Hermaphro-deity: the mystery of divine genius

Front matter

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Preface

Hermaphro- Deity is not the result of a desire to present something strange and startling to attract the attention of a public always on the alert for something new and outre, but the outgrowth of a constantly deepening conviction of an approaching crisis in the spiritual experience of the race. No claim is made for the discovery of anything new in either religion, philosophy, or science, but to have simply come into recognition of certain divinely established laws as old as the planet and the race.

The object of this short treatise is to simplify those truths heretofore clothed in deepest mystery. There are a few works upon the subject, but the majority of them are so obscure as to be of little or no service to the general reader; whereas, the truths contained in them should be the property of every individual capable of understanding them.

Whatever view the reader may take of the various philosophies herein laid down, however he may differ with regard to the practical application of the truths advanced; he certainly will be compelled to admit that there is something radically wrong in the arrangement of human affairs, that appears to baffle the best effort toward adjustment and reformation.

iv. Preface.

We feel assured that in this simple work there will be found the law of healing promised the race from remote ages. It was the occult teaching of Jesus, and of all adepts in past ages.

If asked for proofs of many of the statements made, we must needs remain silent — as was Christ before Pilate. We can no more explain how or where we obtained the knowledge of the truths advanced than could Galileo demonstrate to his religious persecutors how or where he obtained the knowledge that the earth was a globe and revolved around its center, the sun. What seemed at that period to be the vagaries of a diseased brain, are today the demonstrated facts of science, accepted by all the world. May it not be possible that in a few generations the new and strange teachings advanced in this brief work will become a demonstrated science, applicable to the deepest needs of human life?

E. B. L.

The Mystery of Divine Genius.

"THE TRUTH IS, A GREAT MIND MUST BE ANDROGYNOUS."

—COLERIDGE.

NOTE.

The quotations from the New Testament are all taken from the Emphatic Diaglott, a version from the original Greek text, by Wilson, giving in some portions quite a different rendition from the old, and more satisfactory.

The Mystery of Divine Genius.

Chapter I

"Girls, come here, please. Sit down; I wish to talk with you on an important matter."

This call came from my brother John's room as we were passing his door on our way out to the porch. We girls, Annie, Angela and myself, walked in submissively, and seated ourselves, as commanded.

John wheeled his chair around facing us, and said, "Girls, I am tired of this sort of life. I believe there is something beyond the mere raising of cabbage and potatoes. Not but what they are good in their proper place; but I have an idea that there are just now subjects and speculations attracting the attention of the thinking world worth investigating, and on quite a different plane of thought. The fact is we get just as hungry for ideas as we do for our daily bread. I have received a letter this morning from an old friend of mine living in Southern California, in a place called Benares, up in the mountains, where a peculiar Order of mystics have established a colony and a school where, he says, if he remembers rightly, are taught those philosophies toward which I have always had a leaning. What he tells me of the fraternity, and some of the tenets held by them, makes me anxious to investigate the matter. This friend of mine," continued John, "has united with the brotherhood. He has been with them some four years, and he thinks I would find in their teachings and practices in life just what I have been looking for all these years. It is not a community of men alone; there are as many women as men. August and Elsie can take care of this place for two or three months without trouble, so what do you girls say to our going and visiting those people."

"Do you really mean that you wish us all to go?" asked Annie in astonishment.

"Certainly. It will take all three of you girls to make one good, all-round woman." answered John, soberly looking down his nose.

We looked at each other in amazement, more than in anger, at the audacity of the speech;

it was our policy never to take notice of any of John's sly slurs on our incapacity and weakness, but to bide our opportunity for retaliation, which never failed to come.

Now there was one peculiarity about John; whenever he made a statement or laid a plan we never thought of disputing or opposing him. So, saying that "we would consider the matter," we retired, and upon due consultation with Angela, who was our oracle, we accept the invitation, for the prospects of a trip to California with such an escort as John caused us to swallow our offence for the time and consent to his arrangements.

So the matter was settled with this understanding, that we should take only hand baggage. "For," said John, "after we leave the Northern Pacific Railroad we have quite a little journey before we reach Benares. After we get up there you girls will have little opportunity to display fine clothing, even if you felt so inclined."

