Formerly “Echoes from Mt.

Ecclesia,” and entered under that name as second class matter

Nov. 3rd, 1913 at the Post Office of Oceanside, California, under the
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Vol. 4 Oceanside April 1916 California No 6

The Mystic Light

* * * * * *
A Cosmic Event of Mystic Significance

W
ere we to attend an Orthodox minated in crucifixion and death for us,
Church on Easter Sunday we that through his blood we might be
should probably hear the story saved. We should probably also be told
of Jesus the Son of God who had been that on Easter day he arose again from
immaculately conceived and who at the the dead and later ascended to the
age of about thirty years took up a min- Father, where he is now seated at the
istry which lasted for three years and ter- right hand of the majesty of God; thence
2 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

he shall return to judge the living and the the ram or lamb. Then the Sun ascends
dead at the last resurrection. into the signs of the northern heavens to
But while we know, because of our foster with its warming rays the growth
ability to read the memory of nature, that of the seed in the soil which has been re-
Jesus did live and die, that he had a mys- vitalized by the Christic life-wave dur-
tic mission of the very greatest impor- ing the winter months. Without that
tance to human evolution, and that the annual mystic wave of vital energy from
main events of that great life took place the Cosmic Christ, physical life would
substantially as set forth in the gospel. be an impossibility; without that there
We know also that the mission of the could be no physical bread and wine nor
mystic Christ is something infinitely the transubstantiated spiritual tincture
more glorious than has ever entered into prepared by alchemy from the heart
the hearts of those who know only the blood of the disciple.
orthodox interpretation of the gospels. The lamb was slain from the founda-
The feast of the resurrection, which we tion of the Arian world epoch in which
call Easter, is, in the first place, not sim- we now live. Its blood was the symbol
ply the resurrection of an individual, but that saved the God-chosen people from
a Cosmic event. It would be foolish in death when they left the mythical Egypt,
the extreme to celebrate the death and the home of the worship of the bull
resurrection of an individual, which Taurus or Apis. From that day it became
must have taken place on a certain day idolatry for those who had been saved
of the year, by a feast that is movable, by the blood of the lamb to worship the
and determined by the position of the golden calf, for the old religions of the
Sun and Moon in the zodiacal sign bull Taurus, had been superceded by the
Aries, the ram or lamb. Each year a spir- religion of the Lamb, when the Sun by
itual wave of vitality enters the all but precession left the sign Taurus and
dead earth at the winter solstice, to entered the celestial sign Aries, the lamb
impregnate the dormant seeds in the or ram.
frozen ground, to give new life to the In the fullness of time, when the Sun
world whereon we live, and this work is by precession had reached seven degrees
done during the winter months, while in the sign of the lamb, Christ came in
the Sun is passing through the zodiacal the body of Jesus to make a new
signs Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. covenant under the seal and symbol of
Then it crosses the celestial equator the mystic bread and water of life. The
from the southern signs, where it has Lamb of God was about to pass away. It
been during the winter months, and this did so individually when Christ left the
cross-over or crossification, or crucifix- body of Jesus, and Cosmically when the
ion, is now cosmically associated with Sun by precession left the sign Aries the
the Sun’s entrance into the sign Aries, lamb. A new symbol must then be given
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 3

those who were to be messengers during During the Moon period we went
the coming Piscean age; hence He, him- through an animal-like stage; a desire
self, at that last supper, represented the nature was added to the vehicles we pre-
sacrificial lamb. The bread of life and viously possessed and a dream-like con-
living water were given as symbols of sciousness resulted, like that possessed
his body and his blood to be used during by the lower animals, which see things
the coming age in remembrance of Him. but are unable to reason about them.
There is therefore a connection between In the middle of the Earth period the
the mystic wine and the blood, between mind was added, which makes man
the mystic bread and the body, which we man. Though it took ages before the
must understand if we would know the brain was so formed that it could be used
true significance of the mystic death and as an instrument of reason, this organ we
resurrection. know is very far from perfection, for
We find in the world four kingdoms: there is nothing more difficult, even
mineral, plant, animal and man. It is today, than to control thought.
commonly understood that the life wave The day will come, however, when we
which is now man has evolved by an shall be able to use our thoughts as we
orderly process of progression from now use a hand or a foot and it will then
mineral upward. The Esoteric teachings be a much more powerful factor for
agree with this idea with certain qualifi- accomplishing our desires and wishes
cations. That which is now the earth has than all other instruments which we now
had three previous embodiments, which possess.
are called the Saturn, Sun and Moon But even the possession of this com-
periods, and evolution on earth is divid- plicated instrument would be of no more
ed into two great stages; the Mars half of use to us than a network of telegraph
our earthly evolution is past, and we are wires without electricity flowing along
entering the Mercury stage. its lines to operate the instruments and
During the Saturn period we were like give the intelligent messages. The
the mineral, for we possessed only the human spirit therefore heats the blood
germ of that which has now evolved into and uses this blood heat as its particular
our dense body. Then it was a thought vehicle to generate thought and compel
form. In the Sun period we became action. For proof, consider that we may
plant-like, for we had an incipient phys- amputate the arms and limbs of a man,
ical body and the germ of a vital body; a we may cut out his tongue depriving him
vehicle of growth and propagation was of the faculty of speech, we may punc-
then furnished us. Thus we had the same ture his tympanum and pierce his eyes
vehicles that the plant now has and a so that he may not be able to see or hear;
consciousness like dreamless sleep, yet, in spite of this, he will be able to
which is also that of the present plant. think as well as if his body were whole,
4 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

and his other faculties unimpaired. That tion. In the Moon period, when we were
is because he is able to breathe, and the animal-like, we were still undifferentiat-
blood can circulate in what is left of his ed to a great extent and conditions in the
body. But though the body were ever so world outside us were correspondingly
strong, muscular, and healthy, if we strange.
make but one small incision, and allow During intrauterine life there are three
the blood to flow from a vein or spurt principal parts: one is the placenta, filled
from an artery, it will soon be evident with maternal blood, and the umbilical
that life is ebbing, the body will become cord, which carries the vital stream to
weak and limp in a very short time, and the third part—the foetus, which grows
if the process is allowed to go on unin- thereby to the point where it may be
terrupted, the body will soon die from voided and live a separate existence in
loss of blood. The Ego can no longer the outside world. Similarly, in the
function in it and use it as a vehicle Moon period the firmament may be
because it lacks blood. likened to a great placenta, with billions
It is in recognition of this occult fact of umbilical cords descending from it.
that the Masoretic text of the Bible states Each had its foetal appendage; but it was
in Lev. 17:11 that the soul of the flesh is not blood that poured from the placenta
in the blood; therefore also Mephisto in of mother nature through the human
the soul-myth of “Faust” is right when family then in the making, it was cur-
he describes blood as “a most peculiar rents of passion and desire generated by
essence.” He wants Faust to sign the the fiery Lucifer spirits, and as that
agreement with a drop of blood, for he grade of Cosmic matter comprising the
knows that whoever has the blood has sac which had been molded by the lunar
also control of the spirit that generated Angels, was, and is, peculiarly sensitive
it. Therefore blood was, under the to emotions, the latent consciousness of
mosaic system of sacrifice, handled with all were stirred by the pictures thus gen-
the utmost reverence and the Israelites erated, into a dreamlike state. Later,
were prohibited from eating thereof. when the human spirit entered its vehi-
It will be plain from what has been cles, the leader of the Angels, Jehovah,
said that until blood was evolved, man, blew the breath of life into their nostrils.
the spirit, could not dwell within the Therefore, while the Ego lives in the
vehicles but brooded over or overshad- heat of the blood. The race, group, and
owed his instruments then in the mak- family spirits, which are potent though
ing, and it may also be said that as the unseen factors in our evolution, live in
path of evolution is spiral, the animals the air we breathe, and it is this which
are a more finished product than we causes the difference in race, type,
were at that stage, for the warm red speech and the customs observed in the
blood is a comparatively recent acquisi- different nations. Each evolves under its
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 5

own race spirit and bears its racial mind and no will; they have neither
stamp. This national spirit teaches them choice nor prerogative. But man is
to love their compatriots and hate all drawn back to rebirth under the irre-
others, for if the peculiarities which it sistible law of consequence at stated
infuses into the blood are not main- periods; therefore, when international
tained, it would loose its hold on the race marriages were instituted, when, as the
or tribe over which it presides. Bible says, “the sons of God married the
Therefore it tells its chosen people to daughters of men,” the second sight,
look upon it as a jealous God and to which had previously identified each
refrain from marrying outside the clan or tribesman with his own family, was in
tribe, and in this respect it does not dif- time replaced by a strictly individual
fer from the group spirit of the animals consciousness. The more common
which also endeavor to maintain the international marriages become, the less
purity of their tribe or species. If ani- hold the tribe or national spirit will have
mals of different species mate, a partial upon any individual, and it is absolutely
destruction of the blood or hemolysis essential that we be freed from this
takes place, which makes the hybrid influence in order that humanity may
progeny unable to propagate. become a universal brotherhood.
So long as mankind married in the It was necessary for the ultimate good
tribe or clan and these were small they of the whole, that humanity should be
retained a peculiar phase of the spiritual separated into nations and tribes, each
sight. The blood which had coursed in with its different ideals and ideas, but
their family veins for generations carried this has been subversive of universal
with it the pictures of their ancestors’ amity, and before peace on earth and
lives, and they saw themselves living in good will among men can be restored,
times long before they were actually the national and tribal spirits must be
born and taking part in events which ousted. Man must gain full control of his
happened before their present physical vehicles, he must be free from all out-
existence. Thus they identified them- side influences, and nothing is so
selves with their forebears, they lived potent a factor in breaking down
their forefathers lives, and this phase of international prejudices as interna-
common inner life constituted a bond tional marriage, which mixes the
between the clansmen which is strong blood of the different races into one
beyond all comparison. From that con- common essence containing all of the
dition we have the present proverb that ideals of all the races, but is free from
“blood is thicker than water.” the disruptive influence of the national,
The group spirit can and does exercise racial, or tribal spirits.
sexual control over its charges to prevent Peace on earth and good will among
ramifications, because they have no man is bound to come when the nations
6 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

of the earth have been thrown into the every step; absolutely nothing was left
melting pot and amalgamated into one to chance, even the food we ate was cho-
common type, and whether we know it sen for us so that we might obtain appro-
or not, toward this end we are slowly but priate material wherewith to build the
surely being guided. various vehicles of consciousness neces-
To bring this about was and is the mis- sary to accomplish the task of soul-
sion of Christ, and paradoxical as it may growth. The Bible mentions the various
seem, even the wars which we so races, though it misplaces Nimrod, the
deplore are factors in forming the Atlantean King, who lived before the
Brotherhood of Man. flood and not after.
But as the blood in which the spirit In the first or Polarian Epoch, when
lives is itself an extract from our food, that which is now the earth had just
the food of mankind must be a vital fac- emerged from chaos, pure mineral was
tor in evolution. Different foods impart used to build the body of man. As it is
varying qualities to the blood, so in said in the Bible, “Adam was made of
order to understand the true significance earth”; that is true so far as his dense
of the sacrament given by Christ at the body is concerned. In the second age
last esoteric session with His disciples, called the Hypoborean Epoch, the vital
we must study the food of mankind in body was reconstructed and man
previous stages of evolution. became plant-like; therefore Cain, the
In the beginning of this article we man of that time, lived upon the fruit of
mentioned that several vehicles—dense, the soil.
vital and desire bodies—have been In the third or Lemurian Epoch, a new
acquired by man in the Sun, Saturn and phase in the evolution of the desire body
Moon periods, but they were very prim- was undertaken, which made man like
itive, and each of these vehicles has the present animal in constitution, and at
since undergone a process of evolution. that time, milk, the product of living
At present only the dense body has animals, was added to the human diet.
become well organized and usable as an It is said that Abel was a shepherd but it
instrument of the spirit; the so-called is no where stated that he killed an ani-
higher vehicles are still in varying stages mal.
of incompletion. Therefore there is in During the earlier epochs the planet
each creative day, as we may call the upon which we live had been in a heated
periods, a number of spirals; spirals condition, and “Adm,” the Hebrew
within spirals, and in each of these the name of Humanity, really means “red
vehicles acquired receive additional earth,” because the material mineral sub-
attention and evolution. stance of the earth from which bodies
During these earlier epochs, great cre- were made was nearly fiery. Thus heat
ative hierarchies guided humanity’s from this planet and the cold of space
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 7

