// v'/ f 
 
 y 
 
 l^yft/i^^ 
 
 tU'l'-t^ 
 
 Woman 
 
 •uVL, 
 
 H 
 
 AM' 
 
 .IVftUKEE, WIS. 
 
I, the Poet, was in the Spirit, on a Resurrectior] 
 Day, May 30, 1880, 
 
BEHOLD THE WOMAN 
 
 ARABLE SEQUEL TO 
 
 MAN IS LOVE 
 
 BULAH BRINTON. 
 
 Light, light I more light. 
 
 —Victor Hugo. 
 
 The soul is a god in exile. 
 
 -M. Aurelius Antoninus. 
 
 The eye.s are the \vi^od^vs ol the .sonl and bring the most dirrect message from it. 
 
 —George Eliott. 
 
 rl'BLI8HEL> FOR THE AUTHOR UY 
 
 BAY V!i:W IIERAI.I) PUhlJSIlING CO. 
 
 1886 
 
Eutered according to Act of Congress, in the year 18S6, by 
 
 BAY VIEW HEUAl.n PUBLISHING CO., 
 
 Intne Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 
 
 PRINTED BY 
 
 D. B. STARKEY ct CO, 90 MASON STKEET, 
 
 MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN. 
 
To THE Happy People of the 
 NEW HEAVEN 
 
 AND THE 
 
 NEW EARTH, 
 
 That they may Herein see Through 
 
 WHAT Anguish the 
 
 God tn Exile 
 
 Has Passed in the Dreary Pilgrimage 
 
 of Life, That they may See the 
 
 DIVINE WOMAN, 
 
 so Long Covered with the Clouds of 
 
 I(rNORANCE, AND OnLY AL LaST 
 RESCUEJD by THE LoVE OF THE 
 
 DIVINE MAN 
 
 To WEAR THE CrOWN — In THE HoPE THAT IN THE 
 
 Physical Changes which will Mark the En- 
 trance OF the Race UpoxV the Life of 
 THE Future, this Record of Travil 
 AND Death, for the Birth and 
 Development of this 
 HIGHER LIFE 
 Will feE in some way Preserved like the 
 BEAUTY OF POMPEII, 
 FOR THE Good of the Race is this work Dedicated 
 to thi Thrice Happy People of the 
 GLORIOUS FUTURE. 
 
BEHOLD THE WOMAN, 
 
 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 
 
2 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 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 Holi- 
 ness, 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 ap- 
 peared 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 proclaim- 
 ing; "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 ([ueen- 
 ly 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 store- 
 house 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, mag- 
 net 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 
 
 (6) 
 
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 wilder- 
 ness, 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 
 
 >rARRIA(TE OF THE SOX. 
 
 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, Socra- 
 tes 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 in- 
 all 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 chil- 
 dren 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 
 
10 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 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 breth- 
 ren 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 tem- 
 ple 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 man- 
 kind 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 di- 
 vine 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 En- 
 chanted Isles, where reigns the Siren Queen, I looked in- 
 tently 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 dis- 
 tinctly. 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." 
 
 -^^^^^^fi^y^k^ 
 
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 an- 
 swered 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 
 
 (12) 
 
Tom's story. 13 
 
 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 van- 
 ish 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 dis- 
 pair 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 
 
14 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 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 some- 
 thing. 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 dis- 
 cern 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 pos- 
 sibilities of eternity. But if there be in store for me any- 
 thing to exceed the joy of that moment I think I don't 
 want to know it. For devoutly do I wish that this mo- 
 ment 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 
 
tom's story. 15 
 
 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 ad- 
 dressed 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 mon- 
 ster's fingers, at the sound of his mocking voice all that 
 beautiful world wherein I had just found my darling van- 
 ished 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 ques- 
 tion 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 
 
16 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 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 pas- 
 sion. 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 stu- 
 pid waiter was not more calm seemingly than I. But when 
 the old familiar scenes were again before me, eager longings- 
 
tom's story. 17 
 
 broke 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 sub- 
 stantial. 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. This did 
 not seem so very strange now that I thought of what I had 
 just read, how a man in the West had been able to discern 
 the lost arm of another by some powerful lens he had con- 
 structed for testing the reality of the invisible bod}^, that 
 is developed and produced through the visible. Aye more, 
 he had been able to write with the hand whose covering of 
 skin, bones and muscles had long since decayed. He had 
 been incited to these experiments by the fact of the man 
 suffering so with his lost arm. Surely there must be some- 
 thing there to give him such pain. So had I suffered with 
 mine. If I was certain of feeling such pain through it 
 could I not be equally certain of feeling the thrill of joy 
 that always comes at the touch of her hand? It were just 
 
18 , BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 as easy now to convince me I had never felt the pain as 
 that I did not now hold my darling with that same arm. 
 It was the one member of my body in the same state or 
 condition as hers. And it was just like my Eva to clasp 
 this hand, press it to her glorified life, that thus the electric 
 circle so long disturbed by her death might be again put 
 into right conditions, and thus bind us together in a chain 
 death could no more touch. Every part of my invisible 
 body was just as real as the arm from whence the flesh had 
 fallen. I could meet her life with mine. The throbs of 
 her heart found answer in mine, though still veiled with 
 its fleshy covering. By means of that arm I could meet 
 her as in the days when we were both behind the walls of 
 flesh, aye much more perfectly, for did not this dark veil 
 like a thick cloud often and often hide us from each other? 
 
 Here she was now in all the freshness and sweetness of 
 her early love, with all the later life had added to her 
 charms and graces. With all the grossness of sense purged 
 away, with all earthy passion transformed and crystalized 
 into the diamond of perfect love, I now received back my 
 Eva after all these years of separation. She was as real 
 as the air I breathed, as impalpable as the electric currents; 
 she moved me just as powerfully. She had by her mighty 
 love conquered all the obstacles of space, all the obstruc- 
 tion of matter and come that she might be all in all to me. 
 
 Of course, it could not have been Eva if she had long 
 left me to enjoy her presence without thought of others. 
 Had I needed any further proofs of her identity, of the 
 fact that she was the same girl who had got possession of 
 my youthful affections, had given me the first glimpse of 
 true womanliness, I felt them as she breathed into my ear 
 by a new process of speech: "Why Tom, how selfish we 
 are. How are you going to give this light to those who are 
 
tom's story. 19 
 
 in the darkness of doubt and fear? Oh, the selfishness of 
 the flesh. The first law of animal life is self, and we 
 shall never get away from its domination while in the ani- 
 mal form." I said very impatiently: "What do I care 
 for them ? Let them struggle to the light as I have. I am 
 going to enjoy you now I've got you back." I suppose 
 being in the spiritual body she could not understand the 
 old language of the flesh. So instead of the grieved look 
 or sharp reproof of the old time, when I had so distressed 
 her by my boyish selfishness, she smiled as sweetly as ever 
 she did, when I had done some hoeric act of self-denial. 
 
 She now led me into the family circle ; into the invisible 
 world she now lived in. I could see through her eyes, 
 hear with her ears, touch with her hands. Man-like at 
 every step of our progress I must stop and know the cause 
 of the thing I felt, find the law that produced and governed 
 the sensation I was conscious of feeling. Somehow a uni- 
 verse of atoms; each atom comprising a Trinity of Spirit, 
 Substance, Space Avas shown me. These were continually 
 dissolving in old forms and combining in new. These were 
 inseparable, for Spirit was the life of Substance and Space 
 was both the separation and union of both. Neither could 
 exist without the other. 
 
 My darling was the same woman she was before she left 
 me, except that she now lived in a more rarefied form. 
 She had left the crude, fleshy state and now lived in the 
 refined, spiritual state. As light escapes the lump of coal 
 during combustion, so had she escaped through the dissolu- 
 tion of her flesh and was now come to stay with me as she 
 was not permitted to do in the flesh. I thought of Moses 
 forbidden to enter the land of promise in the old form, but 
 in the new could came and talk with the Son on the mount- 
 ain. 
 
20 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Having thus found a scientific and historical basis for 
 the happiness I felt I allowed her to take me into her world. 
 My hand clasped in hers, everything she felt I could feel, 
 what she saw I saw. It were just as easy to put the thrill 
 of music, the transports of love, the beauty of flowers into 
 novels as my sensations. Why could not it always be thus? 
 Why must she leave me again? One day I was talking to 
 her (of course we spoke the language of the higher life) of 
 the doubts which had »o long distracted and jnirsued me 
 about the reality of her living. "Wh}^ Tom,'- she said, 
 *'how many do you suppose are still victims of such un- 
 belief?'' "Their name is legion,'" I said, little thinking 
 how surely I was signing my own warrant of separation. 
 The old light was in her eye, only intensified by the new 
 and higher life she now lived, as she said: "Tom, let us 
 part at once, you go in one direction and I in another and 
 et us search every realm of Fact and Faith until we can 
 bring the light these people need. ^Ve read of the Devil 
 appearing as an angel of light, let us make him so in real- 
 ity. Let us transform these demons of Doubt, Darkness, 
 Despair into a living force to lead men to Light, Liberty 
 and Love." That was Eva's way of beating the Devil. To 
 her he was simply a benighted person seeking light. She 
 never could see anything bad anywhere or in any person. 
 Her nature was like a blue light, making everything blue 
 it touches: There was enough love in her to light up all 
 creation. It was idle to tell her she saw only the reflection 
 of herself in others. Her answer would be: "Oh Tom, 
 if you could only love them as I do you would see them 
 just the same.'^ I had no logic for that sort of argument. 
 I think I must have improved a little during our last inter- 
 views for somehow I felt ashamed to urge her from the 
 course she marked out for herself and me. My heart 
 
tom's story. 21 
 
 seemed to be filled up with something of the Infinite Pity 
 for those who still suffered as I had. Moreover this new 
 experience had fired anew my youthful enthusiasm to do 
 something grand, good and noble. It had revived or rather 
 resurrected my old confidence that there was some way out 
 of this labyrinth of mystery, would show us a new mean- 
 ing in life. This seemed possible now that it was so em- 
 bodied and expressed in her. 
 
 The best explanation I can give of the way she appeared 
 now is found in watching the body during the process of 
 •cremation. There is a time when the heat has driven all 
 the volatile gases out of the bod}-. It now weighs from 
 five to six pounds. It is perfectly luminous and trans- 
 parent. The form is exactly as when the body weighed 
 one hundred and fifty pounds. But the earthy substance 
 has been burned and only the pure luminous form remains. 
 A breath of air and this too dissolves, leaving nothing but 
 a handful of dust. 
 
 A slight change in the electric currents which had bound 
 us together parted us, and my darling was gone, living only 
 in my fife by the change she had wrought in me. The old 
 rock was as bare, the woods as desolate as though my Eva 
 had never visited them. I left that memorable place a 
 changed man. Doubt should now be my good angel to 
 lead me to find the truth of things, Despair the stimulus 
 to prompt to effort, as hunger prompts to eff^ort for the 
 supply of ihe body's need, the Devil a very useful individ- 
 ual to stir me up with his long stick if I get careless, or to 
 teach me perseverance. Did I see her then? If I do see 
 her before I can lay at her feet the spoils of victory it will 
 be because she seeks me. 
 
CANTO V. 
 
 THE FIVE FRIENDS. 
 
 Enter — Poetry, Science, Wisdom, History and Ignorance. 
 
 P. — Well friends I have a parable I would like to present 
 to you this morning. 
 
 S. — Parables — Nonsense. Science deals with facts. 
 
 I. — Parables are like pictures, and I like 'm better nor 
 yer facts. 
 
 P. (aside) — Whether is this man or woman? Wrinkled 
 with age, tottering and trembling with decay; yet fresh 
 with immortal youth — a face made perfectly charming by 
 childish innocence — an old hag with the sweet face of the 
 cherub babe. 
 
 W. — Well Science what is the product of thought but 
 fact? Define thought for us. 
 
 S. — Thought is the most perfect manifestation of cosmic 
 force known to us — takes in the whole universe at a glance- 
 — condenses all space — takes in the evolved results of time, 
 and sets sail for eternity. Only the extremes of the Infi-- 
 nite can escape its grasp. It is the life-germ of all mach 
 
 W. — That will do. What is a parable but a' creation of 
 this wondrous power. 
 
 S. — Well to tell the truth I don't want to have anything 
 to do with our friend the Poet just now. She claims to see 
 a world that is best left invisible to me for the present at 
 least. There may come a time for me to enter it, but it 
 
 (22) 
 
THE FIVE FRIENDS. 23 
 
 is not now. I will keep listening while Wisdom deci des 
 those questions which Science has no scales to weigh. 
 
 W. — We are to deal with a word painting. Words are 
 of the same nature as water. Under the electric currents 
 of thought they show the same transformation as water, 
 which appears as vapor, steam, fluid or ice. 
 
 S. — Give us a test to prove your assertion. 
 
 W. — Take the word God. Poet, please tell us what the 
 Hebrew sees in this transparent word. 
 
 P. — One Person, Almighty Creator, outside Nature, etc. 
 
 W. — Give only the principle object. What does the Pan- 
 theist see? 
 
 P. — Universal Force immanent in Nature. The efficient 
 cause of all phenomena. The Atheist sees a Nothing. 
 
 W. — What does the Positivest see in the same word? 
 
 P. — An unknown image of the Unknown and Unknow- 
 able. 
 
 W. — You have given the extremes now for the shadings. 
 What does the Christian find in the word? 
 
 P. — A Trinity of three beings or persons in One. And to 
 fill up the space between these opposites we have every 
 variety of Being or no Being; from a loving Father count- 
 ing the hair of His children's heads to a mighty man of 
 war destroying His enemies, or consuming His children in 
 everlasting fire. Also a being caring nothing for man or 
 his petty interests and works. 
 
 W. — Science, please tell us the cause of the changes we 
 see in a word of but three letters. 
 
 S. — The thought of each affects and determines the 
 meaning of the word. 
 
 W. — Therefore words can have no unchangeable value or 
 meaning. Being symbols of thought they very with the 
 thought of each person who uses them. 
 
24 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 /. — Are ye tr'in' to make out the Bible aint no better nor 
 water? 
 
 W. — My dear Ignorance, can anything be better than a 
 fountain of living water. If we can show you the river of 
 life in the book you love, will it not be better than a lot of 
 letters which can be made to spell anything or nothing ac- 
 cording to the thought of the reader? 
 
 /. — I don't care nothin' about what ye can show me. I 
 was happy and contented before I ever see any of ye. 
 Now I am worried to death with new theories. 
 
 S. — Such happiness is not for us. I would like to try an 
 experiment with some phrase — take Son of God. History 
 oan tell what has been and what is the effect of thought 
 upon this sentence. 
 
 H. — In the infancy of the race it was as natural for men 
 to call themselves sons of God as to call father or mother. 
 After a time men began to deny that others were sons of 
 Ood. Finally the Hebrews desired to have Jesus crucified 
 because He said He wa« a son of God. About fifteen hun- 
 dred years after, one of His friends was burned at the stake 
 by another party of His friends because he said Jesus was 
 the son of God. So it came to pass that in these three 
 words men have found everything from the most sublime 
 truth to the most terrible blasphemy, from soul-saving or- 
 thodoxy to soul-destroying heresy. What each person sees 
 in this phrase is largely the creation of his own thought. 
 I find it impossible to explain the record I have made with, 
 or by any other theory. 
 
 W. — From such experience embracing the whole history 
 •of men, we may formulate the law of words: 
 
 Rule I. Words are symbols of thought whose meaning 
 or value is affected by the thoughts they symbolize. 
 
 Rule II. Words are living organisms. Hence they 
 
THE FIVE FRIENDS. 25 
 
 obey the law of growth and decay that is the universal 
 phenomena of all life. 
 
 /. — I don't see what's the good of words if a fellow can 
 change 'm 'round anyway. 
 
 W. — This laAV gives each one a chance to put a good 
 meaning in the words one employs. And now having 
 found the changable nature of words, proving them to be 
 good, bad or indifferent, (steam, ice or water) through the 
 influence of thought upon them. Let us test events by the 
 same process. Perhaps we my find good where others have 
 found only evil. 
 
 S. — So much attention lias been directed to the Cross let 
 us begin with that. 
 
 W. — Follow the order of development, as evolution is 
 the law of life, so wait till you come to that. Begin with 
 the first on the ring. 
 
 H. — Buddah lived about five hundred years before Jesus. 
 He showed men a religion that is today the faith of one- 
 third the children of men. 
 
 P. — Western learning sees in this stupendous fact a re- 
 ligion of negation, entirely without God, Soul or Immor- 
 tality. 
 
 W. — What does Poetry find here? 
 
 P. — A God whose existence is a truth both too simple and 
 too sublime and complex to admit of proof. An infinite 
 truth, completing the whole circle; with the Sonship of 
 man in the center. It is a truth weakened by proof, which 
 admits a doubt, as a broken circle. As a planet becomes 
 a comet, doubt affects this truth. 
 
 W. — The difference then between Eastern and Western 
 thought is shown by two teachers of geometry. One leads 
 his pupils into elaborate descriptions and demonstrations of 
 the possible existence of a line and a dot. When they 
 
26 BEHOLD THE WOMVN. 
 
 have come to a perfect apprehension of this possibility he 
 makes a line and a dot. The other does this at once, and 
 goes on to show his pupils how to solve the problems. 
 Buddah wasted no time constructing water prisons (word 
 definitions) to limit and confine the infinite God. 
 
 P. — He did not even give them a word image or any 
 other idol of marble or clay. But having fought his way 
 to the table lands of Nirvanna he pointed the people to the 
 Noble path which would lead them to it — right doing, etc. 
 The eight wonder of the world is that of Western thought 
 fixing itself upon the dead letters of the word "Nirvanna," 
 and utterly blind to the living man right before them. 
 How could Nirvanna be annihilation when there he was, 
 "He who just began to live when he got into it." 
 
 W. — A most striking proof of the blindness of word 
 worship. The most ignorant 
 
 /. — Why yes, I'd known better ner that myself. A dead 
 man couldn't be try in' to help me get religion, or be a 
 nothin', wantin' to git me nowhar. 
 
 P. — We find in this religion a glorious proof that we are 
 not obliged to multiply words about God, the Soul, and 
 Immortality. But instead reach out the hand of Love 
 and at once help men on the road that leads unerringly in- 
 to the Unnamable, the unthinkable. 
 
 W. — Starting" now from the table lands of morality, 
 whither all the men named in the circle of the ring sought 
 to lead their fellow men, let us ascend to the Cross, and let 
 History tell us what thought has made of this event — the 
 crucifixion of Jesus. 
 
 H. — The death of God and the life of man. The death 
 of man and the life of God. Between these opposite poles 
 of thought there is every shade and variation, the words of 
 which have formed a whole ocean; pure water of life to 
 
THE FIVE FRIENDS. 27 
 
 some; a lake of eternal fire; a volcano or mountain of ice 
 to others. The Roman soldiers, who beheld it, stood in 
 awed silence; or with hushed breath declared "surely this 
 is the Son of God." 
 
 TT.— We can do no better then they. Leaving its un- 
 thinkable, unspeakable mysteries to the heart we will try 
 
 to find the living water flows 
 
 S.~l don't find any pure water of life in it. I see a 
 noble man teaching wondrous truths in much higher and 
 purer form than any of his predecessors. I see him tor- 
 tured and put to death by his bigoted countrymen. I see 
 the sweetest, most loving words man ever spake tortured 
 
 and turned into living death and hell for 
 
 /. — I declare I'm sick to death of this everlasting ding- 
 dong about hell, hell ! ! It don't amount to a hill of beans. 
 I just let my youngones say, "Oh God, if there haint no 
 God don't damn our souls if we haint got no souls." They 
 are just as safe then if there haint no God as they are if 
 there is. Folks has got to have somethin' to eat in this 
 world. 
 
 S.—A very sensible thing to do. Much wiser than the 
 course of our friend Poetry, who is always stirring people 
 up with questions about which it is impossible to know 
 anything definite. Barren speculations. Look at the East, 
 while dreaming about their souls their bodies have become 
 living skeletons, with the breath of life kept in by the 
 charity of the English, whom science tought how to make 
 
 this world worth living in and how to make life and 
 
 P.— Dear History, pray tell us the age of our young 
 fi'iend. 
 
 If.— Not very old, hardly of age; yet a child of wonder- 
 ful promise. 
 
 /.—Not very old, I should say so. A puking, squalling 
 
28 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 baby crawling on all fours. I've seen plenty such brats in 
 my time, as 'twas going to work wonders and drive me out 
 
 of the universe. But I aint dead yet. No thanks 
 
 W. — Nor likely to be for some time yet. But when our 
 friend Science asserts that nothing can be certainly known 
 of the things the Poet has been showing us, it is an asser- 
 tion without proof. History will tell us what progress was 
 made in physical science before Bacon showed the right 
 method of discovering truth, thus enlarging continually 
 the realm of the known from the spoils of the unknown. 
 
 if.- -Nothing worth the name of progress. The induc- 
 tive method was as the slow moving waters of the lakes 
 drawn into the rapids of Niagra. And yet we are not out 
 of the creeping state. What are the possibilities of prog- 
 ress when science is erect on her feet? 
 
 W. Very well. Now if all these marvelous changes owe 
 their origin to the observation of the workings of nature, 
 in earth's changes instead of looking into the mud-pens of 
 thought, called words — stagnant Avater — whose only life 
 was the result of putrification ; what may we not expect 
 when the student of man turns his attention from words to 
 living men; and seeks here the solution of life's problems — 
 the law of his being? 
 
 5.— But how is one going to know anything of a world 
 one can neither see, nor hear, nor feel? 
 
 Tf^.— Please drop the last word and wail for proof on that 
 point. Because men found nothing but death in the word 
 Nirvanna you have no right to say no life could be found 
 in Buddah. So let us with hope instead of despair begin, 
 at the beginning. Follow Goldsmith in his Animated Na- 
 ture, and observe the child from its tirst independent exis- 
 tence; succeeding the fact of conception. What do we find 
 here? 
 
THE FIVE FRIENDS. 2^ 
 
 S,—A being invisible to the naked eye, but possessed of 
 a force of sufficient power to draw sustenance from all its 
 surroundings, continually dying to live anew until it comes 
 to the full statue of man or woman. After a few years in 
 which the life and death forces balance; are neutral as the 
 gases in water; the death force gains on the life force until 
 with the last breath it is entirely vanquished, as a spark 
 gone out. 
 
 W. — At what period of its existence does this being re- 
 ceive the most powerful impressions from outside parties 
 and influences? 
 
 S'.— During its nine months of fetal life. Not all its 
 three score years and ten can undo the work of this gen- 
 erative period. The seed derived from the parents deter- 
 mines its whole future developments, as certainly as the 
 acorn the oak. This again is slight compared to the 
 impressions made upon its sensative organization through 
 the mother. It can be frightened into idiocy or death by 
 the sights and sounds of war; it can receive marks from 
 every object in nature, from red cherries to white hand- 
 kerchiefs; it can be frightened into life-long fear of eveiy 
 thing from a mouse to an elephant; it can be made to love 
 or hate its own father; aye it can be guillotined while yet 
 in its mother's womb, as was done in France. 
 
 W. — And yet it receives all these impressions from a 
 world it is not born into. Pray tell me then does it know 
 anything of the world outside its own narrow bounderies? 
 
 S. — Not through selfconsciousness. This is a flame that 
 only lights up at a later period of growth, sleeps when we 
 sleep, burns low in a fever, in fact is governed entirely by 
 the condition of the brain. 
 
 W. — A very uncertain thing truly, as you have shown^ 
 the knowledge that affects us most is had without its aid. 
 
30 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 The most it seems to do is to localize the power of sensa- 
 tion that is distributed over the whole body when it sleeps, 
 in the nerves of the eyes and ears when it works; so caus- 
 ing us to feel them less powerfully. It is a watch dog that 
 wakes up when it has a chance to bite. 
 
 S. — One never knows anything about ones nerves or body 
 until bitten by it. Yet the pain is all in the nerves, like 
 powder in a revolver waiting its touch. 
 
 W. — Now Science, may there not be something in this 
 latent pain in the nervous system like the hell of the 
 
 /. — Hell is it? Now who ever heard the beat of that? 
 I never once thought when I heard talk like yourn that 
 you'd fetch up there. Oh, I do wish I could go to sleep. 
 
 W. — Well this is getting rather stupid. Will not the 
 Poet enliven us up a little with some of her fancy pictures? 
 
 P. — I see a number of persons as nearly like us, as our- 
 selves in miniature. They are enclosed in narrow cells, 
 surrounded by water and enclosed by thick, muscular 
 walls. They are discussing the question of a future life: 
 Resolved That there must be a world outside of this we 
 live in. Poetry took the affirmative while Science led the 
 negative. 
 
 Affirmative — There must be something beside this, cause 
 what are we here for? Are we any good to ourselves or 
 anybody else? What's the good of our eyes if we aint 
 ever going to have any light; our lungs if we are never to 
 have any air? Would any sensible person spend his time 
 making such hands as ours if there was nothing for them 
 to do? And who that cared anything for us would make 
 such long legs as ours to be forever cramped up like we are. 
 ("Kick if your legs ache," said one of the Negative.) Then 
 there must be another world 'cause here's a fellow scared 
 half to death with a mouse, and where is the mouse? Un- 
 
THE FIVE FRIENDS. 31 
 
 til my learned opponent answers this question, or shows 
 up the mouse, it is useless to say more. 
 
