Scene 1

Scene 1A hall with a ground tone of indigo blue. The antechamber to the rooms in which a Mystic League carries on its work. In the centre a large door with curtain. On each side of the door two pictures which represent, beginning from the right of the stage, the Prophet Elijah, John the Baptist, Raphael, the poet Novalis. There are present, in a livelyconversationtwelve Persons, who in one way or another take an interest in the activities of the League. Beside them: Felix Balde and Doctor Strader.Fox:A most unusual summons ’tis indeed,That draws us here together at this time.It comes from men, who ever hold that they,From all Earth’s other children separate,Are honoured with a special spirit-aim.Their spirit-eyes shall now, however, seeThat in the world’s plan they must be bound closeWith men whose spirit is unconsecrate;Who face life’s fight in their own strength alone.I ne’er felt drawn towards such spirit-waysAs find their chief resource in secrecy,And only care to hold fast to sound thought,And to the commonsense of human minds.This Spirit-League by which we now are calledMeans not through this same call that we should beInitiated in its higher aims.It will thro’ mystic dim word-portraitureKeep us but in the Temple’s outer courts;And use our powers but as the people’s voice—A cunning plan to strengthen its own will.So shall we merely be the helpers blindOf men who from the spirit heights above,Look down to lead us on with beckoning hand.They do not hold that we are ready yetEven to take one step that might lead onToward their holy Temple’s treasure-house,Or to the spirit-light in which they dwell.When I observe the true state of this leagueIt seems I see but pride and self-deceitClothed in a prophet’s robe and humble dress.And so ’twere surely best to shun each thingThat here is offered us in wisdom’s garb;That we at any rate may not appearTo strive without due proof against the workWhich is so highly prized by many men;So would I counsel you at first to hearWhat aim this wisdom-teacher hath in viewAnd then to follow simple commonsense.Who takes such sense as guide within himselfWill not be led astray by tempting luresWhich from the Mystic Temple issue forth.Michael Nobleman:I do not know, I cannot even guessWith what strange spirit-gift these men are doweredWho now desire to find a bridge to us.But still I know well several honest menWithin the ranks of this same Spirit-League.Strictly they guard the secret of the fountWhence this their knowledge is supposed to come;But that the fountain whence they drink is good,Their life and deeds make manifest to all.And all that from their circle issues forthBears on its face the mark of truest love.So may we well believe the aim is goodWhich leads them in this special way to men,To whom the mystic path is strange and new,But in whose souls the instinct for the truthAnd honest goals of spirit-life find place.Bernard Straight:Caution would seem to me our duty now.I think the mystics find the time draws nighWhich brings an ending to their sovereign power.Reason will scarcely ask in future timesWhat dreams of truth these holy temples had.If this league tells of goals of such a kindAs have seemed wise to mankind’s general thoughtThen it were good to join our lot to theirs.Yet he had better shun the mystic’s robeWho only seeks to pass the portal by,Which, like some barrier of heavenly light,Shuts out his present life from other worlds.For in that world ’twill be of small accountWhat value each shall put upon himself.No higher value shall each one receiveThan universal judgment granteth him.Francesca Humble:So much that here I needs must listen toSounds like the words of those poor blinded menWho cannot see the noble spirit-lightWhich streams from every consecrated shrineIn rays of wisdom to the outer worldTo comfort and to heal the souls of men.He only in whose heart this light doth shine,And pierce with warming glow his inmost soulCan recognize the true worth of this hour,Which opens up the mystic’s solemn realmEven to those who feel themselves too weakTo reach, through deep soul struggle, to the highAnd consecrate abodes of spirit-light.Mary Steadfast:Many sure signs show plainly much must changeWithin those souls who strive to follow closeThis guidance, in their daily life on earth;But little can be said which goes to proveThat mystic ways can lead on to those endsWhich bring strong powers into the souls of men.It seems to me that what our time requiresIs leaders, who by using nature’s powersCan join dexterity to genius,And working thus amidst the things of EarthFulfil their purpose in the world of men.Such men do search for roots of spirit-workDeep in the mother-earth of truth itself,And thus are kept from idle wanderingAlong the path away from human health.Feeling myself possessed with this ideaI recognize in doctor Strader’s selfThe powers which for such guidance of the soulAre better suited than the mystics’ are.How long hath man with sorrow had to feelThat thro’ the great inventions of techniqueFull many a fetter has been rivetedOn the free spirit-instinct in his soul.But now a hope doth rise within the breastWhereof none heretofore can e’er have dreamed.In Strader’s workshops we can see, in small,The working of those wonders, which, in greatShall soon transform the meaning of techniqueAnd free its shoulders from that heavy loadWhich in our day doth weigh on many souls.Strader:Indeed such words as these are full of hopeAbout my seemingly successful work.’Tis true there yet remains the bridge to passBetween experiment and actual use,But still the eye of science up till nowCan only see that it is possibleThat in technique the proof of all things lies.The author of this work may be allowedTo speak here freely of the hopes he hathAs to the service it may render man.He begs to be forgiven any wordsThat sound vainglorious to the general ear;They only shadow forth the feelings whenceThe strength for this work flows into his soul.We see how in man’s daily life on earthThe workings of emotion and the soulDisperse and lapse into a soulless stateThe more the spirit masters all the powersThat it can find within the realm of sense.Each day the work grows more mechanical,Which makes for worth in life; and through such workMan’s life itself becomes mechanical.Most likely much once held as burdensomeMay now be proved of service to mankind.So that the art and work of cold techniqueMay no more lame the soul-life of mankindNor prove a hindrance to true spirit-aims.But little was achieved through all this strifeIn which one question only seemed of weight,How man should act towards his fellow-men.I have myself spent many a solemn hourIn thinking out this riddle of man’s life.But ever did I find such thought producedNo fruit of any value for real life.I felt myself draw near the bitter thoughtThat cosmic fate hath foreordained the lotThat victory in this material realmMust ever be to spirit-paths a foe.Release from this bewilderment of thoughtWas brought me by a seeming accident.It was my lot to make experimentsIn matters from such questions far removed;When suddenly there flashed across my mindA thought which showed me where the right path lay.Test followed close on test, until at lastSuch powers were gathered there in front of me,As in their full expression shall some dayThrough pure technique that freedom bring to man,In which his soul may find development.No more shall men be forced to dream awayTheir whole existence plant-like, fashioningIn narrow factory rooms unlovely things.The powers of technique will be so unveiledThat every man shall have what he may needTo keep him in his work, in his own homeArranged by him, as he may think it best.I thought it well to speak first of this hopeSo that it may not seem quite out of placeTo say, what I must say, about this callWhich now the Rosicrucian BrotherhoodIssues to men who stand outside their league.’Tis only when a human soul unfoldsAnd finds its own true being in itselfThat those fine instincts, which from endless timeDraw spirits each to each, can have full scope.And therefore, only he will think arightWho recognizes that this call conformsTo signs, which we have learned to know full well.The brotherhood in future will bestowIts highest treasures freely on mankindBecause all men must learn to long for them.Felix Balde:The words just spoken have been wrung from outA soul, which hath been given to our timesTo grace the realms of sense with life’s true worth.And in this field I doubt if any oneWith doctor Strader could compete today.But I myself trod very different pathsTo find out what is needful for the soul.So I, too, beg your leave to speak a word.Fate hath made clear to me that I must searchAmong those treasures, which disclose themselvesTo every man within his inmost soul.Therein I seemed to find true wisdom’s lightWhich can full well illuminate life’s worth.The mystic pupilship was given meIn solitude and contemplation deep.And thus I learned that all that makes man lordOf this strong realm of sense, doth only serveTo blind his being, and condemn mankindTo search in darkness for the way of life.Aye, e’en those gems of knowledge which the useOf reason and of sense hath found on earth,Are but faint gropings in a darkened realm.I know it is the mystic way aloneThat can direct our steps to life’s true light.Myself I stood upon that path of truthAs one who strives without a helping hand;But all men cannot struggle thus alone.The knowledge gained by sense and intellectSeems like a body left without a soulWhen it doth set itself defiantlyAgainst the light that since Earth’s dawn hath streamedFrom sacred temples of true mystery.Ye therefore ought in gratitude to graspThe hand that beckons from the Temple nowUpon whose threshold roses full of lightGirdle significant the sign of death.Louisa Fear-God:A man who feels the worth of his own soulCan but rely upon his own ideas,If he desire to know the spirit-worldsAnd find himself therein in very truth.Whoe’er can give himself, with blindfold faith,To outside guidance, first must lose himself.Aye, e’en that light, which deep within himselfA man may feel as highest wisdom’s powerClaims spirit-recognition only whenIts truth admits of proof within itself.This light may be a danger to a manIf he draws near thereto without such proof.For often on this path the soul appearsBut as some picture, drawn from cosmic depths,Springing from out its own unconscious wish.Frederick Clear-Mind:Fully to understand the mystic wayEach man must trace its impulse in himself.Who, ere he enters on the search, doth formIn his own soul a picture of the goal,Whereto that search must lead, is sure to findInstead of truth, delusion’s fantasy.For, we may say, that each true mystic shouldThus hold himself toward the goal of truthAs one who from a mountain-top would gazeUpon the beauty of a distant view.He waits till he has gained the utmost heightBefore he tries to picture all the sceneWhereto his pilgrimage hath guided him.Fox:At such a time as this we should not askHow men should hold themselves toward the truth.The brethren of the league will not requireTo hear about such things from men like us.It hath indeed already reached mine earsThat an occurrence of a special sortHath forced the league to turn and think of us.Thomasius, who came some years agoBeneath the influence of a spirit-stream,Which set itself to follow mystic aims,Hath learned just how to use such forms of thoughtAs in our time compel men’s confidence,And hang them, as a mantle, round that loreWhich should be sacred to initiates.In this way he was able to succeed,And gain approval from both far and nearFor writings which had borrowed logic’s garbBut which, in fact, contained but mystic dreams.Even inquirers of acknowledged worthAre with the message of the man inspiredAnd so lend colour to his present fame,Which grows, I fear, in dangerous degree.Initiates did dread this line of thoughtSince it must needs destroy their fixed ideaThat wisdom is their sole prerogative.And so they try to shelter ’neath their wingThat which Thomasius is giving forth.Indeed, they wish it to appear as ifThey knew already in the years gone byThat such a message would just now be sentTo serve in building up their own great work.If they succeed now at this present timeIn drawing us with craft into their net,They will make clear unto the world at largeThat powers of destiny did wisely sendThomasius with his message at this timeSo that belief in their significanceMight with the commonsense of man combine.Gasper Hotspur:This Mystic League is bold to make the claimThat it alone must ever guide mankind:It proves thereby what small account it takesOf all that can be won for man’s true wealJust by sound commonsense, for we may sayThat ’tis now proved that nature and the soulCan be explained as things mechanical.And ’tis indeed a check to all free thoughtThat doctor Strader with so clear a brain,Should countenance this mystic fallacy.Who thus doth master powers mechanicalShould not indeed lack insight, and we knowThat ere we gain true knowledge of the soulAll mystic leanings needs must be destroyed.Yet this false science, which ThomasiusIs giving forth today to all the world,Enables e’en extreme sagacityTo reconcile itself with wildest dreams,When once it falls a victim to that snare.If through strict training in the way of thought,Most natural to man, ThomasiusHad for this work of his prepared himself,Instead of studying the mystic art,He might have plucked full many a noble fruitFrom wisdom’s tree through his own inborn gifts.Instead of which upon the way he choseNaught but disastrous error could occur.No doubt the brotherhood may like to thinkSuch error can be turned to their account.It finds acceptance, since it seeks to showThat science now hath giv’n souls strong proofOf knowledge only found in dreams before.George Candid:That it is possible to speak such wordsAs we have just been forced with pain to hear,Shows clearly how that insight which flows forthFrom spirit-life hath scarce indeed begunTo grow at all ‘midst all our modern thoughts.Turn your eyes backward o’er the flight of timeAnd see what things lived in the souls of menBefore the science which is now in flowerWas even able to reveal its seed.Then you will find that this same Mystic LeagueDoth but today fulfil a work which thenWas traced beforehand in the cosmic scheme.We had to wait until ThomasiusHad finished this great work he had in hand.The way is new by which the spirit-lightIlluminates through him the souls of men.And yet this light did ever work in allThat men have dared to make upon the Earth.But where, then, was the source of all this lightWhich, tho’ souls knew it not, could shine so clear?We find all signs point to the mystic art,Which dwelt in secret consecrated shrines,Before mankind let reason be its guide.The Spirit League which now hath called us hereWill gladly let the mystic light stream forthOn that bold work, which out of human thoughtStrives to perfection in the spirit-world.And we, who, in this hour so big with fate,May stay awhile on consecrated ground,Shall be the first who, uninitiate,Shall see the torch of God from spirit-heightsLeap down into the depths of human souls.Mary Dauntless:Thomasius, indeed, needs not the shield,The Rose-Cross Brothers have in mind for him,If in an earnest scientific wayHe can portray the pathway of the soulThrough many earthly lives and spirit-realms.This work hath now revealed the light on high,To which they say the mystic temples lead,E’en unto men who erstwhile had to shunThe very threshold of such sacred shrines.Such recognition doth he well deserveAs he already hath so richly foundBecause he gave that freedom unto thought,Which was denied it by the mystic schools.Erminia Stay-at-Home:The Rose-Cross Brothers can in future liveBut in the recollection of mankind.That which they call for, at this very timeWill soon gain consciousness of its own powerAnd undermine the Temple’s fundaments.They boldly wish to join in future daysReason and science to their sacred shrine.Thomasius, therefore, whom so willinglyThey now admit into their Temple’s midstWill count hereafter as their conqueror.Strader:I have been sorely blamed because I thinkThat he acts well, who holds himself preparedTo further, in close union with the league,The work which through Thomasius is fulfilled.One speaker took objection to my viewsAnd held I ought to know how dangerousThe mystic’s true soul-searching may become.I often felt I best could understandThe spirit-way when I gave up myselfCompletely to the influence binding meTo mechanisms which I made myself.The way in which I stood toward my worksHath shown the meaning of the sacred shrine.And while I was at work, I often thought:‘How do I seem to one who only triesTo understand the working of those powersWhich I put into things mechanical?And yet what might I be unto a soulTo whom I might reveal myself in love?’I have to thank such thoughts as these that nowThe learning which from mystic circles springsReveals itself to me in its true light.And so, though not initiate, I knowThat souls of gods can in the sacred shrineReveal themselves in love to human souls.Katharine Counsel:The noble words which doctor Strader speaksAbout the sacred shrines must surely findAn echo in those souls which stand withoutThe gates through which initiates may pass,But yet are counted worthy to receiveThe lore initiates do strive to teach:It is not difficult to understandWhy our forefathers held to the beliefThat mystics were the enemies of light.It even was denied their souls to guessWhat hidden secrets lay within the shrine.All this is changed today. The Mystic LightIs not entirely hid, but tells the worldAs much as uninitiate folk may know.And many souls, who have received this lightAnd been revived thereby, have felt forthwithA rousing up of soul-powers, which beforeWorked in them, as in sleep, unconsciously.(Three knocks are heard.)Felix Balde:The owners of this place will soon approachAnd ye will hear what they desire to say.But if ye wish to understand their wordsAnd to receive through them the light yourselvesYe must not by pre-judgment blind yourselves.The power of the initiates will nowProve itself mighty, wheresoe’er it findsGood hearts and wills prepared to offer upErroneous fancies to the light of truth;But where the will hath grown through error hardAnd thus hath slain the sense of truth itself,This power will there be proved of none effect.Fox:Such words as these might be of use to oneWho through self-contemplation did desireTo find himself within his inmost soul.But at the first appearance of this league’Twere better to hold fast to those reportsAbout this kind of spirit-brotherhood,Which may be credited historically.From them we see that very many menHave been enticed into the holy shrineBy secret words, which led them to believeThat in these temples, step by step, the soulCould from the lowliest grades of wisdom riseUp to the heights where spirit-sight is gained.Who followed such inducement soon perceivedThat in the lower grades he could see signsWhose purport offered him much food for thought.He dared to hope that in the higher gradesThe meaning of these signs would be disclosed,And wisdom be revealed: but when he reachedThose higher grades himself, he found insteadThat masters knew but little of those signsAnd did but speak about the world and life—Nothing but meaningless and barren words.If he was not deceived by these same wordsNor yet was tricked by their futility,He turned himself away from such pursuits.And so at this time ’tis perhaps of useTo listen to the judgment of the pastAs well as unto edifying speech.