35. To those who would desire to acquire the pre
liminary knowledge by reading our works, we would
advise the following order:
—
First. What is Spiritism ? This tract, of a hun
dred pages only, is a summary exposition of the prin
ciples of the spirit doctrine, a general glance, which
permits us to embrace the whole in a brief outline. In
a few words we see the end, and can judge of its
range. Above all, here may be found answers to the
principal questions, or objections, which novices are
disposed to make.
This first, which calls for little time, is an introduc
tion which facilitates a more profound study.
Second. The Book on Spirits. It contains the
doctrine complete, dictated by the spirits themselves,
with all its philosophy, and all its moral consequences ;
it is the destiny of man unvailed, the initiation into
the nature of spirits, and into the mysteries of the life
beyond the grave. In reading this it will be seen that
Spiritism has a serious aim, and is not a frivolous
pastime.
Third. The Book on Mediums, intended to direct in
the practice of manifestations, by the knowledge of
the proper means of communicating with spirits ; it is
a guide either for mediums or invocators, and is the
complement of the Book on Spirits.
Fourth. The Spirit Reviewed. This is a varied col
lection of facts, of theoretic explanations and detached
fragments, which complete what is said in the two
preceding works, and of which it is in some sort the
application. It may be read at the same time, but
will be more profitable and more intelligible, particularly after the Book on Spirits.
This is all we can
say. Those who desire to understand a science thor
oughly must, necessarily, read all that is written on
the subject, or, at least, the principal things, and not
limit themselves to a single author ; they should
even read the for and against, the critics as well as
the apologists, to know the different systems, to be
able to judge by comparison. In this connection we
neither extol nor criticise any work, desiring in noth
ing to influence the opinion that may be formed ;
bringing our stone to the edifice, we place ourselves
in the ranks : it does not pertain to us to be judge
and client, and we make not the absurd pretension of
being sole dispenser of the light ; it is for the reader
to distinguish between the good and the bad, the
true and the false.
