Índice Geral das Seções Índice da Seção Atual Índice da Obra Atual Anterior: Lesson XI Seguinte: Miscellaneous
(p.
219)
LESSON XII
FORMULAS, THEIR USE AND VALUE
AS we have already given the general outline of
both the theory and practise of metaphysical science as applied to healing in
its widest sense, we shall only in this last lesson briefly review the ground
already traversed, and try to help you to see the value of those much
controverted formulas which, while nothing in and of themselves, are
nevertheless as forms of sound words, calculated to confer inestimable benefit
on those who use them understandingly, or who are led by hearing them or seeing
them in print, to meditate carefully upon the ideas they so tersely embody. You
must all have noted many times in your experience how vividly you have been
struck and deeply impressed by some words you have heard, not, perhaps, meant
for your ears, or by some motto you have seen upon the wall of some railway
waiting room. We have known of cases where a scripture text or other motto has
prevented suicide. One case in particular we will relate as a sample instance,
and we are sure many of our readers can easily collect similar anecdotes. A
young woman quite alone in the world, without any settled religious belief or
conviction of any kind, poorly educated and inured to neglect and misery, was
driven to the utmost verge of
(p. 220)
desperation by the coldness and unkindness of those who ought to have
befriended her. She was travelling in search of work; everything looked blank
before her, and as the train stopped at a side station where she was expecting
to find some employment, but where no one met her, she sat down in a dreary
waiting room alone and hungry to await the coming of a woman who had written to
her to accept a hard situation for very little pay, and revolved it in her mind
whether she had not better end her miserable existence in the river which was
close at hand. Without trust in God or man, or in any form of spiritual
protection, her eyes seemed suddenly fascinated by a hitherto unrecognized text
upon the wall, “The Lord will provide,” the word will particularly struck
her; it shone out, a certain declaration, no faltering may, but a decisive will. As she gazed
spell-bound at the words, which all the while seemed as though they were being
burned into her consciousness by some invisible agency, the wall seemed to grow
transparent, and through the apparently diaphanous substance she saw a figure
pointing to a pleasant villa residence on the bank of the river farther up the
stream, (which was a winding one) than the ordinary eye of a spectator could
behold.
It seemed to her as though a beautiful lady was holding the text in one hand
over her head, and with the other beckoning the girl to follow. So deeply
impressed was the girl with this vision, which lasted for fully half an hour,
that when it faded and the room resumed its previous bare appearance, she went
out of the station and followed the course of the river a considerable distance
without seeing any house at all
(p.
221)
resembling the villa of her vision. When almost ready to abandon what
promised to be a fruitless search, and attribute her strange experience to
hallucination, the effect of weariness, she saw rising before her in a most
picturesque region a house identical with the one which had created so forcible
an impression on her inner consciousness. Hurrying toward it, running to the
door and eagerly ringing the bell, she found herself at once asking the neat
young woman who answered the door whether the lady of the house was in search of
some one to do plain needlework or assist in the housework. Before the girl had
time to reply, a clear, commanding, yet gentle voice, said, “Show the stranger
into the parlour; I wish to see her.” On entering the room, she stood face to
face with a beautiful lady in middle life, but looking much younger than her
years, who said, “So you have answered my call, have you? Is it not better to
come here and work for your living in is pleasant place, where you will always
be well cared for, than go out alone among persons who do not even keel their
appointments to meet strangers at the depot?” And then, looking very steadfastly
at the girl, she said, with intense but most kindly emphasis, “The Lord did provide not a grave in the river, but a home in the
valley, for His tired and sorrowing child.” At these words the girl, who had
been standing silent and motionless while the stately lady was addressing her,
impulsively burst forth into eager questioning: “But, madam, how could you know what my thoughts
were, or anything about me; you have never been to
(p.
222)
The lady replied, with a sweet and knowing smile, “No, my child, I have
never been to Binghampton, and I never saw you until to-day, but there are many
ways of getting acquainted with people, of which you, as yet, know nothing. But
you must rest to-night after you have had some refreshment. Louisa, the young
woman who answered the door, will provide you with all you require, and at nine
o’clock to-morrow morning I wish to see you and tell you many things it is
important for you to understand, with reference to the position I offer you in
my household. I know you are willing to perform its duties and will serve your
employers faithfully.” With many protestations of fervent gratitude, the weary,
but now hopeful and almost happy girl, left the presence of her mysterious
benefactor, and after a good wholesome supper retired to bed and went to sleep
in the prettiest room she had ever occupied. The apartment was simply and
inexpensively, but beautifully because artistically furnished. Everything spoke
of order and method, but not an unnecessary article could be detected anywhere.