I must give the reader a slight sketch of the leading characteristics of the members of this proposed party, myself excepted; because we are not only to be thrown together in the most intimate relations, but to pass through experiences designed in some cases to change the

10 Bermaphro- Deity :

tenor of the whole life of the individual, and I expect my readers to be as deeply interested in this experience as I have been.

We are orphans, John and myself. He has been my sole guardian for some years, and I had grown to think there was not another human being so perfect as he. At the close of my school life he had left a large city and lucrative position, settling on a farm just outside the corporations of a small town, where, under the management of an efficient German and his wife, with myself installed as housekeeper, there had been established not only a delightful home, but a thoroughly successful and paying institution. We were in the habit of taking a few boarders each summer. I heard John say to a neighbor, "These outsiders coming in will keep Elizabeth" — that is myself — "from being lonely." I had become very proud of my position as mistress of the establishment and fond of the country life.

Annie had been a schoolmate of mine, a close companion. , We had closed our school term together, I to go to my brother's home, and she to enter upon an active literary life. She had occupied many responsible positions on the leading periodicals of the day, and was now art correspondent of the finest monthly in the country.

She had spent two years abroad, had written one very successful drama, but what made her of the greatest attraction to me was the fact that she could tell in the most graphic manner anything she knew, and describe what she had seen in a way to make you see it too. She was a source of unspeakable delight to me, who had seen so little of the world. She had become as one of our family, coming each season as soon as the warm weather commenced, staying until autumn.

Angela had spent three seasons with us, and I had grown very fond of her also. She was a quiet, studious woman of thirty years, or thereabout. She was, as a rule, rather silent, but when she did speak she always said something. She was one whom you felt rather than saw. There was about her a power that seemed to penetrate your whole being, your mental, physical and spiritual natures — that is, if one had any such. You somehow felt that she knew everything concerning you. You always wanted to call her mother, and if you had any vexations or troubles you wanted to go to her and tell her all about them, and lay your head on her shoulder and have a good cry. You were always reaching out, if near her, to get hold of her hand. She spent the greater share of her time in the study of curious books with the most unpronounceable names, the contents of which appeared to me, from a casual glance, to be more vague and unattainable than the names even; but that was because I did not comprehend them, Angela had told me. She had traveled much in foreign lands and lived some years in India, which had a tendency to give her a desire for such style of literature.

So much for the two women. It will not be so easy a matter for me to delineate John's character. In the first place it is impossible for a woman to analyze the character of a man correctly, not being of that genus — but the principle reason why I cannot describe John is that I do not understand him. He is a puzzle to me. I love him better than any other being on earth, without being able to understand him. But all women, both old and young, trust him — yes, and love him, too. They tell him all their secrets and troubles and go away from their interviews with him strengthened and comforted apparently. And the men — why. there is a stream of them going to and fro from his "Den," as he calls his office, constantly, much to my disapproval. I have declared all the time that John was working himself to death for Tom. Dick and Harry, and I could see no good in it;

such a loss of time, and I had discovered that it all brought him no money. But, to tell the truth, the man actually did not fail, from the life he led, but instead, to my astonishment, he grew handsomer and more grand looking every year; especially since his hair had commenced falling away, exposing that dome of his head where the phrenologists locate what they claim as intuition, veneration and benevolence. To us girls he is the dearest, most gentle and patient companion, when we need him in that capacity; and when we need the stronger side of his nature he is always ready and willing to use his strong hands, arms and head to help us out of any dilemmas in which we may find ourselves. One thing that annoys me greatly with him is, that he never has a word of censure or blame for anyone. He always has an excuse for everybody's shortcomings. Always has some good reason why things were thus and so. That always exasperates me. I believe that the people should be brought up standing for their delinquencies; most wrongdoers need a good overhauling to make them straighten up and behave themselves, and that is the reason why, I suppose, that the riff-raff never come to me any more for consolation and assistance, but, instead, all pile on John and Angela for council and aid.

I have often wondered why John has never married, for all the girls dote on him, but he is equally lovely to them all and seems just as fond of the old as he is of the young women. In short, John is a curious being; he is altogether lovely, but queer.

'These are the last days in March and I would like to be in Benares by the first day of April, that will be on Wednesday of next week. In fact, I have written to my friend that I shall be there," John said at the breakfast table the next morning. ''There is to be an especially fine course of lessons given at the school, commencing on the second of April," John continued, "and Bessie," turning to me, "I wish you would put me up a few traps, just as few as possible, and let us be off."

