| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne: which it would be worth my while to take. But I never considered
it as other than a transitory life. There was always a prophetic
instinct, a low whisper in my ear, that within no long period,
and whenever a new change of custom should be essential to my
good, change would come.
Meanwhile, there I was, a Surveyor of the Revenue and, so far as
I have been able to understand, as good a Surveyor as need be. A
man of thought, fancy, and sensibility (had he ten times the
Surveyor's proportion of those qualities), may, at any time, be a
man of affairs, if he will only choose to give himself the
The Scarlet Letter |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey: sheering them to the left, turning them little by little. And the
dust-blinded wild followers plunged on madly in the tracks of
their leaders. This ever-moving, ever-changing curve of steers
rolled toward Jane and when below her, scarce half a mile, it
began to narrow and close into a circle. Lassiter had ridden
parallel with her position, turned toward her, then aside, and
now he was riding directly away from her, all the time pushing
the head of that bobbing line inward.
It was then that Jane, suddenly understanding Lassiter's feat
stared and gasped at the riding of this intrepid man. His horse
was fleet and tireless, but blind. He had pushed the leaders
Riders of the Purple Sage |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: external preparation and discipline for children, that the body may
keep and bear itself modestly and reverently towards the body and blood
of Christ; yet what is given in and with it the body cannot seize and
appropriate. But this is done by the faith of the heart, which discerns
this treasure and desires it. This may suffice for what is necessary
as a general instruction respecting this Sacrament; for what is
further to be said of it belongs to another time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, since we have now the true understanding and doctrine of
the Sacrament, there is indeed need of some admonition and exhortation,
that men may not let so great a treasure which is daily administered
|
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Pagan and Christian Creeds by Edward Carpenter: of swifter and finer means of external communication than
we can perceive, or whether a common and inner sensitivity
to the genius of the Tribe (the "Spirit of the Hive") or
to the promptings of great Nature around--in any case these
facts of animal life appear to throw light on the possibilities
of an accord and consent among the members of emaciated
humanity, such as we dream of now, and seem to bid us have
good hope for the future.
It is here, perhaps, that the ancient worship of the Lingam
comes in. The word itself is apparently connected with
our word 'link,' and has originally the same meaning.[1]
Pagan and Christian Creeds |
