Decision taken by the Parisian Society of Spiritist Studies in its session on February 13th, 1863 about the questions proposed by Mr. M… from Tonnay-Charente.
The Parisian Society, after learning about the letter from Mr. M… and the questions that he wishes to have solemnly addressed by the Society, feels that it is its duty to remind the author of the letter that the essential objective of Spiritism is the destruction of materialism and the betterment of mankind; that it is not absolutely in the scope of work of the Society to discuss the particular dogmas of each cult, leaving its appreciation to the individual conscience of each person; that it would be a lack of knowledge of such objective to transform it into an object of religious controversy whose effect would be the perpetuation of an antagonism that the Doctrine tends to eliminate, calling all peoples to the flag of charity, leading them to only see brothers in their neighbors irrespective of their beliefs. If there are controversial dogmas in certain religions one must hand over the care of depuration to the works of time and to the progress of things. The danger of their embedded mistakes shall disappear when mankind converts the principle of charity as the foundation of their conduct. The duty of the true Spiritists, of those who understand the providential objective of the Doctrine, is therefore, and before anything else, to fight disbelief and selfishness that are the true ulcers of humanity, and make the feeling of charity prevail through as much by theory as by actions, for that must be the basis of every rational religion in order to guide social reforms. Questions of real relevance must take priority with respect to questions of form. Relevant questions are those whose objective is to make people better since any social improvement must follow the betterment of the masses. That is the trend of Spiritism thus paving the way to all kinds of moral progress. Willing to act differently is the same as building an edifice from the roof before the foundations are laid out. It is like sowing before preparing the terrain.
By the application of the above principles and based on its bylaws the Spiritist Society of Paris is precluded from discussing any issue of religious and political controversy, as well as social economics, and will not yield to any enticement that may veer if off from such a guideline.
For that very reason the Society would not either officially or unofficially issue a judgement of value to the dictated answers given to the medium Mr. M… considering that those answers are essentially dogmatic and even political, and even less to bring it up as a matter for a solemn discussion as requested by the author of the letter.
As for the book that supposedly deals with those questions and whose publication is prescribed by the Spirit that dictated those answers, the Society does not hesitate in declaring that such publication is inopportune and dangerous since it could feed the adversaries of Spiritism with ammunition. Consequently, the Society believes to be its duty to discourage such publication as it does to every publication that is prone to misguide people with respect to the aim and tendencies of the Doctrine.
With respect to the nature of the Spirit that dictated those communications, the Society believes that it should remind everyone that the name of a Spirit is never a guarantor of his identity; that it is not possible to find proof of superiority in some just ideas that are issued side by side with others that are false.
The truly superior spirits are logical and consistent in everything they say. Well, that is not the case with this Spirit. His pretentious belief that the consequence of his book will be to have the government changing certain areas of politics would be enough to cast doubt upon his elevated position and even more so on the name that he bears. His elevated position also sticks out from no less than these two characteristic facts.
First, it is completely false the idea that Mr. Allan Kardec received the mission of examining and having the book published, as pretended by the Spirit. If he has such a mission, it must only be for the clarification of the inconveniences and to fight against its publication.
Second is how the Spirit exalts the mission of the medium, something that is never done by good Spirits, and something that is on the contrary always done by those who want to impose themselves by capturing the confidence of the mediums through their beautiful words, hoping to be able to accomplish the rest.
In short, it becomes evident to the Society that the name that beautifies the Spirit who pretended to be Christ is not true. The Society believes to be its duty to advise the author of the letter as well as its medium that they should make no mistake about those communications, sticking to the essential objectives of Spiritism.