produced a dense mist in which these descended upon the valleys and drove
first children of earth lived. Therefore man to the hill tops. Then a great phys-
the human race was called iological change took place in man that
“Niebelungen” in the ancient folk story. he might be adapted to the new atmos-
They were unable to see one another in pheric conditions. The gill clefts which
clear, sharp contours, as we do today, but had enabled him to breathe in the dense
they beheld each other soul to soul, and water-laden air of Atlantis, gill clefts
they looked upon themselves as children which we see in the human foetus to this
of the Great Father, who guided them day, gradually disappeared and their
upon the path of evolution. function was taken over by the lungs.
But in the fourth epoch, called The pure air passing to and from them
Atlantis, when mind was given, condi- through the larynx allowed the hitherto
tions became different. Thought activity speechless spirit within the fleshly
breaks down tissues and desires and prison to express itself in word as well as
emotions waste the body. The lower and in action.
more material the thought, the greater Then man saw himself for the first
the havoc and the more pressing the time as a separate entity; then also the
need for more albumen than that con- rainbow stood for the first time upon the
tained in the former diet. Thus necessi- horizon in the rain cloud and a covenant
ty, the mother of invention, forced adop- was made with man for the rainbow age.
tion of the loathsome practice of flesh He was given a certain measure of free
eating, and so long as we continue to will and prerogative, but he was made
think along purely material lines, flesh morally responsible for his acts under
foods are a necessity. the law of cause and effect, so that as he
The lower mind is cunning, rather than sows so shall he also reap. Then his
reasonable, and this faculty requires spiritual sight had almost faded, the
abundance of flesh for its expression. Guardian Angels whom he trusted were
The American Indians, who lived almost obscured from sight by the veil of flesh;
entirely on a diet of flesh, are a good he saw only the forms of animals and
example of this connection between men, each seeking something for self.
flesh eating and extreme cunning in Therefore he feared, and it was neces-
creatures having mind. Therefore when sary to give him a new food, to brace
the mind was given to man, flesh eating him for the battle with the world and stir
was also inaugurated to feed the mind him to self-assertion.
and foster cunning, so we read in the Appropriate food had been given to
bible that Nimrod was a mighty aid each of the other vehicles in its evo-
hunter. lution. A vehicle such as our physical
At that time the fogs of Atlantis were body composed of chemical compounds
fast condensing into rain, which can be nourished only on chemical sub-
8 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

stance, likewise, by analogy, only spirit is instructed in the Mystery of Golgotha,

can act upon spirit, and therefore wine of the Grail, of the Cleansing Blood and
was added to the diet of man to aid him the Rose Cross, as follows:
to break up the heavy molecules of flesh Beneath you in the scale of evolution
and stimulate him in the battle of exis- are the plants and animals, above you
tence. This is told in the story of Noah are the gods. Anatomically you belong
(Genesis 9:1-29), who, with his follow- to the animals and in your past life you
ers, represents humanity in the rainbow have lived beneath your status. Like the
age where a so-called “mixed diet” and animals you have gratified your sex and
wine furnish the nourishment needed for your appetite, but while they were held
the present phase of evolution. in restraint by a wise group spirit, you
Fortified by the flesh-fed mind and the have exercised no control over your
spirit of alcohol, man has wandered fur- appetite, hence sickness, sorrow, and
ther and further away from the path of suffering have become your portion,
brotherhood, for while he feeds upon the now you aspire to tread the path of peace
food of the carnivora, he necessarily to the serene bliss of the Gods, to attain
becomes ferocious as a beast of prey, that you must become like the plants,
and preys upon all his fellow men by which are pure and passionless.
instinct. While the system of inbreeding Consider now, the Ancient Atlantean
and marriage in the clan tied him very Mystery temple also called the “taber-
firmly to his fellow tribesmen, he did at nacle of the wilderness.”
least show love for them, but since inter- When, under that by-gone dispensa-
national marriages have come in vogue tion, flesh offered for sin was burned on
and he is becoming emancipated from the altar of sacrifice the stench rose to
the race spirit in a measure, he preys heaven attesting the nauseating nature of
upon all men, even upon his own family. transgression, of passion, and impurity.
There are no bounds to selfishness, noth- But within the tabernacle itself stood the
ing is sacred from greed, and each seven branched candlestick, where the
human being lives in economic fear of essence of olives burned without dis-
all others. agreeable odor. All flesh has been con-
Moreover, the cup that cheers does so ceived in passion and sin, but the gener-
only at times, there is no rest, no lasting ation of the plant is pure and immacu-
peace or happiness on the path of pas- late. Therefore the fragrant flower, par-
sion and self-gratification; therefore ticularly the red rose, stands in direct
there comes a time when man desires symbolical opposition to tainted flesh.
lasting surcease from sorrow more than The flower is the generative organ of
anything else and commences to seek the plant and it tells us that the immacu-
the path of peace, which is also the path late conception in love and purity is the
of purity and self-abnegation. Then he path to peace and progress; therefore
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 9

also Christ in the final session with his noted His words at the time: “I will no
disciples took the cup as the symbol of more drink of the fruit of the vine until I
the new covenant, gave them the bread drink it with you new in the Kingdom of
to eat, which symbolized His body and Heaven.” The newly expressed juice of
the cup symbolizing His blood. But this the grape does not contain a spirit of fer-
was no ordinary cup in which any liquid mentation and decay, but is a pure nutri-
might be poured, nor was it the liquid tious plant food and thus the followers
alone which had the potency necessary of the esoteric doctrine have been
to ratify the new covenant. The mystery instructed by Christ to use a non-flesh,
lies in the fact that the cup and its con- non-alcoholic diet.
tents were integral and necessary It has generally been supposed that the
parts of one sublime whole and the cup used by Christ at the Last Supper
latin name of this mystic cup was contained wine, though as a matter of
“Calix;” in Greek it was called fact there is no Biblical foundation for
“Poterion.” that supposition. Three accounts are
Under the ancient dispensation water given of the preparation for this
alone was used in the temple service, but Passover. While Mark and Luke state
in time wine became a factor in human that the messengers were told to go into
evolution. A God of Wine, Bachus, was a certain city and look for a man who
worshiped and orgies of the wildest carried a pitcher of water, none of the
nature were held in order to drown the Evangelists say that the cup contained
aspiring spirit, that it might apply itself wine.
to conquer the physical world. Even Furthermore, research of the memory
under the Mosaic dispensation the of nature shows water was used, and that
priests had been strictly forbidden to use so far as the esotericism was concerned,
wine while officiating in the temple, but wine had had its day. From that act
Christ on his first public appearance dates also the inauguration of the tem-
changed water to wine, ratifying its use perance movement, for these cosmic
in the order of things then existent. Note, changes involve long preparation in the
however, that this was done in public, inner worlds before they become mani-
and that it was His first act as a public fest in society outwardly. Thousands of
minister, but at the last esoteric session years are as nothing in such processes.
of the Christ with his disciples, where The use of water at the last supper also
the new covenant was given, there was harmonizes with the astrological and
no flesh of a lamb (Aries), as required ethical requirements. The Sun was leav-
under the Mosaic order, neither was ing Aries, the sign of the Lamb, for
there the wine, but only the bread, a veg- Pisces, the sign of the Fishes, a watery
etable product and the cup of which we sign. A new note of aspiration was to be
shall presently speak when we have sounded, a new phase of human uplift-
10 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

ment was to be entered upon during the clumsy muscular motion which adjusts
Piscean Age then approaching. Self- the larynx, tongue, and lips so that the
indulgence was to be superseded by self- air passing from the lungs makes certain
denial. sounds. But air is a heavy medium, dif-
Bread, the staff of life, which is made ficult to move in comparison with
from immaculately generated grain, Nature’s finer forces, like electricity,
does not feed the passions like flesh; which move in the ether, and when this
neither does our blood when diluted organ has been evolved, it will have the
with water surge so passionately as power to speak the word of life, to infuse
when wine is imbibed. Therefore bread vitality in substances that were hitherto
and water are fit foods and symbols of inert. This organ we are now building
ideals during the Pisces-Virgo Age. by service.
They represent purity, and the Catholic You will remember that Christ gave
Church has given to its followers the not the cup to the multitude but to his
Piscean water at the door of the tem- disciples, who were His messengers and
ple, and the Virginal bread at the altar, servants of the Cross. At the present
denying them the wine cup at the ser- time those who drink from the cup of
vice. But even the foregoing considera- self-abnegation, that they may use the
tion does not bring us to the heart of the force in the service of others, are build-
mystery hidden in the “Cup of the New ing that organ together with the soul
Covenant.” body, which is the wedding garment.
The old-wine-cup given to us when They are learning to use it in a small way
we entered Aryana, the land of genera- as Invisible Helpers when they are out of
tion, was filled with destruction, death, their body at night, for then they are
and poison, and the word which we then forced to speak the word of power which
learned to speak is dead and powerless. removes disease and builds in healthy
The new-wine-cup, mentioned as an tissues.
ideal for the future epoch, the New When the Atlantean Age was drawing
Galilee (which is not to be confused to a close and mankind left its child-
with the Aquarian Age), is an etheric hood’s home where it had been under
organ built within the head and the the direct guidance of the Divine
throat by the unspent sex force, which to Teachers, the old covenant was made,
the spiritual sight appears as the stem of giving them flesh and wine, and these
a flower ascending from the lower part two, together with the unrestrained use
of the trunk. This calix, or seed-cup, is of the sex force, has made the Aryan Age
truly a creative organ, capable of speak- an age of death and destruction. We are
ing the word life and power. now drawing to the end of that era; we
The present word is generated by are looking for the Kingdom of Heaven,
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 11

the New Galilee, and in order to prepare superfluous, leads more swiftly to the
us for that time Christ has given the desired end—if the true life be sought.
bread and the water of life, bidding us at Happiness may not be included in the
the same time not to lust. Having given process of evolution. It is the perfect
this new covenant He went to the Cross flower which crowns life harmonized. It
of liberation, leaving behind Him the is the finished product—the glorious
body of death, to soar away in a vehicle light which shines over a fair creation.
of life, the vital body. He gave His fol- The process itself may be full of wild
lowers the assurance that though they pain and deep unrest. Peace is the
could not then follow where He went, crowning glory. It does not lay its bene-
they should follow later. Everyone is a dictory calm over unfinished work.
Christ in the making and some day will Deep down in the heart of the most
be “Easter” for each of us. frivolous there is at times something
akin to divine hunger for goodness and
SIDELIGHTS AND VIEWPOINTS truth. Possibly it may be only a faint lit-
(IV) tle protest against the false life followed
By “Vita” like a will-o’-th’-wisp. Yet it is a protest
and as such reveals the faint stirring of
Each unfoldment of truth or beauty life. When the hunger becomes con-
must have its preceding chaotic distur- suming, the soul awakens. However, the
bance. This is an era of unrest, mental lotus leaves of pleasure are always at
and physical. Fads abound in bewilder- hand and the little twinges of pain are
ing multiplicity and the true life—the easily stilled. The false teachers of so-
simple life—seems shadowy and vague. called truth are greatly to blame for the
It is covered up by theoretical debris. nepenthe—stilled soul which indulges
People are crazed by the stress of mod- its idle dreams and loses the lessons of
ern civilization. It is really ultra-civi- this life. Yet they too are deserving of
lization made barbaric by its false splen- pity, for they are blinded. The blurred
dor—its mad whirl of excitement. A tri- and imperfect vision of truth which they
fle more of what we might call primitive have caught plunges them more deeply
simplicity would work wonders. into error.
Minds as well as bodies become dis- The soul of humanity is awakening to
eased by over-feeding. They clog with find itself manacled. The frenzy and
useless material—material which has fever are its efforts to free itself. It longs
not been fully oxidized and transmuted. to live yet it finds itself among the dead.
So does the desire nature—the emotion- Mania is everywhere—in consequence.
al part. Careful selection, thoughtful It prevails among all classes. It has
discrimination, wise rejection of the many manifestations, but a skilled
12 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

observer can detect the same malady of not been emphasized to the fullest extent
the soul in the upper strata of so-called as factors in religious development.
life as in the lower. Is it any wonder that Religion has too long been deemed an
the thoughtful mind awakening to its experience for women and children. It
possibilities asks in vain the question: has been degraded to a sentiment, and a
“What shall I believe—what shall I rather weak sentiment at that. Sentiment
choose?” is ever a poor foundation to build upon,
The world of science is discovering though it has its place in the superstruc-
many great truths. The principal one is ture. It furnishes the arabesques upon
the continuity of life and its ceaseless graceful columns, the exquisite filigree
unfoldment. work, the inlaying in scintillating col-
Science has discovered that a few ors—in other words the ornamentation.
great underlying principles furnish the In the religious organizations of the
simple basis for manifold objectivity. recent past the feminine side has been
There is grouping, classifying, system- overdeveloped—the masculine or posi-
atizing. Some of the principles to life tive, under-developed. It should have
upon our other planes of being—in all both aspects expressed in a full rounded
its varying states of vibration. Chaotic development. It loses in power when
confusion seems at present to prevail in either part is sacrificed to the other.
the mental and moral world. In the Love, tenderness, compassion, patience,
realm of letters the outlook is particular- gentleness, meekness are very necessary
ly depressing. Sometimes the Idealist virtues, but there must be the correlative
feels that primitive barbarism would be forces of strength, energy, power domi-
preferable. It is barbarism without its nated by unselfish will. This fusion and
attendant compensations! correlation of powers rounds out and
Yet we deem ourselves wise and self- finishes the character. They cannot be
sufficient! We fancy that our age is rich separated in the perfect character—one
in culture and attainments. Fatuous supplements the other.
blindness! We need another sense or a It is a fatal mistake—fatal to all true
wider vision that we may see how little progress—to divide the masculine and
we know and how crude we are. We feminine elements in character. All the
need to discern the signs of the times and present-age discussion regarding the
grow truly wise—wise in beautiful sim- rights and claims of the sexes—seeking
plicity and truth. to exalt one at the expense of the other,
Power, strength, mastery is what we is the veriest nonsense. It is not a prod-
need to-day in our higher teaching—in uct of clear thought but a vapor of vani-
our higher living. They belong to the ty from the cauldron of self-love.
deeper phases of the inner life, but have Seething with its confused desire to
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 13

