Way to Godhood

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It

unto

is is

left

with each individual to make the

the judge for himself.

Free-will

is

giv-

He must choose, and as he chooses, so shall him. He may choose freedom and realize joy

THE WAY TO GODHOOD as

He may

a natural consequence.

143

choose bondage to

some form of unnaturalness and reap the

inevitable con-

sequence thereof.

The unnaturalness many forms.

to

which one may be

bondage

in

may be disease, morbid and inert states of mind, the many shades and tints of weakness and cowardice by which one may be enslaved. He who is so enslaved cannot know true peace and joy. Alpresents

ways present

is

phantom of

the

ing attention to his to

anything

in

i,s

weakness.

that

particular

When is

He who respect

bereft

is

of

The

child refuses to be bound.

spurns the idea that joy of joy

which binds him, callis in bondage

that

own

The

childlike spirit.

It

the child

evil.

natural desires are suppressed, the possibility

reduced or made impossible.

In proportion as

the possibility of joy passes, in that proportion do abnor-

mal instincts and desires take the place of joy. These abnormal instincts and desire,s, in time, become so established as to seem both desirable and natural, causing those who are slaves to them to believe that they are preparing the way for a life of pleasure and happiness in a future state.

Self-renunciation

many and to a

is

opposed to it

joy.

It

But that

bliss.

apparent to

all

who

is

the very

has been believed by

freely taught that renunciation

heaven of

trine

is

Nevertheless,

opposite of joy.

is

the gateway

this is a destructive doc-

will think.

A

little

attention

methods and ways reveals the absurdity of A study of the great Masters and world Saviors reveals that not one of them has advocated such a belief. In nature, the only renunciation is of that which

to

nature's

such a doctrine.

is

useless or destructive.

tivity.

Nor does

and happiness. thrift

Nature does not renounce ac-

she renounce strength and satisfaction

On

the contrary, everywhere in nature,

and accomplishment

healtji

a_nci

strength,

are en-

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

144 couraged. ture is

It

is

only through constant creation that na-

enabled to meet the demands

is

made upon

her.

She

constantly taxed to the utmost to produce enough to

upon her. and producing.

satisfy the needs of those dependent

Conse-

quently, she

In na-

actively creating

is

ture, this iron

law

i,s

constantly in operation: that which

does not produce, that which does not yield give place to that which

.Through this law, nature

productive

is

is

profit,

and

must

profitable.

constantly preaching against

renunciation.

Akin

known

sion

the sense of enjoyment

to

as affection.

is

that other pas-

Affection for anything or any-

one, no matter what the degree of affection, brings joy.

And

the

more highly evolved the human being becomes, more sincere will become the affec-

the deeper and the

tion of such an one for those

Nor tion.

It

are near and dear.

produces comeliness and strength of

soul' s affection will (

its

who

does affection stop with mere pleasure and satisfac-

scope and

dom,

it

its

it

The

come, in time, to be all-inclusive in

embrace.

spreads over

admiration,

soul.

all;

The

cloak of charity and free-

although personal affection and

cafanot 'bestow

upon those who

wilfully

bind themselves to falsity of belief and to error of ways.

sympathy and charity for all, even the wayward and the ignorant and the cruel, and tho^se who know not Charity grants to each man his freethe Divine Law. dom and right of choice, but, by no means, does charity

,There

is

sanction and endorse the choice of slavery to ignorance, error,

and negativeness.

The binds

doctrine of renunciation maintains that affection

man

to his kind

and

his affection should bind en.

to things of the earth

him

;

whereas,

only to the things of heav-

Nevertheless, no one can deny that

we

are taught in

Holy Writ to love one another and to be "kindly affecLove is .affection in the highest degree. Love tionate,"

THE WAY TO GODHOOD begins on the earth.

Love

for

God

145

begins on the earth

plane and must be cultivated on the earth plane. for

God

who

is

grown through

loves not his fellows

kind,

hi,s

Love

love for one's fellowmen.

and has no affection for

friends, his near of kin,

is

He his

incapable of love for

The

heart that is filled with illusions on earth can become free from them immediately after the earthly casing is thrown off.

God.

scarcely

The

doctrine

of

non-renunciation

for the treasures

that affection

of

of

heaven

joy maintains is

developed

through, and by means of, affection in earthly relationships.

Rather than renouncing

affection,

one should

cul-

Love for friend and family and neighbor is the The ideal of health and kindergarten of love for God. /strength, of grace and beauty of character, is to be encouraged, as means of developing comeliness of soul. The natural ties of home and community are harbingers of Through devotion and loyalty in human relationgood. ships, through service and helpfulness in every department of human interests, the soul becomes strong and powerful and comely, qualified to meet the demands of a tivate

it.

higher plane.

Therefore,

man

should diligently seek those

on earth which fit him to enjoy the realities of existence on any plane. Joy comes through the power Thus, to serve, the power to help, those whom we love. health is a condition of joy because it enables us to do and to serve. For the same reason, strength is a condition of joy. Without health and strength, the highest degree of joy is impossible. According to the doctrine of joy and happiness, all those states and conditions in life which relationships

are denounced and discouraged by negative doctrines are to be cultivated

and encouraged.

He who

is

unable to

earthly plane

is

not far advanced in the scale of spiritual-

ity.

He who knows

know

joy and happiness on the

not joy and happiness knows not God.

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

143

joy, happiness, health, strength, are a part of the divine nature.

illness, the.se

are essentials of creative ability; and

now and

essentially,

is,

—

They

always, a Creator.

God

Weakness and

misery and wretchedness, impatience and inertness

now and always, destructive, and among the things that pass away. They

things are,

to be classed

are in-

and hold man on the plane of non-productiveness. They are the conditions that must give place to elements of power and productive skill. They terfere with creative ability

are evil because they are non-producing, because they are

He who

non-fruitful.

follows the

follow^ the negative law

law of renunciation

Joy and

of non-productivity.

happiness are elements of spirituality.

They are

incen-

and kindness to others, incentives to service and devotion and loyalty. They are natural traits

tives to usefulness

of the productive, fruitful

"Seek ye

first

the

life.

kingdom of heaven and

all

these

things will be added unto you."

Seeking the kingdom of heaven certainly

not to

is

seek sorrow, indifference, imbecility, and inertness.

does not need to seek, in order to find these things.

One One

needs only to renounce active, positive virtues and, to do nothing at

all

except idle

away

strength in order to ob-

tain sorrow, indifference, imbecility, in

and

inertness.

But,

order to have health and strength, in order to gain

possession of those things which bring joy and happiness,

peace and contentment, efi'ort.

He

mu,st

free

seek. He must put forth mind of undesirable habits.

man must the

He must fight and struggle for the sake of He must do his duty to his fellow man. standard of service.

It

life call,s

calls

for

activity,

gaining strength.

This ideal and

industry,

for the joy of effort.

This

usefulness, is

seeking

kingdom of heaven. Mere introspection, meditation, reflection, and the contemplation of lofty truths not is

the

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

147

Seeking the kingdom of heaven demands an acof usefulness among men.

enough.

tive, positive life

Joy

in the heart is

an indication of having found the

He who

kingdom of heaven. doing right

has joy in his heart

The joy

that extent in the kingdom.

the joy of the kingdom.

is

way of life that brings joy, dom. The kingdom of heaven

that results

To

is

to

from

continue in the

continue in the king-

is

to

is

nothing more or

less

than

the kingdom of satisfaction, or the plane of satisfaction.

When

there

man

then

peace and satisfaction of mind and soul,

is

truly entered into the

is

kingdom of heaven.

Blind faith cannot free one from sorrow.

have

all

of suffering and sorrow.

full

We

not

is

the

state

Faith without works, faith without demonstration,

we have

If

may

and yet be Where suffering and sorof bliss and satisfaction.

possible faith in a negative doctrine,

row abound

is

It

a kingdom of joy and gladness.

is

faith

and

if

we work and

is

dead.

thereby obtain, then

our faith of the kind that results in salvation.

Salvation

freedom from things that are undesirable. If we have faith in God, faith that He will give us happiness, but have not that faith which causes us to meet the conditions is

of happiness, then

manner,

if

we have

we

shall reap disappointment.

faith that

God

In like

will give us health, but

have not the faith that causes us to obey the laws of health,

we

Our faith is blind and dead, We may have faith that we state; but, unless we actively

shall reap disappointment.

and brings forth no fruits. shall be happy in a future

put forth effort to obtain happiness and to give happiness to others in this life, here

and now, we are not

qualified

for happiness in any state.

Since joy is

is

the result of doing well, since salvation

the result of an active, positive faith manifesting in

works, there tion

and

i,s

no ground for the doctrine of renuncia-

inactivity.

Think not

that,

after a life of re-

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

148

come to you when the you do not so live as to find peace and joy here and now, how is it possible to know them on any other plane or in any other sphere? Learn from the child, which finds joy and happiness in every breath it takes, joy in play, joy in food and drink, nunciation, joy and happiness will

body

is

cast aside.

joy in work, joy in

For,

all

if

things that belong to

"Unless ye become as

little

life.

children, ye can

in

no

wise enter the kingdom of heaven.'*

Accept the philosophy of joy. Accept a natural, though divine, philosophy of life. Live the philosophy of joy. Live a natural, divine philosophy of life. And the

kingdom of

joy, the

kingdom of heaven,

shall

be yours.

