Behold the woman

Front matter

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Woman

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CANTO I. THE poet's story

I, the poet, was in the the spirit on a resurrection day (May 30, 1880.) The veil of nature transparent as clear water. I could see what was, what is and what shall be, for Time and Space were Now and Here. I saw the Soq of Man coming in the glory of the rising sun; his form fresh with the dew of the morning flowers. He beckoned me to follow him and I did so, not knowing whither the way or what the object of the journey. Now he showed me a trinity of Spirit, Substance, Space. Each atom or part had the same nature as the whole, so was each atom eternal and indivisible; far Spirit was the Hfe ot Substance and Space was the union and separation of each. Now He gave me a chain called Induction, each end being lost in the Infinite. When I measured it I found each link had two sizes, the lesser connected with the end lost on the limit of thought beyond the microscope. The greater with the end lost on the boundary of thought beyond the telescope. Now I saw as the Spirit ^vithin Substance moved it took on form. Atom was drawn to atom and I beheld a globe, Earth being its name. Then the Spirit in the ground moved upon the Substance covering the globe with vegetation. And the Life in it took on new form, filling the earth with animals, the sea with fish, the air with birds. The trinity that includes all that is was called God. The trinity that is lost on the boundary of thought was called Atom.

And God said: "We ^^ill have children." Now was found latent in all Spirit a germ of life called Soul. Now I saw as the spirit of the living God moved within this seed or germ was born an animal, like, yet unlike, all others. And the name of this being is Man. Now in this being I saw one named Morality. The name of his father was Sin, or transgression of law, and his mother's name was Holiness, or obedience to law.

As I steadfastly gazed upon Nature I saw the law of all was from the single to the complex, from the simple to the compound. Man was an epitome of all, was in the Atom and the living God. Now as he had two natures there was constant strife between the two, and the new creation appeared as a beautiful woman crowned with thorns. And in this crown was the lion's paw, the serpent's teeth, the eagle's talons, also — Death.

And as I listened was heard angels voices proclaiming; "The marriage of the Son, heir of the living God, has come, and his bride will be chosen. Whosoever is worthy to win his love shall wear the Triple Crown and reign with him forever." Then passed before the azure tlirone all

THE POET'S STORY. 6

the King's daughters, Jupiter with rolling worlds, Saturn with rings of rosy light, and lovely Venus, pride of the morning and evening. The Son saw but loved them not. A low sad wail of sorrow hlls the air. From out the clouds of sense, conceled within a form of flesh, a lovely maiden comes, a crown of thorns upon her brow, and in her hand an empty cup. The heart of- the Son took fire and He loved the beautiful Avoman whose sorrow He would fain bear. So He took the crown of thorns from her fair brow and did wear it in her stead. Upon her finger He put a betrothal ring, having on the inside the letters S. A. L. V. A. T. I. O. N. Now was the woman very happy in this love, and so did her joy shine through her transparent face that she fled to the wilderness to hide herself.

Now come to her one having the appearance of an angel of light, and spoke thus:

"All hajl fair maid I wish you much joy."

"Who art thou?" asked the woman.

"I am the god of Love, servent and friend of thy beloved, who hath sent me to bring to thee this elixir of life, who drinks hath immortal youth and divine beauty," lie then placed the cup before her.

"Nay, nay," said the happy woman, "I will take nothing but from the hand of my beloved himself."

"And what wilt thou take to him?" asked the god of Love. "Hath he not left thy cup empty that thou might bring him a drink worthy of the gods?"

"I should be so glad to please Him," she said, and she

took the tempting draught.

E'en as she tasted new life and joy distilled in every vein.

She called to her beloved that she might give him also apart. But it came to pass that while her Lord came darkness was over her spirit.

4 BEHOLD THE W0:MAX.

The poison in the elixir went through her blood and turned her happiness into woe. So when her Lord came she knew him not. but spit upon him and thrust a spear into his side. But now as the warm blood from his heart did touch her eyes they opened, and she saw it was her Lord she had slain. So terrible was the sight it broke her heart and her blood flowed, out with the life of her Lord. Now from this purple flood there arose a woman fair as the moon, crowned with the stars and spires, mighty as a host of heaven — The Church.

So it was that fallen Earth went through the mysterious depths of Hades that she might find the true exilir of life, which would restore the life of her Beloved. Xow when she heard this elixir was only generated in the tooth of the serpent she did gladly open her breast to the seri:ient. as the mother to her child.

