Year 14 Number 68 2005 November 15th, 2005

"Unshakable faith is only that which can face reason face to face in every Humankind epoch." 
Allan Kardec

"It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving."


Mother Teresa
 ° EDITORIAL
 
 ° ARTICLES
Time for Acceptance of Reincarnation Has Come
 
 ° THE CODIFICATION
Haunted Places
   
 ° ELECTRONIC BOOKS
Life and Destiny - Introdution by the Translator and Summary
   
 ° SPIRIT MESSAGES
We Want to Know the Truth About Life, But Can We Accept it?
   
 ° UPCOMING EVENTS

SSB - Spiritist Events - November and December
BUSS - Two Thousand Years Ago
 
 
 ° EDITORIAL

Dear Readers,

We are sorry to inform you that we will have to stop reproducing The Memoirs of Father Germain in electronic form because its publishing in printed form is being negotiated with editors.

If negotiations are successful we will have to rejoice. After all, we all know what a wonderful work it is and so the more people can read it, the better. You may still currently download the book from our website before it is taken off. In order to do so, all you have to do is follow the links: GEAE in English/GEAE Resources/Electronic Books/Memoirs of Father Germain.


In order to keep our Electronic Book section alive we have chosen to publish Life and Destiny by Léon Denis, a superb work by a great Spiritist researcher. In this issue we will reproduce the Introduction by the Translator, a poem by the translator named A Sculptor and the book's Summary. In our next issue we'll reproduce the book's  Introduction and then one chapter in each following issue of the SM.

We hope that you willl like your reading and profit a lot from it.

Much peace
 
The GEAE Editors

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 ° ARTICLES


Time for Acceptance of Reincarnation Has Come

Yvonne Limoges


If we truly believe in a Creator Who is All Love and Goodness, why does suffering exist? It is obvious that suffering is rampant upon this planet, in one form or another, and that no one escapes it and many people suffer things that seem random with no apparent cause.  

Science tells us every effect must have a cause. Reason tells us that suffering must have a just cause because all suffering must be in conformance with the Perfect Justice of God’s All Powerful Goodness. This also means we cannot receive punishments arbitrarily. Then what is the answer to the question: “Why do good people suffer?” The only logical answer is the spiritually mature concept of reincarnation through it laws of cause and effect based upon the choices people make through their thoughts, words, and deeds.  The inequities of life only appear unfair because of mankind’s limited perspective, for it must look out beyond the horizon of one lifetime into the infinity of the plurality of existences to find the reasons for Life’s sorrows. One lifetime is but only one link in a long chain of lives.

It is high time for mankind to begin to accept this fact…for it is the only concept where mankind will truly find solace while upon this material world and where reason can provide a solid faith to sustain it.

Mankind suffers the results of its choices in order to learn lessons that in turn assist in its soul’s progression and moral purification. A human being cannot sufficiently progress and learn all that it needs to learn in one lifetime; to have only one chance to get things right, and then either go to heaven or to the eternal damnation of hell is not in keeping with the Goodness of the Creator.

The Creator Knows the past, present, and future, as the Creator is All Knowing. It would go against God’s Supreme Justice to create beings already known to be doomed to hell or to create others, already knowing  they would “be saved” and could go to heaven. If this was the case that would mean that the Creator was playing favorites and that is unfair even to a mere human’s sense of justice!

Neither does it truly make sense that a person may have one horrible or one relatively good lifetime then, continue to supposedly evolve in the afterlife or spirit world or beyond. One can learn all one likes, but it is only when one puts knowledge into practice, that is when a person is put to the real test of its will power and determination. It is also the only way the soul actually transforms itself through a progressive purification process. It would be like going to school forever but never using or testing the knowledge attained in one’s field of study.

The Creator Created all of humanity and Holds all mankind to the same Universal Spiritual Laws no matter what their religious or non-religious beliefs; for the Law of Cause and Effect is the same for all.