—

CHAPTER FIFTEEN Suffer not injustice to be done.

For the past few le

centuries, a double standard a doub-

law, totally contradictory, has been taught

that

is,

mankind

the doctrine of non-resistance and the doctrine of

As

punishment for wrong-doing.

understood,

generally

these standards are in conflict one with the other. this reason, justice has fled;

ence as to

The

who

is

and

puni,shed and

it

is

who

For

a matter of influis

not punished.

principle of non-resistance, rightly understood,

a very important aspect of the Divine Law. prevalent

misconceptions

ahd misrepresentations,

been carried to absurd extremes, and

men

Instead of making

perverted.

ha,s

is

But, through it

has

been woefully

out of criminals,

has often resulted in making criminals out of men.

it

In-

stead of making men strong and self-reliant, it has made them weak and omnipotent. Rightly understood, the law of non-resistance is positive, demanding positive strength on the part of him who obeys it. As generally accepted, it is a negative standard, tending toward lethargy and inertness on the part of him who follows it. The law,s of resistance, non-resistance, and of punishment are one and the same. These three are indeed one, viewed from different angles. The laws of justice demands a supplement. The necessary supplement and corollary of justice

is

mercy.

The mistake

of those

the law of non-resistance to extreme limits that there

two are justice,

in

is

who

a conflict between mercy and justice.

perfect harmony.

and mercy are

carry

is in thinking

The

Resistance, non-resistance,

in exact

accord one with another.

THE WAY TO GODHOOP

150

A

prevalent misconception of the law of non-resist-

ance goes to the extreme of resisting nothing

wrong and

injustice.

—

not even This extreme interpretation of non-

resistance leads to the attitude of utter indifference

very worst feature of negativism.

and with no

It

—the

accepts, absolutely

"Whatever is, is and shortcomings and weaknesses of one's own nature, it puts forth no effort toward improvement. Its indifference toward error and injustice may become so pronounced as to amount to the same thing as sanction of error and injustice. This conqualification, the principle,

In regard to the errors

best."

ception of non-resistance strikes

growth and development.

at

the

very

roots

It leads to inertness of the

of

most

It sanctions and encourages a tolerance beyond reason and good judgment. It is directly opposed to development of manhood and manly powers and virtues. Thus, it leads away from the possibility of God-

formidable type.

that

i,s

hood.

This misconception is so subtle and delusive that it making rapid inroads upon the minds and the hearts of the people. It is an easy road to travel, calling for no is

effort

whatever

—easy because

it

is

a downhill path.

It is

attended, nevertheless, by dangers unforeseen and unsuspected.

path

is

And, ere he

is

aware, the one

who

travels this

plunged into perilous situations, from which he

is

scarcely able to extricate himself.

Since this misconception in regard to the law of nonis so delusive and leads to such errors, is it any wonder that the alarm is being sounded? Is it any wonder that those who comprehend the disastrous results of this misconception are doing all in their power to avert the ill effects of this promulgation? Let nothing be done or said to cast a reflection upon the reality or the importance of the law of non-resistance. There is such a law. ^lore than this, it is one of the most important expres-

resistance

THE WAY TO GODH00D

151

Law. The effort that is being made is errors growing avert the to out of an extreme misconception in regard to the meaning of the law. The harmony that exists between the laws of resistance, non-resistance, and justice can best be made clear sions of the Divine

through the use of

illustrations.

Suppose, walking

down

the street, you see a

brute abusing a child or a defenceless

woman.

human

Holding

to the extreme

view of non-resistance, your reflections are somewhat after this fashion: 'None of my business, this. Hach individual is free to do as he pleases. What i,s it

me? Am I my brother's keeper? Am who deserves abuse? What law gives me to

I

judge as to

right to deal

out justice or punishment to the guilty?'

With there be

How

these reflections you

manhood

in

this

pas s by. A

disposition

But how can

of the

difficulty?

can there be a conscience pure and undefiled?

By

allowing the abuse of helpless ones to continue, you be-

come party

to the abuse.

By

sanction injustice and cruelty.

man?

Is

this

the part of

offering no resistance,

you

Is this the part of a true

courage and true manliness,

"to pass by on the other side," leaving innocence and helplessness to suffer

ill

or the irresponsible ? self

treatment at the hands of the cruel

No, a conscience that

satisfies

it-

with the motive of non-resistance under such condi-

is a conscience that has withered and dwindled away from non-use. Through inertness and stagnation, it has It has made a god of lost it,s power to prick and sting. In many indifference and non-interference with others. virtue highly non-interference is to be coma instances, mended. But, in the case of cruelty to the helpless when it lies within one's power to prevent, it is far from being commendable. He is worthy indeed of bearing the form and the figure of a man, who dares to rebuke criminal We acts and to succor the defenceless and the needy.

tions

THE

152

may

GODHOOD

TO"

be ourselves powerless for rendering help; but, in

that case, is

WAY

we can

The law of we are

sion that

non-resistance

is

who

of one

at least call the attention

in a position to exercise control

over abuses.

perverted in the conclu-

To

not our brother's keeper.

exercise

no

concern in regard to the welfare of another, even though

he be an enemy or a stranger,

is

carrying the principle

The strong

of non-resistance to unreasonable extremes.

man

finds satisfaction in the thought that

to be, in measure, his brother's keeper.

honor to

his

manhood

he

He

\s

qualified

counts

the privilege of helping and serving others.

an and

it

to be entrusted with the right

His sense of

and right cannot bear the ,shock of seeing the helpabused or ill treated without offering protest. To pass less injustice by without protest belongs to the errors and misconceptions connected with the law of non-resistance, not The law of non-resistance honors the to the law itself. standard that, under reasonable limits, we are our brother's justice

keeper.

The law

of injustice includes man's relation to the

animal kingdom as well as the human. his neighbor,

As

in the case of

man's attitude toward the animal kingdom

depends upon his disposition of the law of non-resistance.

With many,

there seems to be a conflict between the law

of justice and the law of non-resistence. tice

demands protection of the

helpless.

The law of jusThe extreme

view of non-resistance sanctions indifference and non-interference with the actions of others.

Abuse and

injus-

toward one of the animal creation calls for rectificaAn unreasonable view of non-resistance conflicts with the standard of justice and says, 'No, non-interference is best.' Those who accept the unreasonable view

tice

tion.

ignore cruelty to animals.

Seeing a seeming conflict be-

and non-resistance, they choose the left-hand path, that of negativeness and indif-

tween the standard of ference.

justice

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

153

Any

duty of the strong to protect the weak.

It is the

interpretation that excuses the strong

man from

this obli-

and manhood it to good account in the protection of the unfortunate, to demonthis strate manliness and courage in favor of the needy

gation

strikers at

in his nature.

the very roots of strength

To

exerci,se

strength, to turn

—

man

Under the iron law of nature, through non-use, power and manhood The hand that refuses to forfeit their right to existence.

and

this alone gives

the right to strength.

perform the duties of a useful hand, preferring to hang idle and useless from the shoulder, ceases to be a hand that

is

capable of usefulness.

Likewise, the individual that

exalts the standard of non-resistance to the extent of re-

fusing to live a life of usefulness and activity (refusing

needy

protect *he

to

a,s

among men,

opportunity

!

affords*

Through power of usefulness and manhood. loss of manhood and manly virtues, he forfeits the possibilities of Godhood. And let it be remembered that manhood is the gateway to Godhood. There is no reason for our being unduly zealous in loses the

observing occasions of cruelty toward others. for us to go out of our roal-treatment.

way

in

Guardianship over others

to be coveted for

its

own

It

not

is

search of injustice and is

not a thing

sake nor for selfish purposes.

Generally speaking, punishment of injustice does not be-

long to man.

Not punishment of the

tion of the innocent,

principle

that

is

guilty,

but protec-

The

the point under consideration.

deserves

emphasis

ijS

that

shrink from his duty nor shirk responsibility responsibility are plain.

To do

so

man

shall

not

when duty and

means weakness.

It

does not pay to hide behind the cloak of deference to the

law of non-resistance.

Thus

far,

our illustrations have had to do with the

principle of non-resistence in connection with other than ourselves.

What

about the law of non-resistance

in

its

[THE

154

WAY JO GODHOOD

bearing upon ourselves?

Are

able views of the law in

its

himself

there erroneous, unreason-

application to the individual

?

To

be sure, there are grievous misconceptions of the

law in

its

bearing upon individual growth and develop-

ment.

It

has already been pointed out that failure to

meet the conditions of manhood and strength when the law of justice calls for active succor or protection of ethers results in weakness to him who so fails to do his duty. It remains to be emphasized that weakness is the reward of hirn^ who exalts the law of non-resistance to

unreasonable limits in

regard

to

his

own

growth and development. By many, by those who exaggerate the law proportions, the attitude of non-interference

ward

own weaknesses and

one's

able

degree of patience

that

reaches

the

is

to

extreme

taken to-

is

A

shortcomings.

reason-

But patience

commendable.

of ignoring defects

limit

personal

when

effort

would have removed them has passed beyond the boundaries of a virtue.

