attacks attacks that will be prompted rather by interest than by conviction, for you must not lose sight of the fact that there are persons whose interest is to combat this belief, some from self-conceit, others from worldly considerations; but its opponents, finding themselves in a decreasing minority, will at length be obliged to rally to the general opinion, on pain of rendering themselves ridiculous. (The Spirits Book Chapt. VIII Part Three)SPIRITIST GROUPS, CENTERS, OR SOCIETIESThese Groups, corresponding together, visiting each other, and transmitting to one another the results arrived at by each, may, even now, form the nucleus of the great spiritist family which will one day rally to itself all opinions, and unite all men in the common brotherhood of Christian charity. Allan Kardec (The Mediums Book Chapt. XXIX Item 334)What They AreThe Spiritist Groups, Centers, or Societies are: Nucleuses of study, fraternity, prayer, and activities practiced within the Spiritist principles;Schools of spiritual and moral education, operating according to the Spiritist Doctrine;Posts of fraternal assistance open to everyone in search for guidance, enlightenment, help, or consolation;Workshops which provide participants opportunities to exercise their inner growth through the practice of the Gospel in their activities;Places where the children, the youth, the adults, and the elderly have the opportunity to socialize, study, and perform activities together to unite the family under the guidance of Spiritism;Retreats of peace which offer participants opportunities for spiritual renewal and fraternal union through the practice of the maxim Love one another;Nucleuses characterized by the simplicity typical of the first congregations of the nascent Christianity; by the practice of charity; and by the total absence of images, symbols, rituals, or other exterior manifestations; andInstitutions that represent the fundamental units of the Spiritist Movement.Their ObjectivesThe objectives of the Spiritist Groups, Centers, or Societies are:To promote the study, dissemination, and practice of the Spiritist Doctrine, while tending to individuals who:seek enlightenment, guidance, and help for their spiritual, moral, and material problems;wish to get acquainted with and study the Spiritist Doctrine;wish to work, collaborate, and serve in any field of action the Spiritist practice has to offer.Their Basic ActivitiesThe basic activities of the Spiritist Groups, Centers, or Societies are:To conduct meetings for the study of the Spiritist Doctrine, in a programmed, methodical, and systematic form, open to individuals of all ages and every cultural and social standing, and aimed at enabling a deep and wide-ranging knowledge of Spiritism in all of its aspects.To conduct meetings for the explanation of the Gospel according to the Spiritist Doctrine, the practice of passes (laying on of hands), and to extend fraternal assistance through dialogue to those who approach the Spiritist Centers in search of enlightenment, guidance, help, and spiritual and moral assistance.To conduct meetings for the study, education, and practice of mediumship based on Spiritist principles and objectives, thereby enlightening, guiding, and preparing individuals for mediumship activities.To conduct meetings for the Spiritist evangelization of children and the youth, in a programmed, methodical, and systematic form, thereby assisting, enlightening, and guiding them within the teachings of the Spiritist Doctrine.To carry out the work of dissemination