of permanency—is quite on a par with the Creators, though that real self
is perhaps not known to any of our personal selves. But then stands that
real Self at the commencement of each New Birth. As the process of
evolution goes on each step in the meditation of this mighty Self as he
contemplates existence, finds a responsive thrill in the tiny ovum,
bound to himself by the strong bonds of Karma. As he emerges in
contemplation from the mineral to the vegetable and on to the animal, so
the sensitive plasm of the germ responds. Page after page of the history
of man is retold till once more the story is complete to the point where
the previous incarnation ended; then the child is born to carry on the
history as best he may.
So in the cell the determinants are the little bundles of ideas coming
from the Magician (ourselves) and being instilled bit by bit into the
heart of each of those groups of molecules and ensouling it, so the tale
is told and this side of manifestation opens out into the beautiful
blossom of Humanity, moulded also in part by the parental influences
which can make or mar the impulse as it comes straight from the
Creator’s mind. Make or mar, and yet how few women think of the real,
sacred and holy duty of parentage. How hellish the times in which any
dares to point the finger of scorn and shame at a blessed pregnant
woman. But as we are beginning to understand, soon shall we be able to
reverence them all as the sacredness of motherhood is understood.
This little picture contains the whole of our philosophy, and it must be
left more or less to the intuitions of each. But in closing we can say
this much. The study of the cell teaches that Brotherhood is a fact in
nature. It teaches that that brotherhood depends on the harmonious
coördinate activity of many entities, working together united by the
recognition of the one source of life and inspiration. It also teaches
the great Divine mystery that hangs about every new birth, and that the
real seat of that Divinity is in the Hearts of all Creatures.
There is one more lesson that we ought not to miss. We have seen the
magnificent results of harmonious action which is always synthetical and
finds its highest expression in Love and Compassion issuing from the
heart.
Sometimes the same force becomes converted into Hate, when once the
centrifugal disintegrating force is set going and gains the ascendancy,
selfish in nature, self-centred, it cuts away the bonds that bind man to
his fellows; he tries, but in vain, to carry on an existence of his own,
but he soon finds that he has no existence, no meaning, no life apart
from the whole. The foolish virgins repent too late, their light has
gone out, they have no oil of life with which to kindle their lamps
anew. In their own blind conceit they are lost. Nay, but look! Have not
some demons, spooks and malignant fiends got hold of them and, having
gained an entrance, are now without their consent messengers of Disease
and Death. Is this not so of the cells? Some little impulse causes them
to pursue a course contrary to the interests of the whole; for a time
they are centres of discord; and neuralgia, rheumatism, indigestion,
etc., are the result. But anon the cells fall away and, as entities,
die. The smaller containing entities, the Chromatin rods, little
pregnant particles of life are set free. Losing their parental
protection and cares, they go on with the impulse given them, till some
malignant breeze sweeps over them and they become the victims and
servants of hate, disease and Death. Are these not the germs of disease
that science is fighting about just now? Verily! verily! who shall deny?
These little escaped convicts, the rods, previously servants of Love,
become now the free agents of disease. They are none other than the
bacilli, associated with so many pestilences; and a further
disintegration produces spores—the ingredients of bacilli. These are not
the diseases, nor yet the cause (primary), they are merely the vehicles
of disease. Can we not see how well this applies to every organism and
organization as an entity? Poor lost bacilli, how hardly have ye been
used by your masters!
Footnote 7:
_The Library Dictionary._
* * * * *
“He who does not recognize bread and salt is worse than a wild wolf.”
_Gems from the East._
THE SOKRATIC CLUB.
By SOLON.
(_Continued._)
So much interest had been aroused by the conversation on Art and the
Drama as an Educative Factor which I have already recorded, that there
was a larger attendance than usual at the next meeting of the Club.