"That rascal is just taking us along to mend his socks and put his studs into his clean shirts," said Annie, maliciously, that night as we were preparing for bed. "But after all," she added, half to herself, "he is so very clever, and good to everybody, that one is more than willing to do just what he wants them to, the dear old darling!"

As Angela had traveled throughout India with only hand baggage, Annie and I took lessons from her and we soon were equipped for our journey, but minus "fixin's," as John calls them, and in due time were on our way, speeding toward the setting sun — toward that quarter of the globe that always had such an attraction for me.

THE HOME OF THE MAHATMAS.

Benares, Cal., April ist.

John's friend, Frederick, met us at the junction of the Northern Pacific Railroad and a branch road leading to the Home of the brotherhood. Although the distance is only a few miles, the ascent is so great that it requires, usually, nearly an hour to reach the "city," as brother Frederick laughingly called the settlement, so that it was ten o'clock before we were inside the Home.

It was too dark for us to form much of an idea of the place. I observed a grove of lofty trees to the right of the town, and behind it there loomed up a great mountain — at least it appeared like one in the darkness. Absolute silence reigned over all — there wasn't even a puff from the old engine that had labored so hard to get us up the hill. At the entrance of the Home building there was an electric light, which gave a very impressive appearance to the structure. As we entered the great hall one of the Sisters, who had awaited our arrival, came forward smilingly, extending her hands, and bade us welcome to Benares.

Brother Frederick took charge of John, conducting him to his apartments, while the Sister leading the way up the stairs ushered us into a large, airy chamber, with all the appointments for three occupants.

I was not so tired but that I began a critical survey of things in general. In the arrangement of the room, everywhere, there was an evidence of woman's artistic eye and hand. The furnishings were of excellent quality, selected with a view to use as well as beauty, and all was immaculately clean. The floor attracted my attention most. It was hardwood, highly polished, of a rich color. The room was lighted with electricity. The air of the whole apartment was soothing in the extreme.

Just here the Sister who had escorted us to our room came in with a tray of refreshments, and informed us that our breakfast would be served in our room in the morning, as we would no doubt feel too much fatigued to rise and breakfast with the family as early as they were in the habit of doing. "We are early risers up here," she said smilingly, "and after a time you will enjoy the morning breezes from the mountains as much as we do.' 1 Bidding us good-night she left us to ourselves.

We soon dispatched our lunch and made ourselves ready for bed, as the delightful coolness and fragrance of the air made one inclined to sleep, even had we not been so fatigued from our journey.

"There is something awfully shivery about this whole place," said Annie, "I can almost imagine that I have been suddenly transported to Jupiter or Mars — or some outlandish world — things feel strange and unreal somehow."

"That is all in yourself, my dear, to me it is heavenly," said Angela, taking in a deep breath.

I was too tired to make any comments and in a short time we were all safely stowed away in our delightful beds, and, owing to the fatigue and excitement of the past week, were soon sleeping soundly. A sleep from which I did not awaken until a rap at the door aroused me, and opening my eyes I beheld a perfect flood of sunshine filling the room, and Angela sitting at the open window all dressed and evidently studying the situation outside. Upon opening the door we found our attendant of the previous evening, who informed us that our breakfast would be ready in a few minutes.

"I feel as though I had just been exhumed from the Pyramids of Egypt," yawned Annie, shaking herself and stretching. "I had curious dreams about this place last night," she continued, as she completed her toilet. "I think it is owned and run by a set of fairies, as we see neither men, women or children about the premises."

"I have an evidence of a very different character," said Angela, smiling. "I have been up at the window for more than two hours and have seen at least fifty stalwart men, coming in from the hay fields I concluded, as they all had rakes over their shoulders, broad brimmed hats on their heads and shoes on their feet. True they did not make any noise, but they wore trousers and had no wings."

Our breakfast came at this point and presented a very decidedly human and familiar appearance. It consisted of a plentiful supply of deliriously browned toast, butter, eggs, cream, milk, and a heaping dish of the finest, most luscious strawberries I had ever seen.

Our sweet-voiced attendant informed us. as she was leaving the room after arranging our table, that she would be up about fifteen minutes before nine o'clock to conduct us to the chapel. This being the opening lesson, we would all be expected to be in our places on time. As Father Hyacinth is the teacher for this month no one can afford to lose one word. With that she closed the door and we were ! ft to ourselves to enjoy our most delicious meal.