And it came to pass a^ she was bitten her blood was like unto liquid fire. In her wild frenzy of pain she looked jor a deliverer. But instead she saw a wretched man calling vainly upon a friend accross an impassable gulf to bring him a drop of water to cool his burning tongue. And she said. "I can not see a man suff'er as I do, so of myself, I will make a bridge across the gulf, that the^' may bring the water of life from the other side.'"

Then was the All- Parent pleased and said, ''Let the bridge be immortal, and it shall be called Woman's Love."

Now when the poison in her blood had wrought out the death of sin there appeared a new and glorified Life, so was there great rejoicing through all the universe.

Again was heard voices crying through all the realms of Space: ''The marriage of the glorified Son has come. Lo! hath he hidden himself and who hath the key to his secret bidding place shall be his Bride and wear the Triple Crown."

THE POET'S STOKV O

Through the smoke of burning inseiise was seen a ([ueenly One. She was clothed in the regal robes, which only the Kings daughters may wear. In her left hand she •carried a roll — the Law. In her right hand the key of the temple. She went in and sought diligently in every part thereof, but she could not find the Bridegroom.

Now was there seen an immense procession. They sang a sweet and solemn chant. The robes they wore showed royal birth and divine majesty. In the left hands of this mighty host was carried a cross. In the right hands the key to saintship.

With music, prayer and song, with insense of fasting and service did the noble Queen of this heavenly host seek Earth's Bridegroom. But her key did not fit his secret hidding place, and so she could not find him.

Now came one born of this world of the senses. Had nought of royal beauty or glory. In her left hand she had a pair of balances, over which hung a glittering steel. In her right hand she carried the key of the world's storehouse of wisdom and knowledge. Earnestly through all her vast dominion did she seek the Son. But alas she could not find him. Neither miscroscope, telescope, magnet or steel would reveal his secret hidding place.

And I wept bitter tears of disappointment, so much did I desire to see Earth's glorfied Lord.

Canto II. The New Light

Now it came to pass as my tears made a new transparent atmosphere, I saw a temple of seven priests. In the left liand of each priest was a light of exceeding brightness. With the right did each point the people to the way of holiness, which leads to the kingdom of God.

And it came to pass as they ministered around the alter there came a breath from the realm of darkness which put out all their lights except a spark in the center of the alter. Now while the people were in this thick darkness there came demons of Passion, Appetite, Lust and Selfishness, and these destroyed the people on ever}'- side.

But lol as the cries of the perishing wore borne on the wings of the wind they touched the heart of a woman, and she came to the rescue. In her left hand she carried the elixir of life, and in her right a luminous key did shine by the light from within. The bar was tiat — substance, onyx. On one side was the mirror of the soul; on the other the words Perfect I^ove. The letters were of diamonds, clear as the light. The handle was of sapphire with a circle of pearls. On the end was a serpent. Through the transparent coils could be seen the letters S. S. S.

Now was a ditch here where many had fallen. These were wallowing in the mire like swine.

And it came to pass as the light of the woman's key fell

THE NEW LIGHT.

upon one in the ditch, could be seen the mark of the beast on his whole body. So as the woman tried to give him of the elixir he was in great rage, like as a mad dog, and sought to bite her. But when she had overcome the beast and opened the door of his heart he was as a lamb.

Then did she hold the mirror of her key before him. What was her joy and surprise to see there the image of her Glorified Lord. This was his secret hiding place. But the Son knew her not. His heart was heavy and sad with grief for the loss of his first betrothed, and he would have none but her for his bride. Now as he fled to the wilderness, where he had last seen her, to weep for her he found there the woman with the luminous key.

As she held up her hand he saw on the ring the shining letters S. A. L. V. A. T. I. 0. N, How now did his heart leap for joy and gladness as he said: "Ask now what ye will and I will give it you."

And she said: "May it please my Lord to give each person in the prison of the flesh two angels, one for the right side and one for the left. So shall the body no more be a prison for thy children but the place where angels da minister to them."

So was the Lord pleased with her request that He said:

"Close now thine eyes."

She did so.

''Kiss now thy right hand and wave towards heaven. Kiss now thy left hand and wave towards earth."

She did so.

•'As you have done my darling so may all do. Thus shall the right hand become a cherubim of love to send one's kiss to heaven, the left a seraphim of faith to send one's love and trust to those in the flesh. God will answer by sending the heavenly doves to the heart."

