"Earth people have been told many times to establish love, harmony and understanding between each other. Yet, they desire to make great accomplishments, to demonstrate their powers. But I say unto you, beloved ones, that these things cannot be established, cannot be demonstrated without first establishing the love and understanding among all; for without this you have no power. This is the power. In love and understanding all things are possible; without it you accomplish nothing. It is the lack of this that has brought about the conditions that exist on planet earth today. How can you establish this among your people? It can be established only through your own efforts, through becoming masters of yourselves. Be ye perfect ... How shall we become perfect? Perfection is not an easy thing to accomplish, but we must aspire to this perfection at all times. Self-discipline is very necessary, very necessary. The desires of the physical must not be allowed to master us. Emotions must be controlled. How can we establish love and understanding among us if these things are not mastered? As you progress in your understanding, you have much in store for you. Give yourself in love and understanding. It is necessary for you, each of you, to develop a clear understanding of yourself and your fellows, for only through understanding will you be able to accomplish your mission.
"How can this understanding be accomplished among your people? It can be established only through their own efforts, through becoming master of themselves. The rules they should know well. They were given to them long ago —'Turn the other cheek, go the extra mile; give, love.' All should see only good in all that they come in contact with. They should refuse to see anything but good. But they have been taught fear. They fear the results if they turn the other cheek, or go the extra mile. There is nothing to fear, my friends, nothing to fear. Let that love emanate from you so strongly that all negativity shall melt into nothingness before you.'He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword.'I quote from your Scriptures. These things are not new to the people of the earth. Your Great Teacher gave you all the rules. They are all there; you need only apply them. Why, oh why, make it difficult?
"You would be amazed at what a few of your people, a very few, could accomplish if only they could establish between them complete love and understanding. Their accomplishments would amaze them. Each of you has within you the ability to establish this. You need only put forth the effort, to make the decision and to apply the discipline necessary. Know within yourself that you are completely dedicated to the service of your creator. This shall help you in establishing more love within you. Eliminate all self, holding only that desire to serve, for through your services administered sincerely and selflessly shall you gain new knowledge, new understanding and new growth.Come unto me all ye who are burdened, who are heavy laden, and I shall give you peace, love, and understanding.Live always in the now. Now is the only important time. The past is passed, and you can do nothing about it. This very moment is the only thing that counts. Live the truth, and the truth will set you free. The time is now. Now is the time. Realize at this moment your at-oneness with your creator. We do not bow our head when we worship. We look up and out. Realize that Christ-like quality within you; realize that you are God: that you are a part of that One, and that you are expressing Him; He is expressing through you; you are His expression.
"Once these realizations have come into your mind, once you know who you are, then, my friends, truth shall unveil itself to you, and all shall become clear.
"Great wisdom must be used — recognize wisdom when you hear it and see it. Do not become steeped in your beliefs, as many of them will need to be changed in order to understand and apply the Law. Much has been given to you in the past; we brothers who are working with your planet, Dorothy, for your people, have brought you much truth, but it has been brought to you in such a manner that you must put forth some effort to understand and apply it, and that is as it should be. We could give you many of these things in so many words and say to you,'This is the way it is—you must believe this,' but this is not our way, for you must choose; it is your choice that you shall prove yourself. I shall repeat something that has been said many times: We cannot make this choice for you, thisyoumust do. Think well upon what I have just said.
"There is great work to be done among your people, Dorothy; you can be of great service, but the requirements are very stiff. In is not easy in the environment in which you have received your training, many things must be overcome — the ego must not become inflated. You must be the least among them in order to be the greatest, for I, of myself, can do nothing. It is the Father within me that doeth the works. I, of myself, am nothing, but I and the Father are all things — there is no limit to what I and the Father can do.
"The I AM; that word has been much misinterpreted in your Holy Scriptures. Your great Avatar often spoke of the I AM, but how has it been interpreted by your people? They have taken it to mean the man himself, but the I AM that he spoke of was not the man, it was the I AM that you all possess. The Father within — the higher part of you that is the Creator. He spoke not of himself as the man. You see, much of the true meaning of His teachings have been lost by misinterpretations. I say unto you again, love one another, for you are all one in this great creation. Try to understand the true meaning of love, for it reaches far, much farther than you can possibly realize in your present level of understanding. Learn together, help one another; receive from one another in love and understanding, for by so doing your growth shall be much more rapid; for all on earth have so much to give to each other. The veil needs only to be lifted ever so slightly for each to see that this is so.
"A great deal has been written in your Scriptures; there is a great deal to be interpreted. There are many keys for interpreting the writings; many of these have not been available to your people. In searching the Scriptures, your people have found many things that seemed to be contradictory. This has been pointed out by many of your people, but this is only due to lack of understanding, the lack of being able to interpret. To go into the interpretation of many of these things would take great lengths of time. This, at this moment of your growth, is not of importance. Before understanding of all these writings shall be made completely clear, there must be brought about among all a higher consciousness of love, of understanding, between you. When these things have been established, these vibrations — your understanding shall become much clearer. Those things shall all become clearer, understandable to all.
"Your Master Teacher stated that the greatest of all the commandments was to love. If this one great commandment, Dorothy, were to be universally adopted, your planet would truly become a Heavenly body, radiating a beauty and harmony that has never been known on earth before. Social want and poverty and sickness would vanish from your planet forever.
"A Brotherhood of Man would come into being, where each would take his rightful place, where everyone would do his part for the benefit of the whole. No man is entitled to more than he earns and, in Universal Law, no man receives more than he earns. When man has understanding and love in his heart, he is willing to earn his advancement; he is willing to work for his understanding, for nothing, my friends, comes without effort.
"It is time that earthman realized his true existence. It is time that he stops living for himself and starts living for the whole. There is no other way, my friends, for any other way must go against the Laws of your Creator. Therefore man, to exist for long, must learn to love. You see, the great difficulty for earthman is that he does not understand, he thinks of love as emotion, but true love, my friends, is understanding. Therefore we must learn to understand ourselves, then we begin to understand our brothers, and when we understand Man as Man is, then we begin to love. We know man is what he is because he is man, and we realize that man is only expressing to gain experience so that he might know Truth, and when we have this understanding, we lose hate, greed, jealousy, resentment and all these things that go to make up the conditions that are found upon planet earth today. Beloved friends, we realize that this has been repeated. But what else is there to say? Because, before man can have anything of value spiritually, he must have understanding, and the first step in understanding is to know one's self. As you meditate upon this sincerely, you shall find many answers coming to you, many realizations, or revelations, as they are sometimes called by earth people.