Now, if we believe that we have had many existences, we must assume we have made some wrong choices along the way, most probably even committed terrible crimes when we were less morally mature in ages long past. We have only to look at the violent past of the history of mankind. It would be illogical to assume we have all been perfect angels from the very beginning of our creation! Therefore, as it states in the book The Gospel According to Spiritism, Chapter 17: “God has created all men equal in relation to pain, whether we be small or great, ignorant or educated, we all suffer for the same motives so that each one may judge in clear consciousness the evil that can be done… God Desires that all His children, being instructed through their common experiences, should not practice evil with the excuse of not knowing its effects.” Mankind suffers because it has caused hurt or pain to itself or others and it must repent, expiate, and make reparation for any transgressions of moral and spiritual laws, either in this present lifetime or in another existence; for it is insufficient just to say one is sorry and carry on. The Divine Scales of Justice are Perfect and there are no mistakes. In addition, being good and doing good deeds, in certain cases, may help to ease expiations.

Further, those who have completely expiated their past want to push themselves further through self-sacrifice and by accepting difficult missions (these are very morally superior souls). They comprehend fully that if they succeed in these, it will help push them further along the pathway that leads to their final purification (no longer having to reincarnate anymore) and towards the Creator.

Everyone starts at the same place and ends at the same place, how long it takes (how many existences) is up to each individual. In order to accept this concept of reincarnation one must have a mature spiritual understanding. We realize that there are no special dispensations, no magical words that can be said, there is no way to avert the consequences of our own thoughts, words, and deeds. We are the architects of our very own destinies! We have only ourselves to blame for all our sufferings, for we have chosen our own spiritual journey.

It is we who choose what types of trials we will subject ourselves when we return to the material world in each existence, after we have been shown (upon our physical death and return to the spirit world) what crimes, bad deeds, or wrong doings we have committed in our previous lives. We do this because we want to make amends, we want to clear our consciences, we want to become better persons, and we want to progress, as all spirits eventually want to do, for the Law of Progress is a Law of the Universe. We understand then, that we cannot progress until we have cleansed and purified ourselves of our past, reparated for it, and, attained great knowledge and wisdom while removing all selfishness and materiality from the very essence of our being and soul. Humankind progresses through the merits of its deeds not through any type of special grace or the sacrifices of another.

Many who may initially accept the concept of reincarnation, when they begin to look deeper into what that concept actually means, and later learn we must accept our own personal responsibility regarding the circumstances we find ourselves, it is then when they either humbly accept this reality, or, reject the whole thing and walk away (or even reject God) because they are not spiritually or morally ready to accept this truth.

 But, they will accept it eventually, as they mature later in this lifetime or in another, because reincarnation is the only logical answer to the question, “Why do good people suffer?” - for it is in total conformance with the Creator’s Supreme Love and Perfect Divine Justice.


(Reproduced from The Academy of Religion and Psychical Research, June 2005 Bulletin – Website: www.lightlink.com/arpr/ with the author's autorization)

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 ° THE CODIFICATION

HAUNTED PLACES

132. The spontaneous manifestations which have occurred in all times, and the persistence of some spirits in ostensible evidence of their presence in certain localities, are the source of the belief in haunted places. The following spirit-answers were elicited by our questions on this subject.

1. Do spirits attach themselves to persons only, or do they also attach themselves to things?

"That depends upon their elevation. Certain spirits may attach themselves to terrestrial objects ; misers, for instance, who have hidden their hoards, and who are not sufficiently dematerialised, may still watch over and guard them."

2. Are there any places for which errant spirits have a predilection ?

"Spirits who are no longer earth-bound go where they find those whom they love, for they are attracted rather by persons than by material things. Some of them may, for a time, retain a preference for certain places; but those who do so are spirits of inferior advancement."

3. Since the attachment of spirits for localities is a sign of inferiority, is it also a proof that they are evil spirits ?

"Assuredly not; a spirit may be but little advanced, and yet not be a bad spirit; is it not so among men?"