Canto III

Now that the Bride was ready the King of Heaven made -a marriage feast and sent his angels to the four quarters of the globe to bid the guests come to the banquet. They came from the North, South, East and West. All who had the image of the Son upon their foreheads went in to the supper. Those who had tl^e image of the beast were shut out.

And I, the poet, saw the Son in his glory, and the Bride in her beauty, and so exceeding was the brightness that I became as one sun-blind and I fell to the ground with awe and trembling. Seeing I could not endure the light and glory of their presense the beautiful Bride sent an angel to show me her wedding ring, that I might tell it to her friends.

It was of pure gold, showing the bond of union for all mankind. On the top was a circle of six diamonds of wonderous brilliance. In the center of the circle, as the sun in the center of the stai*s, was one that exceeded the others as the sun transcends the earth. The name of this was Christ the anointed Son. The names of those in the -circle were Abraham. Buddah, Confucius, Zoriaster, Socrates and Mohomet.

As the light of these stones fell upon my eyes instead of dazzeling as the other had done the sight was enlarged. I

MAliRlAGE OF THE SON. 9^

saw thus a ray of light coniiiig direct from the throne of God, failing upon the heads of men, as the sun's rays upon a prism, this light Imd become the seven religions of the earth. Now was the light reflected from the Bride's ring,, the same pure white light had come lirst from God.

Filled with surprise 1 asked the angel: "What is tliis religion that hath in itself the hght of all ?"

She put her hand upon my lips to seal with silence. Speak not the unspeakable. Name not the unnameable^ But she showed me the wedding present the Lord and liis Bride had sent to earth.

'Twas a likeness of the luminous key — perfect love. The mother's was larger than the child's. It was of glass clear as crystal. The bar was a tube into which the mother puts clear water with a crystal of salt every morning. The key is then hung over the family table by a cord of three colors.. At the hour of evening devotion the mother spills the water upon the ground, to signify the tears shed by the heart of love for the sins and failures of her children. It is poured on the ground to show that love sends back the sins of her offspring to the dust.

Now it come to pass as the banquet was most perfect inall signs of joy and happiness, when the Lord sought hi& Bride he found her weeping. He asked thus: "Why weepest thou my Beloved? Have I not given thee all thou wishest?"

She said: ''Oh, my Lord! How can I enjoy all this love, light and music when so many of our Father's children dwell in darkness and pain? Hear how their cries of woe mingle with this happy music."

Now as the Lord looked into her eyes and marked how they shone through her tears, she was more lovely and, pleasing than ever before. And puting his hand upon her cheek, blessing her tears spake thus : "Henceforjji let the sweetest, divinest joy distill in happy tears."

It was done according to his word.

Then gave he command to the angels saying: ''Let the music stop, the feast wait, while all the guests follow my Bride and Me into the outer darkness to rescue our brethren therein. For I say unto you all not one shall taste of my supper till he bring some lost one to share it with him."

Upon the head of the Bride was a triple-crown, and her face shone as the sun. As she leaned upon the arm of her Lord, the glory of God the Father and Mother did so shine through them, they must needs put a veil upon their faces. Men saw them thus as light behind a crystal screen.

They first went to the temple of the seven priests, whose lights had gone out. They saw upon the steps of the temple a woman had given herself a burnt offering. Who ceased not to cry unto God night and day in behalf of sin-sick men. Now being in great agony of soul her counten ance was as a woman in trial, and she'cried out: "Oh God! Father and Mother of all, if one of thy children be lost it shall be me, for I will hold the last one to thy heart till thou dost save from all sin." Then did her spirit go out of her and she fell to the earth as one dead. Her hands were clasped over her brest thus: The right thumb pressed against the left forefinger. The rest following in dove-tail fashion. The left thumb sealing them together with the word Amen. It was two o'clock, p.m., when she prayed thus.

Now as the Lord touched her eyes she saw Him and His beautiful Bride, and in their hearts she could see all mankind purified and saved from sin. And while she spake not for joy the Lord said: "What wilt thou that I do for thee now?"

She sai4: "Oh, thou eternal Friend, Lover and Saviour

MARRIAGE OF THE SON 11

of men, I pray thee light np the torches of the priests in the temple."

And e'en as she spoke the sparks did flame up as the purest electric lights; and the temple was filled with divine glory.