(Again three knocks are heard.)(The curtain is drawn back, and there enter the Grand Master of the Mystic League, Hilary True-to-God; after him, Magnus Bellicosus, the Second Preceptor; Albertus Torquatus, the First Master of the Ceremonies; and Frederick Trustworthy, the Second Master of the Ceremonies. The persons who were before assembled group themselves on each side of the hall.)Frederick Trustworthy:Dear friends, this moment, when we join us firstAt this our temple’s ancient holy gatesIs most significant for you and us.The call which we have given to you nowWas strongly laid upon us by the signsWhich our Grand Master could discern full wellIn the wise plan of earth’s development.There it is very plainly shadowed forthThat at this time the service wise and trueOf this our sacred Temple must uniteWith universal commonsense of man,Which seeks for truth far off from mystic paths.Yet in the plan were also signs to showThat ere this consummation could be reached,A man must first arise who understoodHow to bring knowledge, built on commonsenseAnd reason only, into such a formAs truly to comprise the spirit-world;This now hath happened. To ThomasiusThe lot has fallen to produce a workBased on that very science, which todayAll men demand. This work in their own tongueDoth bring full proof of spirit-worth, which menCould only find in mystic paths before,And in the temples of initiates.This work will now become the fetter firmThat you with us unites in spirit-life;Through it will ye be able to discernHow firm the base on which our teaching rests.And through it, too, ye will receive the powerTo take from us that knowledge with free willWhich is confined to mystic paths aloneAnd so, in living fruitfulness, that LifeCan now unfold itself, which doth uniteThe universal commonsense of manWith all the customs of the sacred shrine.Magnus Bellicosus:Our brother’s words have made it clear to you,That we have been induced by solemn signsTo call you to the Threshold of our Shrine.The Master soon will speak to you and showThe deeper reasons for thus calling you.But first I must, so far as may be meet,Tell you of this great man, whose work hath madeOur present union possible today.Thomasius gave himself to painting’s artUntil he felt an inward spirit-callTo take up science as his work in life.His gifts which were so great and so uniqueWithin the region of the painter’s art,Were first developed when he passed withinThe spheres devoted to true mystic lore,These led him to the Master, and, through him,He learnt the first steps in that world of truthWhere wisdom teaches spiritual sight.Upborne to spirit-heights and thus infilledWith great creative power, he painted thenPictures, which seem indeed like living men.That which would soon have driven other menTo strive amain toward the highest goalUpon the beaten track of art—all thisWas but a fresh incentive to his brainTo use hard-won success in such a wayAs might prove best for welfare of mankind.He saw full well that spirit-science mustFirst find a firm foundation, and for thisThe sense for science and strict reasoningMust be released from mania for set formThrough contact with an artist mind, and gainThe inward strength to realize the truthOf world-relationship in life and deed.And so Thomasius hath offered up,A willing off’ring to humanity,The artist-power, he might have used himself.O friends, read ye aright this man’s true soulAnd understand the call which now we giveAnd hesitate no more to follow it.Hilary True-to-God:In that same Spirit’s Name, which is revealedTo souls within our sacred shrine, we comeTo men who until now might never hearThe word which here doth secretly sound forth.Those Powers which guide the purpose of our EarthCould not in its beginning be revealedTo all humanity in their full light.As in the body of a child, the powersThrough which it learns to act and use its mind,Must gradually ripen, and grow strong;So must humanity unfold itselfAs one great whole throughout its earthly course.The impulse in the soul which later onMight worthy prove to gaze on spirit-lightIn higher worlds, first lived in atrophy.Yet in the Earth’s beginning there were sentFrom out the higher kingdoms of real lifeExalted spirit-beings, who might actAs wise instructors of humanity.In mystic holy shrines did they employThose mighty spirit powers, which were poured forthIn secret into souls which could know noughtOf their exalted leaders or their work.Then later from the ranks of men themselvesThese masters wise could choose for pupils thoseWho by well-tested lives of self-denialHad proved that they were ripe to be ordainedInto the mystic aims and wisdom’s lore.And when the pupils of those early seersCould guard in worthy way the good and true,Then those sublime instructors turned their stepsBack to their own especial realms of life.These pupils of the gods then chose out menWho might succeed them in the guardianshipOf spirit-treasures; and in such a wayThe treasures were passed on from age to age.Until the present time all mystic schools,If they are such in truth, have really sprungFrom that which first was founded from on high.Humbly we cherish in this very placeThat which our fathers handed down to us.We do not ever speak about the dues,Which through our office we inherited,But only of the favour shown to usBy those great spirit-powers, who chose weak menAs mediators, and entrusted themWith treasures which bring forth the spirit-lightIn souls of men: and ’tis our lot, dear friends,To open to you now this treasured store.For signs which in the plan of all the worldsCan clearly be discerned by spirit-eyesShow most propitious at this very time.Fox:From distant worlds, it seems, the reasons comeWhich should convince us that ’twere meet that weShould join ourselves to you, and in this wayShould be the first to give the impetusTo this great work Thomasius gives the world.However grand what thou hast spoken sounds,It cannot drown in hearts of homely menThe thought that such a work will take effectThrough its own power, if it should prove to holdWithin itself what souls of men require.If this work prove important, it will be,Not through the things the mystics offer us,But since true science comes to the supportOf spirit-knowledge, and doth prove it true.If this be really so, what use is there,If mystic approbation paves the way,And not th’ intrinsic merit of the work?Albertus Torquatus:The science which is opening on the worldFrom such foundations as Thomasius laidWill neither gain nor lose through such applauseAs we or ye may choose to render it.And yet thereby a way can now be foundBy which mankind may study mystic lore.It would accomplish only half its workIf it should show the goal, but not the road.And now it rests with you to understandThat now at last the moment hath arrivedFor reason and the mystic path to join;And to the spirit-life of this our worldTo give thereby the power which can but workWhen it reveals itself in season due.CurtainScene 2The same. The persons who were at first assembled have left, with the exception of Felix Balde and Dr. Strader, who remain with Hilary True-to-God, the Grand Master; Magnus Bellicosus, the Second Preceptor; Albertus Torquatus, the First Master of the Ceremonies; Frederick Trustworthy, the Second Master of the Ceremonies; Maria; and Johannes Thomasius.Hilary:My son, what thou hast perfected must nowWithin this holy place receive the seal,Which sacred and primeval knowledge gives,Besides the blessing of the Rosy Cross.What thou hast brought the world must be through usUnto the Spirit offered, that it mayBear fruit in all the worlds, where power of manCan be made use of for world-fashioning.Bellicosus:That thou might’st give unto the world this workThou had’st to part for many years with muchThat in thine inmost soul thou loved’st best.There stood a spirit-teacher at thy side,Who went from thee, so that thy human soulMight perfectly unfold its powers in thee.Thou wast in closest touch with one dear friend;She also left thee, for thou had’st to learnThat which men only learn when they are setTo follow out their soul’s powers in themselves.With courage hast thou passed through this ordeal.That which was taken from thee for thy goodIs, for thy good, restored to thee anew.Thy friend stands here before thee: in the shrineShe waits for thee to follow out our wish.Soon, thou wilt meet thy teacher once again.These friends, who on our temple’s threshold stand,Desire to join with us in greeting thee,As one who brings great knowledge here with him.Felix Balde(to Thomasius):The mystic art which heretofore aspiredThrough inward contemplation toward the light,Will through thine act be able now to workThrough knowledge gained within the world of sense.Strader(to Thomasius):Those souls who after spirit-knowledge striveWhile life still unto matter binds them fast,Will now through thee find out a road by whichThey can attain the light in their own way.Thomasius:Exalted Master, and ye, honoured sirs!Ye think to see before you now a manWho, through the Spirit’s power and earnest strife,Was able to produce the work you praiseAnd can acknowledge with your fostering care.Ye think that he will certainly succeedIn reconciling science of todayWith ever-ancient sacred mystic art.And truly were there anything besidesThe voice of mine own soul, which could instilBelief about it into me, I thinkIt well might be your words.…Trustworthy:It well might be your words....The Master’s wordDoth but express that which without a doubtThou feelest in thy soul. There is no needTo strengthen what thine inner voice declares.Thomasius:Ah! were it so, most humbly would I standBefore you and implore that I might gainThe temple’s blessing on this work of mine.I used to think it so, when first I heardThe word by which I came to understandThat ye would take my work beneath your careAnd open gateways to me, which beforeOnly initiates could e’er approach.But as I trod the path that led to youThere opened out upon my soul a worldTo which, at such a time ye certainlyWould not have wished to lead me. AhrimanIn all his greatness stood before me there.And then I saw that he it is in truthWho is the expert in real cosmic laws.What human beings think they know of himIs of no value. Only he can knowWho once hath seen him in the spirit-world.It was from him alone that I could learnThe truth about this work of mine in full.He showed how in the progress of the worldOne could not judge effects of such a work;Since its true progress cannot be appraisedBy those impressions men may form of itWho judge by science and strict logic’s law.The final verdict cannot be pronouncedTill creature from creator is set free,And, freed from him, can follow its own pathThroughout the courses of the spirit-life.Yet now the work is so bound up with meThat it is possible that I might turnThat which I guide back from the spirit-realmsTo something evil, even though it wereGood in itself and in its working power.I must myself from out the spirit-worldSend forth afar my influence on allWhich shows itself on Earth as the resultOf that which I have brought forth from my mind.And if I should let evil issue forthFrom out the spirit-world, through these results,Then would the truth do damage greater farThan error, for men follow after truthAccording to their insight, error not.I shall for certain at some future timeTurn the results of this my act to illFor Ahriman hath clearly shewn to meThat these results must all belong to him.While I was at my work, and filled with joyThat it should lead me with such certain treadStep after step, up truth’s great pyramid,I only noticed in my soul that partWhich lent itself to help me in my search;And all the rest I left without a guard.All those wild impulses, which formerlyWere but in bud, could now in quietudeBloom forth and ripen into full grown fruits.I thought I dwelt in highest spirit-realms,But was in truth in deepest night of soul.It was the strength of these same impulsesWhich showed me clearly Ahriman’s own realm.And so I know the effect that I shall have,For in the future all these impulsesWill go to form my personality.Before I took this work in hand, I gaveMyself to Lucifer, because I wishedTo learn to know and understand his realm.Now know I, what I could not see beforeWhen I was lost entirely in my work,That he it was who wove around my thoughtThose beauteous pictures, which within my soulBrought forth wild impulses, which silent nowWill surely one day gain control of me.Trustworthy:How can one who hath reached such spirit-heightsAnd knows all this for certain, yet believeThat he hath no escape from evil left?Why, thou canst see where danger for thee lies;And so canst crush it, and with courage saveThyself, and the results of thy great work:A spirit-pupil is in duty boundTo kill what hinders progress in himself.Thomasius:I see, thou judgest not by cosmic laws,I could e’en now fulfil what thou dost wishAnd I myself could quite well tell myselfIn this same hour all that thou tellest me.But that which Karma now doth let me doWill not in future be permissible.For things must come which will o’ershadow meAnd darken all my spirit, till I turnTo that which I described to thee just now.Then as the world progresses I will seizeWith greed on anything that’s in my workWhich can be used for harm, and all of thisI will embody in my spirit-life.Then I shall have to love great AhrimanAnd joyfully to his possession giveAll that I have derived from earthly life.(Pause, during which Thomasius meditates deeply.)If all alone I could encounter this,And bear it also in my soul alone,I could await with fullest peace of mindAll that was destined for me on my way.But it will harm your league as much as me.Whatever bad shall follow from my workBoth for myself and other souls of men,Will find its balance through just Karma’s law.The fact that ye fell victims to this faultMakes it far harder for the life of earth,Since ye are leaders in this self-same lifeAnd ought to read the spirit-worlds aright.Ye ought not to have failed to notice thenThat it was someone else, and not myselfWho should have had the doing of this work.Ye should have known it must be put asideFor now; and later would appear againThrough one who otherwise would guide its course.So by your judgment, ye deprive the leagueOf rights it ought to have, if it would stillDirect the service of the Sacred Place.Because this fate for you was shown to meI now appear upon your threshold here.Knowledge would otherwise have kept me far,For truly I can claim no blessing nowUpon this work, which does both good and harm.Hilary:Dear brethren, that which we have just begun,Cannot be carried any further now.We must betake ourselves unto the PlaceFrom whence the Spirit can make known His will.(Hilary leaves the hall with Bellicosus, Torquatus, and Trustworthy. Doctor Strader and Felix Balde also leave. Only Maria and Thomasius are left.)(The hall grows dark. After a short pause the three Spirit-forms Philia, Astrid, and Luna appear in a cloud of light, and group themselves so that they completely hide Maria. The following is a spirit-experience of Thomasius.)Philia:The soul is athirstTo drink of the lightWhich flows from the worlds,An all-caring willHides close from mankind.But eagerly seeksThe spirit to hearThe language divineWhich wisdom in loveDoth hide from the heart.For danger surroundsThe thoughts that would searchIn realms of the soul,Where secret things ruleThe senses from far.Astrid:Yet souls are enlarged,Which follow the lightAnd work through the worldsWhich bold spirit-sightReveals to mankind.The spirit doth striveEnraptured to liveIn realms of the godsWhich wisdom benignMakes known to the seer.There mysteries beckonThe bold keen desireTo win those new worldsWhich far from man’s thoughtDeep secrets conceal.Luna:It ripens the soulTo picture the sightWhence powers will spring forthWhich will, reft of fear,Doth kindle in man.The ransoming powersFrom primeval depthsBring magical mightThat sense cannot know,Close barriered in earth.And traces are thereThat each searching soulMay find out the gateFast closed by the gods’Gainst erring desire.The Voice of Conscience(invisible):Now totter thy thoughtsIn Being’s abyss;And what was lent as help to them,Thou now hast lost.And what shone as the sun for themFor thee is quenched.Alone in cosmic depths thou wanderest,Which men intoxicated with desireWould seek to win.Thou tremblest in the fundaments of growthWhere men must learn to be bereft of allComfort of soul.…(The last words run straight on into the following ones spoken by Maria, who is still hidden by the Spirit-forms and cannot be seen. She speaks at first in a ghostly inward voice.)Maria:So blend thy soulTo powers of loveWhich once could penetrate her with the hopeOf living warmth,Which once could all her will illuminateWith spirit-light.Rescue from lonelinessThe powers of heart that seekAnd feel the nearness of thy friendIn the darkness of thy strife.(The Spirit-forms vanish with the cloud of light. Maria becomes visible in her old place. Maria and Thomasius are alone, standing opposite each other. From now onwards the experiences are on the physical plane.)Thomasius(rousing himself from deep meditation):Where was I even now? My powers of soulUnveiled the conflict of my inner-self;The conscience of the world revealed to meWhat I had lost; and then as blessing cameThe voice of Love within the darksome realm.Maria:Johannes, the companion of thy soulMay once again be present at thy side,And follow thee to earth’s primeval depths,Where souls can win perception e’en as gods,By conquest that destroyeth, yet acquiresBy bold persistence life from seeming death.E’en in the ever empty fields of iceShe may go with her friend, where he will beEncircled with the light which spirits formWhen darkness wounds and maims the powers of life.My friend, thou standest at that threshold now,Where man must lose what once he hath attained.Full many a glance thou hast toward spirit-realmsDirected, and from them hast gained the powerThat made thee capable of thy great work.It seems to thee, that now that work is lost;Desire not then that it were otherwise,For such desire must rob thee of all powerOf further progress into spirit-realms.Whether thou walk’st in error or in truth,Thou canst keep ever clear the view ahead,Which lets thy soul press further on its pathIf thou dost bravely bear necessitiesImposed upon thee by the spirit-realm.This is the law of spirit-pupilship.So long as thou still harbourest the wishThat what hath happened might be otherwiseThou wilt forego the power which must be thine,If thou dost wish to stay in spirit-land.That thou hast lost what thou erewhile hadst wonIs surest sign to thee that thou may’st walkIn safety further on the spirit-path.Henceforward thou must not rely upon,If thou in truth regardest it as lost,That understanding which thou hast till nowWell-used as the criterion of thy work.Therefore thy being must become quite stillAnd wait in silence for the spirit’s gifts;Then only wilt thou commune with thyselfWhen thou once more hast won thyself anew.Oft hast thou met the solemn GuardianWho on the Threshold keeps so strict a watchWhen spirit-life must part from world of sense;But past that presence hast thou never been.At sight of him aye didst thou turn awayAnd all thy view was pictured from without.…Ne’er in that inner world which widens outBeyond thee as the spirit-verity,Have thy steps trod: so must thou now awaitThat which shall be revealed, when at my sideThou shalt not only to such worlddraw nigh,But shaltpass o’erthe Threshold’s boundary.Curtain

