|
Gebaldo José de Sousa |
|
|
|
Spiritist Social
Promotion
|
"(...)
But, Sir, alms
for a healthy
man, or it kills
him of shame, or
it
makes him used
to it! (…) Thus,
free we of alms
and at the end
of this dry
season we will
even pay you
interest without
having to spend
our courage.”
(“Voices of the
dry season", by
Ze Dantas and
Luiz Gonzaga.)
Folk poetry
speaks
undeniable
truths with
naivety.
In the first
moment, to help
the needy is
essential.
However, actions
that promote
them socially
must be well
thought, because
they only
restore the
dignity of the
human being,
freeing him from
the condition of
poverty he is
in, as well as
for the society
in which he
lives, and which
is indifferent
to his
suffering.
Following this
line, Pestalozzi1
wisely stated:
"Philanthropy
makes man
dependent and
weak and takes
away his
self-respect
(...). Education
is the only
effective
philanthropy,
the first of all
human rights".
Caritas2,
a Spirit,
referring to
charity, says:
"There are
several ways to
do Charity,
which many of
you mistake with
alms. However,
there is great
difference
between them. To
give alms,
dearest ones, is
sometimes
useful, because
it relieves the
poor; but it is
almost always
demeaning for
both, for the
one who gives,
and for the one
who receives it.
Charity, on the
contrary,
connects them
both and can be
disguised in so
many ways”!
We read in
The Book of
Spirits:
3
Q. 674. (...)
"Work is a Law
of Nature, and
therefore is a
necessity.
Civilization
requires man to
work harder,
because it
increases their
needs and
pleasures".
Q. 676. Why
is work imposed
to man?
"Because work is
a consequence of
his corporeal
nature, it is an
atonement, and,
at the same
time, a means to
improve his
intelligence.
Without labor,
man would remain
in his childhood
intellectual
stage (...)".
From the
masterpiece of
Emmanuel4
(Spirit), we
copy some
dialogues
between Paul and
Zadok:
"- (...) I am
glad to know
that your father
is gradually
improving his
financial
conditions.
And to say that
he was a humble
weaver...
- That is why
(...) he
taught me a
profession, when
I was a young
boy, so that I
would never
forget that a
man’s progress
depends of his
own work”.
It is necessary
to educate a
child for work
In that same
book5,
Paul talks to
his master
Gamaliel:
“– What did you
learn in your
childhood (...)?
– According to
the habits of
our race, my
father had me
learn the job of
a weaver (…)
- You could have
not received a
more generous
gift from your
father (...);
your father was
farsighted (...)
seeking to mold
your hands to
work (...) Work
is the sacred
movement of
life".
The Spirits
emphasize the
need to educate
children for
work:
"(...) the
greatest
ambassador of
Heaven to Earth
was also a
child.
He lived in a
poor and humble
home, as happens
to millions of
children, but
did not spend
his childhood
carefree (...);
he was seen
every day
working in a
modest
carpentry. He
lived with
discipline. He
had duties
regarding the
saw, the hammer
and his books
(...)
That is why the
young man, who
is brought up
free from any
obligation to
serve, to help,
and to respect,
remains in great
danger.
The boy with no
occupation
whatsoever,
whether his
parents are rich
or poor, most of
the times
becomes a
vagabond. And a
vagabond is
inclined to
become a ruffian
in all
circumstances”.
6
"Among all
wealth, Charity
is what most
pleases God. We
do not mean, of
course, the cold
and selfish
charity that
consists in
someone
spreading around
the left-overs
of a golden
life. We refer
to the full
charitable love
that looks for
those in misery,
and helps the
person to
rise without
humiliating her
(...), i.e. it
gives in a wise
manner. Do not
reject the one
who complains,
fearing that he
is deceiving
you; go to the
origins of evil.
First,
relieve; then
inform yourself
and see if by
giving that
person work,
good advice and
affection is not
more effective
than giving
alms. Spread
around you, with
material help,
the love of God,
the love of
work, and the
love of
neighbor”.