express itself, it bubbles in little separate framework of His purpose is true broth-
interests—and effervesces. It accom- erhood, true development of all the
plishes nothing but really adds to the latent powers of human intelligence
hazy vapors that veil the true light. directed by a consecrated will. To fill in
When men and women come to realize this design needs the united effort of
that each one is both masculine and fem- men and women working in harmony, in
inine in intellect and soul—that the line divine unity of aim and purpose. In His
of demarcation is drawn at the physical plan there is no “I and mine” nor “thou
body—for a time only to serve a definite and thine.” A divine unity binds us all
purpose, and that each Ego expresses at together as one—and in that one are all
times in both sexes, there will be less the noble qualities fused and amalga-
confusion and more effective work. mated.
In every truly developed woman’s soul
strength and power shine forth through THE CALL
love and sweet tenderness. In every
fully organized masculine intelligence A Talk in the Pro-Ecclesia
woman’s gentleness and compassion
blend with the force of will and mastery An Arabian legend relates that the
of conditions. The union is a perfect good and wise Pasha Suleiman, having
life. Too long in religious teaching the shown great zeal in the spread of Islam,
dominant note has been feminine. The was one night visited by God in a dream
time is ripe for the fusion of all the and he was then given his choice of any
virtues. Strength and sweetness, power favor he might ask. Then Suleiman, ever
and patience, energy and gentleness humble and fearful, lest pride and arro-
should ever go hand in hand. gance enter into his heart and turn his
At a certain stage of development reli- face away from God, asked that every
gious experience expresses through the day the Angel of Death might visit him
emotions and feelings. Emotion, how- to impress upon him the fleeting and
ever, at its highest and best, is merely evanescent nature of power and glory,
negative without the energizing force of and the fact that at the end of a short life,
a controlled, directed will. That is what man must face the portal of death to
is needed today in the battle of life. It is meet his God and give an account of his
what the Christ possessed in such mar- stewardship upon earth.
velous power that the impetus received And one day as the Angel of Death
from Him is still potent in this age of was walking through the court of Pasha
crass materialism and money madness. Suleiman, he looked in astonishment at
Everywhere we behold signs of awaken- one of the courtiers, a man very close to
ing to His purposes for humanity. The the wise Suleiman’s heart. And this
14 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

nobleman was so distracted and dis- for I could not see how it would be pos-
turbed by the attention bestowed upon sible for you to arrive at this distant
him by the Angel of Death that he went place in so short a time, and had you not
to the Pasha for help and comfort, for he had the noble steed of Pasha Suleiman, it
feared that the Angel of Death would would have been an impossibility.”
come for him that very day. He had but Thus, in endeavoring to escape from
one thought, to flee from death. the fate which awaited him, he had actu-
The wise Pasha Suleiman endeavored ally ridden hard to meet it, he had
to comfort him as best he could, but expended his whole energy in meeting
without success. The man pleaded that his fate at the appointed time.
there was only one avenue of escape, he When we look about us, we find there
must flee as fast as possible, and to this are marching orbs circling in their
end he begged the Pasha that he lend course around the Sun, year after year,
him his horse, Abdullah, a famous Arab century after century, with unvarying
stallion of the finest breed, so swift that precision; but they have some latitude—
no creature had ever been known to within the prescribed course they may
overtake him. After much vain effort to vary a certain number of degrees of
comfort and compose his friend, the space, and it is the same in the life of
Pasha finally agreed, and gave his friend man: the great events, birth and death,
the famous stallion. are unavoidable incidents in the life of
And he rode, and rode, all day and all the spirit, which is never ending, never
night, with the speed of the wind, until at beginning, as Sir Edwin Arnold says:
last the noble stallion dropped dead in
the sand. Then he fell on his face, weep- “Never the Spirit was born,
ing bitterly at the thought that he could The Spirit shall cease to be never.
go no further, when presently the Angel Never was time it was not
of Death appeared and beckoned him. End and beginnings are dreams
Knowing that there was no avenue of Birthless and deathless remained
escape he made himself ready to obey the Spirit forever,
the summons, but before leaving the Death has not touched it at all,
earth he asked the Angel of Death. “Why Dead though the house of it seems.
did you look at me so strangely yester-
day in Pasha Suleiman’s court?” To Nay, but as one layeth his worn-out
which the Angel of Death answered: robe away,
“I had been ordered by Allah, to meet And taking another saying, this will I
you at this place this morning, and when wear today,
I saw you yesterday morning in the court So putteth by the Spirit, lightly its
of the Pasha Suleiman I was astonished, garment of flesh,
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 15

And passeth on to inherit, a residence It is our mission to guide the world’s

afresh.” work along new and higher paths, to fos-
ter new ideals, that we may enter upon
But although certain events are bound the next spiral of the pathway of evolu-
to befall every man, there is a certain lat- tion.
itude in life, a free will that we may In ancient Atlantis, when the new
exercise in order to shape our lives as we Aryan Epoch was to be ushered in, God,
desire and work out a destiny for our- by His prophets, spoke to the people in
selves in our own way. Ella Wheeler whom He saw certain qualities that
Wilcox has put this well in a little poem might be used, and He called them by
which is as follows: means of His prophets: “Come ye out
from among them, and be my people,
“One ship sails east, and another sails and I will be your God, and I will give
west, you a land overflowing with milk and
With the self-same winds that blow. honey, and your seed shall be multi-
‘Tis the set of the sail, and not the gale, tudinous as the sands upon the sea
That determines the way they go. shores.”
The call sounds again today, but it
As the winds of the sea are the ways of sounds within the breast of each one.
fate, While the world is working out its des-
As we voyage along through life, tiny, as desired by the divine invisible
‘Tis the act of the soul that determines Hierarchies, under the lure and illusion
the goal of gold, which they conceive to be a
And not the calm or the strife.” reward for their labor, there is an
increasing number of people whose
Thus there is a general purpose in life, inner discernment has made it clear to
and we are guided along a certain broad them that the world’s work for a materi-
way, called the pathway of evolution, by al reward in the shape of gold which
divine hierarchies, but we have the liber- they must relinquish when the Angel of
ty in choosing our individual courses Death meets them, is folly. These peo-
upon that broad stream, and it is there- ple now hear the call within their hearts,
fore not by a fortuitous circumstance “come ye out from among them and be
that we have come to Mt. Ecclesia, the ye my people, and I will be your God.”
headquarters of the Rosicrucian Fellowship. Though they may still continue to per-
The Sun by precession is now nearing form their duties in the world, from
the cusp of Aquarius and a New Age is thenceforth it will not be for the sake of
to be ushered in, New People are to be material gold, which they know to be
born. truly worthless, but everything they do
16 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

will be done as unto God, regardless of spreading the teachings of the Elder
whether it brings a material reward, save Brothers, and preparing the way of the
the very necessities wherewith to keep new age and the new reign. It may not
body and soul together so that they may be an easy matter for any of us to thus
continue to serve in the master’s vine- forget ourselves, but by the heat and
yard, and thus they will lay up, whether friction that is generated in this process
they think thereof or not, a spiritual of amalgamation, the sharp corners of
reward, a treasure in heaven, which is our characters are rounded out, melted
more than earthly gold. down, so that they fit in with our broth-
It is for this purpose we have come ers and sisters. Adaptability is the great
together on Mt. Ecclesia. We are not watchword, without that we can never
here to live a life of idleness, dreaming amalgamate, but must expect to be
dreams, but we are here to prepare the thrown out as the dross from the melting
way and make straight the path of the pot, for until our hearts have been per-
Aquarian age, which is dawning upon fectly purified that God’s face is seen
the world, and in order to do this effi- therein, He cannot make the highest use
ciently, we must work as a unit in peace of us in His work.
and harmony. Did you ever see the cru- Let us therefore strive day by day to
cible wherein a plumber melts the metal work earnestly and honestly in the
wherewith he is going to make a joint, a Master’s vineyard wherever we may be
number of pieces of lead are put in the placed, remembering the great and glori-
melting pot, but gradually each piece ous destiny that is before us. Let us
loses the distinctive and separate form count all present tribulations as unwor-
and melts to unison with the rest until all thy of being mentioned. Though we
become one. But there is in each piece may be misunderstood by those near and
some dross which will not melt and dear to us, though we may be despised
incorporate with the metal; it is thrown by the people of the whole world, who
to the top by the heat and the plumber think only of having a good time and
skims this dross off until the metal is accumulating gold that they must leave
clear, so clear that he can see his own behind at the door of death, let us set our
face therein. Similarly, in the faces towards the goal of our calling and
Rosicrucian Fellowship, we are so many work faithfully for the spiritual treasures
distinct and separate forms, each with which endure forever.
his own characteristics and idiosyn-
crasies. We have been thrown into the Send us the names of your Friends
melting pot; everybody must sink his who might be interested in the work
personality in the common cause, if this magazine is trying to do and thus
we are to secure success in our work of help to spread these glad tidings.
 Question Department
* * * * * *

A DREAM PROBLEM Answer: In order to be able to judge

intelligently concerning the various
states of consciousness of man—wak-
From the Editor of Practical
ing, dream sleep, etc.—it is necessary to
Medicine, an East Indian Publication
know the constitution and the function
of various finer vehicles which, with the
We received the following query with dense body, make up that complex being
the request that it be answered in our which we call man.
columns and a copy sent to the editor so We find in the world four kingdoms;
that he may reprint it for the benefit of the mineral, which is practically devoid
his readers. of feeling, though it may respond to and
react to stimuli, can feel neither love nor
“A gentleman in sound physical and hate. Under the steam hammer or in the
mental health had a dream almost every furnace its form and composition may
night for some time, and in the dream be changed, but it gives no sign of emo-
state he addresses an assembly com- tion whatever. Its consciousness is like
posed mainly of his friends and acquain- that of the human being in the deepest
tances. In the course of his speech he trance or in death, when only the physi-
explains that he is dreaming and that all cal body is present.
the people before him are creatures of The plant is different, it lives and
his dream. Some one in the audience breathes, it inhales carbon dioxide which
asks him what proof he has to give that forms a large part of its body; it exhales
he is right in his assertion, and to this he the life-giving oxygen, the sap flows in
replies that he will think over the ques- its stem and leaves. In short, it exhibits
tion when he wakes and states that he the same phenomena of life as we do in
will explain his reasons when he meets dreamless sleep, because in that state our
them in dreamland the next time. They dense body is interpenetrated by a vital
all laugh at him and call him a lunatic. body composed of ether, and a similar
This dream puzzles him considerably vehicle interpenetrates the physical
and he is anxious to know how he may stem, leaves and branches of the plant.
convince those dream creatures that the But the plant knows no emotions either;
experience is really a dream. love or hate, joy or sorrow are foreign to
18 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

it, for it has no desire body such as that accepts them without question, just as
possessed by animal or man. the animal does, and dreams experi-
Because of the possession of these enced in that relative condition of man’s
vehicles, animal and man are also able to vehicles are usually absurd in the
move about and to aim to gratify their extreme. But as civilization progresses
desires. To this end man uses mind, a and egoism is being superseded by altru-
vehicle not possessed by the animals, ism, a different division of the vehicles
and in the waking state all his vehicles is being made. A part of the vital body,
are concentric, interpenetrating one composed of the two higher ethers,
another, enabling him to live, move and which are vehicles of sense perception
reason. But the very act of going to and memory, is taken along during the
sleep means a reversion to the con- night. Then the illusory stage of dream-
sciousness of the plant and therefore it land ceases, and man becomes, as it
necessarily involves a separation of the were, a creature of two existences; one
higher and lower vehicles. The Ego, lived out of the body in dreamland,
clothed in the mind and the desire body where he comports himself in a reason-
withdraws, leaving the physical body, able manner, using judgment concerning
interpenetrated by the vital body, upon his own actions, and those of other peo-
the bed. ple whom he may meet. As he has not
There are times, however, when we learned to focus his consciousness when
have become so absorbed in our daily leaving or entering the body, he is not
affairs, or when we have been tired out, able at all times to accomplish the prop-
that the Ego cannot accomplish a com- er separation of the vehicles, nor to bring
plete separation of the higher vehicles back a reliable memory picture of what
from the lower. Then the desire body has occurred. Initiation into the inner
still interpenetrates the brain centers of spheres alone supplies the necessary
the dense physical and etheric bodies, knowledge.
but it is unable to convey correct impres- Evidently, the gentleman in question
sions to the brain centres, because the has his reasoning faculties with him in
relative position of the various vehicles dreamland, but is not yet aware of the
is, so to speak, askew. facts concerning that world.
In that condition reason is out of the He is mistaken in supposing that the
question and the human consciousness is audience which he addresses is simply a
similar to that of the animal which has “creature of his dreams,” and it is not at
no mind and is therefore constitutionally all impossible, if he were to gather
incapable of logic. That is why even the courage and ask some of those whom he
most grotesque and absurd things seem has seen in his dreams, if they attended
perfectly natural to the dreamer who such and such a gathering, the answer
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 19

