Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-02-27


and understand. and make alteration at the
shrine Of Her, that las, and Is, and Shall
Be-"
And my lips and eyes were touched once
more, 80 that my sight and speech came
back.
Behold stood within a hall of blacklist
marble, so lofty that scarce even in the rosy
light could my vision reach the great
groins of the roof. Music walled shout its
spaces, and all adown its length stood
winged spirits fashioned in living flame, and
such was the brightness of their forms that
I could not look thereon. In its center was
an altar, small and square, and I stood be-
fore the empty altar. Then again the voice
cried:s
30 Thou that hast been, art, and shalt be;
Thou who, having many names, art yet
without name; Measurer of Time; Guar
dian Of the Worlds, and the Races that
dwell thereon; Universal Mother born Of
Nothin gness; Creatrix uncreated; Living
Splendor without form, Living Form with
out Substance; Servant of the Invisible;
Child of Law; Holder of the Scales and
Sword of Fate; Vessel of Life, from whom
all Life is, to whom it again is gathered /?
Recorder of Things Done; Executor of
Decrees-heari Harmachis, the Egyptian,
who by Thy will hath been summoned
from the earth. waits before Thine Altar,
with ears unstopped, with eyes unsealed,
and with an open heart. Hear and de-
scend! Descend. o Many-shaped! De-
scend in Flame! Descend IN Soundi De-
scend in Spirit! Hear and Descendi''
The voice ceased and there was silence.
Presently, moved thereto by I know net
what, raised my eyes from between my
hands wherewith had covered them, and
I saw hanging over the altar small dark
cloud, in and out of which fiery serpent
climbed.
Then all the Spirits clad in fame fell upon
the marble floor, and with a loud voice
adored; but what they said could not I'M
derstand. Behold! the dark cloud came
down and rested on the Altar, the Serpent
Of fire stretched itself toward me; and
with its forky tongue touched me on the
forehead and was gone. From within the
cloud voice, sweet and low and clear,
spoke in heavenly accents:
''Depart, We Ministers, leave me with my
servant whom have summoned"
Then like arrows rushing from q bow the
fame-clad Spirits leaped from the ground
and sped away.
so, Harmachis," said the voice, ssbe not
afraid. am She whom thou dost know as
Isis of the Egyptians; but what else am
strive not thou to learnt is beyond thy
strength. For 1 am all things, all life is
my spirit, all Nature is my raiment. am
the laughter of the child, I am the maiden's
love, am the mothers kiss, I am the Child
and Servant of the Invisible that is God,
that is Law, that is Fate-though myself 1
be not God and Fate and Law. When winds
blow and oceans roar upon the face of Earth
thou nearest my voice; when thou gazest
on the starry armament thou seest my
countenance; when the spring blooms out
in flowers, that is my smile, Harmachls.
For am natures self, and all her shapes
are shapes of Me. I breathe in all that
breathss. wax and wane in the changeful
moon. 1 grow and gather in the tides I
rise with the Suns. I flash with the light
ming and thunder in the storms. Nothing
is too great for the measure of my majesty,
nothing is so small that I can not find a
home therein
bowed my head could not speak, for
was fear-smitten.
BEAUTIFULLY hast thou served me, o my
servant" went on the low, sweet voice;
greatly hast thou longed to be brought
face to face with Me here in Amenti; and
greatly hast thou dared to accomplish that
desire. For it is no small thing to cast of
the tabernacle of the flesh, and, before the
appointed time, if only for an hour, put on
the raiment of the spirit. And greatly, o
my servant, have I, too, desired to look on
thee here where I am. For the Gods love
those who love them, but with a wider and
deeper love, and under One who is as far
from Me as am from thee, mortal, I am a
God of Gods. Therefore have caused thee
to be brought hither, Harmachis; and
therefore I speak to thee, my servant, and
bid thee commune with Me now face to
face, as thou didst commune that night
upon the Temple towers of Abouthis. For
l was there with thee, Harmachis, as was
in ten thousand other worlds. It was I, o
Harmachis, who laid the lotus in thy hand,
giving thee the sign which thou dldst seek.
For thou art of the kingly blood of those
who served Me from age to age. And if
thou dost not fail thou shalt sit upon that
kingly throne and restore my ancient wor-
ship in its purity, and sweep my temples
from their deflements. But if thou dost
fail, then shall Isis become but a memory
in Egypt"
The voice paused, and, gathering up my
strength, at length spoke aloud.
s'Ten me, o Holy" I said, ''shall then
faila"
''Ask Me not" answered the voice, "that
which it is not lawful that should answer
thee. Perchance I can read that which
shall befall thee, perchance it doth not please
me so to read. What can it profit the Di-
vine, that hath all time wherein to await the
issues, to be eager to look upon the blossom
that is not blown, but which, lying seed in
the bosom Of the earth, shall bloom in its
season? Know, Harmachis, that do not
shape ne uCureS Inc fuCOre Is TO thee and
not to Me, for 1t is born Of Law and of the
rule ordained Of the Invisible. Yet art thou
free to act therein, and thou shalt win or
thou shalt fail according to thy strength
and the measure of thy hearts purity
Thine be the burden, o Harmachis, as thine
in the event shall be the glory or the shame
Little do reck of the issue, who am but
the Minister of what Is written. Now hear
me. Always will be with thee, my servant,
for my love once given can never be taken
away, though by sin it may seem lost to
thee. Remember then this: If thou dost
triumph, great shall be guerdon; if thou
dost fail, heavy indeed shall be thy punish
ment, both in the flesh and in the land that
thou callest Amenti. Yet this for thy COM
fort; shame and agony shall not be eter-
nal. For, however deep the fall from
righteousness, if but repentance holds the
heart, there is a path-a stony and cruel
path-whereby the height may be climbed
again. Let it not be thy lot to follow it,
Harmachisl And now, because thou hast
loved me, my servant, and, wandering
through the maze of fable, wherein men
lose themselves upon the earth, mistaking
the substance for the spirit, and the altar
for the God, hast yet grasped clew of
Truth the Many-faced-and because love
thee and look on to the day that, perchance.
shall come when thou shalt dwell blessed