A hall with a ground tone of indigo blue. The antechamber to the rooms in which a Mystic League carries on its work. In the centre a large door with curtain. On each side of the door two pictures which represent, beginning from the right of the stage, the Prophet Elijah, John the Baptist, Raphael, the poet Novalis. There are present, in a livelyconversationtwelve Persons, who in one way or another take an interest in the activities of the League. Beside them: Felix Balde and Doctor Strader.

Fox:A most unusual summons ’tis indeed,That draws us here together at this time.It comes from men, who ever hold that they,From all Earth’s other children separate,Are honoured with a special spirit-aim.Their spirit-eyes shall now, however, seeThat in the world’s plan they must be bound closeWith men whose spirit is unconsecrate;Who face life’s fight in their own strength alone.I ne’er felt drawn towards such spirit-waysAs find their chief resource in secrecy,And only care to hold fast to sound thought,And to the commonsense of human minds.This Spirit-League by which we now are calledMeans not through this same call that we should beInitiated in its higher aims.It will thro’ mystic dim word-portraitureKeep us but in the Temple’s outer courts;And use our powers but as the people’s voice—A cunning plan to strengthen its own will.So shall we merely be the helpers blindOf men who from the spirit heights above,Look down to lead us on with beckoning hand.They do not hold that we are ready yetEven to take one step that might lead onToward their holy Temple’s treasure-house,Or to the spirit-light in which they dwell.When I observe the true state of this leagueIt seems I see but pride and self-deceitClothed in a prophet’s robe and humble dress.And so ’twere surely best to shun each thingThat here is offered us in wisdom’s garb;That we at any rate may not appearTo strive without due proof against the workWhich is so highly prized by many men;So would I counsel you at first to hearWhat aim this wisdom-teacher hath in viewAnd then to follow simple commonsense.Who takes such sense as guide within himselfWill not be led astray by tempting luresWhich from the Mystic Temple issue forth.

Fox:

A most unusual summons ’tis indeed,

That draws us here together at this time.

It comes from men, who ever hold that they,

From all Earth’s other children separate,

Are honoured with a special spirit-aim.

Their spirit-eyes shall now, however, see

That in the world’s plan they must be bound close

With men whose spirit is unconsecrate;

Who face life’s fight in their own strength alone.

I ne’er felt drawn towards such spirit-ways

As find their chief resource in secrecy,

And only care to hold fast to sound thought,

And to the commonsense of human minds.

This Spirit-League by which we now are called

Means not through this same call that we should be

Initiated in its higher aims.

It will thro’ mystic dim word-portraiture

Keep us but in the Temple’s outer courts;

And use our powers but as the people’s voice—

A cunning plan to strengthen its own will.

So shall we merely be the helpers blind

Of men who from the spirit heights above,

Look down to lead us on with beckoning hand.

They do not hold that we are ready yet

Even to take one step that might lead on

Toward their holy Temple’s treasure-house,

Or to the spirit-light in which they dwell.

When I observe the true state of this league

It seems I see but pride and self-deceit

Clothed in a prophet’s robe and humble dress.

And so ’twere surely best to shun each thing

That here is offered us in wisdom’s garb;

That we at any rate may not appear

To strive without due proof against the work

Which is so highly prized by many men;

So would I counsel you at first to hear

What aim this wisdom-teacher hath in view

And then to follow simple commonsense.

Who takes such sense as guide within himself

Will not be led astray by tempting lures

Which from the Mystic Temple issue forth.

Michael Nobleman:I do not know, I cannot even guessWith what strange spirit-gift these men are doweredWho now desire to find a bridge to us.But still I know well several honest menWithin the ranks of this same Spirit-League.Strictly they guard the secret of the fountWhence this their knowledge is supposed to come;But that the fountain whence they drink is good,Their life and deeds make manifest to all.And all that from their circle issues forthBears on its face the mark of truest love.So may we well believe the aim is goodWhich leads them in this special way to men,To whom the mystic path is strange and new,But in whose souls the instinct for the truthAnd honest goals of spirit-life find place.

Michael Nobleman:

I do not know, I cannot even guess

With what strange spirit-gift these men are dowered

Who now desire to find a bridge to us.

But still I know well several honest men

Within the ranks of this same Spirit-League.

Strictly they guard the secret of the fount

Whence this their knowledge is supposed to come;

But that the fountain whence they drink is good,

Their life and deeds make manifest to all.

And all that from their circle issues forth

Bears on its face the mark of truest love.

So may we well believe the aim is good

Which leads them in this special way to men,

To whom the mystic path is strange and new,

But in whose souls the instinct for the truth

And honest goals of spirit-life find place.

Bernard Straight:Caution would seem to me our duty now.I think the mystics find the time draws nighWhich brings an ending to their sovereign power.Reason will scarcely ask in future timesWhat dreams of truth these holy temples had.If this league tells of goals of such a kindAs have seemed wise to mankind’s general thoughtThen it were good to join our lot to theirs.Yet he had better shun the mystic’s robeWho only seeks to pass the portal by,Which, like some barrier of heavenly light,Shuts out his present life from other worlds.For in that world ’twill be of small accountWhat value each shall put upon himself.No higher value shall each one receiveThan universal judgment granteth him.

Bernard Straight:

Caution would seem to me our duty now.

I think the mystics find the time draws nigh

Which brings an ending to their sovereign power.

Reason will scarcely ask in future times

What dreams of truth these holy temples had.

If this league tells of goals of such a kind

As have seemed wise to mankind’s general thought

Then it were good to join our lot to theirs.

Yet he had better shun the mystic’s robe

Who only seeks to pass the portal by,

Which, like some barrier of heavenly light,

Shuts out his present life from other worlds.

For in that world ’twill be of small account

What value each shall put upon himself.

No higher value shall each one receive

Than universal judgment granteth him.

Francesca Humble:So much that here I needs must listen toSounds like the words of those poor blinded menWho cannot see the noble spirit-lightWhich streams from every consecrated shrineIn rays of wisdom to the outer worldTo comfort and to heal the souls of men.He only in whose heart this light doth shine,And pierce with warming glow his inmost soulCan recognize the true worth of this hour,Which opens up the mystic’s solemn realmEven to those who feel themselves too weakTo reach, through deep soul struggle, to the highAnd consecrate abodes of spirit-light.

Francesca Humble:

So much that here I needs must listen to

Sounds like the words of those poor blinded men

Who cannot see the noble spirit-light

Which streams from every consecrated shrine

In rays of wisdom to the outer world

To comfort and to heal the souls of men.

He only in whose heart this light doth shine,

And pierce with warming glow his inmost soul

Can recognize the true worth of this hour,

Which opens up the mystic’s solemn realm

Even to those who feel themselves too weak

To reach, through deep soul struggle, to the high

And consecrate abodes of spirit-light.

Mary Steadfast:Many sure signs show plainly much must changeWithin those souls who strive to follow closeThis guidance, in their daily life on earth;But little can be said which goes to proveThat mystic ways can lead on to those endsWhich bring strong powers into the souls of men.It seems to me that what our time requiresIs leaders, who by using nature’s powersCan join dexterity to genius,And working thus amidst the things of EarthFulfil their purpose in the world of men.Such men do search for roots of spirit-workDeep in the mother-earth of truth itself,And thus are kept from idle wanderingAlong the path away from human health.Feeling myself possessed with this ideaI recognize in doctor Strader’s selfThe powers which for such guidance of the soulAre better suited than the mystics’ are.How long hath man with sorrow had to feelThat thro’ the great inventions of techniqueFull many a fetter has been rivetedOn the free spirit-instinct in his soul.But now a hope doth rise within the breastWhereof none heretofore can e’er have dreamed.In Strader’s workshops we can see, in small,The working of those wonders, which, in greatShall soon transform the meaning of techniqueAnd free its shoulders from that heavy loadWhich in our day doth weigh on many souls.

Mary Steadfast:

Many sure signs show plainly much must change

Within those souls who strive to follow close

This guidance, in their daily life on earth;

But little can be said which goes to prove

That mystic ways can lead on to those ends

Which bring strong powers into the souls of men.