In the case of

many who

are eager in

the cause of soul development, the methods of develop-

ment are so negative as to border close to non-resistance itself. Even prayer may become so passive as to be ineffectual. Something more positive than "Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done" is demanded in gaining the victory over uprisings of the carnal nature.

In

human

nature generally, strenuous and persistent effort and positive watchfulness bility

are demanded, to withstand the possi-

of being overtaken by a sudden outburst of anger or

jealousy or some other manifestation of carnality. lapses

into the

has already

lost

state

The ambitious himself.

of

ground

in

indifference

He who

or non-interference

regard to self -mastery.

soul aims at mastership, mastery over

Mastership

demands

zealous

care,

constant

watchfulness, a powerful will, and an active, positive at-

THE WAY TO GODHOOD Remarkable power of resistance

titude of mind.

who

155 his

is

has attained self-mastery to any appreciable degree.

There are other aspects of the law, however, application to ourselves.

which

intent to steal that

fort;

if

If a thief enters is

in

ours by right of honest ef-

wayfarers trespass on our grounds, trampling un-

der foot grass and flowers, destroying fruits for which

have labored;

if

devastate our

fieflds,

servant

in

the

many

we

neighbor's cattle break their bounds and

damaging our sun-kissed crops; if a faithless and pilfers both under such conditions as these, as well

home proves

coin and produce as

its

our house with

—

others that

may

arise,

is

done by way of self-protection? stances, does the

there nothing to be

Under such circum-

law of non-resistance

conflict

with the

standard of justice toward ourselves?

No, non-re,sistance

is

not to be identified with non-

interference under such circumstances as these.

Non-inunder ,such conditions, brands one either as weak and cowardly or as ignorant of the law. If one terference,

hides behind the screen of non-resistance in his disposition of such difficulties, he classes himself

who honor law.

He

among

those

not the law, but a misrepresentation of the

in

leaTize that

whom

remains one ounce of manhood must

non-interference

is

but to injure those

are injuring us by their trespass and outrage.

If

it

who falls

within our power to prevent the thief from taking that

which is ours, prevention is a kindne,ss to him. To offer no resistance to that which is a positive injury to ourselves, other things being equal, is a positive injury to the

cne who would cause us injury.

To

allow another with-

out resistance to take from us that which

is

ours,

is

to

What we owe to another, we we are responsible for preanother when within our power, we

te party to the thievery.

owe

also

to ourselves.

venting crime against

If

are also responsible for preventive measures in the case

of attempted

wrong

to ourselves.

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

153

Again, what disposition

made

to be

is

of the law of

non-resistance in the attitude of the parent toward the child?

Of

Of

the school master toward those under his care?

workman

the employer toward the

shop?

his

in

Is

the law of non-resistance here to be identified with the principle of non-interference?

Is there a conflict

between

the standard of justice and the principle of non-resist-

ance?

The

danger.

It

mental to

child in is

liable

itself.

At

its

innocence

to

fall

times,

is

it

correction and careful guarding.

is

liable

wayward

into*

in

encounter

to

habits,

detri-

need of reproof and

Is the parent's authority

hampered by an erroneous conception of the law of non-resistance? The boy in the school room, possibly the

to be

youth within college walls, cidedly detrimental to his

is

forming habits that are de-

own

Shall the teach-

welfare.

under a false impression of the virtues of non-inter-

er,

ference, leave

him unrestrained when

possibly a heart-to-

him

heart talk concerning the error of his ways would set aright?

The

clerk at the counter, the accountant at the

desk, the salesman on the road,

may

be laboring under

tension or under a temptation peculiar to his temperament.

Let the employer open his eyes to the personal needs of

him who

is

under

his

Let him give word of

employ.

cheer, advice, or rebuke according to need,

screen himself behind the

The

principle of action

the doer and the receiver. act,

weak excuse If

he also injures himself.

is

twofold.

one injures

For

this

It

us,

in

our power so to do. that,

if

So exact

is

affects

if

both

by that very

reason,

for us to prevent wrong-doing to ourselves

however,

rather than

of non-resistance.

is

right

lies

with-

it

it

the law of justice,

another intentionally harms us and

we

are ignorant of his deed and undeserving of harm, the

deed reacts upon the doer harmfully, while fit

is

therefrom. to cause

To

we

reap bene-

permit wrong doing with indifference,

weakness and

loss to

him who does the wrong.

THE WAY TO GODHOOD It

makes him weaker rather than

157

Whoever adds

stronger.

him an

to the weakness of another, to that extent does justice.

No

matter

one's excuse

if

ference with others,

is

it

an injury

in-

righteous non-inter-

is

to the

one

whom

he

might have helped.

The

prevalent misconception regarding the law of non-

resistance has

its

for purity of heart

origin in a desire

Under circumstances

and conscience.

(prompt

that

patience easily creep into the heart;

venge often are uppermost

retaliation

spirit of ill-will

stings the soul.

This fact has

in the motive.

led to the feeling that resistance in itself

re-

and imand re-

sistance or interference, the elements of ill-will

i,s

The

wrong.

and bitterness pricks the conscience and To obviate this difficulty and to secure

purity of conscience, has led to the belief that resistance

and interference with the actions of others

is

a sin.

Thus,

non-resistance, in the sense of indifference and non-inter-

ference with the actions of others, has as a virtue.

come

to be

viewed

This has been thought to be the only type

of non-resistance that gives the consciousness of a pure heart and a clean motive and a clear conscience.

The

fact that there

cates that something to be

emphasized

is

—not

\s

a pricking of conscience indi-

wrong.

But

resistance

—and

is

this is the point

wrong, nor interfer-

and interference. Nbt prevention is wrong, but the spirit back The censure and the condemnaof preventive measures. tion and the impatience and the bitterness that attend prevention this is wrong. The fact that there is pricking of conscience indicates that something needs to be ence, but the ill-will that accompanies resistance

—

The

eliminated.

error has been in thinking

eliminate resistance

the

ill-will

itself,

it

right

to

rather than the bitterness and

that attend resistance.

Non-resistance demands the elimination of bitterness

£nd revenge

ancl hate

and every form of

ill-will

from

the.

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

158 heart of

him who

sistance

against

it

preven-

sanctions effort, will-power,

A

also sanctions.

and

when circumstances

reasonable degree of con-

and authority over others when one's

trol

sanctions re-

^sanctions

It

Interference with others

self-mastery.

warrant,

and crime.

error

The Law

tion of wrong.

The Divine Law

resists.

relation with

them permits, also receives the sanction of the Divine Law. But, always and everywhere, the Law demands the elimination of every type and description of ill-will and bitterness and revenge toward those with whom we deal. This is the feature of non-resistance that must be emphasized and re-emphasized. Let us prevent suffering. Let us rectify wrongs, and obviate error and ignorance and crime. Let us succor the needy, and protect the helpless, both in the animal kingdom and in the human. Let us administer justice as opportunity

affords.

Let

us

put

useful

tive,

life

among men.

every

forth

Let us

strengthen the cau.se of right.

But

an

live

us do

let

effort

to

active, posiall

in

the

spirit of love.

The law

of non-resistance

demands

that

no thought

of hate, no thought of revenge, shall creep in as the motive of

our

act,

but that only the thought of right and

justice shall be the base of our action.

Non-resistance ap-

plies to the spirit of action rather than to action

The

itself.

regeneration of society demands powerful resistance

But demands

against the inroads of error, ignorance, and crime. equally true

is

it

that the regeneration of society

that the spirit of love

,shall

prompt every

resistive

meas-

ure.

Men

of strong intellect and superior ability are de-

voting their lives to the cause of peace and arbitration.

They

are actively engaged in educating public sentiment

in favor of peace principles.

They

scatter literature broad-

cast advocating measures that prevent

war and bloodshed,

— THE WAY TO GODHOOD They plead with congresses

favor of passing

in

support the amicable adjustment of

in

who

of him

life

is

which

bills

difficulties.

In the

actively, definitely, zealously

engaged

promoting peace principles and

war and

in preventing

come

carnage, where does non-resistance lie

159

Just here

in?

does what he does in the spirit of love and kindness.

He

kicks not against the pricks.

plans upon others. feated, he harbors

If

his

He

does not force his

preventive measures are de-

no grudge or antagonism against

In that he 'labors in patience and

opponent.

in the spirit of love

and

hi,s

preserved

is

law of non-

charity, he honors the

resistance.

The

prevalent misconceptions

have brought

it

minded men. r.ges

In

its

regard to the law

among

strong, right-

law encour-

false representation, the

cowardliness and weakness.

tive aspects, the

in

into great disrepute

In

law cultivates in a

its

negative, destruc-

man

the spirit of in-

difference toward reform and betterment of

wonder

that true, noble

manhood spurns

No

society.

the doctrine of

Rightly understood, the law of non-resist-

indifference!

ance must appeal to every true, strong, noble-minded

and woman. fold manner,

and courage

It it

honors manhood and strength. honors strength and courage

to act,

—the

and the strength and courage

tain sweet-spiritedness in the midst of action.

man

In a twostrength to

main-

The

force

that might have been squandered in negative, destructive

thoughts of

are to be turned to active use in the Thus, strength and force and courage are

ill-wi'll

cause at hand.

both intensified and purified. is

identified

The

with indifference

fact that non-resistance

and non-interference an4

non-prevention, has brought the doctrine

among men and women non-resistance

means the

of noble spirit

into

mind and

disfavor

heart.