4. Is there any foundation for the belief that spirits frequent ruins by preference?

"No; spirits go to such places, just as they go everywhere else; but the lugubrious aspect of certain places strikes the human imagination, and leads you to attribute, to the presence of spirits, what is often merely a natural effect. How often does fear turn the shadow of a tree into a phantom, or mistake the cry of an animal, or the murmuring of the wind, for the wail of a ghost! Spirits like the presence of men, and usually seek out inhabited places rather than solitary ones."

- Nevertheless, knowing what we do of the diversity of character among spirits, may we not suppose that there are misanthropes among them, preferring solitude to society?

"Have I not already answered you on this point, by saying that spirits may seek out desolate places, as well as all other places? If some of them live alone, they do so because it pleases them, but this is no reason why spirits should necessarily prefer ruins; and, assuredly, there are many more spirits in cities and inhabited dwellings than in solitary places."

5. Popular beliefs have generally a foundation of truth; what is the origin of the belief in haunted places?

"It has grown out of men's instinctive belief in spirit manifestations, a belief that has prevailed in all ages of the world; but, as I said just now, the aspect of lugubrious places strikes the imagination, and men have naturally located, in such places, the beings whom they have regarded as supernatural. This superstitious belief is upheld by the fanciful imaginings of your poets, as well as by the nonsensical stories told to you in the nursery."

6. Spirits who assemble together, have they any preferences in regard to days and hours of meeting?

"No; days and hours are measurements of time for the use of men, and for the needs of corporeal life; spirits have no need of any such measurements, and take very little heed of them."

7. What is the origin of the idea that spirits. come by preference at night?

"The impression produced on the imagination by darkness and silence. All such ideas are superstitions that a rational knowledge of spiritism will destroy. It is the same with respect to the notion, held by some people, that certain days and hours are more propitious than others; the influence of midnight has no existence except in story-books."

- If this be the case, how is it that many spirits announce their arrival and manifestations for midnight, or for certain pre-determined days, as Fridays, for example?

"Such spirits only trifle with your credulity. In the same way, there are spirits who declare themselves to be the devil, or give themselves some other diabolical or fantastic name. Show them that you are not to be taken in by them, and you will hear no more of such absurdities."

8. Do spirits come back by preference to the burial-place of their body?

"The body was but a garment; they care no more for their fleshly envelope, in which they have had to suffer, than the prisoner cares for his chains. The memory of those they love is the only thing they value."

- Are prayers offered up at their graves especially pleasant to them, and do they attract them more than prayers would do elsewhere?

"Prayer is an evocation which attracts a spirit, as you know. The more fervent and sincere the prayer, the greater the effect it produces; and therefore, the sight of a venerated tomb may serve to concentrate the thought of him who prays, while the interest attached to it, as to any other treasured relic, being a testimony of affection offered to the spirit, he is always attracted and touched thereby. But, in all such cases, it is the thought which acts on a spirit, and not any material objects; for these have less influence on the spirit who is prayed for than on the person who prays, and whose attention they serve to concentrate and intensify."

9. That being the case, the belief in haunted places would appear to be not absolutely groundless?

"We have told you that there are spirits who are attracted by material things; such spirits may also be attracted to certain places, and may even take up their abode in them, until the cessation of the circumstances that have attracted them thither."

- What are the circumstances that may attract spirits to a given place?

"Their sympathy with persons who frequent that place, and, in some cases, the desire to communicate with them. Their motives, however, are not always so praiseworthy inferior spirits may desire to revenge themselves on persons against whom they have a grudge. Sojourn in a fixed locality may be, also, a punishment inflicted on them especially if they have committed a crime there, so that the crime may be constantly before their eyes."

10. Have haunted places, in all cases, been the former habitation of the spirits who haunt them?

"Not in all cases ; if the former inhabitant be an elevated spirit, he will no more hold to his old house than to his old body. Spirits who haunt certain localities, when not attracted to them by sympathy for certain persons, are often only actuated by
caprice."

- Can they attach themselves to certain places, in order to act as protectors of particular persons of families?

"Assuredly, if they are good spirits ; but, in that case, they never manifest their presence by disagreeable actions"

11. Is there any truth in the legend of "The White Lady." †

"It is as true as are a thousand other facts of a similar nature."