would be in the affirmative. Moreover, the magnetic powers of the seed atom
if at the time this reply reaches him it is are spent, the archetype is dissolving,
still possible for him to get together with and therefore the centrifugal force of
the people whom he saw in his dreams Repulsion forces the desire stuff out-
and prepare them for the question before wards toward the periphery of the desire
he puts it to them in the daytime, he will body. The matter belonging to the low-
almost certainly find someone who will est regions is thrown off first by the
remember and who has carried through process of purgation, which cleanses the
this identical experience of which he has man from all evil acts of his life. This,
been writing. by the same natural law working in the
Seeing then that dream life is not an higher realms of morality, as that which
illusory existence but a reality, there is in the physical world causes a sun to
no way of proving to the people of throw off matter which then becomes
dreamland that it is an illusion. planets, and to interfere with that law
would be disastrous to any human being,
Question: My only brother died last even supposing that it were possible,
November and must now find himself in which it is not.
one of the lowest regions of the desire It is different with the Initiate, who
world. Would you advise me to let him goes there during life. Then the seed
know that by a simple effort of the will atom of the desire body forms a natural
he can prevent the matter of the desire centre of attraction, or gravitation,
body from forming itself into concentric which holds the desire stuff in his vehi-
layers, as it were, the coarser matter on cle to the accustomed lines.
the outside and the finer within. I mean Moreover, everyone who performs the
to say that by an effort of will he could scientific exercises given in the Mystery
make matter of the seven regions of the Schools is constantly purging his desire
desire world, which form his desire body of the coarser matter, so that even
body, come to the surface of the said at death he is not amenable in the same
desire body and by this means he would degree to the actions of the centrifugal
be able to contact at once all the seven force of Repulsion as those who have
regions of the desire world instead of not had this training. So it is useless to
only the lowest, or lower regions. There attempt to help your brother in that man-
is, I believe, no serious objection to this ner.
use of the will power? But there is another way in which we
may help someone near and dear to us,
Answer: This question refers to the provided we have his cooperation, and
fact that when death has taken place and to make it clear it is necessary to men-
man finds himself in the desire world, tion first that the coarser the desire stuff,
20 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

the more tenacious is its hold upon man, willing to acknowledge the wrongs and
therefore expurgation by the force of mistakes from the very bottom of their
Repulsion causes great pain, and that is hearts, then the process of purgation will
what we feel in the purgatorial experi- be both shorter and less painful; conse-
ence. If we were perfectly willing to let quently, they will rise to the higher
go and acknowledge our faults when the regions where the forces of attraction
pictures of them appeared in the life hold sway in a much shorter time than
panorama, instead of trying to make otherwise.
excuses for ourselves, or to be stirred The same result can also be accom-
anew by the anger and hate of the past, plished by prayer, for kind thoughts,
then it would involve much less pain to thoughts of upliftment and helpfulness
eradicate it from our desire body. If this have the same effect upon those who are
fact can be impressed on one whom we out of the body as kind words and help-
are anxious to help, if we can get him or ful acts have on those who live in this
her in the state of mind where they are world.

The Astral Ray

* * * * * *

OUR FATHER’S HOUSE house: the awful grandeur, the amazing

(Continued) aggregations of thousands and thou-
sands and millions of suns (for each
star is a sun), arranged in pairs, groups,
By Gamma Beta and clusters, held in place by God’s
great laws, all moving in the most per-
This valuable article began in March. fect harmony, all in their appointed
Back numbers may be had at 10c each. places, not in a state of rest, of stagna-
tion, for all nature is at work—for the
In Far Distant Spaces stars are flying in their appointed paths
with a velocity that is startling. Our own
The solar system is itself enough to star, the sun, is moving about twelve
declare the glory of God, and quicken miles a second toward a certain point in
our sluggish thoughts to contemplate the sky, while others are known to have
His omnipotent power and wisdom. But velocities as high as two hundred and
no boundary can be set to our Father’s even more miles in a single second.
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 21

Some are approaching, some receding, capable of giving us some idea of the
and some are moving in other directions; solar system, they are useless when we
yet so vast is the gulf between us that deal with stellar space.
hundreds, maybe many thousands, of
years must elapse before we could detect
A Comparison
the slightest increase or decrease of their
light by the unaided eye. I will endeavor to give a comparison
The naked eye, under the most favor- that may clearly bring to our minds one
able conditions, can not see over five of these vast intervals between the
thousand stars in all the sky; but we can stars—that separating our star, the sun,
never see more than half the sky at one and our next-door neighbor, Alpha
time, and never see the faint stars near Centauri. This star, though the very
the horizon, so that we perhaps never see nearest of them all, is about twenty-five
two thousand at one time. A good opera millions of miles away. Imagine a rail-
glass will increase this number to an way reaching from the earth to this star.
astonishing degree, while a good tele- The “World Almanac” gives the total
scope—say of a diameter of five inches gold and silver money of all the world at
or more—will bring forth millions from less then eleven billion dollars. At the
the depths of space. rate of twenty miles for a cent, this
In the constellation Hercules there is a amount would not take us within thou-
little spot of light, barely visible to the sands of millions of millions of miles of
sharpest eye, apparently only a tenth part this star. This is absolutely meaningless
as large as the moon, and yet this little to the mind of either the layman or the
speck is a cluster estimated by Keeler to astronomer. The human mind breaks
contain forty thousand suns! These suns down at this point as completely as if the
may be smaller or dimmer than your distance were a thousand times as great.
own sun, but they may surpass him in We can understand it, but we can not
size and splendor. The astronomers can comprehend it.
not tell anything about it in this case, but For illustration, let us imagine our sun
there are stars that are known to be reduced from a vast globe eight hundred
immensely superior to ours, while oth- and sixty-six thousand miles in diameter
ers are not nearly so great. It is believed to a ball nine feet in diameter. Next, let
that our sun is not less than the average us imagine that all the planets and all
of the stars in size and brightness. space should dwindle down to just the
Astronomers are wont to deal with same proportions; then would our earth
incomprehensible distances by compar- be less than a thousand feet from the
ing the speed of railroad trains, cannon- sun, and it would be only one inch in
balls, and the like; but while these are diameter, while our near neighbor,
22 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

Alpha Centauri, would, on this same According to Young, it would require a

scale, be nearly fifty thousand miles telescope twenty-four feet in diameter
away! (and it would be about five hundred feet
Another way of expressing the same long) to show even the giant Jupiter
thought would be to say that the distance from such a distance. This being the
from our sun (or earth) to the nearest star case, we can readily understand just why
is just as many times fifty thousand we cannot actually see the planets cir-
miles away as our earth is larger than a cling round their central suns.
good sized marble; or, for every marble Should the question be asked, how
that it would take to make a world as then do astronomers tell of other worlds
large as ours, Alpha Centauri is fifty around other suns? I can not enter into
thousand miles away. Do the heavens an explanation here, but they know it
begin to show the glory of God as we without seeing them! Indeed, the com-
look into His treasure-house. panions to Sirius and Procyon were dis-
We will continue our journey now, and covered years before they were seen, by
again on the wings of light we are speed- the motions (perturbations, astronomers
ing away at the rate of six hundred and call them) of their brilliant primaries,
sixty-nine million six hundred thousand and even the positions of these hitherto
miles an hour. A few hours, and the last invisible companions were correctly cal-
planet of the solar system has passed culated!
from sight. We see only our sun, and at Were we to continue our journey, we
this point it outshines every other body would see our sun dwindle away into a
in all the visible universe. In about two mere glimmering point of light, and
and one-quarter years we will be at the finally it would vanish altogether.
half-way point, and then, if our sun and
Alpha Centauri are of equal size and
Differing Stars
brightness, both will appear the same.
The bright star Sirius, and all the rest of Only about two hundred stars give
the stars, would appear about as they do anything like fairly satisfactory evidence
from the earth. In a little over four years of their distance, and not more than forty
(late measures make the distance some- furnish measures that place the question
what greater than this) we would be in beyond dispute. All the remaining mil-
the midst of the system of Alpha lions are plunged into the vast eternity of
Centauri. space we call the universe, to a distance
We would see our sun as a first magni- that the astronomer has as yet been
tude star, but the planets would be unable to penetrate with anything
entirely invisible, even in the most pow- approaching certainty. The best that can
erful telescope man has yet constructed. be said is that the distance is very
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 23

great—even astronomically great, and star we can see may be larger than either
anything beyond that is not science. or both of them.
Here one is tempted to dwell upon While engaged in writing this article,
how greatly the stars differ among them- the writer received from Dr. Elkin, of
selves in size and brightness. Saint Paul Yale University, a letter, giving the
says that “one star differs from another results of his latest measures of the dis-
star in glory.” I do not know whether he tance of Arcturus. For many years Dr.
said this as an astronomer, or not; but if Elkin has stood at the very head of
he did, he was right. The nearest star to astronomers for his exquisitely delicate
us is one of the very brightest, not measures in this most intricate and diffi-
exceeded in brightness by more than cult branch of the science—finding the
three or four; while the next nearest can distance of the stars. He gives his dis-
not be seen without a telescope. The tance as forty-four light years (the time
fifth in distance is the brilliant Sirius, the it would require light, traveling 186,337
brightest star in all the sky; while the miles each second, to pass from the star
next brightest, Canopus, is so far away to us), his brightness as being 139 times
that it has completely baffled every as great as that of our sun, and his speed
attempt, by the most skillful astronomers, in his course as ninety-two miles a sec-
to measure its distance. We do not ond.
know, actually, how big it is, how bright This high velocity places Arcturus in
it is, nor how far away it is. Some stars that very small class of stars that, appar-
are certainly millions of times larger and ently, are a law unto themselves. If so,
brighter than others. Saint Paul expressed he is an outsider, a visitor, “a stranger
the truth beautifully. He also said (and within the gate.” To speak plainly,
with evident pride), “I am. . . a citizen of Arcturus is a runaway! How can this
no mean city!” So we can say of our be?—It is simple. Newcomb gives the
sun, that it is not least among its fellows; velocity of a star under control as not
but we can not afford to be very boastful more than twenty-five miles a second,
about it. and Arcturus is going ninety-two; there-
fore the combined attraction of all the
stars we know can not stop him or even
Great Arcturus.
turn him in his path, so he is passing
There is no star that is more impres- through our universe, probably for the
sive to the writer than the superb first and the only time, and is complete-
Arcturus—one of the three brightest ly beyond control.
stars north of the celestial equator. He is He is moving at an angle nearly per-
not actually nearly so bright as Canopus, pendicular—that is, nearly squarely
and it is at least possible that the faintest across our line of sight—while he is at
24 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

the same time approaching us about five Only a Beginning

miles a second. From this we know he
must be nearer to us today than he was We have scarce begun our journey,
yesterday, and will be yet nearer tomor- reader; but if we have learned anything,
row than he is today; hence we know he it is that only in an eternity of time can
must appear brighter now than when the we pass through an eternity of space;
patriarch Job wrote of him in ancient only with infinite time can we compre-
time. hend infinite works; and at the snail’s
His distance, however, is so very great pace of 186,000 miles a second, it would
that a few miles a second, toward or require from tens of years to centuries to
from us, for a few thousand years, would visit our near neighbors of the star
make no perceptible difference in his depths, while it would require thousands
brightness to the eye. And should the old and thousands of years to reach the stars
patriarch rise from his sleep, he would that lie at the limit of vision of our great-
see him and all the other stars as he saw est visual and photographic telescopes.
them thousands of years ago. And is this the universe? Is this our
At a certain time, that could be calcu- Father’s house? Are the stars barely vis-
lated, Arcturus will reach his nearest ible in our great telescopes on the out-
point from us, and, of course, his great- skirts? Every increase of telescopic
est brilliancy. Then he will begin to fade, power has increased our power of pene-
and in time he will pass from a first to a tration, and every thinker finally reaches
second magnitude star, to a third, a sixth, the unphilosophical and incomprehensi-
when he will be no longer visible with- ble conclusion that there is no end—no
out a telescope; and after ages and ages, bounds, no center, no circumference!
and yet more ages, he will pass beyond To show that our journey, even though
even the power of the telescope! And it could be carried on under the condi-
then? tions we have imagined, would end in
Whence came this splendid sun? Why comparative failure, let me give a few
is he here, and where will he go? What brief results of recent work in astronom-
if he should plunge into a closely packed ical photography, which has revolution-
cluster of apparently small stars, such as ized the study of the star depths. A pho-
we find in Hercules and Pegasus? It is tograph in my possession of the central
useless to ask these questions of parts of the great constellation of Orion
astronomers; they do not know. But shows thousands of stars where only
does this not add a new meaning to the eight are visible to the unaided eye. In
challenge of the Almighty to Job, when the square formed by the three stars in
He asks, “Canst thou guide Arcturus the belt, the star Mu, and the upper star
with his sons?” Job 38:32. in the sword, where the naked eye sees
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 25

