While the higher spirits not only dwell in individual men, but each
extends itself into many, it is they who unite these men spiritually,
whether of one form of faith or truth, of one moral or political
leaning. All men who have any spiritual fellowship with each other
belong to the body of one and the same spirit together, and follow
the ideal which has thereby been born within them, as members one of
another. Often an idea lives at one time in a whole nation, often is a
mass of men moved to one and the same action; that is a mighty spirit
which seizes them all in one contagious influence. Not alone, indeed,
through the spirits of the dead do these alliances occur, but countless
new-born ideas flow from the living to the living; all these ideas,
however, which go forth from the living into the world are already
parts of its future spiritual organism.
Now when two kindred spirits meet in human life and are merged together
through their common sentiments, while simultaneously, through their
differing traits, they mutually influence and enrich each other, at
the same time the associations, races, nations, to which each first
belonged, enter into spiritual association and enrich each other
through their spiritual possessions. So the development of the third
stage of life in mankind goes on hand in hand inseparably with that
of the progress of humanity. The gradual formation of the state, of
sciences, of the arts, of human intercourse, the growth of this sphere
of life to an ever-increasing harmoniously constructed whole, is the
result of this union of innumerable spiritual individualities which
live in humanity and fashion it into great spiritual organisms.
How otherwise could these glorious realms, based upon such unalterable
principles, be formed out of the tangled egotism of individuals,
who, with their short-sighted eyes, from the centre could see no
circumference, and at the circumference could discern no centre, if the
higher spirits, seeing clearly through the whole, did not control the
machinery, and, while they all press around the common divine centre,
and so in their godlike part meet together, also lead the men whom they
influenced, united on to higher goals.
But beside the harmony of spirits which meet and fraternize amicably,
there is also a conflict of those whose existence is in disagreement,
a struggle which will at last wear itself out, so that the eternal in
its purity shall alone survive. Traces of this warring of forces are
manifested by mankind in the rivalry of systems, in sectarian hatred,
in wars and revolutions between princes and people, and the nations
among each other.
The mass of men enter into all these great spiritual movements with
blind faith, blind obedience, blind hatred and rage; they hear and see
nothing with their own spiritual ears and eyes; they are driven by
alien spirits toward objects and goals of which they themselves know
nothing; they allow themselves to be led through slavery, death, and
terrible affliction, like a flock following the call of the higher
leadership.
There are, indeed, men who engage in this great agitation, acting and
leading with clear consciousness and deep purpose. But they are only
voluntary means to great predestined ends; being able, indeed, through
their free action to determine the quality and rapidity, but not the
goal of progress. Those only have had great influence in the world who
have recognized the spiritual tendency of the time in which they lived
and have directed their free action and thought into that tendency:
equally strong men who have resisted it have been overthrown. Every
one who has set before him higher aims, and knows better ways thither,
has chosen a new central point for his motive power; not as a blind
tool, but as one who from his own impulse and understanding serves
righteousness and wisdom. The brow-beaten slave does not render the
best service. But in whatever way men begin to serve God here they will
carry further there, as partakers of His divine glory.