The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-19

- - measure awakened them out of ig- norance and darkness to a better state of consciousness thus, as 1t were, thinning and consequently brightening the clouds of material sense which obscured their view of God as divine Spirit and of the spiritual creation.
 Thus Noah, at one crisis, saved @ remnant of the people from utter destruction. Later Abraham, through his sense of fidelity and obedience, turned from idolatry, or the worship of matter, to the worship of the one invisible God and became the father of a nation through which spiritual development could advance on the basis of monotheism.
 Then followed Jacob, who wrestled with material sense and overcame 1t, and in consquence was given the new name of Israel; then Joseph, who was able to bless his enemies; then Moses, who was able to sepa- rate good from evil and give his people the moral law for the first time in human history; later, prophets, who perceived and an- nounced successive steps out of dark materialism of their times into Q clearer state of thought where spir- itual light unfolded,-the clouds having become thinner.
 In due course there resulted Q mentality of such exceptional purity and spirituality that actual com munion with God was possible. Of so high an order as to be manifested in the spiritual conception and in the birth of the immaculate Jesus. Here was a complete rift in the mental clouds, through which God and His appearing to humanity were seen clearly, eliminating in the birth of Jesus the Christ, which means the coming of the Christ Idea to the world in what is coin- monly known as the Christian Era.
 JESUS AND CHRISTIANITY
 Christ Jesus came, then, as an unfoldment to the human conscious. ness, through Q rift in these mental clouds, which clearly revealed the divine light. It was thus that he was "sent" by God, just as the sun- light is sent when 1t comes directly from the sun into room as the shades are lifted. It is evident that the infinite God has always been present, but 1t required much clari- fication of consciousness to bring this fact to human apprehension.
 Christ Jesus was therefore Gods expression, His reflection, His mani- festation. Indeed, he was His repre- sentative on earth, telling mortals ot the truth of being and endcavorlng to awaken them, through teaching and healing, to the recognition Of the false nature of this material, evil existence and to the understanding of the true nature of spiritual, die vine existence, the supremacy oi spiritual power and the perfection of Gods man. This spiritual, right consciousness enabled Jesus to demonstrate this truth of being Tor all time, and thereby to overcome the Adam and Eve belief, which IS what Easter Day deally commem- crates.
 Jesus three years ministry began the establishment of his religion. His disciples and followers continued his work so that for three hundred years Christianity grew in spite oi the most intense opposition.
 To be accounted a Christian m those early days meant to have that faith in God which Jesus taught; 1t meant to recognize and acknowl- edge Christ Jesus rightly, to demon- strate spiritual power, and to over come interfering material condl- tions. In a word, 1t meant actually to live a Christly life. Gradually however, Christianity became more popular, and the Christions grew to be a potential political power and agency. The Emperor Constantine observing this, caused Christianity to be adopted as a state religion thus winning the greatly extended influence and political support which he dedred.
 This occurred about three cen turies after Jesus crucifixion. Dur ing those years spiritual healing was practiced quite generally by the Christians. After that period, the healing activities lessened until they practically disappeared. To be ac- counted a Christian from that time on, was simply matter of ceremon- ial baptism, and the acknowledge ment of a creed; the ability to de- monstrate spiritual power was nc longer considered essential. Tht Christian religion had become g thing of form. The spirit of Chris tIanity was seemingly lost.
 Although the clouds of material sense had rolled back sufficiently tc let the divine sunlight of Jesus coming appear. yet the worlds hatred of Christianity, it's hatred oi spirituality, again obscured this light once more hiding 1t by the mental clouds of dogma and ritualism.
 SEED OF TRUTH IMMORTAL
 The seed of spiritual truth, how ever, which was sown by Jesus and by his disciples and followers dur ing those early years, possessed im- mortal life, and like yeast 1t leav- ened human consciousness. Aftei several centuries this truth agair appeared. in flashes as 1t were through a few mentalities spirttua enough to sec it's light and feel iti power in spite of ttN aggressive materiallstic doctrines which wers aimed at the suppression Of iu