nothing but blank space, are an incredi- account of later discoveries, but only in
ble number of stars. I have estimated such details as we must expect in a sci-
them at 1680. This photograph would ence that is in the hands of tireless work-
be counted as only fair work compared ers with highest intellectual attainments.
with some of the marvelous productions. Nothing that is fundamental has been
Professor Barnard, at the Lick changed, so far; but I wish to introduce
Observatory, photographed, with only a here a new theory that may be consid-
six-inch lens, that portion of the constel- ered of prime importance.
lation of Andromeda in which is situated (To Be Concluded)
the great nebula. The space in the sky
covered by the photographic plate was
YOUR CHILD’S HOROSCOPE
about ten degrees square. To the ordi-
nary observer two stars are visible (Mu
Marjorie R., born October 22, 1912,
and Nu Andromeda); while the photo-
Cleveland, Ohio.
graphic plate shows sixty-four thou-
sand running together in one unbroken The Moon in the first house in Pisces
blaze. and trine Neptune in Cancer gives
Other plates exposed to the richer por- Marjorie a very restless nature and she is
tions of the Milky Way show so many sure to do considerable traveling in her
stars that it is impossible to count them. life. She will change from place to place
The plates may show five hundred thou- and long voyages are particularly
sand or a million and five hundred thou- shown, but this desire to wander is not
sand. There are simply clouds of stars, dictated by a habit of shiftlessness. She
each one of which would be invisible, will be very practical, hardworking, and
even on the photographic plate, unless it intensely ambitious to accomplish what-
were a sun, for they are photographed ever she sets out to do.
by their own light! Fixed signs on the angles, and the Sun
It is greatly to be regretted that not all conjunction Mars in Scorpio indicate
the stars shown by the negatives can be that she will have the energy and perse-
reproduced, but they never have been. It verance to work until she achieves.
is safe to say that not one in five of the Jupiter is in his essential dignity in
minute stars in the Milky Way can be Saggitarius. This shows that Marjorie
shown in an ordinary cut. has a noble heart and a humanitarian
This article was first written and print- instinct and the Sun in Libra also tells of
ed about twenty years ago in the Signs her kindly inner nature. But Mars and
of the Times, and our editor has asked Mercury are in the sign Scorpio, which
me to bring it “up to date.” I find a num- is probably the most belligerent sign
ber of minor corrections to make, on among the twelve, and this shows us that
26 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

you may lay up a wonderful treasure in

heaven. Be sure that you start right
away and be sure that you start right.
Above everything, do not endeavor to
break her spirit or curb her by harsh
measures, but endeavor to teach her
self-restraint. You will find this a diffi-
cult problem, but study it. She is worth
all you can do for her, for she is a strong
soul. There is no doubt that she will
often have reason for being provoked,
for the Sun square Neptune shows that
treachery may be expected frequently in
her life, but tell her never under any cir-
her tongue can bite like a scorpion’s cumstances to go to law, as Saturn in
sting when she shows the other side. Gemini opposition to Venus tells her that
Under ordinary conditions Uranus in she should be careful in the selection of
the Saturnine sign Capricorn gives her a her friends, for she may expect them to
certain reserve and dignity of nature, but prove false. The Sun, Mars, and
when Marjorie is swayed by the afore- Mercury in Scorpio will give her a very
mentioned configuration, Sun conjunc- magnetic personality.
tion Mars and square Uranus, it is like a She will have a wonderful healing
bolt from the blue which transforms her power and, if possible, you should let
for the time being to a fury. At least, that her take up this art. Saturn in Gemini
is the tendency, and the square of Mars and trine to Uranus will also make her
to Uranus, which makes her impatient of very scientific and give her ability much
every restraint, will generally be found above the ordinary and she will also
to be the key to the trouble. If this ten- have great foresight and considerable
dency to completely lose her temper is executive ability. The Moon trine
allowed free rein, Marjorie will have a Neptune will give her a love of
very unhappy life and be shunned by all Occultism and considerable talent as an
despite the many good qualities which astrologer. It will also develop the imag-
she otherwise possesses. ination wonderfully and she will have a
But this is just where the parents may number of psychic experiences. Saturn
do a great good for this soul. You have in opposition to Venus will make
here a very difficult child whom you will courtship difficult and cause consider-
find a great responsibility, but also a able jealousy. It would be better in one
great opportunity for service whereby sense if she did not marry for the Sun
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 27

square to Uranus shows that the mar-

riage will be very unhappy; but there
will be no separation, the husband will
die, as attested by the Sun conjunction
Mars in Scorpio in the eighth house, and
she will gain financially by this marriage
for the husband will leave her in com-
fortable circumstances.
With regard to health, you will find
that the end of October and the begin-
ning of November each year will always
be a rather critical time for Marjorie and
she will be most liable to the so-called
female troubles. There are, however,
certain exercises which may be used in favorable aspect from Sagittarius, the
early life to promote the general health sign of the higher aspirations, and from
in such a manner that these tendencies the tenth house, which governs the
will not work themselves out. But above social standing. This shows that he will
all, Marjorie should be told the truth have a good life before him; many
about life as soon as it is possible. friends, a high position, and social dis-
Whenever she can understand sufficient- tinction await him, for the Sun is in the
ly to ask a question, be sure that it is ninth house trine to Saturn. This will
truthfully answered so that she may give him the tact, diplomacy, and a love
know, be properly informed, and be able of justice and fair play which will win
to take care of herself when the strong the esteem and respect of all with whom
feelings shown by the Sun and Mars he will come in contact. You will also
conjunction in Scorpio come to her at find that he will become a hard, ener-
the time of adolescence. getic, and ambitious worker, for this is
the influence of Mars in Scorpio, and
Gordon B., born Oct. 21, 1914, 1:30 from that configuration he will also gain
p. m., Baltimore. executive ability.
Sagittarius is the ninth sign and there-
Jupiter and Uranus were rising in the fore in a certain respect connected with
intellectual and scientific sign Aquarius travel. The Moon is the wandering plan-
when Gordon was born. This shows that et, and when the Moon is in Sagittarius
he has an unusually original nature at the time of birth it always makes the
which puts him in a class separate and person fond of change and travel. And
apart from the average. Venus is in as the Sun is in the ninth house, which
28 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

particularly denotes travel, the dignified eous wrath in defense of an ideal, reli-
position of which we spoke in the pre- gious, political, or moral.
ceding paragraph, may be in the con- But let him beware of going to law, for
sular or diplomatic service, for it is cer- Mars in the ninth house is not favorable
tain that Gordon will be very fond of for success in litigation. Let him also
travel and take a number of long voy- beware of partnerships for the Sun is
ages. The sextile of Venus to Uranus ruler of the seventh house and square to
gives him an unusual musical ability Neptune which is there on the cusp;
which will aid the popularity previously hence, the partner will be treacherous,
spoken of and make him a success with and even his marriage is bound to be
the ladies. Furthermore, as Venus is in unhappy. But taken as a whole his life
the tenth house, it is probable that he will give him success and satisfaction.
will marry one in a high station of life With respect to health, we find that the
and thereby secure added social distinc- Moon is in conjunction with the nebu-
tion and social benefit, for Venus is also lous point in Sagittarius, Antares. The
sextile to Jupiter the giver of great Sun is also afflicted by a square to
favors. Neptune, the latter being close to the
But the Moon is changeable, and the Ascelli, another nebulous spot in 6
fortune given by her position in the tenth degree of Leo; therefore you should be
house is not stable. The favors of poten- very careful of Gordon’s eyes from
tates and politicians are taken away as infancy. The moment you notice that he
easily as they are given. Some time begins to squint or strain, be sure to have
Gordon will feel the treachery denoted it looked after, for it is always easier to
by the Sun square to Neptune, the latter use the ounce of prevention than to take
planet being in the sixth house and the the pound of cure. Jupiter denotes the
Sun denoting those in authority. Usually jovial good fellow, and Venus also indi-
he will be self-possessed, but under cates pleasure, therefore we may be sure
severe strain, the love of justice and fair that Gordon will be very fond of good
play, which are indicated in the figure, food. But indulgence of the appetite is
will cause him to feel a high degree of always sure to bring trouble, and as
righteous indignation and respond to Saturn is in Cancer, the sign of the stom-
Mercury conjunction Mars in Scorpio ach, his digestive powers will not be
and Mercury square Jupiter. Then there very good, and he ought to be taught
will be a scandal, and pity those whom from babyhood that he must be careful
he will flay with his pen and tongue, in the selection of his food, and gratifi-
when under those configurations, for cation of his appetites or neglect of
they will indeed feel the sting of the proper care will cause him much misery
scorpion when he lets loose his right- in life. The Sun rules Leo, the sign of the
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 29

heart, and there we find Neptune square liable to impairment, but with proper care
to the Sun. The heart action is therefore almost all tendencies may be thwarted.

Studies
in
The Rosicrucian
Cosmo Conception
* * * * * * *

THE SEEDATOMS AND you will see a great number of separate

THE SILVER CORD rays proceeding from the center of the
flame and gradually losing themselves
From our previous studies in the in the surrounding darkness. Each ray is
Cosmo we have learned that the Virgin a vibratory force of high potential
Spirits, which are differentiated in the power, but as it worms its way through
beginning of our present creative age, the surrounding darkness, endeavoring
have undergone three great periods of to stir the ether into a rate of vibration
involution in matter, that they have lost such as we may recognize by means of
the cosmic consciousness wherewith our eyes, the vibrations become slower
they are endowed when they are still in and slower until finally the light-ray is
the bosom of the Father, and are now swallowed up of the darkness. The
enveloped in various vehicles so that resistance of the air has become greater
each has become conscious of itself. than the light-ray’s powers of endurance.
Therefore the Cosmo defines the Ego as Nevertheless, force is continually pour-
a Virgin Spirit involved in a threefold ing outward from that central arc, and
veil of matter which obliterates its orig- though the ray is lost to our sight in
inal Divine Consciousness and engen- darkness, there is still a line of commu-
ders the delusion of a separate self (page nication between it and the central
575). source—the arc.
To understand this mystery more thor- The Virgin Spirits may also be likened
oughly, let us take the illustration of an to rays of light which, in the dawn of
arc lamp. When you look at the arc from Being, emanated from the great Divine
a distance, so that it does not blind you, Flame. Each has been gradually
30 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

enveloped by the various bodies of and is again dissipated in light rays to

which we have spoken in our preceeding shatter the darkness.
lessons, but the ray of Divine Life still Similarly, the Virgin Spirits which
connects each and every one of us with radiated from the Supreme Being at the
the Divine Source of our Being, so that, dawn of this Creative Age, and plunged
in spite of the seeming illusory separate- into the sea of matter, have been repeat-
ness of each from all others, we are edly gathered up anew in the Father’s
actually and de facto one in God, who bosom, each time gaining new strength
is the source and goal of our Being, “in and added power for another cyclic jour-
whom we live and move.” ney into the promised land which they
Continuing the illustration of the arc have set forth to conquer. Each life, like
lamp and bearing in mind the laws of prodigal sons, they waste the substance
conservation of force and matter, which and power given by the Divine Father;
are thoroughly established, let us also in every cyclic journey, when they have
remember that though the electrical reached the farthest limits, they cry, con-
energy is dissipated in the arc and sciously or unconsciously, “we will
thrown outward into the darkness as return to our Father’s house where there
light-giving rays, which then gradually is enough and to spare,” for their
lose themselves because unable to keep strength is gone, their substance is spent,
up their initial high rate of vibratory and it is absolutely necessary for them to
power against the resistance of the sur- replenish this in order that they may
rounding atmosphere, they are not really obtain renewed strength required to con-
lost, as we shall see presently when we quer the world.
go back to the power house where the It is just as necessary to remove the
so-called electric “generators” are Spirit from the concrete existence and
found. allow it to gather momentum for anoth-
We say, so-called, for as a matter of er plunge into matter, as it is to withdraw
fact these machines do not generate the steam drill that has lost its momen-
electricity any more than a pump gener- tum from the hole it has been drilling in
ates water. Electricity exists everywhere the solid rock, and therefore there are
in the Universe, in fact we might say that Cosmic Days, or periods of evolution,
it is God’s life which pervades every and Cosmic Nights, or periods of rest
atom, so that all the generator does is to and recuperation.
gather up this free electricity (as the Just as we, when night comes, divest
pump draws water), and puts it into the ourselves of our clothing that we may
wires under pressure which we then call rest unhampered, so also when the spirit
voltage. Under this pressure it speeds enters upon a period of rest are its vehi-
along the wires towards the arc lamp, cles resolved into their original ele-
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 31

