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Spiritist Review - Journal of Psychological Studies - 1866 > May > Conversations from beyond the grave > Father Laverdet
Father Laverdet
Mr. Laverdet was one of the priests of the French Church and assistant to Father Châtel. He was a man of great knowledge, and for his elevation of character, enjoyed the appreciation of those that knew him. He died in Paris last November. One of his closest friends, Mr. Monvoisin, the renowned painter of history, a keen Spiritist, willing to receive a few words from beyond the grave, asked us to evoke him. The communication that he gave has, to his friend and his brother, an incontestable seal of identity, and for that matter we conceded to the wishes of those two gentlemen to see it published, and with even more satisfaction for the fact that it is instructive in more than one aspect.
Parisian Society, January 5th, 1866 – medium: Mr. Desliens
Evocation: Your friend, Mr. Monvoisin, informed us today about your death, and although we did not have the privilege of knowing you in person, we did know your reputation, regarding your contribution in the formation of the French Church. The consideration that you deservedly enjoyed, and the study that you carried out about Spiritism, before your death, added to the wishes of your friend and your brother, accounted for our own desire to communicate with you, God willing. If you wish to give us your impressions as a Spirit, it will make us happy, if you wish to talk about the religious reformation in the cause that you worked and those that hindered its progress, or about the Spiritist Doctrine.
Answer: Dear Sir, I am happy, very happy for the good memory of my dear friend, Mr. Monvoisin. Thanks to him, today I can, in this honorable assembly, express my admiration by the man whose remarkable studies brought happiness to all disinherited and broken hearts by the injustice of men. A reformer myself, I am in the position of appreciating the whole prudence and wisdom of your conduct, dear Sir and teacher, if you allow me to give you such a title.
Not much satisfied with the general tendencies of the orthodox clergy, with their parsimonious way of spreading the light owed to all, I wanted, in partnership with Father Châtel, establish a teaching on new basis, with a character of religion, more associated to the news of the poor classes. In the beginning our objective was commendable, but our endeavor failed in its foundation, its purpose, so that they should come to us more to contradict the established religion than out of intimate conviction. We soon recognized it, but too lightheartedly we accepted with enthusiasm the children that rejected other priests, by lack of sufficient instruction or the necessary formalities. Spiritism proceeds in a totally different way; it is firm and judicious; it does not seek quantity but quality in the followers. It is a serious teaching and not a speculation.
Our reformation, that since the beginning was totally selfless, was soon seen as a means of making fortune, particularly by Father Châtel. It was its ruin. We did not have enough elements of resistance nor we had sufficient planning, fortunately and undoubtedly, to be successful with the endeavor. The first French archbishop had not successor. I did not try to present myself as the chief of a sect that I was the co-founder of second order because, in the first place, I did not approve the tendencies of Father Châtel, tendencies that the poor man atoned and still does in the world of the Spirits. On the other hand, my simplicity rejected it; I abstained and that is why I feel happy today.
We I was approached to return to the interrupted task, the readings of your works, dear Sir, had already launched profound roots in my mind. I understood that it was not only about modifying the way we teach but the teaching itself. Given its nature, our reformation could only have a period; founded on the basis of a fixed idea, upon a human conception, entirely developed and limited in its origin, it should, even with all changes of success, be soon overpassed by progressive seeds whose germination we see today.
Spiritism does not carry such a defect. It marches with progress; it is progress itself and it could not be overtaken by the one that permanently precedes it. By accepting all the new ideas, based on reason and logic, developing them, and giving rise to other unknown ideas, its future is guaranteed. Allow me, dear Sir, to thank you for the pleasure that I experimented by studying the wise teachings under your care. Disturbed by the desire to get to know what was hidden by all the mysteries of nature, by reading it my Spirit was touched by the brightest light.
I know that you reject any personal praise, out of modesty; I also know that those teachings are not of your conception, but the gathering of the instructions of your guides; nonetheless, Spiritism does not owe less to your reservation, to your skills in presenting things at their appropriate time, to your wise slowness, to your permanent moderation; after God and the good Spirits, you must enjoy the recognition that is conferred to you. Despite all diatribes, despite all the sickening and illogical attacks, it is today an opinion that made law, that is accepted by many sensible and serious people, and above any suspicion. It is the works of the future; it is overseen by the Almighty, and it will conquer the support of every intelligent and superior mind, as soon as they acknowledge its true objectives that were disfigured by the adversaries.
Unfortunately, ridicule is a powerful weapon in this country of progress! Several enlightened persons refuse to study certain ideas, even in secrecy, when they have been stigmatized by miserable mockery. But there are things that face all obstacles. Spiritism is one of them, and the time of its victory will come soon. It will unite the whole of France, the whole of intelligent Europe, and the fools and mistaken ones will be those that dare attribute to imagination, facts that are acknowledged by exceptional minds.