That

of love as basis of resist-

ance and prevention, will bring the law into favor with noble-hearted

men and women,

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

160

The law

of non-resistance in this sense

accord with the

New Commandment.

and wrong

difference in the midst of error

of manhood.

i^s

not a trait

Activity and effort toward the betterment

—

this

Godhood. The law of non-re,sistance would eliminate, from

all

of self and others, accompanied by the is

in perfect

i,s

Passivity and in-

a trait of

manhood

spirit of love

that leads to

preventive measures, the desire to "get even with" or to

When

"get ahead of another."

sentment or

ror, ignorance,

and

the heart

and one puts forth

ill-will

sin,

he

is

it;

he

is

of kicking against

is

free

from

re-

effort again,st er-

not resisting evil in the sense

simply preventing

evil,

and

promoting the cause of justice and right. If our attitude toward wrong doing is based on the thought of punish-

ment merely, or of dealing out justice to those whom we consider deserving of the hand of justice, then, our attitude

is

not sanctioned by the true law of non-resistance.

Obedience to the law of non-resistance demands that our ,shall be for justice and righteousness and for the betterment of him whose ways we would rectify. If our desire

mind will

tinctured with revenge

is

and the desire

to "get even,"

exemplifying the standard of

What

and resentment and

we

are not

fit

ill-

subjects for

justice.

about punishment, by the

state, of the so-called

criminal? It would be difficult for any one to prove that the system of punishment as carried out at the present time has the sanction of the Law of God. Who can success-

from hate and revenge? Selthe criminal punished on the merits of his deed

fully maintain that

dom

is

alone.

More

it is

often he

free

is

punished because of the hate

and fear of society generally. There is a law of punishment a law that operates through every department of nature. It is not according

and

io

(Suspicion

man-made

—

code.

According to man-made

law,

the

THE WAY TO GODHOOD is

law, he

is

man

FOR BY

punished

criminal

punished

According to natural This principle that

his sins. his

—

sins.

own

punished by his wrong doing, by his

i,s

161

ignorance,

—

and sin must be recognized by the state, before a system of dealing with criminals can be establish-

error,

just ed.

Wrong

doing

Either a

causes.

laws of

life

tendencies.

ground

man

does wrong in ignorance of the

or he doe,s

because he

it

is

In either case, the remedy there for thinking that he

is

one or both of two

to be ascribed to

is

is

human

finement in a place unfit for

is

held by abnormal the same.

Little

benefitted by con-

habitation, wherein

body and mind and soul are stunted, wherein every particle of manhood and divinity in his nature is destroyed? If the cause of his crime tion

he

and

is,

training.

likewise, in

is

ignorance, he need,s instruc-

If the cause

abnormal tendencies,

is

need of instruction and training.

Pris-

ons should be turned into centers, from which men come Instead of forth stronger and better than they went in. this,

they come out hounded creatures, from which every

manhood has been taken. Boast as we may of the superiority of

shred of

es of society over the lower strata, in every

human

it

the upper class-

remains a fact

that,

being, there are traces of superstition, of

But some are more ignorant than others. Some have stronger These are tendencies toward wrong doing than others. ignorance, of ignoble or even criminal tendencies.

called

criminals.

criminal

is

It

is

only a matter

of

The

degree.

worse than the more favored.

Life on this earth

is

our school.

If the ignorant

and

criminally inclined were given the advantages of an institution

that combines in

workshop and of of

life,

its

school, they

methods the elements of would imbibe better ideas

as well as learn a useful trade.

Men who

serve

&s teachers in such an institution, coming in dose daily

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

162

contact with abnormal personalities, would have occasion constantly to apply the principle of non-resistance.

Non-

resistance, in the jSense of indifference, passivity,

and noninterference, has no place in the lives of such men. But, of non-resistance in the sense of charity, patience, and sweet-spiritedness, they require a generous fund. Such non-resistance in the midst of activity has

its

sure re-

gard.

When

the correct idea of non-resistance has

become

established in the hearts of men, a transformation of society will

On

right

have taken

and on

left,

Manhood will be the ideal. manhood will be the accepted standplace.

ard.

"Be a man

that thou

mayst be a god."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN The

spirit

of chivalry and fairydom

constructive in

is

its

effects.

Another feature of negativism is to condemn fairyand every appeal to the fanciful and the

tale literature

picturesque.

when

In the age

fairy tales, stories of the spirits of

nature, the fairies of flowers and of woodland, were the

and manhood and chivalry and perfection

rule,

culture

were

at their height.

its

power, when

it

When

Greece was at the zenith of

was a nation of true manhood, when

culture had reached

its

highest estate,

that time,

at

its

philosophy wajS free from elements that are unwholesome

and destructive

in their effects.

In the present age,

alas,

only a small percentage of

our children are conversant with the fairy

dened childhood tiful,

in the ancient days.

soul-inspiring tales of fairydom,

of unclean spirits and

demons

—

tales that glad-

Instead of the beau-

we have

stories

thoughts of suspicion and superstition and fear.

dency has reached

its

accounts

which

arouse

This ten-

highest possible point in the stories

of malicious animal magnetism of a certain school

of

philosophy. It

is

a noteworthy fact that, in every age of the

world, the religion, the philosophy, and the stories

childhood harmonize perfectly.

rhymes and

Folk lore

ditties all reflect the quality

aind

for

nursery

of sentiment en-

and fabulous accounts of bea,st or woodland sprite, formed to please the fancy of childhood, reflect the spirit of the national religion and tertained by the elders.

jphilosophv.

Ta'les

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

164

Greek

literature preserves for us a collection of nar-

A multitude of gods and goddesses, their religion embodied, a ,superior household of divine beings. Classic myths and legends of ratives concerning gods

and goddesses.

the palmy days of Greece serve not only as a means of

preserving their philosophy and religion, but as a means

of preserving the splendor of their literature for childhood.

The upon

and philosophy has the ultimate test of its quality and

effect that a nation's religion

adherents

its

is

character.

For example, note the Greek religion and philosophy and the effect upon Greek ideals and standards. To all outward appearances, it was a religion and a philosophy of polytheism in reality, a religion and a philosophy of the utmost deference to the One Supreme God, ruler over In their conception of gods and heirarchies, there all. was nothing more unnatural than there is in the idea of one supreme ruler over a nation or a country, with an extensive retinue of sub-officers and subordinate powers whose function it ^s to exercise authority and dominion in the department over which they are placed. There is no evidence that the Greeks considered all the gods as THE God. Nor is there any evidence of their believing in polytheism. The individual gods and goddesses were

—

varying expressions or manifestations of the Deity, the

One Great Power

One Great The

or Force of Nature.

gods and goddesses were hierarchies over the different departments of nature. They represent different forces; or, to express the thought

One Great Force

more

accurately, they represent the

functioning in

different channels, while the

Power In

or the Being that

harmony with

cerning rulership,

is

is,

this

different

ways and

One Supreme Being

is

in

the

has been, and ever shall be. doctrine of the

Greeks con-

the divine ideal placed before

man

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

165

—

the standard of manhood and indiThi3 ideal of and personal responsibility. ^strength and character demanded physical power and enTherefore, perfection of body was the basis durance. on which must be built the superstructure of noble and his

'for

attainment

viduality

Consequently, a part of their time

beautiful character.

and attention was devoted

man

to the requirements of the hu-

form, to exercises, athletic games, swimming, bath-

and other features. Nothing wa,s overlooked in their body might reach the highest state of perfection. Considering weakness and disease as indications of abnormality, the Greeks put forth unbounded effort to free themselves from weakness and disease of every type ing,

desire that the

and

dscription.

grace

of

A

beautiful

movement and

figure,

'motion,

perfect

as \welj

as

physique,

muscular

strength and endurance were sought not merely because

they are in themselves

desirable,

but especially because

they are the natural basis of noble character.

The Greek ideal of cosmogonic rulership and their manhood and bodily perfection became chizelled

ideal of

form of a national

embodying the qualFor the mature mind, there were philosophic treatises and literary creations, exalting nobility and refinement of character. For childhood, there were myth,s and legends and fairytales, calculated to guide the child mind step by step to an appreciation of the national religion and philosophy. into the ities

A

literature,

of elegance, refinement, and strength.

nation of athletes,

a nation that exalted nobility of

character, as well as attractiveness of physique, a nation

of culture and refinement

and character, and philosophy.

in its life

religion

Later, in history,

—at

its

we have

Greek nation, upon the national

height, the

reflected credit

the tales of chivalry and

the ideals of knighthood to satisfy and stimulate the

ma-

ture mind, and fairies, myths, and legends of a pure type,

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

166

These reflect a normal and wholesome mind. Only the normal, healthful mind can create and execute literary inventions of this class. Nothing weak and flabby finds place in this type of literature. Heroism, strength, and nobility are everywhere honored. Truth of the highest and purest type is clothed in fanciful designs, and in rich, perhaps even gorgeous, yet picturesque coloring. Knighthood and heroes signify aspects of truth. They represent strong qualities and virtues protecting and guarding the soul in its struggle for supremacy over error and wrong. Fairies, myths, and legends serve a far more exaltas incentives to childhood.

ed purpqse than merely to please the fancy.