"How is this breakfast, Annie, has it the taste of the Pyramids and odor of Cheops?" Angela ventured, after watching for a time the greedy manner in which Annie stowed away the food.

"Oh, this is all right! and earthly enough. But I do wonder what they have done with John. If ever a man would be of any use or comfort, it would be in a place like this, where one expects every instant to see a ghost glide in from some hole or corner and to be caught up and spirited away — the Lord only knows where."

After this speech she replenished her dish with strawberries and fell to eating with a gusto most astonishing in one so overcome with fear.

Angela smilingly said, "Do not allow yourself to be terrified, my dear, because whatever the power might be that spirited you away, it would return you as soon as it had had one encounter with you."

20 Hennaphro- Deity :

Here the door opened and John stalked in looking like a Greek god.

"This is interesting! Do you expect to continue this line of business up here?" he said, affecting great disgust. "It is almost nine o'clock. I have been up for three hours looking over the place; I have been up the mountain a mile, at least, and back, while you girls have been snoozing in bed. This must be the last of these city airs. The men of this community have stacked over fifty tons of hay this morning, while the women have worked over and packed two hundred pounds of butter, taken care of the milk of one hundred and fifty cows, and baked a hundred loaves of bread, besides many delicacies that I cannot mention. They have also made twenty-five large cheeses. And such men and women! but you will see them presently."

The Sister who had brought us our breakfast came in now to conduct us down to the chapel. We all followed our guide down the broad stairwav, through the lono\ wide hall and into the chapel at the rear.

YVe were seated so that we had a view of the entire room and the audience assembled: there were about three hundred and fifty persons in all, men, women and children, about equally divided as to sex, and seated separately.

At the end of the chapel was a pipe organ, in tront of which was a platform, speaker's desk and chair. At our right hung a life-sized painting of Christ and the three Marys; at the left was a fine copy of Murillo's Immaculate Conception. On the easel at the side of the platform was an ideal head of a most beautiful woman, over which, in large letters, were the words, "The Mother/' A Sister was seated at the organ, and as she passed her fingers slowly over the keys, the rich, tremulous tones of the instrument quivered through the silent air, producing a feeling of devotion.

I observed that the members of the household all sat motionless with bowed heads. I held my breath and listened. Presently the tones of the organ changed and all broke forth in low subdued tones singing the forty-eighth Psalm: "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness." The voices taking the different parts all blended in one harmonious wave of melody. I had never cared for hymn singing, but the chanting of the psalm here was inexpressibly solemn and sweet to me.

I had not been much of a church-goer or had any especial religious bias — I was in no sense religiously inclined — but there was something in the air of this room, the music, the people about me, that stirred deep in my nature a feeling that I had never experienced before. Had I been alone with Angela I should have laid my head on her breast and cried a little, but as it was I crept close to John and slipped my hand into his strong, warm one and felt reassured.

As the music and singing ceased, I began studying the people about me.

The first thing that attracted my attention was their dress. The men wore over their ordinary suits a white linen garment made after the fashion of the surplices worn by the Catholic clergy.

Their faces were clean shaven and the hair of the head shingled closely. The back of the head was covered with a black silk cap like those worn by Cardinals.

There was a singular fascination about the group, not only on account of their strange costume, but because of a peculiar expression about the mouth and eyes. This unusual appearance I understood later, as I came to know more of their habit of thought and life.

I turned from the men and began studying the women. Here, as in the case of the men. their costume attracted my notice. It was uniform in color, fabric and style of making. The material was of some soft, light-gray fabric, of wool I should say, that fell in graceful folds from top to bottom, after the fashion of the ancient Greek female costume. There was the long open sleeve ornamented with the Greek pattern in braiding. The costume of the children corresponding. Taking it all together, I had never imagined anything so perfectly artistic and beautiful.

The hair also was uniformly dressed. It was combed back from the forehead and twisted up in a loose knot on the top of the head. 'In some cases it was as white as snow, in others golden, brown, or black, according to age or temperament.

There was also an unusual expression on the faces of these women, and a kind of peachy tint to the skin that would indicate health and an acquaintance with outdoor life.

