The Spiritist Review - Journal of Psychological Studies - 1860

Allan Kardec

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Spiritism in England

In the beginning Spiritism found a resistance in England that rightfully surprised us. We cannot say that, like everywhere else, it has found isolated support but its progress was infinitely slower than in France. Would it be the case, as some have claimed, that the English, colder, more positive and less enthusiastic than us, are less carried away by imagination? Would they be less attracted to the supernatural? If that were the case, we should be surprised and with more reason that Spiritism has had its main focus in the United States, where the positivism of material interests rules completely. Wouldn’t it be more rational that it had appeared in Germany, but at the same time, doesn’t it seem that Russia takes the lead as the classical land of legends?

The opposition found by Spiritism in England has nothing to do with the national character but with the influence of religious ideas of certain dominating sects, more strictly attached to the letter than to the spirit of their dogmas. They were shaken by a doctrine that at first sight, seemed to be contrary to their beliefs. However, this could not have lasted long in the minds of a critical, enlightened nation, where free examination finds no obstruction and the freedom of assembly is an absolute right. They had to surrender before the evidence of facts. Well then, it was precisely because the English have judged and appreciated it cold-bloodedly and without enthusiasm that they have understood its full reach.

When the fundamental truth was observed, that spiritist ideas are founded on Christian ideas and far from contradicting, they continue to corroborate, explain to one another, completely satisfy religious scruples; having accommodated the conscience, there was nothing else opposed to the progress of the new ideas, which propagated with incredible speed in that country. There as elsewhere, it is still in the enlightened echelon of society that the larger number of followers and most zealous adepts are found. This is an irrefutable argument, which cannot be disputed. Mediums multiply and numerous centers are created, to which high clergy members associate themselves, openly proclaiming their convictions. Will the adversaries say that the fever of the supernatural has triumphed over the English composure? Be it as it will, there is a notorious fact: their ranks get enlightened daily, despite their sarcasm.

The development of the spiritist ideas in England gave rise to specialized publications. They now have a very interesting monthly periodical published in London since May 1st under the title: The Spiritual Magazine, from which we extracted the report below.

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