Like the

parable and the allegory, they clothe truth and stract ideas tion.

It

colors

and

turing,

is

alive

is

tangible.

Childhood

is

startling details.

Yet, underneath

a vein of truth.

The fancy

with expectancy and

imagination. is

flower,

plant,

animal,

and

hillside are

hood.

When

Td

pic-

the

is

fchild,

Fairies are the

stone.

woodland, grove and meadow, valley and

and

its

of childhood

a living creature capable of

pleasure and joy, of change and motion. of

ab-

the age of imagina-

the age^.that pictures and paints in glowing in

flower, tree, animal, stone,

souls

make

Water and

plain,

mountain

peopled with the fairy creations of child-

the minds of the elders are

filled

with tales of

gods and goddesses, creatures ideal in their power, strength, nobility and beauty, is there any wonder that literature,

and song reflect beauty? When you find a people that believes in the goodness cf God, and in the goodness of the ruling powers, in the divine heritage of man, the desirability of life on earth, the possibility of joy and happiness, then, you find a nation that is normal and healthy both physically and mentally. Jhe children of that nation are of healthy minds minds not filled with tales of evil powers that infest the night art,

—

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

167

They are children who do not fear to enter the woodlands alone, as do our children. To the children of time.

woods are filled with evil powers, cruel beings, hostile to childhood. But to the child in the demons, and

today, the

land where manhood rules, where a constructive religion and philosophy is taught, woodland and field are the playground of angels, gnomes of the earth, guardians of tree and plant and shrub. In all these, the child sees something beautiful, something desirable and uplifting. Though he

may

scarcely be conscious of

it,

fairy of the flower the soul of

work of

Maker and

the handi-

the All Creator.

What a desirable

he sees in the beautiful

its

contrast between the two ages

heritage

is

that of the child

!

What an

when

un-

destructive

negativism holds sway and an unnatural and wholly untrue materialistic teaching has taken everything desirable out of life!

The average games

that once

child of today does not even enjoy the

delighted youth and added health and

strength to body and mind.

Its tendencies

sedative study, which accomplishes nothing.

many

ca,ses,

the thoughts are poisoned by

are toward a

In far too secret

vices

which one child teaches the other at school or on the streets, tales of vices which do not even exist and are not possible. Vices that do not exist are twisted in the telling until they form pictures of greater destruction in the child mind. Say what we will, these things are facts. Passing through a crowd of boys and girls ranging from six to twelve, we hear them talking of subjects that would shame their elders because they are unnatural and abnormal.

in

Yet we boast of the fact that we are living which children know better than to believe

fairy tales,

know

jhe Easter rabbit.

in

an age

in

absurd

better than to believe in Santa Claus,

We

and

boast of the fact that our children

THE WAY" TO GODHOOD

168

no longer believe that a fairy has its home in every flower, woods are peopled with nymphs jolly and full of fun. Of these things, we boast, forgetful that the minds of our children are peopled with entities of some sort if not beautiful creations, kings and queens of fairyland, then demons and monsters of vice and crime. Thoughts are creatures that people the mind. The thought of love and kindness is a beautiful, heaven-born fairy. Thoughts of vice and ugliness are monsters of destruction. We think only in symbolism. Each thought is a form, each thought is a creative entity. Thought of the tree, of

that the

we admire, is a creature 'like we think. It is an entity.. Men created the word well when they called thoughts fairies. As time passed, men became inclined toward a doc-

the flower, or the shrub that that of which

and a philosophy of weakness instead of one of Naturally, their thoughts turned toward idleness and the desirability of ease and non-effort. They regarded labor as degrading and undesirable, and ea.se and luxury as the only things worth while. Gradually, in place cf tales of beautiful gods and goddesses, in place of dreams cf heroes and chivalric knights and winsome maidens, in place of fairydom with its kings and queens of splendor, ever standing ready to grant the fondest wish of the dutiful child, the minds of men become peopled with monsters and demons and devils and every description of taunting creatures destructive and revolting. Since the age of fairy and fable has passed away, literature and art and ,song reflect morbidness of mind and unhealthful ideals and trine

strength.

standards.

With live

negative, destructive thoughts

without honest

toil,

men began

and the desire to

to create and to formu-

methods for binding the evil entities that peopled their minds. From that day to thi,s, we have a class of men "who toil not, neither do they spin," but who live on the late

THE WAY TO GODHOOD best of the land, not because they have earned

169

by honest effort, but because the many are slaves while the few been enabled are owners of slaves, because they have it

through their negative, destructive philosophy to bind the multitudes.

They have taken from men and

heroic god,s, the fairies of the flowers, the

innocent sprites of water and land.

children the

nymphs and

From man,

they have

Demons, evil given him. His imaginainfluences, evil entities, they have tion, they have peopled with evil and destructive horrors, with tortures and distresses. Instead of being ,surrounded by angelic presences and supernatural powers and forces of goodness and protection, he is haunted by grim messengers of fear and torture, products of a perverted imagination and a troubled conscience. Weakness and disease and a belief in the undesirability of life, they have given him. Through these influences, they are holding the multaken heroism, individuality, power, glory.

titudes in slavery

and

—a slavery that

is,

however, unconscious

willing.

But the new age with its doctrine of manhood has Every effort is being made to replace in the minds of men emphasis upon manhood, heroism, and individuality. The desirability of manly courage and positive effort is receiving due emphasis. As love and good-will supplant ill-will and vice, the minds of men will come to be come.

people with beautiful creations. will

become

,so

In time, the rrund of

pure that soul vision

shall

man

be his; and,

with purified and clarified vision, he shall see the lovely queen of the flowers, and the spritely nymph of wood and meadow. Again shall the child gain freedom from thoughts of vice and evil; and the morbid will have no attraction for him. Men will understand better how to train the child

and how to make conditions suitable for his growth. Where nature and normal conditions govern, evil and destructive tendencies cease to

exi,st.

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

170

The New Commandment hood, the desirability of

brings the doctrine of

life,

man-

the privileges of godhood

and joy and happiness, the right of earthly possessions through honest

effort.

health and ,strength.

It brings

man

to

of

the gospel

It exalts heroic deeds, the right

of

the strong to protect the weak, the possibility of being free

from

hate,

The

of malice.

be loved that is

is

—

from anger, from jealousy and every form right to seek love, the right to love and

this the

won

New Commandment

in this world, joy that is

teaches.

known

Happiness

here and now,

but the beginning, the path, the gate, of the greater joy

and happiness in the next world. Unless he finds peace and contentment now and here, he will not be qualified to enjoy it on any other plane. The New Commandment is the gospel of freedom, of strength, of possession.

the gospel of a healthy body, but

it

is

It is

also the gospel of

man to become the Son of God. It is the gospel of Sonship with the Father, cf Godhood for him who seeks it in the power of man-

the Immortal Soul, the privilege of

hood. It is freely

evil

admitted that there

or the negative side of nature.

that there are evil entities,

such entities and influences.

when man

They

the

mind

is

is

called the

admitted

existed even in the

But

possibility of successful is

what

It is freely

and there have always been

golden age of glorious Greece.

beyond the

is

it

i^s

also

claimed

contradiction,

healthy and normal, strong and godlike, free

that,

when

from hate and malice and envy and

re-

They are, poisonous mush-

\enge, these poisonous entities affect him not.

mind and heart, what the room is to the sun. The sun rises and shines upon the mushroom, and the mushroom shrinks away and is no more. The sun feels not the evil or the poisonous effects thereof. To the sun, it is a,s though the mushroom had to the pure

t

not been.

Likewise, to the healthy, normal man, the evil

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

171

and influences that come

entities

pass quickly

in contact with him either away or they shrink and wither and are no

more.

The mind

man

of

is

so constituted that

cannot be a

it

must be occupied continually

vacuum.

It

thought.

Either

it

is

a thought that

^s

some

with

constructive and

conducive to health and strength and power and creative ability or

it

the reverse.

is

In the universal mind, like the mind of the individual, a certain type of thought holds

thought

may

hood and

individuality,

joy, happiness,

ot thought.

sway.

Its

prevailing

be along lines of health and strength and man.

and righteous possession

Or

heroism,

including honor,

the prevailing thought

cf weakness, of the undesirajbility of

—the may

life,

love,

FAIRY

type

be of disease,

the evil of joy

and happiness, the unreality of existence on the earth plane

—the DEMON type of thought.

It is for

man

to choose.

As

to

what

been throughout the ages, literature records.

his choice has

With unerr-

ing accuracy, literature and art and song preserves the

thoughts that have held sway in the minds of men.

Give us the age of heroic gods, of the erful, All Creative

God over

all.

One

All

Pow-

Give us the age of chiv-

Take away the age of demons and malicious thought force. Give us the age of manhood, the age of strength and achievement. Take from us the age of weakness, and of imbecility. The age of night, take from us, and give us

alry, the

and

age of fairydom.

evil entities

the age of light.

172

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

?

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Manhood

or degeneracy, which

In the past gradually, but in the present very rapidly, are

men awakening

to the fact that creeds

and philosophies life and that

of the negative type have been the ba,se of

they have been leading the race to degeneracy.

