The need for the selflessness in mediums became such a principle today that it would be superfluous to publish the fact above if it did not offer, in addition to the central issue, a remarkable example of coincidence and a positive proof of identity from the similarity of thoughts and the level of originality that in general every communication from our former colleague Jobard, to the point that when he communicates spontaneously at the Society it is rare the case when we cannot identify the author from his first initial lines. Therefore there was no question about the authenticity of those that we have just given above whereas the one that we were asked to examine contains striking deception to any one that knows the language and the character of Mr. Jobard, as well as the principles that he constantly professed as a man and now as a Spirit. It would be irrational to admit that he had suddenly changed to have one person benefited materially. It was an awkward charlatanism.
As for the matter of selflessness it would be useful to repeat everything that has already been said about it and that is remarkably well summarized in Mr. Jobard’s answers. We only add an important consideration.
Certain exploiting mediums think to be saving the appearances by only charging the rich or only accepting a voluntary contribution. First we say that the exploitation of sacred things does not make it less of a job with a profit taken from something that one receives for free. When Jesus and the apostles taught and cured people they did not add a price tag to their words or to the care that was given although they did not have resources to live from. On another hand acting in this way gives no guarantee of sincerity and does not eliminate the suspicion of charlatanism. The reason for free consultation offered by certain doctors in the case of philanthropy is well-known as well as in the case of certain dealers that sell things on much lower prices or that even give them away. In certain cases gratuity is a means of attracting a wealthy clientele.
There is, however, an even stronger consideration. How to recognize the one that can pay and the one that cannot? Appearance is sometimes misleading and sometimes a clean outfit may hide a greater need than the worker’s overall. Does the person then need to attest poverty, their titles of charity or provide a certificate of need? Furthermore who can guarantee that the medium, even by admitting honesty on her side, will show the same solicitude to one that pays a lot or that pays something as compared to the one that does not pay at all, and that she will not give each one according to their payment? And that when simultaneously receiving a rich and a poor person she will not give preference to the rich that only wishes to satisfy a futile curiosity whereas the poor person that might need significant consolation will be delayed? Her conscience will be unwillingly tempted by preference. She will be lead to look the one that pays with better eyes even if that rich person would through a golden coin with disdain like to a mercenary whereas she will look at a minimum with indifference the few coins that the ashamed poor person will timidly present.
Are such feelings compatible with Spiritism? Isn’t that the maintenance of the humiliating separation that already does a lot of harm and that must be eliminated by Spiritism, demonstrating the equality between rich and poor before God who does not measure the light rays of his sun by someone’s fortune, and that God would not subordinate the consolations of the heart that are given by his the good Spirits, his messenger, to people based on their fortune?
Honestly, given the choice we would prefer the medium that always charged because in that case there wouldn’t be any hypocrisy; one would immediately know how to consider that medium. Besides, the ever growing multiplicity of mediums in every social branch and in the heart of the majority of families, subtracts from paid mediumship any utility and any meaning. That multiplicity will eliminate exploitation, if not by the disgust that such activity provokes.
We were informed about the termination of the activities of an old and large group in a country town that was led by selfish interests. The leader of that group, as well as his family, had abandoned their professional activities with the deceiving argument of devotion to the cause to which they wanted to dedicate all of their time. The bread winning activities were replaced by the resources that they expected to gain from Spiritism. Fortunately the exploitation of mediumship was so much discredited in the country that in most cities whoever transformed them in profession, even with the most powerful faculties, would not inspire any trust. Speculation did not correspond to the expectation and the leader of that group would have complained to the attendees, we were told, for his precarious situation and had asked for help, and getting the feedback that if he were is such situation it was his own fault; that he had made a mistake by closing his shop to live out of Spiritism and charge for the instructions of the Spirits that he received for free. He responded by blaming the Spirits. In the event out of nine mediums to whom the issue was presented eight received communications reproaching his actions; only one approved it: his wife. Accepting the advice of the Spirits the leader of the group announced that the group was over from that moment on. It would have undoubtedly be wiser from him to have heard earlier the advices that since long ago were given to him by sincere friends of Spiritism. Another group, in more or less identical conditions, was gradually abandoned by the assistants and finally forced to dissolve.
These are, therefore, two groups that disappear by the pressure of public opinion. A letter was sent to us saying that this result is treated in the text of the Imitation of the Gospel in its items #392 and beyond. As a matter of fact it is impossible that a sincere Spiritist that understands the essence and true interests of the Doctrine becomes a defender and gives support to an abuse that would certainly tend to discredit it. We invite you to be suspicious of the traps that the enemies of Spiritism tried to lay with such objective. It is a known fact that in the absence of good reasons to combat Spiritism one of their tactics is to try to ruin it by itself. That is how we see them carefully watching the occasions to catch it at fault or in contradiction with itself. That is why the Spirits continuously ask us to be vigilant and on guard.
As for ourselves, we are aware of the fact that we did not convert into friends those that saw an object of exploitation in Spiritism nor those that supported them. But why bother with the opposition of a few individuals? We defend a true principle and no personal consideration will make us move back before the accomplishment of a duty. Our efforts will always tend to preserve Spiritism from the invasion of commerce. The present time is the most difficult but as the Doctor is better understood such an invasion will be less feared. The opinion of the masses will oppose an insurmountable barrier. The principle of the selflessness that simultaneously satisfies heart and reason will always have the largest number of sympathies and will lead it to victory by the force of things against the principle of speculation.