It seems to me that what our time requires

Is leaders, who by using nature’s powers

Can join dexterity to genius,

And working thus amidst the things of Earth

Fulfil their purpose in the world of men.

Such men do search for roots of spirit-work

Deep in the mother-earth of truth itself,

And thus are kept from idle wandering

Along the path away from human health.

Feeling myself possessed with this idea

I recognize in doctor Strader’s self

The powers which for such guidance of the soul

Are better suited than the mystics’ are.

How long hath man with sorrow had to feel

That thro’ the great inventions of technique

Full many a fetter has been riveted

On the free spirit-instinct in his soul.

But now a hope doth rise within the breast

Whereof none heretofore can e’er have dreamed.

In Strader’s workshops we can see, in small,

The working of those wonders, which, in great

Shall soon transform the meaning of technique

And free its shoulders from that heavy load

Which in our day doth weigh on many souls.

Strader:Indeed such words as these are full of hopeAbout my seemingly successful work.’Tis true there yet remains the bridge to passBetween experiment and actual use,But still the eye of science up till nowCan only see that it is possibleThat in technique the proof of all things lies.The author of this work may be allowedTo speak here freely of the hopes he hathAs to the service it may render man.He begs to be forgiven any wordsThat sound vainglorious to the general ear;They only shadow forth the feelings whenceThe strength for this work flows into his soul.We see how in man’s daily life on earthThe workings of emotion and the soulDisperse and lapse into a soulless stateThe more the spirit masters all the powersThat it can find within the realm of sense.Each day the work grows more mechanical,Which makes for worth in life; and through such workMan’s life itself becomes mechanical.Most likely much once held as burdensomeMay now be proved of service to mankind.So that the art and work of cold techniqueMay no more lame the soul-life of mankindNor prove a hindrance to true spirit-aims.But little was achieved through all this strifeIn which one question only seemed of weight,How man should act towards his fellow-men.I have myself spent many a solemn hourIn thinking out this riddle of man’s life.But ever did I find such thought producedNo fruit of any value for real life.I felt myself draw near the bitter thoughtThat cosmic fate hath foreordained the lotThat victory in this material realmMust ever be to spirit-paths a foe.Release from this bewilderment of thoughtWas brought me by a seeming accident.It was my lot to make experimentsIn matters from such questions far removed;When suddenly there flashed across my mindA thought which showed me where the right path lay.Test followed close on test, until at lastSuch powers were gathered there in front of me,As in their full expression shall some dayThrough pure technique that freedom bring to man,In which his soul may find development.No more shall men be forced to dream awayTheir whole existence plant-like, fashioningIn narrow factory rooms unlovely things.The powers of technique will be so unveiledThat every man shall have what he may needTo keep him in his work, in his own homeArranged by him, as he may think it best.I thought it well to speak first of this hopeSo that it may not seem quite out of placeTo say, what I must say, about this callWhich now the Rosicrucian BrotherhoodIssues to men who stand outside their league.’Tis only when a human soul unfoldsAnd finds its own true being in itselfThat those fine instincts, which from endless timeDraw spirits each to each, can have full scope.And therefore, only he will think arightWho recognizes that this call conformsTo signs, which we have learned to know full well.The brotherhood in future will bestowIts highest treasures freely on mankindBecause all men must learn to long for them.

Strader:

Indeed such words as these are full of hope

About my seemingly successful work.

’Tis true there yet remains the bridge to pass

Between experiment and actual use,

But still the eye of science up till now

Can only see that it is possible

That in technique the proof of all things lies.

The author of this work may be allowed

To speak here freely of the hopes he hath

As to the service it may render man.

He begs to be forgiven any words

That sound vainglorious to the general ear;

They only shadow forth the feelings whence

The strength for this work flows into his soul.

We see how in man’s daily life on earth

The workings of emotion and the soul

Disperse and lapse into a soulless state

The more the spirit masters all the powers

That it can find within the realm of sense.

Each day the work grows more mechanical,

Which makes for worth in life; and through such work

Man’s life itself becomes mechanical.

Most likely much once held as burdensome

May now be proved of service to mankind.

So that the art and work of cold technique

May no more lame the soul-life of mankind

Nor prove a hindrance to true spirit-aims.

But little was achieved through all this strife

In which one question only seemed of weight,

How man should act towards his fellow-men.

I have myself spent many a solemn hour

In thinking out this riddle of man’s life.

But ever did I find such thought produced

No fruit of any value for real life.

I felt myself draw near the bitter thought

That cosmic fate hath foreordained the lot

That victory in this material realm

Must ever be to spirit-paths a foe.

Release from this bewilderment of thought

Was brought me by a seeming accident.

It was my lot to make experiments

In matters from such questions far removed;

When suddenly there flashed across my mind

A thought which showed me where the right path lay.

Test followed close on test, until at last

Such powers were gathered there in front of me,

As in their full expression shall some day

Through pure technique that freedom bring to man,

In which his soul may find development.

No more shall men be forced to dream away

Their whole existence plant-like, fashioning

In narrow factory rooms unlovely things.

The powers of technique will be so unveiled

That every man shall have what he may need

To keep him in his work, in his own home

Arranged by him, as he may think it best.

I thought it well to speak first of this hope

So that it may not seem quite out of place

To say, what I must say, about this call

Which now the Rosicrucian Brotherhood

Issues to men who stand outside their league.

’Tis only when a human soul unfolds

And finds its own true being in itself

That those fine instincts, which from endless time

Draw spirits each to each, can have full scope.

And therefore, only he will think aright

Who recognizes that this call conforms

To signs, which we have learned to know full well.

The brotherhood in future will bestow

Its highest treasures freely on mankind

Because all men must learn to long for them.

Felix Balde:The words just spoken have been wrung from outA soul, which hath been given to our timesTo grace the realms of sense with life’s true worth.And in this field I doubt if any oneWith doctor Strader could compete today.But I myself trod very different pathsTo find out what is needful for the soul.So I, too, beg your leave to speak a word.Fate hath made clear to me that I must searchAmong those treasures, which disclose themselvesTo every man within his inmost soul.Therein I seemed to find true wisdom’s lightWhich can full well illuminate life’s worth.The mystic pupilship was given meIn solitude and contemplation deep.And thus I learned that all that makes man lordOf this strong realm of sense, doth only serveTo blind his being, and condemn mankindTo search in darkness for the way of life.Aye, e’en those gems of knowledge which the useOf reason and of sense hath found on earth,Are but faint gropings in a darkened realm.I know it is the mystic way aloneThat can direct our steps to life’s true light.Myself I stood upon that path of truthAs one who strives without a helping hand;But all men cannot struggle thus alone.The knowledge gained by sense and intellectSeems like a body left without a soulWhen it doth set itself defiantlyAgainst the light that since Earth’s dawn hath streamedFrom sacred temples of true mystery.Ye therefore ought in gratitude to graspThe hand that beckons from the Temple nowUpon whose threshold roses full of lightGirdle significant the sign of death.

Felix Balde:

The words just spoken have been wrung from out

A soul, which hath been given to our times

To grace the realms of sense with life’s true worth.

And in this field I doubt if any one

With doctor Strader could compete today.

But I myself trod very different paths

To find out what is needful for the soul.

So I, too, beg your leave to speak a word.

Fate hath made clear to me that I must search

Among those treasures, which disclose themselves

To every man within his inmost soul.

Therein I seemed to find true wisdom’s light

Which can full well illuminate life’s worth.

The mystic pupilship was given me

In solitude and contemplation deep.

And thus I learned that all that makes man lord

Of this strong realm of sense, doth only serve

To blind his being, and condemn mankind

To search in darkness for the way of life.

Aye, e’en those gems of knowledge which the use

Of reason and of sense hath found on earth,

Are but faint gropings in a darkened realm.

I know it is the mystic way alone

That can direct our steps to life’s true light.

Myself I stood upon that path of truth

As one who strives without a helping hand;

But all men cannot struggle thus alone.

The knowledge gained by sense and intellect

Seems like a body left without a soul

When it doth set itself defiantly

Against the light that since Earth’s dawn hath streamed

From sacred temples of true mystery.

Ye therefore ought in gratitude to grasp

The hand that beckons from the Temple now

Upon whose threshold roses full of light

Girdle significant the sign of death.

Louisa Fear-God:A man who feels the worth of his own soulCan but rely upon his own ideas,If he desire to know the spirit-worldsAnd find himself therein in very truth.Whoe’er can give himself, with blindfold faith,To outside guidance, first must lose himself.Aye, e’en that light, which deep within himselfA man may feel as highest wisdom’s powerClaims spirit-recognition only whenIts truth admits of proof within itself.This light may be a danger to a manIf he draws near thereto without such proof.For often on this path the soul appearsBut as some picture, drawn from cosmic depths,Springing from out its own unconscious wish.

Louisa Fear-God:

A man who feels the worth of his own soul

Can but rely upon his own ideas,

If he desire to know the spirit-worlds

And find himself therein in very truth.

Whoe’er can give himself, with blindfold faith,

To outside guidance, first must lose himself.

Aye, e’en that light, which deep within himself

A man may feel as highest wisdom’s power

Claims spirit-recognition only when

Its truth admits of proof within itself.

This light may be a danger to a man

If he draws near thereto without such proof.

For often on this path the soul appears

But as some picture, drawn from cosmic depths,

Springing from out its own unconscious wish.

Frederick Clear-Mind:Fully to understand the mystic wayEach man must trace its impulse in himself.Who, ere he enters on the search, doth formIn his own soul a picture of the goal,Whereto that search must lead, is sure to findInstead of truth, delusion’s fantasy.For, we may say, that each true mystic shouldThus hold himself toward the goal of truthAs one who from a mountain-top would gazeUpon the beauty of a distant view.He waits till he has gained the utmost heightBefore he tries to picture all the sceneWhereto his pilgrimage hath guided him.

Frederick Clear-Mind:

Fully to understand the mystic way

Each man must trace its impulse in himself.

Who, ere he enters on the search, doth form

In his own soul a picture of the goal,

Whereto that search must lead, is sure to find

Instead of truth, delusion’s fantasy.

For, we may say, that each true mystic should

Thus hold himself toward the goal of truth

As one who from a mountain-top would gaze

Upon the beauty of a distant view.

He waits till he has gained the utmost height

Before he tries to picture all the scene

Whereto his pilgrimage hath guided him.

Fox:At such a time as this we should not askHow men should hold themselves toward the truth.The brethren of the league will not requireTo hear about such things from men like us.It hath indeed already reached mine earsThat an occurrence of a special sortHath forced the league to turn and think of us.Thomasius, who came some years agoBeneath the influence of a spirit-stream,Which set itself to follow mystic aims,Hath learned just how to use such forms of thoughtAs in our time compel men’s confidence,And hang them, as a mantle, round that loreWhich should be sacred to initiates.In this way he was able to succeed,And gain approval from both far and nearFor writings which had borrowed logic’s garbBut which, in fact, contained but mystic dreams.Even inquirers of acknowledged worthAre with the message of the man inspiredAnd so lend colour to his present fame,Which grows, I fear, in dangerous degree.Initiates did dread this line of thoughtSince it must needs destroy their fixed ideaThat wisdom is their sole prerogative.And so they try to shelter ’neath their wingThat which Thomasius is giving forth.Indeed, they wish it to appear as ifThey knew already in the years gone byThat such a message would just now be sentTo serve in building up their own great work.If they succeed now at this present timeIn drawing us with craft into their net,They will make clear unto the world at largeThat powers of destiny did wisely sendThomasius with his message at this timeSo that belief in their significanceMight with the commonsense of man combine.

Fox:

At such a time as this we should not ask

How men should hold themselves toward the truth.

The brethren of the league will not require

To hear about such things from men like us.

It hath indeed already reached mine ears

That an occurrence of a special sort

Hath forced the league to turn and think of us.

Thomasius, who came some years ago

Beneath the influence of a spirit-stream,

Which set itself to follow mystic aims,

Hath learned just how to use such forms of thought

As in our time compel men’s confidence,

And hang them, as a mantle, round that lore

Which should be sacred to initiates.

In this way he was able to succeed,

And gain approval from both far and near

For writings which had borrowed logic’s garb

But which, in fact, contained but mystic dreams.

Even inquirers of acknowledged worth

Are with the message of the man inspired

And so lend colour to his present fame,

Which grows, I fear, in dangerous degree.

Initiates did dread this line of thought

Since it must needs destroy their fixed idea

That wisdom is their sole prerogative.

And so they try to shelter ’neath their wing

That which Thomasius is giving forth.

Indeed, they wish it to appear as if

They knew already in the years gone by

That such a message would just now be sent

To serve in building up their own great work.

If they succeed now at this present time

In drawing us with craft into their net,

They will make clear unto the world at large

That powers of destiny did wisely send

Thomasius with his message at this time

So that belief in their significance

Might with the commonsense of man combine.

Gasper Hotspur:This Mystic League is bold to make the claimThat it alone must ever guide mankind:It proves thereby what small account it takesOf all that can be won for man’s true wealJust by sound commonsense, for we may sayThat ’tis now proved that nature and the soulCan be explained as things mechanical.And ’tis indeed a check to all free thoughtThat doctor Strader with so clear a brain,Should countenance this mystic fallacy.Who thus doth master powers mechanicalShould not indeed lack insight, and we knowThat ere we gain true knowledge of the soulAll mystic leanings needs must be destroyed.Yet this false science, which ThomasiusIs giving forth today to all the world,Enables e’en extreme sagacityTo reconcile itself with wildest dreams,When once it falls a victim to that snare.If through strict training in the way of thought,Most natural to man, ThomasiusHad for this work of his prepared himself,Instead of studying the mystic art,He might have plucked full many a noble fruitFrom wisdom’s tree through his own inborn gifts.Instead of which upon the way he choseNaught but disastrous error could occur.No doubt the brotherhood may like to thinkSuch error can be turned to their account.It finds acceptance, since it seeks to showThat science now hath giv’n souls strong proofOf knowledge only found in dreams before.

