Spiritism
The name bestowed upon the French form of spiritualism, which was in the main founded on the doctrines of "Allan Kardec" (M. Rivail), (q.v.) Spiritism differed from spiritualism as expounded in Britain, America and elsewhere, chiefly in that it included among its tenets the doctrine of reincarnation. Allan Kardec, who prior to his adoption of spiritualistic creeds, about 1862 had been an exponent of animal magnetism and phrenology, based his new teachings on spirit revelations received through clairvoyants, and so popular were these teachings that they rapidly spread over the Continent. In Britain, however, spiritism obtained but little hold, its only exponent being Miss Anna Blackwell, who endeavoured without success to establish the doctrine of reincarnation in this country. Spiritism and spiritualism must not be confused. since the adherents of each section were opposed to the tenets of the other, and even in France, where spiritism obtained the most footing, there was a distinct spiritualistic party who looked askance at the doctrine of reincarnation. The word spiritist is sometimes applied to one who seeks only the physical phenomena, and neglects the religious and philosophic aspect of spiritualism.