12. Is it rational to dread places that are reputed to be haunted by spirits?

"No; the spirits who haunt certain places, and make disturbances there, do so to amuse themselves at the expense of the credulous and the cowardly, rather than for any evil purpose. Besides, you must not forget that there are spirits everywhere ; and that, wherever you may be, you have them incessantly around you, even in the quietest houses. They only appear to haunt certain habitations because they find, in them, the conditions necessary for manifesting their presence."

13. Is there any method of expelling them?

"Yes; but most frequently what people do for that purpose attracts rather than repels them. The best way of expelling bad spirits is to attract good ones, by doing all the good you can; the bad ones will then go away, for good and evil are incompatible. Be always good, and you will have only good spirits about you."

- Many very good people, however, are greatly annoyed by the persecutions of bad spirits.

"If persons thus annoyed are really good, the annoyance may be a trial to exercise their patience, and to excite them to greater goodness."

14. Can evil spirits be driven from haunted places by exorcisms?

"Have you often seen exorcisms successful? Have you not, on the contrary, often found that they increased the disturbances? Mischievous spirits are often amused at being mistaken for the devil."

"Spirits who come without any evil intention may also manifest their presence by rendering themselves visible, or by noises ; but the noises they make never degenerate into racket. They are often suffering spirits whom you may relieve by praying for them; they are sometimes kindly spirits, who desire to show you that they are near you ; or they may be frivolous spirits, who are only in sport. Since these who disturb you are, almost invariably, spirits in search of amusement, the best thing to do is to laugh at them they will tire of playing pranks, if they see that they neither frighten nor vex you."

From these explanations, we learn that there are spirits who attach themselves to localities, and remain in them by preference, without having any motive for manifesting their presence to us. Any place may be the sojourn of a spirit, either from a preference on his part, or from its having been assigned to him as a temporary abode, without his ever producing a manifestation of any kind; and this, even in the case of those who have led an evil life.

The spirits who attach themselves to localities, or to material things, are never of superior advancement; but although not of high degree, they are not necessarily wicked, nor animated by hostile intentions. Such inmates are sometimes even useful; for, when they take an interest in the people of the house, they often render them various services.

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 ° ELECTRONIC BOOKS

LIFE AND DESTINY

BY

LEON DENIS

AUTHOR OF ‘APRÈS LA MORT,’ ‘JEANNE D’ARC-MÉDIUM’

‘CHRISTIANISME ET SPIRITISME,’ ‘DANS L’INVISIBLE’

‘LA GRANDE ÉNIGME,’ ‘POURQUOI LA VIE?’

‘L’AU-DELÀ ET LA SURVIVANCE DE L’ÉTRE’

TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY

ELLA WHEELER WILCOX

LONDON GAY & HANCOCK LTD.

1919

This book is out of print indefinitely. 

1st Electronic Edition by 

the Spiritist Group of New York (SGNY)
and the Advanced Study Group of Spiritism (GEAE)
 
2002


   
INTRODUCTION BY THE TRANSLATOR

Early in May, while in Dijon, France, the books of Léon Denis, the great spiritual philosopher, were brought to my attention by his friend and pupil, Miss Camille Chaise, a beautiful young refugee from Rheims. Profoundly impressed by the literary and religious importance of this volume, I asked Miss Chaise to inquire if I could obtain the rights of translation. This inquiry led to my coming to Tours, where Mr. Denis resides, and where I have pursued the delightful work. Feeling it to be a holy task, I resolved to begin it on a holy day, May 21st, which was the second anniversary of the birth of my husband into spirit life. Beginning with three pages daily, I gradually increased the number, and was able to complete the task on September 21st. The translation was made of peculiar interest to me, through messages received from my husband, while in Dijon, by the aid of a cultured lady in private life, Madame Soyer, who had no personal acquaintance with Mr. Denis or Miss Chaise. The messages urged me to make the translation, assuring me that I would not only benefit the world, but that I would be personally benefited, as the book contained great truths of life and death which would aid in my development. On numerous occasions while in Tours, messages received from the astral world referred to the translation with interest and approval. In giving this work of Léon Denis to the English-speaking world, I feel I am bestowing an inestimable favor on every intelligent mind capable of feeling love, sorrow, aspiration, or yearning for a larger understanding of life.