Gasper Hotspur:

This Mystic League is bold to make the claim

That it alone must ever guide mankind:

It proves thereby what small account it takes

Of all that can be won for man’s true weal

Just by sound commonsense, for we may say

That ’tis now proved that nature and the soul

Can be explained as things mechanical.

And ’tis indeed a check to all free thought

That doctor Strader with so clear a brain,

Should countenance this mystic fallacy.

Who thus doth master powers mechanical

Should not indeed lack insight, and we know

That ere we gain true knowledge of the soul

All mystic leanings needs must be destroyed.

Yet this false science, which Thomasius

Is giving forth today to all the world,

Enables e’en extreme sagacity

To reconcile itself with wildest dreams,

When once it falls a victim to that snare.

If through strict training in the way of thought,

Most natural to man, Thomasius

Had for this work of his prepared himself,

Instead of studying the mystic art,

He might have plucked full many a noble fruit

From wisdom’s tree through his own inborn gifts.

Instead of which upon the way he chose

Naught but disastrous error could occur.

No doubt the brotherhood may like to think

Such error can be turned to their account.

It finds acceptance, since it seeks to show

That science now hath giv’n souls strong proof

Of knowledge only found in dreams before.

George Candid:That it is possible to speak such wordsAs we have just been forced with pain to hear,Shows clearly how that insight which flows forthFrom spirit-life hath scarce indeed begunTo grow at all ‘midst all our modern thoughts.Turn your eyes backward o’er the flight of timeAnd see what things lived in the souls of menBefore the science which is now in flowerWas even able to reveal its seed.Then you will find that this same Mystic LeagueDoth but today fulfil a work which thenWas traced beforehand in the cosmic scheme.We had to wait until ThomasiusHad finished this great work he had in hand.The way is new by which the spirit-lightIlluminates through him the souls of men.And yet this light did ever work in allThat men have dared to make upon the Earth.But where, then, was the source of all this lightWhich, tho’ souls knew it not, could shine so clear?We find all signs point to the mystic art,Which dwelt in secret consecrated shrines,Before mankind let reason be its guide.The Spirit League which now hath called us hereWill gladly let the mystic light stream forthOn that bold work, which out of human thoughtStrives to perfection in the spirit-world.And we, who, in this hour so big with fate,May stay awhile on consecrated ground,Shall be the first who, uninitiate,Shall see the torch of God from spirit-heightsLeap down into the depths of human souls.

George Candid:

That it is possible to speak such words

As we have just been forced with pain to hear,

Shows clearly how that insight which flows forth

From spirit-life hath scarce indeed begun

To grow at all ‘midst all our modern thoughts.

Turn your eyes backward o’er the flight of time

And see what things lived in the souls of men

Before the science which is now in flower

Was even able to reveal its seed.

Then you will find that this same Mystic League

Doth but today fulfil a work which then

Was traced beforehand in the cosmic scheme.

We had to wait until Thomasius

Had finished this great work he had in hand.

The way is new by which the spirit-light

Illuminates through him the souls of men.

And yet this light did ever work in all

That men have dared to make upon the Earth.

But where, then, was the source of all this light

Which, tho’ souls knew it not, could shine so clear?

We find all signs point to the mystic art,

Which dwelt in secret consecrated shrines,

Before mankind let reason be its guide.

The Spirit League which now hath called us here

Will gladly let the mystic light stream forth

On that bold work, which out of human thought

Strives to perfection in the spirit-world.

And we, who, in this hour so big with fate,

May stay awhile on consecrated ground,

Shall be the first who, uninitiate,

Shall see the torch of God from spirit-heights

Leap down into the depths of human souls.

Mary Dauntless:Thomasius, indeed, needs not the shield,The Rose-Cross Brothers have in mind for him,If in an earnest scientific wayHe can portray the pathway of the soulThrough many earthly lives and spirit-realms.This work hath now revealed the light on high,To which they say the mystic temples lead,E’en unto men who erstwhile had to shunThe very threshold of such sacred shrines.Such recognition doth he well deserveAs he already hath so richly foundBecause he gave that freedom unto thought,Which was denied it by the mystic schools.

Mary Dauntless:

Thomasius, indeed, needs not the shield,

The Rose-Cross Brothers have in mind for him,

If in an earnest scientific way

He can portray the pathway of the soul

Through many earthly lives and spirit-realms.

This work hath now revealed the light on high,

To which they say the mystic temples lead,

E’en unto men who erstwhile had to shun

The very threshold of such sacred shrines.

Such recognition doth he well deserve

As he already hath so richly found

Because he gave that freedom unto thought,

Which was denied it by the mystic schools.

Erminia Stay-at-Home:The Rose-Cross Brothers can in future liveBut in the recollection of mankind.That which they call for, at this very timeWill soon gain consciousness of its own powerAnd undermine the Temple’s fundaments.They boldly wish to join in future daysReason and science to their sacred shrine.Thomasius, therefore, whom so willinglyThey now admit into their Temple’s midstWill count hereafter as their conqueror.

Erminia Stay-at-Home:

The Rose-Cross Brothers can in future live

But in the recollection of mankind.

That which they call for, at this very time

Will soon gain consciousness of its own power

And undermine the Temple’s fundaments.

They boldly wish to join in future days

Reason and science to their sacred shrine.

Thomasius, therefore, whom so willingly

They now admit into their Temple’s midst

Will count hereafter as their conqueror.

Strader:I have been sorely blamed because I thinkThat he acts well, who holds himself preparedTo further, in close union with the league,The work which through Thomasius is fulfilled.One speaker took objection to my viewsAnd held I ought to know how dangerousThe mystic’s true soul-searching may become.I often felt I best could understandThe spirit-way when I gave up myselfCompletely to the influence binding meTo mechanisms which I made myself.The way in which I stood toward my worksHath shown the meaning of the sacred shrine.And while I was at work, I often thought:‘How do I seem to one who only triesTo understand the working of those powersWhich I put into things mechanical?And yet what might I be unto a soulTo whom I might reveal myself in love?’I have to thank such thoughts as these that nowThe learning which from mystic circles springsReveals itself to me in its true light.And so, though not initiate, I knowThat souls of gods can in the sacred shrineReveal themselves in love to human souls.

Strader:

I have been sorely blamed because I think

That he acts well, who holds himself prepared

To further, in close union with the league,

The work which through Thomasius is fulfilled.

One speaker took objection to my views

And held I ought to know how dangerous

The mystic’s true soul-searching may become.

I often felt I best could understand

The spirit-way when I gave up myself

Completely to the influence binding me

To mechanisms which I made myself.

The way in which I stood toward my works

Hath shown the meaning of the sacred shrine.

And while I was at work, I often thought:

‘How do I seem to one who only tries

To understand the working of those powers

Which I put into things mechanical?

And yet what might I be unto a soul

To whom I might reveal myself in love?’

I have to thank such thoughts as these that now

The learning which from mystic circles springs

Reveals itself to me in its true light.

And so, though not initiate, I know

That souls of gods can in the sacred shrine

Reveal themselves in love to human souls.

Katharine Counsel:The noble words which doctor Strader speaksAbout the sacred shrines must surely findAn echo in those souls which stand withoutThe gates through which initiates may pass,But yet are counted worthy to receiveThe lore initiates do strive to teach:It is not difficult to understandWhy our forefathers held to the beliefThat mystics were the enemies of light.It even was denied their souls to guessWhat hidden secrets lay within the shrine.All this is changed today. The Mystic LightIs not entirely hid, but tells the worldAs much as uninitiate folk may know.And many souls, who have received this lightAnd been revived thereby, have felt forthwithA rousing up of soul-powers, which beforeWorked in them, as in sleep, unconsciously.

Katharine Counsel:

The noble words which doctor Strader speaks

About the sacred shrines must surely find

An echo in those souls which stand without

The gates through which initiates may pass,

But yet are counted worthy to receive

The lore initiates do strive to teach:

It is not difficult to understand

Why our forefathers held to the belief

That mystics were the enemies of light.

It even was denied their souls to guess

What hidden secrets lay within the shrine.

All this is changed today. The Mystic Light

Is not entirely hid, but tells the world

As much as uninitiate folk may know.

And many souls, who have received this light

And been revived thereby, have felt forthwith

A rousing up of soul-powers, which before

Worked in them, as in sleep, unconsciously.

(Three knocks are heard.)

Felix Balde:The owners of this place will soon approachAnd ye will hear what they desire to say.But if ye wish to understand their wordsAnd to receive through them the light yourselvesYe must not by pre-judgment blind yourselves.The power of the initiates will nowProve itself mighty, wheresoe’er it findsGood hearts and wills prepared to offer upErroneous fancies to the light of truth;But where the will hath grown through error hardAnd thus hath slain the sense of truth itself,This power will there be proved of none effect.

Felix Balde:

The owners of this place will soon approach

And ye will hear what they desire to say.

But if ye wish to understand their words

And to receive through them the light yourselves

Ye must not by pre-judgment blind yourselves.

The power of the initiates will now

Prove itself mighty, wheresoe’er it finds

Good hearts and wills prepared to offer up

Erroneous fancies to the light of truth;

But where the will hath grown through error hard

And thus hath slain the sense of truth itself,

This power will there be proved of none effect.

Fox:Such words as these might be of use to oneWho through self-contemplation did desireTo find himself within his inmost soul.But at the first appearance of this league’Twere better to hold fast to those reportsAbout this kind of spirit-brotherhood,Which may be credited historically.From them we see that very many menHave been enticed into the holy shrineBy secret words, which led them to believeThat in these temples, step by step, the soulCould from the lowliest grades of wisdom riseUp to the heights where spirit-sight is gained.Who followed such inducement soon perceivedThat in the lower grades he could see signsWhose purport offered him much food for thought.He dared to hope that in the higher gradesThe meaning of these signs would be disclosed,And wisdom be revealed: but when he reachedThose higher grades himself, he found insteadThat masters knew but little of those signsAnd did but speak about the world and life—Nothing but meaningless and barren words.If he was not deceived by these same wordsNor yet was tricked by their futility,He turned himself away from such pursuits.And so at this time ’tis perhaps of useTo listen to the judgment of the pastAs well as unto edifying speech.

Fox:

Such words as these might be of use to one

Who through self-contemplation did desire

To find himself within his inmost soul.

But at the first appearance of this league

’Twere better to hold fast to those reports

About this kind of spirit-brotherhood,

Which may be credited historically.

From them we see that very many men

Have been enticed into the holy shrine

By secret words, which led them to believe

That in these temples, step by step, the soul

Could from the lowliest grades of wisdom rise

Up to the heights where spirit-sight is gained.

Who followed such inducement soon perceived

That in the lower grades he could see signs

Whose purport offered him much food for thought.

He dared to hope that in the higher grades

The meaning of these signs would be disclosed,

And wisdom be revealed: but when he reached

Those higher grades himself, he found instead

That masters knew but little of those signs

And did but speak about the world and life—

Nothing but meaningless and barren words.

If he was not deceived by these same words

Nor yet was tricked by their futility,

He turned himself away from such pursuits.

And so at this time ’tis perhaps of use

To listen to the judgment of the past

As well as unto edifying speech.

(Again three knocks are heard.)

(The curtain is drawn back, and there enter the Grand Master of the Mystic League, Hilary True-to-God; after him, Magnus Bellicosus, the Second Preceptor; Albertus Torquatus, the First Master of the Ceremonies; and Frederick Trustworthy, the Second Master of the Ceremonies. The persons who were before assembled group themselves on each side of the hall.)

Frederick Trustworthy:Dear friends, this moment, when we join us firstAt this our temple’s ancient holy gatesIs most significant for you and us.The call which we have given to you nowWas strongly laid upon us by the signsWhich our Grand Master could discern full wellIn the wise plan of earth’s development.There it is very plainly shadowed forthThat at this time the service wise and trueOf this our sacred Temple must uniteWith universal commonsense of man,Which seeks for truth far off from mystic paths.Yet in the plan were also signs to showThat ere this consummation could be reached,A man must first arise who understoodHow to bring knowledge, built on commonsenseAnd reason only, into such a formAs truly to comprise the spirit-world;This now hath happened. To ThomasiusThe lot has fallen to produce a workBased on that very science, which todayAll men demand. This work in their own tongueDoth bring full proof of spirit-worth, which menCould only find in mystic paths before,And in the temples of initiates.This work will now become the fetter firmThat you with us unites in spirit-life;Through it will ye be able to discernHow firm the base on which our teaching rests.And through it, too, ye will receive the powerTo take from us that knowledge with free willWhich is confined to mystic paths aloneAnd so, in living fruitfulness, that LifeCan now unfold itself, which doth uniteThe universal commonsense of manWith all the customs of the sacred shrine.

Frederick Trustworthy:

Dear friends, this moment, when we join us first

At this our temple’s ancient holy gates

Is most significant for you and us.

The call which we have given to you now

Was strongly laid upon us by the signs

Which our Grand Master could discern full well

In the wise plan of earth’s development.

There it is very plainly shadowed forth

That at this time the service wise and true

Of this our sacred Temple must unite

With universal commonsense of man,

Which seeks for truth far off from mystic paths.

Yet in the plan were also signs to show

That ere this consummation could be reached,

A man must first arise who understood

How to bring knowledge, built on commonsense

And reason only, into such a form

As truly to comprise the spirit-world;

This now hath happened. To Thomasius

The lot has fallen to produce a work

Based on that very science, which today

All men demand. This work in their own tongue

Doth bring full proof of spirit-worth, which men

Could only find in mystic paths before,

And in the temples of initiates.