 Negative. — My ingenious friend has asked some very 
 puzzling questions, I admit. But they are all outside the 
 province of physical science, which deals with the world 
 me are in. Has anyone that left this ever come back to tell 
 us of any other? Not one. The doors of our prison open 
 only from within. Of what is outside these walls, whether 
 a world of darkness or light; whether we go from this to a 
 .new life, to pain or death, none has ever come back to tell, 
 jln the absence of such knowledge how idle the dreams 
 ;about a Father, Mother, or a big Brother. If we do our 
 .duty 
 
 I. — 'Taint no difference what they do, when the right 
 misery comes they'll find out whether there's another 
 world or not, and they wont before. 
 
 W. — That is all well enough for debate; but could a 
 scientific fetus deny the existence of an outside world, the 
 possibility of a future life, with all the proofs there are 
 and they have of its existence? 
 
 S. — Most certainly not. No explanation of the facts of 
 its existence could be made without it. Besides they have 
 positive proofs in what they feel. And what is seeing and 
 hearing but modes of feeling sensation. 
 
 W. — Exactly so. Now I propose to show. you by posi- 
 tive proof from living witnesses that while we are in the 
 womb of nature, waiting the birth we call death, we have 
 just as positive proof of a world outside the visible that 
 encloses us. 
 
 S. — I would like to know where you are to find it. All 
 I have heard has been of faith, theoriesjand belief. 
 
 W. — I will show you a sect of several millions, who 
 jnake it their life work to gain and testify to certain knowl- 
 
32 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 edge on this very subject. They are not taken into this^ 
 as in some sects, by birth or parentage. But only as they 
 are able to declare from positive knowledge that they are 
 born into an invisible world of spirit life. They are re- 
 quired to "meet once every week" to obtain, express and de- 
 clare experience and positive knowledge in the invisible life. 
 
 S. — But just think what absurd, horrid doctrines they 
 hold about the one hundred and forty billions of people 
 who have lived 
 
 W. — Hold, my friend. That is entirely irrelevant. A 
 witness is called to testify of what he knows, not of his 
 opinions. Suppose five millions of people in different 
 parts of the world were to testify that on a certain day I 
 had the toothache, I took vitalized air and though I knew 
 all that was going on, I felt not the least pain when it was 
 pulled out. The tooth coming out felt as good as ever it 
 did before it ached. Could science confront this great 
 cloud of witnesses and say there is no such thing as not 
 feeling pain when a tooth is being pulled? 
 
 S^ — Certainly not. But if they undertook to tell us 
 about the everlasting condition of their neighbor's teeth 
 
 W. — You would tell them you was through with them^ 
 Now do these persons testify that on a certain day they 
 felt the pain of heart hunger. Friends who had tried it 
 told them of a vitalized air found in the kingdom of heaven^ 
 a world of light, joy and peace. They breathed the air 
 and felt for themselves what others had found before them. 
 Not one of all this vast throng who fails to obtain this ex- 
 perience for any length of time but will testify that it is 
 his own fault; he has failed to obey the law of the life of 
 the spirit world. 
 
 I. — Fiddlesticks! The Methodists aint no better than 
 anybody else. They like money just as well. 
 
THE FIVE FRIENDS. 33 
 
 W, — That only proves that other people are as good as 
 they are. These were not put upon the witness stand be- 
 cause they were better than others, but because they had 
 made these experiments their life work, through many 
 generations. Their testimony like the "marks" of fetal 
 life is proof of a law that governs all. If the Catholic and 
 the other Protestant churches required their members to 
 give testimony on this point, it would swell the member- 
 ship to hundreds of millions. 
 
 S. — Perhaps they only think they know these things. 
 
 W. — How do you know, that you know, the world goes 
 around the sun? 
 
 /. — He don't know no such thing, cos 'taint so. The sun 
 goes 'round the world, I always said it and I always shall. 
 Aint I seen it, and watched it with my own eyes ever so 
 many times. 
 
 P. — Now Science, since we make no such demand upon 
 you as to believe in direct opposition to the testimony of 
 your eyes and ears; but simply ask that you refrain from 
 making these the only tovich-stones of reality, will you 
 enter with your friends into our temple and if at first you 
 fail to see what Tennyson does in a man at prayer — "the 
 God in man united with the God outside of man" — as 
 drops of mingling water, be content to wait till you have 
 thrown his light upon the humble petitioner? 
 
 S.—l will. 
 
 W. — We surely shall not be cramped for room here. For 
 poetry is the science of the invisible world. Its subject is 
 Man! The one word that answers all the riddles of the 
 universe, as it did the riddle of the Greek Sphinx. 
 
 P. — Allow me to introduce to you Man — the blood of a 
 God, running through the veins of an animal. 
 
 /. — Oh that's too horrid for anything. 
 
34 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 P. — The great tragedy of human existence. A being 
 with two natures, which combined produces a third. The 
 trinity of Man; Body, Soul and Spirit, a truth at once too 
 simple and too complex to admit of demonstration. The 
 child's first experience of life is the bite of the watch dog, 
 self-consciousness, which tells him that he has broken the 
 law of God, nature, love, truth and goodness, to obey the 
 animal law which is self. Self-preservation is the law of 
 animal life, as self-giving is of the God life. 
 
 /. — If the fellow has sinned why don't you say so? 
 
 P. — Because my aged friend, you and others put such 
 strange meanings in the word my meaning could hardly 
 be expressed by it. We must try and coin a new word, 
 which containing the active principles of this also gives 
 the idea of simple immaturity, misfortune, also both 
 knowledge and hatred of sin gained through it. 
 
 S, — Sickness is the word we use for violations of the law 
 of the body. If you wish to say one has violated the law 
 of an interior life, you call Soul, why not say he is sin-sick. 
 
 7.— But what if he aint sick on it, and don't even think 
 he is sick at all? 
 
 S. — Are not your children sickest when they do not 
 know anything about it, and dead when they can no 
 longer feel pain? 
 
 /.— Oh, I see what you are arter. You are tryin' to git 
 sinner away from me; and it is all the comfort I've got 
 left, to say I'm a poor, miserable sinner. 
 
 P. — And you shall say it to the end of your existence. 
 To make you perfectly safe I will draw a line between the 
 two words thus, Ignorance — Sinner; and say as the priest 
 at a marriage, "What God hath joined together let not man 
 put assunder." Now will we put the word sister before 
 sinner and call you Sis, for short. 
 
THE FIVE FRIENDS. 35 
 
 Sis. — That is all right, I feel safe now. 
 
 S. — Don't you see my friends you are dealing in things 
 of which Science can take no cognizance. People who deal 
 in this sin business are frightened even to insanity, imbecil- 
 ity and all manner of wretchedness with the spector of a God. 
 W. — You spoke of children in uterine life affected the 
 same way with war and murder, and even took cognizance 
 of one frightened by a mouse. Now will you please answer 
 the question of the worthy fetus of the affirmative and 
 locate the mouse. 
 
 S. — It was in the frightened thought of the mother. 
 
 W. — How came it in the thought of the mother. 
 
 S. — She must have seen or heard it. (aside) How silly. 
 
 Phil. — Had there never been any mice in the universe 
 could this have been possible? 
 
 S. — Certainly not. 
 
 Phil. — The mouse must first exist before he can scare 
 women. Thought can not create something out of nothing. 
 Where then is the God who doth so frighten or attract 
 people? Some have conceived this world was created out 
 of nothing by an Almighty Creator. But the creation of 
 a spirit world out of nothing — such a world as men have 
 always seen beyond or within the visible — no such miracle 
 was ever thought of for the Almighty. 
 
 Sis. — It looks mighty like as man could make a better 
 world for God than He could make for man. If man has 
 made God out of nothing, He had to have dirt to make 
 man with. 
 
 Phil. — Now Science, is this thing possible? Could God 
 so exist in the world's thought except by having an objec- 
 tive existence? 
 
 S. — Science in no wise denies this existence, but sees no 
 evidence of personality — a personal God. 
 
36 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Phil. — You see a personality of a certain kind in every 
 atom of matter, in every plant and animal. Of all the 
 billions of people this earth has fed no two are alike. Doth 
 God lack that which the smallest have — personality. 
 Hitherto hath man been studied as two simples. One 
 given to physiology and law, the other to poetry and relig- 
 ion. Now that Science has entered this latter domain we 
 propose to show you a science of Man; wherein the two na- 
 tures are united, the animal and divine forming the human . 
 
 Sis. — Why don't you give us a man and not talk so 
 much about one. Folks aint fed by talking about bread . 
 
 S. — That is the chief want. We would have a specimen, 
 a living fact to examine, that we may study Man. 
 
 H. — I can give you one well worthy of study. But 
 Poetry must first give us a picture of man's condition after 
 our mother Earth had taken the fatal cup, and while her 
 Lord was preparing for His coming. 
 
 P. — I see the animals that cover the sons of God con- 
 stantly making war upon each other until the ground is 
 drunk with brothers' blood. Midst all this tumult and 
 strife nothing is so pathetic as the God in man seeking to 
 find their Father and Mother; except it be the frantic efforts 
 of the animal to get away from Him. One crying out in 
 the anguish of soul hunger: "Oh, that I knew where I 
 might find Him." The other in the terror of fright calling 
 on the mountains to hide them from Him, finding no 
 place to flee from Him. Through all this horror of dark- 
 ness a strong, firm Hand is gently leading them, a loving 
 Mother tenderly watching over them. 
 
 Sis. — I never knowed anything about God being Mother. 
 I only heard of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 
 
 Phil. — Did you ever know a father and son without a 
 mother? 
 
THE FIVE FRIENDS. 37 
 
 Sis. — There couldn't be no such thing, cos where could 
 the son come from? 
 
 P. — In the shadowy "Ghost" you have seen in the 
 Trinity I desire to show you an all-loving Mother. My 
 friend Science can see that as certainly as the two lines of 
 a triangle determine the third, so certainly does the fact of 
 a father and son determine the mother. 
 
 S. — It can't be otherwise. 
 
 Sis. — Well I'm real glad of that. I always did want a 
 mother. Pears like a home aint full without one. But it 
 seems to me I could know her better if I could see some 
 woman as was like her, as Jesus was like His Father. 
 
 W. — That's what we are seeking in this parable. 
 
 P. — A poet of France (Gautier) saith: "Faith makes 
 God, and love makes woman." Love finds a Mother in 
 God. 
 
 *S^. — If this be so it has its counterpart or corollary in the 
 life of the plant, which having its life from the sun con- 
 stantly absorbs new life from it, virtually creating a living 
 sun. In this way I can understand the meaning of God 
 manifest in the flesh. The sun is manifest in the plant. 
 
 P. — A very hard, dry, disagreeable way to find such a 
 sweet, beautiful, pleasing truth. 
 
 W. — It is well that Science should show us new ways of 
 finding God, so that all that hath breath or life shall praise 
 Him. What could we know of the sun's light except as 
 we see it manifest in the useful and beautiful creations of 
 nature. So we may know God's life in His children. Thus 
 •we have the living God, Christ in the heart. 
 
 S. — I can see that as we can only know the life of the 
 sun in some living organism so it may be true we can only 
 find the life of God in living men and women. Observe, 
 my friends, I can not yet feel the same certainty about God 
 
38 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 that you do; but if your theory of the two natures be cor- 
 rect, man must be acted upon by two opposing attractions, 
 the one of the earth, the other God. As like attracts like 
 they would become animals were 
 
 Sis. — Can't anybody see they are like animals, only a 
 great deal worser. What hog is so bad as the man-hog in 
 the gutter? What bear is like the man-bear tearin' folks 
 to pieces 'bout his dinner? What snake is so mean as the 
 woman-snake talkin' 'bout her neighbors? Tell about God 
 in them, I'd like to see it. 
 
 JV, — In the figure before us the Poet has shown us a 
 Glorified Son in the form of these repulsive gutter objects. 
 If this be a true picture it must be shown in life. 
 
 P. — That is what I will now do. Now, midst the fighting 
 animals of the Asiatics were a few persons, who, when their 
 temple was destroyed and they taken into captivity, took 
 some of the altar fire with them concealed in their hearts. 
 They preserved it with the greatest secrecy, taking their 
 name from the diamonds on the breast plate of the High 
 Priest, Essenes. Drawn by the attractions of the hidden 
 life they "despised riches," overcame animal passion and 
 sought personal purity as the highest good. They thus 
 had the reward of the pure in heart, they saw God in every- 
 thing. Then did one of their angels (messengers) assure 
 one of the virgins; she should conceive and bear a son. So 
 was the life principle conveyed from her betrothed hus- 
 band (Joseph) by the law of attraction. 
 
 'S^. — A child conceived thus would of necessity be very 
 different from ordinary persons; inasmuch as it is the sen- 
 suous exaltation caused by the union of the parties that 
 produces so much of the animal life force of the fetus. 
 
 P. — This corresponds with what our friend History tells 
 of this wondrous child: "No man ever spake as He spake.'* 
 
THE FIVE FRIENDS. 
 
 39 
 
 Sis. — Why, that was Jesus and he didn't come that way 
 but right from God without any father. 
 
 P. — Perhaps He came right from God through Joseph 
 and Mary, as light comes from the sun througlj air. So 
 His conception; with the supposed miracle of His mother's 
 conception; was not the result of animal attraction but the 
 attractions of the God natures, and it thus becomes the 
 "Immaculate Conception" the Catholic church commemo- 
 rates. 
 
 Sis.—lWe been to that lots of times, but I never knew 
 that was how it came before. 
 
 pjiil — This is not to be taken as the testimony of an eye- 
 witness, but as the only truth large enough to cover the 
 facts in the records of this Child's life. (See Mathew I.) 
 It is said he was born of a virgin; his mother says of Jo- 
 seph "thy father"— Son of Man— Joseph and Mary, Father 
 and Mother in Heaven — Son of God. 
 
 5._This fact, if fact it be, removes all the objections of 
 science to the story of the Gospels. 
 
 Sis. — How are you going to account for the miracle of 
 the loaves and fishes? 
 
 5. — By the miracle of the loaves and fishes itself. Be- 
 fore the boy had them in his basket they were in the sun's 
 rays. By the slow process of gi-owth they were combined 
 through cosmic force in the earth and sea. By the more 
 powerful cosmic force in the thought of Jesus and the 
 multitude they were now combined by a different process. 
 
 W. — In the cosmic power of thought you seem to have 
 a key to the mystery of miracles. 
 
 5. — It is no more impossible for science to see 
 the electric power in thought collecting and centering 
 around the walls of Jericho until they fell, than to see them 
 thrown down by the cyclone. The marvel is that men 
 
■40 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 could be found to walk around the walls while their brains 
 were collecting the electricity. 
 
 Sis. — 'Twant none of their business 'bout the 'lectricity. 
 All they had to do was to mind what the Lord told them. 
 
 H^. — Our sister speaks not unwisely. As thought is the 
 •power which generates the force it is necessary that the 
 thought be held right in that focus. Doubt or disobedi- 
 ence would dissipate the force at once. 
 
 Sis. — Why can't you just as well say that nobody can 
 do anything without faith — believing and doing what God 
 •says they must. 
 
 S. — As an expedient for giving temporary relief to the 
 hungry people, the making of bread direct from the slm's 
 irays by thought power, was all right. But it would be a 
 poor financial venture for the people of this day. Inas- 
 much as the electricity developed in the brain is to be used 
 as motor force it would be too expensive to have it pay. 
 But in consequence of the rapid work of machinery driv- 
 ing men to the wall, it is time we began to experiment, as 
 they are in France, using the sun's rays as motor force for 
 machinery. The question of the daily bread is fast becom- 
 ing one of prime importance. 
 
 Sis. — I'm sick to death of this everlasting talk about the 
 body. Can't anybody see that the folks who has the most 
 money are the most restless and don't know what to do 
 with themselves or what's the matter. A child is crying 
 with starvation and you give it a tin whistle. 
 
 S. — Perhaps it would stop if Sis would give it one of her 
 tracts. 
 
 P. — Let me give you a parable of these things: Once 
 when an eagle was hatching her first brood she heard 
 strange sounds of little bills pecking at the shells and she 
 said to the father: "What shall I do, the little darlings 
 
THE FIVE FRIENDS. 41' 
 
 are unhapp}', I am sure they are. Once they were so 
 quiet, but now they rest neither night nor day." 
 
 "We must paint some pretty pictures on their shells 
 and put some nice playthings around them," said the 
 father. 
 
 "You just let them alone and you will see what their 
 pecking means." said the old grandfather. 
 
 And sure enough the next morning there were the beau- 
 tiful birds. 
 
 W. — An apt illustration of our time. Men feel the thrill 
 and stirring of the divine life. The narrow confines of the 
 past no longer satisfies the yearning. And so are men rest- 
 less, dissatisfied and uneasy, as never before. We must 
 give them better houses, with prettier pictures; five dollars 
 per day instead of three, says one. They must have more 
 books to read, says another. That wont do any good unless 
 they are about religion, says a third. Books about religion 
 wont do them any good unless they have strong laws; it is 
 only the law that can help them, says a fourth. But those 
 who have watched the way in which the divine life has 
 manifested itself in the past, can with perfect confidence 
 wait till the soul, like a young eagle, comes out of the shell 
 of the past into the clear light of the present. 
 
 H. — It has been my business to watch this life in man 
 for many centuries, and this is way it looks to me: The 
 car of salvation has been slowly drawn along on the track 
 of time trying to rescue a few souls from the wreck of this 
 world. Now is heard the thunder and roar of an immense 
 train on the same track, coming rail road speed. Some 
 people are frightened thinking the old car is to be entirely 
 smashed by the new engine and the train it is pulling along 
 destroyed. But just at the time men are breathlessly 
 awaiting the terrible collision, invisible hands are at work 
 
42 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 cupling the new engine to the glorious old car, and push- 
 ing it ahead with new speed, it takes all safely into the city 
 of Faith, the New Jerusalem. The grand old car is relig- 
 ion, the new engine is science. While men thought one 
 must destroy the other, or be itself destroyed, they find 
 the one propelling the other along the King's highway of 
 holiness, and drawing the whole world to glory. 
 
 S. — This is very encouraging. Still we must be expected 
 to look after the bodies of men. 
 
 Sis. — Well if you can't do better than you did with 
 Garfield you'd better let them alone. 
 
 W. — Well, Sis; what would you have done? 
 
 Sis. — I'd a told the truth the first thing. If I couldn't 
 a told nothing about Garfield's body or Giteau's brain un- 
 til arter they was dead, I wouldn't pretended to. I'd said : 
 Now Lord, I don't know nothin' about that bullet, but you 
 can see inside as easy as outside, and if you'll attend to 
 what I can't do, I'll take him "back to Mentor." I would 
 have taken as good care of him as ever I could, and I believe 
 he'd a got well. 
 
 S. — I think he had the benefit of prayer, to a large 
 degree. 
 
 Sis. — Praying! I should think so. One day I heard a 
 fellow prayin' for him this way: "Oh, Lord; save Gar- 
 field's life, if you can. But if you can't do that, do some- 
 thing else that you can do. But what ever you do damn 
 Giteau! Damn Giteau! ! " Didn't I give him fits though? 
 
 P. — Why, Sis; perhaps he didn't know what he did. 
 
 Sis. — 'Twas my business to let him know. And so I 
 walloped him until he begged like a good fellow. But I 
 wouldn't let him oflf until he'd say the prayer right after 
 me. 
 
 P. — What was the prayer you taught him? 
 
THE FIVE FRIENDS. 43 
 
 Sis.— ''Oh, Lord; I don't know nothin' 'bout Giteau's 
 brain. But you can see right into it, and if you see he's 
 just like them men as murdered you on the cross, and you 
 will forgive and save him. I'll help shut him up tight, 
 in prison, while you do it, so he can't hurt anybody else; 
 and I'll help you save him all I can. Pray do save him 
 now! 
 
 S. — A more sensible way than the law showed. 
 
 P. — I am charmed to perceive our friends find such good 
 in each other. And now that we are led to the Cross by 
 the study of life 
 
 S. — We are much more interested in the life and teach- 
 ings of Jesus, then in his last moments, I think. Much 
 of the teaching is perfectly plain to me. But all that 
 which refers to a future life, after the death of this body, 
 is like an unknown tongue to me. 
 
 ^. — He never taught anything distinctly, except in 
 parables, about the future life. In giving the law of this 
 life, He showed the law of the future life; just as you in 
 showing the formation of the crystal, teach the law and 
 motion of the planets. 
 
 P. — I see this life as the fetal life of the soul. The first 
 breath is a pain, the first birth throe of the soul. The last 
 breath is the last pang that frees the soul from the womb 
 of nature, and gives it new conditions to grow in the new 
 life of the future. Like the fetus in its mother's womb, 
 we live in this spirit world, and all our substance is drawn 
 from it. We are, perhaps, more affected by it then will be 
 possible at any other stage of our being, as you have shown 
 is the case with unborn children. But now, while we are 
 in the womb of nature, any description of that life, we shall 
 be born into, would be as useless and mischievous as light 
 and air to an unborn child. 
 
44 BEHOLD THE WOMAM. 
 
 W. — Men have made the same mistake in studying the 
 words of Jesus and John, in the book of Revelations, as- 
 the pupil studying geography. He thinks the equator is 
 a big band around the earth, the zones lines dividing the 
 hot from the cold parts. Jesus drew men a chart of the 
 invisible world. And His disciples, in all ages, have 
 mistaken His words for real bands around the world. 
 Thus, when He spake of the "leaven of doctrine," they 
 thought He meant yeast; when He spake of Himself as 
 the "living bread," they thought He wanted them to turn 
 cannibals, and eat His flesh and drink His blood 
 
 aS^. — They don't seem to be far away from that now. 
 
 W. — The natural consequence of a soul in a body of 
 flesh. But if they are so little able to understand the 
 things of the present, in the soul life, what would be the 
 consequence of telling them about the future? Mahomet 
 undertook to tell some of these things, and he simply de- 
 scribed an immense harem. Equally absurd is the heaven 
 of some Christian writers. It is their OAvn houes and 
 desires seen through a microscope. Wiser then these, the 
 Great Teacher opens men's eyes to see the spirit world (the 
 kingdom of Heaven) we now live in. Had a knowledge 
 of what is to come after the death of the body been good 
 for us, the time to have given it to His disciples would have 
 been after the resurrection. But not one word is recorded 
 on this subject. All is of the present life. 
 
 Sis. — Now I've got you. What about the parable of the 
 rich man and Lazarus? Aint that Heaven and Hell? 
 
 W. — Exactly. A most striking picture of the hell into 
 which sensuality and selfishness lead those who use their 
 riches upon themselves. A most comforting view of the 
 reward of suffering the loss of all outward things in behalf 
 of the soul's life. It has, however, no more reference to 
 
THE FIVE FRIENDS. 45 
 
 the rewards and penalties of the future state, then the 
 command "Thou shalt not kill," or "Blessed are the pure 
 in heart, for they shall see God." 
 
 S. — Are the figures of "beasts" found in the Revelations 
 of St. John then to be taken as the beasts in which you 
 see the God — Man imprisoned here? 
 
 W. — As much as the lines of geometry of the bodies 
 and objects they represent. They are no more photographs 
 of our future animal world, than the stuffed monstrosities 
 of the museum. The "lake of fire" is the sea of passion, 
 the "undying worm" the inevitable consequence of wrong 
 doing. Will our friend Science tell us what would be the 
 consequence in his domain, of a pupil mistaking the lines 
 or figures of things for the living realities they represent 
 — the dotted marks of the map for a real rail road or real 
 river, the little stars for the states' capital, the dots 
 
 Sis. — Well! I don't care one single thing about it. The 
 beasts John seen are good enough for me. 
 
 W. — Sis is hungry, and if we don't attend to the call of 
 nature we shall soon feel the teeth of a hungry beast in 
 our own stomachs, I fear. 
 
 Exit — All 
 
CANTO VI. 
 
 THE FIVE FRIENDS CONTINUED. 
 
 Enter — Poetry, Science, Wisdom, Sis and others. 
 
 Now did I, the poet, see the friends coming together 
 looking refreshed and happy. Sis was like a baby after a 
 bath. Science had grown to a fine looking youth, and was 
 even ready for a little joke at the expense of Wisdom. 
 
 S. — Well, my friends; say what you will of modern 
 progress, we have certainly found a pleasanter way to get 
 an appetite than the wise Greeks and Romans used. 
 
 Sis — I should say as much. Why, I'd sooner hear the 
 whole kit of ye talk an hour apiece, than to puke myself 
 half to death, as the great Ceasar had to 'fore he could eat 
 Cicero's dinners. 
 
 W. — Since we find the creative power of the sun's rays 
 are sufficient to account for the varied phenomena of nature, 
 the sun continually becoming incarnate in the life of the 
 body ; does it not, Science? 
 
 S. — That is the physical fact. Men are but living suns. 
 When they die, or rather, as they die by the moment, they 
 go back to original atoms, to form new combinations. 
 
 P. — Why, Science; that is just the way God becomes 
 incarnate in man. Zoraster saw the sun as an image of 
 God. 
 
 PV. — But what I desire Science to do is to solve the 
 mystery of the resurrection, and show us the law operated 
 
 (46) 
 
THE FIVE FRIENDS CONTINTED. 47 
 
 here. By the laws ah-eady known to you, are you able 
 to account for it? 
 
 S. — Certainly; if your theory of a God be 
 
 Sis — Now be a man Bob, Oh, excuse me; I meant Bub, 
 to go with Sis. There's no "if" nor "an" 'bout it. If there 
 aint no God, show us the mouse. If you can't do that, 
 give in like a man, and say the truth. 
 