"Now, why is man on earth? The only reason man finds himself in this physical world is that long ago, eons of time back, he chose to experience in the unknown. Much caution was given, great efforts were made by those of higher understanding and love as to the results of these experiences, but still this path was chosen. And so from higher and more pleasant planes of existence, many millions descended for an unknown experience, and that is why we find in existence today, worlds and worlds of life as you now see it. These things did not come about in moments or hours of time. Neither will man return to his original state of existence in a short time as you know it. Yet time is eternal. Time does not pass, you are merely moving through time. And so, as the descension took place, so must the ascension, and man is climbing back on the ladder of evolvement rung by rung. If this picture could be seen and understood by each, it would make quite an amazing story. Some have climbed the ladder of progress more rapidly than others, yet each in his own body is progressing step by step.
"The decisions that we make as we gradually climb back towards our goal are a determining factor in the speed of our progress. Nevertheless, each individual is climbing ever onward and upward, sometimes falling back for a time and then again proceeding. As we find ourselves attempting to make progress upon the wheel of incarnation, we must learn to face all situations honestly, fairly, and squarely. Take each decision deep within our consciousness, and there we shall find a true answer if we are sincere and honest in our seeking.
"You see, beloved friends, when the Creator breathed us forth, He endowed us with this God-like ability to take all things into the core of our being, of ourat- oneness, of our allness with His creation and, when this point has been reached, all things come into balance and we see clearly. And as we see clearly, our decisions are made and things begin to happen that bring us into harmony with Creation and that, dear friends, is most important. For all Creation must function in harmony if we are to have well-being, peace of mind, and harmony within ourselves.
"Man has allowed himself to become out of tune with Creation — or Nature — and when man is out of tune with Creation, he is out of balance and he does not function as he should. The precarious situation the people of planet earth find themselves in at this time exists only because they have allowed to come into their hearts greed, hate, jealousy, self-pity, ego, and so on. Man has had these things so implanted in his consciousness that they have become a part of him, so to speak. It is difficult for some of us who live in an environment of love and understanding to see how men of planet earth can be so oblivious of the things that are bringing about his downfall. Over the centuries man has had the opportunity to learn of these Laws. Master after Master has come to your planet, bringing a message of Truth and Love, telling earth man of the Universal Laws and asking him to go with their Laws. Buddha, Krishna, Jesus, Muhammad, and many others have brought this message to earth people. Great multitudes of earth people profess to follow the teachings of one or another of these Masters.
"In your hemisphere, those who call themselves Christians are more familiar to you. They profess to follow the teaching of the Great Master you call Jesus of Nazareth. Yet how few, even to a small degree, attempt to follow the teachings? How many do you know, would go the extra mile, would turn the other cheek, would do many of the things necessary in order to be a true follower of the teachings of this Great Master?
"Many of your so-called Christian churches have removed part of the teachings from the writings that have been handed down to your people. They have decided who shall be given the teachings and what part of these teachings shall be given to their people. This, my friends, follows down to the individual, who decides for himself the certain portions of these teachings he will follow; other portions which do not suit his purpose, he will ignore. This does not work. This does not blend with Universal Law, for if man is to reap the benefits of Universal Law, he must go all the way, not a quarter or a half. I cannot love the neighbor on my right and hate the neighbor on my left, for I am not fulfilling the Law if I do this. I cannot extend to one man the hand of fellowship, of love, because he is conforming to my truth or my understanding, then refuse another, because he doesn't. These are the conditions that exist among the masses on planet earth; this constitutes the race consciousness that exists. Each of you who are able to rise above this consciousness, to go all the way, to master Universal Law — these, my friends, will be the ones that will bring this race consciousness to a point where man of earth will move into a completely new consciousness. There are today upon your planet, many people who are on the verge of accomplishing this. They need only to put forth effort and determination to do so.
"I do not imply that they are in the majority, but rather in the minority. But a minority group can do a great deal in furthering the evolvement of earthman. Once this has started; and it has been started, it shall gain momentum, for the light emanated by these enlightened ones shall bring unto them many more, for all man is seeking to some degree, and any light that shines bright enough is bound to attract unto it others. So I say unto all of you, love one another. See in each a perfection that ye know exists. Ah, how beautiful is the true you. Of all of us. Let us see this beauty. Let us see ourselves and our brothers and sisters for what they are.
"Beloved children, let the Peace of the Great One sink into your hearts. Be ever grateful to this Great One for the blessings that you have, for through this gratitude shall come great peace and great knowing, for if we are grateful for the small things in life, the greater things are inevitable. Ah yes — so shall it ever be and ever has been for all ye who are faithful in the smaller things shall also find the greater things. Let this great Peace and Love of the Infinite One fill your hearts so full that there is no room for resentment, jealousy, hatred, or anything that is negative, for where dwells this love and peace these things cannot exist. Build for yourselves, build for yourselves, not in the material for the now, but for the future, build for the future, this spiritual knowledge and enlightenment, increase your Light, that it may shine forth and lighten that dark world called earth. Great is the need in this hour. You can be of no greater service to your fellow man than to build your own Light and use it to lighten the lives of those about you. It is not necessary to preach your truth in the temple or to shout it from the rooftop — nay — not so, for he who lives the Law attracts unto him that, and those who are seeking to know. Cast not your pearls before swine, no — but let your light so shine as to fill the lives of those with whom you come in contact. These will be the temples that shall bring the truth to earth man; not the temples built by those who would bring to man that which they would have him know. Man of earth has had the truth withheld from him long enough. Now he shall have the opportunity to know the truth, and woe unto those who have falsely taught in His Name. Great temples of stone are not necessary in the eyes of the Great One. His Truth is revealed in the hearts of men.
"Many have been the Great Masters who have trod the earth. Each has brought great teachings of truth, but the darkness has hidden these truths. Therefore, let he who has eyes to see — and he who has ears, let him hear and know the truth. It shall not be found in the great temples, but in the heart of man.
"Know ye not that ye are the Temple of Creation? I give a message to those of earth: Open your hearts and receive this Great Light which is being given to you at this time. Yea, I say unto you. Man needs but to open his heart and receive the glory of the One Great Being. He need only be touched by this Light to awaken in him great revelation; to bring about a degree of understanding that will put him in a path of great magnitude, great learning, great wisdom and understanding. Beloved children of the Light, open your hearts that this River of Light might flow to you and raise you to heights far, far beyond that you can now conceive of. Your love should so radiate that those about you feel you love and light whenever they are near you. This creates more desire in those with whom you come in contact, more desire to know this Truth than anything you do. That is what is meant by the statement in your Holy works which states,'Do not hide your Light under a bushel, but let your Light shine forth that others might see it.'This Light radiates from you when you are able to demonstrate it in your own life, because your life is a happy and glorious one and it radiates all about you for all to see.
