Dr. Demeure
Dr. Antoine Demeure was a highly respected homeopathic physician in Albi, France. He was admired not only for his medical knowledge, but even more for his kindness, charity, and selflessness. Even in old age, he never hesitated to exhaust himself caring for the poor. Payment was the last thing he cared about. In fact, he often hurried more quickly to help the poor than the wealthy, saying that rich people could always find another doctor if necessary.
Dr. Demeure not only gave medicine freely to the poor, but often left them money for food and daily needs, believing that material help was sometimes the best medicine of all. His generosity became so well known that people compared him to the famous Curé of Ars.
He embraced Spiritism enthusiastically because it gave him answers to spiritual questions that science and philosophy had failed to solve. His intelligence and investigative mind immediately recognized the importance of the doctrine, and he became one of its earliest and most devoted supporters. He maintained a close friendship and correspondence with Allan Kardec for many years.
Dr. Demeure died on January 25th, 1865. Five days later, Allan Kardec received news of his death and immediately attempted to communicate with him.
Dr. DemeureI'm here.
Dr. DemeureWhile still alive, I promised myself that as soon as I died, if possible, I would come and shake hands with my beloved teacher and friend, Allan Kardec.
Dr. DemeureDeath plunged my soul into the heavy sleep called lethargy.
Dr. DemeureBut my thought remained awake.
Dr. DemeureI shook off the harmful heaviness that prolongs the confusion following death.
Dr. DemeureI awakened myself fully.
Dr. DemeureAnd with a single leap, I completed the journey.
Dr. DemeureI'm so happy!
Dr. DemeureI'm no longer old or weak.
Dr. DemeureMy earthly body was only a temporary disguise.
Dr. DemeureI'm young and beautiful once more.
Dr. DemeureI'm adorned with the eternal youth of the spirit, whose face is never wrinkled and whose hair is never whitened by time.
Dr. DemeureI'm as light as a bird flying through your cloudy skies.
Dr. DemeureI admire... contemplate... bless... love... and adore.
Dr. DemeureI feel myself to be only an atom before the greatness, wisdom, and knowledge of our Creator.
Dr. DemeureAnd before all the wonders surrounding me.
Dr. DemeureI'm happy!
Dr. DemeureI'm in glory!
Dr. DemeureOh... what language could ever describe the magnificent beauties of the world of purified spirits?
Dr. DemeureThe heavens... the worlds... the suns... and the role they play within the universal harmony of creation...
Dr. DemeureYet I will try, my friend and teacher.
Dr. DemeureI will study these great subjects.
Dr. DemeureAnd I will bring you the results of my spirit-labors, which I already dedicate to you beforehand.
Dr. DemeureI will return soon.
Shortly afterward, Allan Kardec became seriously ill. Dr. Demeure then communicated again, giving advice and warnings concerning his condition.
Dr. DemeureMy dear friend... trust in us and keep your courage.
Dr. DemeureThis illness, though tiring and painful, won't last long.
Dr. DemeureIf you follow the precautions we have suggested, you will still be able to complete the work that is the principal purpose of your present life.
Dr. DemeureI remain constantly beside you together with the Spirit of Truth, who allows me to speak in his name.
Dr. DemeureI'm the last of your former friends to arrive in the spirit world.
Dr. DemeureThey are welcoming me here.
Dr. DemeureDear teacher... I'm so happy I died in time to help you during this difficult moment.
Dr. DemeureHad I died a little earlier, perhaps I could have prevented this illness.
Dr. DemeureBut I had only recently left life on Earth and could not yet concern myself fully with earthly matters.
Dr. DemeureFrom now on, however, I will constantly watch over you.
Dr. DemeureI will remain beside you throughout this illness.
Dr. DemeureBut remember the proverb: “Heaven helps those who help themselves.”
Dr. DemeureYou must help your spirit-friends assist you by following their instructions exactly.
Dr. DemeureThis room is too warm.
Dr. DemeureYour coal fire oppresses you.
Dr. DemeureWhile this illness lasts, don't burn coal.
Dr. DemeureThe gas filling the room harms you greatly and worsens your breathing difficulties.
Dr. DemeureYour friend... Demeure.
In another communication, Dr. Demeure explained that he had actively helped lessen the seriousness of Kardec’s illness.
Dr. DemeureIt is I, Demeure, the friend and disciple of Allan Kardec.
Dr. DemeureI have come to say that I stood beside him when the accident occurred.
Dr. DemeureIts consequences would have been far more serious without the help I was so happy to provide.
Dr. DemeureFrom my own observations, and from what higher spirits have told me, I clearly understand that the sooner his departure from life on Earth comes, the sooner he will be able to reincarnate again to fulfill his mission.