Thus spake the Christ: "Let the hands clasped over the heart, as thine, spell the word salvation from this time forth until the light now seen here shall enlighten the whole world."

And commencing at two o'clock p. m. the prayer for the world's salvation followed the course of the sun and thus every moment did the insense of this desire rise to heaven fi'om the hearts of earth's children.

Now when the Christ and his Bride came to the Enchanted Isles, where reigns the Siren Queen, I looked intently to see what they would do for the men who had been enchanted by the Siren's song and then turned into swine. But a mist was on the Isle and I could see nothing distinctly. Near me was a young man whose name is Science. He was trying expeisments with the sun's rays. I said: "Pray throw some of your light upon this isle that I may see what will be done for the victims of the Siren."

"It is all bosh," said the youth, "Science has nothing to do with such folly."

Canto IV. Tom's Story

The lire was burning in the old fashion grate. Again was- I a bo}^ witii the Rose well family. Eva was beside me, as in the happy days of youth. My pulse thrilled. She had come to me. But when I reached out my hand to clasp her's it was worse than with .Eneas in the shades of the departed. I touched <^nly the impsasive air. I fairly shrieked with the anguish of batHed hope and confidence. All the bright illusions of the past, which had just come to me, were so terrified b}^ the sound, they fled like frigtened ghosts. I was alone.

Eva, you must come to me, or I shall come to you. I could endure your absense if I were perfectly certain of again having you. But these torturing doubts, this answered and yet unanswered question "If one dies shall one live again." I — I — can't endure this longer. If though dead you still live I will find yon, though I scale the walls of infinity, though I touch all space. If you are no more, then am I no more — life worse than a delusive dream — I will now end by stopping the cause. My will is signed.. Those who earned the property tlie law calls mine will have it. The last word of my History is written. Now, my darling, have I not a perfect right to give the reins to m}^ heart and let it take me to you, or to eternal nothingness?

All the old time torturing doubts of immortality now flamed and glowed with the lurid brilliancy of hell, as the hand-writmg of doom — eternal loss of Eva. The thought of losing myself did not come tome. It was simply this: She had gone into eternal shade — everlasting nothingness. This thought so pressed my heart as to stifle me. It smothered my breath, as one gasping for air. Should 1 go out of life thus choked like a criminal ? No, I would go as a man, if life is really not worth the living. I went to my desk. The flickering light of the fire fell upon the glistening steel; also upon a work of Buddah. All the horror and dispair pictured upon its pages seemed to burn into my very soul. The worst of all being the idea that the death I was now seeking would bring no relief Death was but ridding oneself of one curse to become the victim of a greater. It was getting off one* Avheel to be racked and tortured on a greater and stronger one. This new phase of feeling staid my hand, while I played with this life as the cat with the mouse she lias caught. I laid my head upon my right hand, my elbow resting upon my desk. How long I know not. With dispair, as with joy, "time is no more." A vague, misty sense of the presence of Eva came over me. Oh! surely this was too cruel. Why must I always be tortured with these illusive shadows that vanish at the touch of reality, like the mists of morning ?

Eva! Eva! if you are here why don't you let me know it? Doubt here is damnation. The mighty energy of my dispair seized the shadow before me and transfixed it to the spot; infused into it substance and made it a palpable reality. It took hold of my hand. I trembled with a new hope. Perhaps as Jesus had taken the hand of Thomas to convince by the power of touch of his identity so she might do for me. At once the scientific spirit of the age replied to my thought. What is this but another illusion caused by the impression that story has left upon the brain? I groaned aloud, and literally fell into a heap of nothingness. What was there in religion, faith or hope but the touch of Science would destroy? I was simply one body of pain. All will power, all motive to contend longer was gone. During all the years since she left me how had I fought to be able to believe in her coming again. All this now seemed to belong to another life. As helpless as an infant of days, I fell at the feet of Love and begged for her, as one begs for life. I now saw a stream of light, like unto a luminous chain ascending and decending from the desk where my hand rested. A form was there. In this light was revealed the hand and arm I had lost at Gettysburg? I thought of the doctrine or Buttler's Analogy, also of Problems of Life, where the teaching is to prove this outer life of flesh but the shell or covering of the real life. Surely this dead hand now seemed the only living thing about me . It actually took the pencil upon my tablet and wrote something. Hope revived, I lived again. I tried to read what my hand had written. But although the light was as bright and clear as the purest electric glow, yet I could not discern even the form of a letter by it. But when at last the light of my lamp fell upon the tablet, what did I see. Eva''s i07'iting ! ! It is vain to think what may be the possibilities of eternity. But if there be in store for me anything to exceed the joy of that moment I think I don't want to know it. For devoutly do I wish that this moment may ever stand for me as the highest possibility of my being. Eva still lives — forever mine.