ments, and each grade of matter natural- Spirit. Force is the same spirit not yet
ly gravitates to the cosmic vehicle crystallized.” This has been said before,
whence it was originally taken; or, to be but it cannot be too strongly impressed
more specific, when an individual’s upon the mind.
desire body has disintegrated, it coa- In this connection the illustration of
lesces with the sea of planetary desire the snail is very helpful. Matter, which
matter surrounding the earth, the mind is crystallized spirit, corresponds to the
gravitates toward the region of planetary snail’s house, which is crystallized snail.
mind stuff, the ether of the vital body The chemical force which moves matter,
becomes a part of the planetary ether, makes it available for the building of
and the dust of the dense body returns to forms, and the snail which moves its
the solid earth whence it was taken. house are also good correspondences.
But it should be borne in mind that That which is now the moving snail will
matter which has once composed the in time become the inert house and that
body of an individual, or any other liv- which is now a propelling force will in
ing thing, is not just the same after it has time become inert matter when it has
been thrown off as it was before being crystallized further.
assimilated. During the interval between The reverse process of resolving mat-
assimilation and elimination it forms a ter into spirit is also going on continual-
part of an evolving being, it has vibrated ly. The coarser phase of this process we
to its vibrations, and it was in a measure see as decay when a man is leaving his
altered thereby. vehicles behind and at that time the spir-
Thus there is not only an evolution of it of an atom is easily detachable from
spirit, but also an evolution of matter, the coarser spirit which has been mani-
just as the electric energy radiated into festing as matter.
the air returns to the generator for added This last remark brings us to the point
pressure, so also matter takes a cyclic in our lesson, that all we learn in all
journey from and to God. Its vibratory our various lives is stored up as vibra-
powers are periodically raised to a high tory power in a few little atoms, which
pitch and then dissipated to a low ebb. in the Rosicrucian Philosophy are
Thus, and this is the important point, called “seed atoms.” However, and this
when matter reaches its maximum vibra- distinction should be made very clear by
tion it is not matter at all, it is spirit, for the student, the vibratory powers spoken
spirit and matter are one. As the Cosmo of are not stored in the material part of
informs us, “Space is crystallized these atoms, but in the spiritual part or
Spirit.” On pages 120 and 121 we find the force which is in each of them.
a good illustration to make this clear. These seed atoms were originally given
We read there “Matter is crystallized by the great Creative Hierarchies who
32 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

guided us upon the path of evolution; atom, but anyone who has studied man
they have formed part of all the vehicles knows that it is no mere phrase when we
which we have ever occupied since that say that “it hurts to think.” The mass
time, and since we have evolved, so of humanity at the present stage of its
have they. evolution likes to drift along established
Therefore the task of building a vehi- ruts and falls into habits due to the activ-
cle from a seed atom is accomplished ities of the vital body, and the only way
with greater facility in the case of the to move them at the present time seems
dense body than with any of the other to be through sensation and emotion,
vehicles, for the seed atom of the dense which are generated by the desire body.
body has now served as a nucleus for It is a matter of fact and observation that
such vehicles for three and one-half they are very slow to obey the voice of
periods. Hence the physical body is reason and apply forethought to the
brought to its present stage of comple- problems of life.
tion and efficiency in the short space of There is, of course, a growing class
nine months. which is learning to respond to the dic-
The seed atom of the vital body has tates of mind, which is ruled by reason
only undergone an evolutionary process rather then by emotion, but it is in a
of two and one-half periods; therefore it pitiable minority to the masses who
takes seven years longer to complete the respond only to the emotions, impulses,
gestation of the vital body, which is at and sensations.
that time almost a replica of the dense During antenatal life the foramen
body. ovale, which connects the right and left
The seed atom of the desire body has auricles of the heart, is open, and the
only been in evolution one and one-half maternal blood stream passes directly
periods, and therefore it requires four- from one to the other, then to the form-
teen years longer than the dense body to ing head, with the pituitary body and the
complete its organization, and then it is pineal gland, and then to the lower
not really an organized vehicle in the extremities. Then the Ego sees the out-
same sense as the physical and vital bod- side world by the vibration of the duct-
ies, for it has only a number of vortices less glands mentioned, but the blood
which are centers of desire, feeling, and stream does not touch the seed atom of
emotion. the dense body, which is located in the
So far as the mind is concerned, we left ventricle of the heart.
might almost say that the seed atom is all At the time of birth, however, and by
there is of it; that is not quite correct, for birth we mean the first complete inhala-
we are gradually gathering mind stuff in tion of air, the foramen ovale closes, the
storing up vibratory powers in this seed blood stream passes into the lungs,
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 33

returning to the heart through the pul- during the day time when all man’s vehi-
monary artery, passing in its course to cles are concentric, is located in the solar
the left ventricle of the heart where the plexus. The etheric part of this cord runs
seed atom is. Mark this, now, that initial from the seed atom in the vital body,
inhalation of air carries with it a picture located at the solar plexus, to the seed
of the outside world and so does every atom of the dense body located in the
subsequent inhalation until the last left ventricle of the heart near the apex.
dying breath. Moreover this photograph The other half of the silver cord which is
is taken absolutely without volition upon composed of desire stuff, runs from the
our part; it is independent of whether we seed atom of the vital body in the solar
observe details around us or not, just as plexus, to the seed atom of the desire
the picture that a photographer obtains body which is located in the liver.
through a photographic lens shows There is a point between the eyebrows,
everything within the angle of vision of about one-half inch below the surface of
the camera, and the ether which carries the skin, which looks like the core of a
such details to a camera when it filters in blue gas flame, and seemingly transpar-
through the lens, also carries them when ent, although it is not, is the nucleus of
it is inspired by a human being. the mind. There the Ego uses the seed
When the blood stream, charged with atom as a focus through which it beholds
air and ether, passes the seed atom in the the other worlds and silently watches the
ventricle of the heart, this atom is like a panorama of life enacted under its guid-
sensitized film upon which the panora- ance, in so far as that is possible, for the
ma of life is photographed to the minut- personality, composed of the three vehi-
est details, in order that it may serve as a cles, has a certain life of its own; it com-
basis of soul growth in the post-mortem poses what we know as “the lower
existence when man ruminates over the self”, and it is at the best a willful instru-
experiences of the life just ended. Then ment.
they are graven upon the seed atom of That is why Paul, speaking of himself
the desire body, which is the seat of con- as an Ego, says: “When I would do
science. good, then I find in my members, anoth-
The desire, vital and dense bodies are er law, a law of the flesh which is prone
connected during life by a slender glis- to evil and therefore difficult to curb.”
tening thread which is called the silver Moreover, the seed atom of the mind is
cord, and on page 98 of the Cosmo you not solely a focus of the spirit, it has
will find a picture of it. One-half of it is been partially subjugated by the desire
composed of ether and the other part of body and by this conquest the faculty of
desire stuff. Where these two parts unite low cunning, which often takes the place
is the seed atom of the vital body, which of reason, was developed.
 Nutrition and Health
* * * * * *

THE HEALTH VALUE OF that in many cases their reformed diet is,
from the standpoint of health, a thousand
INDIGESTIBLE FOODS times worse than the usual mixed diet of
the average person, and goodness knows
It may seem absurd, at the first blush, that that is bad enough.
to say that the more indigestible our In fact, instead of wondering that the
foods are, the better the health will be; body breaks down under the strain of
nevertheless, when the statement is dietetic indiscretion, it is really wonder-
slightly qualified, it is true; for foods ful that it can stand up as well as it does
which are usually regarded as indi- in spite of the abuse and ill treatment to
gestible, because we feel distress after which it is subjected.
eating them, really cause trouble It happens not infrequently that people
because they have been too thoroughly who apply to us for healing admit
digested, while other foods which are unblushingly the most atrocious dietetic
nearly totally indigestible, and therefore blunders, perfectly oblivious of the fact
in a sense not foods at all, leave us with that they are doing wrong. The follow-
all the feelings of health and well-being. ing is a representative diet of a very
Lack of proper appreciation of these large class of people who suffer from
essential facts is at the bottom of the dif- digestive disorders:
ficulties which many people experience
7 a. m.—Two cups of coffee.
when they adopt what they are pleased
to call a vegetarian diet. They have, in 10 a. m.—Hot cakes with three eggs,
most cases, suffered from digestive trou- coffee, beefsteak with fried potatoes,
bles before ceasing to eat flesh, and have white bread, butter and more coffee.
in many cases adopted a fleshless diet Noon—Meat and potatoes. Bread and
with the expectation that that would butter. Pie and coffee.
work a miracle in restoring their health.
They are therefore often bitterly disap- 3 p. m.—Beer and a sandwich, or in
pointed that they feel no better; nay, in a the case of ladies, tea and some buns.
number of cases they may even feel 6 p. m.—A full course dinner, includ-
worse, because they continue their ing soup, meat, a spoonful of mashed
dietetic errors in all other respects, so potatoes and vegetables, cooked in an
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 35

indifferent, insipid manner, two or three 9 p. m.—Nuts and raisins

kinds of dessert and coffee. They also eat highly concentrated
10 p. m.—Coffee, cheese, sausage, food. They get both protein from the
pigs feet or other so-called delicacies. nuts and carbohydrates from the raisins,
And then they honestly wonder why but lack the indispensable, though indi-
they do not feel well. This class of peo- gestible, cellulose, to give the necessary
ple will claim that they have no bad amount of bulk and cause irritation in
habits. They smoke a few cigars, drink the digestive tract which is absolutely
a few glasses of beer, or perhaps they essential to induce peristalsis and secre-
take a cocktail or two. They live on what tion of the necessary digestive ferments.
they call “a natural diet,” go to bed at ten There is no question that whole wheat
or eleven, and pat themselves on the is much more nutritious, palatable, and
back with a feeling that they are models. healthy than white flour, which is com-
As a rule, when it is first brought to posed only of the starchy portions of the
their attention that they are committing grain; but its health value is not particu-
serious blunders, they stare in utter larly great, because it is more easily
amazement and incredulity; they seem digested than white bread, for as a mat-
to doubt their senses when told that they ter of fact it is not, nor is the great bene-
are killing themselves with food, actual- fit derived from whole wheat bread due
ly, and in truth digging their graves with to the mineral salts necessary to body
their teeth. Can such remarks have been building, which it contains and which
addressed to them? Pshaw! The man are absent in white bread. For it should
must be mad. be remembered that just as a portion of
Nevertheless, that is absolutely true, the protein contained in meat and the
and it is not so much because their food phosphorous contained in fish remain
is indigestible either, as because of the undigested, so also with the protein and
lack of indigestible materials to mix phosphorus which abound in the whole-
among the highly concentrated foods meal bread.
which form the chief elements of such a We do not assimilate all the protein
diet. But in that respect, that class of and mineral salts which are contained in
people are no worse than people who the coarsest portions of the whole wheat.
live on the following diet: But while the white bread is almost
entirely digested and leaves but little
7 a. m.—Prunes ash, provided of course that it is well
10 a. m.—Nuts and raisins made, the coarser particles of whole
Noon—More nuts and raisins wheat flour pass through the intestinal
3 p. m.—Nuts and raisins tract undigested, and in so doing they
6 p. m.—Nuts and raisins sweep and clean the walls of the
36 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