 J^. — We all emphasise this demand. You have entered 
 the temple of Poetry, the realm of the invisible, if 
 you find it a real world with a living head, a first cause 
 sufficient to account for all the phenomena of man's life 
 and history, say so. That this Being transcends the power 
 of description or demonstration, your disciple Kant has 
 proven. Will you now accept this Being, as the first cause, 
 or say as Sis does to your theory of the earth and sun, 
 " 'taint so." 
 
 S. — Have we not shown a life principle in nature? 
 
 Phil — That does not cover the case. Every atom is 
 dependent upon other atoms. Where is the head or center? 
 
 S. — There is no way known to science to account for life's 
 phenomena, except by the existence of an Almighty, Om- 
 nipresent Being. Therefore I will drop the objectionable 
 ''if" and say there is and must be a God, else there is no 
 man. 
 
 W. — Well done. Now give us the solution of our prob- 
 lem. 
 
 Sis. — I guess he can, for he's fixed up that thing stronger 
 than ever I had it. Who ever thought if there was no 
 God there couldn't be any man. But how could a man 
 know he was going to come out of a tomb the third day? 
 
 S. — Exactly as He knew all things. Being so pure the 
 vital relations between Him and the All-Parent would 
 show him the mind of God, where the future is as the 
 
48 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 past, just as we know an eclipse before as well as after the 
 event. 
 
 P. — Tell us Science, can a mother suffer from the sick- 
 ness or disease of an unborn child? 
 
 S. — Much more before than after birth. 
 
 P. — Then must God feel the pain of soul sickness. 
 
 Sis. — That's just what He did feel until it broke the 
 heart of the blessed Christ, the Son so much like Him. 
 
 W. — We would fain contemplate the scene as the poet 
 Goethe, in awed silence. But my dear Science so have 
 the children of men stumbled over this part of the gospel 
 history, either thinking it an impossibility, thus invalidat- 
 ing the whole story, or elpe supposing it the result of some 
 outside intervention unknown in any 
 
 Sis — If you don't believe in miracles why don't you say 
 so, and done with it, and not keep beatin' around the bush. 
 
 P. — We do believe in miracles under law. And you 
 keep quiet while Science gives us the law. 
 
 S. — Life is by no means extinct in every part of the 
 body the moment the breath leaves it. Many of the vital 
 processes of growth continue long after, as is shown by the 
 growth of hair and nails on corpses. One dying by the 
 leasion of some organ might be restored after the leasion 
 was repaired by the bioplasts, during a limited period. 
 The long continued pressure upon the heart of Jesus, 
 caused by extreme anguish, would no doubt force the blood 
 through His heart into the pericardium. The stagnation 
 thus caused would result in death. At this point the spear 
 of the Roman soldier, by withdrawing the congealed fluid, 
 would materially assist nature in the work of restoration. 
 
 P. — So doth God often work out his purposes of love 
 and salvation for men through their own blindness. 
 
 Sis. — But where did the angels in white come from? 
 
THE FIVE FRIENDS CONTINUED. 49 
 
 H. — Josephus tells of an order of Essene angels, who 
 wore white to signify perfect purity. 
 ' Sis. — What about the raising of Lazarus? 
 
 P. — People greatly mistake, who suppose the soul (being 
 or person) is born into the other life, as Minerva from the 
 head of Jupiter, full grown and full armed. During its 
 union with the body the soul sleeps, except when awakened 
 by the body. Says Jesus: "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, I 
 go to awaken him." Showing that until the soul hath 
 other form, in which to manifest its life, it is latent in the 
 body or brain, as is the life in the seed. St. Paul seems to 
 see the body or brain as a seed from which the new spirit- 
 ual body grows. This life principle is only set free by the 
 decomposition of the old body. The brain is the evolved 
 result of every impression, word, deed and thought of the 
 whole life. Hence it is in this life we are, in a large 
 measure, determining what the next shall be. The action 
 of all vital force is due to electricity, is it not? 
 
 S. — That is the name we give to the active principle in 
 the sun's rays. And if Jesus by the electric power of 
 thought arrested the decomposition of the body, restoring 
 the brain to its normal condition, Lazarus would soon 
 "wake out of sleep." The restorative power of drugs is 
 found in its greatest power in thought. To say one is 
 cured by nothing but thought, is to say one had thirst 
 quenched by nothing but water. 
 
 Sis. — What about the assension? 
 
 S. — The life principle causes the organization of the 
 body. It is as easy to dissolve this by the action of 
 thought, as by any other form of electricity. The fire 
 which consumes and sends the body back to its original 
 form or particles is only another illustration of this power. 
 
 Sis. — Well, I may as well own up to it. Since I've heard 
 
^^ BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 SO much 'bont natural law, I've been sort o' scattered in 
 praying. Law is on my side, now. 
 
 Even as the friends were talking did I, the poet, hear the 
 most delightful music in the distance. 
 
CANTO VII. 
 
 SCIENCE REFUSES RELIGION. 
 
 Now I saw the beautiful Bride and her Lord approach 
 the place where the friends were together. The Bride did 
 throw a kiss to them, which each returned with the right 
 hand. Now did the Bride and Son beckon them to follow, 
 and share their work of glorifying Man. 
 
 At this point, I saw a noble woman of royal birth, one 
 of the King's daughters, called Religion, come to them 
 holding out her hand to Science, thus: She did lay the 
 right hand over the wrist of the left. Thus reaching out 
 both hands for him to grasp. Now Science did turn away 
 and refuse to take the proffered hands. Grief did fill the 
 hearts of the friends. And they said : "How shall we ever 
 find the true road to progress, but through the union of 
 these two?" 
 
 Then I saw that from the head of the Lord there went 
 forth a life germ into the heart of the Bride. This did 
 reach and vitalize a cell containing the seed of the woman. 
 This new life, fruit not of the loins but of the head and 
 heart, was now deposited in the life center of the brain of 
 Science. And lo; as it sprang up it began to produce fruit, 
 as the grafted fruit of the vine. From this life growth 
 shall come the new wine of the kingdom of Man. 
 
 Now when they had begotten this new life into the heart 
 of Science, I saw them withdraw and leave the friends to 
 
 (51) 
 
62 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 work out their own salvation, while they went to the city 
 of Babylon. 
 
 There they did find the horrid Inferno, the Poet saw. 
 There they did see the Hell St. John saw. Here was the 
 lake of fire (alcohol), where men were daily consuming 
 with the slow fire, tortured by undying thirst, vainly call- 
 ing for a drop of water to cool their parched tongues. This 
 lake of fire was transparent as clear glass. And I saw 
 plunged therein those whose life blood was become as liquid 
 fire, carrying death and torture to every part of the body. 
 These did look with pleading, helpless, despairing eyes, 
 but there was none to help or save. Writhing in torture 
 with this seething mass of passion-cursed ones, were those 
 whom the cankering lust of gold had eaten through and 
 through, like an icicle honeycombed by the sun, like iron 
 whose whole substance is turned to rust. Now were the 
 demons Hate, Selfishness, Despair, Remorse, Lust, Appetite 
 and Passion continually devising new means of torture for 
 these unhappy wretches. Into this awful maelstrom of 
 vice and wretchedness I saw the most beautiful women, 
 the loveliest children, the bravest men, were all the time 
 being drawn, to be thrown up at the change of the tide, the 
 same disgusting, loathsome objects as the others. How I 
 wept because there was none to deliver or save. 
 
 Now through all the streets of the wondrous city were 
 men of all tribes, nations, people and tongues; come hither 
 to trade in merchandi»e of gold, silver and precious things. 
 
 Now did this proud mistress of the seas lift up her head 
 with glad exultation, that the sun never set on her domin- 
 ions. And I saw that whereever her flag went she carried 
 the "rights of men," gave to the world freedom and pro- 
 tection. But while she took light and bread to the distant 
 
SCIENCE REFUSES RELIGION. 53 
 
 East and West, North and South, did her own people sit 
 in darkness and soul hunger. 
 
 Then there arose a great cry through all the city, as each 
 man felt his brothers pain though he knew not whence it 
 came. Now were the people restless, unhappy, unsatisfied; 
 seeking rest but finding none. Then did their mountains 
 of gold become as volcanoes, to burn their flesh as with 
 living fire. 
 
 Now as the voice of woe and lamentation did come up 
 from the heart of this mighty city, the Son and His Bride 
 came to the rescue. For she did show them her ring, which 
 had upon it S. A. L. V. A. T. I. 0. N. Thus it came to pass 
 as the light of the Bride and her Lord was thrown upon 
 this mighty city of darkness, there sprang up a knightly 
 army, whose banners were SALVATION. Now these 
 soldiers did wear the triple crown, the Bride did wear — 
 Faith, Hope and Love. Soon did the glad shouts of "hal- 
 lelujah" ring through all the world. The noise was as the 
 music of all instruments in glad harmonious song. And 
 the glorious flag of salvation did float on every breeze, o'er 
 every land. So did this mighty army fight with the de- 
 mons, did destroy man, did slay all they could reach. 
 
 Thus was the cry of woe changed to joy and glory, as 
 the young men and maidens, old and young, childhood and 
 white hair bear aloft the mighty ensign of the Cross, 
 sounding the jubilee of redemption. So did Death and 
 Hell give up their dead, and Light, Life and Love were in 
 all the world. 
 
 Now it came to pass, as this glorious army did beckon 
 to the friends to follow them. Poetry did want to go to the 
 barracks with them. But when she did reach out her hand 
 to the others, they spake thus: 
 
 W. — Nay, nay, my sister; let each do the work the 
 
54 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Divine Parent hath appointed us. They are valiant sol- 
 diers and while they do slay the internal foes of man, let 
 us provide him the nutriment of eternal life. Those who 
 have had the evil spirit cast out must be fed, nourished and 
 led into all truth, else they will go back to the life of the 
 senses; their last state being worse than the first. I pray 
 you look to the promise of our Elder Brother. 
 
 P. — He doth declare the people shall not be left orphans 
 (comfortless). But the Advocate, Comforter, Helper should 
 come, who would lead them into all truth. 
 
 W. — So shall we be this circle or equator. Wisdom, 
 Poetry and Science joined to Religion shall encircle the 
 whole earth. Directly under the rays of the Son of Right- 
 eousness, these shall reflect His light o'er all the world — 
 "guide into all truth." 
 
 P — A. C. H. E. shall we be called for short. 
 
 Sis. — You'd better call yourself the Ache conern; for 
 you'll ache bad enough before you are through. 
 
 Law — Exactly so. No man can take on others pain 
 without suffering. But this burden is much lighter when 
 taken on voluntarily than when forced upon one from out- 
 side pressure. Saving through love is the lightness of the 
 Cross. 
 
 Sis. — Well, what are you going to do with miracles? 
 
 Laio — Miracle is only another name for the unknown 
 law of certain phenomena. Supernaturalism and agnostic- 
 ism are born of the same parents. 
 
 Sis. — Who cares anything about isms or flisms? I wish 
 Poetry would jingle us some rhymes. Like the music of 
 the merry chimes, chimes, chimes. 
 
 W. — All right Sis; let Law tell us the meaning of the 
 wedding ring being pure gold, and then Poetry may read 
 us that roll she fondles so lovingly. 
 
SCIENCE REFUSES RELIGION 55 
 
 Law— Gold is science, in the ring, holding all the dia- 
 monds in a circle. Gold is the one bond of union between 
 all nations and people. Alike, an object of desire to the 
 most cultivated as to the lowest savage. The latter is at- 
 tracted by its shining beauty, even though he may have no 
 idea of its purchasing power. This proves man esentially 
 one, a unit. Many experiments were made before this one 
 bond of union for all mankind was found, tested and 
 proven. But inasmuch as it is proven that all men can 
 unite on the platform of gold, it shows that there is no 
 obstacle but can be overcome, to a union of all mankind on 
 one platform. That no truth has been found in the past 
 that could take the place of gold, in the social realm, has 
 been the cause of the endless divisions among men. Each 
 having a fragment of truth, supposing it the whole. 
 
 P.— Every idea, every theory is born of truth. Error, 
 like darkness, is negative. It has no creative power. 
 
 Sis. — I should like to know where all the lies come from? 
 
 S. — Whereever there is life there is death. So, where- 
 ever there is truth there must be error or falsity; else truth 
 could not obey the law of life. As truth lives it must all 
 the time be mixed with death, falsity. 
 
 TT.— Some minds, like Sis', are so formed as to see the 
 false; others, like our friend Poetry, see only the truth. 
 
 Sis— You are tryin' to make out I'm like them things as 
 feeds on carrion; are ye? Well, it is a shame the way you 
 treat me. 
 
 W. — Can you now show us any truth which shall explain 
 the phenomena of life and history, as the law of gravita- 
 tion explains the f)henomena of nature? 
 
 Law — Give me time and I will try, but let us have the 
 rhymes now. 
 
 Sis — I should say so, I want to go to sleep. 
 
CANTO VIII. 
 
 WOMAN OF THE WEST. 
 
 "And there appeared a gi^eat wonder in heaven; a woman clothed 
 with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of 
 twelve stars." — St. John, 
 
 Now time is born life doth begin ; 
 Morning stars together sing 
 Glad anthems of creative love. 
 Earth, mirror, now for heaven above. 
 Ah ! what a glorious dawn is this — 
 Thrills heaven with the sweetest bliss ; 
 The rising sun comes greeting man — 
 
 New form of God. 
 This bright, new earth ; his fair inheritance, 
 All force in full submissiveness. 
 
 Earth's royal Lord. 
 But brighter, rosier was the morn, 
 Brought the glad news '' woman is born." 
 Oh ! earth rejoice. Put on thy robes of beauty now ; 
 Bring garlands fair to crown her brow. 
 This is earth's jubilee. Let roses bloom. 
 Fair lilies, violets, sweet pinks may come ; 
 All nature with a smiling face, 
 Greet this fair one of wondrous grace. 
 Woman ; the crowning work of God — 
 Bows her sweet face as greets her Lord. 
 And e'en as flowers blossomed fair, 
 (56) 
 
WOMAN OF THE WEST. 57 
 
 Sweet-scented fragrance filled the air — 
 While heaven vieing with glad earth, 
 To crown the day of woman's birth, 
 Painted her skies in gorgeous hues, 
 Distilled her vapors into morning dews, 
 The morning sun makes jewels of, full soon. 
 Crowns dust with starry glory, till bright noon. 
 Now from the throats of myriad songsters burst 
 Wild chants of song, thrilling the earth — 
 Songs of such glad raptureness. 
 That earth had now such blessedness — 
 That all the stars began to sing again. 
 In sweeter, purer, happier strain 
 
 Than sang at first. 
 And stars, and birds, and flowers all, 
 Come at the voice of love's first call. 
 Thus woman came, to rule by love, 
 As man by force his majesty doth prove. 
 His be the power, the strength of law. 
 She by the sweetest cords to draw 
 
 All hearts to Him. 
 Like as the flowers the earth had decked. 
 Like as the clouds with golden azure flecked. 
 
 Woman's beauty now did dim. 
 Life's golden goblet, held in her right hand; 
 Filled with the choicest vintage of the land. 
 Born now of this luxurious grace, 
 Come now to claim the first glad place. 
 Serpents of sense, subtle and wise. 
 Did entrance make in this new paradise. 
 The outer covering was so fair — 
 Joys of sense so thrilled the happy pair, 
 Saw in the earth such promise ripe, 
 
58 . BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Of immortal youth, and deathless Hfe — 
 So clamorous were the senses for their food ; 
 All things God made did seem so good, 
 'Twould seem but right to pluck and eat, 
 What looked so fair, and pleased the taste. 
 Beware! beware! of sensuous cheats, 
 A still small voice now spake in haste — 
 Spake of a higher law, an unseen good. 
 That voice was low, but sense spake loud, 
 The warm blood flushing through their veins, 
 Gave no sure warn of coming pains. 
 Intoxicated with each new delight ; 
 Born of the day, what knew they of the night ? 
 What marvel that the twain now ate. 
 Forbidden fruit, the tree of sense. 
 Intoxication's sweetest thought was this. 
 New knowledge increased life, fulness of bliss 
 But now 'twould seem at touch of sin, 
 A full armed giant sprang to hfe within; 
 Scorpions with ten thousand stings — 
 The fiery scourge that disobedience brings. 
 Writhing in pain with anguish tossed. 
 Moaning in grief, cried — we are lost. 
 The Father looked with pity on the child. 
 Heard the despairing cry so sad and wild. 
 Saw now the anguish of this dread tragedy. 
 In hapless struggle with Ufe's mystery. 
 They shall be parents Hke as we, God spake. 
 The child shall full atonement make, 
 
 For all this misery. 
 So was the Holy Babe now given. 
 To bridge the gulf 'twixt them and heaven. 
 
 Bring new felicity. 
 
WOMAN OF TM£ WEST. 59 
 
 With mother's love she clasped her boy, 
 
 Gave to the father's heart such joy ; 
 
 I've gotten a man — the Lord — 
 Felt now the happiness of God. 
 
 As grew the boy, from day to day, 
 
 So light of heart, so glad and gay ; 
 
 His brother saw with envy rife. 
 
 And now in anger took his life. 
 
 What anguish rent the mother's heart, 
 
 As thought from him she could not part. 
 
 Kneeling beside the lifeless clay. 
 
 Tried hard to waken all the day. 
 
 With fleetness of an angel's wings borne down, 
 
 A crowned woman to her come. 
 
 Daughter of earth why weepest thus, 
 
 Was not thy boy made of the dust ? 
 
 Oh wake, my boy ! the mother said. 
 
 Daughter of earth ; thy boy is dead. 
 Dead ? what is that ? 
 
 Death is the parent of new life, 
 
 Hushes the flesh's wearing strife. 
 
 Free 's the soul of God begot. 
 
 Fear not, thy boy still lives— 
 Whose death thy heart so deeply grieves. 
 With joy, the mother heard the speech, 
 Thought the new life within her reach ; 
 And kept her watch beside the boy- 
 Waiting the coming of this promised joy — 
 
 The higher Hfe. 
 The dawn was on the Eastern hills, 
 A glorious hope the mother thrills — 
 Sure, here was life. 
 With joy she clasped him to her breast. 
 
60 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Thinking the watch was over, she could rest, 
 That form decayed fell from her arms; 
 Shrieks out in terror's wild alarms. — 
 
 The life, was but the crawling worm. 
 Was born in that dead form. 
 Oh ! cursed promises she cried, 
 All of my hopes have so belied. 
 And black despair now seized her heart, 
 As from her boy she had to part. 
 Oh cruel, cruel woman ; thus said she. 
 That could so mock a mother's misery. 
 With tears fill all the briny deep. 
 This the first fruit, the heritage of woe ; 
 Earth's sons and daughters all must know. 
 Now was a council held above. 
 Each drawn by sympathetic love. 
 Hearts rent asunder by earth's pain ; 
 God will repay by greater gain. 
 'Twas thus the dear All-Mother spake. 
 Only a hand of flesh can wake ; 
 That dread death stupor of the soul, 
 The curtains of the grave aside to roll. 
 A brother and sister must be given, 
 To guide their feeble steps to heaven. 
 
CANTO IX. 
 
 Hark ! how the bells of Bethlehem ring — 
 Hark ! how the angels chant and sing — 
 Unto you a Child is born, a Son is given — 
 Hope of dark earth, light of glad heaven. 
 The Gospel tells the story of this wondrous Child- 
 Tells of his Mother sweet, and mild — 
 Tells how he grew a noble boy ; 
 How filled his parents hearts with joy. 
 And when a man he finally grew, 
 What glorious truths so rich and new ; 
 He taught the world the right and true : 
 Pointed the path they should pursue, 
 'Twould lead them to the higher way — 
 
 The King's highway. 
 Set up a kingdom on this earth, 
 Men come to, by a second birth. 
 Tells all the marvelous truths he taught. 
 Tells all the deeds of love he wrought. 
 How holy Hved ; how God-like died ; 
 By blinded brethren crucified — 
 How rose the third day from the dead, 
 Who for mankind his blood had shed. 
 Who suffered in the sinner's stead, — 
 Now lives, Man's everlasting Head. 
 All power in heaven and earth is given, 
 To help men on the road to heaven. 
 
 ' (61) 
 
62 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Sis. — I don't see no sense to that. If it's what's in the 
 Bible you are tryin' to tell, don't you think folks can read 
 that better 'n the jingle of your rythms ? 
 
 P. — Certainly. I only put in a few lines to call attention to 
 the Gospel story. I think, as truly no man ever spake as this 
 man spake, and lived, no man ever wrote as this man wrote. 
 
 Sis. — I never knowed he wrote anything, only in the sand 
 one time. 
 
 P. — He wrote of the woman's sin in the sand. But as I 
 read the story of his life, during the forty days after leaving 
 the sepulchre, he spent much of his time in writing the 
 original Gospel, from which the four Evangelists copied such 
 portions as they desired. This is the mystery of the fifth 
 Gospel from which so much has been quoted — possessed by 
 the Ebbonite Christians. 
 
 Sis. — Well ! well, I am glad if my blessed Jesus wrote this 
 Himself. I never could see how such men as they could write 
 such things as are in the Gospel. 
 
 IV. — It would be still more remarkable, if one coming to 
 teach such truths, and set up such a Kingdom as he came to 
 establish on earth, should have left it to the memory of a few 
 men, to put down from five to fifty years afterwards. Such a 
 wise teacher as Jesus would know the consequence. Espe- 
 cially when the Jews were the only people of the world who 
 fully appreciated the value of written records, and made a 
 specialty of writing them. Surely would Jesus know his 
 teachings were as important as those of Moses and others. 
 
 Sis. — Well, I'm tired to death with such stuft'. Don't we 
 all know the Bible is all right, no matter how it come ? Can't 
 you give us some verses about a baby ? 
 
 P^ — All right. Sis, I've got some lines here I hope will suit 
 you. But you must keep still till I come to them. 
 
CANTO X. 
 
 'T was in the year of fourteen hundred ninety-two 
 
 A far off world appeared in view — 
 
 A beautious land of colors bright, 
 
 Recieved her royal Lord at night — 
 
 Land of the setting sun. 
 
 Now in this land Nature had made a cross, 
 
 And so Columbus did the ocean sail across. 
 
 This glorrous land to seek, and find — 
 
 Where homes could find for all mankind. 
 
 Oh 't was the fairest land lit by the sun — 
 Land of perpetual youth. 
 
 Where death is made eternal growth, 
 
 Where life grows in eternarnoon 
 
 With freshest bloom. 
 
 'T was in this land was found the Bride 
 
 Worthy to sit her Lord beside, 
 
 Worthy to wear the triple-crown, 
 
 Worthy to sit on the white throne. 
 ^is. — That's nothin 'bout the baby, and I don't see no sense 
 to it. What ye drivin' at ? 
 
 S. — We must wait for the time of harvest to find the sense 
 that is in the spear of grass ; the active principle of the corn 
 stalk. The Poet is but telling us the old story of creation, the 
 fall and redemption, in a new way, and I find it of some 
 interest. I would Hke our friend Wisdom to tell us something 
 about that second birth the Poet speaks about. 
 
 (63) 
 
64 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 IV. — I trust you may prove a more apt scholar than Nico- 
 demus. And at least you have a thorough knowledge of the 
 first, or physical birth ; which by virtue of the law of corres- 
 pondence is the corrollary of the spiritual. 
 
 S. — There is this difference. In natural birth men are per- 
 fectly passive, and in the other I have been taught it was 
 entirely an act of God, depending upon the faith or obedience, 
 or both, of the subject. 
 
 IV. Your teachers must have thought themselves wiser 
 than the Great Teacher, for he said the subject knew no more 
 of this than of the course of the wind. 
 
 S. — That might have been true of his times ; but now that 
 we are able to tell whence the wind cometh long before it 
 comes, and which way it goes ; why may we not be able to 
 tell something of the birth of the spirits ? 
 
 P. — We can. From the physical nature of the child is 
 evolved the ovarian egg. From the Divine soul germ, the 
 sperm or vitalizing power. When this invisible fetus, we call 
 character, or experience, for want of a better word, reaches a 
 certain stage of development, a spiritual birth is the result. — 
 One is born again. 
 
 Sis. — I'd like to know then what makes such a difference in 
 people. Some aint born ag'in till they are old and gray as 
 rats, and some are born ag'in little children. 
 
 S. — The period of gestation thus varies in Nature. 
 
 Sis. — Well, I'd like to know how you are to get a man born 
 ag'in, when his will is ag'in' it. ^ 
 
 P. — Pray, let us discuss this question some other time. I 
 am anxious to show my baby — 
 
 Behold the darling child now given, 
 
 To bridge the gulf 'twixt earth and heaven. 
 
 Oh 'tis a sweet and beautious thing 
 
 Has come such holy joy to bring ; 
 
 Live, men, to know the bhss of God. 
 
WOMAN OF THE WEST. 65 
 
 (Eve said, I've gotten a man. — The Lord.) 
 Its pink cheeks like the dewy rose, 
 Distilled a sweeter fragrance far. 
 Marvel of marvels ; little cameo nose. 
 Eyes fringed with down shone like the star 
 Which twinkles at us from afar. 
 Oft did those eyes sweet tears distill, 
 The mother's kiss with beauty 'd fill. 
 E'en as the clouds their tears dispose, 
 Of pearly drops form glad rainbows ; 
 Had shining pearls in mouth concealed, 
 The sight of mother's breast revealed 
 
 Its flesh so sweet — 
 Did tempt the taste Hke luscious peach. 
 Like apple blossoms, come to greet — 
 Like snow drops come to earth to teach — 
 
 Lessons of purity divine. 
 Rivaled the whiteness of the snow ; 
 Rivaled the lily in its glow — 
 
 When bathed in dew and sunshine. 
 New miracles were daily wrought ; 
 As rising sun, each morning brought 
 New beauty to adorn the face — 
 New charms of wondrous baby grace. 
 Fresh every morning, every evening new ; 
 Such was the way the baby grew — 
 Added new luster to the eyes, 
 E'en as the sun paints evening skies. 
 Painted anew the fair white skin ; 
 That knew no blush of shame or sin — 
 Added new fragrance to the bloom, 
 E'en as the pink distills perfume — 
 Added new flesh to the round form ; 
 
66 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 All baby tricks learned to perform. 
 