Everyone was glad to see Madam Purple who it was known to all had
established a school to revive the ancient wisdom and to teach the laws
of physical, moral and mental health and of spiritual development and
for the purpose of accentuating the importance of Music and Drama as
vital educative factors had already reproduced one of the old Greek
Tragedies in such a way as to arouse the attention of the public and
astonish the critics, touching a new chord and awakening new
possibilities for the influence of the stage on the lives and characters
of the people.
Dr. Roberts had evidently not yet been convinced of the importance of
this work though he had seen and even praised the production of
Æschylus’ Eumenides, for he still reiterated his old objections. The
discussion so far had been on general lines, but now it turned more
particularly on the Drama.
_Dr. Roberts._—“I cannot see how the performance of Eumenides or any
play you may take from the ancients can have any such effect that you
claim it will have. The people who attend will see no more in it than in
any other play. Of course it will have its own characteristics and no
doubt its classical beauty, but will not these peculiar features appeal
only to the very few? How will you make it a factor in the education of
the masses?”
_The Professor._—“I do not think you understand the real character of
the ancient drama, Doctor. Probably, also with the exception of the
recent production, you base your ideas of the attractiveness of Greek
Plays upon the presentations which are occasionally given at one of the
Universities. Classical these may be in a sense, I admit, but certainly
they are severe.”
_Dr. Roberts._—“How can they help but be severe. I remember when at
college that one of these plays was acted by some of the students, but
for my part I saw nothing particular in it.”
_Mme. Purple._-“Was not that possibly because those who produced the
play and enacted the parts, themselves saw nothing in it beyond the mere
incident as told in so many words?
“The most beautiful things remain invisible to those who have not eyes
to see. Look at the hundreds and thousands in every large city and,
strange to say, more particularly in country districts, who know nothing
of the beauty and sublimity of the heavens and nature around them. Many
a farmer looks at the sky simply to note the changes of the weather. The
magnificence of cloud effect, the glory of the sunrise and the quivering
of the eternal stars, he never sees. And even those who profess to be
lovers of nature, how little more than external beauty do they see? Do
they indeed see any deeper than the surface of things and but rarely
pierce the veil to behold with awe and wonderment the reality?”
_Dr. Roberts._—“But, Madam Purple,....”
_The Professor._—“Ah! Doctor, it is always, ‘but’. Isn’t it all true,
with no ‘but’?”
_Dr. Roberts._—“Yes, I grant you that what Madam Purple said about the
appreciation of nature is true, and even that the same thing applies to
the appreciation of art and music and the drama. But—I was going to
say—it seems to me your illustration is too lofty for the case under
consideration. It is true one may rise to the greatest heights of
consciousness under the influence of music and poetry and the
contemplation of high ideals and if I understand you aright, Madam
Purple, you hold these are the same high feelings that may be aroused by
the grand harmonies of nature and by what perhaps is meant by the music
of the spheres. Do I catch your meaning?”
_Madam Purple._—“Yes, Doctor, you have caught the idea in part, but
music and poetry and the harmonies of nature too often exercise only
what I might call an unconscious and transitory influence—not
deep-seated in any sense—because men will not open their eyes and lend
their ears. The great anthem of nature is ever being sung; life is joy
and harmony; but alas, there are so many who will not open their hearts
to the song and the sunshine. But I see you wish to say something more,
Doctor.”
_Dr. Roberts._—“Yes, I grant this may be true, no doubt it is true, but
to return to the old Greek tragedies, although there may be lofty ideas
in them, I fail to see that they will produce the effect you anticipate.
There is no music in them and they are altogether too cold and bare.
Besides, what meaning do they hold, deeper than that which may be seen
by the ordinary reader?”
_The Professor._—“A meaning that the mere student of languages and
literature will never find, but one that to the student of life, to one
who recognizes that there is an inner life, will ever unfold more and
more and reveal such beauties and harmonies that will thrill the very
soul.”
_Dr. Roberts._—“I do not see it, though I grant that high moral lessons
may be contained in the old Greek poetry and tragedies, but at the same
time there is so much that is mere fancy. We have passed the age of the
childhood of the race when the mythological tales of the gods and
goddesses were seriously taken. I do not deny that there may be many
valuable lessons in these, but I certainly think that you are reading
into them a great deal that is not there. Pardon my frankness, but I
really wish to understand your position.”
