Answer from Mr. DombreMr. Editor,
I was the first to appreciate the fine and delicate observations by Mr. Cazenove de Pradines about Spiritism. The text under the title Spiritist Conversations that came to my hands and was mentioned in your appreciated periodical on Sunday, May 25th, is really of a charming sagacity and does not fail to fulfill the witty character and talent of the author. It is a flower whose colors and shine I admire and whose kindness I avoid altering at this time through any minor word of candid criticism. However, your enthusiasm towards those spicy dialogues, more witty than offensive to the doctrine, led you to make mistakes. As such, it is the duty of any good Spiritist to remind you about these.
To begin with I must say that the chosen citations from here and there in The Spirits’ Book are grouped with art so that the doctrine is presented unfavorably but any prudent and good faith person will be willing to read the whole book and mediate about it.
- You mentioned the doctrines of the new sect. Allow me to tell you that Spiritism is neither a religion nor a sect. Spiritism is a teaching brought to humanity by the Spirits that populate the space and who are no more than the souls of those who lived. We suffer their influence all the time, regardless. They are a force of nature, like electricity, but from a different point of view. Their existence and presence are observed through positive and tangible facts.
- You say: ‘- the perversity of such doctrine.’ Careful! Spiritism is not but the purity of Christianity; its flag holds this statement only: ‘Love and Charity.’ Would that be perversity?
- Finally, you speak of a system full of seduction and dangers. Yes, it is full of seductions and attractiveness because it is beautiful, great, fair and reassuring, and from every point of view it is worthy of God’s perfection. Where are the dangers, then? Useless to seek that in the practice of Spiritism where only consolation and moral betterment are found. Ask around in Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Metz, etc. about the effect produced on the masses by such a belief. Lyon in particular will tell you about the source of resignation and strength found by the jobless workers to face deprivation of all kinds.
I do not know if the bookstores in Agen carry books like ‘What is Spiritism, The Spirits’ Book, The Mediums’ Book”, but I sincerely wish that your short report wakes up those who are indifferent, leading them to look for those books and inspire them to initiate a Spiritist Group in our county. This doctrine, destined to regenerate humanity, marches on with huge steps. Would Agen be one of the last cities where Spiritism will claim citizenship? I consider your short report like the stone brought to the construction of a building and once more I am impressed by the means utilized by God to achieve the final objectives.
Your impartiality and desire to get to the truth through this discussion are a guarantee that you will welcome this letter in the columns of your journal as a response to your article published on May 25th.
Respectfully,
Dombre (from Marmande)
The editor replied to this letter on June 1st with the following text only:
‘Mr. Dombre from Marmande sent us a letter about our reflections regarding The Spirits’ Book and the dialogues suggested to the honorable Mr. Cazenove de Pradines. That new teaching, as Mr. Dombre prefers to call it, does not hold to us to the same value and prestige in the same way it seems to impress our witty correspondent.’
Note: Mr. Dombre had sent contributions several times to that newspaper as stories and poetry.
‘We respect the beliefs of our contradictors, even when based on wrong principles, but we believe it to be a mistake, but we consider to be a duty, regardless of the loyal and sincere attempted defense by Mr. Dombre, to maintain our position about a system that is completely away from the truth.
Hence the Abeille Agénaise could not be used to propagate essentially wrong ideas and Mr. Dombre will understand our reasons for not supporting his wishes.
J. Serret’
OBSERVATION: Using the right of attacking and not providing the right of response is a convenient way of being right. It is still to be determined if this is the best way to get to the truth. If a doctrine whose foundations are charity and love to the neighbor; that betters humanity, leading people to renounce to their habits of disorder; that brings faith to those who believed nothing; praying the ones who never prayed; that reestablishes union amidst broken families; that precludes suicide; if such a doctrine, we were saying, is perverse, what would then be the others which are impotent to achieve such results? Mr. Serret is afraid of helping the propaganda through the discussion and that is why he decided to speak for himself. May he do so but the result shall not be different as it has been everywhere: call the attention and recruit followers to the doctrine.