These doctrines, which have emphasized the undesirability of life, the sin of earthly loves, and the corrupting influence of material possessions, have spent their force. The world has reached a crisi,s. It is a question as to what It is to be hoped there will be a turnis to be the result. ing of the way, a giving up of the old doctrines and philosophies, and the adoption of a code of ethics that teaches manhood manhood strong and virile, above all else. It is not intended to convey the idea that negative philosophies have had in view degeneracy of the human race. Far from it. But the fact that their negative principles have influenced the lives of the multitudes, the fact that they have been the base of life and action, makes them responsible for the tendency toward degeneracy. Conventions are being held from time to time all over civilized the world in the interests of race betterment. But, without exception, the blame is wrongly placed. The remthey edies suggested are even worse than useless; for would be destructive to mankind as conditions now are. Eugenics and sexual hygiene are given prominent places in the programs of these conventions. That eugenics and sexual hygiene are important factors in race betterment i,s not to be denied. But eugenics

—

grafted tQ the present creeds and philosophies in their

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

174

negativeness would bring forth fruit that would utterly

dismay those who advocate them.

First of

neces-

all, it is

sary for social and economic conditions to be changed; for eugenics and sexual hygiene can accomplish nothing until the fundamental doctrines of life to which the vast multi-

Of what

tudes hold are basically changed.

betterment

if

men

believe that life

use are the teachings of eugeniqs lief that

the body

is

is

if

use

an evil?

men

is

race

Of what

hold to the be-

an enemy to the soul?

Without exby the old

ception, such ideas as these have been taught

creeds.

And

to teach true

he

When men that death

is

is

looked upon with suspicion

manhood

as the base of

believe that this life

good because

state in the hereafter,

is

dares

undesirable and

is

gives entrance to a blessed

it

it

who

all things.

to be

working for race betterment?

Is

supposed that they are it

to be supposed that

they are interested in developing the physical being unto perfection so that

it

and ten presumably

may

last

beyond the three score years man? Ha,s not the world

allotted to

been taught, during the past centuries, that the body o£

man

is

Have we

the repository of evil?

that a strong, vigorous

body

is

not been taught

the direct

enemy

to the

in so

many passions many words per-

we have

been taught that

soul because, in the strong body, there are

which lead the

,soul

astray ?

Not

haps, but in principle at least,

and disease are not something to be shunned and avoided and to be overcome, but, on the contrary, that ill health in no wise interferes with our journey toward bliss. Men have even gone so far as to claim that an illuminated soul may dwell in a diseased, corrupt body. Indeed, what illness

is

there in our philosophies to lead to the thought that the

state of the

body has anything whatever

to

do with the

state of the soul?

Suppose

that, for eighteen

been taught that in order

to-

hundred years, the race had have a perfect soul

it

was

THE WAY TO GODHOOD necessary,

first

of

all,

to

have a perfect body

mal, healthful, and strong

—

a body noryou that an abnormal

—think

outcry in favor of eugenics would

175

now

be necessary?

Suppose, during these same centuries, the race had been taught that the All Father sanctions honest labor, that

He

honors honest accumulation of worldly goods for

the sake of the fruits of righteousness thereof, think you

would be prevalent, on the one hand, and on the other hand, those called saints would be eating the fruit of other men's labor? Would this be pos-

that beggarism that,

sible?

If our religion

and our philosophies had taught

during these centuries, that

jstrict

us,

obedience to the laws of

is the foundation of spirituality; if they had promulgated the principle that perfection of body is essential to Illumination of Soul, think you that misery and weakness and degeneracy would now be the common lot of

health

man? These gree

if

wrong,

conditions

would

our philosophies had if

man had

exist only in a limited de-

been

not

fundamentally

not been taught for centuries to glory

and in idleness. During the past pendulum of thought has swung to the ex-

in weakness, in poverty,

centuries, the

treme of emphasizing of physical welfare. the opposite extreme.

spiritual welfare to the utter neglect

Now

the swing of the

And

in their enthusiastic desire to bring

make

pendulum

is

to

reformers are becoming wild about changes and to

regulations for the betterment of the physical status

of humanity.

Man

is

a twofold being.

And

the

New Commandment

teaches that each side of his nature must receive equal attention. Each is equally important with the other. We must teach the doctrine of manhood; but, in so doing, we must not forget the doctrine of Godhood. He who aims at manhood's true estate without the ideal of Godhood will become sjmply a healthy animal, He may, indeed, bq

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

176

far worse than the animal in the field ; for his shrewd brain able to think of acts of which the animal in its natural

is

state

would not be capable. It is generally

where is

human race, except many respect,s universal is this that men

admitted that the

civilization has not yet penetrated, in

So nearly

fast degenerating.

seldom even so much as think of it. If the race is to continue, a halt must be called in this degenerating process.

Degeneracy cannot be checked by passing laws concerning eugenics and sexual hygiene, for the reason that the conditions

aimed

causes.

To

at

by teaching eugenics are

suppress an effect

is

effects

and not

not to cure a cause.

It

damming up a ,stream that is continually accumulating. The original outlet may be stopped; but there will result a new outlet, and the new is worse than the old. In order to remedy race degeneracy, we must go to the root of the difficulty. The New Commandment mainis like

tains that the root of the trouble

roneous view of

life,

erroneous standards and

Show man on earth and

is

to be found in an er-

an erroneous philosophy and

that life

fulfils his

religion,

ideals. is

desirable, that, unless he lives

duty without grumbling and with-

out complaint, there can be no future happiness and peace for him.

Show him

as a fundamental fact that, as

body, so will be the soul, that

it

i,s

well-developed soul to abide in a body that tinually

by disease and corrupt

duty on earth in a natural

is

is

poisoned con-

Show him

habits.

that his

to be a creator, to work, to accumulate

manner, and to enjoy the

Show him

the

is

impossible for a strong

fruits of his labor.

that labor, instead of being a shame,

is

act-

Labor gives health mind occupied keeps and the to the .strength body, and and free from morbidity. Convince man that he has a Let him see that deright to health, joy, and happiness.

ually for the glorification of the soul.

nial of health, joy,

and happiness

is

not an indication

of.

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

177

soul supremacy, that soul and los s of v

it is rather a sign of weakness of manhood, and speaks not of kinship with

the Father. First

and foremost

needs of humanity

in the

health laws incorporated into

mental need; and, unless

it

its religion.

is

is

is

to

have

a funda-

done, the race will .continue

Without physical health and vigor there can-

to decline.

A

not be the highest degree of spirituality. foundation

This

is

Sonship can only be in accord with

ship with the Father.

the degree of manhood. that health

health code

is

strong physical

necessary to the attainment of absolute Son-

Unless

it

is

generally recognized

a condition of true spirituality and that the

on a par with the moral and

is

ethical code,

Men

the race cannot attain the ideal of full manhood.

must recognize

that perfection of body,

of the living God,

i|S

which

is

the temple

of equal importance with perfection of

man

soul.

Health and strength of body gives a place to

that

very necessary for the highest degree of Soul Illum-

is

ination.

Our religion must teach that manliness and manly powers are the means of physical regeneration. Our religion must make clear as a fundamental basis the principle that welfare of body is not antagonistic to welfare of soul. Sad indeed, to think that countless millions have neglected the physical being and its powers so that there has resulted in the race a general decline.

These points teaches.

It

in

particular,

the

New Commandmnt

does not, however, stop with health laws, but

includes as laws of life

all

things that enable

at his best both in respect to the physical being

spect to the soul.

human

acts.

As

Human such,

it

nature

is in

is

the

no wise

man and

to

be

in re-

foundation of

evil

nor destruc-

tive to the soul. But the mind of man should be so normal and so healthy as to be able to recognize the difference between a desire that is good and constructive and one that

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

173

harmful and destructive. The mind should be so healthful as not to be a slave to those desires which can injure

is

either

body or

It

is

soul.

to be greatly regretted that degeneracy

is

re-

from the erroneous philosophy of life which has held sway in the minds of the people. Religion has been made a thing apart from other interests. We have been sulting

taught that the soul

is

habits and one's

We

body of

to

is

do with religion is fast awaken-

are beginning to realize that

a school and a training, that care of the

and that the labor

as important as care of the soul,

is

man

have

of living and one's

But the world

life.

ing to different ideas. this earth life is

mode

work have anything

or with the religious

And men

that counts.

all

laughed at the idea that one's

as truly a part of religious life as

is

develop-

ment of soul. Advance is being made in the right direction. The doctrine of manhood and strength is fast taking hold of the minds of men. A religion that honors the body equally with the soul, a religion that guide,s and controls

instinct rather than

interest of thoughtful

able

suppresses

it,

is

absorbing the

Race betterment

men.

work; but race betterment can never

is

be

a laud-

brought

about through suppression of desire, nor through ignoring the value of physical perfection.

Desire for physical perfection

man

worships the

desires to

possession

flesh.

It is

is

no indication that

rather an indication that he

become all that he should be. Desire for earthly i,s by no means an indication that man desires

not Illumination of Soul.

It

rather indicates a desire to

him in order to make the most of life. Desire for strength and power need not indicate that man would use his strength in forcing the weak to obey his commands. Desire for strength and power is a desire to honor God in whose image man is created. Dehave that which belongs

sire to

to

perform useful labor

in

no wise

signifies lack of cul-

THE WAY TO GODHOOD It is rather

ture.

the desire to be a continual creator like

All these things are part of the true man.

the Father.