"Now; let me tell you a little more about ourselves and about our mission. I shall refer to our solar system as Arturas, since our sun is known to your astronomers by that name. Our craft is located outside your solar vortice. We came by request, by request of members of the Confederation within your system. We came to help your system and especially your planet at a time of crisis. We are not alone. There are many, many craft at this time surrounding your planet. These have come from planets from your system and from many many systems. We have all come to serve, to serve your system and your planet. Each has a mission to perform; each was chosen for his mission because of his particular capabilities. Our main craft, which we call the mother craft, is one hundred twenty miles in length and thirty-six miles in diameter; it carries upward of twenty-five million and approximately fifty thousand smaller craft. It is difficult for you to conceive of a craft of this size, but we do not do things on a small scale. We serve only to our fullest capacity.
"Your people, Dorothy, through all generations of time, have had the right to choose; they have not chosen wisely, so in your time you face a great crisis. We, as have many others, have come to help you. We are awakening your people in great numbers; not to any great knowledge, but to the fact that they must make a choice, that there are two paths that they can follow. To those who make the choice to serve their humanity in every way and to follow the path of service, of love, of light and understanding we pledge our help. To all who make the choice, we shall move in with protection, with love, light and truth. We shall guide them into opportunities for service. They shall find themselves going about a new way, not knowing why they do this. We pledge our protection; no harm shall come to those that make the choice in full faith and understanding. All of this we shall do and more. The powers of my people are such that any one of them could stand upon the face of your planet and perform any of the 'miracles' described in your religious history. We do not mean to brag of our achievements, for we are servants, servants to a Cause, and we are grateful and humble for the opportunity to serve you.
"There are many, many brothers and sisters working for your planet and your people at this time; some of those are able to come among you and are among you. They are seen daily in your skies; many of them are living among you and are serving quietly. If they were to be known, their work would be greatly hampered, so they work quietly among you, as one of you, and thereby accomplish these missions. Those brothers who are working among you were brought by craft which landed upon your planet and became absorbed into your humanity. Others voluntarily came through the normal route, and live among you as one of you, many not even aware of their true identity. But at the proper time they shall be awakened, and will go about their Father's work.
"Do you realize that these brothers and the Masters who are working on behalf of earth today have made great sacrifices; they have given up great peace and comfort. They have left their homes and their friends and are passing through what is to them great discomfort and sacrifice, but they complain not. Neither do they think of their sacrifices as sacrifices, but they are spurred on by the great love they have for mankind, for their desire to see man of earth raised up out of the stench in which he lives. Little does earthman realize the sacrifices that are being made. How many earth people would be willing to leave their comfortable homes and work in your slums, to go there and live in the filth that exists? Once you have known life on the higher planes and return to conditions that exist on planet earth, you are doing just that. These individuals come entirely by their own choice as volunteers. They are not asked to come; they are not told to come. It is their choice through their great love for mankind.
"Much more help is awaiting earth people if only they will gain understanding. When earthman has attained understanding, even to a small degree, peace will reign on planet earth, for with only a slight amount of understanding, man will see the utter futility of war, of hate and greed. So, my dear friends, take advantage of every opportunity to raise your consciousness. Encourage your friends to do likewise for, as you raise your consciousness, you have improved the mass consciousness to a degree, and this is the one thing that will eventually turn the tide. The time is now. Time has run out for your planet, Dorothy. The prophecies are being fulfilled, therefore your people have no choice. The only choice man has is whether he will go with his planet into the New Age, or leave his planet for one that is of a like vibration, where he must begin the evolutionary cycle all over again. For in the New Age, planet earth will have a new and higher vibration, and in order to live upon it, spiritual understanding will be necessary.
"Nothing comes to you or anyone without effort. The seeking of Truth, Dorothy, requires effort,stick-to-itiveness, to use your terms, for in your persistence, in your search, is the thing that will bring you results. Many of your people start the search for Truth, but they find that it takes effort, patience, and above all great sincerity. Many of them fall by the wayside when they discover that Truth must be earned. They desire it provided they do not have to work for it. Many times, great sacrifices are necessary to gain the truth and the experiences that will bring a higher understanding. This is as it should be, for things gained without effort, without sacrifice, are not held dear, are not appreciated and are soon lost. It is the things we gain through hard, sincere efforts and suffering that really benefit us, that bring sound growth that is permanent.
"Works without faith are valueless. We could give you many demonstrations that would convince you of the many things of which we speak, but this would be only temporary. For only the things that you gain through your own efforts, your own searching, your own suffering, can establish the faith in you that is necessary to reach the heights to which you aspire.
"To he, or she, that sees and witnesses, it is no problem to believe. But he who sees not, and believes through faith, faith in his creator and in his fellow men, to him shall come great awakenings, great experiences. Prove these truths to yourself by demonstrating, by putting them to work for you. You are not asked to accept a truth without first trying it. To see it demonstrated by another does not qualify you. You, yourself, each as an individual, must take these results and let them manifest in your own life, building your glorious Light for all to see. We are still putting forth every possible effort to influence your leaders in their decisions, but we can only influence or attempt to influence. We cannot interfere physically; we cannot interfere with the free will of man, only to the point that is necessary to save your planet. Man must evolve upon his own as much as possible. To interfere with the evolvement of another only brings Karma upon the one who is interfering. But according to Universal Law, we shall interfere at the point of total destruction; that is our right.
"Now, what is this they called Man who was given dominion over all things by his Creator? How do you define this thing called man? In your existence of your plane of existence, we see man in a physical chemical body, so to speak. He functions through this chemical body, controlling it and its actions through what you call a brain. But on yet another plane of existence, after the death of this physical body, man continues to exist. Here he functions in what, to use your terms, you call an astral shell. In this astral body, he moves, he thinks, he carries on life much as he did when on the physical plane, yet he does not function with a chemical body, nor does he control or manipulate his astral shell through a brain as before. He finds that thought is much more effective upon this plane. He finds that he brings into being that which he desires by merely creating a thought, and promptly this thought comes into being for him. He builds his own surroundings with very little effort on his part and these surroundings and action depend entirely upon his ability to think. But he is limited in many ways, for he has been lost for so long in a physical existence, through desires that were created within him many years back in time. He finds this desire which he has, continually pushing him, so to speak, to express in the physical or the chemical, and offtimes not realizing exactly where he is, he does not take advantage of the situation that he finds himself in, but rather tries to pull himself back into the physical, chemical plane of existence before his time. Offtimes this becomes quite confusing to the individual — and for those with whom he may make contact, who are still in the physical realm. You see, he is neither functioning on the physical chemical plane of existence, nor on the astral plane, but in a twilight world of his own creation. He has, in effect, become earthbound. Now, to those who have somewhat of a higher understanding; they are able to live a happy fruitful existence in what your occultists refer to as the astral planes of existence. These higher planes are very beautiful.
