LDLN - No 014

Magazine Overview

This issue of "LUMIÈRES DANS LA NUIT" (Lights in the Night), dated April 1959, is the 14th issue of its 2nd year. Founded by R. VEILLITH, the magazine is dedicated to those passionately seeking truth, aiming to provide lights in the current darkness of humanity and guide readers towards new horizons. It seeks to help individuals on various planes of existence and to highlight precious, often overlooked, truths. The cover features the headline "SORTEZ DE BABYLONE !" (Come out of Babylon!) and a religious call to "CHERCHEZ ET VOUS TROUVEREZ. Jésus."

Article: "Sortez de Babylone !"

The main article, "Sortez de Babylone !", draws a parallel between the biblical Babylon and contemporary civilization. It argues that modern society is built solely on materialistic conceptions, neglecting the fundamental and primordial needs of man. The article posits that humanity has become enslaved by its machines, driven onto a dark path where introspection is increasingly difficult due to the whirlwind of modern life. While acknowledging material needs, it stresses the equal importance of spiritual, moral, and intellectual needs, asserting that humans are both body and spirit and cannot be dissociated.

The author points to the growing imbalance and the inability to solve critical global problems as proof of civilization's failure. The article questions whether technology can truly end war, feed the starving two-thirds of the world, or combat issues like alcoholism, theft, murder, and abandoned children. It concludes that technology, applied blindly, is leading humanity to ruin, creating a terrestrial hell.

The text highlights the rapid succession of scientific discoveries, such as radio, television, and advanced locomotion, which have shrunk the planet and increased communication. It mentions radio-telescopes probing the universe and rockets reaching for space, with promises of lunar travel. However, it contrasts this progress with the widespread misery, hunger, and chronic diseases affecting billions. The author sees this progress, applied blindly, as an insurrection against the laws of life.

The article urges readers to "Sortez de Babylone!" and cease participating in its sins. It suggests that individuals can contribute by upholding the eternal laws of life through lucidity, the pursuit of truth, and willpower. It encourages moving against the current, drawing strength from the example of Jesus, whose light, life, and love are presented as more powerful than darkness, death, and hate.

Recommended Reading

A note (N.B.) recommends several works for readers seeking a comprehensive understanding of current realities and ways to "exit Babylon":
1. "JOIE DE VIVRE" by André Chatillon
2. "BILAN DE LA CIVILISATION TECHNICIENNE" by René Duchet
3. "REFLEXIONS SUR LA CONDUITE DE LA VIE" by Dr Alexis Carrel

Study: "ETUDE DU SOL" (Study of the Soil)

The issue also features an "immense document" titled "ETUDE DU SOL" by Jeanne ROUSSEAU, Docteur en Pharmacie. This study is the result of fourteen years of research. The introduction notes that the authors, including Dr. Rousseau and Professor Louis-Claude VINCENT, are preparing a treatise on bio-electronics. The study is presented as a striking illustration of Alexis Carrel's words about science opening a marvelous but dangerous country, full of mirages and illusions.

Carrel's quote emphasizes that living beings possess an innate science of the universe, while humans, endowed with reason, are fallible and perfectible. The study aims to issue a cry of alarm and offer a message of hope.

It addresses scientists, urging them to open their eyes to truths obscured by a "conspiracy of silence" and to foster independence from conformity. It appeals to farmers to restore and safeguard soil fertility and to consumers to demand healthy products from healthy land. The authors express a love for science, earth, health, and life, refusing to accept degeneracy.

The article warns that ignorant and greedy technicians pose a grave danger through progressive soil desertification, threatening famine. It criticizes the indifference to these issues, calling for innovators to help renovate agriculture and serve the truth for the improvement of human life.

The study details how powerful chemical industries and advanced techniques are employed to make uncultivated lands productive and intensify yields. However, this is accompanied by the proliferation of pests and the depletion of soil resources, threatening billions with famine. The constant increase in global population, coupled with the reduction of arable land and the rise of pests, creates a dramatic problem. The destruction of one pest often leads to the emergence of another, and the production of food requires increasingly complex and costly methods, yielding inferior products with poor conservation qualities, leading to the rapid exhaustion of fertile land.

Agriculture, trapped in a vicious cycle, has become subservient to the chemical industry. This is driven by an arrogant belief in nature's deficiency, leading to artificial interventions that force the earth to yield sustenance, disrupting biological equilibrium and undermining health and wealth.

The text quotes Fairfield OSBORN's "La planète au pillage" (The Planet Under Plunder), stating that humanity is living through an era of incredible achievements alongside tragedy, preoccupied with the stars or with mutual hatred, having forgotten the earth as the source of life.

