Looking BackThe year 1867 had been announced as having to be particularly fruitful for Spiritism, and this forecast was fully realized. It has seen several books published, that without bearing its name, popularize its principles, and among which we will recall Mirette, by Mr. Sauvage; The novel of the future, by Mr. Bonnemère; God in nature, by Mr. Camille Flammarion; The Reason for Spiritism, by Judge Bonnamy is an event in the archives of the doctrine, because the flag is there, highly and courageously raised by a man whose name, rightly esteemed and considered, is an authority, at the same time that his work is a protest against the epithets with which criticism generally gratifies the followers of the idea. The Spiritists have all appreciated this book, as it deserves, and they have understood its significance. It is an authoritative response to certain attacks; thus, we think that they will consider it a duty to propagate it in the interest of the doctrine.
If the year only had these results, we should be congratulated; but it produced more effective ones. The number of officially known societies or groups has not noticeably increased, it is true; it has rather diminished, because of the intrigues stirred to undermine them, by introducing elements of dissolution; but, on the other hand, the number of private or family gatherings has increased dramatically.
It is also well-known to everyone, and by the admission of our adversaries, that the Spiritist ideas have gained considerable ground, as attested by the author of the work that we report below. They infiltrate through a multitude of openings; everything contributes to that; things that seemed most foreign to them, at first sight, are how these ideas come to light. This is because Spiritism touches on such many issues, that it is very difficult to tackle anything without seeing the emergence of a Spiritist thought, so much so that even in refractory circles, these ideas hatch in one form or another, like those colorful plants that grow through stones. And as in these circles Spiritism is generally rejected, out of a spirit of prevention, without knowing what it is saying, it is not surprising that, when the Spiritist thoughts appear there, they are not recognized, and then they are acclaimed because they find them good, without suspecting that it is Spiritism.
Contemporary literature, large or small, serious, or otherwise, sows these ideas in profusion; it is enameled with it, and all that is missing is the name. If one brought together all the Spiritist thoughts that run the world, one would constitute the complete Spiritism. This is a considerable fact, and one of the most characteristic of the year that has just passed. It proves that each of us possesses some elements of it, in the state of intuition, and that between its antagonists and itself, there is usually only a question of words. Those that repel it with full knowledge of cause are those that have an interest in fighting it.
But then, how to get to make it known, to overcome these prejudices? This is the work of time. It is necessary that the circumstances lead to that naturally, and one can count on the Spirits for that, who know how to bring them to birth at the appropriate time. These circumstances are particular or general. The former act on individuals and the others on the masses. The latter, by their repercussion, have the effect of mines that remove some fragments of the rock, with each explosion.
Let each Spiritist work on his own, without being discouraged by the little importance of the result obtained individually and think that, by accumulating grains of sand, we form a mountain.
Among the material facts that have been reported this year, the healings of Zouave Jacob hold the first rank; they had an impact that everyone knows; and although Spiritism only figured incidentally, general attention was, nonetheless, keenly drawn to one of the most serious phenomena that is directly connected. These facts, produced in common conditions, without a mystical apparatus, not by a single individual but by several, have by that very fact, lost the miraculous character that had been attributed to them up until now; they have returned, like so many others, to the domain of the natural phenomena. Among those that rejected them as miracles, many became less absolute in the denial of the fact, and admitted their possibility, as the result of a unknown law of nature; it was a first step on a path fruitful in consequences, and more than one skeptic was shaken. Admittedly, not everyone was convinced, but there was a lot of talk; this resulted in a great number of people having a deep impression that much more food for thought than one thinks; they are seeds that, if they do not yield an abundant harvest immediately, are not lost for the future.
Mr. Jacob remains drawn back in absolute terms; we do not know the reasons for his abstention and whether he should resume his sessions. If there is intermittence in his faculty, as often happens in similar cases, it would be a proof that it does not hold exclusively to his person, and that there is something, an independent will outside the individual.
But one will say, why such a suspension, if the production of these phenomena was an advantage to the doctrine? Things having been carried out with a wisdom that has not wavered so far, it must be assumed that those leading the movement have deemed the effect sufficient for the moment, and that it was useful to give some break to the effervescence; but the idea has been launched, and we can be sure that it will not remain a dead letter.
