish to belie himself before the cruel trial that struck him. The following note, taken from Mrs. Vauchez's funeral letter, is convincing proof of this:

Note. – At 2 o'clock, on August 18, in the mortuary chamber, evocation and prayers to God and to the good Spirits that they may welcome her into the spiritual world.

We deem it a duty to join our brothers of Brussels in their appeal to the good Spirits, that they may spiritually assist Mrs. Vauchez. – We are certain that her profound conviction of the truth of our principles and of her life of sufferings and trials, borne with exemplary resignation, will make her worthy of a satisfactory situation in the world of space. – Her Spirit, long since prepared for another life, and detached from its material bonds even before death, must have taken possession of its new state with the satisfaction of the prisoner who, having broken the bars of his prison, breathes the delicious air of liberty. [A. DESLIENS.]