"As we move farther out, we find other planes of existence, other levels of life. As we pause here, we find beings of greater understanding; we find beings with greater knowledge of the universe and its functions. We find that these individuals also function in a world of thought but they have a higher knowledge of this power. They also have greater knowledge of many other powers. They have an understanding of matter to a greater degree. We find that these beings are able through their power of thought to control and manipulate this matter. They are able to change it to different forms, to bring into being that which they desire and to mold it into whatever suits their purpose at the time. They are able to transport themselves from place to place without the aid of a vehicle if they so desire. Yet if they desire a vehicle in which to travel — this can also be created by thought and the manipulation of matter. Also we find that many of them can bring themselves into your plane of existence and create for themselves a chemical body to be used temporarily as they move among you and then again to be returned to the nothingness from whence they came.
"How do we define this man? Shall we go higher? Shall we move from this realm where man lives, in a world of thought, yet he lives a life somewhat as yours in that he lives with his fellow man ... they work together, they have their homes and their families, but yet so different.
"As we move on, we find ourselves surrounded by beings of such great intelligence, of such great Light that our understanding of them is naught. We see nothing but Light. These beings have such great knowledge and control of matter, of intelligence, of consciousness, that it is beyond our understanding. They have such great knowledge of the universe; they know of its creation. They understand consciousness. They are able to divide and subdivide their consciousness, sending it out into many spheres and many planes and there expressing it, helping to raise the consciousness of these beings on other planes that they too might someday move into their plane of consciousness. These beings, I can only state, are pure consciousness.
"You ask,'is this the ultimate in man?' I must answer,'I do not believe so, for I understand that man reaches even beyond this.'So, beloved friends, how should you define man? I have no definition for man, for man, shall we say, is inconceivable. At my level of understanding, I believe I would have to state it so. But man on earth has all these potentialities and man of earth sooner or later shall return to the high states of consciousness from whence he came. We are gradually climbing step by step. As time is never ending, so is our climb to the ultimate. A man grows and moves ever outward and upward on the spiral of evolution; he will become more and more aware of his consciousness; his consciousness will widen, and will grow ever wider. It will take in more and more of this universal knowledge and wisdom, and consequently man's understanding of how to use this consciousness will become greater and greater. Man will be able to extend his consciousness over vast areas of space and encounter experiences that would otherwise be impossible. The important thing at this time, beloved friends, is to use that which you have to the greatest possible extent. Use your wisdom and knowledge today, and use it in a reverent and holy way, with ever a high motive in mind. By so doing, your consciousness shall widen, shall extend out and take in more of this universal knowledge and wisdom.
"Once man has truly taken this step in sincerity, placed it above all else, above all other things, then he will begin to move rapidly on his course. This will not be done without effort and sacrifice. Many comforts will have to be sacrificed to gain this knowledge. The great Masters did not accomplish this without making these sacrifices, and they continue to sacrifice.
"The great Master who walked your earth two thousand years ago walks still today, unseen, but serving that struggling humanity he loves so dearly. Other great Masters walk with him. Tears fill their eyes as they observe the horrors of men, the needless suffering, the domination of mankind, and all the evil that does prevail.
"The evildoers are ignorant of the vast repercussions of their actions. They think that if they escape man-made laws they are in the clear. But they are totally unaware that each action taken of an adverse nature toward their fellow man; whether of physical violence, or destruction of freedom, or acquisition of material property through force or beguilement, must be accounted for. Any action that be hurtful in any way shape or form is a violation of Universal Law and must be accounted for, eventually.
"Each hurtful act towards another accomplishes naught but to form a chain of bondage around the one taking such action. But alas, little can be done for these people at this time, for they have for so long been victims of their own material thoughts that they are no longer in command. They are ruled entirely by their own mortal self. That mortal- devil self has been allowed to feed for so long on negative destructive thoughts, that it has become the total entity. The higher spiritual self — not having been given any expression — lies dormant deep within.
"But the forces of darkness must perish; they must be banished from your earth for all time. And out of this must come a new age of love, harmony, and understanding; an age where each shall live to benefit his brother, and not himself — here in all problems, the answers sought shall not be'What is best for me?' but'What is best for all concerned?'
"During the transition, many changes will take place upon the surface of your planet, as have taken place before in other transitions, for, you see, systems, planets, and individuals are ever evolving, onward and upward. Man does not digress; he is ever progressing. And so, we move on, ever looking outward and upward, to a new and higher understanding. Those above, ever reaching down to lend a helping hand to his brother who is coming after. For as we serve those who are struggling just behind us, we also receive help from those who are just ahead of us; it is a never-ending chain."
"We must leave you now, my friends," said Oxal. "But before we do, I am going to place upon the heads of each of you my special blessing." He stood and raised his hands. Everyone listened with closed eyes as he began to speak:
"O, Radiant One, send forth Thy Light, and surround each of us, Thy children,
that we may have enlightenment and wisdom. We relax and give ourselves
completely to the Father. We relax and give ourselves wholly and completely to
Him. We know that all is well as we relax in His arms. We give our whole selves to
the father, we want only to do His will. We relax and give ourselves wholly and completely to Him. "I am his perfect child. He guides me and directs me. He
continually surrounds me with His pure white Light; I visualize this radiant
substance of purest white, until I actually feel the consciousness of the Father.
His presence, His power, His Light and Love flowing throughme.I relax in His
presence. He is the ever-loving Father and Creator.
He loves and protects me. He is the one and only Power and Intelligence...
I am this perfect expression... He expresses through me... I am a doer of His will...
The Father and I are one... There is but a single power and intelligence...
This great power and intelligence is now a part of me... It is guiding me and
protecting me at all times... I give myself completely to this great Power and
Intelligence ... I am a part of it ... I live in and have my being in this, the Father.
Amen."
Chapter Nineteen:
Americanpresidentland
Everyone slowly opened his eyes. Oxal, Odin, and Arcturas were gone. Dorothy shook her head in awe. "What a wonderful experience!" she said. "And what an enlightening experience! If people on the earth could have seen and heard all of this, their eyes would really be opened."
"Do you think they would accept what was said, and change their ways?" asked the Scarecrow.
The Lion and Tin Woodman shook their heads.
"But why not?" said Dorothy. "How could they help but see that their lives have great meaning — that they don't just live and die and that's the end of it?"
"Remember," said the Lion, "they did not believe Jesus Christ when He tried to tell them some of these things and, even today, many of His followers do not really follow His teachings."
"Yes, you're right," said Dorothy. "I know a cranky old lady who goes to church every Sunday, and she smiles and nods to everyone there, but we all know how mean spirited she is. She scowls at children who walk by her, as if she resents their very presence. She even tried to take my little dog away from me.