 Dimpled the hands, dimpled the cheek — 
 
 Made rounded cushions, full and sleek 
 Of the fat feet. 
 
 Pink toes outgrown their covering, 
 
 Made holes let in the air of evening. 
 A cushioned seat. 
 
 Made of itself. Helpless through fat ; 
 
 The useless legs kicked pit, pat, pat. 
 
 For something sweet it sucked its thumbs; 
 
 Used little toes for sugar plumbs — 
 Sis. — Well, that's enough of that young 'un. 
 F. — Why this is the greatest miracle of earth. 
 Sis. — 'T aint no better 'n mine was, when babies. 
 IV. — There is just where the miracle comes in. Every 
 mother in the world has just such a baby. 
 
 Sis. — Well it's a pity they don't die while they'r Hke that. 
 
 F. — Men marveled at the beauteous girl. 
 
 Thought of her as a precious pearl. 
 
 A diamond of such lustre rare, 
 
 As none earth's children could compare. 
 
 Grew up a rosy, healthy child — 
 
 Of all earth's taint, pure, undefiled. 
 
 Lovely her face, as changing skies — 
 
 Fair rounded cheeks, and dazzHng eyes. 
 
 Coral lips, could pout or smile. 
 
 Of faith so pure as knew no guile. 
 
 As light kisses dewdrops on the rose. 
 
 As living water ever flows — 
 
 So of her nature this sweet one 
 
 Did good. To maidenhood now grown, 
 
 Had grown so wise in spirit love, 
 
 Shewed wisdom never known before. 
 
WOMAN OF THE WEST. 67 
 
 Now on a bright and dazzling day — 
 The sun so long had been away, 
 And left the earth locked up by ice, 
 Held as in clutch of strongest vice ; 
 The shivering victim of its Northern foe, 
 Now burst its bands, melted its snow. 
 Freed was its rippling brooks and rills ; 
 Came sparklmg down the sunlit hills. 
 The feathered tribes sang merrily — 
 Light hearts made sweetest melody. 
 When winter came these birds had flown, 
 In southern climes had found a home ; 
 Land of the pine and orange trees — 
 •Magnolias, dates, and tall palmettaes. 
 Thus singing birds and springing flowers, 
 Dancing streams made happy hours. 
 Hark !> other sounds borne on the breeze, 
 Glad laughter heard among the trees ; 
 Tells how the lovely maidens come. 
 To greet the birds returning home. 
 To pluck the fresh returning flowers ; 
 To dance away the happy hours. 
 And of May flowers to form a crown, 
 To adorn the brow of the fair one 
 
 Chosen their Queen. 
 With stately step and shining face. 
 With queenly pride and charming grace, 
 Walked this sweet maiden to the pole ; 
 Bared her fair brow to receive the crown. 
 
 Did fitting seem. 
 Now all but she joined in the dance, . 
 This was to her life's golden chance ; 
 With banner bright this sweet May Queen, 
 
68 KKHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Stood by the ripling stream. 
 
 The gurgling waters kissed her feet, 
 
 The sunbeams kissed her face so sweet, 
 
 Illumed her flowery crown with light ; 
 
 Lit up her face with smiles so bright, 
 
 Touched with its rays her banner bright 
 
 Of sacred signs, Red, Blue and White. 
 
 Now as she gazed in water's depths — 
 
 Looked upwards to the sunlit hights. 
 
 Came visions of the realms unseen, 
 
 Things dimly seen, as through a screen ; 
 
 Saw Nature clothed in heavenly dress, 
 
 Felt love's unutterable caress. 
 
 Now o'er this brilliant picture fell 
 
 Dark shadows, of serpents of hell — 
 
 With sHmy touch, and deadly fangs 
 
 Coiled around, and on each object hangs. 
 
 Now, as she looked through time far down, 
 
 To see the woman of the Triple-Crown, 
 
 So in plain sight, a serpent of this sunshine born 
 
 To coil around her feet, did come ; 
 
 Shook, now with shudders of the coming woes, 
 
 Saw darker shadows o'er her throne. 
 
 With her flag -staff beat off the head, 
 
 Bruised now her aching heel. 
 
 Now clearer light dawned on her soul, 
 
 Prophetic visions thrilled the whole. 
 
 And in this vision clear beheld 
 
 A thorny crown, now 'fore her held 
 
 By a Crowned Man, 
 In melting tones, who thus began : 
 " Oh maiden, dear, here comes thy Lord, 
 This thorny crown thy great reward. 
 
WOMAN OF THE WEST. 69 
 
 With this woo, to my fond embrace, 
 Thy beauty, love, and youthful grace, 
 I pray thee take these plaited thorns 
 In place that crown of flowers. 
 This is the crown that I have worn ; 
 And she who is my chosen one, 
 Will gladly bear its stinging pain, 
 Counting all loss as sweetest gain." 
 Glistened the thorns in her left hand. 
 In right now held the flowery band. 
 Oh, precious wreath of youthful love, 
 The tones as charming as the cooing dove. 
 Long time she pondered on her choice ; 
 Marked well the clearly opposite course 
 
 She must pursue — 
 As all the heavy crosses rose to view. 
 The laughing waters rippled on the hill. 
 Hushed was her breath, her heart stood still. 
 The happy birds' glad voices raise — 
 Nature's glad song — eternal praise ; 
 Chirping crickets, croaking frog, 
 Each feel youth's glad life-throb. 
 The happy dancers, gaily dressed. 
 As the bright flowers, robed in their best, 
 Marked the glad time with swift-winged feet. 
 Each moment with fresh joy to greet; 
 Nor litde knew, nor little thought — 
 The fearful struggle in the heart. 
 
 Their much loved Queen — 
 So bright and beauteous did seem 
 The dew, was on the shining world — 
 The dew, was on the fresh, sweet youth, 
 To sacrifice her youth, her heart 
 
70 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 With all life's golden dreams to part. 
 Now, here, to pierce the bleeding brow — 
 With Crown, the man of sorrows wore 
 Against this dread, and awful sacrifice. 
 Nature brake out in fearful cries. 
 Softly the night sank o'er the earth. 
 Gold light, mellowed in silvery birth ; 
 Beamed from the o'er hanging moon — 
 Sweetly the martin sang his evening song. 
 Bright stars, bespangled azure skies ; 
 Looked on the maid with loving eyes. 
 Whose hfe pulse throbs in sympathy. 
 With life's glad, joyous, symphony. 
 Oh life, how sacred is thy flame — 
 Life ! Life ! what joy to breathe thy name. 
 Can I give all this up ? she cried ; 
 Join hands with the Great Crucified, 
 Accept the dungeon and the cross — 
 And for this Man, count all things loss ? 
 Now 'pon her, did her youthful lover look ; 
 In manly chivalry, her hand now took. 
 Sweetly as birds chirp to their mate 
 Seemed come to save her, this dread fate. 
 
 "Oh, beauteous Queen ! 
 How thoughtless of our love, you seem — 
 So long has 't left our happy throng. 
 No joy in music or in song — 
 No sunHght in the summer sky, 
 Withered each joy, to droop and die — 
 When thy dear face no more do'th shine ; 
 To tlirill our youth, with joy divme. 
 Hushed, is the music, stilled the dance ; 
 
WOMAN OF THE WEST. ^1 
 
 To give our Queen a fitting chance, 
 
 Her royal scepter to resume. 
 Hope, fain would trust; will be full soon." 
 So soft the tone, so sweet the thrill — 
 Seemed to melt down the struggling will — 
 
 Their hands did clasp — 
 Earth's music moved her soul. 
 
 Sis. — Of course she 'd give in. No girl Uke that could 
 take the cross. It's when the're sick, and the world has gone 
 back on 'um, they 're glad to go to Jesus. And I think it's a 
 shame. I wish she'd a took him. 
 
 IV. — I would like Science to tell us, what was the diso- 
 bedience that the Poet tells us first brought this woe upon our 
 first parents, and caused them to beget a murderer. 
 
 S. — It was the act of begetting their offspring by contact of 
 tiesh with flesh, as animals do, instead of spiritual union, 
 such as that by which Jesus was begotten of Joseph and Mary. 
 It was this, that gave the animal such dominion over the soul. 
 Circumcision was given as a means of in part removing the 
 curse until such time as one could be conceived in purity. 
 
 IV. — Is.it circumcision that has given such indestructible 
 vitaHty to the Hebrew race ? 
 
 ,5.— Undoubtedly. By removing an exciting cause of irri- 
 tation leading to excess in generative organs, — a subject well 
 worthy of study. 
 
 Sis. — I should say so. If there 's anything can stop the 
 badness in men, you'd better be 'sperimenting on that, than 
 trying to breed maggots in a tight bottle. There's 'nough of 
 them in the world, and the're easy enough got any whar. 
 But whar's your men, as is men, not brutes ? 
 
 IV. — Don't be too hard on your friend. He has but lately 
 come to realize the invisable world. And see how much we 
 
72 
 
 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 owe to him already in explaining things, once thought entirely 
 supernatural. Is he not showing us thai the action of God 
 upon the soul causing its growth, is just as natural as the sun 
 upon organic life ? It was not for the sake of the insects, our 
 friend tried the botde experiment, but to find the truth of the 
 origin of life. 
 
 Sis. — Oh yes, 1 know how that was. Maggots — there is no 
 (}od. No maggots — there may be a God. 
 
 VV. — No more of that. Sis ; let the dead past bury the dead 
 past. Ours in the present, and future. 
 
Canto XL 
 
 SATAN'S WOOING. 
 
 P. — Now strong of purpose, firm of will, 
 That made the beating heart stand still — 
 Drawn by a secret force, she could not tell 
 Whence came, whither, or how befell 
 Upon her brow the crown she bore ; 
 Crown, that the man of sorrows wore. 
 The flow'ry crown trod in the dust. 
 While sorrow's spear her bosom thrust ; 
 The sword that pierced her lover's heart, 
 As thought from her, he must now part — 
 
 Pierced hers with keenest edge — 
 Of her true love, this the sure pledge. 
 All, on the sacrificial altar laid 
 Her heart the offering she made, 
 Down her fair cheek trickled the blood. 
 Now mingled with the crystal flood, 
 
 While her heart bled. 
 For all the blood by brothers shed, 
 For all the anguish of mankind ; 
 The bodies' throes, pains of the mind — 
 Of souls imprisoned in forms of clay. 
 Traveling hi pain both night and day. 
 Angelic choirs sang anthems sweet — 
 Earth's fair deliverer to greet. 
 
 (73) 
 
74 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 The new world ^sped its "daily rounds, 
 
 Still cries of pain the whole earth sounds; 
 
 The ocean with unchanging tides, 
 
 Salt and sweet water in its bosom'hides — 
 
 Gave back in vapors to the sun — 
 
 As from the birth of time had done. 
 
 Sis. — Now 1 want to know how the Poet can tell us that 
 her flesh was transparent as clear water, on the 30th of May, 
 1880, when she seen this all. 
 
 JV. — Only began to see it then. As one lands in New 
 York only begins to see the New World. The body is three 
 fourths water. What is there to hinder it being as transparent 
 as water? 
 
 P. — Earth with unchanging phenomena, 
 
 With hateful, wearisome monotony — 
 
 Tearing down to build again, 
 
 In one perpetual round of pain. 
 
 Human hearts seemed born to bleed, 
 
 With none to care, or none to heed. 
 
 Human life to end in hopeless death. 
 
 Pain only yields to the last'breath. 
 
 Hope, fuel for disappointments flame ; 
 
 Joy, illusive shadow of oncoming pain ; 
 
 Faith, shadowy vision none knew whence — 
 
 Receding from the touch of sense. 
 
 Love — despairing Mail of bitter loss, 
 
 Illusion, that at touch turns dross. 
 
 The bride, in orange bloom arrayed, 
 
 In widow's weeds'so soon displayed, 
 
 Wither the flowers of friendship sweet, 
 
 No more the maid her lover comes to greet. 
 
 Wither the flowers of neighbor's trust. 
 
Satan's WOOING. 76 
 
 Frost-bitten life trod in the dust. 
 
 Mankind, like gilded butterflies, 
 
 Dance one brief moment under summer skies; 
 
 Then like the moth Hcked by the flame, 
 
 Life's weary road trod round again. 
 
 Each new life as much deceived 
 
 As he who first this life received. 
 
 Snared by the sense deceptive cheats. 
 
 As foe, each man his brother treats. 
 
 To youth life is a gilded, shining throne, 
 
 Where reigns a king, the happy one. 
 
 Filled with delights, extatic joy ; 
 
 Soon every bliss shews its alloy. 
 
 A slave the haughty monarch Hves — 
 
 O'er blasted hopes forever grieves. 
 
 His throne to dust now turns again, 
 
 And all that's left are walls of pain ; 
 
 A hapless prisoner now is bound. 
 
 Only to tread Hfe's cheery round — 
 
 Nothing sure but pain and death. 
 Now all this sad, despairing wail, 
 Did this young maiden's heart assail. 
 So did the fierce, despairing cry. 
 Pierce one fond heart so near did lie — 
 
 The heart of man. 
 Thus did earth's great flood tide of woe, 
 Roll on, and overflow her so — 
 Her bosom alabaster white. 
 Now glowed with gleams of fiery light, 
 Stamped there a blood red cross — 
 Illumed and burned into her chest. 
 Showed earth's deep pain within her breast. 
 As dragged the time with heavy feet. 
 
76 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 As rising sun new sorrows greet — 
 Weary the form could find no rest, 
 So near the heart of man was pressed. 
 In deepest meditation, anxious care, 
 Passed many years of earnest prayer. 
 Nor only could some gleams of light, 
 Light up her path of darkest night — 
 Cheer up her sad and wistful face ; 
 Shew something of its former grace — 
 When some poor wanderer, hapless one, 
 Some child of sorrow, waited on 
 
 In loving ministry of help. 
 Awe-stricken, wondering what could mean 
 That one so pure, so sad, should seem — 
 Whispered the story of the suffering one. 
 By earth's daughters and her sons. 
 And when she went her daily round, 
 Lifting each sufferer from the ground ; 
 Pouring in wounds the oil of gladness. 
 In charity and helpfulness. 
 With bated breath the children cried, 
 An angel form they had espied. 
 So with her woes she gave earth cheer, 
 Who were to her fond heart so dear. 
 Such cheer can only smitten hearts. 
 Itself doth feel earth's bitter smarts, 
 TrembHng beneath their heavy load, 
 Give men, help on the higher road. 
 Life stretched before a desert drear, 
 With nothing to give lasting cheer. 
 But burning sand for bleeding feet, 
 But, some new sorrow, hoped to meet. 
 Now as she trod this fearful road, 
 
SA'J'AN S WOOlNCr. 
 
 Seeking to find a way to God — 
 
 Some pasture green for fainting souls, 
 
 Wliere living founts earth's rocks o'erflows — 
 
 Seeking some bread for hungry men ; 
 
 They would not hunger and thirst again. 
 
 Behind, her foot-tracks marked by blood, 
 
 Still keeping on this narrow road — 
 
 Heard now a voice, so low and sweet. 
 
 As in the dark the loved doth greet. 
 
 Come hither, dear, and rest with me 
 
 'J1ie glories of the Bulah land now see. 
 
 (^uick, following where the beckoning voice. 
 
 Bade her to come, with sweet rejoice ; 
 
 Her path now opened in a tiowery knoll. 
 
 Love light did make the sun seem pale. 
 
 Refreshed with fruits of this good land, 
 
 Her unseen Lord took by the hand ; 
 
 Showed her a likeness of the woman triple-crowned 
 
 Which in the crystal depths was found — 
 
 Of the river of Life. 
 Now, as she stood in deep amaze. 
 Into the crystal depths did gaze — 
 Pondered with awe what it could mean, 
 This Hkeness of herself ^\A seem. 
 Now when again the cross she took, 
 No more her feeble strength it shook. 
 Much easier was it now to bear. 
 Much Hghter was her load of care. 
 The world seemed like a sunlit bower, 
 Sweet peace, its newly perfumed flower. 
 And in this vale, and at this fount, — 
 A table land on life's high mount. 
 
78 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Come now to her earth's sorrowmg ones, 
 
 Fed by her hand, ceased now their groans. 
 
 Here mothers brought their charming babes ; 
 
 Her hand upon each head was laid. 
 
 Now holding in the arms of love, 
 
 Hrought to her unseen Lord. 
 
 Thither the deaf, the lame, the blind, 
 
 Were shown sure help and love to find, 
 
 And all were blest — 
 
 Kntered into the long sought rest. 
 
 Now wealth, come in a ceaseless flow ; 
 
 All men did love and trust her so. 
 
 A costly, noble palace rose — 
 
 A mighty thing of beauty shows ; 
 
 Adorned with jewels, precious, rare ; 
 
 'Twas thus Sense would her soul ensnare. 
 
 'Twas like as though the god, this world. 
 
 This loving woman, would now woo — 
 
 Laid at her feet all his rich store. 
 
 That she might learn to love him more, 
 
 Than one had taken from her all — 
 
 Bade her, love death, to heed his call. 
 
 Satan, like a lordly knight ; 
 
 Chivalric power, and kingly might. 
 Sis. — I don't see how 'tis you're alw'us putin' up the devil 
 so nice. Just see how how he come to that woman, you call 
 the Betrothed Bride. 
 
 i^.— Call her Vesta — Purity. 
 
 Sis. — Well jist see how nice he was; jist Uke the fellow 
 after this gal now ! 
 
 IV, — A very correct likeness. It is thus men are always 
 tempted. If Satan, Prince of Sense, put on the hideous garb 
 he is generally painted in, men, women and children would 
 
79 
 
 flee from him. He must cover his horns, and cloven foot, 
 with garments of hght and beauty, e're men can be deceived 
 by him, and led to ruin. 
 
 ^- — Thus Satan thought by every gift, 
 
 The burden from her heart to lift ; 
 
 Tried all the arts of worldly lore, 
 
 To win her love ; e'en as before 
 
 To win her Lord. 
 
 Her honor, in the Old World grew. 
 
 Did sing her praise, same as the New. 
 
 Now did the angels anxious look. 
 
 To see if she her Lord forsook. 
 
 Or loved him less because of this, 
 
 He'd given her pain instead of bliss. 
 
CANTO XII. 
 
 That serpent first to Eden came — 
 
 Serpent of sense called by what name — 
 
 So long had coiled round love's fair form, 
 
 Her beauty and her strength had shorn — 
 
 Poisoned the life founts at their source, 
 
 O'er earth's bright hopes spread blight and curse, 
 
 To accursed lust-bondage did give birth. 
 
 In this new land, the virgin earth, 
 
 The same vile passion did appear. 
 
 Had filled the earth with death and fear. 
 
 A beauteous maiden at the altar stood — 
 
 So pure and gentle, sweet and good, 
 
 And gave herself to one she loved, 
 
 Her maiden modesty and purity "retained; 
 
 And when, by laws and customs long decreed, 
 
 She must give these to satisfy lust's greed. 
 
 Her woman nature rose in mighty power — 
 
 Her inmost heart cursed the sad hour 
 
 She'd given herself a lawful prey, 
 
 To the mad grip ©f passion's sway. 
 
 What was there ^in "the words they'd said • 
 
 Could sanctify lust, in the marriage bed ? 
 
 In wild dismay her mother sought, 
 
 By direst shame and sorrow brought, 
 
 Together they might hope to fiee 
 
 To the woman whom they now would see. 
 
 And hoped B. B. some help could give, 
 
 In love's pure rites they now might live. 
 
 Fair Vesta clothed in vesture bright — 
 
 (80) 
 
Satan's wooing. 81 
 
 Sis. — What has that woman, got fooled with that Elixir of 
 Life, to do with this one ? 
 
 /K — It is possible it is the same woman. Perhaps our 
 friend Poetry likes to paint so well, she may be giving us two 
 pictures instead of one. 
 
 P. — Softly^ the Hght illumed the palace walls. 
 
 As silvery curtains o'er them falls ; 
 
 Mellowed by richest golden tints, 
 . As shadows hither, thither, flits. 
 
 Around the sparkling'fountain pools 
 
 Youth played on sand, age on camp stools — 
 
 Dug up the ground ; splashed waters bright. 
 
 The Eagle o'er them sped his flight. 
 
 SparkHng their eyes, laughing each face, 
 
 Showed joy in its most sparkling grace ; 
 
 With babies' winsome helplessness. 
 
 Fills every heart with blessedness. 
 
 Now B. B. sat and watched their play. 
 
 Each heart so happy, light and gay — 
 
 Mused how the little children come to bridge 
 
 Life's river, flows twixt earth and heaven. 
 
 Now on this bridge angels met men, 
 
 As on the plains pf Bethlehem ; 
 
 Angels drew nigh, and all unseen 
 
 Watched them as through a fleshy screen. 
 
 Hark ! Hear those frightful, dreadful sounds, 
 
 The barking of the tramed blood-hounds — 
 
 Borne on the scented ev'ning breeze. 
 
 Curdles the heart blood, seems to freeze. 
 
 With bark of dogs, sound human cries. 
 
 As man pursues his fleeing prize. 
 
 Panting for breath, and runnmg wild, 
 
 The mother cries : " Oh, save my child ! " 
 
r.F.HOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 And woman felt, upon her breast 
 The burden of the maid was pressed. 
 Just now a man of frightful mien, 
 So cruel, liarsh, and vile did seem ; 
 In name the law of this new world. 
 
 This maid demanded. 
 The woman clasped the trembling form, 
 Whose right to self the law had shorn. 
 E'en as a lamb by shearers cut, now dumb, 
 To her protecting arms had come. 
 Ix B. now looked witli wrath divine 
 Upon the wrong; but on the maid did shine 
 
 With love and pity. 
 'Tis the law of God you trust, epioth he. 
 See, now, what God will do for thee. 
 The law of man gives her to me ; 
 Defy the law before my eyes. 
 And as you take my lawful prize. 
 My- lawful prisoner now 1 claim. 
 And bind you with this heavy chain. 
 Her beauteous robes were off her torn. 
 Dressed in the garb by felons worn — 
 Shaved her bright hair, the glory crown 
 Earth's lovely daughters do adorn ; 
 And in the inner prison thrust, 
 Govered with filth and vilest dust. 
 Men vile, abandoned, cruel, mean ; 
 Woman so wretched, all unclean. 
 " Where is thy Lord ? " they taunting cried, 
 " Pray, see now if he comes," thus they deride 
 Her faith ; make mock of prayer. 
 When she their prison came to share. 
 Then was it that the prisoner rose, 
 
Satan's wooing. 83 
 
 Flashed now her eye, her countenance glows 
 
 With love divine. 
 Our Father uses all these woes, and pains, 
 These outward ills, these prison chains, 
 That we through heaven's door may enter in ; 
 In purer lustre; free from sin. 
 'Tis not the outward claims, but those within 
 
 Doth hurt a child of God. 
 Let us now bow beneath the rod. 
 Full well, I know the reason why 
 God sent me here ; that I 
 
 Might do some good. 
 I will en(iuire of him what I can do 
 For that flesh blinded man, and you ; 
 To lead you to the heavenly light 
 
 Where's no more night. 
 More to be pitied than his maid was he 
 Who wore the galling chains within ; while she 
 
 Was only bound outside, 
 Awe stricken in the presence such an one; 
 Now each withdrew, left her alone. 
 
 Only in God could she confide, 
 These knew her not, neither could understand 
 Why 'twas she loved them so ; reached out her hand 
 To clasp the vilest of the vile. 
 
 Hut through the flesh, she saw the angels all the while 
 In loving ministry of helpfulness — 
 Seeking to turn eacli way to blessedness. 
 This prison stench would make the muck, 
 luirich the soil for the soul's growth. 
 Since " sin cures sin " by God's decree, 
 I'll take the All- Mothers place said she ; 
 Give her mv arms of flesh, my face, 
 
<S4 BEH(.)LD THE WOMAN. 
 
 I'o reflect lier love, dispense her grace. 
 My bosom shall her cradle be, 
 Her children here may rest, and see 
 
 How she doth love ; 
 
 Oh may I worthy prove. 
 This prison trust, so grand sublime. 
 Reflects a woman's love, so sweet, divine — 
 
 Sis. — Why, I should think she was just like that other 
 woman, as made a bridge of herself 'cross the 'm passable 
 gulf. 
 
 If. — That is what women are always doing, making of 
 themselves bridges whereon men may cross from vileness to 
 ])urity and goodness. 
 
 S. — Awful rotten bridges they often prove. 
 
 S/s. — ^Vell the freight they ha\e to carry over is an awful 
 sight rotteiiet\ I should say. 
 
 6". — Pray, Law, inform us if what the Poet says about God's 
 decree, that sin cures sin, is reality or poetic fiction, made to 
 complete the sound. 
 
 Z. — It is the grandest of all realities. That is what the 
 letters on the serpent (S. S.) means. The serpent's bjte con- 
 tains the active principle of its own cure. The exi)erience of 
 sin causes men to hate it, because of the smart it brings to 
 the soul. Whereas the attractions of God upon a soul in- 
 creases as the square of the distance increases. 
 