_The Professor._—“It is not a question of reading a meaning into them,
but of being able to draw the meaning out, and to do this requires a
master-hand. No modern scholar who is not a mystic will find it, and it
is no wonder it has been lost to the ordinary reader.”
_Madam Purple._—“Doctor, you thought my illustration of the beauties of
nature too high, but after all the beauties which we see in nature are
but the reflection of the beauties in the soul, and do not exist save to
him who has developed some beauty of soul. The old Greek tragedies, and
particularly those of Æschylus, are portrayals of the life and struggles
of the soul.”
Just then Dr. Wyld came into the room. He had been present at the
performance of the Play, and had expressed himself so pleased with it
that the Professor had asked him to visit the Club.
The Doctor came over immediately to where Madam Purple and the Professor
were sitting, and these meetings being more or less informal, the
conversation was interrupted for the exchange of greetings.
Dr. Wyld is a very tall, broad-shouldered, spare man, I should judge
about seventy years old, but carrying his age gracefully. He is one of
the best known Greek scholars, of a keen and vigorous intellect.
Dignified, yet with a keen appreciation of humor and fond of a good
story as well as able to tell one. Not only is he a profound scholar of
Greek and Neo-platonic literature, but of the world’s literature,
ancient and modern. He is at once a mystic and a keen observer of men,
and had led a very active life, especially in the literary world, as an
author, and had also written for some of the leading newspapers of the
metropolis. In this way he had met very many of the prominent public
men, both literary and political, of the past half-century. It had been
my privilege to spend many a delightful hour with him and in that way I
have gained a clearer conception of the history of the United States
than from any reading I have done, and also of the beauties of the
writings of the old philosophers, especially the Neo-platonists.
His tall figure and dignified bearing would attract attention in any
gathering, and as he entered the room with his long stride, all eyes
were turned towards him.
The Professor rose to receive him. The room was beautifully yet simply
decorated with hangings of harmonious colors, and the Doctor noticed
these immediately and addressing Madam Purple:
_Dr. Wyld._—“What a pleasure it is to come into a room where there is
such harmony of tone and color. I can well understand what the Professor
told me that your meetings here are always delightful. The very
atmosphere seems conducive to harmony of feeling and the awakening of
high thought.”
_Madam Purple._—“That is true, Doctor, I hold that color ought to be
made a very important factor in life, and that the harmonies of sound
and color are essential features of true education.”
_Dr. Wyld._—“And I think you have already struck the key-note of this in
your production of the Eumenides, and I wish to tell you of the rare
treat it was to me to witness it and the opportunity it gave me of
really judging what a Greek play is like—such as could never be gained
from reading. It had all the aroma of ancient Athens. One of my friends
remarked that it had the beauty of a Greek statue, but I would go
further, for it had also the grace and beauty of life. I do not mean
that the performance was perfect but it was the spirit that pervaded it
that gave it this great charm. And after seeing it I do not wonder in
coming here that you also carry out your ideas of harmony in the
decoration of your Club-room. It is a further carrying out of what you
teach and which I fully agree with, that what is most needed in our
educational system and in life generally is a sense of harmony and of
the due proportion of things.”
Here the Rev. Alex. Fulsom, who had come in a short time before Dr.
Wyld, and had listened more attentively than usual (without going to
sleep) to the conversation, moved his chair a little forward as if to
speak, but waited a moment. Although he always expressed himself as most
sensitive to harmonious shades of color and adored—as he expressed
it—Greek statuary, though he equally adored a pretty bonnet,
nevertheless did not in any way support Madam Purple in her revival of
the ancient Drama.