"There is a Jewish family in the village," continued Dorothy. "Their little girl and I are friends. Sometimes I go to her home to play. Her mother and father and big brother are so kind and loving. They are always giving me food to take home. They do not have an awful lot themselves, but they share what they have."
"Sometimes people forget," said the Lion, "that Jesus was of the Jewish faith. He had no intention of starting a new religion. He was only trying to uplift the thoughts and aspirations of his people. His followers called themselves Christians because they wanted to follow his teachings more than the traditional Jewish teachings. His teachings were misinterpreted by later followers and sometimes deliberately distorted or had parts removed by them in order to suit the Church's thinking at the time. It is sad that some Christians today make judgments on the other faiths. Some even go so far as to believe that non-Christian religions, are doomed unless they convert to Christianity. God loves all people. He is not concerned with their individual beliefs and religions. He wants only for His children to grow spiritually and to love one another; to express kindness and gentleness and to live in peace and understanding. That is all He wants. Each may think as he wishes religiously, as long as those thoughts are of the highest order and as long as there is a desire to know more of the nature of God and His universe. Too many are smugly satisfied with their religious beliefs and will investigate no further, believing sincerely that they have been told all that God wishes for them to know, and so will refuse to listen to any other point of view, or to study the many writings that exist, some of which are very spiritual in nature. These people deprive themselves of a great deal of knowledge, thereby inhibiting their spiritual advancement. Of course, others are spiritually advanced who do not even belong to any organized religion or philosophy."
"It's all so very interesting," said Dorothy. "I had never thought of any of this before — or at least very little."
"Most children don't think too much about it, but they do wonder about things sometimes. When you get back to Kansas, Dorothy, you really must find a way to bring this knowledge to the children," said the Tin Woodman. "Although some adults will understand it, many others are too set in their ways to change their thinking or attempt to understand it. It is up to you children to change the world, and you can do it. If you will all learn to think and act in a more spiritual manner, by the time you grow up and fill all the positions of government and industry, you will be living in a beautiful world, one of harmony and honesty and trust. Oh, there will still be problems, but nowhere near the degree there is now. And the adults, from their various levels of consciousness, will be amazed at what you have accomplished. And to think it will all be because each individual decided within himself to raise his thinking to a higher level and to serve his brother as himself."
"I just wish it could be that simple," said Dorothy. "But even if all children everywhere could be told all this; there are so many that would not listen. They would just scoff at the idea of being nice. Some children just seem to delight in being mean."
"Perhaps that is because they have not evolved very much over their lifetimes," said the Scarecrow. "And they have no desire to evolve now."
"This is true," said the Lion. "But this change is not expected to happen overnight. Every child that does accept this philosophy will teach their own children too, and if the philosophy is taught from a young age, there is so much more chance of it being accepted. Especially if it is also taught in the schools. The world could not help but improve."
"What about countries," said the Scarecrow, "whose governments don't believe in a supreme intelligence, life after death, or rebirth? What about them? Their governments like to have full control over the people. They control the factories, the newspapers, everything! They would never allow their children to be taught this."
"Never say never," said the Tin Woodman. "I believe this old hard line thinking will break down — ever so slowly, mind you. But mass thinking does not change quickly. As younger people with more inquisitive minds grow up and replace the old die-hards, things will change."
"Mortal is the word, all right," said the Scarecrow. "It is the mortal mind which causes people to be enemies. The spiritual mind would never allow this."
"Just think what could be achieved," said the Lion, "if all that money that the various governments spend on armies and sophisticated weapons could be spent on humanitarian projects ... like helping to feed all the children in the world who go to bed hungry each night."
"You would think that would be a lot more important to them than arming themselves to the teeth," said the Scarecrow. "But I guess that they're all so afraid of each other they feel they have to build their huge armies to protect themselves. I hope one day they'll all come to their senses and see how ridiculous the whole thing is."
"I'm sure it's only a matter of time," said Dorothy. "My fellow mortals can't remain in the dark ages for ever."
"Not to change the subject," said the Tin Woodman, "but where do we go from here?"
"We haven't heard much of the Wicked Witch lately," said the Scarecrow.
"Maybe she's gone into hiding," said Dorothy.
"Not her," replied the Tin Woodman. "She's not scared of anyone."
"She could be getting scared," said Dorothy, "now that we're getting closer to where she lives."
"Why should she be scared of us?" asked the Cowardly Lion. "She has all that magic. We don't have any."
"We may not have all that exotic magic," said Dorothy. "But we have more power."
"More power?" questioned everyone at once.
"Yes," said Dorothy emphatically. "Haven't you been absorbing all that we have been told? Love is the greatest power in the world — in the entire universe."
"Well, the proof will be in the pudding," said the Lion.
"What did you say would be in the pudding?" asked the Scarecrow.
"What I'm trying to say," answered Lion, patiently, "is that when we meet face to face the real test will begin."
"Oh," said the Scarecrow. "I understand."
"We must all have faith," said Dorothy, "and know that, without a doubt, we have overcome hate."
Everyone was so busy talking that none had paid too much attention to the surroundings. "Look!" said the Lion. "Look at the beautiful homes!"
They were very surprised to see several lovely houses scattered about. The landscaping was comprised of little wooden knolls surrounded by the greenest of green grass. Little winding paths of yellow brick connected all of the houses together. The homes themselves were all of different architecture and design: from a southern mansion to a very modern split-level. One house was a very pretty Tudor style home, with flowers of every variety around it. Another, a beautiful Spanish style home, had the most beautiful garden that Dorothy had ever seen; with small lakes and waterfalls and exotic plants and trees of every variety. As they got closer, they could make out the figures of three men on the porch sitting in very comfortable-looking rocking chairs. They seemed to be just enjoying the warm lazy sounds of the garden — the droning of a bee collecting pollen, birds chirping, and the soft rippling sound of water from nearby fountains.
In front of the men, on a little round table, was a pitcher of what looked to Dorothy, like ice-cold lemonade.
As if reading her thoughts, one of the men said, "Come and join us for lemonade, my dear. You look thirsty — all of you, please come and sit down."
The man brought out some more rocking chairs and said, "Welcome to Presidentland."
Dorothy looked up quickly. He had looked very familiar to her when she first saw him. Then it dawned on her. Presidentland! Of course! The man was none other than President Andrew Jackson! Dorothy gasped. She had seen President Jackson's face in an American History book. "But sir," she said. "I-I thought you were...."
"Dead?" interceded the man. Then he chuckled. "No, not at all, my dear young lady. Oh yes, my physical body died a long time ago. But no one can ever really die. That would be impossible. Each of us is part of creation; we are all part of the scheme of things. Nothing can destroy us, nothing. We can destroy the quality of our existence by our wrong thinking and behavior. In other words, that beautiful true nature of our being can be covered up until it is invisible — both to others and to ourselves. This true nature cannot be destroyed, only temporarily buried in the murk of mortality until either someone rescues us, or we rescue ourselves. Usually it is a combination of both. Now, my young friend, let me introduce you to my associates."