 .S". — Exactly the opposite of gravitation. 
 
 P. — This law is illustrated by the figures in the Prodigal 
 Son. The father's heart v/ent out with greatest force after the 
 wanderer. So do sick children get most of the parents' atten- 
 tion. This woman ministry of Help, to her fellow prisoners 
 was the sure pledge, and proof of the invisible Helper, 
 Saviour, Healer, Friend. 
 
CANTO XIII. 
 
 Now on one holy Sabbath eve, 
 
 VVIien those in the Christ-child believe 
 
 Did hear the music of the silvery bells, 
 
 The hour of evening worship now foretells — 
 
 Fill all the air with sweetest chimes 
 
 Worship divine, in music rhymes — 
 
 Soft breezes wafted to the prison cells, 
 
 Where men and women in dungeon dwells; 
 
 Fell on the ears of a repentant one ; 
 
 Now mourned the evil she had done ; 
 
 Waked memories of the bygone times ; 
 
 When at the voice of these sweet chimes; 
 
 Walked with her mother to the church — 
 
 No sin, or evil did her soul besmirch. 
 
 These thrilling memories, brought the songs. 
 
 Of youth to mind. Rang through the prison — tones 
 
 Of sweetest song 
 
 It was against the prison rules. 
 Had made it wrong. 
 Now as this strict forbidden sound 
 Did ring the walls the jail around — 
 Quick kindled was the jailor's wrath. 
 The singing woman was brought forth ; 
 The prisoners' gag placed in her mouth. 
 Soon blood, and water issued forth, 
 
 Stained her white breast; 
 Stifled her breath, could find no rest. 
 
86 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Mid jeers and scoffs the prisoners said 
 Try now your voice ; raise now your head, 
 
 Give us a song — 
 
 'Twill not be wrong. 
 Arrayed in majesty, awful as — God, 
 When he doth lift the chastening rod ; 
 Correct his children for their sin ; 
 Through all the scenes this prison in, 
 The voice of Vesta thrilled the crowd 
 Spake in the tones of thunder loud — 
 
 Release that girl 1 
 And to the jailor sternly said 
 Daughter of God, is this poor maid. 
 Know'st thou ; remember'st not — 
 What's done to her, by Christ is not forgot ? 
 Trembhng with sense of awful wrong, 
 Spake now the jailor to the throng. 
 With deep contrition, begged the woman's prayers, 
 That he forgiveness might now find, 
 Of the All Parent, stern, but kind. 
 So healed she thus, a sinful soul, 
 Hated his sin, was every whit made whole. 
 Now was a council held in hell, 
 Each spirit a story had to tell 
 
 Of failure total and complete. 
 Meantime had come the god of war with martial tread, 
 With booming canon, fierce and dread — 
 Glittering sword and burnished steel ; 
 Strode through the land with fiery heel. 
 Now men with fiery passions swayed. 
 Each 'gainst a brother was arrayed. 
 
 As friends do mock each other- 
 
Satan's wooing. 87 
 
 So man liis brother. 
 
 And o'er the plains the lurid flow, 
 
 Of burning towns through its red glow — 
 
 The war horse, trampled on the low and high, 
 
 Lit up with hate the lurid sky. 
 
 Flowed this strange fire a constant stream, 
 
 Cut down the noble and the mean ; 
 
 Till every house and every heart 
 
 Felt its own pain a deadly smart. 
 
 The god of justice now come to avenge 
 
 (In love) great wrongs, not in revenge. 
 
 Still in indignant, awful wrath. 
 
 Trod on whate'er was in his path ; 
 
 Alike the oppressor and his prey. 
 
 Nor minded aught either might say. 
 
 His course marked out by streams of blood, 
 
 Flowed tlirough the land a purple flood. 
 
 Meanvyhile in prison B. B. stayed. 
 
 So was the law's decrees delayed. 
 
 With prison chains goading her through. 
 
 With aching heart for all this woe. 
 
 Whose chorus reached the fleeting skies. 
 
 Raised now to God her tear-filled eyes. 
 
 Now on a night with sorrow fraught, 
 
 A messenger to her prison brought. 
 
 Oh ! woman, can you hear this thing ; 
 
 The dreadful tidings that I bring ? 
 
 Victims of war and hateful lust. 
 
 Thy people, thy ])alace in the dust. 
 
 And where's the maiden now ? she cried. 
 
 Thank God, he said, that she hath died. 
 
 Then tell me, quick, what is the worst ? 
 
 I'll tell the story if I must, 
 
88 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Fair lady. But can never tell 
 The pain and misery has befell 
 Those come to thee for rescue sweet, 
 In helpful ministry you did greet 
 The flames enkindled by a lurid hate, 
 Licked up thy palace walls so great ; 
 With brazen throat swallowed the trees, 
 Fanned by the evening's stirring breeze. 
 Its fiery breath withered thy flowers, 
 With parched tongue blasted thy bowers. 
 A desert waste of burning sand, 
 Is all that's left of thy fair land. 
 There's not a man, bird, leaf or flower, 
 To tell thy glory, thy last power. 
 This only remnant have I brought, 
 And this through the wild flame I sought, 
 
 A charred and blackened corpse. 
 Then did our lady raise her voice ; 
 Bade now her soul in God rejoice, 
 Even while the flames surged through her soul. 
 As fiery billows through one roll — 
 
 Burns out the dross. 
 This was the soul's dire testing come 
 To try the metal, and make room 
 For an image more divine — 
 
 Jesus could say, All mine. 
 With anguish wrenched her bleeding heart, 
 Feehng tlie sharpness of this painful smart ; 
 With tear-filled eyes raised u]) to heaven. 
 Prayed that her enemies l)e forgiven, 
 
 " They know not wluit they do." 
 As thou hast taken all from me, 
 Now let me live alone for thee ; 
 
Satan's wooing. 89 
 
 As thou hast taken my loved ones — 
 Grant now this one request, 
 Love's strong behest. Let me serve men. 
 Joy ! joy now rang througn all the heaven ; 
 That thus to one in flesh was given 
 
 Such wonderous grace. 
 Soul, body, spirit on the altar laid — 
 Holy, accepted offering was made. 
 Now from that prison dark did rise 
 Earth's sweetest insense to the skies; 
 Earth's sorrows knocked at heaven door — 
 Godly men heard, ^^ go, sin no more.'' 
 The Voice Divine — 
 
 Spoke, " Thou art mine." 
 And now this light is given thee 
 To bear aloft, that men may see 
 Its sacred fire, reveals to earth 
 The holy flame of the family hearth. 
 Another name is given thee, 
 Vesta — Goddess of chastity ; 
 The fount of life is given thee, 
 To keep from all pollution free ; 
 
 Let not impurity 
 Defile the life blood ere it goes 
 To generate new life. Life's pains and woes. 
 Its galling chains, grinding birth-throes 
 Are caused by sin, as Wisdom knows. 
 
 W. — This is true. But will the Poet tell us which dia- 
 mond is meant here? Zoroaster taught of the sacred fire 
 that burns on the family altar, while it was the Greeks who 
 had their vestal Queens to guard the fire and preserve the 
 purity of the Temple of worship. 
 
90 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 /> — It is a blending of the two lights, as that union of 
 color forms the purple. There is a great significance in the 
 assertion of St. John that in the New Jerusalem there is no 
 temple, signifying that the sanctity of the temple is now found 
 in the temple of the holy spirit — the body. The sacred fire 
 must now be carried in the heart. The mother must be the 
 vestal Virgin, to watch and tend the fiame that kindles new 
 life. 
 
 This sacred flame shall be a pledge, 
 
 " Of that divinity doth hedge " — 
 
 The Mother 'round about ; 
 
 Father, Mother, Child in flesh — 
 
 Sure sign of that immutable reality. 
 
 Father, Mother, Child — God. 
 
CAN'l'O XIV. 
 
 Now, was another council held in hell, 
 Each with a story of defeat to tell ; 
 Ambition, Vanity, Pride and Power, 
 Had each failed in the testing hour 
 To draw this woman from her Lord, 
 Who pain or woe did not regard. 
 Spoke now Mephisto, with his artful speech, 
 Listen, ye devils, while I teach 
 
 The way to woman's heart ; 
 'T will bring her from her Lord to part. 
 Go to -the kingly sons of earth ; 
 Seek one of Nature's royal birth — 
 
 Let him her woo — 
 Strong as Greek god, gentle as love's sweet dove — 
 'Gainst such a man of flesh and blood ; 
 What chance for her invisible Lord ? 
 So shall we conquer by the sense — 
 
 Victory, our glad recompense. 
 This woman had baffled all the rest ; 
 Mephisto now took chance to test 
 
 Her heart's devotion. 
 Now came there one of lordly mien ; 
 Mighty to conquer love did seem. 
 
 By law of gravitation. 
 Her prison door flew open wide, 
 .Stood this grand man by Vesta's side ; 
 
 (91) 
 
92 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 And from a touch of his strong hand, 
 Chains snapped Hl<e brittle band. 
 
 " Arise, fair Queen ! 
 
 So sad doth seem, 
 Come now with me, the fair earth greet — 
 Take Hfe, Hght, Uberty so sweet." 
 With manhood's arms, mighty and strong, 
 Lifted her worn and wasted form, 
 . By prison fare reduced so low ; 
 Through sharpest pain of earth's deep wot. 
 Now o'er her dress of prison stripe 
 Covered the flag red, l)lue and white. 
 Oh 'twas delight past all compare, 
 Once more to breathe deHcious air — 
 Once more to greet the sun's clear light ; 
 So long shut up in prison night. 
 Again to tread the fresh green ground, 
 To hear the music of nature's sound. 
 This was a noble, royal pair. 
 The woman lovely, sweet and fair — 
 His look so proud, lofty and grand ; 
 Men to obey, he to command. 
 Manhood's power flashed from his eye. 
 Honor 'pon which man could rely. 
 And this sweet lady by his side 
 Seemed born to make a fitting bride 
 
 For such an one. 
 His name, xMpasha; heir of an Eastern throne. 
 
 Hushed was war's cry, 
 Lighted death's fires no more. 
 Stopped now the flow of human gore. 
 
 No more men die 
 By brother's Jiand. Filled all the land, 
 
SATAN'S WOOING, 93 
 
 With soldiers marching home. 
 Millions of bells with silvery tongue 
 Ring the glad news — 
 For all mankind, Gentile and Jews— 
 
 The starry flag waves o'er the free ; 
 With sacred signs, of colors three. 
 And on the land washed by the seas, 
 Kissed by the sunbeam's evening rays, 
 
 Lives no more slaves. 
 This cry resounded through the world ; 
 The starry flag again unfurled 
 Bore to sad hearts the joy, could save, 
 The weak ; protect the brave. 
 
 This goodly land — 
 Flowing with milk, and honey sweet ; 
 Ope's wider her arms the poor to greet ; 
 Offers her breasts to feed mankind, 
 A loving mother, stern but kind. 
 Now here a temple high was raised, 
 Where all men met, together praised; 
 Adorned with all earth's precious stones ; 
 Filled with earth's golden stores. 
 In this temple, was an altar place ; 
 The rising sun did turn its face 
 E'en as the Greeks and Romans build ; 
 
 In beauty all adorned. 
 Behind this altar Vesta stood— 
 Sis.— Oh, I knew she'd go with that fellow. I don't see 
 what the Lord wanted to let all the devils go after her for; 
 'twas worse 'n Job. 
 
 /l— Now when the sacred fire went out ; 
 And darkness reigned the /lome throughout. 
 Love's flame, smothered in blackest hate 
 
94 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Despair, a brooding demon sate, 
 Upon the family hearth — 
 
 And hate and wrath. 
 Took place of peace, good will ; 
 Each working other most of ill, 
 Then came the victim to this altar fire, 
 Whose holy flame was kept secure, 
 
 By this sweet woman - 
 Would light again the holy flame ; 
 To burn as in lover morn, the same. 
 Childhood, now felt the warm glad glow. 
 The happiness, did the home o'erflow. 
 Women's hearts gave thanks and sang. 
 Through home, the swelling chorus rang. 
 Husbands joyous now became, 
 Finding their lovely brides the same. 
 Now 't was men's hearts beat high with trust ; 
 Eden, would bloom as at the first. 
 No more would earth's sad bitter wail. 
 The ear of men and gods, assail. 
 Hushed into silence, be the cry of pain. 
 Earth's loss is now eternal gain. 
 Love, doth now all care beguile. 
 Tears, may now give place to smiles. 
 Vesta in robes of virgin white ; 
 Sweet priestess of this holy light — 
 Spangled with stars of azure blue. 
 Girdle, golden fringed of scarlet hue. 
 Her face, showed heaven's peace, divine ; 
 With mellowed light of love did shine — 
 Lit up a form in Beauty's mould. 
 Showed wisdom, half could not be told. 
 Now 'twas a helpless wife there came, 
 
Satan's wooing. 95 
 
 To tell the story of their shame ; 
 How dark and wretched was their home, 
 The doves of love and trust had flown. 
 Now, as Vesta took the blackened torch, 
 And by the magic of her touch — 
 Now blazed anew the holy flame, 
 Should never let go out again. 
 
 Hail, Blessed Virgin ! 
 
 Hail, Queen of Heaven ! 
 Who to the earth such light hath given, 
 
 Eternal love bring in. 
 As glowed her heart with grateful peace ; 
 As happy was the lopdly prince — 
 Come from the land of early dawn ; 
 The land first greets the coming morn. 
 In his bright home beyond the sea 
 Had heard the story of the maiden ; free 
 
 Had choose the cross 
 That she might help the race. 
 Now, as he listened to the tale, 
 A purpose did his mind assail, 
 To look upon that woman's face 
 Had showed such power and wondrous grace. 
 
 To suffer, and do the right. 
 So different this seemed to be 
 From all the Eastern maids, that he 
 Would fain sail for the West, 
 Obeying love's strong pure behest. 
 No shrine of worship had he found, 
 Had sailed the wide world all around — 
 In temples Hindoo, Christian, Pagan sought, 
 A woman worthy of his thought — 
 To whom he'd give the homage of his heart, 
 
96 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Who of his throne should share a part. 
 Through all the maidens of the East, 
 In all the beauties of the West 
 His Kingly father sought a bride, 
 Worthy to sit his son beside. 
 But his heart fountains were unsealed, 
 Its richest treasures all concealed — 
 Till that glad hour he saw the face, 
 The Woman of the West, whose grace 
 Was born of wisdom, love and truth, 
 Bloomed in a sweet perpetual youth. 
 This tale of love, so sweetly thrilled, 
 As joy and peace her heart now filled — 
 The dear old story ever new, 
 Refreshing as the morning dew. 
 
 Nature seemed new created, 
 So was the womans heart elated. 
 The halo of this new inspiring glow 
 A wonderous light o'er all did throw — 
 
 Sis. — Well, I don't want to hear no more. I jist think it's 
 a shame to treat a woman so. Now she's fell in love with 
 that fellow ; and how could she help it ? And likely he's 
 got a wife ; may be a half a dozen. 
 
 P. — Now, as he pressed this sweetened cup 
 
 To her fair lips, she drank it up ; 
 
 The sweetest thought it could distill 
 
 Her loving heart did fill, 
 
 Was the great truth 'twas free for all, 
 
 Would listen to the heavenly call. 
 
 This thought exhaled a sweet perfume. 
 
 Like flowers in perpetual bloom. 
 
 Now sipping this sweet perfumed wine, 
 
 The lovers took no note of time : 
 
Satan's wooing. 97 
 
 Time glided on, as murmuring rill 
 The valley and the woodland fill ; 
 With every morning's glad sunrise 
 Was some new beauty to surprise — 
 The mind fi-om limitation fi-ee, 
 Takes all glad possibility, 
 And by faith's wondrous alchemy, 
 
 Makes sweet reality. 
 One day came messengers firom o'er the sea, 
 " Thy father's dead, we come for thee 
 
 To take his crown," 
 Only if Vesta shares my throne, 
 Else will I all my power disown. 
 The Queen — may not duty call thee home, 
 How are thy father's people left ? 
 Of all other hope bereft ; 
 All's anarchy, confusion, strife. 
 Men seeking for each other's life — 
 Women westward look with anxious face ; 
 Great Allah pray, send back his Grace. 
 Then I must go if this is true. 
 For ever since I have known you 
 
 Woman and child are holy all. 
 So now I go at duty's call ; 
 But thou, fair one, must be my bride. 
 Together life's happy stream we'll glide. 
 Ours be the wisdom of the turtle dove — 
 Whose cooing notes is thrilling love. 
 The woman's heart beat with new ecstacy, 
 Revealed in love's transparency. 
 Shewed spirits joy and sweet surprise, 
 Through the soul's windows — sparkling eyes. 
 Like sun behind a silvery sheen, 
 
98 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 The heart's new life could now be seen. 
 He needed now no words to assure ; 
 His love returned with interest sure. 
 Long they communed in spirit lore, 
 Feeling a joy unknown before. 
 Such joy flies from the touch of speech, 
 As spirit, from the touch of sense. 
 
 Spake now the Prince ; 
 'Tis now I seek love's recompense. 
 The token of two souls made one — 
 
 Together come. 
 The woman turned her radiant face ; 
 
 The Prince with chivalric grace- 
 Stooped to receive. 
 The kiss she'd give. 
 'Twas the supreme moment of her life. 
 Devils now hoped would end the strife ; 
 Angels looked with anxious fear ; 
 If now the call, the higher love, she'd hear. 
 Lo ! now as with supreme deHght, 
 Looked to her lamp of holy light ; 
 Saw there a danger signal given ; 
 Her heart with sharpest pain, now riven. 
 What can this mean ? in anguish cried ; 
 
 Hast ever had a Bride ? 
 One but in name, great Allah knows. 
 Our fathers wrought in childhood, both our woes. 
 
 A toy, a plaything ! 
 Allah's laws, gives many wives to Prince, and King, 
 
 Spake Vesta thus — 
 Go thou and wake her woman soul. 
 
 Make her heart whole. 
 Now kindled was Alpasha's wrath ; 
 
Satan's wooing. 99 
 
 And to the woman thus he saith — 
 
 Loves fiery billows o'er thee roll, 
 Consume thy soul. 
 'Twas as Jove thundered in his might ; 
 But could not drive this woman from the right. 
 Now did earth open wide, to swallow up ; 
 
 All but her bitter cup. 
 All of her friends and worldly store ; 
 A homeless wanderer, sick, heart sore. 
 Her legacy this lamp, and thorns to wear ; 
 No more her head, but heart did tear. 
 Now as she wandered sick, heart sore, 
 Alpasha came to her once more. 
 This time in sorrow, sore, bowed low, 
 Showed how he suffered from the blow 
 
 She'd given him. 
 Spake thus : " You felt no sin, 
 But danger in the kiss I crave ; 
 Think by destroying me yourself to save? " 
 Alas ! how poor and weak a thing is woman's love. Writing 
 on sand the next wave washes out : 
 
 " For you I'd brave the fires of hottest hell ; 
 With not a thought what me befell. 
 But you, at the least danger signal given, 
 Would thrust your lover into hell, down from 
 
 The heights of heaven." 
 Now when she saw him thus oppressed ; 
 Weary and heart sore without rest — 
 Her heart to the rescue quickly flew, 
 And though the danger well she knew — 
 Knew how the serpents lay coiled up, 
 Within the sweetened sparkling cup ; 
 All these, and many more she'd brave, 
 
100 
 
 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 In hopes the man she loved to save. 
 Now great rejoicing was in hell, 
 Hoping at last the woman 'd fell. 
 Mephisto, wiser, shook his head; 
 "Wait till you get her," thus he said. 
 
CANTO XV. 
 
 S. — That woman you was reading about yesterday, my dear 
 friend Poetry, was a fool. I have no patience with such trashy, 
 silly beings. With such gifts as you describe, she should have 
 made the world brighter and happier, instead of making of 
 herself such an object as the Prince found her. Youth and 
 beauty are the choicest flowers of earth; and for women to 
 sacrifice these as they do to hide themselves in cloisters in 
 modern times, or as the vestal virgins of ancient story, is a 
 crime against humanity. As one who would destroy all the 
 precious stones he could get hold of, or blight and wither all 
 the flowers. 
 
 F. — W^ill our friend please tell us by what means this fair 
 one could have preserved her youth and beauty ? 
 
 S. — Why, of course, only for a limited period. She would 
 have come to worms or fire at last. 
 
 W. — The difference, then, between this fair one and others 
 is, that she sought to extract the sweetness of her youth ; to 
 form a new compound of perpetual youth and beauty, while 
 they seek to preserve that which by a law of its nature is 
 transient as the spring flowers. Beside, our friend is in too 
 great haste to pronounce upon the case. Let one watch the 
 fruit blossoms of spring. How soon they give place to a hard, 
 crabbed, bitter, poisonous compound, known as green fruit. 
 But wait till the autumn, and see how delightfully in the blush- 
 ing peach, the luscious grape, doth Nature make amends for 
 the sacrifice of the blossoms. 
 
 (101) 
 
102 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 H. — Mahomet tried another plan to preserve the beauty 
 and blessuigs of womanhood, and it proved like the wisdom of 
 one who should pluck the peach blossom to save and utilize 
 it. Look at Mahomedan women. 
 
 Sis. — Now there's jest no such thing as these verses tell on ; 
 women dressed in white, with girdles, and all this nonsense. 
 Who ever seen any such thing ? 
 
 H. — Julius Ccesar saw it to his sorrow when his conquering 
 legions met the German Nerni, who were only temporarily 
 overcome by his legions, but whose descendants overthrew the 
 Roman Empire. So were the Priestesses of Oriental religions, 
 as well as the Greek. Woman may be fruitful and multiply 
 offspring by means of the head and heart as truly as the womb. 
 P. — This is the meaning of that germ of life that went forth 
 from the bride and her lord. Begetting new types of humanity 
 in germs already formed, including those who have thrown off 
 the flesh, as well as those still in it, is a work the children of 
 men may now begin. It shall not end with the life of flesh ; 
 but rather begin^ as did the work of Jesus of Nazareth. 
 
 Sis. — Well, white dress, or no white dress, I'm sorry for that 
 girl, and I hope the devil '11 let her alone now. 
 
 P. — Now was another furnace all prepared, 
 
 To test her love against her will arrayed ; 
 
 Galling, the chains 'twas on her heart, 
 
 A keen and cutting, biting smart. 
 
 Like as a lion's power was prest. 
 
 Upon her smothered, beating chest. 
 
 But when sleep held in abeyance will. 
 
 The aching heart would joyous thrill — 
 
 Imagination find the god-like Prince, 
 
 Her heart, the will, would bid defiance. 
 
 Would live again the happy past. 
 
 The dream would make forever last. 
 
SATAN'S WOOING. 103 
 
 Again love's sweet enchanting wand, 
 Would hold her in a loving hand, 
 Throw o'er her heart its magic spell, 
 As with the nobleman did dwell. 
 One morn, as waking from her dream — 
 So real, permanent did seem. 
 Came messengers from o'er the sea ; 
 The King, love greetings now sends thee. 
 Begs the fair one forgive his last, hot ire, 
 Burned from a loving heart on fire. 
 
 Thus the letter ran. 
 Since that dread moment I left thee. 
 No light or joy has come to me — 
 Darkness has reigned through all my soul, 
 Great Allah's power can not remove, 
 
 , So I appeal to thee. 
 My former bride is dead, so I am free ; 
 My mother's queenly robe and throne is thine, 
 If thou, my love, will now be mine. 
 Come to the golden East of rosy morn, 
 
 Thy presence shall adorn. 
 Land of the palm and lotus, mine. 
 Pomegranates, figs, and dates, all thine. 
 Dost thou but bid me come to thee. 
 On wings of love I'll quickly flee. 
 Time and space be as were naught. 
 All pain and sorrow be forgot. 
 Then shall the golden East to silvery West, 
 Be linked by love's strong, firm behest. 
 On eastern throne of love and fight, 
 Wave colors of red, blue and white. 
 The cross, with crescent linked, unfurled — 
 Go forth in power to bless the world. 
 
104 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Was this her bright and happy dream ; 
 More true than even then did seem. 
 Came back the radiance to her face ; 
 Came back the lightsome, winsome grace ; 
 Came back the glowing to her eyes, 
 With this sweet glad surprise. 
 As when one lights a temple light, 
 Makes all the objects glaring bright. 
 The cold steel thrusts her glowing heart, 
 . As from these hopes she now must part. 
 Waves of anguish through her shook, 
 When to her holy light did look. 
 Saw there the danger signal given, 
 (Love is a law unto itself,) 
 Now raised her streaming eyes to heaven. 
 Ah ! Father, cried, how is it thus — 
 Am I the sport o' malignant powers ; 
 Amuse themselves in idle hours. 
 A foot-bail for the cunning gods. 
 Play they with hearts as men at chess ; 
 Their movements none can think or guess ? 
 Oh this is cruel torture, double refined, 
 Torture of body, soul and mind. 
 With one wild burst of sad despair, 
 One wail of anguish rent the air ; 
 One desperate effort to break the snare, 
 With fleeing feet and flowing hair, 
 Now to the wilderness fled alone, 
 As once before sad earth had done. 
 Now heaven and hell entered the list, 
 To fight for the woman of the West — 
 
 As fought for the first Mother, 
 The woman with two natures on both sides. 
 
