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The monarch has transformed the spear into the less harmful mace； while
the Church has added an inch of iron to the crook。 Therefore； the former
has become less war…like； and the latter less peaceful； and； verily； in actual
life we find them so；
The patriarchal sire； head of the tribal household； was the original
priest； and the hearthstone the first altar around which the family rites
were performed； and from this pure and primitive original have been
evolved； through progressive ages； the stately temple and the sacred
person of the despotic pontiff； from the sincere prayer the pure aspirations
of the human heart and the joyous offerings of fruits and flowers to the
invisible powers around them； and from the souls of their beloved
ancestors has arisen the costly and complicated ritual of theology。 And； if
the theologians of to…day really knew the lost； secret meaning of their
complicated rituals； and the unseen powers lying behind their external
symbols； their anxieties for the continued life of their dying creeds would
be turned to new hopes and faith； which could be demonstrated to their
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equally blind followers； that； that which they were teaching they knew；
and could practically use the knowledge given forth in their sanctuaries；
and； instead of offering up their supplications to an imaginary； personal
Deity； their words； rites； and ceremonies； would take on the form and
power that such should command； and they would become truly； what
their title really means； a doctor of the soul。 Then could they； intelligently；
lead and direct the souls of their followers to the path of Christ （Truth）；
which leads up to salvation； not a vicarious atonement； but gaining the at…
one…ment through the individual soul's development to a conscious
relation； to that Divine spirit； we call God； where it can say 〃I know。〃
Out of those simple gifts； which were the spontaneous offerings of
loving remembrance and unselfish charity； have grown the prayers；
penances； sacrifices； and servile worship； of sacerdotalism。 Out of the
paternal consideration and love of the aged sire has evolved the haughty；
chilling pride of the selfish； isolated priest； and which reflects its baneful
influence upon the worshipers at their feet。 They have also changed their
once sacred； faithful； and reverent； obedience into suspicion and distrust；
and with the educated to utter disgust。 The light has been extinguished；
and priest and people alike are groping about in darkness。
It is strange； yea； passing strange； the amount of human ignorance and
folly that is revealed。 When we look upon this picture and then upon that；
verily we cannot help but ask the question； is mankind really progressing？
We know that it is； we are keenly alive to the truth that the Anthem of
Creation sounds out 〃Excelsior〃〃move on；〃 but how； and in what way
（SPIRITUALLY） we fail to comprehend。 The cyclic development of the
human soul is an inscrutable mystery。
All the considerations above presented must be thoroughly weighed
and understood in order to arrive at the true value of 〃the dogma and ritual
of high magic；〃 as Eliphas Levi terms it； because； amid the vast array of
tinselled drapery； the outcome of man's vain conceit and bombastic pride；
we shall find very little that can be considered as vital and really essential
to the rites of magic。 The show； the drapery； the priestly ornaments and
instruments； are to the really spiritual Occultist； but； as sounding brass and
a tinkling cymbal。 That they had； and still have； their legitimate uses； is
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true； but these uses do not concern magic； per se； nor its manifold powers。
They awed the popular mind； and impressed upon the masses a due
reverence for the powers that be。 They were instrumental in holding the
untrained passions of the common herd in check； by a wholesome fear of
summary vengeance from the gods； so that this pageantry of magic； the
outward priestly show； was more of a politic development than a spiritual
necessity； an astute but； philosophical method of enabling the educated
few to govern the uneducated many。 And it was only when the educational
and initiatory rites of the temple became corrupt； and the priest became the
persecuting ally of the kingwhen； in real fact； the priest lost his
spirituality in the desire for temporal power and place； that the people
began to disbelieve his professions and rebel against his tyrannical control。
The powers that be； are now wielding their sword of justice； and
unfurling the knowledge of freedom and truth to the aspiring mind of man。
He has begun to feel his bondage and the yoke of oppression。 The words
of promise and love； instead of lifting him up to the God he has been
taught to worship； bow him down in slavish obedience to his priest。
Mankind cannot remain in this mental and spiritual darkness much longer。
Already I see the break of day； the dawn of a new life； a new religion； or；
rather； the re…establishing of the true； which is as old as Time itself。 There
is but One Law； One Principle； One Word； One Truth and One God。
The original requirements for the office of priest； and the rites of
magic； were； as shown； a primitive； i。e。； pure mind； one that had outgrown
the lusts and passions of youth； a person of responsibility and experience；
and even to this day the priest of the Roman Church is called by the
familiar title of 〃father。〃 And as Nature does not alter her laws and
requirements in obedience to the moral development of the race； we may
rest assured that the same requirements； of ten thousand years ago； still
hold good to…day。 You may enter your magic circle； drawn with prescribed
rites； and you may intone your consecrations and chant your incantations；
you may burn your incense in the brazen censer and pose in your flowing；
priestly robes； you may bear the sacred pentacles of the spirit upon your
breast and wave the magic sword to the four quarters of the heavens； yea；
you may even do moreyou may burn the secret sigil of the objurant spirit；
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and yell your conjurations and exorcisms till you are black in the face； but
all in vain； my friendall in vain。 It will prove nothing but vanity and
vexation of spirit unless the inward self； the soul； interblends with the
outward Word； and contacting by its own dynamic intensity the
elemental vibrations of Naturearouses these spiritual forces to the extent
of responding to your call。 When this can be done； but not until then； will
your magical incantations have any effect upon the voiceless air。 Not the
priestly robes nor magic sword； not the incantations； WRITTEN WORD；
nor mystic circle； can produce Natur