Dorothy turned to see the faces of none other than George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Her eyes grew wide, and her heart skipped a beat as she whispered, "I am very honored to meet you, sirs,"
"Not at all," they replied. "The honor is ours," said Mr., Lincoln. "It is a delight to meet such a fine young lady and her equally fine friends." They shook hands with everyone.
"Please be seated," President Jackson said. He poured Dorothy a large sparkling glass of lemonade and began to explain why the three of them — all ex-presidents of the United States, were together.
"We call this area Presidentland. It is not really a land and we don't all live here permanently. But we do meet here often. That is why we have homes here. We live with our families in our regular homes throughout the land. The full name of our little club here is'Americanpresidentland,' and it is a private club made up of United States Presidents. Of course, anyone can visit us, just as you are visiting us now. We are only private in the sense that we are generally alone in order to conduct the business that we must conduct among ourselves.
"The reason we meet so often is because of our dear love for our country and for mankind in general, we are anxious to help resolve the many problems that exist on the earth today, and especially those related directly to our beloved country. We work with many members of the government, as well as the current President. We will be holding a full meeting very shortly. You are all welcome to join us and to observe the proceedings."
"Oh, we'd love to, Mr. President," said Dorothy. "Wouldn't we, everyone?"
"Yes indeed!" said the Tin Woodman. Everyone nodded excitedly.
"This will really be a historic occasion, to say the least," said Dorothy.
"While we are waiting for the meeting to begin, if any of you have a question you would like us to answer, please do so," said President Jackson.
"I would like to ask what you think of the world today compared to your time," said Dorothy.
"That is a very good question," answered President Jackson. "We could all talk for days on that subject. Would you like to answer first, George?" he said to President Washington.
President Washington looked rather stern as he spoke: "The world has certainly changed since my day. But that is to be expected. Things cannot stay the same if progress is to be made.
"Unfortunately, nearly all of the progress being made is of a material nature. There is nothing wrong with material progress, of course. And science has certainly made some amazing advances since my time. The unfortunate part is that spiritual growth has not advanced at the same pace. As a consequence, the world is presently in a very unbalanced state. We are all quite alarmed by it. Something must be done soon to get people to change their ways — to be more considerate of one another, to show more concern — to have more love in their hearts.
"Our great United States of America must lead the way. We must be a Light unto the world. Yet presently we are much alarmed over the state of our nation. Before She can become that Beacon of Light, there are many things She must put in order. We have the best system of government in the world, but the government must be purified — the people must be purified, and this can only be done by taking the little children and teaching them strong moral principles, the importance of honesty and integrity — of love and compassion — of fairness and justice — of the value of human freedom, of God, and the nature of the universe. To instill in them a great love for all nature, for all mankind.
The adults must become examples to the children. When someone who is in a position of public trust — such as a member of the government — turns dishonest, and the public reads about it, they shrug their shoulders and say,'Another dishonest politician.' The children hear and see all of this. Then they grow up with a very negative outlook towards politics. Many don't even vote, rationalizing that it doesn't matter who gets into power, for they will sell what principles they have for money.
"Politicians who do turn dishonest and lie to the American people have no idea of the damage they do to our beloved country. Needless to say, most of the people in government posts are dedicated, honest people, seeking only to serve. But it is the dishonest ones who undo whatever good the majority are able to achieve.
"Of course, a few are in politics for the power. Not to mention the lucrative lifetime pensions at the end of their service. They do not necessarily take money dishonestly, but they weaken the entire structure just the same, because their motives are selfish ones.
"People from all walks of life; doctors, lawyers, government workers, factory workers, people who work in stores — all of these people are the strength of our society — of our way of life. But if dishonest; even in the slightest; they drain this strength off and weaken our nation.
"Many people justify stealing from their employer — from the government — from the insurance company, by thinking,'Other people do it, why shouldn't I?' Or'If I don't do it, others will,'or'They can afford it. They won't even miss it.' But these people are just as deadly to our society as the hardened criminal who cashes bad checks or pulls a gun. For they are not really stealing from their company or from the government or from the insurance company, oh no. They are stealing from their brother and sister — from their fellow human beings. Because business must figure in these losses as part of the cost of doing business, the price of their products or services must increase accordingly to all the people who avail themselves of these goods or services.
"Thefts from government, for example, must eventually mean higher taxes. So you see, any form of stealing, whether by a hardened criminal with a gun, or by a clever employee falsifying records, serves only to weaken the entire economy. Government funding of research for projects that are of interest only to a few is also a form of stealing, unless, of course, the results of that research will ultimately benefit the many. Gross inefficiency, through lack of concern — all these things are forms of stealing. The greedy and the selfish who indulge in these activities serve themselves at the expense of their fellows. What they fail to see is that their gains are temporary — they will eventually pay the price. One cannot take from another, or hurt another in any way, without eventually taking from oneself — for all are one."
"Well now, George," said President Lincoln, "I realize that this is all very interesting and a very important topic. But we must be watching the time." He turned to Dorothy, smiling. "You must excuse George. He really gets carried away at times. He would talk all day if we let him."
President Washington placed his hands on his hips, pretending to be indignant. "Listen to who's talking," he said. He whispered loudly into Dorothy"s ear so everyone else could hear: "He only wants me to stop talking so he can talk."
"Now, now boys," interceded President Jackson. "No bickering in front of our guests. Presidents are supposed to be dignified."
President Lincoln turned to Dorothy. "I'm afraid all presidents like to hear the sound of their own voices. It's a built-in trait of all politicians and actors."
"Well, I think that's part of the charm of both politicians and actors," said Dorothy. "Most seem to have very vibrant speaking voices."
"If you have any more questions," said President Jackson, "we can talk as we walk to the meeting."
"Well," said Dorothy. "I was wondering which political party is the best for our country, Republican or Democrat?"
President Jackson chuckled. "Well now, the answer to that would depend on which president you talk to. But perhaps you'd like to hear what President Lincoln has to say on that subject. I'm sure he's most anxious to answer this one."
"Thank you, Andrew," responded President Lincoln. "You're quite right, I would like to answer this question. Neither the Republican nor the Democratic party would be good all the time, Dorothy. If one or the other is in power too long, the country tends to go too far in one direction. Balance is the key word. By alternating the power every few years a balance is maintained. That is why in so many other countries the masses are unhappy. They have had one system of government for too long. That is why dictatorships are bad, or where the government is so powerful, so strong, that the people cannot vote for a change.