Satan's wooing. 105 
 
 Sense for hell, soul for heaven, 
 
 Thus did the other. 
 Waged now this conflict fierce and long, 
 Sensuous life was brave and strong — 
 Passion's fires burned clear and bright ; 
 The flames came to a heat that's white ; 
 But strong and Christ-like was the soul, 
 Deep its longing for the unknown goal — 
 
 Humanity so long had sought. 
 Deep was its love for all the race, 
 Caught in the snare of flesh and sense. 
 Thus even poised, neither would yield ; 
 As neither army drives the other from the field, 
 
 Both slept in arms. 
 And wasted she from day to day ; 
 So did this strife upon her weigh. 
 Now Hke disputes not settled by the sword. 
 
 Resorted to diplomacy. 
 Spake sense. What is thy recompense 
 For all this loss ? Cui bofii — this cross. 
 Thou whom Nature didst make a queen, 
 Hast made thyself so poor and mean — 
 
 For fools to mock. 
 Nature did form thee for companionship ; 
 But thou hast made thyself outcast ; 
 Thou hast a heart cast in love's mould. 
 Of intense life and passion sweet, 
 But when thy lover comes to greet. 
 
 Dost turn and scold. 
 Leaving safe paths by science marked, 
 Sights fully attested verities — 
 Hast followed phantoms, thine own brain ; 
 Phosphorescence lurid bright. 
 
106 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Thou callest a sacred light. 
 Chasing fancy's will 'o the wisp, 
 
 Art old before thy time, 
 
 Such folly thine. 
 Are men happier for thy pain ? 
 Of all thy loss whose is the gain ? 
 Now listen to the voice of common sense, 
 Wisdom born of experience. 
 Now as sense spake so hard did try 
 To move her ; a mocking bird flew nigh 
 To echo back these mocking facts. 
 To shew the folly of her acts. 
 Shrilly kept ringing in her ears — 
 Thy life's a failure, vain all thy tears ! 
 Ha-ha ! where is thy sacred light? 
 Where is thy Lord to lead the right ? 
 Where all of his fair promises ? 
 Fair to the sight, but fatal to the touch, 
 
 Alpasha's thy dehverer. 
 Thus sang the mocking bird, 
 And thus it was she heard 
 Her silent thoughts, did grate her nerves, 
 Like saw-leeth grating through the bones. 
 Flew to the laughing stream. 
 
 Where once a happy Queen 
 Had chose the Crowned Man. 
 Oh, what a picture did the rosy light 
 Paint in that crystal fount, 
 In place of the May Queen of youth. 
 Pale, haggard, blood-shot eyes, bent form ; 
 So wasted now that youth was worn 
 To age. A frightful ghost 
 Of that fair maiden bright — 
 
SATAN S WOOING. 
 
 107 
 
 She fled in terror from the sight. 
 
 Alas ! she could not flee from thought, 
 
 Who, like pursuing fiends, now sought 
 
 To break her firm resolve. 
 Now like a panting doe at bay, 
 Turned round and faced her enemies. 
 5._Well, now this is all well enough for those who Hke the 
 jingle of words. But for a real true character, a woman 
 worthy of the Divine Man, that one on the steps of the temple, 
 sitting in darkness in the mid-day sunshine, while her love for 
 the race wrung from her heart the cry, " if there is one lost 
 it shall be me, for I will hold the last one before thee till fully 
 saved," exceeds all others. These have but otfered life ; she 
 offered her all. 
 
 Sis. — No body would do no such thing as that. 
 /'.—Alas ! how blind is both knowledge and ignorance to 
 the glory of, humanity. Did not Fletcher say, *'if I may not 
 glorify God in heaven I will in hell?" And did not those 
 Calvanists whose ideas are so horrid to you, make the willing- 
 ness to be eternally damned for God's glory a test of religious 
 experience? Now did this woman only consent to eternal 
 darkness that others might have the hght and joy of heaven. 
 A much easier thing than to suffer eternal torment for the 
 glory of the tormentor. 
 
 W. All this proves the wondrous power of love, which 
 
 makes all things possible. Love and faith makes all that God 
 doeth right. And though to the sense of others the thing 
 may seem horrid, to the mind of the one who takes it in, it is 
 the eternal right. Men may be never so much mistaken 
 about what God doeth. But they feel independent of all evi- 
 dence ; he can't do wrong. And when men have the same 
 faith and love for each other there will be an entire reversal of 
 the false judgments of the flesh. 
 
108 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 S. — It would be well if our venerable friend would give us 
 some basis for such trust. It is quite opposed to all lessons of 
 experience. 
 
 Z. — It can not be otherwise, as you have demonstrated. 
 One Force, manifest through all phenomena, so is there one 
 Being manifest in all thought life. The Unity of Being is as 
 essential to the life phenomena of the race as the Unity of 
 Force to that of Nature. Now as this Being is One, it hath 
 the same essential nature and qualities in the form of flesh as 
 any other it may assume. The God in man is entitled to the 
 same glory, love, trust and confidence as the God outside of 
 man. If, therefore, God is Love, hence worthy of all love and 
 trust, it follows as a moral necessity that ^man is love, hence 
 worthy of all love and trust. 
 
 Sis. — I'd as soon trust a dog with my dinner. 
 
 IV. — I suppose the Poet will allow us to discriminate between 
 the two natures and only trust the God. 
 
 P. — Certainly. The most loving, devout, noble nature may 
 be imprisoned in the nature of a dog, as Sis suggests ; and 
 though you trust the one implicitly, you must beware of the 
 teeth of the other. 
 
CANTO XVI. 
 
 P.— Now crucified this mighty love, 
 
 With all its throbbing bounding life 
 
 A wondrous power of good did prove, 
 To such as warred the fleshly strife. 
 Daily grew a power so great. 
 Could help men through the narrow gate. 
 In loving ministry to such as need, 
 Helping all such with word and deed. 
 These many years had come and gone, 
 Watching and waiting for the spirit's morn 
 Watching and waiting for her Lord, 
 His shining face so long withdrawn, 
 
 Shut up to faith, 
 Which grows on promises denied. 
 Men marveled as her face they espied, 
 Women, at this unfathomable mystery, 
 Lay hid in her life's tragedy. 
 Once as in darkness long she sate, 
 On the cold ground thought the sad fate ; 
 Mankind, victims of love and hate. 
 Oh ! darksome thought to contemplate. 
 Remembered how men could be saved. 
 If their salvation, love, oft craved, 
 Would hold them to the heart of God, 
 Till the all-cleansing, pardoning blood. 
 Did purify each earth-born stain ; 
 Make the soul pure and free again. 
 
 (109) 
 
110 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 And in soul agony now cried — 
 To the Redeemer crucified : It shall be mine, 
 If there is a soul lost in all this universe. 
 JV. — Well, Science, Poetry has been playing such havoc 
 with time as you do with telephone and electric wire, giving 
 us things before they happened. 
 
 /*. — My world is not bound by any of the limitations of 
 time and space. All is one, eternal — Now Here : 
 'Twas on one holy Sabbath morn, 
 She saw a noble, God-like form, 
 The Lord of Glory; (not by sight). 
 She knew him by the inefifable light — 
 
 The God-reveaUng power. 
 It was a happy hour ! 
 Oh ! rapturous joy, how can I sing. 
 Such a divinely wondrous thing ? 
 In speaking silence, hush my song. 
 
 Silent be every tongue. 
 Parted the veil of flesh and sense. 
 
 He led- her hence. 
 Into the world of spirit life, 
 Beyond the reach of sense's strife. 
 This the new kingdom of the soul, 
 Healed be earth's wounds, men every whit made whole. 
 City of day, where is no night, 
 God's providence read by its light, 
 Shews now a shinmg, happy face. 
 
 Oh ! wondrous grace. 
 He led her to the mercy seat, 
 That the All- Parent her might greet. 
 Now did the God-head veil in form 
 Appear as Father, Mother, Son ; 
 Spake to her now in spirit lore, 
 
SATAN*S WOOING. HI 
 
 A language she had learned before: 
 
 Long have we watched thee, blessed child ; 
 
 Thy patient faith, kind, sweet and mild. 
 
 Believing promise's proved false to sense, 
 
 This now thy recompense. 
 
 Thou art a form of living flesh, 
 
 Reveals the Mother God to earth. 
 
 To thee revealed the law — man's unity. 
 
 With God, His true Divinity. 
 
 As Vesta mused upon this mystery, 
 
 Mahomet, with Arabian chivalry ; 
 
 As like the Oriental chieftain grand. 
 
 Whose flag victorious waves through many a land ; 
 
 As are the skies, the stars and flowers, 
 
 Reflected in the crystal bowers 
 
 Like those on land. 
 
 Thus spake Mahomet grand: 
 
 Most noble woman, pure and true, 
 
 How I rejoice to know that you 
 
 Have won the battle on earth I lost — 
 Won, though it's been at fearful cost. 
 For in the fight 'twixt soul and sense. 
 Conquered my heart by woman's charms. 
 And I did take me many wives, 
 And left false laws to others. 
 Ah ! how I watched with anxious fear, 
 Lest thou had not the strength to tear 
 
 The idol from thy heart, 
 And from Alpasha part. 
 This thy reward for faithfulness. 
 For tested love proved truthfulness — 
 The Cresent that would never yield 
 To any army in the field, 
 
112 BKHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Shall hence in loving worship bow 
 Unto the Cross, reigns supreme now. 
 May this sweet symbol of self-giving love, 
 Be honored on earth as 'tis above. 
 
 Lord Buddha came. 
 On earth Sidartha was his name, 
 That brave prince gave up a throne ; 
 Fled from his bride, his golden home — 
 Loved with the fondness of fresh youth ; 
 A father's hope of child unborn. 
 That he perchance might find the truth. 
 Would save men from Hfe's awful curse, 
 
 Spake thus : 
 All hail, fair Woman of the West ; 
 Obeying love's sure, true behest, 
 
 Has to a Buddha come. 
 Art welcome to their lofty throne, 
 To share the glory, all the holy ones — 
 
 Their crowns by virtue won. 
 Go to the daughters of the East, 
 Shew them the wisdom of the West. 
 Now as he spake with kingly grace, 
 She gazed in rapture on that noble face, 
 
 Had so helped the race. 
 A beggar child in fleshly form 
 Of misery and pain been born. 
 
 Took hold her arm. 
 The spell was broke. Forms now fled 
 Like as thick veil fell o'er her head, 
 From that to this; earth's pain place, heaven's bliss, 
 This want and poverty. What change — 
 But in the child she saw revealed 
 Being Divine, by flesh concealed. 
 
Satan's wooing. 113 
 
 Its wretchedness come of neglect, 
 Took but a moment to reflect 
 Ton the right course she should pursue, 
 Now gave the child the love 'twas due, 
 
 Offspring of God. 
 Now greater than Lord Buddha came, 
 Jesus — the Son of Man ; 
 Again the flesh was rent in twain, 
 
 Forth glided they 
 To brighter light and clearer day, 
 
 Spake now as spirits do. 
 His voice, like music, thrilled her so — 
 Waked echoes of immortal bliss, 
 Gave birth to peace none can express. 
 In silence stood before her Lord, 
 ^^'ith crucifixion had her wooed, 
 
 Veiled now his face, '"^ 
 
 I .est flesh should be dissolved. This holy place 
 
 Was like the mount of Bethany. 
 Oil ! let me look and die. 
 
 Was the soul's earnest cry. 
 " Have thy choice, come now to me ; 
 Thy robe and crown awaiteth thee. 
 The wedding feast is all prepared. 
 The wedding guests are ready made. 
 Or thou canst stay to flesh a prisoner, 
 With helping hand for man's necessities. 
 Canst take the light of this blest world ; 
 Unseal the seven seals, now binds the word. 
 Throw kindling rays of light on earth, 
 Reveal to men their Divine Birth." 
 " Let thy dear face be veiled," she said — 
 
114 BKHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Lest seeing thy glory, flesh dissolve and fade, 
 
 To vital air again. 
 And let these walls of pain 
 
 Stand firm. Can I shew earth the Mother God, 
 Unseal the fountains of thy word ? " 
 
 The Master said, 
 " To thy true heart I give this key ; 
 Unlocks the heart that you may see 
 The inmost nature ; know when to approve, when to 
 
 upbraid, 
 And when thou choosest thou shalt come 
 To this, your eternal spirit home." 
 And can I bring the world with me, 
 This joy to know, this glory see ? 
 
 " All may come." 
 The condition's law. Who will obey 
 Can walk this glorious King's highway 
 In spirit, then, He took her out. 
 Above the earth to a high mount. 
 Looking down, saw men and women ; 
 Like a dark phantom in bright heaven. 
 Now 'round the shadowy forms of flesh,. 
 White- winged angels — ministers of grace. 
 But walls of flesh shut out the light, 
 O'er earth of sense was darkest night. 
 Oh ! could they see what's all around, 
 Why keep they looking on the ground ? 
 As she spake there came a youth 
 In fresh, bright manhood, love and truth. 
 Now as he walked with exultant tread, 
 Proud was his bearing, lofty head. 
 Came to a precipice, came to the brink, 
 Down flows a fiery stream of drink. 
 
Satan's wooing. 115 
 
 The sparkling glass pressed to his hps, 
 But e'en before the drink he sips — 
 A lovely seraph to him spake : 
 
 " Oh youth, beware, 
 
 A serpent's there, 
 Let not ensnare, for woman's sake." 
 The voice so faint ; the youth but smiled, then drank. 
 Oh, Jesus save ! Oh, save ! the woman said. 
 E'en as she spake he plunged into the fatal tide, 
 Where untold millions thus have died. 
 How could you let him sink in hell? she said. 
 Now o'er this awful scene the curtam fell ; 
 Another lifted on the spirit realm, 
 And there from out this fiery stream 
 Came spirits pure, and free from sin, 
 Clothed in white robes, all pure within. 
 It is enough, she said and wept, with hope. 
 
 Again the curtain 'rose — 
 A lovely maiden, beauteous as the rose, 
 Sweet grace of innocence distilled ; 
 W^ith charming tenderness and trust was filled. 
 Followed the master of her heart, 
 Not life, or death or aught could part. 
 Ope'd now the grave where scarlet women lay ; 
 Where hope ne'er casts a single ray 
 
 Of light. 
 The woman sprang to save the girl 
 
 From this dread night. 
 Now Jesus did new Hght unfurl ; 
 
 And to her great surprise 
 Saw such sweet lovely women rise, 
 
 As Magdalene. 
 Now as soul's eyes ope'd wider still. 
 
116 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Saw temple on a higher hill — 
 
 The All Mother's holy shrine was this. 
 
 Oh music, help me sing the bliss. 
 
 Sis. — Well, we don't want ye to sing it, nor anybody else. 
 Coz we know too much what mothers have to go through in 
 life 'thout that. 
 
 F/iii. — Perhaps the Poet might throw some new light upon 
 it. The secrets of life have never yet been told, nor even un- 
 derstood. 
 
 S. — Well, that's not the way to tell them. If anything 
 worth knowing is to be found out, it will not be learned by 
 song, but patient research. 
 
 P. — Well, I have some very tine lines here that portray the 
 hidden blessedness of the mother. But if the friends are so 
 much more interested in the struggles and pains of woman 
 than her joy and triumph, we can pass at once to the last act 
 of the drama of this woman's hfe. 
 
 S. — It is not through the closing of life the race will be im- 
 proved, but through the development of more perfect seed. 
 Therefore, if there is anything in this mother's temple to 
 throw any light on the proper genesis of man, we ought to 
 seek it. 
 
 P. — I see a wedding party. Divine man and womanhood, 
 like the waters of the Missouri and Mississippi, now unite, and 
 are a complete creative unit. The man seeing himself a temple 
 of the Christ, sees in the wife the holy of holies, never to be 
 profaned by the touch of animal passion. The same law of 
 creative love that first produced man now governs these per- 
 sons. They would have offspring. Pure as God is pure, ac- 
 cording to the command : be ye holy, for I the Lord thy God 
 am holy, they approach the creative altar as the highest sac- 
 rament of life. The animal laid in sacrifice at the outer gate 
 of the temple, only the seed of life is allowed to enter the holy 
 
Satan's wooing. 117 
 
 place where God meets man in the sacred mystery of creation. 
 The child thus conceived from pure seed, becomes itself a seed 
 of higher, purer life for the race, and thus gradually but surely 
 shall the black record " conceived in sin and born in iniquity " 
 give place to the bright truth of the present era conceived in 
 purity and born in hoHness. 
 
 Sis. — Well, if there's any such record, I wish I could see it. 
 Nothin' of that sort ever come to me, and I've been married 
 long enough, goodness knows. 
 
 S. — Nor to anyone else now living. But in spite of the 
 seeming absurdity, I see glimpses of a higher possibility of 
 purer seed than we have yet known. It is probable that nine- 
 tenths of the children born of distinct American parents are 
 what in their language are called " mistakes," Science says, 
 from seed entering the receptacle of the life germs through the 
 vital endowments of its own being. We find the minutest Hfe 
 germs governed by the same law of creative energy ; the same 
 law of attraction and repulsion as governs the fully developed 
 man and woman ; the same law as draws the stamen and 
 pistule of the flowers together. In fact, the same law as gov- 
 erns all but certain species of animal life. As long as the race 
 is conceived by the animal law of copulation, it must of 
 necessity be under the law of animal life, and ict-gely governed 
 by it. 
 
 IV. — Perhaps the whole system of Mosaic sacrifice was but 
 types of the great law of sacrificing the animal to the spiritual 
 in our nature. But it is no use for us to think of setding this 
 (]uestion without the aid of our friend Religion. 
 
 ^. — Well, when she comes in I go out. 
 
 />. — We may as well drop the subject, then, till Rehgion can 
 come in, because there is no force beside potent enough to 
 control the fiery passion and bring man under the dominion of 
 the higher law of his being. It is a great misfortune that our 
 
118 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 young friend is so ])reju(liced against Religion that there must 
 be a perpetual divorce between them ; but I have glimpses of 
 a hapi)y wedding party where they are again made one. 
 
 ^S". — We never were one, and never will be. I have no 
 (quarrel with Religion, though she is always throwing stones at 
 me. 
 
 P. — I see her in the not dim distant future throwing kisses 
 instead. 
 
 S. — She will have to get the new nature she preaches so 
 much about first. 
 
 W. — Nothing of the kind ; all that is needed is to have each 
 of your eyes opened so that you shall see each other as you 
 are. But while waiting for you to make up good friends, all 
 who are interested in this law of creative purity may have 
 their doubt removed and their faith and hope in the higher law 
 of conception increased by a careful study of the record of 
 History. 
 
 H. — In every religion there is the same idea of a pure being 
 able to reflect the light of God being conceived only in the 
 womb of a virgin. It would be easy to write the history of the 
 Virgin Mother and her Son, by collecting the histories of the 
 different nations and tribes. I find it amounts to an instinct 
 or an axiom tfiat perfect purity of man and womanhood does 
 not exist under the laws of animal life in the creative act. 
 I\ne as God is pure, holy as God is holy, does not nccord with 
 this act. 
 
 .S". — Why, then, does Religion lend her sanction l(^ it in the 
 marriage state ? 
 
 Sis. — Just because she don't know any better. 
 
 5. — Her bible tells her of something different, if 1 could 
 believe that, as she pretends to do, 1 should have no trouble 
 with this law. It says, Mary was a Virgin, and that Joseph 
 was the fatlier of her Son. Science sees no mystery here. 
 
Satan's wooing. 119 
 
 His. — But because they did not in the past know the laws 
 of creative energy that govern the Hfe germs, it was thought 
 to be a miracle. 
 
 W. — But no mu-acle could make Jesus the Son of Man if 
 he had no human father. 
 
 S. — That is so. Theology must either give up the claim that 
 Jesus was the Son of Man, or else admit the truth of what his 
 mother said : " Thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." 
 
 His. — In looking over the record I have made, I see there 
 is no difficulty with the gospel story now that Science has 
 shown us this law. And in behalf of truth and purity, I think 
 we should thank him for this important discovery— the law of 
 virginal conception. 
 
CANTO XVll. 
 
 P. — Hear now that awful prayer — 
 
 Silence in heaven. 
 While angels in awed trembling stood 
 To hear the answer of her Lord. 
 This was the pain, had broke his heart, 
 And now she asked to share a part. 
 Herself a whole burnt offering gave. 
 For greater power the world to save. 
 Jesus beheld with pitying eye, 
 But could not her request deny. 
 It is her right, he justly spake, 
 Atonement for earth's sins to make. 
 The All Mother's heart's pierced by the cry 
 Of mothers weeping as their children die. 
 The joys and victories of her latter days 
 Had been as one aside now lays. 
 
 Strength for oncoming pain. 
 So to prepare for this dread hour, 
 
 When hell should try again 
 To break the chain of heaven's power. 
 And she who had so loved all men ; 
 Whose heart a looking glass had been ; 
 Drew out the good as magnet draws the steel, 
 To make men see, cause them to feel 
 
 The God within — 
 Was now to feel the utmost power of hate, 
 Called to contend with that dread fate, 
 
 y^inds man to sin. 
 (120) 
 
SATAN'S WOOING. 121 
 
 Bands only death of self can rend, 
 The soul, a conquerer, upward send. 
 Darkness now gathered round her soul ; 
 Could hear hell's threatening thunders roll ; 
 Flashed lurid lightnings from afar — 
 Revealed the senses, endless war 
 
 On soul and God. 
 And as she looked with trembling fear. 
 Dreading each moment she should hear, 
 
 (Or fall the uplifted sword), 
 The awful words, depart ye cursed, 
 Into the fire where burns the worst. 
 History, its dark pages did unroll ; 
 Told of the victory of sense o'er soul. 
 Read on each page by lurid hght, 
 How had the wrong o'ercome the right — 
 How were God's children crucified ; 
 Nature and heaven, in anguish cried, 
 In bitter travail of soul birth — 
 The crowning torture of this earth. 
 As gazed in horror on this awful scene ; 
 Began a movement of the screen, 
 That had the worst concealed. 
 Now before her was revealed 
 Brothers she loved, dripping with blood; 
 Filled with satanic hate now stood. 
 Frozen with horror, she beheld 
 All hopeful trusts were here dispelled. 
 The God in man hides now his face, 
 Could only see a sin-cursed race. 
 Prey of the worm that never dies — 
 The gnawing pain from expression flies; 
 Only by silence can be told. 
 
122 BEMOLt) THE WOMAN. 
 
 Like to that force the whirlwind holds 
 Itself in stillness. 
 
 Thus did the force of this dread agony hold silence, 
 
 Lit by this lurid glare of hate, 
 
 Earth's children, silent spectres, sate ; 
 
 Like ghostly phantoms of a dream, 
 
 Upon the banks of the crimson stream — 
 
 Started in Eden through earth flows ; 
 
 While from the hells came lurid glows 
 
 Of fires of passion, has its birth — 
 
 (God pity earth), 
 
 In every seed from which man springs. 
 
 Earth and hell the chorus rings — 
 
 Lascivious songs. 
 In every tongue. 
 
 Tells victory of lust o'er love. 
 
 This crimson stream started from Abel's veins, 
 
 As flows through earth into its bosom drains ; 
 
 The holiest, purest blood of every name. 
 
 While tortured earth, as if to shame 
 
 The folly of a brother's hate — 
 
 Hides from the wondering skies her pain. 
 
 On these hellfires sends the sweet rain — 
 
 Makes flowers bloom on battle fields, 
 
 A richer, sweeter, harvest yields. 
 
 In one wild rush of blank despair. 
 
 The blood in Vesta's heart leaped to her head. 
 
 Prostrate now fell as one that's dead. 
 
 Frozen with horror, pale and cold; 
 
 Killed by an anguish can't be told. 
 
 'Twas now the angels looked to see 
 
 Jesus would do in this extremity. 
 
 Her heart is crushed by sight of blood, 
 
Satan's wooing. 128 
 
 Been shed by hate. The remedy shall be — 
 
 That shed by me. 
 Bade one take to her lips the holy wme ; 
 Said he shews forth the blood of mine, 
 
 Shed for the race. 
 Thus the atoneing grace, 
 Warm and fresh from the brother's heart 
 Had from his own taken a part. 
 
 Its life-renewing power — 
 
 In this glad hour. 
 Brought back life currents to their place, 
 Gave back the woman to the race. 
 Though baffled, Satan will not yield, 
 While sense and passion are in the field. 
 The woman further must be tried. 
 To see if aught could turn aside, 
 Svrerve hair-breadth from the path of right. 
 Ralhed all senses, cunning might. 
 Hell's forces stood in dread array. 
 To ope the conflict on the coming day. 
 Lo ! in the night a council meets ; 
 Each with defeat the other greets. 
 So hell's plans are now all changed, 
 In other order now arranged. 
 Meanwhile in dreams and visions sweet, 
 Vesta saw all at her Lord's feet; 
 Restored to self, \n gratitude and praise. 
 Chanted and sang glad, happy lays. 
 Or, cradled on the All Mother's breast, 
 Rejoicing in the long sought rest — 
 As troubled children, lost and found ; 
 When once again they hear the sound, 
 The mother's voice. And all rejoice. 
 
 List, now she hears 
 
124 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Sweet murmuring music from afar, 
 Late land of conflict and of war. 
 This not the sound of joy that gains 
 A victory, the price of brother's pains. 
 This was the music brother's joy distills, 
 When peace another heart now thrills. 
 All tremulous with joy, near and more near ; 
 The voices comes till in her ear, 
 Soothing, caressing, fond and dear — 
 
 Distinct could hear, 
 The war is over. Take your rest. 
 As is your right ; who have so blest 
 
 Our Father's children. 
 Such victory only woman's love could win ; 
 O'er the dark realms of sense and sin. 
 Rest from your toil, with Christ enjoy 
 The gladness of the whole world's joy. 
 As echo through the forest softly roll. 
 This warbling music through the soul — 
 Sense held in this delicious calm. 
 Appears the outlines of a shadowy form ; 
 Grows more distinct to enraptured sight, 
 Shines with a beauteous radiant light, 
 Halo of glory crowned his head. 
 While in each hand, so tenderly now led ; 
 Cherubic vision of sweet youth. 
 Oh, lady fair, behold the truth, 
 
 You sought so earnestly. 
 This man a hero-god now seemed ; 
 Enveloped in a veil that screened 
 
 From curiosity. 
 Saw now the likeness of her lawyer friend, 
 
 Brutus his name. 
 