Dr. DemeureStill, he has important work to complete before leaving the Earth.
Dr. DemeureAnd he would become guilty of voluntary self-destruction if he continued damaging his weakened body through excessive work.
Dr. DemeureYou must not hesitate to tell him this truth openly.
Dr. DemeureHe must protect himself carefully and follow our instructions exactly.
The day after Dr. Demeure’s death, the Spiritist Society of Montauban also received a communication from him.
Dr. DemeureDear friends... I'm not dead for you.
Dr. DemeureI'm dead only for those who don't know the wonderful doctrine that reunites people who loved one another on Earth and who shared the same feelings of kindness and charity.
Dr. DemeureI'm happy.
Dr. DemeureHappier than I could have hoped to be.
Dr. DemeureFor I possess a degree of clarity that is rare among spirits who have so recently separated from matter.
Dr. DemeureI will often remain near you.
Dr. DemeureAnd I won't fail to inform you about many things that remain unknown while attached to the small material body that hides so much magnificence and joy from us.
Dr. DemeurePray for those deprived of the happiness of possessing this knowledge.
Dr. DemeureThey don't realize what they lose through their indifference toward the light.
Dr. DemeureI won't remain with you long today.
Dr. DemeureBut I must tell you that I don't feel at all like a stranger in the invisible world.
Dr. DemeureIt seems to me that I have always lived here.
Dr. DemeureI'm very happy here.
Dr. DemeureI see my friends on Earth and can communicate with them whenever I wish.
Dr. DemeureDon't cry for me, my friends.
Dr. DemeureYour sorrow would make me regret having known you.
Dr. DemeureLet time do its work.
Dr. DemeureAnd you too will eventually come to this place where we will be reunited.
Dr. DemeureGood night, dear friends.
Dr. DemeureBe comforted concerning my departure, for I remain near you.
Some days later, another remarkable event occurred during a gathering involving a spiritually aware medium named Madame G., who had not yet been informed of Dr. Demeure’s death because her friends feared the shock would upset her greatly.
Madame G. had severely sprained her ankle the previous day and was suffering intense pain. During a spiritist session, she suddenly entered a somnambulistic trance and began screaming violently while pointing toward her injured foot.
She saw a spirit bending over her ankle and treating it energetically like a doctor performing massage and manipulation upon a patient. The pain became intense and caused her to cry out repeatedly. But after about ten minutes, the swelling vanished completely and the injury was fully healed.
Throughout the treatment, the spirit carefully avoided showing his face to her.
As the spirit seemed ready to leave, Madame G., now suddenly able to walk perfectly, rushed toward him to thank him personally and shake his hand.
At that moment, the spirit accidentally turned enough for her to glimpse his face.
The instant she recognized Dr. Demeure, she gave a loud cry and fainted.
While unconscious, she was surrounded and cared for by sympathetic spirits.
When her awareness returned, she joyfully conversed with them and exchanged affectionate greetings, especially with Dr. Demeure, who lovingly comforted her and restored her calm by surrounding her with healing spiritual fluids.
Those present later reflected on how natural and human the entire scene appeared, despite taking place in the spirit world.
They saw in it another powerful proof that spirits remain real beings after death, possessing form, personality, affection, memory, and the same loving character they possessed during life on Earth.
Dr. Demeure had been Madame G.’s physician while alive.
Knowing how emotionally sensitive she was, he had tried to spare her feelings even after death, with the same tenderness he would have shown her while still living on Earth.
Allan Kardec then adds an observation.
Dr. Demeure’s condition as a spirit perfectly reflects the noble and useful life he led on Earth.
But another important lesson appears in this account.
Almost immediately after death, he continues actively helping others.
Through his intelligence and moral excellence, he belongs to a very advanced class of spirits.
He is happy.
Yet his happiness is not inactivity.
A few days earlier, he was treating the sick as a human doctor.
And now, having laid aside his mortal body, he continues treating and helping them as a spirit.
Some people may ask: “What advantage is there in the next world if there is no rest there?”
To such people we answer:
Is it nothing to be freed from the worries, needs, sicknesses, and limitations of life on Earth?
Is it nothing to travel through space effortlessly with the speed of thought?
Is it nothing to visit friends instantly wherever they may be?
In spirit life, no one is forced to do anything.
Spirits are free to remain inactive if they wish.
But eventually they grow tired of selfish inactivity and desire meaningful activity.
They then choose occupations according to their own tastes, abilities, and desire for spiritual advancement.
So, the activity of spirits is not a burden imposed upon them.
It is a need... and a joy.