"You see, there are certain individuals who see themselves as a sort of God above all the people. They think they know far better what is good for the people than the people do. So they treat the people like children. And anyone who opposes them is treated like a naughty child and punished. In other words, the 'children' are not allowed to disagree with them. That is why in many countries there is no free speech. That is, people have to be very careful what they say, or someone will tell on them and they will be punished. Even the newspapers and radio are all controlled by the government. It is hard for us to imagine — but it is true. The factories, and the railroads, the electrical power — all are under government control. Even the housing. Needless to say, people are not very well off. That is to say, most of the people. The ones in power always make sure they feather their own nests. Yet these governments are generally founded on the principle that all are equal, and will share in the national wealth. It sounds a little bit like Oz, doesn't it? But unfortunately, the results are not at all like Oz. You see, Oz doesn't have any greedy people, or people who become overwhelmed by their own power, except for the wicked witches, of course. Also, if someone in Oz decides that he'd like a bigger house, or more land, he has only to ask. But in the countries we are referring to, the government sets rules and regulations in all things. A person is not even free to travel where he wishes. And the people in power are quickly filled with a sense of their own importance. It is very dangerous for any nation to allow a small group of their citizens absolute control over them. People cannot handle having absolute power over others. When one person can do anything he wants to another person without fear that he himself will be punished, it is very difficult to keep a balance. This enormous feeling of power seems to bring out the worst of human behavior. Some of the worst atrocities mankind has ever suffered occurred under these exact conditions.
"When people in power know that there will be no repercussions for what they do, it is very few indeed who can remain dignified and just. It is under these kinds of conditions that people are thrown in jail without trial — executed, have their property confiscated, or their families abused; et cetera.
"No group can be a law unto themselves. That is why our founding fathers wrote the Constitution as they did. They knew the dangers of tyranny, for they had experienced it first-hand. So they built in safeguards. Free enterprise must flourish. Individual initiative and hard work, honesty and integrity, must be recognized and rewarded. These are the strengths of our nation. Individual effort is the key to a nation's greatness. No laws must ever be passed — tax or otherwise — that would inhibit individual ambition and initiative. And to paraphrase one of our peers:Ask not what others can do for you, but rather, what you can do for others.
"And I might add, although God created all men equal; the right to enjoy that equality must be earned. One cannot be expected to shirk one's duties to self, to family, to country and still hold one's head high as an equal member of society."
As President Lincoln continued to talk, they arrived at what appeared to be a southern mansion with the traditional white pillars. As she drew closer, it became apparent to Dorothy that the building was an exact replica of the White House.
Dorothy noticed that other men were arriving too. It was as if an American History book had come to life. Their mode of dress ranged from the 1700s to the present. Many of the faces were quite familiar to her; others she recognized but could not quite place. Then it dawned on her; each of these men was, at one time, the President of the United States. Several smiled and nodded as they walked by. Some stopped to say hello to Presidents Washington, Lincoln, and Jackson; others gathered in little groups to chat, while others went directly inside.
"Shall we go in?" said President Washington.
The interior of the mansion was most luxurious. The furnishings were mostly antique. Beautiful paintings and tapestries hung on the walls. As they walked, their feet sunk into deep soft carpeting. Here and there were little bowls of colorful flowers. The whole atmosphere was warm and friendly — it gave Dorothy a most happy feeling inside.
They walked into a large room which had a long, beautifully ornate oak table in the center. Around the table were matching oak chairs with one at the far end slightly larger than the rest.
"As you can see," explained President Jackson, "one chair for each United States President — past and present."
Dorothy appeared somewhat puzzled, and was about to speak, when President Jackson continued: "As you know, most of the American presidents have left their earthly bodies and now live here. However, at any given point in time there are usually one or more ex-presidents still in their physical bodies as well as, of course, the existing or current President. A chair is required for each of these people because, although they are still on the earth, they are able, while in restitude, to depart temporarily from their physical abode — their bodies; and join us for our meetings.
"Incidentally, time is not the same here as on earth. For example, we could have a meeting here which lasts for several hours. But only minutes would have elapsed on earth. Peculiar, isn't it? You will understand why this is so at a later date.
"Now, the earth presidents will more than likely not consciously remember their visit here. In fact, it is very difficult for anyone to recall such visits upon awakening. But these visits are so very important. A great deal is impressed on the subconscious level of the mind during these excursions and much is accomplished."
President Jackson sat down and motioned Dorothy and her friends to do the same. "I think the proceedings are about to begin," he whispered.
Dorothy looked around the table. What a distinguished sight to behold, she thought. Every single president of the United States of America. And to think she, little Dorothy from Kansas, was here with them as a guest. She had noticed earlier that each chair had a beautifully designed silver nameplate attached with a president's name engraved. Two dates also appeared. One said "Birth date," the other "Transition date." She noticed that the transition dates on the chairs belonging to the current President and ex-presidents still on earth had not yet been engraved. She wondered if those dates were known in advance by those present who had already made the transition.
The presidents were seated in sequence, beginning with George Washington, and ending with the current President. The only chair not in sequence was President Andrew Jackson's, whose chair was the larger one at the end of the table.
President Jackson now stood. He spoke with a strong, vibrant voice. "Let us recite the Pledge." Everyone stood and, holding the right hand over the heart, began...."I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
"Please be seated," said President Jackson.
On the wall behind President Jackson was a large sculpture of a beautiful eagle. It appeared to be made of solid gold. In each corner of the room was a large American flag.
Dorothy thought: "What if Aunt Em could see all this?"
President Jackson began to speak again. He spoke of the early days of the republic and the spirit of independence. As he spoke, Dorothy could hear ever so softly the strain of the beautiful music of the National Anthem. An unseen angelic choir began to sing the words, followed byAmerica the BeautifulandGod Bless America. Tears came into Dorothy's eyes and flowed unashamedly down her cheeks as a great love for her country welled up inside her. The entire scene was just too much for her to bear. As she dabbed her eyes she could hear President Jackson saying, "...and now, gentlemen, before we begin our meeting, allow me to introduce our very distinguished guests. This is Dorothy Gale from Kansas. And with her are her friends from Oz: Nick Chopper, the Scarecrow, and the Lion. They are all on a very important mission. They are trying to bring Light and Love to people who need it the most. Their present assignment is a lost soul who is filled with bitterness and hatred. Let us wish them well in their noble endeavor."
Everyone stood and clapped his hands vigorously. Dorothy was filled with emotion. To have all the presidents of the United States stand and applaud her and her friends was just too much for her. She shook her head slowly, as if to say, "What we are doing is nothing compared to what you gentlemen are doing."