7
Some ways to
encourage the
human creature:
- Allying
evangelization
and work;
- Adult
literacy;
- Planting
vegetables;
- Building huts
through
community work;
- Building
Workshop-Schools
(bakeries,
cabinetmaking,
shoe shops,
etc.);
- Crafts:
embroidery;
crochet; sewing;
fabric painting
(dishcloths);
quilts;
tapestry, etc.
Evangelization
and Human
Development
Evangelization
is the most
complete means
for the
development of
the human being:
"It is
imperative to
recognize that
to evangelize
souls is the
highest
expression task
in today's
Doctrine. Well
above the
ennobling
achievements of
social
assistance, its
preventive
action will
avoid falling in
error, new moral
misfortunes,
responsible for
major trials and
suffering ahead,
in a scenario of
pain and tears
that our society
suffers, putting
an end to the
charges for
public and
private
assistance or
social service".8
It is essential
to generate
funds to build
and maintain
them.
Summary of the
guidelines of
the
Administration
Manual for
Spiritist
Institutions
- 1995 (Pages
161/2),
published by
USEERJ, and
approved by the
National
Federative
Council of the
FEB:
Spiritist
Institutions
must follow
means consistent
with the
Doctrinal
principles,
maintaining the
respect that the
spiritual
activity has
gained in public
opinion;
That the
obtaining of
funds,
donations,
contributions
and subventions
preserve the
administrative
independence and
the Spiritist
feature of the
Institution, of
its doctrinaire
and welfare
activities. It
must not depend
of public
resources, but
whenever
possible, use
them. Sign
subventions with
private or
public Entities,
which do not
interfere with
its autonomy.
That such events
(teas and
charitable
lunches, bazaars
and community
fairs) to raise
funds, also
offer the goers
an opportunity
to work and
socialize. These
occasions allow
divulging and
marketing
products
manufactured or
not by the
Institution,
such as
craftwork,
clothes, plants,
flowers, books
and other
objects. Never
sell cigarettes
or alcohol, for
obvious reasons.
Use lawful means
to achieve
lawful purposes.
Another suitable
way is to draw
up lists for
donations –
eventual or
permanent - and
distribute them
to members and
friends of the
House. List the
names of those
responsible for
giving account.
Promotion of
spiritualized
artistic shows
has a double
benefit, because
it also provides
the
dissemination of
the Doctrine. Do
not hold these
events in the
Headquarters of
the Spiritist
Centers and
never where the
spiritual
treatments take
place.
Never raise
financial funds
during the
Spiritual
Assistance or
Doctrinal
Meetings (Public
Meetings),
"(...) since
such procedure
may be taken as
a payment for
the treatment”.
Many goers are
there for the
first time and
may not
understand its
real meaning.
Search for
permanent
financial
self-sufficiency
for the
Entities, or
minimize their
dependence on
other sources.
Correctly apply
the resources,
controlling and
recording them
to give account
to the community
through monthly
statements.
In all
activities,
observe the
legal Municipal,
State and
Federal
requirements.
Act serenely,
always
remembering that
"The treasurer
lives in
Spirituality!"9
In the words of
the Spirit
Batuira:10
"(...) in the
future, the very
charitable homes
will maintain
themselves at
the expense of
the effort and
collaboration of
those, who
benefit from
them, and those
who run them
with heart and
soul".
To work is the
eternal duty of
the Spirit
On the subject,
there is the
following
passage in the
book Ave,
Christ! :
11
"Corvino,
however, stated
firmly:
- Yes, we have
the right to
beg. This,
however, is also
the right of the
beggar. It is
not for us, in
our opinion, to
forget the
production of
benefits for the
world. We have
land available,
under the
responsibility
of several
brothers. The
plow does not
lie. The
seeds answer
faithfully to
our effort.
We can work. We
should not
resort to
foreign
competition,
except in
special
circumstances.
It would not be
advisable to
keep the
community
unproductive
(...)"
It is imperative
to plan, to
carry out tasks
consistent with
the group's
possibilities
(economic,
administrative,
time
availability).