I. Fertility and Devastation of the Earth

This section delves into the origins of life and the processes of nature. It describes how life emerges even in the harshest environments, such as rock crevices, where dust and debris accumulate, forming micro-soils through bacteria and lichens. This process eventually leads to the formation of humus, from which trees grow, further enriching the soil. The text emphasizes the irrepressible force of life, evident in plants growing in walls, rooftops, and ruins, and in the colonization of volcanic lava and even coral reefs.

It highlights historical examples like the fertile Nile valley, which sustained ancient Egypt, and contrasts it with the current desertification of once-rich regions like Greece, Syria, Palestine, Babylon, and North Africa. The article notes that despite climate changes not being the cause, these areas have become deserts, with only rare remnants of their former fertility.

Article: "COMMENT LE 'SPHERULA DENTATA' ET LES BACILLES ASSOCIES LUTTENT CONTRE LA CELLULE ET LA FONT DEVENIR CANCEREUSE."

This article by Joseph ANDRE continues a discussion on cancer, building on the work of Dr. CALLIGARIS and his concept of the "spherula dentata." Andre describes observing microbial growth that evolves into forms ranging from imperceptible "virgules" to the larger "spherula dentata." He shares correspondence with a Swiss scientist who confirms the existence of microbial groupings in pre-cancerous blood and mentions a renowned Swiss microscope owner interested in cancer treatment.

Andre asserts that a specific cancer microbe exists, which develops various forms and, in its adult stage (the "spherula dentata"), associates with other microbes. This grouping creates a spherical amalgamation that emits radiation, disrupting cells and leading to their death and progressive asphyxiation. He claims to have developed a detection method that differentiates these microbes, evaluates their evolution, and assesses their toxicity.

The article touches upon the high incidence of cancer in Switzerland, noting differences in diet, climate, and geography among the affected cantons. It suggests that environmental factors and harmful radiation play a role in creating a terrain favorable for cancer development. While destroying advanced cancer forms may be difficult, Andre believes its evolution can be halted if addressed in time.

He then discusses the phenomenon of microbes grouping in the blood of pre-cancerous or cancerous individuals, driven by a form of attraction. This collective action targets vulnerable points, primarily the cell nucleus. The mechanism is described as an intra-cellular atomic bombardment, where the cell is encircled and impacted. The speed of this bombardment determines the cell's fate; a slow process allows for normal function, while an accelerated one leads to the cell's disintegration and the development of cancer.

Article: "CETTE JEUNESSE DEVOYEE !" (This Delinquent Youth!)

Authored by André CHATILLON, this article addresses the perceived "delinquency" of contemporary youth. The author notes public concern over young people adopting behaviors that contradict established norms of decency and morality. He suggests that this reaction stems from a fear of confronting the hidden rot within society.

Chatillon acknowledges that some young people exhibit a "crazy nonchalance" towards traditions and societal expectations, even treating elders as "croulants" (old fogeys). He questions whether they are entirely wrong, suggesting that for the first time in Western history, youth are breaking free from established norms. This is not merely student rebellion but a reaction against accumulated empty phrases and hollow slogans used to justify actions and desires.

Young people, he argues, are demanding consistency between words and deeds, a demand that adults are incapable of meeting. They play the game of indifference and skepticism, leading to a state of mind bordering on atheism. Influenced by existentialist philosophies like Kierkegaard and Sartre, they seek to strip away artificiality and confront reality directly. However, this confrontation leaves them feeling profoundly alone, as their enthusiasm is immediately met by negation and the incoherence of religious doctrines that often clash with daily life.

The article posits that this youth, being more perceptive due to modern circumstances, are less inclined to blindly follow the herd. They question everything and no longer believe in anything. Existentialism, by bringing man to zero, has left him without a foundation. The author contends that any system promoting individual and universal harmony must be based on something more than nothingness. Humans require guarantees and solid foundations to live enthusiastically.

Those who lack enthusiasm find life burdensome, lose their drive, and wither like a flower without sun. Throughout history, humanity has sought realities or fictions to prolong its present and secure its future.

The Dilemma of Modern Youth

The article addresses the young man or woman whose intellectual formation has accustomed them to analysis and a desire for certainty. The Church offers Christianity as a consolation rather than a rule of conduct, acknowledging that strict Mosaic laws are inapplicable in modern life. It provides some attenuated Christian guidelines but leaves the individual in a corrupt world, condemning corruption while accepting it.

This creates a cruel dilemma: believe without knowing, or know and face the total opposition between truth and the facts of existence. Science, on the other hand, offers vast possibilities for investigation but is described as cold, austere, and cruel, satisfying only the intellect and neglecting sentiments. This leaves the young person seeking fulfillment in art, which often demands compromise or leads to a struggle for survival, forcing them to become slaves to mass desires or renounce their ideals.