At this moment my attention w T as arrested by the opening of a door at the end of the chapel and the entrance of a man — Father Hyacinth, John informed me — who walked across the room, stepped upon the platform and seated himself, without raising his eyes. I could not take my eyes from him, so remarkable was he in appearance and bearing.

I had never seen but one man whom -he resembled, that was Phillips Brooks, during the last years of his ministry, when he had grown so ripe and rich in spiritual grace. This man possessed the same massiveness and silent power and was about the age of Brooks at the time of his death.

He was habited the same as the other male members, and there appeared to be a sort of glory enveloping him that gave one the feeling that to merely touch the hem of his garments would give them new life. When he spoke the charm was complete. His voice was low-keyed, mellow and sympathetic as he unfolded his subject.

'Thought in the Mind hath made us. What we are

By thought was wrought and built. If a man's mind Hath evil thoughts, pain comes on him as comes The wheel the ox behind.

"All that we are is what we thought and willed;

Our thoughts shape us and frame. If one endure In purity of thought, joy follows him As his own shadow — sure.''"

— Edwin Arnold.

"Each individual attracts to himself from others that which he metes out to others. This law of individual compensation is regulated by individual thought, and in such a manner that absolute justice is the portion of each."

— Fragments of the Philosophy.

"He who has succeeded in bringing his individual Mind in exact harmony with the Universal Mind, has succeeded in reuniting the inner sphere with the outer one, from which he has only become separated by mistaking illusions for truths."

— Paracelsus.

FIRST LESSON.

THE DIVINE MIND IN MAN.

I have to make this morning some very important statements as a foundation upon which to base the theories advanced in the forthcoming lessons. Not only should they form the foundation, but they should be a guide with which to square all religions, philosophies, sciences or theories that may present themselves to the student during life. I shall endeavor to employ only such terms as we are most familiar with. It requires but few words to clothe these stupendous truths, which should stand out naked, in their colossal proportions, before the mind of the student, a study full of veneration, as the Alps to the Swiss peasant is a source of worship and strength.

This then is our chief corner-stone:

GOD IS THE ONLY LIFE; SPIRIT IS THE ONLY SUBSTANCE: MIND IS THE ONLY CREATOR: and LOVE THE ONLY LAW.

Mind manifests itself through Thought, which externalizes and individualizes the creations of Mind, whatever they may be. They may not be visible to us, but they are real.

Thoughts become absolute things, and having once been formed and sent out, live on and on indefinitely. They fill certain belts of the unseen, they pass and re-pass, jostling together, and a certain class on the lower animal plane war upon each other, giving rise to much mental suffering in the cases of persons of extremely nervous and psychic temperaments. Somewhere, somebody sang,

"Thoughts are things, Having being, breath and wings."

Father Ryan has expressed it better than I can.

"They wear holy veils on their faces; Their footsteps can scarcely be heard; They pass through the valley, like virgins, Too pure for the touch of a word."

In the spiritual darkness of the present, there has developed in the mind of the race a belief ina power outside of God, and more potent, which man has named Evil ; also a belief in a substance, other than Spirit, which he calls Matter. Both formulas are erroneous and the outgrowth of misunderstanding, and can be dissipated, with all their evil effects, as he becomes familiar with and lives up to the foundation principles herein laid down.

Man, as man, cannot continue to exist without a religion; it must form the basis of his character. He must recognize a Supreme Power. He must worship — or GO OUT!

When I say religion, I do not refer to forms or ceremonies or external rites, but religion in its truest sense, in the perfect form which our Master laid down in His Sermon on the Mount.

We are endeavoring in this brotherhood to demonstrate the fact that the religion of Christ can be made the guiding principle in every-day life. Not religion consisting alone of a worship of the Supreme Being, but one embracing also the highest grades of ethics — that commands us to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, to give, expecting nothing in return, to deal justly, to judge not, to condemn not, and to forgive as we would be forgiven. The experience of half a century in this colony has proven that Christ's religion is a safe guide to go by.

According to sacred historians the commencement of all the disasters that have befallen the race and planet was the evolution in Man of an independent mind and will; outside of, and in opposition to, the Creative Mind. He went into business on his own responsibility and without capital. His self-constituted outside mind was not composed of the true Substance — the divine mental atoms. It is a counterfeit, and all that it sees, feels or imagines is false.