In the opinion of friends
Mr. Levent [1], Vice-President of the PARISIAN SOCIETY OF SPIRITIST STUDIES: The master had a benevolent and even austere physiognomy, a perfect tact, a fairness of appreciation, a superior and incomparable logic that seemed inspired to us. His works were continuous; his correspondences from the four corners of the world, from where serious documents were sent to him, were promptly classified in his archives and preciously collected to be submitted to the crucible of his elevated reason and forming, after a scrupulous work of elaboration, the elements of those precious publications that you all know. Oh! If, like us, you were given the ability to see that collection of accumulated material in the office of that tireless thinker; if, with us, you had penetrated the sanctuary of his meditations, you would see those manuscripts, some almost finished, others under execution, and finally others just sketched, spread here and there, seemingly saying: “Where is our master now, who is always such an earlier starter to work? Alexandre Delanne [2] – friend of Allan Kardec: Nobody could acknowledge the rare qualities of Allan Kardec better that I do and pay a fair tribute. Many times, in my many trips, I saw how much loved; cherished and understood he was by all followers. Everyone wanted to get to know him personally in order to thank him for having shown them the light through his works and also attest their gratitude and entire devotement. They still love him even today, like to a true father. They all proclaim his genius and acknowledge him as the most profound modern philosopher. However, are they really in a position to appreciate him in his private life, that is, in his actions? Could they assess the goodness of his heart, his as much firm a character as fair, the benevolence that he used in his relationships, and the effective charity that inundated his soul, his prudence and extreme kindness? – No! I many times had the honor of being received in his intimacy. Since I have witnessed some of his good deeds, I believe it to be appropriate to make some citations here. One day a friend of mine from Joinville, Mr. P…, came to see me. We went together to the village Ségur, in order to visit the master. During the conversation Mr. P… described the life of privations endured by one of his fellow countrymen, already at an advanced age, lacking everything, including winter clothing to protect him, even having to cover his bare feet with rough rags. That good man, however, was far from complaining and, above all, far from begging for help: he was an ashamed poor man. The reason was that a Spiritist brochure ended before his eyes, allowing him to extract resignation for his trials and hope for a better future from the Doctrine. I saw then a tear of compassion rolling on Mr. Allan Kardec’s face and, passing to my friend a few golden coins, he said: “Take them so that you can provide for the most demanding material needs of your protégée. And considering that he is a Spiritist and his conditions would not allow him to get instructed as much as he wished, come back tomorrow. You shall be the courier of all publications that I can dispose of, so that you can deliver it to him.” Allan Kardec did as promised and today the old man praises the name of his benefactor, that unsatisfied by alleviating his misery, gave him also the bread of life, the richness of moral and intelligence. Some years ago I was recommended to a person that was reduced to extreme misery, violently expropriated from his house, miserably thrown into the streets, with his wife and children. I made myself interpreter of those unfortunate people, together with the master. He then, not even requesting to get to know them or enquiring about their beliefs (they were not Spiritists), immediately provided me with the means of retrieving them from their misery, avoiding their collective suicide, already decided by the family as a means of freeing them from the burden of life, made too heavy to their helpless souls, in case they had to renounce to the assistance of men. Allow me still to describe the following fact in which Allan Kardec’s generosity rivals his kindness. A Spiritist, residing in a village located about twenty leagues (approximately 80 km) from Paris, had requested Allan Kardec to honor him with a visit so that he could witness the spiritist manifestations produced through him. Always thoughtful, whenever he had to do a favor, and attentive to the principles that the Spiritists must assist the simple and little ones, he soon left, followed by some friends and by Mrs. Allan Kardec, his most dear companion. He had no regrets for his resolution since the manifestations that he witnessed were truly remarkable. Nevertheless, during his short stay in the region, his host was ruthlessly afflicted by a sudden loss of some of his resources. The poor consternated man dissimulated his family sorrow as much as he could. However, the news of the disaster came to Allan Kardec who, at the time of his departure, and having being informed about the approximate amount of the loss, sent to the administrator of the village sufficient money to reestablish the financial equilibrium of his host. The peasant only became aware of his benefactor’s intervention after his departure. Before I finish, it is impossible to resist the desire of revealing this last fact to you. One afternoon, a given person of my relationship, who was enduring terrible probations, but who hid his misery from everyone, found a sealed envelope in the lobby of his building, with these simple words: “From the part of the good spirits”, containing sufficient funds to take him out of the critical situation he was living in. By the same way that the master’s goodness found his unfortunate situation, my friend, guided by some hints and by the voice of his heart, soon recognized his anonymous benefactor. I could not stop talking if I had the opportunity to recollect the thousands of acts of that kind, known exclusively by those who he has helped; for he did not alleviate only the material misery but he also raised the fallen morale with comforting words, and all that with the left hand not knowing the deeds of the right one. There you have the heart of that philosopher, so much unknown during his life! Despite all that, who more than the master himself, as noble, as great in his words as in his actions, was more a target to injury and calumny? And however, he had no enemies other than those that did not know him; for when he was better evaluated, even without sharing his philosophical opinions, they were forced to pay tribute to his good faith. His critics, who knew nothing about him but his flag, tried to throw him against the public opinion, without checking if the rumors that they produced had any meaning at all. Nevertheless, he held that flag so firmly and high up that no stain was capable of reaching it, and the mud with which they wanted to cover that flag could only blemish the hands of the pamphleteers. Dear Master, noble and great spirit, may you hover in all your majesty above those who love and respect you! Notice those who are entirely devoted to you! Maintain your charitable and protective intervention on their behalf! Transmit to their souls the sacred fire that animates you so that, profoundly convinced by the immortal principles that you have professed, they may march on your footsteps, imitating your virtues! Make concord, love and peace reign among us so that we can reunite with you, when the time of freedom comes! Mr. E. Muller: Absolute tolerance was Allan Kardec’s rule. His friends, his disciples come from all religions: Jewish, Muslims, Catholics and Protestants, from all sects; they belonged to all classes: rich, poor, scientists, free-thinkers, artists, workers, etc. They all were able to come here, thanks to this measure that does not compromise any conscience and shall constitute a good example. But besides that tolerance that unites us, do I need to cite an intolerance that I admire? I shall do that because it must legitimate his title of Master that many among us attribute to him. That intolerance is one of the most remarkable characters of his existence. Laziness and inaction horrified him: and this great worker died while standing, after a laborious work that went beyond the strength of his organs, but not of his spirit and heart. Educated in Switzerland, in that patriotic school where one can breathe a vivifying and pure air, he used to teach his classmates during the time of his leisure, since the age of fourteen, those who knew less than he did. On coming to Paris and knowing to speak and write the German language as well as French, he translated into German the French books that had more meaning to his heart. He chose Fénelon to become known, and that choice denotes the elevated and benevolent nature of the translator. Then, he gave himself to education. His vocation was to teach. His successes were tremendous and the books he published, Grammar, Arithmetic and others, made his real name Rivail popular. Not happy by utilizing his remarkable faculties in a profession which would guarantee his tranquil well-being, he wanted to make his knowledge available to those that could not pay, being one of the first ones to organize, during that phase of his life, free courses, held at the Rue de Sèvres, nº 35 where he taught Chemistry, Physics, Compared Anatomy, Astronomy, etc… He learned all those Sciences and having mastered them, he knew how to transmit his knowledge to others, with a rare and always appreciated talent. The work seemed to be the very element of life for that dedicated scholar. Thus, more than anybody else, he could not withstand the idea of death as it was then presented to him, having an eternal suffering or an egoistic and also eternal happiness, but without utility to the others or to oneself.