The work of translation of these beautiful thoughts has been an education to my mind, a solace to my heart, and an uplift to my soul. When I made this statement to the dear author, he replied: ‘But you, long a student of spiritual research, and of theosophical lore, surely knew all these things before?’ I replied, ‘Yes, I knew them. But I feel as if you had entered a store-room of my mind, where were packed priceless paintings and rare statues, and as if you had taken them one by one, and hung them in a clear light on memory’s walls, and placed the sculptured treasures on pedestals for the delight of my spiritual eyes; you have, in truth, set my intellectual house in order.’

It is rarely that a mind of such an analytically scientific bent, as that of Léon Denis, is at the same time so poetical. This, together with the writer’s profoundly reverential nature, makes his work of threefold value. He appeals to those who pursue psychical research in a purely scientific manner; he appeals to those who value noble and moving literature; and he appeals to every soul that loves and believes in a God great enough to be the Supreme Creator of this magnificent universe.

This book is the crowning work of Mr. Denis’s three score years and ten of life - the ripe fruit of more than half a century of continual study and research. It can be said of Mr. Denis (which cannot be said of all authors), that his personal life accords with his beautiful philosophy. From a troubled and painful youth, he has slowly climbed an ascending path of difficulties, overcome obstacles and surmounted sorrows, attained profound knowledge and a wide education, and put into daily practice the lofty principles he sets forth in this volume.

May it bring to every reader the uplift it has brought to the translator.

ELLA WHEELER WILCOX
TOURS, FRANCE,
September 1918. 

 A SCULPTOR

As the ambitious sculptor, tireless, lifts
Chisel and hammer to the block at hand,
Before my half-formed character I stand
And ply the shining tools of mental gifts.
I’ll cut away a huge unsightly side
Of selfishness, and smooth to curves of grace
The angles of ill temper.
And no trace
Shall my sure hammer leave of silly pride.
Chip after chip must fall from vain desires,
And the sharp corners of my discontent
Be rounded into symmetry, and lent
Great harmony by faith that never tires.
Unfinished still, I must toil on and on,
Till the pale critic, Death, shall say, ‘Tis done.’

ELLA WHEELER WILCOX

C O N T E N T S

INTRODUCTION BY THE TRANSLATOR

INTRODUCTION

PART FIRST
THE PROBLEM OF LIFE

I THE EVOLUTION OF THOUGHT
II THE CRITERION OF THE SPIRITIST DOCTRINE
III THE PROBLEM OF LIFE
IV PERSONALITY
V THE SOUL AND DIFFERENT STATES OF SLEEP
VI TELEPATHIC PROJECTIONS
VII MANIFESTATIONS AFTER DEATH
VIII VIBRATORY STATES OF THE SOUL’S MEMORY
IX EVOLUTION AND FINALITY OF THE SOUL
X DEATH
XI LIFE IN THE BEYOND
XII THE HIGHER LIFE

New Chapter ! This chapter was left out when this book was first translated and published in English.

The translator of this chapter is: Eliene Sherman final editing: Louis Albert Day; revision against the French original (Nouvelle Edition - Conforme a l’edition de 1922 - Union Spirite Française et Francophone): Jussara Korngold.



PART SECOND
SUCCESSIVE LIVES AND THE LAWS OF REINCARNATION

XIII THE LAW OF REINCARNATION
XIV RENOVATION OF THE MEMORY
XV REINCARNATION AND INFANT PRODIGIES
XVI OBJECTIONS AND CRITICISMS
XVII SUCCESSIVE LIVES - HISTORIC PROOFS
XVIII JUSTICE AND RESPONSIBILITY 
XIX THE LAW OF DESTINY

PART THIRD
THE POWERS OF THE SOUL - THE WILL

XX THE WILL
XXI THE INNER SOUL
XXII LIBERTY
XXIII THOUGHT
XXIV DISCIPLINE OF THOUGHT AND REFORM OF CHARACTER
XXV LOVE
XXVI SORROW
XXVII REVELATION OF SORROW

PROFESSION OF FAITH

Next: INTRODUCTION


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 ° SPIRIT MESSAGES

We Want to Know the Truth About Life,
But Can We Accept it?

