The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-06-04

the love can flourish ever more abun-
dainty, and ever more confidently open
its heart to rational rays of the spirit
ual sum-" And he concludes with the
words: "What, then, think ye of Christ?
Must he not be master of wisdom be-
yond our highest ideals of wisdom?
Does he condemn his worshipers be-
cause their ways are diverse2 Does
ne condemn those who worship his
brethren, who also have taught the
way? AS to the rest, what need of
any too great precision? Who knows
with the intellect enough to decide on
all these high subjects for his fellows?
Let each follow the light as he sees it
there is enough for all; so that at
last we may see all things turned to
light-sweet joyous light"
The headquarters of the society is in
India, and its motto is: "aThere is no
religion higher than Truth"
One of the first things student of
comparative religion comes across is
the fact, unsuspected perhaps, but true
nevertheless, that religions are man.
made. 1 heard we'll known theologian
say short time ago: SIN our studies
we find, of course, measure of truth
in every religion, even in those usually
denOminated false. No system is
totally false. The divinity in man
speaks more or less distinctively
through them ALL" 1t is just that
"basis of truth" underlying all religions
that comparative religionists, such as
the members of this society, claim is
the only truth upon which a broad re-
llgion suited to the humanity of the
whole world can be builded. They
claim that not in exclusive possession,
but in universal acceptance is found
the great bulwark of truth. They do
not believe that any religion is an evo-
luton from fetishism to any form of
belief whatever. No religion has ever
been the outgrowth of human igno-
rance. The most degraded form of re-
ligiOn to be found on the earth shows
traces of once high teaching, and
God has spoken His truths to men all
over the world at different times and
by different teachers. Men have de-
graded them, but never have the SUI
blime truths been entirely yelled. All
peoples hint of great teacher, a divine
man who taught their forefathers. Com
parative mythoIogists and comparative
religionists agree up to this point, the
former claiming that religions have
sprung from the same trunk-common
ignorance; the latter claiming that re-
ligions have the same trunk, divine
wisdom.
As to the word agnosticism, the So
ciety of Ancient Wisdom may be con-
tent to bathe in the stream of univers-
al religiOn-the life-stream of religion
without noticing the cry of the
Pharisee.
The Bible is full of references to
"angels, archangels, and ministers to
do His will" which the members of
this society still hold to be true, be-
fieving that their works for man still
60 on.
To be pure, noble and happy should
be the desire of the nations Of the
earth. The true thinker interprets the
Golden Text to signify love for all
peoples; this love will necessarily ex-
pand into worldwide love, for all
men have common origin, con:-
mon need, common nature and a
common destiny.
No man becoming member of the
Society of Ancient Wisdom need cease
to be a Christian, a Buddhist, or
Hindu. "He will but acquire deeper
insight into his own faith, firmer
hold on its spiritual truths, a broader
understanding of its teachings" says
sage in an Introduction to the ancient
wisdom. And continuing: GAS this
society of old gave birth to religions,
so in modern times does it justify and
defend them. It justifies at the bar of
intellectual criticism the deepest long
ings and emotions of the, human heart;
it veriies our hopes of man; it gives us
back ennobled our faith in Cod"
The eternal verities must be those
things which appeal and have appealed
to humanity In all ages-no merely in
the paltry nineteen centuries of our era
but through all time and to ell mems
hearts. I'D.