intestines. They massage them, so to ical labor as gardeners and dairymen,

speak, irritate them, and induce a flow of take to the vegetarian diet very readily,
blood which keeps the intestines sweet as a rule. Many of them have later con-
and healthy. They do not pack as close- fessed that they have had a great deal of
ly as the little residue left from highly trouble with their digestion, some were
concentrated foods, and therefore they taking medicine before they came to Mt.
take with them in the air spaces noxious Ecclesia, but every one of them attests
gases, leaving the digestive tract pure that after a while he became perfectly
and clean. healthy. They all, as a rule, gain in
Compare the action on the bowels of weight. It is not unusual, it is, in fact, a
such foods as eggs, and meat and common experience, that a person who
cheese, which are almost totally assimi- has been run down gains about 30
lated and leave no coarse bulk to cleanse pounds in two months. Moreover (this
the bowels after a meal has been digest- may sound like the usual advertising
ed, with such vegetables as legumes, charlatan’s story, but it is a fact that),
(used sparingly), turnips, carrots, celery, those who have too much flesh reduce
onions, etc., which contain every ele- their weight in about the same ratio that
ment found in flesh and, in addition, the the other class take on flesh. The expla-
indispensable bulk composed of coarse nation is simple. The archetype deter-
fibrous matter, which alone can sweep mines the form and figure of a person,
the intestinal tract, clear off all deleteri- and this will be his normal stature in
ous products of waste, and leave the sys- health; but by our dietetic disorder we
tem in a healthy condition. often change this, so that either the ener-
Nor is this theory, for we have proved gy of the body is used in the process of
it in practice for several years on a large eliminating an enormous amount of food
number of people. Many who have which we cannot assimilate and there-
come here, broken down in health fore we grow thinner. The reverse hap-
because of their dietetic mistakes, have pens when the eliminative powers are
regained perfect health in a short time, poor, then surplus flesh, or adipose tis-
often in spite of themselves, for as there sue, is put on because of an unnatural
is no restaurant within a mile and a half diet. When a scientifically prepared
of Mt. Ecclesia, they could not go else- diet, such as we have here on Mt.
where to obtain the poison they wanted Ecclesia, is adopted, the people who
and therefore had to content themselves have been too thin, because of a previ-
with the health-giving food served in our ous wrong diet, take on flesh until the
dining room. normal stature is reached; conversely,
Even people employed by us from the those who have put on unnatural flesh
ordinary market of the world to do phys- cease to do so and therefore their weight
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 37

is reduced. excess of food. This is not theory either,

Another fruitful cause of digestive dis- but the result of investigation which can-
orders, is the habit of eating every few not be matched by experiments on ani-
hours. The sample menus given in the mals or even human beings, where the
foregoing part of this article show that suffering incident to tabulating the
the people who sent them were in the results of investigations cause an unnat-
habit of eating five or six times a day, ural digestive condition. But there are
and when one remonstrates with them no such barriers to one whose spiritual
on that score, they usually assert that sight is opened and who can see the peri-
they are hungry and must have the food staltic action of the stomach and
at short intervals or they feel sick. When intestines when the system has been bur-
told that that habit is absolutely subver- dened, as in the cases mentioned. Then
sive of good digestion, some of those there exudes from the food a black poi-
who endeavored to comply with our sonous gas which is thrown outward
instructions, and do with three meals a through the periphery of the aura by the
day found that they became sick from man’s vital body so long as he is in good
hunger, as they said, and we have at health. But when his vitality becomes
times detected a triumphant note in the enfeebled and the flow of the solar force
letters informing us of this supposed through the spleen is not as strong as
fact, for the sickness seemed to prove to usual, this poison gas remains around
these people that they were right in eat- the abdominal region as a broad black
ing and we were wrong in saying that band which poisons all organic activities
they could live on three meals, or less, a of the body while it is there. When a
day. But they saw only the symptoms person eats three meals a day there is a
and failed to see the cause which pro- slight chance for the dissolution of the
duced both the fancied hunger and the poison band generated by one meal
relief when food was given. As a matter before the next meal is taken. But where
of fact, the craving is due to a diseased meals are eaten at intervals of only a few
condition of the stomach. We would not hours, there is absolutely no chance for
think of giving a man who is suffering the person to rid himself of this poison
from poison more of the same kind to cloud, and as a consequence he grows
keep him still. worse and worse, shortening the span of
We call it criminal to give to a person his natural life in a manner that would be
addicted to the morphine habit more just a shocking surprise to most of these peo-
because he craves it, and it would give ple, could they realize it.
temporary relief from suffering We For these reasons anyone who wishes
should apply the same logic and philos- to obtain and maintain health should
ophy to people who are poisoned by an make it a point to eat only two or three
38 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

times a day and sparingly, taking care to Rice and Egg Omelet
secure an abundance of bulk rather than
nutriment, for it is an actual fact that For each omelet use one egg, table-
many, many more people die of too spoon of cold boiled rice, one table-
much nourishment than of too little. spoon milk, and salt. Beat the egg, salt,
Most of us are really and truly digging and milk slowly, adding the rice, until it
our graves with our teeth. is light. Pour into a hot oiled omelet
pan, cook on hot stove until browned on
MENU FROM MT. ECCLESIA under side, lift the edges of the omelet so
that the uncooked part can run under the
Breakfast 7:30 a. m. part left on the bottom of the skillet.
Stewed Blackberries When light brown, turn and cook on
Corn and Graham Gems other side until browned. Serve at once
Rice and Egg Omelet on hot plate.
Coffee or Milk
Leek and Potato Soup
Dinner 12 Noon
Leek and Potato Soup Cut one bunch of leeks, one cup of cel-
Pimento Potatoes ery, and two medium sized potatoes into
Creamed Brussels Sprouts small pieces, boil in enough water to
Bread, Butter and Honey cover until soft. Prepare in another fry-
Milk ing pan two tablespoons butter, two
tablespoons flour; brown until a rich
Supper 5:30 p. m. brown, add slowly one and one-half
Nut and Dandelion Salad pints milk, add this to the vegetable
Rhubarb Pie Hot Corn Bread allowing to boil for five minutes adding
Honey salt and a little grated nutmeg.
Tea Milk
Pimento Potatoes
Corn and Graham Gems
One cup each of white flour, graham Boil, cool and slice six medium sized
flour, and corn meal, mix with salt, rub 1 potatoes, add one-half can of chopped
tablespoon of cooking oil into the flour pimentos, one-half cup grated cheese,
until all lumps have disappeared, add and salt. Turn into a buttered baking
two eggs and enough milk to make a bat- dish, pour over this enough cream sauce
ter that will pile while pouring into hot to cover the top, sprinkle with bread
buttered gem pans. Bake in a quick crumbs, dot with butter and bake for
oven. twenty minutes.
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 39

Nut and Dandelion Salad water over them in the morning and
cover. Allow to cool before putting
Take two cups of blanched, crisp dan-
them on to boil, they will cook quickly.
delion cut fine, one cup chopped wal-
If potatoes are of an inferior grade,
nuts, mix and place on plate garnished
place an onion in the water in which you
with lettuce leaf, pour over same enough
boil them, this will keep them white,
French dressing to taste.
while the onion gets very dark, this also
flavors the potato.
Hints to the Housewife
To remove the odor of onions from the
Place glasses on their sides before breath eat parsley. To take it off the
scalding with hot water, and there will hands rub them with the rind of a lemon.
be less danger of breaking. It is well to save all lemon rinds in the
Should you forget to soak the dried kitchen for bleaching and cleaning pur-
beans or fruit at night, pour boiling poses, they are invaluable.

Healing Department
* * * * * *

THE ROSY CROSS HEALING blood, and the central white rose is a still
CIRCLE higher symbol of purity of heart and
mind. This lofty ideal we aspire to reach
The Rosy Cross Healing Circle meets that we may radiate the Christ-force of
in the Pro Ecclesia at Headquarters Healing represented by the golden star
every time the Moon enters a Cardinal behind the Rose Cross.
sign. Only a few are present in the body,
but thousands from all over the globe If you are not already one of us you
join us in spirit when we meditate upon may join us in spirit between 6 and 7 on
the symbol of the Invisible Helper the following nights:
placed on the west wall.
The pure white cross shows us that he April 1—8—16—22—29
must be without stain of sin, the seven May 6—13—19—26
red roses tell their story of the cleansing June 2—9—16—22—29
40 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

We append a few letters from people stronger and more able to control my
who have been helped. nerves. I cannot explain it, I can only
marvel; perhaps you, dear friend, would
Mountain Home, Idaho understand. But whenever I feel unduly
Dear Sir: excited, a strange calm seems to come
Yours of the 8th at hand and instruc- over me and subdue that inclination. My
tions noted. I am gaining much by your relatives sometimes regard me anxious-
instructions and my cough is all gone. ly and say “you seem so quiet, do you
The rupture is not paining me. I am sat- not feel well?” As a matter of fact I am
isfied with your treatments, I feel I will feeling very well, only this wonderful
soon be well. peaceful sensation steals over me and
I am respectfully seems to check my nervous excitement.
R. L. I am sure you will be interested after all
your great kindness to me, and I shall
London, England forever feel grateful and wish you every
Dear Mr. Heindel: blessing possible.
Just a few lines to let you know how I Yours,
am progressing. Every day I feel E. K. H.

Echoes from Mt. Ecclesia

* * * * * *

THE VALUE OF A GOOD quarters weathered the storm. We are

FOUNDATION thankful to say that, as Mt. Ecclesia is
located on a high tableland, about two
“He builded his house upon a rock, hundred and twenty-five feet above the
and the rain descended, and the floods river and valley, no damage was done,
came, and the winds blew and beat upon save that the wind blew over a nice euca-
that house, and it fell not for it was lyptus tree which we have raised again,
founded upon a rock.” and we hope that it will grow. One cor-
Many solicitous inquiries have come ner of our grounds, however, is down in
to headquarters from students who have the valley and our pumping plant is
heard of the flood that has caused such located there. The water inundated the
damage in Southern California, and are engine house, submerged the engine,
naturally concerned to know how head- even the batteries, yes, worst of all, it
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 41

floated the distillate out of our fuel tank conditions such as we have this year
and now we will have to pay for fifty have not been known since 1862. Then it
gallons of engine distillate which was is said to have rained thirty-two days in
thus lost at the high prices now prevail- succession and in 1884 there was also a
ing. But let us be thankful that our loss very severe rainfall of 36 inches in
is poor Mr. Rockefeller’s gain; he may January and February, with washouts
even be able to clip an extra dividend and loss of property. Usually our trouble
coupon on the strength of it. in California is that we have not enough
Some members who have been at rain even in the winter months to give
headquarters write confidently that they plant life a proper start and therefore
have no fear of damage done to Mt. people build houses and bridges in the
Ecclesia on account of its location so far most slip-shod manner imaginable, par-
above the floods, but they are afraid we ticularly the foundation, without
may be marooned, and perhaps without which nothing can stand. As a matter of
the necessities of life. Yes, in a sense we fact, it rained only five or six days here.
are marooned. We did not receive mail The reader will remember from last
for more than two weeks, and at this month’s magazine how we stated that
writing, (today is the 8th of February), it the editor and Roy went to San Diego in
is sent to San Diego by boat, and for- order to secure linotype and paper, and
warded from there in auto stages, sup- that it started to rain on the morning
plemented by ferries, which take it when they returned. Then, already, the
across streams where bridges have been small and unsubstantial culverts were
washed out. We have, however, plenty unable to take care of the water, the road
of provisions and are suffering no hard- was being washed out in some places,
ships in that respect. But according to barely enough was left to allow the pas-
reports it will be a number of weeks sage of our car; we felt sure that an hour
before railway communications are later no one would be able to pass those
established between Los Angeles and particular places. This was on Tuesday,
here, and if you find that this magazine and on Thursday the San Luis Rey
is printed on the same kind of paper as River, which runs by Mt. Ecclesia, had
that of last month, and that it has a non- already filled to such a depth and was
descript cover you will know that the running so swiftly that it washed out the
editor and Roy have had to make anoth- abutments of the beautiful cement
er trip over the inland route (which we bridge which was on the north of
understand is still passable) to San Oceanside. It toppled over into the river,
Diego to get the stock and linotype marooning the town, just because of
wherewith to print the magazine. poor foundations. Now let us hope, that
According to the oldest inhabitants, this may teach people a lesson, for it is
42 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

much needed. Although we have sun- so called or Imperator, or whatever else

shine in California all but a few days or his fanciful name may be, will just wave
weeks in the year, we need firm founda- a wand over them, and they will sprout
tions for our bridges and buildings here, wings immediately and become omni-
for we shall never know when “the rain scient as the Gods. By and by they will
may descend, the wind blow and the know better: Advancement upon the
floods come to try our work, whether it path depends, as we have said a thou-
be good or bad.” The simile which sand times, upon soul-growth, and no
Christ took from daily life contained an one can assimilate our spiritual food for
eternal truth which is applicable both in us, or do our growing for us, any more
the physical and spiritual life. Let us be than they can eat our physical breakfast
sure of our foundations, whether in one and hand us over the food value where-
direction or the other. by we may grow physically stronger.
Shakespeare asked the question: What
“IMITATION IS THE SINCEREST is in a name? There may be very little,
FLATTERY” and there may be a great deal. We all
This brings to our mind another point. know the business value of a good name
Since the Rosicrucian Fellowship work to designate a brand of goods, but no
was started on the fourteenth of matter how good the name, unless the
November, 1908, Rosicrucian Societies goods which it represents are of ster-
(?) have multiplied apace. There seems ling quality, the name cannot alone
to be a perfect mania for annexing the make it a permanent success, and it is
word “Rosicrucian,” but in order to the same with a spiritual movement; it
assure distinction from the rest, some must have a solid foundation, a sound
spell it with a “k”—Rosikrucianism. philosophy. The Hindus were given the
Others spell it with an “ae” instead of the Vedas, to the Persians the Zend Avesta,
“i”; e. g “Rosaecrucianism.” Some of to the Mohammedans the Koran, to the
them make great claims; one even pro- Christians the Bible, and each great
fesses to have six million members, religion has had its own particular
among whom are the crowned heads of text book which is the foundation of
Europe and all the distinguished men of its faith, and this text book has three
all ages, including Moses, Elijah, the things: An account of our origin, a
Pharaohs of Egypt, and other great ones statement of the future in store for us,
too numerous to mention. Nor is it to be and a code of ethics. Even in modern
wondered at that this dazzling fantas- times we find that the Christian
magoria blinds some of our weaker Scientists have their text book Science
members who scurry away to these and Health and the Theosophists have the
orders in full faith that the Grand Master Secret Doctrine. Before the Rosicrucian
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 43

