The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1894-04-18

to the place of the Exchanging. Pass on,
Child OF Earth; but, before thou goest, look
up that thou mayest learn how far thou art
removed from earth"
l looked up. Beyond the glory that
shone about the city was black night, and
high on its bosom twinkled one tiny star.
''Behold the world that thou hast left"
said the voice. "behold and tremble."
Then my lips and eyes were touched and
sealed with silence and with darkness, so
that was dumb and blind And the gates
rolled back, the doors swung wide, and !
was swept into the city that is in the place
Of Death. Swiftly was swept know not
whittier, till at length l stood upon my feet.
Again the same voice pealed:
'sDraw tho vail OF blacliness from his
eyes, unseal the silence on his lips, that
Harmachis, Child of Earth, may see, hear
and understand, and make alteration at the
shrine of Her, that Was, and Is, and Shall
Be-
And my bps and eyes were touched once
more, so that my sight and speech came
back.
Behold stood within 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 about its
spaces, and all adown it's length stood
winged spirits fashioned in living fame, and
such was the brightness of their forms that
could not look thereon. In its center was
an altar, small and square, and stood be-
fore the empty altar. Then again the voice
cried:
so Thou that hast been, art and shalt be;
Thou who, having many names, art Jet
without name Measurer of Time; Guar
dian of the Worlds, and the Races that
dwell thereon; Universal Mother born Of
Nothingness; Creatrix uncreatcd; 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
Decrecs-hear! 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 Sound! De-
scend IN Spirit Hear and Descendm
The voice ceased and there was silence.
Presently, moved thereto by l know not
what, raised my eyes from between my
hands wherewith | had covered them, and
saw hanging over the altar a 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 u loud voice
adored but what they said l 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 a 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 a bow the
flame-clad Spirits leaped from the ground
and sped away
so, Harmachis," said the voice, "be 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 l am all things, all life is
my spirit, all Nature is my ralment. am
the laughter of the child, l am the maiden S
love, am the mothers kiss, l am the Child
and Servant of the Invisible that is God,
that is Law, that is Fate-though myself l
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 ornament thou seest my
countenance; when the spring blooms out
in flowers, that is my smile, Harmachls.
For | am natures self, and all her shapes
arc shapes of Me. l breathe in all that
breathes. wax and wane in the changefu
moon. | grow and gather in tho tides.
rise with the Suns. | fash with the light
ming and thunder in the storms. Nothing
is too great for the measure of my majesty
nothing is so small that l can not find &
home therein. am in thee and thou art il
me, o Harmachis; that which babe thee
be babe Me also be.
bowed my head--I could not speak, fol
was fear-smitten.
Faithfully hast thou served me, o my
servant" went on tho low, sweet voice
''greatly hast thou longcd to be brough
face to face with Me here in Amenti; ant
greatly hast thou dared to accomplish tina
desire. For it is no small thing to cast OF
the Tabernacle of tho flesh, and before tn,
appointed time, if only for an hour, put OF
the raiment of the spirit. And greatly,
my servant, have l, too, desired to look OF
thee here where / am. For the Gods low
those who love them, but with wider an
B deeper love, and under One who is as ia
from Me as am from thee, mortal, am
God of Gods. Therefore have caused tho
+, to be brought hither, Harmachis an
therefore speak to thee, my servant, an
bid thee commune with Me now face
face, as thou didst commune that nigh
; upon the Temple towers of Abouths. Fo
y Twas there with thee, Harmachis, as wa
= in ten thousand other worlds. 1t was l, [
Harmachis, who laid the lotus in thy hanc
: giving thee the sign which thou dldst seel
i For thou art Of the kingly blood Of ihos
l who served Me from age to age And
y thou dost not fail thou shalt sit upon tha
kingly throne and restore my ancient VOL
ship in its purity, and sweep my temple
from their defilcments. But if thou dos
s fail, then shall Isis become but a memor
d in Egypt"
+ The voice paused, and, gathering up m
u strength, at length l spoke aloud,
L "Tell me, o Holy" | said, "shall the
n failln
u ASK Ne not" answered the voice, 'tha
L which it is not lawful that should answe
l. thee. Perchance l can read that whic
" shall befall thee, perchance it doth not pleas
y me SO to read. What can it profit the d
u vine, that hath all time wherein to await til
}; issues, to be eager to look upon the blossol
n that is not blown, but which, lying seed
. the bosom Of the earth, shall bloom in II
), seasoni Know, Harmachis, that do n,
Q shape the Future; the Future is to thee an
e not To Ne for Ii Ia horn of LAW and of IL