This work will now become the fetter firm

That you with us unites in spirit-life;

Through it will ye be able to discern

How firm the base on which our teaching rests.

And through it, too, ye will receive the power

To take from us that knowledge with free will

Which is confined to mystic paths alone

And so, in living fruitfulness, that Life

Can now unfold itself, which doth unite

The universal commonsense of man

With all the customs of the sacred shrine.

Magnus Bellicosus:Our brother’s words have made it clear to you,That we have been induced by solemn signsTo call you to the Threshold of our Shrine.The Master soon will speak to you and showThe deeper reasons for thus calling you.But first I must, so far as may be meet,Tell you of this great man, whose work hath madeOur present union possible today.Thomasius gave himself to painting’s artUntil he felt an inward spirit-callTo take up science as his work in life.His gifts which were so great and so uniqueWithin the region of the painter’s art,Were first developed when he passed withinThe spheres devoted to true mystic lore,These led him to the Master, and, through him,He learnt the first steps in that world of truthWhere wisdom teaches spiritual sight.Upborne to spirit-heights and thus infilledWith great creative power, he painted thenPictures, which seem indeed like living men.That which would soon have driven other menTo strive amain toward the highest goalUpon the beaten track of art—all thisWas but a fresh incentive to his brainTo use hard-won success in such a wayAs might prove best for welfare of mankind.He saw full well that spirit-science mustFirst find a firm foundation, and for thisThe sense for science and strict reasoningMust be released from mania for set formThrough contact with an artist mind, and gainThe inward strength to realize the truthOf world-relationship in life and deed.And so Thomasius hath offered up,A willing off’ring to humanity,The artist-power, he might have used himself.O friends, read ye aright this man’s true soulAnd understand the call which now we giveAnd hesitate no more to follow it.

Magnus Bellicosus:

Our brother’s words have made it clear to you,

That we have been induced by solemn signs

To call you to the Threshold of our Shrine.

The Master soon will speak to you and show

The deeper reasons for thus calling you.

But first I must, so far as may be meet,

Tell you of this great man, whose work hath made

Our present union possible today.

Thomasius gave himself to painting’s art

Until he felt an inward spirit-call

To take up science as his work in life.

His gifts which were so great and so unique

Within the region of the painter’s art,

Were first developed when he passed within

The spheres devoted to true mystic lore,

These led him to the Master, and, through him,

He learnt the first steps in that world of truth

Where wisdom teaches spiritual sight.

Upborne to spirit-heights and thus infilled

With great creative power, he painted then

Pictures, which seem indeed like living men.

That which would soon have driven other men

To strive amain toward the highest goal

Upon the beaten track of art—all this

Was but a fresh incentive to his brain

To use hard-won success in such a way

As might prove best for welfare of mankind.

He saw full well that spirit-science must

First find a firm foundation, and for this

The sense for science and strict reasoning

Must be released from mania for set form

Through contact with an artist mind, and gain

The inward strength to realize the truth

Of world-relationship in life and deed.

And so Thomasius hath offered up,

A willing off’ring to humanity,

The artist-power, he might have used himself.

O friends, read ye aright this man’s true soul

And understand the call which now we give

And hesitate no more to follow it.

Hilary True-to-God:In that same Spirit’s Name, which is revealedTo souls within our sacred shrine, we comeTo men who until now might never hearThe word which here doth secretly sound forth.Those Powers which guide the purpose of our EarthCould not in its beginning be revealedTo all humanity in their full light.As in the body of a child, the powersThrough which it learns to act and use its mind,Must gradually ripen, and grow strong;So must humanity unfold itselfAs one great whole throughout its earthly course.The impulse in the soul which later onMight worthy prove to gaze on spirit-lightIn higher worlds, first lived in atrophy.Yet in the Earth’s beginning there were sentFrom out the higher kingdoms of real lifeExalted spirit-beings, who might actAs wise instructors of humanity.In mystic holy shrines did they employThose mighty spirit powers, which were poured forthIn secret into souls which could know noughtOf their exalted leaders or their work.Then later from the ranks of men themselvesThese masters wise could choose for pupils thoseWho by well-tested lives of self-denialHad proved that they were ripe to be ordainedInto the mystic aims and wisdom’s lore.And when the pupils of those early seersCould guard in worthy way the good and true,Then those sublime instructors turned their stepsBack to their own especial realms of life.These pupils of the gods then chose out menWho might succeed them in the guardianshipOf spirit-treasures; and in such a wayThe treasures were passed on from age to age.Until the present time all mystic schools,If they are such in truth, have really sprungFrom that which first was founded from on high.Humbly we cherish in this very placeThat which our fathers handed down to us.We do not ever speak about the dues,Which through our office we inherited,But only of the favour shown to usBy those great spirit-powers, who chose weak menAs mediators, and entrusted themWith treasures which bring forth the spirit-lightIn souls of men: and ’tis our lot, dear friends,To open to you now this treasured store.For signs which in the plan of all the worldsCan clearly be discerned by spirit-eyesShow most propitious at this very time.

Hilary True-to-God:

In that same Spirit’s Name, which is revealed

To souls within our sacred shrine, we come

To men who until now might never hear

The word which here doth secretly sound forth.

Those Powers which guide the purpose of our Earth

Could not in its beginning be revealed

To all humanity in their full light.

As in the body of a child, the powers

Through which it learns to act and use its mind,

Must gradually ripen, and grow strong;

So must humanity unfold itself

As one great whole throughout its earthly course.

The impulse in the soul which later on

Might worthy prove to gaze on spirit-light

In higher worlds, first lived in atrophy.

Yet in the Earth’s beginning there were sent

From out the higher kingdoms of real life

Exalted spirit-beings, who might act

As wise instructors of humanity.

In mystic holy shrines did they employ

Those mighty spirit powers, which were poured forth

In secret into souls which could know nought

Of their exalted leaders or their work.

Then later from the ranks of men themselves

These masters wise could choose for pupils those

Who by well-tested lives of self-denial

Had proved that they were ripe to be ordained

Into the mystic aims and wisdom’s lore.

And when the pupils of those early seers

Could guard in worthy way the good and true,

Then those sublime instructors turned their steps

Back to their own especial realms of life.

These pupils of the gods then chose out men

Who might succeed them in the guardianship

Of spirit-treasures; and in such a way

The treasures were passed on from age to age.

Until the present time all mystic schools,

If they are such in truth, have really sprung

From that which first was founded from on high.

Humbly we cherish in this very place

That which our fathers handed down to us.

We do not ever speak about the dues,

Which through our office we inherited,

But only of the favour shown to us

By those great spirit-powers, who chose weak men

As mediators, and entrusted them

With treasures which bring forth the spirit-light

In souls of men: and ’tis our lot, dear friends,

To open to you now this treasured store.

For signs which in the plan of all the worlds

Can clearly be discerned by spirit-eyes

Show most propitious at this very time.

Fox:From distant worlds, it seems, the reasons comeWhich should convince us that ’twere meet that weShould join ourselves to you, and in this wayShould be the first to give the impetusTo this great work Thomasius gives the world.However grand what thou hast spoken sounds,It cannot drown in hearts of homely menThe thought that such a work will take effectThrough its own power, if it should prove to holdWithin itself what souls of men require.If this work prove important, it will be,Not through the things the mystics offer us,But since true science comes to the supportOf spirit-knowledge, and doth prove it true.If this be really so, what use is there,If mystic approbation paves the way,And not th’ intrinsic merit of the work?

Fox:

From distant worlds, it seems, the reasons come

Which should convince us that ’twere meet that we

Should join ourselves to you, and in this way

Should be the first to give the impetus

To this great work Thomasius gives the world.

However grand what thou hast spoken sounds,

It cannot drown in hearts of homely men

The thought that such a work will take effect

Through its own power, if it should prove to hold

Within itself what souls of men require.

If this work prove important, it will be,

Not through the things the mystics offer us,

But since true science comes to the support

Of spirit-knowledge, and doth prove it true.

If this be really so, what use is there,

If mystic approbation paves the way,

And not th’ intrinsic merit of the work?

Albertus Torquatus:The science which is opening on the worldFrom such foundations as Thomasius laidWill neither gain nor lose through such applauseAs we or ye may choose to render it.And yet thereby a way can now be foundBy which mankind may study mystic lore.It would accomplish only half its workIf it should show the goal, but not the road.And now it rests with you to understandThat now at last the moment hath arrivedFor reason and the mystic path to join;And to the spirit-life of this our worldTo give thereby the power which can but workWhen it reveals itself in season due.

Albertus Torquatus:

The science which is opening on the world

From such foundations as Thomasius laid

Will neither gain nor lose through such applause

As we or ye may choose to render it.

And yet thereby a way can now be found

By which mankind may study mystic lore.

It would accomplish only half its work

If it should show the goal, but not the road.

And now it rests with you to understand

That now at last the moment hath arrived

For reason and the mystic path to join;

And to the spirit-life of this our world

To give thereby the power which can but work

When it reveals itself in season due.