These

179

They should

should be a part of the soul.

de,sires

be a part of the religion of the people.

Which

is

it

to be?

A

religion with

manhood

as

its

foundation, teaching progressive growth of both body and soul? Or is it to be a religion of negativeness and decline and degeneracy? Which is it to be? Force and compulsion cannot bring about gradual development of manhood. Compulsion accomplishes nothing. The race must be educated to higher ideals and standards. The ideal that manhood, strength, and possession, joy, happiness, and a Godly life are desirable must be instilled individual mind,

into the

A

mind.

and, ultimately, into the

race

strong and mighty desire must be created for

Nothing can be done for

these very things.

self-better-

ment or

for race betterment until a strong desire for bet-

terment

is

and rooted

created. in

Let

grounded become the

desire be deeply

thi,s

Let

the life of the race.

it

foundation upon which our children build their lives; and, within three generations, there will be a race of

men

such

into

the

as the world has never seen.

The following

principles

must be

instilled

minds of men:

man may become

In order that

order that he nature.

may

He must

the son of God, in

be Godlike, he must round out his true

become,

sense of the word.

fir.st

of

all,

Manhood must

be

MAN, a

in the true

'companied and

followed by the use of his powers in working, in creating, in accomplishing.

He must

truly act like a prototype of

the All Father, the Creator of

man

lives

next

life

all

things.

The

life

that

must be taken up again on the next plane, when the soul picks up the thread of being after having thrown off the body. The i,s

here on earth

is

the life that

but a continuation of the present,

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

180

When

these

hearts of men,

it

ideals will

and sexual hygiene. act as an incentive

have become established

in

the

be safe to teach mankind eugenics

For, then, these sacred sciences will

and holy life; whereas, under present ,standards, they would act as a means of reto the true

pressing natural instincts, only to create

channels of satisfaction.

new and worse

—

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Own

"Your

"Your own"

it

to

You"—if You Work There

indicates possession.

source of power.

and ends

Come

Will

For the

in possession.

It.

but one

is

individual, that source begins

This being a fundamental truth,

follows that, in order to possess power,

come

for

it

necessary

is

power; and all possession must be through right methods and principles

to

if it is

into connection with the source of

to be lasting.

In order to possess "y° ur the

power

that belong to the

This

obtain health.

a

life

is

own"

normal

—the opportunities and man— necessary to it is

not an easy matter

was fundamentally wrong, a

that

ative in all

its

is

is

shown

Fundamentally, one's philosophy of

As

is,

as

is

is

That

in the fact of his

one's state of health. that

man

a fundamental proposition.

wrong

was neg-

always wrong. his

philosophy

having poor health.

life is

responsible for

a man's philosophy, so

his real belief, not the philosophy that

fesses before

men and

The

held in bondage.

i,s

philosophy of the weak and diseased

is

one has lived

features; for, the desires and the thoughts

being negative, the whole being

This

if

life that

is

claims to represent, but that which

he believes within his heart of hearts. the vast multitudes believe something,

And, mind you,

way down

within

themselves, of which they are not aware; and

it

inner belief which

life.

is

he

he pro-

the essential factor of their

is

this

The average man may claim parently, his claim self

he

is

is

true.

bound as with

philosophy of

his

Apto have no religion. Yet deep down within him-

cables of steel to the religious

progenitors.

And

the philosophy

to

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

182

which he

bound

is

the body of

man

enemy and

its

of the negative type, claiming that

is

enemy, and

his

is

desires,

body and to ignore

its

that, in

order to

make

best to

is

it

interests, that the body, existing at

best for only a short time,

is

of

worth, and that the

little

weaker the body and the more racked with er

The man

the soul.

is

Yet those ideas are

They are the very foundation of

born with him.

And

he proves

it,

Ap*

claim to believe them.

parently, he does not believe them.

ence.

pain, the great-

scarcely conscious of believing

is

He makes no

these things.

kill this

a slave of the

proves

it

manner of

results of his life, but in the

his exist-

not only in the

daily,

In or-

his living.

der to gain possession of "his own," the true, normal, natural man,

first

strength.

To do

It

of

pays

all, 'thisj

strict attention to health

demands normal, natural

and

'/living.

demands carefulness in regard to the habits of daily It demands something more than the routine of ris-

life.

ing in the morning, eating breakfast, going to work, eating lunch, going to

work

going to a place where a routine

is

again,

not the natural

smoking, or

eating dinner,

or play

idle gossip

It is

life.

the rule.

is

not the

life

Such

intended

by the All Father. It is not the life that make,s a man strong and efficient and Godlike. Though in business the man who lives such a life may be what seme call "positive," though he may be feeling less toward his fellow men, toward women and children, and may exploit them at every opportunity, nevertheless, his

i,s

a negative

life.

He

knows not what good health is. He knows not happiness. He knows nothing of joy or peace of mind. The true life of man is a double life the life of the

—

material and the

ence

him,

life

meains more it

means

First of

session

of

living, all,

"his

of the soul.

than eating,

and

living

is

man who is own" adopts a

the

To

such a man, exist-

sleeping,

a fine

{working.

To

art.

zealous in securing posscientific

or

systematic

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

183

mode of living. Each day has its round of observances which serve as the outline or skeleton to be filled in and rounded out by duties and pleasures more or less flexible. The morning bath is indispensable, in order to free the body from the poisons that accumulate during the night. If the body is not thus cleansed, these poisons are reabsorbed by the system. The bath must be followed or accompanied tby breahing exercises which free the internal body of the poison^ therein. This is all-important; for upon the cleanliness of the lungs depend the strength and the power of the material being. A third exercise equally important with physical cleanliness furnishes food

—

and stimulus and freedom for the soul a ,silent individual service to God, which should take the form of prayer or a Sacred Mantram held in the heart. This draws the soul near to God, frees the mind and heart of negative conditions, and stimulates mind and heart for the duties of the day.

—the — recognizes both

_The complete come

life

life

that causey "its

body and

own"

to

and considers each equally important with the other. Such a life will For the eventually realize the highest degree of success. service of the soul to its Maker, no church is really necesto

it

sary; for

it

is in

soul,

the privacy of the room, in the privacy

The time is when every man, the head of every famhave a private room in his own house, to be used

of the heart, that true service takes place. not far distant ily,

will

a? a temple of prayer

and worship for himself and

his

household.

Following these three services, which aim at physical and spiritual cleanliness, man is ready to minister to the demands of the appetite. This should be with food fit for food that supplies the gods, simple, clean, wholesome, nourishment and strength as well as satisfies the taste. Nor should one turn immediately from the breakfast

—

184 table to

THE WAY TO GODHOOD business duties and cares. A walk in

the open air

with deep breathing will charge the blood with vivifying

which are necessary

qualities,

labor.

The

to

one for the day's

fit

labor of the forenoon, whether physical or

menial, should be thought of as wholesome and, in every

Labor

respect, beneficial to one's welfare.

mind, heart, and

soul,

as

a glory to

is

well as a stimulus to bodily

health.

As

the breakfast, so should be the lunch, chosen not

only to satisfy the taste, but to satisfy the real needs of body, mind, and soul:

Then

man

is

ready for further

la-

Labor being finished for the day, he should see to it that he and his family enjoy some wholesome exercise, Then comes recafter which follows the evening meal. reation and pleasure, whatever will cheer the heart and the soul of himself and of those dependent on him. It is to be hoped that the time \s not far distant when

bor.

when

the ancient rule will be followed,

the twenty-four inch

gauge will be divided ino three parts and will be strictly adhered to, one part for labor, one part for rest, one part

No man

for recreation.

should be forced to work more

than one third of the day. circumstances, needs more

He

No rest

does, however, need that

one, except under special

than one third of the day.

much and

that he has opportunity for that

individual

—man,

woman, and

should see to

amount of

child

re,st.

—requires

it

Every

the other

third for the needs of the spiritual being and for recreation

and

pleasure.

This ancient guage of

life

is

the normal,

natural division of time for man.

While man

is on the earth it is necessary for him to have regard for the body as the dwelling place of mind and The mind should be clear and rational in its opersoul. The soul should be as free as possible from taint ations. and blemish and from the poison of negative thought con-

ditions.

Unless the body

i,s

healthy and strong and normal,

THE WAY TO GODHOOn the individual

is

No man

tion.

who

more or

It is

first

It is for this

attention to physical needs.

reason that he

at

for the

its best.

mind

strong, healthy

to be clear

THINK,

give

first

is

the foundation

its

best unless the

body makes

it

easy

and to think consecutively and

Health of body makes

logically.

tive thoughts, to

The

A

who

who aim^

God must

The body

o' the soul, and the soul cannot be at is

every direc-

attention to physical

Soul Illumination and Sonship with

body

in

for this reason that he

must give

at true success

strength and vigor. at

handicapped

can reach the highest degree of success,

neglects the body.

aims

less

185

it

and then

easy to think constructo

BUILD,

possibilities of success are greater

success.

than they have

Everywhere, there But they must be men in the true sense of the word, men of strength and not weaklings, men whose mind,s are free from malice, hate, and destructive thoughts. They must be men whose minds are clear, men ever been in the history of the world. is

a

who

demand

for men.

recognize the fundamental fact that

succeed

it

is

not because some one

is

if

they do not

holding them back,

not because some one has power over them, but simply

because they are slaves to weakness, to misconceptions, slaves to the belief that others are holding

them back and

that others are interfering with their desiny.