Upon the same wave of joy, she sailed outside the boundaries of this life. I should soon have followed her had not the old mocking spirit that always pursued me whispered: "Fooled again with a shadow. Hadn't you better test this wonderful phenomena?" I had not even thought to read the lines. It was her writing, that was enough. She still lived not only to prove immortality but what was more precious to me, the certainty of life. Now I'll try and calm myself and read. "Go to the rock and find my ring." Again the mocker: "This letter is addressed to nobody and signed by nobody. Send for your servants and let them take you to the Asylum at once." Volumes have been written to tell the power of faith but who has ever tried to tell the destructive power of that arch enemy of the race, Unbelief? At the touch of this monster's fingers, at the sound of his mocking voice all that beautiful world wherein I had just found my darling vanished like the light of beauty before the clouds of the cyclone. Would I allow this demon of darkness, who had :annihilated God in the minds of so many of his children, to now come and rob me of Eva after I had lost her so long?^ No, it should not be so. This power, so long opposed by Faith, should now be confronted in his last stronghold by Fact. So strongly was he entrenched in the outward senses that he must be fought on this ground. The old weapon had become blunt and dull through the conflict of iihe ages to pierce him. To that stone would I go and there would I find the weapon already forged that would insure me a complete victory. Thus should he loose his deadly grip upon the hearts of Earth's children.

With my fleetest horse I had time to reach the morning train, which would bear me near the spot. It was a question of confidence or despair. If this was from Eva I should find something tangible, for surely she would not trifle with me. But one thing was certain, should this prove a delusion not all that Buddah, Shakespeare or St. John had said about the possibility of something worse beyond this outer life would keep me here one hour after I was convinced that this experience was a delusion of the imagination. So while I gave directions about my horse I looked out for my revolver; had put into my traveling bag all sorts of things needed for digging, testing, etc. One thing more, Mammy had long been in her grave but her pious husband was still with us. His words had once saved me when I was about to be swallowed up in the vortex of passion. I must have his benediction now. As the blind old patriarch laid his hands over me he felt the revolver. "Do massa tink de dear Lord need dis to keep him wid ?" he said as a look of oain and reproach came on his black face. That look seemed to pierce all that cloud of sophistry which for years had been hovering over my heart, hiding the light by the conviction that the Stoics were right in the belief that wlien life was only a burden we had a right to lay it down as a useless weight. I stood now before that honest, brave, old man a convicted coward, thinking to escape a possible pain by the crime of suicide. What an insult to the All-Parent, who had given me life — aye more^ had given me Eva. I fell on my knees by that bedside and truly did the Infinite Helper reach out a hand to me, as the old man placed his, on my head uttering the old-time prayer, "Lord bless massa Tom and keep him from de ebil of dis wicked world."

I left my weapon with him and started off with a lighter heart. It would be hard to tell whether I most desired or dreaded the arrival of the train at my destination. The hope this would prove true did so struggle with the doubt of any possibility of confirming the reality of it that I was calm from a simple excess of emotion. The most stupid waiter was not more calm seemingly than I. But when the old familiar scenes were again before me, eager longingsbroke up this deceptive quiet and threw me into a fever of excitement. By that old stone where I had once found her should I find her again, though in another form ? Somehow the touch of the rock gave me strength, and I began to dig around it. Why I did so was a mystery. Surely she was not in that ground nor could she be found by the tests I had with me. 1 uncovered something shiny. Great Heavens! the very ring I had given her as the seal of our betrothal. She had brought it here the night of the fire and now she would hold it up before me as the visible pledge that though absent from the flesh she was here in another form, just as real, aye more so, because more substantial. One who has reached and passed the highest possibility of rapture can never again reach, much less, transcend it. I was convinced by this new expression that the moment I saw the hand-writing of my Eva was the moment of all time for me. With the ring upon my finger I could live over and over again that blissful moment. Through the medium of the arm I had given my country at Gettysburg Eva had been able to reach me.