The following morning she awoke precisely at seven o’clock hearing, her name
called, “Marie Florence Hepworth, it is time for you to rise.” Here was another
surprise. How could anyone in that locality know her name? She had always been
called Mary, occasionally her ears hid been offended by that grating
mispronunciation of the soft and lovely Italian Maria which seems to be spelt Mayryre, but Marie Florence carried
her back on the swift wings of childish recollection to a delightful little chateau in Normandy
(p.
223)
where a tender mother, who passed to the unseen state when she was less
than five years of age, said with departing breath, “God bless my little Marie
Florence and keep her forever true
to truth.” As she was dressing these
words repeated themselves again and again to her inward ears, true to truth.
What a sublime and comprehensive expression! She resolved to relate her
experience of this morning to the kind lady in whose house she was for the first
time in fifteen years beginning to feel what truth expressed through love might
mean. At breakfast, which she took with the servants almost in silence, for her
heart was too full for many words, she seemed to feel a presence looking at her
and almost touching her, and as she felt that presence beside her or bending
above her, her food seemed filled with, a subtle essence of life-giving power
food had never possessed for her before. She felt palpably stronger with each
mouthful, and her mind seemed to grow clearer with every particle she partook
of. After finishing her meal she went into the large and beautiful garden which
skirted the river, and enjoyed the songs of birds, the perfume of flowers and
the general loveliness of the almost enchanted scene until the clock on the
village church rang out nine, when she immediately returned to the house and
presented herself to the noble lady to whom she was already so deeply indebted,
and toward whom the deepest and tenderest emotions of gratitude were already
stirred in her bosom. The lady received her with a gracious smile and inviting
her to be seated said, “Now we are ready for serious conversation, and as I have
much to say to you, I have given orders that we shall be quite undisturbed for
(p.
224)
at least two hours. Come with me to my private apartment where I do all
my specially important work, we can there talk without fear of interruption.
Entering the charming boudoir, fitted up with that peculiar grace and elegance
which seems the natural habitat of truly refined people, the girl was at once
struck with a magnificent illumination between the windows, “The Lord Will
Provide.” These words stood out in flashing brilliancy, as though traced in
letters of moving fire. From the earthly standpoint only a cunning contrivance
of the decorator’s art, but when viewed spiritually, capable of opening up a
field of mystical research which ages can not fully unravel. Taking the girl
very gently by the hand and kissing her softly on the brow, the lady seated her
in a chair exactly in front of these wonderful words, and requesting her to
remain quite passive for a few moments, said, “relate whatever impression or
vision comes to you” After about five minute’s silent gazing upon the words
which riveted the attention of eyes and mind at once, she started visibly, and
exclaimed, “Why, Madam! I see a thin, white, shining cord running through the
air all along the road between here and the railway station, and it ends just
with these same words traced upon the wall of the waiting-room where I sat
yesterday and felt you calling me, for it must have been you, or I should never
have been led as I have been, to this beautiful house.” Finding that the girl
was truly receptive to mental influence of a high and practical order, the lady
gave her valuable directions and much advice of inestimable worth, warning her
of the danger of dabbling with occult forces for vain and sordid purposes, but
dwelling chiefly upon the
(p.
225)
tremendous power for good inherent in thought, which is the greatest of
all forces, and of which electricity is the first born child; she then proceeded
to explain how concentration of gaze helps concentration of thought, and how it
is possible to establish psychical connection between distant persons and places
by means of what is sometimes called occult telegraphy. The telephone,
microphone, audiphone and other marvels of nineteenth century skill are all
products of a spiritual wave of enlightenment now sweeping over the earth and
inciting inventive genius to outwardly portray in some degree the mighty silent
power of intelligence which, in its higher modes of manifestation, accomplishes
by invisible methods what physical inventions feebly externalize to the
perception of mortal sense.
As we have no space to continue this narrative which will be published in full
in a story (1) setting forth the practical workings of the mental telegraph
we must ask our readers to content themselves with pondering over this mystery
of the connection between the texts in the lady’s boudoir and the depot waiting
room. While cabalistic incantation, crystal seership and other marvels and
mysteries of ancient occultism may be disregarded by multitudes to-day as
degrading superstitions or devices of the evil disposed to lure the unsuspecting
to their doom, we ought never to forget that the vilest form of black magic is
nothing but a reversal of the purpose of beneficent mental operation. As you do
not advise the destruction of the tongue or any other member of the human body
because of its frequent
(p.