Fellowship was started, the Elder ly to keep the teachings of Christ away
Brothers of the Rose Cross gave to the from the world, or if the first Sages of
writer the monumental teachings con- India or Persia who received the Vedas
tained in The Rosicrucian Cosmo- and the Zend Avesta had done this. Then
Conception, which surpasses all previ- all the world would have been ages
ous philosophies. This is now the text without religious teaching and surely
book of the Rosicrucian Fellowship, and everyone will see that that would have
it is spreading over the whole world in been a great detriment. Bearing this in
the most wonderful manner, for it finds mind it is only necessary to apply the
everywhere, among thinking people, an same common sense arguments to the
unqualified assent, because it appeals to claims of so-called Masters who profess
the inner forum of truth. to initiate anyone who has the price
The Rosicrucian Philosophy was first into the mysteries of this, that, or the
offered by the Elder Brothers to Mr. other so-called Order, but have nothing
Heindel on condition that he would keep for the public. It is easy to take a name
it secret and only reveal it to a few and make claims, but ask them to pro-
through the rite and mysteries of initia- duce their text book and compare it with
tion, but being himself at that time a the Bible or with the Rosicrucian
hungry soul searching for the solution of Cosmo-Conception; see if it covers the
the mystery of life, he refused, though three essential points we mentioned, and
repeated overtures were made to have no other test will be necessary to show
him recant. He thought that if this teach- their status.
ing was good for him it would be good The Rosicrucian Fellowship has no
for the thousands of other hungry souls quarrel with these people, however, for
in the world, and finally it was given to as it is said that imitation is the sincerest
him on the reverse condition; namely, form of flattery, we take it that they rec-
that he do everything in his power to ognize its merit and the power of our
promulgate this philosophy. He had movement or they would not seek to ape it.
been put through a test to see if he would
use it selfishly or whether he would be
A PEEP INTO THE NEXT
firm in his purpose to give it to humani-
MAGAZINE
ty; therefore the Rosicrucian Philosophy
is being spread publicly through this text This is the last issue of our first year of
book so that every one that seeks may publication of this magazine, we hope
come and drink freely of this water of that the readers have all been well
life. pleased with it, that they will renew their
Just think what would have happened own subscription, and maybe subscribe
if the apostles had conspired successful- for a friend.
44 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

As we announced in the last magazine, How do you like the Dream problem
we are going to enlarge the magazine, in this month’s Question Department?
both in size and space, adding sixteen This is a fascinating subject of study for
more pages of the present size. We have many people and we have been making
also decided that instead of delineating some new investigations of dream expe-
two children’s horoscopes, we will in the riences which it is hoped will shed light
future give four and maybe, when the on various other problems of life. As
size of the subscription list warrants us soon as we get them together, they also
in again enlarging, we can even increase will be given in the magazine. They will
this number, for we feel that these horo- be doubly interesting because they are
scope delineations are a very important real experiences, and not simply con-
aid to parents, showing as they do the fused dreams, and they will also throw
latent qualities of the child and enabling some light on the work of an Invisible
those who obtain these readings to bring Helper. In one case, one of the Probationers
up the child much more intelligently ran away to Europe one night, and it was
than could be otherwise done. They are necessary to go after him and bring him
also a very thorough course of instruc- back. We did not know that he remem-
tions for students as they show how to bered the experience which happened
read the character from a horoscope. long ago, until he related it at headquar-
We shall also start, in the May issue, a ters; and there are a number of others
serial article on the “Ancient and equally interesting.
Modern Symbols of Initiation, and
when this is finished we shall take up
TWICE AS NICE
Free-Masonry and Catholicism, which
is being thoroughly rewritten, revised, That is what it will be if you stay at
and enlarged. The two articles— Headquarters while you visit the
“Symbols of Ancient and Modern Exposition in San Diego. It only takes
Initiation” and “Free-Masonry and an hour to go or come on the fast trains,
Catholicism”—will form a whole of and then you are among congenial kin-
great value to all occult students, and we dred spirits, which will make your stay
would advise those who do not want to in Southern California much more pleas-
be left in the lurch to renew their sub- ant and profitable, besides giving us the
scriptions promptly, for we are only pleasure of becoming personally
going to print the usual number, and it is acquainted.
an almost foregone conclusion that the It is also much more economical to
demand will exceed the supply, so that make Headquarters your home while
back numbers cannot be obtained to seeing the Fair than to stop at a hotel in
complete a broken series. San Diego. Write for rates, and make
 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS 45

your reservations early as accommoda- utterly fail to realize unity.”

tions are limited.
PREACHING THE GOSPEL
LIGHT
Before an audience of 3000 persons at
The Cosmo is now being translated in Riverside, Cal., Evangelist Fife, who
French, and is nearly ready for the press. was conducting a series of revival meet-
We have also received a very good book ings, “brought down the house” with an
on Astrology in German, which quotes imitation of an old fashioned hoe-down,
largely from the Message of the Stars by way of illustrating his address on
and Simplified Scientific Astrology, and “Amusements.” The “Chicken Reel”
the German publisher of the Cosmo has was danced to the music from his own
written for permission to publish violin which he played while cavorting
Simplified Scientific Astrology. We also over the platform. The evangelist then
note that certain occult societies are buy- laid down his fiddle and proceeded to
ing these books in large quantities, and imitate a modern dance, to the infinite
rejoice that the light is spreading. delight of the audience, which applaud-
ed him to the echo.
ERRATA
WILL YOU HELP US?
Through a slip of the line-o’-type a
paragraph was omitted from the article How would you like to help work in the
in the March number entitled office of Mount Ecclesia? You may not
“Transference of Consciousness to Higher be able to be there in person, but you can
Planes,” by Eva G. Taylor. As the omis- help if you want to, and this is the way:
sion entirely altered the sense of the Every time you send in a lesson, letter, or
paragraph, we take pleasure in making communication of whatever kind, write
the correction. The sentence in question your name very, very, very plainly, and
(in the fifth paragraph) should read: your full and complete address on this
“But the transference of our con- paper, for every month our office force
sciousness to the spiritual part of our- spends hours and hours walking many
selves is not a mere belief in, or accep- thousand steps to the card cases to hunt up
tance of the doctrine of the higher the addresses of those to whom we write.
unfoldment. We may believe fully in And in this manner, if you will only
the One manifested life—in the Christ help them, you can save them all this
principle ruling the human heart—yet unnecessary labor.
46 RAYS FROM THE ROSE CROSS

MYSTIC LIGHT CONTINUED broad band of ornamentation,

On these two commandments…
FRAGMENTARIANS
Such beheaded statements are, to say
Blanche Cromartie the least, bewildering, but they made me
think how misleading is the practice of
In these days of hurry and of miscella- singling out isolated phrases from
neous periodicals, we are all apt to speeches or writings, without any regard
become fragmentarians, and while we for their context.
laugh at the honest fellow who con- The Baeotian, who went about dis-
fessed that though he was very interest- playing a single brick as a sample of the
ed in Treitschke and Nietzsche, he never house he wanted to sell, would no doubt
could find them on the map. We are have treated the Bible in the same way
often not much wiser ourselves. and, if a nationalist, would perhaps have
I remember the start it gave me on a demonstrated from its pages that there is
first visit to a certain church to read no God.
inscribed on the pulpit the words: We laugh at these instances, but do not
we do the same, and worse? To illus-
I preach not the Gospel
trate our common mode of procedure,
“True for you,” I thought after listen- let me instance Job 14th chapter, from
ing to the sermon. Of course, the open- which our Anglican Church has thought
ing words of the text quoted, fit to cull a passage of gloom and
hopelessness to adorn the burial ser-
Woe to me if…
vice.
Were on the other side of the pulpit, In verse twelve there is a statement
but the designer certainly never antici- that when a man dies he rises not, nor
pated the effect that would be produced. awakes, nor is raised out of sleep till the
I remember an even more odd instance heavens be no more.
of this decorative (?) fragmentarianism To the fragmentarian this certainly
when visiting a church in Nottingham. appears to deny the departed soul any
On entering I knelt down without look- activity or consciousness in the unseen
ing round and, as I rose, my eyes fell on world, but, reading further, we find that
these amazing words: Job, into whose mouth these words are
put, recants these and similar expres-
Hang all the Law and the Prophets.
sions (chapter 42:3) where he owns that
I choked down the laugh which bub- he had been speaking of matters too high
bled up at this unexpected exhortation, for him and laying down the law on sub-
and looking higher found, separated by a jects he knew nothing about.
THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, SHOWING THE WONDERFUL VIEW OF THE MOUNTAINS.
In this building are housed, at the present time, the large General Offices, the Esoteric Secre-
tary’s Private Office, the extensive Printing Establishment, maintained by the Fellowship
in which all their Printing is done, with the exception of the three bound books,
and last, but not least, the large Mailing Department, through which
the thousands of letters, magazines, books, etc., pass.
 THE AFTERMATH

There is in every heart a grave,

A sacred, silent spot .
Filled with sad memories of the vast,
That busy life knows not.
Far down it lies, this quiet mound,
The record of lost years;,
And, in our lonely midnight dreams,
We water it with tears.
Tears for the hopes that once we knew,
In youth’s enchanted hours,
When life was just a golden haze
Of sunshine, and of showers.
Tears, too, for friendships kind and true,
Which proved so sweet, and rare,
And dearer ties than all, that brought
But sorrow, sin, and care.
Rash deeds of fateful import loom
From out the vanished years;
And wounded hearts that found no balm
In after grief, or tears.
All these are buried in that grave
That no man ever sees,
The loves, and hates, and fears that go
To mould life’s destinies.
And while it seemed, in those dark days,
The springs of joy had fled,
The mellowing hand of time touched o’er
The hopes we thought were dead.
Ah, only when our soul can sound
The depths of woe, and pain
Will come the aftermath of peace,
That we, through sorrow, gain.
And only then to us is given
The wisdom from above
To spread abroad the perfect gifts
Of sympathy, and love.

—E. M. NIGHTINGALE
 Faithful in Little Things

Be faithful, Soul of mine, in little things,

For noblest ends are reached through patient toil.
Didst ever note the quiet streamlet’s trend—
Where banks of verdure rise o’er barren soil?
The golden sunlight scatters nightly dew
That breathed o’er floral bloom its cooling breath;
Yet nobler mission sunlight never knew
Than each bright gem that gleamed o’er floral death,
And life restored to drooping emerald blades
That bowed in silence ‘neath the nightly shades.

From lives restricted—lives in which there rise

Impulses pure—fair forms of beauty spring.
The simplest deeds in grandeur reach the skies
When holy thought bears them on viewless wing.
God’s benediction rests on purpose pure.
Uncounted souls to nobler end at length
Attain—and hearts grow stronger to endure
Through one sweet life and grand in hidden strength.
God’s white-winged peace in radiant glory springs
From faithful doing of the “little things.”

—Eva G. Taylor
 THE COWBOY’S PRAYER

O Lord, I’ve never lived where churches grow;

I love creation better as it stood
That day you finished it so long ago
And looked upon your work and called it good.
I know that others find you in the light
That’s sifted down through tinted window panes,
And yet, I seem to feel you near tonight,
In this dim starlight on the plains.
I thank you, Lord, that 1 am placed so well;
That you have made my freedom so complete;
That I’m no slave of whistle, clock and bell,
Or weak-eyed prisoner of wall and street.
Just let me live my life as I’ve begun,
And give me work that’s open to the sky;
Make me a partner of the wind and sun
And I won’t ask a life that’s soft or high.
Let me be easy on the man that’s down
And make me square and generous with all;
I’m careless sometimes, Lord, when I’m in town,
But never let them say I’m mean or small.
Make me as big and open as the plains,
As honest as the horse between my knees,
Clean as the wind that blows behind the rains,
Free as the hawk that circles down the breeze.
Forgive me, Lord, when sometimes I forget;
You understand the reasons that are hid,
You know about the things that gall and fret,
You know me better than my mother did.
Just keep an eye on all that’s done and said,
Just right me sometimes when I turn aside,
And guide me on the long, dim trail ahead
That stretches upward toward the great Divide.

—Charles B. Clark, Jr.