_The Professor._—“Well, Alec, what is it now? Another objection? I’m
beginning to think you belong to some objection society, whose main
purpose is to object to everything on principle and for the sake of
objecting. Come, tell us now, haven’t you pledged yourself to the
following:—‘I pledge myself to always object to everything that may be
proposed by anybody?’ But for once, Alec, put your objections on one
side and enter into the spirit of the subject.”
_Rev. Alex. Fulsom._—“No, Professor, I am not to be turned aside from my
opinion by any method of badinage or ratiocination. And what is more, I
think it my duty to express my views. As I have said before, it appears
to me altogether beneath the dignity of a Leader and Teacher in such a
cause as ours to be concerned in the production of a play—whether Greek
or not—or to spend so much time and the energies of the Club in mere
philanthropic work. The latter, doubtless, is laudable enough but the
Club has other aims to pursue, and it seems to me to have departed from
its time-honored methods of study. Indeed, the study of the philosophy
seems to be almost completely overlooked nowadays.”
_The Professor._—“Having delivered yourself of your objection, I trust
you feel a little relieved, my friend, but you have not hit the nail on
the head, Alec. Study is not overlooked, but on the contrary, our
students are learning how to study and the true value of study as the
precursor of right action. Thanks to Madam Purple, the study of
philosophy is no longer looked upon as the end and aim of life.
Theoretical study is good and necessary, but our students realize that
Brotherhood is more than a theory, that it is an actual fact to be
consciously realized and that they must seek to make Theosophy a living
power in their lives.
“You know well the scriptural saying which I will slightly paraphrase,
‘Let your light so shine before men, that they seeing your good works
will glorify the higher law and follow it.’ It behooves us to practice
Brotherhood as well as to profess it. But it is the things they don’t
like that the objectors see but they fail to see that the study which
they are crying out for is still pursued though on higher and broader
lines than heretofore, become possible by the advance made by the whole
Movement. The inner work and the real study have never ceased but have
taken on a deeper meaning. Thank the gods, instead of the members
seeking to have or to become special _gurus_ and imagining themselves
better than others, the whole organization moves along in touch with the
life of the world, all striving ever to put into practice that which
they preach. The time-honored methods of which you speak were fast
becoming time-honored ruts and you ought to thank your stars, that here
is an opportunity to get out of the ruts and enter upon a broader field
of life and activity as well as of study. And so far as the Play is
concerned you seemed to have missed entirely its purpose and the wide
influence which can thus be exerted in the world.”
_Rev. Alex. Fulsom._—“There may be some good in it no doubt, but there
are so many other things that are needed in the world. I certainly think
a teacher would have a higher work to do. There are enough
philanthropists and elevators of the drama, whereas our philosophy is
unique, and surely we ought to carry out the original plans of the
Founder.”
_The Professor._—“And you assume, I might say, _presume_, to know what
those original plans were, but your conception of them admits of no
growth, but only stagnation or the continuing in ruts which so many have
formed for themselves through their misconception and limited knowledge
of, if not deliberate indifference to those plans.”
I often wondered how it was the Professor did not lose patience
completely with the Rev. Alec., always so pessimistic, trying to tear
down. But then we all knew that his moods depended on his digestion, and
upon that subtle disease—the love of approbation and prominence.
_Madam Purple._—“Mr. Fulsom, do, I beg of you, try to rise a little
above your pessimistic fears and let a little of the sunshine of hope
and trust come into your heart. Students of Theosophy above all others
ought to be able to take a larger grasp of the problems of life and
perceive that the greatest truths which will ultimately bring the
grandest results and happiness to all mankind must necessarily be often
at first obscured; that to help the masses we must begin where they can
appreciate the work, and so move out gradually along the lines of least
resistance. Thus will all those who seek the Light be attracted and
helped, whatever their development. Our grand philosophy must be
presented in various ways if the many different minds are to be touched,
for you well know that all men are not built alike—to use a common
expression. Babes need to be fed as well as strong men. For some the
teaching must be given in parables and there are some truths that but
few can bear to hear. As for the original plan of the work, H. P. B.,
the great artist, spread the canvas and sketched the outline with a bold
hand, then the second Helper put in the colors of the background thus
making clearer the design upon the trestle board, but do you think you
have been able to see the whole of the grand design and have grasped the
harmonious proportions of the noble edifice in all their beauty and
grace.”