As if reading her thoughts, President Jackson raised his hand to quiet the applause. "You know, Dorothy," he said, "you may feel that what you and your friends are attempting to do doesn't warrant much admiration. But believe me, you have the admiration of all the enlightened souls of the universe. For what you are attempting is no easy task. To reverse the attitude of one filled with such hatred and venom is not only extremely difficult, but very dangerous. It takes a great deal of courage to do this work. So many keep to themselves and make no attempt to help those of little understanding. That is why we express our admiration for you. We love you all very much. It is you and others like you who are the hope of America, and of the rest of the world.
"To be good is not always popular, and you can be savagely persecuted for your goodness. This brings a great deal of pressure upon the young people. The ones who can maintain their goodness in spite of the social pressure to be drawn to the lower levels of expression are to be commended indeed; and all of us who are working to raise the level of consciousness of mankind will be working with these courageous children, for they are the true heroes. They are the ones that should be looked up to. They are the ones whose behavior should be emulated. And those adults who do anything to influence the minds of children in negative ways; whether it be by the spoken word, written page, or the camera — woe unto them. If they could only see what lies in store for them, they would change their ways very quickly. Unfortunately, most will have to learn the hard way. And believe me, it will be hard for them and for others who insist on staying on those low levels of consciousness. Evolution for these people could come to a screeching halt; and they may have to begin the difficult climb all over again. You see, the earth is coming into a New Age. A Golden Age. And those who are refusing to evolve spiritually will not be allowed to share in this Golden Age, for they have not earned the right. But sad to say, few will recognize the need to change their ways.
"As for the people who introduce our precious young people into alcohol or drugs, or who make such dross readily available to children: Nothing can save them except an immediate stop to this activity, and the devotion of their lives to helping those who have had their lives torn apart by this despicable material. The same can be said about those who promote hate for others, simply because they are of a different race, creed, or religion.
"Man-made laws may be escaped from, but the universal law cannot be. That in itself is a universal law.
"Imagine if you will, a criminal on the earth having all of his criminal activities automatically recorded into your court records — no matter whether he was caught or not. Well, that is how it is with universal law. No one escapes his misdeeds. All must be accounted for. But I am afraid, Dorothy, that if the people on earth were told this; they would, for the most part, merely scoff — they just would not believe it. And so they go on in ignorance, thinking that they are getting away with something. They are like children growing up who will not listen to their parents — they have to learn the hard way."
Dorothy nodded her head thoughtfully.
"Well," continued President Jackson, "we must press on with our agenda." He motioned towards President Washington. "Would you like to take over, George? I've talked long enough."
"Thank you, Andrew. I'll be glad to. But I don't think anyone could talk long enough on the subject of child abuse — and mankind's general ignorance of universal law.
"As you know, gentlemen, we have offtimes discussed the ills that plague society. And especially the activities which hurt the United States. The question I now pose to you is: How can we solicit help from the people themselves?"
"Well," someone said, "we do bring certain ones over here while their physical body is resting."
"Yes," agreed President Washington. "And we are able to achieve much. But often commitments made here are not carried out, simply because they are not consciously remembered. Mortal influences often inhibit the best of intentions. No — what we need is help from the children."
"How can we achieve that?" asked President Jackson. President Washington thought for a moment. "The children's book our Girrephalump friend mentioned would tell of Dorothy's experiences in Oz and about all of us and what we are trying to accomplish. Such a book would not only be enjoyed by the children, it would serve to uplift them and inspire them to work together to improve the world they were born into."
"But we all know how hard it is to change public sentiment — to change people's way of thinking. And if such a book were to be written, people would not believe it. They would simply see the whole thing as a fantasy."
"Perhaps most adults would not believe," replied President Washington. "But the children will. Children know when something is true. Adults have suffered too much from learning. They don't believe in anything unless they can see it, hear it, touch it, taste it, or smell it. Our only hope is the children. If we can just get the word to them, they will listen and they will understand.
"Collectively, the children have tremendous power. If we can win most of them over, they could boycott the negative images presented by adults through so many mediums. They could stand up en masse against the creatures who would push those destructive nightmarish drugs on them.
"The children can wield a great power over the adults who wish to draw them into negativity. They have been pushed around and manipulated for too long simply because they are small and easily influenced.
"They must stand up and be counted, and say to these adults, 'You cannot make me read or hear your despicable words, or see your despicable images, or take your despicable drugs or alcohol or tobacco. We refuse to be manipulated any more. Your greed for money allows you to do things to hurt us. That greed has overwhelmed any feelings of compassion and love you might have had. You don't care if you hurt us, as long as you make your filthy money. Even you adults who own legitimate businesses who make certain'medicines'and other products which you know can hurt people. You are equally guilty. We will not buy your products, and as we grow up we will not give you money for all these things and we will teach our children to do the same. We children can change the world. We children will change the world. When there is no more money to be made from all these things, you adults will cease the activities forever. Then the world will be a beautiful place to live in. And we will be proud because we will have done it. We children will have turned the world around by ourselves. And all the other inhabitants of the universe will be proud of us and they will visit us and help us.'"
President Washington stood and threw out his arms. "That is what these children will say, my friends. They will show unscrupulous adults that they no longer have any power over them."
Everyone stood and clapped loudly. "Hear, hear!" they shouted as they applauded.
President Jackson turned to Dorothy. "Will you do it, Dorothy? Will you tell your story?"
"I will indeed," said Dorothy. "I certainly will."
Everyone clapped again. "Good girl," said President Jackson. "We have accomplished a great deal already, and our meeting has barely begun. Would you like to continue, George?"
"Thank you, Andrew," nodded President Washington. He stood and began to speak again. "Gentlemen, as you know, I fought for seven long years with my brave men to weather the tyranny of the English monarchy. When the war was over, I surrendered my authority as Commander of the American Forces to Congress, and I retired to my home at Mount Vernon. I had scarcely returned to private life when the clash of civil strife broke our newfound peace. Rumors of rebellion, talk of monarchy, and schemes for military dictatorship alarmed me. I then urged the formation of a strong government, not by the scepter or the sword, but by discussion, propositions, and ratification. To this end I accepted membership in the Constitutional Convention of 1787. I presided over its deliberations and acted as conciliator behind the scenes. My friends pressed me to lend the weight of my name to the Federal experiment agreed upon. So I accepted the presidency, and for eight years devoted my energies to the new civil administration. I took great care to install as members of my cabinet men loyal to the new order. Under my administration the federal judicial system was created. We arranged to pay our revolutionary debts, a protective tariff was enacted, the first United States bank was established, and encouragement was given to commerce. We were on our way."
President Adams spoke up: "There was much turmoil in those days. I was, as you know, vice-president during George's two terms. Thomas, here, returned from France to serve as Secretary of State. He later assumed the position of vice-president with me, and four years later replaced me as chief executive. We did not always see eye to eye then, but we did later become good friends. And curiously, we both died on the same day, July fourth, 1826."