Satan's wooing. 125 
 
 In love's solicitude did o'er her bend, 
 
 Lit up new flame. 
 As now before her with him stood, 
 A wicked, unkempt, strange-looking brood 
 Of children ; gathered from the street 
 Of the great city, come to greet 
 The one had found the Mother God. 
 How little did these children seem 
 Like the sweet cherubs of her dream. 
 Sought of her Lord to know the mystery, 
 These were the spiritual bodies you did see, 
 
 Shews the glad possibility 
 Is hidden from the outward sight; 
 Seen only by thy faith's clear light. 
 
 Then was she glad, 
 
 Gave them a mother's care, as though each had 
 
 Been born of her. 
 Thus works 
 
 Kept time and step with faith. 
 
 While waves of happiness come and go, 
 
 Like dazzling pictures of a show, 
 
 Where each is thought to be the best; 
 
 Till artist finger paints the rest. 
 
 Fleshly walls no more a prison seemed ; 
 
 Only a veil the spirit screened. 
 
 Thus was the New Jerusalem come down, 
 
 Glad earth to crown. 
 Living a new Hfe for the race. 
 Came back the brightness to her face — 
 Came back the glowing to her eyes; 
 Was to mankind a glad surprise. 
 Being of strength and righteousness. 
 Diffusing joy and brightness, 
 Speaking with power. Oh, happy hour. 
 
126 
 
 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Sis. — I thought you was to tell us of something awful bad. 
 I am sure that's nothin'. 
 
 /'. — Well, I have a few pages here that describe the joy and 
 victory of overcoming self, but I can skip them. 
 
CANTO XVIII. 
 
 Now 'twas the time had fully come ; 
 (All other work was now well done), 
 For answering of Vesta's prayer. 
 Now Jesus did the furnace all prepare, 
 But when 'twas ready for her heart 
 From her, it seemed, he could not part. 
 Fain would he to her rescue come. 
 And ne'er again leave her alone. 
 Felt now as o'er Jerusalem he wept, 
 While on volcanic fires the people slept. 
 Fain would he reach out arms of love, 
 Take her at once to home above. 
 
 But he had promised, 
 And she had trusted to his word, 
 In all things to be Hke her Lord. 
 No ! He must leave her now alone, 
 Until her work was fully done. 
 Farewell, dear one, I'll come again, 
 With me you shall forever reign. 
 Came now a servant to our lady dear, 
 A maiden is awaiting here. 
 Seeing upon her form the scarlet brand. 
 When no wedding ring 's upon the hand ; 
 I bade be gone, nor seek to stain 
 This temple with her touch of shame. 
 
 Whereat she fell upon the steps. 
 Then kmdled was the woman's wrath; 
 Followed the servant down the path, 
 
 (127) 
 
128 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Where, on the steps, the outer gate, 
 
 A wretched maiden upright sate, 
 
 As though struck by a thunder-bolt ; 
 
 Her hfe had spent, her breath had choked. 
 
 Ah ! she was beautiful and fair — 
 
 Such silky tresses of golden hair ; 
 
 On which the rosy sunlight fell, 
 
 And on her face sad tale did tell. 
 
 With all a mother's tender love, 
 
 Vesta, with all her skill now strove; 
 
 Bring back the life it seemed had fled, 
 
 So like the dead, 
 In all her girlish beauty lay — 
 So like a lost child sat down to pray. 
 Nature, with cunning workmanship. 
 Formed this dear maiden for companionship. 
 Could no more stand alone than tender vine 
 Seeks for the oak, its arms to entwine. 
 Now with signs of returning life. 
 Came that dread agony of mortal strife, 
 When woman goes into the jaws of death ; 
 To give another being breath. 
 The great dread mystery of man's birth ; 
 The awful tragedy of this earth. 
 When Zion travails 'twas foretold 
 By the prophetic seers of old, 
 She should have victory o'er her foes. 
 So to the All-Parent Vesta brought the woes 
 Of this poor suffering child of pain. 
 Asked for her Hfe in the Son's name. 
 Now felt such joy her prayer was heard ; 
 While yearning love her bosom" stirred. 
 Now coming to the watchers spake : 
 
Satan's wooing. 129 
 
 Rejoice, now, for the maiden's sake, 
 
 For she shall live. 
 My Lord did now this assurance give, 
 Now came the last and final strife. 
 That e'en as Rachel's, cost a life. 
 Though not like her's, for this one gave 
 Her life for death ; for naught could save. 
 Such was the power of poison took, 
 When felt of God, and man forsook. 
 When Vesta saw that life was fled, 
 No doubt could be the maid was dead. 
 Those trusted promises had failed ; 
 Hell's force combined her soul assailed. 
 Despair, like lion, seized her heart. 
 Tore quivering nerves, tore flesh apart. 
 With one long-drawn, despairing cry, 
 Laid in the dust and begged to die. 
 What time laid thus, she never knew ; 
 Nor to the mystery saw any clew. 
 While she, contending with the hosts of hell, 
 Upon a pilgrim's wife the burden fell. 
 Preparing the corpse for burial. 
 Who, in heathen ignorance of the crime. 
 This maiden's life the forfeit paid. 
 In beauteous garb with pearls did shine ; 
 In virgin white the lovely form arrayed. 
 Helped by a serving woman kind — 
 Death, common bond, of all mankind. 
 Princess and peasant together wrought, 
 Each one's religious rite now brought. 
 The Crescent and the Cross, in harmony, 
 Now worked together lovingly. 
 The fight began in Abraham's tent, 
 
130 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 When Hagar to the wilderness was sent, 
 Was hushed in silence, o'er this clay. 
 Some promise of a coming day, 
 When woman's love should still earth's strife, 
 And death, be swallowed up in life. 
 Meanwhile a man stole in the room ; 
 Enveloped in the deepest gloom. 
 A noble man of generous look, 
 Seemed now of hope and faith, forsook. 
 As wrought these women at their task, 
 Made of the window shades a mask, 
 
 His form to conceal. 
 But when they brought the lovely child, 
 Haggard his look, frantic and wild. 
 He took a powder from his vest. 
 Trembling his limbs, heaving his chest — 
 Took now this portion, sure to end 
 His life; soul, to eternity send. 
 *' Faith, now 'tis like the holy child ;" ■ 
 Spake now the serving woman mild. 
 " And she the Blessed Virgin bless." 
 Thus they the lovely babe did dress ; 
 And laid it on its mother's breast ; 
 In hopes of an eternal rest. 
 " Sure, some one's stole her wedding ring," 
 The weeping woman fondly said, 
 As her own crucifix she'd bring. 
 And on her bosom fondly laid. 
 Sure, this must blot out all the stain. 
 If any such should still remain. 
 Sprinkled with holy water, what was left ; 
 When body of the soul's bereft. 
 
 Alone with the dead. 
 
Satan's wooing. 131 
 
 Upon the corpse, the stranger laid his head. 
 
 Took from his vest a paper roll, 
 
 Wrote out a little scrawl. 
 
 And when the serving maid returned, 
 
 To trim the candles as they burned 
 
 Beside the babe ; now lifeless clay — 
 
 The father lay. 
 The woman took the paper from his hand, 
 Its meaning could not understand. 
 Vesta was now aroused as from a dream, 
 So strange, bewildering did seem. 
 And on her shoulder a policeman laid 
 His hand. I take you prisoner, he said. 
 This was the sight that Vesta saw, 
 Dragged by the officer of the law 
 To where death's victims now were lain ; 
 Each had by poison, here been slain. 
 
 The officer now spoke — 
 What means this murder here revealed. 
 You have tried so hard to keep concealed. 
 
 Answer for justice sake. 
 Let this triple murder be explained. 
 Stupid with wonder, she exclaimed — 
 
 I know no more than you. 
 The officer said, this can't be true. 
 As on these victims she did look, 
 Her frame with mortal anguish shook, 
 To see this father, mother, child. 
 And with low, cry, despairing wild — 
 As the truth upon her mind did flash ; 
 Fell to the earth, in helpless crash. 
 When reason 'gain come to its throne, 
 She was in prison all alone. 
 
132 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Darkness reigned without; within, 
 Alone, she struggled with the hosts of sin. 
 Her former friends now her denied ; 
 Cried, as of old : Let her be crucified. 
 Now, when before the judge was brought, 
 
 She trusting thought- 
 Surely her former lawyer friend. 
 
 Would her defend. 
 But when the indictment was now brought 
 It was the work that Brutus wrought. 
 With a low cry of pain ; now fell 
 To earth. Her soul in hell. 
 And what she saw, what there befell; 
 Her palsied tongue refused to tell. 
 Such horror, can no more fit speech. 
 Than mortals to the skies can reach. 
 When back to sense's realm she came. 
 Of her friend Brutus, they told great shame. 
 And brought a paper she should sign, 
 'Twould prove him guilty of a crime. 
 When Vesta had the paper read ; 
 To his accusers, thus she said — 
 The truth is not, as this doth seem. 
 He is not base, cruel, and mean. 
 And sure his friends should not assail 
 The faults, he doth truly bewail. 
 
 Spake the witnesses- 
 See how he tries to ruin you, 
 Like as a blood-hound doth pursue 
 
 You, to your death. 
 It must be, that he thinks it duty sure. 
 For he is god-like, noble, pure. 
 Sooner than blot, on his fair name, 
 
Satan's wooing. 133 
 
 I'll suffer this eternal shame. 
 
 Saying which, the paper in her hand she took, 
 
 While sad, but strongest purpose shook. 
 
 With manacled hands, tore it in shreds — 
 
 As one, who some discovery dreads. 
 
 Though Brutus slay me, yet will I trust in him. 
 
 " Gone^ stark mad'' — they left her to her fate; 
 
 Felt all their help was now too late. 
 
 Now, when unto the courtroom brought, 
 
 'Twas only of the Lord she thought. 
 
 These men were instruments of his will ; 
 
 In all her pain she trusted still. 
 
 When her accusers waxed so eloquent 
 
 Brought forth, the facts did seem so potent 
 
 To prove abortion, and murder too — 
 
 Declared that hanging was her due ; 
 
 It' was no more to her than 'twere to souls, 
 
 In Dante's dread Inferno rolls. 
 
 What other torture could there be 
 
 For one forsook by such as He, 
 
 The Lord she loved ? 
 
 Now 'twas that Brutus' wrath waxed hot. 
 
 His former friendship was forgot ; 
 
 The secret learned when was her friend 
 
 With all the other proofs did blend — 
 
 Cried out vehemently. 
 
 In that vile den, called holy shrine, 
 
 Lured pilgrims from every land and clime ; 
 
 This sorceress, falsely called Queen, 
 
 Angel of light did surely seem ; 
 
 Using her arts to destroy the young, 
 
 Sent to the grave, unwept, unsung. 
 
 But justice now has found her out, 
 
134 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Guilty she is without a doubt. 
 
 " Prisoner, stand up," the judge now spake, 
 
 '• Have you any plea to make ? 
 
 What say you to the sentence of the law ? " 
 
 Strained now her eyes, as though the invisable saw. 
 
 She could not rise, but upright sate, 
 
 No word to save her from this fate ; 
 
 Good Friday execution day was set. 
 
 All mocked ; only the scarlet women met, 
 
 To weep for her. 
 Meanwhile hell other council called. 
 While angels still looked on, appalled — 
 Marveling always what this could mean, 
 So cruel of her Lord, did seem. 
 Spake Beelzebub, arch-fiend of sense 
 (Mephisto showed mock reverence), 
 This is not one through heart, to win 
 Into the luring bait of sin. 
 'Tis through conscience must be won 
 Her present loves, here to disown. 
 There is a holy father on our ground : 
 Some way to blind him must be found. 
 
 Alone in darkest cell sweet Vesta sate, 
 Nor had she slept, though 'twas so late. 
 The sound of hammer told her fate. 
 Struck her nerves as torture dire, 
 Flowed now her blood as frozen fire 
 
 Through all her veins — 
 None to regard or soothe her pains. 
 Waiting in pain lay on the floor. 
 As opened now the prison door ; 
 
Satan's wooing. 135 
 
 A welcome light in this dark place, 
 Showed now the holy father's face. 
 With joy, as one a lover greets, 
 Did she her old confessor meet, 
 
 Spake thus : 
 " The holy church sends me to save 
 Her erring child from cruel grave. 
 Believe her creed, as in the past, 
 And all your sorrows end at last 
 
 In sweet repose." 
 It was an awful moment this — 
 Peace, safety, and eternal bliss. 
 
 In place these woes. 
 Only one moment wrestled with the tempting bait ; 
 For now she thought of all the brother's hate, 
 Engendered by the use of creeds — 
 Can ne'er supply the soul's deep needs. 
 But turning to the holy father said — 
 May I not have one crumb of bread — 
 The cup contains the blood He shed ? 
 Shook now his frame; tears in his eyes — 
 (Oh what a spectacle for the skies). 
 While human pity throbbed his heart. 
 Gladly would he give her a part, 
 
 The Holy Sacrament. 
 Alas ! my child, the Church gives only those 
 Believes her creed, her doctrine knows. 
 Held out his hand, which Vesta took ; 
 Washed with her tears, while grateful look. 
 Of reverent worship Ht her face — 
 Hallowed and glorified the place. 
 Fast fell his tears, upon her stricken head, 
 As these two hearts together bled — 
 
136 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Gave courage to the friends of man ; 
 
 Broken was bigotry's chain. 
 
 For as a ray of light from heaven's throne, 
 
 Fell on those tears, around them shone, 
 
 A light made jewel of each tear, 
 
 Set in a crown earth's children wear. 
 
 Now as the jailor came to prepare. 
 
 The execution scene, no one was there. 
 
 But as the girdle he arranged. 
 
 The knife was in her left side plunged. 
 
 Not straight, diagonally near the heart, 
 
 The touch so slight, ne'er felt the smart. 
 
 Good Friday, dawned a day of death. 
 
 Palsied her form, stifled her breath. 
 
 As first the gallows, she now saw ; 
 
 Grim executioner of the law. 
 
 But now with joy, the cross she spied — 
 
 In fervent praise to heaven she cried. 
 
 'Twas by the gallows platform placed. 
 
 So kneeling down, her arms now traced 
 
 The cross-beams — her pale face, 
 
 Pressed now against its splintered sides. 
 
 And in a low despairing cry — 
 
 Seemed it must reach the throne on high ; 
 
 Angels in wonder, looking on — 
 
 Men's hearts as hard as flinty stone, 
 
 Exclaimed with those stricken as she — 
 
 My God ! My God ! Why hast forsaken me ? 
 
 A low strong voice, heard near her side ; 
 
 Spake manly pride — 
 " No love, I've not forsaken thee; 
 All 's ready, darling, come to me — 
 My ships, my trusted men are here; 
 
Satan's wooing. 137 
 
 See, as before, thy great deliverer ! " 
 Thrilling with joy, she opened her eyes ; 
 Like Grecian god come from the skies— 
 
 So King Alpasha stood ! 
 To save her from this fate had come, 
 To place her on a lawful throne. 
 
 As once had wooed. 
 From hateful death of criminal vile ; 
 From this dreadful funeral pile ; 
 What born of flesh could help but flee- 
 To Love, Light, Life, and Liberty. 
 It was an awful moment for the race, 
 With intense interest watched her face — 
 
 Three worlds ! 
 Oh ! she was of the spirit born ; 
 And on this glorious tragic morn, 
 Won back the prize that Eve had lost- 
 Won, though it was at fearful cost. 
 Closed eyes of flesh, she looked to heaven, 
 Soul, with unutterable anguish riven- 
 Clung to the cross, with firmer hold. 
 As lo the Hstening worlds she told ;— 
 
 " I can't do wrong! " 
 InfallibiHty ! ! 
 Strength for the weak, victory for strong. 
 For earth what possibility. 
 But the heart, in its wild throb- 
 Determined efforts to be free- 
 Beat with such force against the artery, 
 Lies near as rent in twain, 
 
 She's calm again. 
 For through the cut, the jailor's knife 
 
 Spirited the life-blood out. 
 
138 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Another victim now she saw, 
 
 Came here, to pay the penalty of the law. 
 
 This man, a brother's blood had shed, 
 
 In passion dread. 
 
 By his side the holy father walked. 
 
 With holy sacrament he had brought 
 
 Unction, with sacramental bread. 
 
 With love to crown his shaven head. 
 
 Now, as the murderer took the cup. 
 
 Looking up — 
 Saw how the dying woman's longing eyes 
 W^ere fixed on this symbolic sacrifice. 
 Exclaimed, while pity filled his soul; 
 Pray take, and this shall make thee whole. 
 As held the cup in blood stained hands, 
 Vesta in frozen horror stands. 
 For in that awful moment had took in. 
 Blood shed o'er earth, through brother's sin. 
 Another cry of dread despair, 
 Rang out, upon the morning air. 
 He held the glass before his face. 
 She saw him not, but through the blood 
 
 Shed for the race 
 Before her, not the slayer, but the Saviour stood. 
 Joyful she took, and thankful drank, 
 No more from sinful brother shrank. 
 The All- Mother now besought the Son — 
 Go to the rescue of the stricken one. 
 
 Spake He. 
 Has she not often prayed to Me ? 
 Give her my cup ; let share my cross. 
 Counting earth's prizes as but dross. 
 Shall I rob aught, her well earned prize. 
 
SATAN'S WOOING. 139 
 
 The power to help earth's sons to rise 
 From out the slough of earth's despond- 
 So purer faith may now be found ? 
 She has shown faith to trust the unseen, 
 E'en though in garb of vile and mean. 
 Can she hold out unto the end, 
 Save her betrayer— friend ? 
 'Twas now men saw with great amaze 
 Vesta 'pon Brutus turned her face, 
 Surged through her heart pity divine ; 
 While from the lawyers' damning crime 
 Was born twin angels, faith and love ; 
 Sat on her now, sweet heavenly doves. 
 Gave him the cup, with pathos said, 
 " This blood our Elder Brother shed. 
 Shall full atonement make for sin. 
 Everlasting righteousness bring in." 
 Now heaven's Hght did on him shine- 
 He saw the woman all divine. 
 Standing in presence of the throng, 
 Proclaimed her innocence, told all the wrong. 
 The dead mans letter now did read. 
 Alpasha, giving earnest heed- 
 Drew now his sword. 
 
 With all-scathing word : 
 " Vile wretch, betrayer of thy friend, 
 To hell your worthless soul I'll send ! " 
 As Vesta saw, with one hand on the cross, 
 With other drew the betrayer to the side 
 From Mpasha's swinging sword to hide. 
 Mahomedan steel fell from his nerveless hand ; 
 Sword, bare the crescent through all lands— 
 A trophy of the cross ! 
 
140 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 Justice must yield to love, he said, 
 
 In lowly reverence bowed his head. 
 
 The watching angels shouted now for joy, 
 
 The tested gold had no alloy. 
 
 Jesus with rapturous love exclaimed — 
 
 (Spell-bound the people stood ashamed) 
 
 " Worthy is she, my chosen Bride, 
 
 To have a seat by my right side." 
 
 And 'fore the consecrated cross there fell 
 
 The men had fought on side of hell. 
 
 Now in the spirit saw they heaven's King! 
 
 Coming in power, his Bride to bring 
 
 Unto the wedding feast alone — 
 
 The banner in his hand was love. 
 
 And on his brow the triple-crown. 
 
 As Vesta saw her Lord, so long been gone. 
 
 Thrilled every nerve with welcome sweet; 
 
 But thought first of the sinner at her feet. 
 
 " Oh save him, Jesus, save him for my sake ! " 
 
 These were the greeting words she spake. 
 
 While men in wonder stood around — 
 
 Awe-stricken fear, fell to the ground. 
 
 " It is enough," the Master said — 
 
 With matchless grace placed on her head. 
 
 Took from his brow the triple-crown ; 
 
 Standing in presense heaven's throng. 
 
 Declared her right upon the throne. 
 For greater was her love, than mine, 
 Shewed her the man behind the crime. 
 The bread to my betrayer given. 
 
 Sent him to death — 
 Her's sent to Hfe and heaven. 
 Because with woman's faith she gave 
 
Satan's wooing. 141 
 
 It was love's sacrament to save. 
 
 These are the greater works I promised you, 
 
 Believers in my name should shew. 
 
 Now clouds of sense were gathered o'er, 
 
 They saw with spirit sight no more. 
 
 But with a thrill of wondrous glow, 
 
 As sparks from dying embers show ; 
 
 Went out the spark of Vesta's life, 
 
 Gave up the last of sense's strife. 
 
 So on a wave of joy she crossed 
 
 The river of life that men call death; 
 
 So many here are tempest-tossed, 
 
 ^Vhile struggles hard this life for breath. 
 
 But here, as fades the light of day, 
 
 Sweetly her breath took leave its clay. 
 
 Now as the bridegroom's friend, Alpasha said : 
 
 I claifn the first kiss from the dead. 
 
 So as she's gone to live in heaven, 
 
 This clay to Mohammedans is given. 
 
 The Holy Sepulchre she now shall share, 
 
 As she the triple crown doth wear. 
 
 He bore her form unto the ship. 
 
 Was waiting at the harbor slip. 
 
 Now weeping women standing on the shore, 
 
 Begged for a token ; they would ^see no more. 
 
 To these Alpasha gave the heart. 
 
 So that each world should share a i^art, 
 
 That body broken thus for men — 
 
 All through her Christ-like love of them ; 
 
 Sure pledge all hate shall be dethroned. 
 
 With Arabian spices now embalmed, 
 
 Was wafted towards the rising sun ; 
 
 Sign the New Dispensation was begun. 
 
142 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 In this Dispensation pure and sweet, 
 All men as brothers do each other greet. 
 And all reHgions drawn together meet 
 Around one common mercy seat. 
 Jesus, the Prophet, Saviour, King — 
 All tribes and nations gladly sing. 
 Vesta, the Priestess, Mother, Friend — 
 A helping hand to all doth lend. 
 He of the East, She of the West, 
 Uniting what in each is best. 
 Now sailing for the Eastern World. 
 Earth saw a banner new unfurled — 
 
 Sis. — Well, now, these verses beat all I ever seen. You 
 can't, for the life on ye, tell when one's alive or dead. 1 
 don't know whether that woman's dead or not. 
 
 Z. — It is evident, the Poet don't beHeve in death. Like 
 nature, the Poet knows nothing but change of form. Life is 
 immortal. Injury to its outward organism may cause it to 
 leave that form, but life cannot ^/ie. It goes to take new form 
 as it leaves the old. 
 
 6". — These verses would be well enough, if they were only 
 true. But what substance is there in a picture ? What is 
 there to build on ? 
 
 Z. — What is nature's phenomena but a panorama which 
 dissolves and changes even as one beholds it ? 
 
 ZT. — Our friend thinks this would be all right if real. Now 
 can I assure him, that instead of in any wise being an exagger- 
 ation of truth, it gives but a faint idea of the truth of woman's 
 love, donation and sacrifice for the son of man. And who can 
 tell the number of those, have died clinging to the cross ? 
 The nature of love is self-giving. 
 
 S. — Well, it looks as though the woman was more anxious 
 about her enemies than friends. The only reward Alpasha 
 
SATAN'S WOOING. 143 
 
 got for his love and help, was a chance to kiss her after she 
 was dead, while her betrayer was the object of very tender 
 soHcitude and devotion. 
 
 Z.— A striking proof of the truth of the theory of the at- 
 tractive power of love, being greatest, as the ratio of distance 
 increases. Besides such love as his, is its own reward. No 
 man should want pay for loving such as she. 
 
CANTO XIX. 
 
 P. — Hark ! the glad symphony — Shouts of great victory 
 Hail the world's jubilee — Hail Immortality. 
 Hallelujah, 't is done. God and Man are now One ; 
 
 Dear Father and Son — 
 Faith conquers sight. Ends here the night. 
 Shines now the Hght. Reigns now the right. 
 Sis. — We don't want no more of that 'till you git some 
 music fit for it. 
 
 p, — Now in the Free Republic of the West 
 See the fair likeness John saw first — 
 Clothed with the sun — Light, Education, 
 Moon under feet. Darkness, Ignorance. 
 A crown of stars. The starry flag — 
 Tri-colored robe. Red, White and Blue — 
 Liberty. Equality. Fraternity. 
 Faith. Hope. Charity. 
 In this fair land see the home temple rise, 
 Where daily incense wafted to the skies — 
 Is loving ministry to the child. 
 Emanuel, God with us, shall prove 
 The wisdom of creating love. 
 O'er every cradle hear the angels sing ; 
 While earth her choicest gifts doth bring. 
 Oh happy day of human birth — 
 
 Heaven greeting earth. 
 Unto you a child is born ; a son is given ; 
 Clothed with the dust, but heir of heaven. 
 
 (144) 
 
Satan's wooing. 14.") 
 
 In every coffin, weeping love two angels spies ; 
 
 In shining garments pointing to the skies. 
 