Then turning her head for a moment with her wonderful smile, Madam
Purple continued after a short pause.
“Imagine for one moment that when H. P. B. began her work in the world
she could have shown what is now being done, or that it could be shown
to you what will be the outcome of her efforts two hundred years hence,
would it not be entirely beyond belief, can you even imagine it? There
must be a _gradual_ growth and unfoldment suited to the comprehension of
the people. How then dare anyone say that the present activities are
contrary to the plan of H. P. B. Ah! Mr. Fulsom, is not such a position
evidence of retrogression and not of growth?
“But, pardon me, Dr. Wyld, this is somewhat of a digression from the
subject of the Greek play which you were discussing. Let us come back in
thought to the old Greek Drama. There, at least, the gods wait for us
and call to us to rise above this XIXth Century materialism into the
realm of the beautiful, the ideal and the true.”
_Dr. Wyld._—“An almost unknown land to so many, but I hail with joy the
prospects that once more the geography of that celestial country shall
form part of the education of the race and lead us further back in the
history of humanity into that greater and more ancient land of the
pyramids and the silent sphinx.”
_Madam Purple._—“And from there further back still to prehistoric
America, which was in the early days the ancient Land of Light when
Egypt was yet young and whence Egypt derived her wisdom and her
science.”
_Dr. Wyld._—“That is indeed interesting, though to me it is not
difficult to believe. It opens out a new chapter in the life of humanity
and I doubt not that if it can be shown to be so, it will solve many
problems in the history of man’s development. But will you not tell us
further on this subject.”
_Madam Purple._—“Time would not permit of going into it at any length,
Doctor, but I will say this. Time will bring the proof of what I say.
Archæological research started at the right time, which is not far
distant, in this country and in Central America will supply clear
evidence of the truth of this statement.” She paused a moment, then
continued:
“My friends, with all these grand possibilities in view, when such
momentous questions are involved that will bring such priceless
knowledge to the human race, can you wonder that the real workers find
time all too precious to be frittered away in useless argument. It is
work, work, work, that our glorious cause demands of us.”
Madam Purple spoke with so much earnestness, that it stirred one’s heart
to its very depths, old memories of the long forgotten past seemed about
to awaken, pictures of the ancient times flitted across the vision, and
of the future when the glories of the past should be revived. One young
lady of slight figure and pale face, an enthusiastic worker, always
present at the meetings, but who never ventured to say a word, now
exclaimed:
“The very thought of it brings new life, new hope. Surely we haven’t any
time to sit and mope over the little frictions that beset our paths.
Surely we should keep on working and trusting that we may be a part of
this new life and each of us become individually a hope and a light to
those who would walk this broad path of knowledge towards the glorious
future that awaits us.”
_Dr. Wyld._—“One can see even now indications that the world is
advancing to a broader field of thought. The revival of the ancient
drama and the way the ‘Eumenides’ was received show this clearly and
show that the links with the mighty past exist in the hearts of
men—albeit unconsciously to most, but ready to be awakened into
responsive action when again the picture of that long forgotten life is
presented before them. I heard with much interest that in one city where
the play was given, the notices of the performance were given out in
almost every church in the city. And one prominent minister said it was
the finest study of conscience scourging for sin and of the Divine Power
to pardon and transform, he ever saw. He said such plays are better than
sermons.”
_Madam Purple._—“It is indeed gratifying that there are so many
interested in almost every line of work that will benefit humanity and
who are naturally drawn to help along educative lines. All work to be of
real benefit must be educative.”
_Dr. Wyld._—“Let me go back to what I said just after I came into the
room, it comes upon me with greater and greater force, and I felt it too
while watching the performance that somehow it moved one right away from
this grasping, money-making world to a new-old world near to the silence
and peace of things where words are not needed.”