Curtain

Scene 2The same. The persons who were at first assembled have left, with the exception of Felix Balde and Dr. Strader, who remain with Hilary True-to-God, the Grand Master; Magnus Bellicosus, the Second Preceptor; Albertus Torquatus, the First Master of the Ceremonies; Frederick Trustworthy, the Second Master of the Ceremonies; Maria; and Johannes Thomasius.Hilary:My son, what thou hast perfected must nowWithin this holy place receive the seal,Which sacred and primeval knowledge gives,Besides the blessing of the Rosy Cross.What thou hast brought the world must be through usUnto the Spirit offered, that it mayBear fruit in all the worlds, where power of manCan be made use of for world-fashioning.Bellicosus:That thou might’st give unto the world this workThou had’st to part for many years with muchThat in thine inmost soul thou loved’st best.There stood a spirit-teacher at thy side,Who went from thee, so that thy human soulMight perfectly unfold its powers in thee.Thou wast in closest touch with one dear friend;She also left thee, for thou had’st to learnThat which men only learn when they are setTo follow out their soul’s powers in themselves.With courage hast thou passed through this ordeal.That which was taken from thee for thy goodIs, for thy good, restored to thee anew.Thy friend stands here before thee: in the shrineShe waits for thee to follow out our wish.Soon, thou wilt meet thy teacher once again.These friends, who on our temple’s threshold stand,Desire to join with us in greeting thee,As one who brings great knowledge here with him.Felix Balde(to Thomasius):The mystic art which heretofore aspiredThrough inward contemplation toward the light,Will through thine act be able now to workThrough knowledge gained within the world of sense.Strader(to Thomasius):Those souls who after spirit-knowledge striveWhile life still unto matter binds them fast,Will now through thee find out a road by whichThey can attain the light in their own way.Thomasius:Exalted Master, and ye, honoured sirs!Ye think to see before you now a manWho, through the Spirit’s power and earnest strife,Was able to produce the work you praiseAnd can acknowledge with your fostering care.Ye think that he will certainly succeedIn reconciling science of todayWith ever-ancient sacred mystic art.And truly were there anything besidesThe voice of mine own soul, which could instilBelief about it into me, I thinkIt well might be your words.…Trustworthy:It well might be your words....The Master’s wordDoth but express that which without a doubtThou feelest in thy soul. There is no needTo strengthen what thine inner voice declares.Thomasius:Ah! were it so, most humbly would I standBefore you and implore that I might gainThe temple’s blessing on this work of mine.I used to think it so, when first I heardThe word by which I came to understandThat ye would take my work beneath your careAnd open gateways to me, which beforeOnly initiates could e’er approach.But as I trod the path that led to youThere opened out upon my soul a worldTo which, at such a time ye certainlyWould not have wished to lead me. AhrimanIn all his greatness stood before me there.And then I saw that he it is in truthWho is the expert in real cosmic laws.What human beings think they know of himIs of no value. Only he can knowWho once hath seen him in the spirit-world.It was from him alone that I could learnThe truth about this work of mine in full.He showed how in the progress of the worldOne could not judge effects of such a work;Since its true progress cannot be appraisedBy those impressions men may form of itWho judge by science and strict logic’s law.The final verdict cannot be pronouncedTill creature from creator is set free,And, freed from him, can follow its own pathThroughout the courses of the spirit-life.Yet now the work is so bound up with meThat it is possible that I might turnThat which I guide back from the spirit-realmsTo something evil, even though it wereGood in itself and in its working power.I must myself from out the spirit-worldSend forth afar my influence on allWhich shows itself on Earth as the resultOf that which I have brought forth from my mind.And if I should let evil issue forthFrom out the spirit-world, through these results,Then would the truth do damage greater farThan error, for men follow after truthAccording to their insight, error not.I shall for certain at some future timeTurn the results of this my act to illFor Ahriman hath clearly shewn to meThat these results must all belong to him.While I was at my work, and filled with joyThat it should lead me with such certain treadStep after step, up truth’s great pyramid,I only noticed in my soul that partWhich lent itself to help me in my search;And all the rest I left without a guard.All those wild impulses, which formerlyWere but in bud, could now in quietudeBloom forth and ripen into full grown fruits.I thought I dwelt in highest spirit-realms,But was in truth in deepest night of soul.It was the strength of these same impulsesWhich showed me clearly Ahriman’s own realm.And so I know the effect that I shall have,For in the future all these impulsesWill go to form my personality.Before I took this work in hand, I gaveMyself to Lucifer, because I wishedTo learn to know and understand his realm.Now know I, what I could not see beforeWhen I was lost entirely in my work,That he it was who wove around my thoughtThose beauteous pictures, which within my soulBrought forth wild impulses, which silent nowWill surely one day gain control of me.Trustworthy:How can one who hath reached such spirit-heightsAnd knows all this for certain, yet believeThat he hath no escape from evil left?Why, thou canst see where danger for thee lies;And so canst crush it, and with courage saveThyself, and the results of thy great work:A spirit-pupil is in duty boundTo kill what hinders progress in himself.Thomasius:I see, thou judgest not by cosmic laws,I could e’en now fulfil what thou dost wishAnd I myself could quite well tell myselfIn this same hour all that thou tellest me.But that which Karma now doth let me doWill not in future be permissible.For things must come which will o’ershadow meAnd darken all my spirit, till I turnTo that which I described to thee just now.Then as the world progresses I will seizeWith greed on anything that’s in my workWhich can be used for harm, and all of thisI will embody in my spirit-life.Then I shall have to love great AhrimanAnd joyfully to his possession giveAll that I have derived from earthly life.(Pause, during which Thomasius meditates deeply.)If all alone I could encounter this,And bear it also in my soul alone,I could await with fullest peace of mindAll that was destined for me on my way.But it will harm your league as much as me.Whatever bad shall follow from my workBoth for myself and other souls of men,Will find its balance through just Karma’s law.The fact that ye fell victims to this faultMakes it far harder for the life of earth,Since ye are leaders in this self-same lifeAnd ought to read the spirit-worlds aright.Ye ought not to have failed to notice thenThat it was someone else, and not myselfWho should have had the doing of this work.Ye should have known it must be put asideFor now; and later would appear againThrough one who otherwise would guide its course.So by your judgment, ye deprive the leagueOf rights it ought to have, if it would stillDirect the service of the Sacred Place.Because this fate for you was shown to meI now appear upon your threshold here.Knowledge would otherwise have kept me far,For truly I can claim no blessing nowUpon this work, which does both good and harm.Hilary:Dear brethren, that which we have just begun,Cannot be carried any further now.We must betake ourselves unto the PlaceFrom whence the Spirit can make known His will.(Hilary leaves the hall with Bellicosus, Torquatus, and Trustworthy. Doctor Strader and Felix Balde also leave. Only Maria and Thomasius are left.)(The hall grows dark. After a short pause the three Spirit-forms Philia, Astrid, and Luna appear in a cloud of light, and group themselves so that they completely hide Maria. The following is a spirit-experience of Thomasius.)Philia:The soul is athirstTo drink of the lightWhich flows from the worlds,An all-caring willHides close from mankind.But eagerly seeksThe spirit to hearThe language divineWhich wisdom in loveDoth hide from the heart.For danger surroundsThe thoughts that would searchIn realms of the soul,Where secret things ruleThe senses from far.Astrid:Yet souls are enlarged,Which follow the lightAnd work through the worldsWhich bold spirit-sightReveals to mankind.The spirit doth striveEnraptured to liveIn realms of the godsWhich wisdom benignMakes known to the seer.There mysteries beckonThe bold keen desireTo win those new worldsWhich far from man’s thoughtDeep secrets conceal.Luna:It ripens the soulTo picture the sightWhence powers will spring forthWhich will, reft of fear,Doth kindle in man.The ransoming powersFrom primeval depthsBring magical mightThat sense cannot know,Close barriered in earth.And traces are thereThat each searching soulMay find out the gateFast closed by the gods’Gainst erring desire.The Voice of Conscience(invisible):Now totter thy thoughtsIn Being’s abyss;And what was lent as help to them,Thou now hast lost.And what shone as the sun for themFor thee is quenched.Alone in cosmic depths thou wanderest,Which men intoxicated with desireWould seek to win.Thou tremblest in the fundaments of growthWhere men must learn to be bereft of allComfort of soul.…(The last words run straight on into the following ones spoken by Maria, who is still hidden by the Spirit-forms and cannot be seen. She speaks at first in a ghostly inward voice.)Maria:So blend thy soulTo powers of loveWhich once could penetrate her with the hopeOf living warmth,Which once could all her will illuminateWith spirit-light.Rescue from lonelinessThe powers of heart that seekAnd feel the nearness of thy friendIn the darkness of thy strife.(The Spirit-forms vanish with the cloud of light. Maria becomes visible in her old place. Maria and Thomasius are alone, standing opposite each other. From now onwards the experiences are on the physical plane.)Thomasius(rousing himself from deep meditation):Where was I even now? My powers of soulUnveiled the conflict of my inner-self;The conscience of the world revealed to meWhat I had lost; and then as blessing cameThe voice of Love within the darksome realm.Maria:Johannes, the companion of thy soulMay once again be present at thy side,And follow thee to earth’s primeval depths,Where souls can win perception e’en as gods,By conquest that destroyeth, yet acquiresBy bold persistence life from seeming death.E’en in the ever empty fields of iceShe may go with her friend, where he will beEncircled with the light which spirits formWhen darkness wounds and maims the powers of life.My friend, thou standest at that threshold now,Where man must lose what once he hath attained.Full many a glance thou hast toward spirit-realmsDirected, and from them hast gained the powerThat made thee capable of thy great work.It seems to thee, that now that work is lost;Desire not then that it were otherwise,For such desire must rob thee of all powerOf further progress into spirit-realms.Whether thou walk’st in error or in truth,Thou canst keep ever clear the view ahead,Which lets thy soul press further on its pathIf thou dost bravely bear necessitiesImposed upon thee by the spirit-realm.This is the law of spirit-pupilship.So long as thou still harbourest the wishThat what hath happened might be otherwiseThou wilt forego the power which must be thine,If thou dost wish to stay in spirit-land.That thou hast lost what thou erewhile hadst wonIs surest sign to thee that thou may’st walkIn safety further on the spirit-path.Henceforward thou must not rely upon,If thou in truth regardest it as lost,That understanding which thou hast till nowWell-used as the criterion of thy work.Therefore thy being must become quite stillAnd wait in silence for the spirit’s gifts;Then only wilt thou commune with thyselfWhen thou once more hast won thyself anew.Oft hast thou met the solemn GuardianWho on the Threshold keeps so strict a watchWhen spirit-life must part from world of sense;But past that presence hast thou never been.At sight of him aye didst thou turn awayAnd all thy view was pictured from without.…Ne’er in that inner world which widens outBeyond thee as the spirit-verity,Have thy steps trod: so must thou now awaitThat which shall be revealed, when at my sideThou shalt not only to such worlddraw nigh,But shaltpass o’erthe Threshold’s boundary.Curtain

The same. The persons who were at first assembled have left, with the exception of Felix Balde and Dr. Strader, who remain with Hilary True-to-God, the Grand Master; Magnus Bellicosus, the Second Preceptor; Albertus Torquatus, the First Master of the Ceremonies; Frederick Trustworthy, the Second Master of the Ceremonies; Maria; and Johannes Thomasius.

Hilary:My son, what thou hast perfected must nowWithin this holy place receive the seal,Which sacred and primeval knowledge gives,Besides the blessing of the Rosy Cross.What thou hast brought the world must be through usUnto the Spirit offered, that it mayBear fruit in all the worlds, where power of manCan be made use of for world-fashioning.

Hilary:

My son, what thou hast perfected must now

Within this holy place receive the seal,

Which sacred and primeval knowledge gives,

Besides the blessing of the Rosy Cross.

What thou hast brought the world must be through us

Unto the Spirit offered, that it may

Bear fruit in all the worlds, where power of man

Can be made use of for world-fashioning.

Bellicosus:That thou might’st give unto the world this workThou had’st to part for many years with muchThat in thine inmost soul thou loved’st best.There stood a spirit-teacher at thy side,Who went from thee, so that thy human soulMight perfectly unfold its powers in thee.Thou wast in closest touch with one dear friend;She also left thee, for thou had’st to learnThat which men only learn when they are setTo follow out their soul’s powers in themselves.With courage hast thou passed through this ordeal.That which was taken from thee for thy goodIs, for thy good, restored to thee anew.Thy friend stands here before thee: in the shrineShe waits for thee to follow out our wish.Soon, thou wilt meet thy teacher once again.These friends, who on our temple’s threshold stand,Desire to join with us in greeting thee,As one who brings great knowledge here with him.

Bellicosus:

That thou might’st give unto the world this work

Thou had’st to part for many years with much

That in thine inmost soul thou loved’st best.

There stood a spirit-teacher at thy side,

Who went from thee, so that thy human soul

Might perfectly unfold its powers in thee.

Thou wast in closest touch with one dear friend;

She also left thee, for thou had’st to learn

That which men only learn when they are set

To follow out their soul’s powers in themselves.

With courage hast thou passed through this ordeal.

That which was taken from thee for thy good

Is, for thy good, restored to thee anew.

Thy friend stands here before thee: in the shrine

She waits for thee to follow out our wish.

Soon, thou wilt meet thy teacher once again.

These friends, who on our temple’s threshold stand,

Desire to join with us in greeting thee,

As one who brings great knowledge here with him.

Felix Balde(to Thomasius):The mystic art which heretofore aspiredThrough inward contemplation toward the light,Will through thine act be able now to workThrough knowledge gained within the world of sense.

Felix Balde(to Thomasius):

The mystic art which heretofore aspired

Through inward contemplation toward the light,

Will through thine act be able now to work

Through knowledge gained within the world of sense.

Strader(to Thomasius):Those souls who after spirit-knowledge striveWhile life still unto matter binds them fast,Will now through thee find out a road by whichThey can attain the light in their own way.

Strader(to Thomasius):

Those souls who after spirit-knowledge strive

While life still unto matter binds them fast,

Will now through thee find out a road by which

They can attain the light in their own way.

Thomasius:Exalted Master, and ye, honoured sirs!Ye think to see before you now a manWho, through the Spirit’s power and earnest strife,Was able to produce the work you praiseAnd can acknowledge with your fostering care.Ye think that he will certainly succeedIn reconciling science of todayWith ever-ancient sacred mystic art.And truly were there anything besidesThe voice of mine own soul, which could instilBelief about it into me, I thinkIt well might be your words.…

Thomasius:

Exalted Master, and ye, honoured sirs!

Ye think to see before you now a man

Who, through the Spirit’s power and earnest strife,

Was able to produce the work you praise

And can acknowledge with your fostering care.

Ye think that he will certainly succeed

In reconciling science of today

With ever-ancient sacred mystic art.

And truly were there anything besides

The voice of mine own soul, which could instil

Belief about it into me, I think

It well might be your words.…

Trustworthy:It well might be your words....The Master’s wordDoth but express that which without a doubtThou feelest in thy soul. There is no needTo strengthen what thine inner voice declares.

Trustworthy:

It well might be your words....The Master’s word

Doth but express that which without a doubt

Thou feelest in thy soul. There is no need

To strengthen what thine inner voice declares.

Thomasius:Ah! were it so, most humbly would I standBefore you and implore that I might gainThe temple’s blessing on this work of mine.I used to think it so, when first I heardThe word by which I came to understandThat ye would take my work beneath your careAnd open gateways to me, which beforeOnly initiates could e’er approach.But as I trod the path that led to youThere opened out upon my soul a worldTo which, at such a time ye certainlyWould not have wished to lead me. AhrimanIn all his greatness stood before me there.And then I saw that he it is in truthWho is the expert in real cosmic laws.What human beings think they know of himIs of no value. Only he can knowWho once hath seen him in the spirit-world.It was from him alone that I could learnThe truth about this work of mine in full.He showed how in the progress of the worldOne could not judge effects of such a work;Since its true progress cannot be appraisedBy those impressions men may form of itWho judge by science and strict logic’s law.The final verdict cannot be pronouncedTill creature from creator is set free,And, freed from him, can follow its own pathThroughout the courses of the spirit-life.Yet now the work is so bound up with meThat it is possible that I might turnThat which I guide back from the spirit-realmsTo something evil, even though it wereGood in itself and in its working power.I must myself from out the spirit-worldSend forth afar my influence on allWhich shows itself on Earth as the resultOf that which I have brought forth from my mind.And if I should let evil issue forthFrom out the spirit-world, through these results,Then would the truth do damage greater farThan error, for men follow after truthAccording to their insight, error not.I shall for certain at some future timeTurn the results of this my act to illFor Ahriman hath clearly shewn to meThat these results must all belong to him.While I was at my work, and filled with joyThat it should lead me with such certain treadStep after step, up truth’s great pyramid,I only noticed in my soul that partWhich lent itself to help me in my search;And all the rest I left without a guard.All those wild impulses, which formerlyWere but in bud, could now in quietudeBloom forth and ripen into full grown fruits.I thought I dwelt in highest spirit-realms,But was in truth in deepest night of soul.It was the strength of these same impulsesWhich showed me clearly Ahriman’s own realm.And so I know the effect that I shall have,For in the future all these impulsesWill go to form my personality.Before I took this work in hand, I gaveMyself to Lucifer, because I wishedTo learn to know and understand his realm.Now know I, what I could not see beforeWhen I was lost entirely in my work,That he it was who wove around my thoughtThose beauteous pictures, which within my soulBrought forth wild impulses, which silent nowWill surely one day gain control of me.

Thomasius:

Ah! were it so, most humbly would I stand

Before you and implore that I might gain

The temple’s blessing on this work of mine.

I used to think it so, when first I heard

The word by which I came to understand

That ye would take my work beneath your care

And open gateways to me, which before

Only initiates could e’er approach.

But as I trod the path that led to you

There opened out upon my soul a world

To which, at such a time ye certainly

Would not have wished to lead me. Ahriman

In all his greatness stood before me there.

And then I saw that he it is in truth

Who is the expert in real cosmic laws.

What human beings think they know of him

Is of no value. Only he can know

Who once hath seen him in the spirit-world.

It was from him alone that I could learn

The truth about this work of mine in full.

He showed how in the progress of the world

One could not judge effects of such a work;

Since its true progress cannot be appraised

By those impressions men may form of it

Who judge by science and strict logic’s law.