Men must control

the

gain freedom from the idea that a few

world.

They must

recog'nize

that

men

health,

men, and that if they do not possess these things it is because they do not take advantage of the opportunities that are held before them continually. Note the difference between two men. Here is one who is weak and far from perfect in health, but his mind He may have an understanding is filled with theories. power, strength, possession, are the inheritance of

all

of fundamental laws, but he does not make use of them.

This

man

is

well educated; nevertheless,

when

it

comes

to

THE WAY TO GODMOOD

186

the race of life and the survival of the

Here

handicapped.

another

is

he

fittest,

man who may

sadly

is

not have the

education, but has physical strength and endurance and a

He

great fund of wholesome thought and courage.

able

is

and do things. He know,s not fear. Nor does he shrink from responsibility. In the race of life, this

to step in

man

stands a better chance than the former.

The

race of

life is to

the strong.

being normal, see with clear vision. t

who, them because

It is to those It is to

they have the courage and the power, because they are in possession of that which helps them to pass others with

a bound.

But because man is weak is no reason he should remain weak. It is his duty, aye, his privilege, to leave weakness behind, and to gain strength, health, and courage, step by step, until perfection

All

great courage.

one takes the

first (

new

is his.

At

this requires

first,

As

beginnings require courage.

and refuses to

step in the right direction

turn back, he receives strength and courage for the next

And,

step.

if

he continues to refuse a backward

step, the

goal eventually will be health, strength, and power.

own"

In the struggle for possession of "his

what

it

happiness, love, peace, or material treasures

ways the enemy sooner

—be

it

may, whether possession of health and strength,

is

man

fear steps in and bids

Fear reasons demnation.

This enemy

to be met.

ready to leave the old

The

him

thu,s

:

way

is

al-

No

fear.

is

for the

new than

halt.

To

give up the old

is

strength and earthly treasures

Possession

is i,s

to reap con-

To

old, the negative is right.

miss the reward.

—there

seek bodily

to lose the soul

wrong.

It

is

and to

better

to

be a slave, slave to want, to disease, to weakness, to poverty, to the exploitation of others; for this is to gain the

kingdom of heaven This

is

—after death.'

the old

enemy

to possession, the

enemy

that

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

187

held in bondage vast multitudes for centuries.

lias

The

and the desire to On account nothing. of obedience to this cruel enemy, do we have the woe and the misery that are everywhere apparent: on the one side, the vast multitudes, which are exploited by the few; on the other, the few who exploit men, women, and children and all for what reason? Simply because men or beings in the form of men have listened to the old destructive philosophy, which has taught man that, in slavery, there is salvation of soul, and that slavery is the gateway to the kingdom of heaven after enemy,

fear, includes ignorance, bigotry,

—

—

—

—

death.

Look

Free yourself from these shackles.

Look

face.

at

it

Defy the

unflinchingly.

life in the;

evil in

it.

Fol-

Follow the path to strength, to possession, to happiness, to peace and joy. Follow the path to manno hood, matter what the old tempter within yourself may

low the

right.

Follow the path to manhood though the enemy

1

say.

,

may

try to convince

you that the path

will lead to destruc-

Once you take a determined start in the path of manhood toward Godhood, you will gain strength, you will tion.

see with clear eyes,

and

that life

is,

in

you

will realize that

it

is

good

to live,

every respect, desirable, that honest

possessions bring joy, power, influence, which

may

be used

in the cause of right..

One is this:

of the most formidable of the negative principles

"Your own

will

come

to you."

inviting of the positive principles

is

this:

One

of the most

"Your own

will

come to you if you work for it." Without doubt, the doctrine that your own will come to you has been the cause of more failures, more suffering, than all others. For it puts a premium on doing nothing. It

exalts folding one's hands

what

we

is

to be will be, that if

will get

it,

and waiting, believing that we are to have something

either with effort or without effort, here

THE WAY TO GODHO'OD

188

being no difference whether

we make

effort or not.

—that

—

which we deserve will come And if we live a negative life, idle and listless and to us. nothing effortless, nothing is due us, and that very thing Man receives what he earns. will be sure to come to us. If he takes that which he does not earn, it will be snatched from him through the power of the immutable law of jusTruly "our own"

—

—

tice.

Man

is

placed on the earth with a mission.

He

has

been given the right and the privilege of choice. Furthermore, he has bfen given the power to get what he chooses.

But the

stipulation

is

made by

the law, that whatever he

chooses will not come unless he makes the effort to get // he

makes the

effort,

it.

fearing nothing, dauntless and full

of courage, allowing nothing to turn him aside, waiting not for better opportunities or for a more favorable time, he "His own;" his cherisheed amwill get what he wants. bition, will be his.

Failure to possess "one's own," one's desired treasure, is

due either

to fear or to a false philosophy.

sents itself in

many

shades and degrees

of failing,

A

false phil-

fear of being wrong, fear of this and that.

osophy teaches it,

Fear pre-

— fear

man

that

man

brushes aside both fear and a false

have a thing he will get come what may; and the result is, he makes no effort.

The

true

if

he

is

to

life. He knows that nothing will come to him unless he earns it, unless he puts forth effort. He knows that he is co-creator with God. He knows that if he wants a thing he must get it, that God gives man nothing, but that man must take what he wants and that if he would keep what he takes he must get it justly.

philosophy of

To

be interested in something

is

not enough.

It

is

absolutely necessary for our interest to be so intense that

we

shall not give

what may come.

up

until

we

attain our wish,

no matter

Neither poverty nor fear will prevent us

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

189

The desire to do is the power to do, do must be present also. Your own will come to you when you want it badly enough to be willing to work for it. Your own will come to you when you are willing to demand it, to work and to demand until you have it. Wishing is by no means enough. These are fundamental laws. That they are absolute is amply proved by the great successes in life. Men from

attaining

but the

WILL

it.

to

born in poverty have achieved.

A

willingness to work, to slave,

necessary, and an indom-

if

desire to accomplish, a

surmount all obstacles, have made successes of men who had apparently little chance in life. It is by surmounting difficulties and obstacles that man gains strength. Every barrier overcome means power. itable will to

All barriers, will."

all

He who

obstacles, give

way when man

does not give up, not even

if

says,

death

"I

itself

appears, will overcome even death in his dauntless search

for the thing he desires.

The New Commandment life,

a

that leads to

life

advocates a natural, normal

manhood's true

estate.

It

ad-

vocates that

manhood

Godhood.

teaches that soul growth, an active de,sire for

It

is

necessary to the attainment of

Soul Illumination, and an effort to attain

i,s

necessary

in order to reach Illumination of Soul, and that

Manhood

must go hand

in

this,

hand with Soulhood and Godhood.

OTHER IMPORTANT BOOKS ALL THESE ARE TEMPLE OF ILLUMINATI PUBLICATIONS

THE SON OF GOD. Called the Mystical Teachings of the Masters. This book gives a summarization of the fundamental principles of the Christie Interpretation and the characteristics of thej Christie Law, as advocated by the Temples of the Illuminati and Illumination. The teachings of the Essenes under whom Jesus studied, etc.

Price in cloth,

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CHRISTHOOD AND ADEPTSHIP. Christie

power can be awakened only though obe-

dience to the Divine Law.

Law, then if

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Bound

When we

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Way,

this child

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the

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in beautiful cloth, side

obey the Divine

born within us

This

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man-

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one of the

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stamp

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in gold, 75 cents.

SOUL SCIENCE AND IMMORTALITY. The standard text-book of the Illuminati. It is universally admitted among scholars that we are on the Threshold of a new Dispensation. This means that we are expecting a new Law that shall govern all

THE WAY TO GODHOOD To

things.

New

ing a

terpretation

state this

more

that

is

at

we

correctly,

the old

of

Interpretation

191

once practical

are expect-

Law, an Inand mystical.

This book gives such an Interpretation.

200 pages, beautifully bound

stamped

is

a complete and

exhaustive

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the Philosopher of Love.

Lessons, beautifully bound

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and back

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Price $1.50.

in gold.

THE MYSTICAL INTERPRETATION OF This

More than

St.

ST.

JOHN

Mystical

Inter-

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Contains 53 Chapters or in

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Price $1.25.

THE CHRISTIC INTERPRETATION OF

ST.

MAT-

THEW. This

is

a complete

Interpretation of the

Gospel of

Matthew. Contains 73 lessons, 265 pages. It is the most complete book of its kind. Beautifully bound in cloth, side and back stamped in gold. Price St.

$1.25.

CHRISTISIS. The standard text-book on Higher Soul Students who have this book say that it is clearest,

and most

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Any

Culture.

the best,

book that they have been bound in imitation and back stamped in gold. Price, $5.00. It

practical

is

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of these books will be forwarded on receipt of

remittance.

Catalog giving exhaustive description of the

contents of these books will be mailed with pleasure.

The

Philosophical Publishing Co.,

Allentown, Pa,

THE WAY TO GODHOOD

192

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