Spirit communication received by
Yvonne Limoges

So many catastrophes, so much suffering…we want to know, “Why?” But, can we accept the truth? The answer is… we are the architects of our very own destiny.


The truth is that full responsibility for whatever happens to us lies with us. Our freewill has allowed us to make choices, some good, some not so good, and these have consequences, for our selves and others. The situation of our current life was determined by our own choices in the present and/or from a previous life or lives, and our choices now will determine the circumstances of our future lives. So try and make good ones!

The law of cause and effect is a natural moral law that humans are subject to. This law provides that by our own choices, we learn, we grow, we change, and eventually, we will advance to a higher level of moral and spiritual maturity. This is how we will collectively change our planet for the better.

It is only through the process of reincarnation that each being will progress in all areas, intellectually, morally, and spiritually to its highest level. We are spiritual beings that incarnate into a physical body only briefly into a material world to try and progress. In each existence, we hopefully learn new things, mature in many areas, and leave this existence at least a little bit better than when we first arrived. We are provided with as many chances (through the plurality of existences) as it takes to change and better our selves. This process is what transforms our very souls!

Right now this planet is in a transitional phase. Intellect progresses faster than morality. We acquire knowledge faster than wisdom, and, materiality seems more important than morality. But, this is slowly changing... We humans have physically and intellectually evolved, it is time for mankind as a whole, to concentrate more on evolving morally and spiritually…

Why? So we will all suffer less. How? We must try and be good and we need to love one another and be more charitable. If we stumble along the way, we must pick ourselves up, and then try again, and again, eventually we will fall less. Progress is very slow but continues forward consistently and we will eventually reach our goal. Humanity will finally unite, as one large family on this planet, there will be no more suffering, and only the sentiments of love will abound!
                                         
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 ° UPCOMING EVENTS

The Spiritist Society of Baltimore Presents



Title The Family I Chose
Date November 19
Starrt Time 7:30 PM
Duration 02 hour(s) 00 minutes(s)
Location Baltimore, MD
Category Workshop

Workshop about Spiritism or on Spiritism's views of other topics, generally involving a forum for a healthy exchange of ideas by all participants.

Workshop will be held at the following address:

Ruscombe Mansion Community Health Center
4801 Yellowwood Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21209      

For more information and driving directions, please visit www.ssbaltimore.org

* The Spiritist Society of Baltimore offers activities for children 4 and above while parents attend the workshop! 

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**

Title The Christ Consciousness
Date December 10
Starrt Time 7:30 PM
Duration 02 hour(s) 00 minutes(s)
Location Baltimore, MD
Category Workshop

Workshop about Spiritism or on Spiritism's views of other topics, generally involving a forum for a healthy exchange of ideas by all participants.

Workshop will be held at the following address:

Ruscombe Mansion Community Health Center
4801 Yellowwood Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21209      

For more information and driving directions, please visit www.ssbaltimore.org

* The Spiritist Society of Baltimore offers activities for children 4 and above while parents attend the workshop!  

Source: SpiritismOnline.Net

BUSS - British Union of Spiritist Societies

AGUS II (Artistic Gathering for the Union of Spiritist)
26th November - 6pm

Waltham Forest Theatre
Lloyd's Park
Winns Avenue
Walthamstow
London E 17
UK


Featuring the play: "Two Thousand Years Ago" - The story of the life of Publius Lentulus, a Roman Senator in the first century of the Christian era.(based in the book by the spirit Emmanuel thorough Francisco Candido Xavier) by "Souls in Harmony" theatre group. Directed by Johnson.
 

Information / Tickets:

Tel:     079 5078 6202
            078 5172 3975

Johnson - ljs1@uol.com.br

Joca - president@buss.org.uk

Source: BUSS

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