In short, as we can see, the year has been a good one for Spiritism; its phalanxes recruited serious men whose opinion is held for something, in a certain world. Our correspondence indicates, from almost everywhere, a general movement of opinion towards these ideas, and oddly enough in this positive century, those that gain most ground are the philosophical ideas, much more than the material facts of manifestation that many people still insist on rejecting. So, given the larger number, the best way to proselytize is to start with philosophy, and that is understandable. Being the fundamental ideas latent in most, it suffices to awaken them; we understand them because we have the seeds of them in ourselves, while the facts, to be accepted and understood, demand a study and observations that many do not want to bother to carry out.
Also, the quackery that seized the facts to exploit them for its profit, discredited them in the opinion of certain people, by giving space to criticism; this could not be the case with philosophy, that was not so easy to counterfeit, and that, moreover, is not an exploitable material.
Quackery, by its nature, is turbulent and intriguing, otherwise it would not be quackery. Critics, who generally do not care to go to the bottom of the well to seek the truth, have seen quackery all over, striving to give it the label of Spiritism; hence, a prevention that fades away against this word, as true Spiritism is better known, for there is no one who, having studied it seriously, confuses it with the grotesque Spiritism of fantasy, that lightheartedness or malice try to substitute. It is a reaction in this sense that has presented itself in recent times.
The principles that propagate more easily are those of the plurality of inhabited worlds and the plurality of existences, or reincarnation; the first can be considered as admitted without dispute by science and by unanimous assent, even in the materialist camp; the second is in the state of intuition in a multitude of individuals in whom it is an innate belief; it finds many sympathies, as a rational principle of philosophy, even outside Spiritism. It is an idea that smiles to many nonbelievers because they immediately find in it the solution of difficulties that had led them to doubt. Also, this belief tends to popularize more and more. But for anyone who thinks about it, these two principles have forced consequences that lead directly to Spiritism. We can, therefore, look at the progress of these ideas as a first step towards the doctrine since they are an integral part of it.
The press, that without knowing it, undoubtedly suffers the influence of the diffusion of the Spiritist ideas, because they even spread in its center, abstains in general, if not out of sympathy, at least out of prudence; it is already noticeable that speaking of the Davenports is not tasteful any more. One would even say that it avoids talking about questions of Spiritualism; if, from time to time, it launches a few spikes against its followers, they are like the last charges lost in a bouquet of fireworks; but there is no longer that rolling fire of invectives that used to hear, barely two years ago. Although it made almost as much noise as Mr. Jacob, regarding the Davenports, its language was quite different, and it should be noted that the name of Spiritism figured only very incidentally in the controversy.
In examining the situation, we must not only consider the great ostensible movements, but we must also, above all, consider the intimate state of opinion and the causes that may influence it. As we have said elsewhere, if we observe attentively what is happening in the world, we will recognize that a host of facts, apparently foreign to Spiritism, seem to come on purpose to clear its way. It is in all the circumstances that we must look for the real signs of progress. From this point of view, the situation is, therefore, as satisfactory as one can wish. Should we conclude that the opposition is disarmed, and that things will now go smoothly? Let us refrain from believing it and falling asleep in a deceptive security. The future of Spiritism is unquestionably assured, and one would have to be blind to doubt it; but its worst days have not passed; it has not yet received the baptism that blesses all the great ideas. The Spirits are unanimous in warning us against an inevitable but necessary struggle, in order to prove its invulnerability and its power; it will come out bigger and stronger; it is only then that it will conquer its place in the world, for those who will want to overthrow it will have prepared its triumph. May the sincere and devoted Spiritists strengthen themselves through union and merge into a holy communion of thoughts. Let us remember the parable of the ten virgins and let us be careful not to be caught off guard.
We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to our Spiritist brothers who, as in previous years, on the renewal of subscriptions to the Spiritist Review, give us new testimonies of their affectionate sympathy; we are happy with the pledges of their dedication to the sacred cause that we all defend, and that is that of humanity and progress. To those who tell us: courage! we say that we will never back down from any of the necessities of our position, however harsh they may be. May they count on us as we count on them, in finding in them, on the day of victory, the soldiers of the day before, and not the soldiers of the next day.