226)
perversion, so we are foolish indeed if we raise a cry of alarm either at
the approach of spiritualism or theosophy, for both those systems contain so
much of truth, and are expressions of so much hidden power in nature, that
because the unscrupulous abuse their gifts and the ignorant sometimes get into
trouble, is no reason whatever why intelligent people of every phase of opinion
should not unite to clarify the air of mental pestilence by vigorously setting
to work to comprehend and utilize the divine power of thought ever at their
command. If the unscrupulous do occasionally deceive the unwary, if
mercenariness does sometimes eclipse sense of duty in those who make gold their
idol, the great majority of those who are practically engaged in the work of
teaching and healing by mental methods are striving to obtain a clearer insight
‘than ever before into the mystic law of spirit which is fathomable by us only
as we knock on the door of the temple of knowledge by earnest longing to bless
rather than to be blessed.
A formula or set form of words should always accord fully with the convictions
of those who employ it or it cannot be faithfully made use of. In treating
general cases, and in striving to keep yourselves fortified, terse, simple,
comprehensive formulas are often useful.
NEGATIONS
God is Omnipresent Good, therefore there is no evil.
Matter has neither intelligence, sensation nor substance.
There is neither sin, sickness nor death in Real Being.
(p.
227)
God is working through me both to will and to do His good pleasure, therefore I
need fear no evil.
AFFIRMATIONS
God is Omnipresent Good.
God is infinite love, wisdom and truth.
God is Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent. God is infinite life and
substance.
God is our Father and Mother.
God fills all time, space and place
I am in God.
At the center of my being I am one with God.
As man or woman I cannot get out of God.
In the Real Being I am Well, because God is my health – and He is working
through me to will and to do His good pleasure.
These sentences, most of them compiled or selected by Mrs. Sara Harris, of
Our special word of exhortation shall be: Do not permit yourselves to be blindly
led by any human authority, however admirable. Remember that every great man and
woman the world has ever seen was in one sense an original theorist. Imitators
and copyists have never been the great ones in the ranks of science, literature
or art. And as we admire originality wherever we find it, as original genius,
rather than imitative, places the crown of unfading glory upon the brow of those
who have possessed it, while we do well to pay deferential heed to all who would
bring us words of truth or encouragement, let us acknowledge divine principle and not outward appearance, as our guide and director at all times and in all
things.
(p.
228)
With love and good will toward all, and malice toward none, realizing that the
weapons of our warfare are spiritual and not carnal, let us go forward in our
work, hand to hand, shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart, and let us ever
remember that in union, but not in uniformity, there is strength. We do not
desire all voices to sing anthems in unison, but we all desire to weave glorious
harmonies in the anthem of our work. We desire to create symphonies rather than
for all to carry the air. When we learn to symphonize; when we learn to
harmonize, and thus fill in the different parts in the song, and play the
different instruments of the orchestra; when we can be like great organs with
many stops and pedals, producing many variations in sound – now soft as the
gentlest zephyr, and now wild as the roar of the ocean on the occasion of some
great storm; when we learn to appreciate the bright red of the poppy and the
geranium, the purity of the white lily, the modest purple of time violet, and
the. lovely family characteristics of the lily of the valley and the little blue
forget-me-not; when we can learn to appreciate and imitate the grain of mustard
seed, which is the tiniest of all seeds, and know that from the smallest,
beginning the greatest result may be evolved, then, never faltering, but always
pressing on, we forget the things behind, we forget all discouraging
circumstances, and bravely press ahead to the radiant goal of perfection, which
enamours our delighted vision, and spurs us on to the overcoming of the gravest
difficulties, if we do but keep our mental gaze riveted upon it. We implore you
not to look back, but to ever look forward.
When the hosts of
(p.
229)
country, the words came from Jehovah to Moses, “Speak unto the children
of
If any one character in poetry represents true metaphysicians more than another,
it is Longfellow’s Alpine climber, who, in that charming lay, “Excelsior,”
represents the true and glorious child of God and nature, who presses on to
ultimate conquest, even over seeming total defeat. Longfellow’s “Excelsior,” is
the representative of all true, noble workers. It stands for every true worker
and his enterprise. The youth sees a high mountain before him; he determines to
climb it. The worldly wise come to him and say: “Try not the pass.” They speak
with the wisdom of age and experience, and they say: “Other people have been
dashed to pieces; try it not! It is mad folly to attempt it.” The girl who loves
him represents the affections of the lower nature. She comes with all the
allurements of earthly affection, and urges him to desist from his enterprise,
and rest with her, enjoying the sweets of life on an earthly plane. He is deaf
to the entreaties alike of the sage and of the maiden, and pressing on and on,
(p.
230)
he still holds in his hand “The banner with the strange device,
Excelsior.” He still sings that song, “Higher ever higher.”