Do not act just
by enthusiasm.
Ideas must
mature and
become
acquainted with
other
experiences,
whether they
succeeded or
failed. Start
modestly and, as
experience
allows, expand
the work.
Develop in the
students the
awareness of the
value of work
itself, and
motivate the
development of
intelligence and
self-maintenance.
Implant in them
the
consciousness of
work as an
instrument of
progress,
development, and
of intellectual
development; of
exchange;
besides being a
generator of
comfort for all
men. It is our
duty to
reciprocate with
what we produce,
the benefits we
receive from the
community as a
result of the
work of others.
Work generates
not just wealth.
It promotes man
socially; it
leads him to
conquer dignity;
to exercise
fraternity and
understand the
importance of
cooperation.
It is a primary
duty of the
Spiritist Houses
to awaken the
creatures,
especially the
young, to those
unquestionable
truths.
A beautiful duty
is to educate
children to love
and value work,
by looking at it
as a tool to rid
them of material
misery. But we
can dignify this
task even
further by
evangelizing the
child to free it
of the moral
misery. With
this double
education, we
perform an
effective
Spiritist Social
Promotion.
From the early
Christians to
the Gospel; from
the word of the
Higher Spirits
to the popular
cancionero, we
have seen that
work is the law
of life, not
only here but
also in the
Universes
beyond. To work
is the duty of
the eternal
Spirit. Its
importance is
undeniable for
the evolution of
Humanity.
It is the duty
of those, who
develop this
nature of work,
to divulge it in
articles,
disseminating
the adopted
principles, the
successful
experiences and
the ones that
failed too, thus
orientating and
stimulating
those who
propose to
embrace this
necessary and
crucial mission.
"Work will
always be the
miracle of life,
creating comfort
and progress,
joy and
renewal".12
References:
1. Pestalozzi,
cited by
Professor Ney
Lobo.
Spiritist
Phylosophy of
Education.
FEB: Rio de
Janeiro, 1990.
Page 145, vol.
IV;
2. KARDEC,
Allan. The
Gospel according
to Spiritism.
Translation by
Evandro Noleto
Bezerra. FEB:
Rio de Janeiro,
2010.
Chapter XIII,
item 14, Pages
273/4;
3. KARDEC,
Allan. The
Book of Spirits.
Translation by
Evandro Noleto
Bezerra. 2nd ed.
FEB: Rio de
Janeiro, 2011.
Pages 429/30;
4. XAVIER,
Francisco C.
Paulo e Estêvão.
By the Spirit
Emmanuel. 23rd
ed.
FEB: Rio de
Janeiro, 1987.
Page 73;
5. XAVIER,
Francisco C.
Paulo e Estêvão.
By the Spirit
Emmanuel. 23rd
ed. FEB: Rio,
1987.
Page 240;
6. XAVIER,
Francisco C.
Alvorada Cristã.
By the Spirit
Neio Lucio.
10th ed. FEB:
Rio de Janeiro,
1991. Pages
196-197: Chapter
49;
7. KARDEC,
Allan. The
Gospel according
to Spiritism.
Translation by
Guillon Ribeiro.
107th ed.
FEB: Rio de
Janeiro, 1993,
Page 263,
Chapter XVI, it.
11;
8. RIBEIRO,
Julio C. G.
Ribeiro.
By the Spirit
Guillon Ribeiro.
Reformer
October/82, Page
315. (Message
received in
1963);
9. HALFELD,
Kleber. Daily
Patchwork,
in
Reformer,
Nov/88, Page
326;
10. XAVIER,
Francisco C.
More Light.
Spirit Batuira.
5th ed. GEEM:
Sao Paulo, 1980.
Pages 109-110:
Chapter 84;
11.
Emmanuel/Francisco
C. Xavier.
Ave, Christ!
5rh ed.
FEB: Rio de
Janeiro, 1975.
Page 101: Chapter
V;
12. XAVIER, F.
Candido.
Courage. By
the Spirit
Emmanuel. 21st
ed. CEC: Uberaba,
1993, Page 63.
|