As for my current personal state, it is satisfactory; I will say nothing about it; I will just draw your attention to and ask for your prayers to my old colleague, Father Châtel. Pray for him. His lost Spirit, then more elevated, will later give you wise instructions. I thank you again for your benevolence towards me, and remain entirely at your service, if I can be useful at all.
Father Laverdet
Parisian Society, January 5th, 1866 – medium: Mr. Desliens
Evocation: Your friend, Mr. Monvoisin, informed us today about your death, and although we did not have the privilege of knowing you in person, we did know your reputation, regarding your contribution in the formation of the French Church. The consideration that you deservedly enjoyed, and the study that you carried out about Spiritism, before your death, added to the wishes of your friend and your brother, accounted for our own desire to communicate with you, God willing. If you wish to give us your impressions as a Spirit, it will make us happy, if you wish to talk about the religious reformation in the cause that you worked and those that hindered its progress, or about the Spiritist Doctrine.
Answer: Dear Sir, I am happy, very happy for the good memory of my dear friend, Mr. Monvoisin. Thanks to him, today I can, in this honorable assembly, express my admiration by the man whose remarkable studies brought happiness to all disinherited and broken hearts by the injustice of men. A reformer myself, I am in the position of appreciating the whole prudence and wisdom of your conduct, dear Sir and teacher, if you allow me to give you such a title.
Not much satisfied with the general tendencies of the orthodox clergy, with their parsimonious way of spreading the light owed to all, I wanted, in partnership with Father Châtel, establish a teaching on new basis, with a character of religion, more associated to the news of the poor classes. In the beginning our objective was commendable, but our endeavor failed in its foundation, its purpose, so that they should come to us more to contradict the established religion than out of intimate conviction. We soon recognized it, but too lightheartedly we accepted with enthusiasm the children that rejected other priests, by lack of sufficient instruction or the necessary formalities. Spiritism proceeds in a totally different way; it is firm and judicious; it does not seek quantity but quality in the followers. It is a serious teaching and not a speculation.
Our reformation, that since the beginning was totally selfless, was soon seen as a means of making fortune, particularly by Father Châtel. It was its ruin. We did not have enough elements of resistance nor we had sufficient planning, fortunately and undoubtedly, to be successful with the endeavor. The first French archbishop had not successor. I did not try to present myself as the chief of a sect that I was the co-founder of second order because, in the first place, I did not approve the tendencies of Father Châtel, tendencies that the poor man atoned and still does in the world of the Spirits. On the other hand, my simplicity rejected it; I abstained and that is why I feel happy today.
We I was approached to return to the interrupted task, the readings of your works, dear Sir, had already launched profound roots in my mind. I understood that it was not only about modifying the way we teach but the teaching itself. Given its nature, our reformation could only have a period; founded on the basis of a fixed idea, upon a human conception, entirely developed and limited in its origin, it should, even with all changes of success, be soon overpassed by progressive seeds whose germination we see today.
Spiritism does not carry such a defect. It marches with progress; it is progress itself and it could not be overtaken by the one that permanently precedes it. By accepting all the new ideas, based on reason and logic, developing them, and giving rise to other unknown ideas, its future is guaranteed. Allow me, dear Sir, to thank you for the pleasure that I experimented by studying the wise teachings under your care. Disturbed by the desire to get to know what was hidden by all the mysteries of nature, by reading it my Spirit was touched by the brightest light.
I know that you reject any personal praise, out of modesty; I also know that those teachings are not of your conception, but the gathering of the instructions of your guides; nonetheless, Spiritism does not owe less to your reservation, to your skills in presenting things at their appropriate time, to your wise slowness, to your permanent moderation; after God and the good Spirits, you must enjoy the recognition that is conferred to you. Despite all diatribes, despite all the sickening and illogical attacks, it is today an opinion that made law, that is accepted by many sensible and serious people, and above any suspicion. It is the works of the future; it is overseen by the Almighty, and it will conquer the support of every intelligent and superior mind, as soon as they acknowledge its true objectives that were disfigured by the adversaries.
Unfortunately, ridicule is a powerful weapon in this country of progress! Several enlightened persons refuse to study certain ideas, even in secrecy, when they have been stigmatized by miserable mockery. But there are things that face all obstacles. Spiritism is one of them, and the time of its victory will come soon. It will unite the whole of France, the whole of intelligent Europe, and the fools and mistaken ones will be those that dare attribute to imagination, facts that are acknowledged by exceptional minds.
As for my current personal state, it is satisfactory; I will say nothing about it; I will just draw your attention to and ask for your prayers to my old colleague, Father Châtel. Pray for him. His lost Spirit, then more elevated, will later give you wise instructions. I thank you again for your benevolence towards me, and remain entirely at your service, if I can be useful at all.
Father Laverdet