The final verdict cannot be pronounced

Till creature from creator is set free,

And, freed from him, can follow its own path

Throughout the courses of the spirit-life.

Yet now the work is so bound up with me

That it is possible that I might turn

That which I guide back from the spirit-realms

To something evil, even though it were

Good in itself and in its working power.

I must myself from out the spirit-world

Send forth afar my influence on all

Which shows itself on Earth as the result

Of that which I have brought forth from my mind.

And if I should let evil issue forth

From out the spirit-world, through these results,

Then would the truth do damage greater far

Than error, for men follow after truth

According to their insight, error not.

I shall for certain at some future time

Turn the results of this my act to ill

For Ahriman hath clearly shewn to me

That these results must all belong to him.

While I was at my work, and filled with joy

That it should lead me with such certain tread

Step after step, up truth’s great pyramid,

I only noticed in my soul that part

Which lent itself to help me in my search;

And all the rest I left without a guard.

All those wild impulses, which formerly

Were but in bud, could now in quietude

Bloom forth and ripen into full grown fruits.

I thought I dwelt in highest spirit-realms,

But was in truth in deepest night of soul.

It was the strength of these same impulses

Which showed me clearly Ahriman’s own realm.

And so I know the effect that I shall have,

For in the future all these impulses

Will go to form my personality.

Before I took this work in hand, I gave

Myself to Lucifer, because I wished

To learn to know and understand his realm.

Now know I, what I could not see before

When I was lost entirely in my work,

That he it was who wove around my thought

Those beauteous pictures, which within my soul

Brought forth wild impulses, which silent now

Will surely one day gain control of me.

Trustworthy:How can one who hath reached such spirit-heightsAnd knows all this for certain, yet believeThat he hath no escape from evil left?Why, thou canst see where danger for thee lies;And so canst crush it, and with courage saveThyself, and the results of thy great work:A spirit-pupil is in duty boundTo kill what hinders progress in himself.

Trustworthy:

How can one who hath reached such spirit-heights

And knows all this for certain, yet believe

That he hath no escape from evil left?

Why, thou canst see where danger for thee lies;

And so canst crush it, and with courage save

Thyself, and the results of thy great work:

A spirit-pupil is in duty bound

To kill what hinders progress in himself.

Thomasius:I see, thou judgest not by cosmic laws,I could e’en now fulfil what thou dost wishAnd I myself could quite well tell myselfIn this same hour all that thou tellest me.But that which Karma now doth let me doWill not in future be permissible.For things must come which will o’ershadow meAnd darken all my spirit, till I turnTo that which I described to thee just now.Then as the world progresses I will seizeWith greed on anything that’s in my workWhich can be used for harm, and all of thisI will embody in my spirit-life.Then I shall have to love great AhrimanAnd joyfully to his possession giveAll that I have derived from earthly life.

Thomasius:

I see, thou judgest not by cosmic laws,

I could e’en now fulfil what thou dost wish

And I myself could quite well tell myself

In this same hour all that thou tellest me.

But that which Karma now doth let me do

Will not in future be permissible.

For things must come which will o’ershadow me

And darken all my spirit, till I turn

To that which I described to thee just now.

Then as the world progresses I will seize

With greed on anything that’s in my work

Which can be used for harm, and all of this

I will embody in my spirit-life.

Then I shall have to love great Ahriman

And joyfully to his possession give

All that I have derived from earthly life.

(Pause, during which Thomasius meditates deeply.)

If all alone I could encounter this,And bear it also in my soul alone,I could await with fullest peace of mindAll that was destined for me on my way.But it will harm your league as much as me.Whatever bad shall follow from my workBoth for myself and other souls of men,Will find its balance through just Karma’s law.The fact that ye fell victims to this faultMakes it far harder for the life of earth,Since ye are leaders in this self-same lifeAnd ought to read the spirit-worlds aright.Ye ought not to have failed to notice thenThat it was someone else, and not myselfWho should have had the doing of this work.Ye should have known it must be put asideFor now; and later would appear againThrough one who otherwise would guide its course.So by your judgment, ye deprive the leagueOf rights it ought to have, if it would stillDirect the service of the Sacred Place.Because this fate for you was shown to meI now appear upon your threshold here.Knowledge would otherwise have kept me far,For truly I can claim no blessing nowUpon this work, which does both good and harm.

If all alone I could encounter this,

And bear it also in my soul alone,

I could await with fullest peace of mind

All that was destined for me on my way.

But it will harm your league as much as me.

Whatever bad shall follow from my work

Both for myself and other souls of men,

Will find its balance through just Karma’s law.

The fact that ye fell victims to this fault

Makes it far harder for the life of earth,

Since ye are leaders in this self-same life

And ought to read the spirit-worlds aright.

Ye ought not to have failed to notice then

That it was someone else, and not myself

Who should have had the doing of this work.

Ye should have known it must be put aside

For now; and later would appear again

Through one who otherwise would guide its course.

So by your judgment, ye deprive the league

Of rights it ought to have, if it would still

Direct the service of the Sacred Place.

Because this fate for you was shown to me

I now appear upon your threshold here.

Knowledge would otherwise have kept me far,

For truly I can claim no blessing now

Upon this work, which does both good and harm.

Hilary:Dear brethren, that which we have just begun,Cannot be carried any further now.We must betake ourselves unto the PlaceFrom whence the Spirit can make known His will.

Hilary:

Dear brethren, that which we have just begun,

Cannot be carried any further now.

We must betake ourselves unto the Place

From whence the Spirit can make known His will.

(Hilary leaves the hall with Bellicosus, Torquatus, and Trustworthy. Doctor Strader and Felix Balde also leave. Only Maria and Thomasius are left.)

(The hall grows dark. After a short pause the three Spirit-forms Philia, Astrid, and Luna appear in a cloud of light, and group themselves so that they completely hide Maria. The following is a spirit-experience of Thomasius.)

Philia:The soul is athirstTo drink of the lightWhich flows from the worlds,An all-caring willHides close from mankind.But eagerly seeksThe spirit to hearThe language divineWhich wisdom in loveDoth hide from the heart.For danger surroundsThe thoughts that would searchIn realms of the soul,Where secret things ruleThe senses from far.

Philia:

The soul is athirst

To drink of the light

Which flows from the worlds,

An all-caring will

Hides close from mankind.

But eagerly seeks

The spirit to hear

The language divine

Which wisdom in love

Doth hide from the heart.

For danger surrounds

The thoughts that would search

In realms of the soul,

Where secret things rule

The senses from far.

Astrid:Yet souls are enlarged,Which follow the lightAnd work through the worldsWhich bold spirit-sightReveals to mankind.The spirit doth striveEnraptured to liveIn realms of the godsWhich wisdom benignMakes known to the seer.There mysteries beckonThe bold keen desireTo win those new worldsWhich far from man’s thoughtDeep secrets conceal.

Astrid:

Yet souls are enlarged,

Which follow the light

And work through the worlds

Which bold spirit-sight

Reveals to mankind.

The spirit doth strive

Enraptured to live

In realms of the gods

Which wisdom benign

Makes known to the seer.

There mysteries beckon

The bold keen desire

To win those new worlds

Which far from man’s thought

Deep secrets conceal.

Luna:It ripens the soulTo picture the sightWhence powers will spring forthWhich will, reft of fear,Doth kindle in man.The ransoming powersFrom primeval depthsBring magical mightThat sense cannot know,Close barriered in earth.And traces are thereThat each searching soulMay find out the gateFast closed by the gods’Gainst erring desire.

Luna:

It ripens the soul

To picture the sight

Whence powers will spring forth

Which will, reft of fear,

Doth kindle in man.

The ransoming powers

From primeval depths

Bring magical might

That sense cannot know,

Close barriered in earth.

And traces are there

That each searching soul

May find out the gate

Fast closed by the gods

’Gainst erring desire.

The Voice of Conscience(invisible):Now totter thy thoughtsIn Being’s abyss;And what was lent as help to them,Thou now hast lost.And what shone as the sun for themFor thee is quenched.Alone in cosmic depths thou wanderest,Which men intoxicated with desireWould seek to win.Thou tremblest in the fundaments of growthWhere men must learn to be bereft of allComfort of soul.…

The Voice of Conscience(invisible):

Now totter thy thoughts

In Being’s abyss;

And what was lent as help to them,

Thou now hast lost.

And what shone as the sun for them

For thee is quenched.

Alone in cosmic depths thou wanderest,

Which men intoxicated with desire

Would seek to win.

Thou tremblest in the fundaments of growth

Where men must learn to be bereft of all

Comfort of soul.…

(The last words run straight on into the following ones spoken by Maria, who is still hidden by the Spirit-forms and cannot be seen. She speaks at first in a ghostly inward voice.)

Maria:So blend thy soulTo powers of loveWhich once could penetrate her with the hopeOf living warmth,Which once could all her will illuminateWith spirit-light.Rescue from lonelinessThe powers of heart that seekAnd feel the nearness of thy friendIn the darkness of thy strife.

Maria:

So blend thy soul

To powers of love

Which once could penetrate her with the hope

Of living warmth,

Which once could all her will illuminate

With spirit-light.

Rescue from loneliness

The powers of heart that seek

And feel the nearness of thy friend

In the darkness of thy strife.

(The Spirit-forms vanish with the cloud of light. Maria becomes visible in her old place. Maria and Thomasius are alone, standing opposite each other. From now onwards the experiences are on the physical plane.)

Thomasius(rousing himself from deep meditation):Where was I even now? My powers of soulUnveiled the conflict of my inner-self;The conscience of the world revealed to meWhat I had lost; and then as blessing cameThe voice of Love within the darksome realm.

Thomasius(rousing himself from deep meditation):

Where was I even now? My powers of soul

Unveiled the conflict of my inner-self;

The conscience of the world revealed to me

What I had lost; and then as blessing came

The voice of Love within the darksome realm.

Maria:Johannes, the companion of thy soulMay once again be present at thy side,And follow thee to earth’s primeval depths,Where souls can win perception e’en as gods,By conquest that destroyeth, yet acquiresBy bold persistence life from seeming death.E’en in the ever empty fields of iceShe may go with her friend, where he will beEncircled with the light which spirits formWhen darkness wounds and maims the powers of life.My friend, thou standest at that threshold now,Where man must lose what once he hath attained.Full many a glance thou hast toward spirit-realmsDirected, and from them hast gained the powerThat made thee capable of thy great work.It seems to thee, that now that work is lost;Desire not then that it were otherwise,For such desire must rob thee of all powerOf further progress into spirit-realms.Whether thou walk’st in error or in truth,Thou canst keep ever clear the view ahead,Which lets thy soul press further on its pathIf thou dost bravely bear necessitiesImposed upon thee by the spirit-realm.This is the law of spirit-pupilship.So long as thou still harbourest the wishThat what hath happened might be otherwiseThou wilt forego the power which must be thine,If thou dost wish to stay in spirit-land.That thou hast lost what thou erewhile hadst wonIs surest sign to thee that thou may’st walkIn safety further on the spirit-path.Henceforward thou must not rely upon,If thou in truth regardest it as lost,That understanding which thou hast till nowWell-used as the criterion of thy work.Therefore thy being must become quite stillAnd wait in silence for the spirit’s gifts;Then only wilt thou commune with thyselfWhen thou once more hast won thyself anew.Oft hast thou met the solemn GuardianWho on the Threshold keeps so strict a watchWhen spirit-life must part from world of sense;But past that presence hast thou never been.At sight of him aye didst thou turn awayAnd all thy view was pictured from without.…Ne’er in that inner world which widens outBeyond thee as the spirit-verity,Have thy steps trod: so must thou now awaitThat which shall be revealed, when at my sideThou shalt not only to such worlddraw nigh,But shaltpass o’erthe Threshold’s boundary.

Maria:

Johannes, the companion of thy soul

May once again be present at thy side,

And follow thee to earth’s primeval depths,

Where souls can win perception e’en as gods,

By conquest that destroyeth, yet acquires

By bold persistence life from seeming death.

E’en in the ever empty fields of ice

She may go with her friend, where he will be

Encircled with the light which spirits form

When darkness wounds and maims the powers of life.

My friend, thou standest at that threshold now,

Where man must lose what once he hath attained.

Full many a glance thou hast toward spirit-realms

Directed, and from them hast gained the power

That made thee capable of thy great work.

It seems to thee, that now that work is lost;

Desire not then that it were otherwise,

For such desire must rob thee of all power

Of further progress into spirit-realms.

Whether thou walk’st in error or in truth,

Thou canst keep ever clear the view ahead,

Which lets thy soul press further on its path

If thou dost bravely bear necessities

Imposed upon thee by the spirit-realm.

This is the law of spirit-pupilship.

So long as thou still harbourest the wish

That what hath happened might be otherwise

Thou wilt forego the power which must be thine,

If thou dost wish to stay in spirit-land.

That thou hast lost what thou erewhile hadst won

Is surest sign to thee that thou may’st walk

In safety further on the spirit-path.

Henceforward thou must not rely upon,

If thou in truth regardest it as lost,

That understanding which thou hast till now

Well-used as the criterion of thy work.

Therefore thy being must become quite still

And wait in silence for the spirit’s gifts;

Then only wilt thou commune with thyself

When thou once more hast won thyself anew.

Oft hast thou met the solemn Guardian

Who on the Threshold keeps so strict a watch

When spirit-life must part from world of sense;

But past that presence hast thou never been.

At sight of him aye didst thou turn away

And all thy view was pictured from without.…

Ne’er in that inner world which widens out

Beyond thee as the spirit-verity,

Have thy steps trod: so must thou now await

That which shall be revealed, when at my side

Thou shalt not only to such worlddraw nigh,

But shaltpass o’erthe Threshold’s boundary.

Curtain

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