For those who reflect, the situation is bleak. Others opt for vocational training, becoming mere robots who follow directives without individual thought, avoiding truth and accepting their fate. The author rejects the notion that youth are truly "delinquent," instead viewing them as honest with themselves. They wish to react but are crushed by the imposed civilization, leading to their apparent indifference and amoralism, which is a way of showing they are not dupes but victims.

The authors express a desire to help them regain their enthusiasm and faith.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around a critique of modern, materialistic civilization, often referred to as "Babylon." There is a strong emphasis on the importance of spiritual, moral, and intellectual well-being, contrasting it with the perceived excesses of technological and material progress. The magazine advocates for a return to fundamental truths and natural laws, as exemplified by figures like Jesus and thinkers like Alexis Carrel. Ecological concerns, particularly soil degradation, are highlighted as a critical issue stemming from human actions. The issue also delves into scientific and medical topics, such as the role of microbes in cancer, suggesting that a holistic approach involving natural methods and a balanced lifestyle is crucial for health. The editorial stance is one of alarm regarding the direction of modern society, but also one of hope, urging readers to seek truth and live in accordance with higher principles.

This issue, identified as 'II', is dated the first quarter of 1959 and published by R. Veillith in France. It is written in French.

Articles

Notes sur un Voyage aux Indes (suite et fin) by A. Eyraud

The article continues Madame Eyraud's account of her instructive journey to India. She notes that Hindu women wear sarees (long pieces of cloth about 5 meters long) and men wear doti and irreproachable white tunics. After their daily baths, their clothes are washed and hung to dry in the sun; a Hindu never wears a garment that has already been worn. Eyraud contrasts the living conditions in Indian cities like Calcutta with Western cities, suggesting that while miseries exist, the poor in India may not be as unhappy as those in Western countries who suffer from hunger and cold in unheated dwellings, often living in repulsive dirt for 4 to 5 months a year. The Hindu diet is described as reduced due to heat and lifestyle, yet their bodies appear energetic, with a straight, lean, and thin skeleton that surprised observers who saw photos of them. The article paints a picture of a life lived in the present and in the Divine, with a lack of regret or competition. Eyraud speculates that if the Maharajas and the English had focused on irrigation and not deforested the land, India might not suffer so frequently from drought. She notes that India has already conceived vast projects and is entering an era of realization, questioning how it will adapt to this new era, trusting in its secular wisdom to triumph over a movement that seems alien to its fundamental character of non-violence and moderation.

La Quadrature du Cercle, la Pierre Philosophale, et le Mouvement Perpétuel by Joseph ANDRE

This article explores three questions often considered unsolvable: squaring the circle, the philosopher's stone, and perpetual motion. Joseph Andre, described as an enlightened researcher, offers his insights. Perpetual motion is defined as a motion that continues indefinitely without external action, akin to seeking an impossible solution. Squaring the circle, geometrically impossible, involves constructing a square with the same area as a given circle. This is linked to the incommensurable nature of Pi (approximately 3.1416), where mathematical precision is limited by the number of decimal places. While perfect squaring is impossible, a relative approximation is achievable. Andre suggests that a circle and a square can have the same surface area, even if geometric construction is difficult. The problem of perpetual motion is presented as more challenging but one Andre has always believed in since his youth. He recounts an experience where he discussed this with a friend, Ernest, who, despite initial objections from professors, managed to build a machine without conventional power sources (motors, springs, electricity, magnetism). This machine functioned for a few days before stopping, deeply disappointing Ernest, who then abandoned the pursuit. Ernest later successfully built an acetylene lighting apparatus based on plans provided by Andre, which was a complete success and overshadowed his previous setbacks.

Ignorance and Progress

Citing an excerpt from "L'Alchimie Moderne" by Abbé MOREUX, the text states that humanity remains ignorant of many problems. Moreux wrote in 1924 that we are trapped in a dilemma, with our reasoning not having evolved since antiquity, as evidenced by the historical debate between emission and wave theories. The question is posed whether humanity has truly progressed since the time of the Greeks. The text acknowledges that facts have been accumulated and grouped, but these facts now surpass our ability to classify them, leaving us in a state of stagnation.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to focus on esoteric, scientific, and philosophical topics, with an interest in alternative theories and historical research. There's a leaning towards exploring concepts that challenge conventional understanding, such as perpetual motion and the squaring of the circle. The editorial stance seems to be one of intellectual curiosity and a willingness to present diverse viewpoints, even those considered unconventional or utopian by mainstream science. The inclusion of book reviews and recommendations suggests an aim to provide readers with further resources for exploration.