It seems at last as if he were utterly defeated, but when the monks, engaged in
their devotions, and the dogs which are employed to ferret out travellers who
fall asleep in the snow among the Alps, find the body of the beautiful boy,
stiff and cold, ere they bury it there comes a voice from the heavens above,
with all the light and brilliance of a descending star, and the word “Excelsior”
is echoed from the heavens. Thus, from the uttermost confines of seeming defeat,
the shout of eternal victory rends the air with the old glad note of triumph.
That same old word which the boy sang in sadness and joy and in every hour of
loneliness, we too, may sing as we press to the same dizzy, but glorious, height
he so nobly won: In the final verse of Longfellow’s “Excelsior” are expressed
the reward and certain victory of all true workers, embodied in the sweetest
song. All works and all workers, who will place before them the highest and the
noblest and the best, whatever their earthly end may be, whatever the seeming
victory or defeat, must eventually triumph. Of one thing we may be sure, that
all true, valiant heroes, all noble, conscientious, never-to-be-dismayed
workers, become at length like Longfellow’s melodious star, whose shining gives
light unto others, and encourages with the glorious notes of accomplished
victory, bidding them ever to come higher, because, even though it be through
earthly defeat, genuine victory is sure, and though earthly things may fail us,
we enter
(p.
231)
through true devotion the light which ne’er grows dim.
Let us take for our motto, then, “Excelsior.” And when that word enters into the
very fiber of our thought, and becomes one with the very blood and sinew of our
enterprise; when we are no longer content with lower things, and never gaze
backward, but always forward; then for each and all, helping on the good work
everywhere, victory of the only kind that can be loved and appreciated by true
lovers of humanity is a foregone conclusion, an inevitable certainty. And thus
let us endeavour to consecrate ourselves and make our homes places where the
silent influence of uplifted thought may bless all who cross the threshold; let
us all follow our highest inward light. Be true to the noblest within you; look
to things eternal, and not to things temporal; delight in service to humanity,
and not in present and private gratifications; and love not too well the things
which perish in the using.
Hearing one day a company of fashionable people discussing a musical
entertainment given the previous evening before a large and brilliant throng
composed chiefly of the élite of a fashionable society in a great and wealthy city, we were
particularly struck with a criticism passed upon the performance of a young
artist, whose rendering of an old, well-worn ballad was such as to give the old,
familiar air a new and deeper meaning than it had ever seemed capable of
conveying before. As he proceeded with his solo, he introduced some charming
variations, which, to the quick ear of the very few present who had known what
it was to be introduced in some slight measure to the inner sphere of music, (of
which mechanical performers
(p.232)
and professional critics know nothing,) he
interpreted divinely beautiful thoughts never before associated with the song.
“I should never have known it,” was the remark made by several who were
commenting upon the performer’s skill, but how different a meaning did the same
words convey uttered by two persons who both ventured to pass an opinion on a
rarely beautiful musical effort – an effort in which inspired genius blended
with the results of careful study and diligent application to technique.
In one case the hard, cold, metallic, musical mechanician demurred at anything
she could style an interpolation or change of original score; on the other hand,
a perception, in some degree, of the spirit, rather than the letter, of harmony, enabled the other
critic, who might more justly and reasonably be called a grateful and
sympathetic disciple of genius, to respond to the electric thrill which always
vibrates through an atmosphere pervaded with a subtle -force, generated only
when combinations of sound are effected by a performer who transcends the
stereotyped limits of technical exactitude.
When the mind is enveloped in a thick shadow of externalism, higher voices than
one is accustomed to hear produce the rather disagreeable effect of thunder on a
nervous ear, and this rumbling noise causes aversion rather than promotes
delight.
To all who are seeking to work in harmony with superior thought, our counsel is,
do not estimate your success in any measure by the amount of appreciation you
win from a mixed multitude. If you succeed in reaching an unusually high goal or
summit of attainment,
(p.
233)
you will not be appreciated by the masses as well as though you stood on
a lower level, and were nearer their plane of thought; but it is only by
reaching this sublimer elevation you can scientifically demonstrate that all
disorders of the mind and body can be successfully vanquished through the
operation of a power entirely beyond the physical. When you reach nearer than
the multitude to this high station, your presence will heal all who are ready to
receive a blessing through the introduction of purer thought into their mental
sphere.
Perfect tranquillity of mind, complete absorption in one’s work through the love
of it, and total indifference to the world’s censure or applause, are absolutely
essential to every student who would succeed in giving that evidence of ability
to demonstrate spiritual science, which is indispensable to the truly successful
practitioner.
NOTE
(225:1) The Electric Age, a romance of to-day, by W. J. Colville, now in press.
Índice Geral das Seções Índice da Seção Atual Índice da Obra Atual Anterior: Lesson XI Seguinte: Miscellaneous