 Chanting in joyous, nappy strain, 
 
 He is not here, he's risen — lives again; 
 
 Nature's glad resurrection psalm. 
 Now as I, the Poet, did hear the echo of this new glad song, 
 I saw the Lord, and his Bride did come to the Enchanted 
 Isles ; and he did breathe upon the dry bones had lain there 
 for centuries. And lo ! they did stand up a mighty people. 
 
 Now when the Sirene Queen did hear their shouts of joy 
 that they were men again, a mortal chill did seize upon her, 
 and she fell to the earth as one dead. 
 
 Then did the Son and his Bride restore her to life, and 
 when they did throw the true light upon her, her voice was 
 restored. So doth she now sing the old songs of enchantment 
 sweeter than before. But when she lures men to her side, she 
 doth mfike them gods instead of swine. 
 
 And I saw that wherever the Lord and his Bride went, 
 did death and hell give up their dead. And all the people 
 were saved from their sins. 
 
 For it came to pass as soon as one was saved, at once did 
 join the order of the Luminous Key, like that the Bride did 
 wear, and on the band of the Triple Crown each did wear in 
 iionor of the one the Lord did take from his brow and put 
 upon the head of his Bride were the letters in shining Hght : 
 A. C. H. The Equator did 'circle the whole band. Now was 
 this a secret society in that none but God knew who did be- 
 long to it. It had no outward form, but did exist under every 
 form, concealed was this circle in every heart. And when 
 the light of the Luminous Key did fall upon it, men could 
 see it. 
 
 Now it was that the seed the Son and his Bride had put into 
 the heart of Science had sprang up a new life. So that again 
 they come to where the friends were and did beckon them to 
 
146 BEHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 follow them. And I saw as the Bride did wave her left hand 
 to the friends, it had on the forefinger the wedding ring of 
 seven diamonds. And the Hght fell bright upon the friends. 
 
 H. — Surely, the light and union is what Socrates told the 
 world would certainly come. The blending of all religion in 
 living glory. It is also the fulfilling the law of Moses — love. 
 The light of Confucius shows that the father and mother of 
 the flesh (ancestors) are in the present world, 
 
 S. — Well, my friends, since this is something experimental 
 within reach of all — 
 
 Sis. — I should say so, if it has come to that ; the right hand 
 is an angel, and the left hand another. And anybody that 
 can put their hands together can pray for the salvation of the 
 world. Who can't do that, 'cept their hands are gone ? 
 
 W. — The heart will answer every purpose in that case. 
 
 S. — Well, as 1 was going to remark, the subjects treated 
 here are practical, embraced in the inductive plan. I would 
 like to know how I can know God. 
 
 P. — By knowing Man, What is Man ? A Trinity of Life, 
 Will, Form. What is God ? A Trinity of Life, Will, Form. 
 The difference is one of degree. As the life germ contains all 
 the vital possibilities of the full grown man (although no dif- 
 ference can be seen between this and the plant or animal), so 
 doth the being of man contain all the vital possibilities of 
 God — the one the First Cause, the other the Ultimate Cause 
 of all things. 
 
 Sis. — I never knowed God had form before. 
 
 5. — If He lacked Form, he could not be Infinite, because 
 the lowest development of Hfe hath form. 
 
 P. — As I see God, it is as Man multiplied to Infinity. Each 
 of the bioplasts counting billions in the body of man, answers 
 to the billions of souls, have Hved on this earth, living active 
 beings in the body of God. The planets are the corpuscles 
 
SATAN'S WOOING. 147 
 
 of his blood. The sun, his breath. The material world, the 
 result of his thought. The living world, atoms from his 
 Infinite Being. Life is his breath. Beauty, his form. Sound, 
 his noise. Music, his song. Prayer, his delight. 
 
 Sis. — I don't see the good that prayer does to God. It is 
 for us, not Him, that prayer is. 
 
 P. — It is also His delight, because it brings Him into sweet 
 union with His offspring. Only in Man can God be seen in 
 his entire Being. And here only in the germ. All else are 
 but parts of the Infinite One. 
 
 ^V^, — Pray, tell us what them three letters L. — L. — G. 
 mean, at the beginning of yon picture. 
 
 /-». — Law — Life — God. The Law is the means by which 
 Life is generated. God is love, the reason why Life exists. 
 
 r' 
 
CANTO XX. 
 
 Now I saw that again Religion did enter the circle, and 
 hold out her hands to Science, as at the first. Again did 
 Science hesitate, and seemed aft-aid to take her offered hands. 
 But when Sis. did give him such a look of hopeless sorrow — 
 the pathos of childish fear, mingled with woman's despair, it 
 did so touch his heart that he did now put his right hand into 
 her left, while Religion did put her right hand into his left. 
 Thus was now made an immovable foundation for the world's 
 faith, hope and knowledge. 
 
 For a season the friends were in the same state of mind as 
 the two disciples that were with Jesus on the mount. And 
 in the new light that shone upon these persons they became 
 transfigured, and to the joy and surprise of themselves and 
 their freinds, — Tom and Eva were disclosed to each other. 
 
 It was the moment of all time, for this blighted, darkened, 
 struggling, suftering race. God revealed in the form of man 
 and woman — the man holding the key of all Knowledge and 
 Wisdom, the woman of all Virtue and Love. 
 
 And these two were one ; — bone of one Ijone, tlesh of one 
 flesh, spirit of one spirit. 
 
 Sis was the first of the number that could speak, the rest 
 were in a world where speech has given place to a more perfect, 
 though subtle means of intercommunion. She was in very 
 good humor with Science, because she felt that he had taken 
 the hands of Religion to please her, so she smiled as she said : 
 
 " Well, if you had knowed who 'twas you wouldn't been 
 quite so crankey 'bout taken hold on her, when she come to 
 us first." , 
 
 • (148) 
 
Satan's wooing. 149 
 
 It was enough for Science, or Tom, that he had got Re- 
 Hgion or Eva (" what's in a name "), and he made no reply to 
 Sis' raillery. While all the rest were so enraptured at the 
 thought of the new possibilities for the race, this disclosure 
 had opened up to them, they could only wonder and adore 
 in silence. For they could now see man as the inheritor of 
 all things. The universe was his, while the old distinction be- 
 tween matter and spirit, soul and body, were more clearly de- 
 fined and strongly marked than ever. The location of each 
 was entirely changed. 
 
 The material can not exist without the immaterial, for it is 
 the life of it. And nothing exists without life. And nothing 
 exists without place. 
 
 While the friends were so enjoying themselves and all crea- 
 tion, I, the Poet, did try to gather up and condense the result 
 of all their pictures and discussion. 
 
 It looked to me as though the universe were a trinity of 
 spirit, substance, space, as Tom said at first. 1 called it S. S. S. 
 Then it was I saw what Eva did ; that only through sin could 
 sinners be saved from sin. For there could be no such thing 
 as hoHness without sin. Sin being the transgression of a 
 higher law in honor of a lower one. So I put sin saves sin- 
 ners right under spirit substance space, and bound the double 
 S. S.'s together with a chain called experiment or induction, 
 and let the people, by aid of this key, make out life's problems. 
 
 To confess the truth, I was tired of discussion and study. I 
 wanted to enjoy Tom and Eva. He was asking a question, 
 and 1 thought more of hearing the answer than anything else, 
 because her action in leaving him just as he had married her 
 had been the great puzzle of their history. 
 
 Being still in the flesh, and not having any lost aim through 
 which she could talk to me, I could not understand her 
 language. Ikit I saw how his face lit up ; and when she had 
 
150 RKHOLD THE WOMAN. 
 
 done speaking he clasj)e(i her to his heart (you can see people 
 even when you can't understand their language), exclaiming: 
 " And so througli all time and eternity I will have a Virgin 
 Bride." 
 
 Poetry and Law did clasp hands, as Science and Religion 
 had done. But when Wisdom offered hers to Sis., she drew 
 back, saying : 
 
 " No, friends ; 't aint no use. I've did what 1 could for 
 the world, but my day is past. In the New Light of the 
 present I should look ugly and disagreeable. If I was cro:>s 
 and selfish when I first came here, 'twas 'cause I thouglit you 
 was trien to git the blessed Jesus 'way from me. But I do 
 declare you gi'n him better and better every day to me. 
 
 Once he seemed to me like a great king, pitied me like a 
 shot bird, or a crushed worm. Now he is my own big 
 brother. 1 know he'll never let anything hurt me. He'll 
 always take care of his own little Sissy. That's enougli 
 for me." 
 
 Now as she sjiake thus, I saw the hght of the Hrjde fall 
 upon her. 
 
 Lo ! now did the wrinkles transform themselves into lines 
 of ineffable Beauty. Out of this transfigured form shone the 
 sweet childish face of her men had so despised and called 
 Ignorance. 
 
 And it came to pass as she receded from her old friends, 
 she threw to each a kiss, which each returned, while Wisdom 
 exclaimed — 
 
 " Bless the sweet cherub. Why surely there never could 
 have been such a thing as moral virtue, Divine, Man and 
 Womanhood, without her " (S. S. S.). 
 
 Now, so delighted was Science with his long, lost bride, 
 thus truly his forever, that he gave the children of men a 
 glass upon which could be photographed the invisible Body, 
 Faith had so lung believed in. l-ooking into this glass was 
 
Satan's wooing. 151 
 
 seen the invisable world that is covered by the outer. Com- 
 posed of the same atoms, (as Spirit, Substance, Space). The 
 invisible life was to this, what the light is to the lump of coal 
 in which it is imprisoned till freed by combustion. I saw as 
 the hght of the Bride fell upon this glass, that Doubt and 
 Despair — the devils — had been Tom's companions since his 
 youth, receded into the darkness of the past, and were seen 
 no more. 
 
 Born of the night, they dissolved in the light of the New 
 Day ; henceforth to live only in the glorified consciousness 
 of their old time victims. 
 
 Now did the glory of God and Man so fill the whole world, 
 that in its light I saw their bodies as a transparent veil for the 
 inner being. And I saw all birds, animals and fishes, as the 
 Truth and Law incarnated in Life and Form. And all 
 phenomena as the law and will of the Supreme One, whereof 
 each seperate one was a part. 
 
 Manifest to our senses as Creator, Preserver and Destroyer ; 
 to our minds as Law, Justice and Trutli ; to our souls as 
 Righteousness, Purity and Love; to our hearts as Father, 
 Mother, Son. 
 
 And now could man truly enter upon and into his rightful 
 inheritance as the supreme force in Nature. This watery veil 
 called body looked like the vapor out of which the rainbow 
 IS formed, the nebula out of which new marvels are continually 
 created. 
 
 And I heard the music of the spheres, the songs of the blest. 
 And they chanted and sang, while all the inhabitants of the 
 Glorified Earth joined in the chorus : 
 
 Glory to God in the highest! Glory to Man in the lowest ! 
 Almighty Father ! All Conquering Son ! 
 
 All Loving Mother of AH Beautiful Daughter of 
 
 MAN. I C'OD. 
 
THE WORKING PEOPLE. 
 
 To the Pastors of the Churches in Milwaukee and Bay View. 
 
 Rev. Fathers and Brothers: 
 
 We come seeking your help in a nuiUer of vital interest to 
 all. We entreat you, that you look not upon our request for 
 special prayers as Mr. Tyndal's request was received. We 
 believe that his request was made in the interest of a more 
 certain knowledge, something that could be known of the laws 
 that govern the most important and vital function of soul- 
 growth and Christian work. There seems to be a great lack 
 here. The promises that we are asked to beHeve in seem too 
 much like the old currency, that was a promise to pay at no- 
 where and no time. A striking example of the confusion and 
 uncertainty that reigns here was shown in the prayers for 
 (larfield. As this old fiat money has been wisely displaced by 
 a foundation of solid gold, so we desire to see the promises laid 
 down in the Holy Bible brought into the realm of law, that 
 we may obey, and thus reap the benefit. For we cannot but 
 see that the gulf between the working people and the Chris- 
 tian church is growing wider and wider. Things are rapidly 
 tending to the same condition as Dickens and Gough found in 
 London. As they went among the poorer classes, the one for 
 material for his books, the other for his lectures, they found 
 that religion had come to be looked upon as an ornament for 
 the rich, with which they had nothing to do. Deeply do we 
 deplore this, for we fully believe that any real good to us as 
 
 (L'^2) 
 
THE WORKING PEOPT.K. 153 
 
 men and women, or as working people, must come on the lines 
 of light and truth, pointed out by our Brother, the Carpenter 
 of Nazareth. We are told that He has left this work, and 
 makes known His will to you. So it is that we come to tell 
 you our needs and seek help to lift us out of the mire and dust 
 of our daily toil, into the pure Hght of truth and beauty. 
 Many of us are compelled to work so hard that we be more 
 like beasts of burden than like Sons and Daughters of a King. 
 Perhaps this hard life makes the clear light of faith, that shines 
 upon you, impossible to us. We need something that is real 
 and certain that can be depended upon every time. Now if 
 prayer is such a power, we want to know it. It must be 
 capable of proof. We know that through the laws of sound, 
 the power concealed in the belfry of one of your churches 
 may affect the air of the city, and by this means reach every 
 ear. Now what we want to know is, if there be a law cor- 
 respondm'g to this, by which, in the circles of prayer inside the 
 churches, your people can draw from the heart and life of 
 God, and send new life out to reach our hearts, and affect our 
 minds as the sound of your bells does our ears ? 
 
 We know that thought is electric force, and you say it is 
 spiritual as well. We know that electric force is as capable of 
 transmission as sound. Now we ask if you may not send out 
 your thoughts to us, freighted with the truth of God, laden 
 with the feehng of love and hope that you enjoy ? Your 
 creeds we poorly understand, but that ignorance does not pre- 
 vent our ears from hearing your bells, need it keep our hearts 
 from feeling your love, our souls from feeling your life? In 
 the interests of Man, we beg a practical test, that we may find 
 the law of prayer. Will you, and your people, at the hour of 
 morning devotion, Catholics at the morning mass, at 2 o'clock 
 p. M., at 8:30 P. M., concentrate your thoughts upon God, and 
 the i>reat mass of outsiders who have not your light, that thus 
 
154 THE WORKING PEOPLE. 
 
 you may become the medium through which our Father can 
 reach the hearts of His children, and do them good. 
 
 If prayer is as sure as the forces of attraction and repulsion, 
 the thought of God and Heaven would be borne to ihe toiling 
 mother as she bends to her daily task, it would come to the 
 child in the school, louder than the din of machinery will the 
 voice of God be heard in the workshops and marts of trade. 
 Then would the empty seats in your churches soon be filled, 
 and your hearts made glad by the cry, " the dead's alive, the 
 lost is found." We entreat and implore that you consider our 
 request, pray over it and grant it for Christ's sake. 
 
 WORKING PEOPLE. 
 
THE WORKING PEOPLE'S PRAYER TEST. 
 
 The words of '' Luca " in the Herald have the ring of the 
 true metal. They show an honest desire to find the truth shall 
 unite the people as brothers in a common good for all men. 
 But we trust our new found friend will not '' go back on us " 
 because we say "thought is electric force." We live at the 
 bottom of things, and dig at stern realities. In our " off-spells " 
 of work we stud> the problems of life in books and people. We 
 take the facts we thus glean back to the furnaces, and in our 
 hearts and brains they are puddled and baked over, heated and 
 reheated till they have a new appearance. 
 
 All that is not essential to the truth, all the errors have 
 gathered around it, we try to let go out of it, as the sweat takes 
 off the effete particles from our systems. Now when we find 
 that - every thought, every feeling, has its definite mechanical 
 correlative," etc., the materialists tell us these facts prove their 
 position. We dump them all together in the hot fires of ex- 
 perience, work them over and over. And thus we find that 
 they do certainly prove the first postulate of rehgion. So do 
 these facts bring us face to face with an Omni-present God, 
 manifest in every atom. They do also show us a law by which 
 a man's feelings for his " best girl," his sorrow for sin; his faith 
 and worship can be gauged-tested and used as certainly as any 
 other force in Nature. 
 
 Endowed with this power, we feel ourselves masters of the 
 situation. So do we now gladly come on to the platform 
 " Luca " invites us on, to test this" power as it is manifest in 
 prayer. We take God for our Father, Man for our brother. 
 
 (155) 
 
156 THE WORKING PEOPLE'S PRAYER TEST. 
 
 First we find a life force that takes the food we eat, bread and 
 water, etc., and converts it into a Hving body capable of 
 thought and feeling. The Catholic Church embodies and 
 celebrates this great mystery with all its higher meanings in the 
 service of the Mass. Now suppose that at morning Mass, as 
 Father Fagan pronounces the words that crystalizes and re- 
 veals this great fact — the transformation of common material 
 things into the divine — bread transformed into a living Christ 
 offered to every person in Bay View. Supj^ose that in the 
 supreme moment of consecration as the words '' this is my 
 body " go out on the morning air, the thought of each wor- 
 shipper should take it as the air takes the sound of the bell 
 and bear it to the mills and homes. Would not the people be 
 thus led up from the groaser, earthy fact of their lives to its 
 higher meaning in Divine Sonship ? AVould not the Catholic 
 Church thus "get her reward for her faithfulness in holding on 
 to this truth through all the darkness of the past? Try it, 
 friends ; try it. 
 
 Another great law is that of the stronger force overcoming 
 the weaker. Is not the God in men the strongest element of 
 life ? There be many in Bay View who fully believe it is. 
 Some of these unite together, concentrate their thought upon 
 those who have need to grow into the knowledge of their Son- 
 ship with Christ. At 2 o'clock p. m. they make special effort 
 to draw from the life of God the power that shall open the 
 eyes of all such, that they may have will to come to the light. 
 " Tuca" plainly shows, quoting from Christ, that the fault is 
 in the will. But of all the people who willed to take that 
 " fatal train," how many would have so willed had they known 
 what is now known ? So it is certain that could all men 
 know sin as some know it, the will would lead them from it. 
 Could they all see Christ as some see him, he would, as he 
 says. " draw the hearts of all men" to their Father and 
 
THE WORKING PEOPLE'S PRAYER TEST. 157 
 
 Brother. To the certain force thus brought to bear upon 
 them through the medium of prayer, there be plenty of Kving 
 witnesses in the mills and homes of Bay View. To some it 
 has come with such power as to sober them in the extreme of 
 mtoxication. To others a saving power to overcome the evil 
 of their natures, l^he little that has been done is enough to 
 warrant the conclusion that if all would concentrate their 
 mind force every day at 2 p. m. in a persistent, determined 
 effort to bring the children and the All-Parent into a closer 
 union, where the life of the Infinite could flow into and stim- 
 ulate the lesser life of the child, many more would be able to 
 rejoice in God and rest in the arms of Peace and Love. In 
 behalf of the " weary and heavy laden," we beg the friends of 
 all to try it. Surely, there be none but can '' give a thought." 
 Another great truth is the unt/y of man, sliovvn in the creed 
 of the workingmen : *' An injury to one is an injury to all." 
 Now suppfose that at the hour of meeting for the different 
 unions the men whose hearts are burdened with this great 
 truth, were to fix their thought upon those who fail to see and 
 feel it as they do, as Jesus did when he said, " inasmuch as ye 
 did it to the least ye did it unto me." Suppose those who feel 
 with Christ, the -full force of this central truth of humanity, 
 were to unite and send the truth out on the fines of thought 
 and waves of feeling that envelop and surround them and 
 their neighbors. It is so easy to propagate scarlet fever and 
 diphtheria that our board of health orders the red and blue 
 cards. Is it any less easy to propagate life and love than dis- 
 ease and death ? 
 
 We should like to see the experiment tried. We should 
 like to see every union man with a label that should tell all he 
 met that in his heart there was burning a fire that will certainly 
 burn out this old order of " Selfish Monopoly," and bring in 
 
 the reign of " Brotherly Love." At 8:30 p. m. most of the 
 1 1 
 
158 THE WORKING PEOPLE'S PRAYER TEST. 
 
 lodges have their meetings. Why not give five minutes to 
 earnest thought ; silent prayer (if the words are not a stum- 
 bling block), to the carrying of their feeling to the hearts of 
 those who have it not. It couldn't be lost time. Try it, 
 friends. Give it the benefit of your strong brain and heart 
 power, and see if even your indifferent neighbors don't wake 
 up to new life of love for all. " Luca" thinks our first appeal 
 ought not to have been made to the pastors of churches. 
 Perhaps not. Possibly they are not as " remiss in duty " as 
 we are. Let us, then, fearlessly do for ourselves what they 
 can not do for us. 
 
 Rev. L. N. Wheeler, in the pulpit of the M. E. Church, 
 spoke of the blowing up of Hell Gate in New York Harbor, 
 when the touch of a little girl, on the electric wires, caused the 
 final overthrow. Thus, said he, are the gates of hell, honey- 
 combed with centuries of work, filled with the giant powder, 
 awaiting only the touch of faithful prayer to realize the truth 
 of the promise, " the gates of hell shall not prevail against 
 you." Shall that touch of power that shall overthrow the 
 kingdom of darkness come from the working people of Bay 
 View ? 
 
 Last year rang the death knell of the " Labor Riots " 
 through all the world. Shall not 1887 ring out the glad tidings 
 of the New Life ? 
 
 * 
 
 THE IMMORTALS. 
 
 PRAYING BANDS 
 Hold Cottage meetings at the homes of the people every 
 Tuesday evening. 
 
 YOUNG MEN'S BAND 
 Meets every Friday evening. 
 
PRIZE ESSAY. 
 
 THE LOVES AND FISHES. 
 
 Man's first want is air. He lives on air, while he lives, and 
 when he can no longer appropriate the air he dies. A great 
 deal of fun has been expended on the happy lovers who live 
 on air. But as Victor Hugo declared they were the only true 
 philosophers in the universe ; so modern science is demon- 
 strating they are the greatest discovery in the universe. How 
 much wiser to spend the day Uke the turtle dove, billing and 
 cooing, making ones self and everybody else as happy as can 
 be ; than to be sweating over a hot furnace or steaming over a 
 cook stove till one is so tired the ugly devil comes out spon- 
 taneously. The only trouble is to keep him back. " But," 
 says one, bound by the darkness and ignorance of the past, 
 " this sort of thing don't get a Hving." Now, this is just tlie 
 sort of thing that should get a Uving. Man was not made to 
 be a mule, or a machine. In the air, in the sunhght, is the 
 supply of his bodily wants. The wise Persian saw in the sun 
 also the brightest image of God. Be it so. The material and 
 immaterial are now found to be inseparable. The one can- 
 not exist without the other. Science confirms the old insight 
 of faith, and finding fife everywhere, in every atom, confirms 
 and estabHshes the " omnipresence of God." But, says one 
 when these spooney lovers come out of the seventh heaven, 
 where they live on honeymoon, they find they must work for 
 a living like other folks. Well, that is just the trouble with 
 
 il59) 
 
lf>0 PRIZE ESSAY. 
 
 them. They should stay in the higher reahn of being and not 
 come down into the world of toil, contention and strife. 
 'J'hey loose the secret of condensing food, fuel and happiness 
 from air and sunlight, when they come on to this low plane. 
 Just so did the world lose the secret, from the time of iVloses 
 and the prophets to the time of Christ. Moses was learned in 
 oil the wisdom of the Egyptians. And what command they 
 had over the elements is shown by the monuments of the 
 Nile, as well as attested by the records of both sacred and 
 profane history. And in the various tests to which Moses 
 was subject with the wise men, how he always exceeded them. 
 And when he came to have an immense people to feed in a 
 desert where nothing could grow, he showed how food could 
 be condensed directly from the elements, without the bloody 
 process of the past. Food that must be secured at such an 
 outlay of toil becomes red with human blood. Now, as re- 
 fined steel is made direct from the crude n-on instead of the 
 old process of puddling, so should food be condensed direct 
 from the elements. Let us take the loaves and fishes, bread 
 or meat. Now, by subjecting this to electric processes of heat, 
 it can at once be reduced to the elements that compose it. 
 Let an«y housewife throw a piece of meat on the coals and see 
 how quickly it goes off into the air whence it came at first. 
 Now, should the chemist do this In a glass tube. Here are 
 the elements that was in the meat or bread. Now should he 
 experiment with it until he can condense it again in some 
 form? The Jews seemed to get tired of this food, aud sighed 
 for the leeks and onions of Egypt. But I see no reason why 
 science should not by this proeess give us the leeks and onions 
 as well as the manna. Perhaps they might not have such a 
 disagreeable odor. So also in producing wine from the water. 
 Science should study carefully all the details of the historic 
 accouut. Every element that goes into the pure juice of the 
 
PRIZE ESSAY. 
 
 161 
 
 grape should be added and this subjected to electric process. 
 But it is said that we have no evidence of the manner in which 
 electricity was us^ed in the recorded cases of developing food 
 and wine direct from the elements. It is very likely that this 
 force was evolved from the brains of the people. Thought is 
 the epitome of all power and force. It is material, as can be 
 tested in experiment. It is also spiritual, as can be proved by 
 the phenomena of all conscious inteUigence, In each of the 
 five thousand fed by Jesus, was a condensing engine, so to 
 speak, the ])0\ver of which, modern science, with all its boasts? 
 can but feebly imitate. But the cost of developing electricity 
 through the brahi will eventually prevent this process in our 
 day of macliinery. F:iectricity can be produced so much 
 cheaper now. These things seem to have been written for our 
 inspiration and guidance rather than to give details. The re- 
 cord of the ' loaves and fishes ' direct our attention to the 
 rich provisions in the bosom of nature for all our wants of 
 body and soul. The Catholic Church claims the same pow- 
 er that has always existed, to do the works of God. Surely 
 with science as her servant she ought now to feed the starvmg 
 millions in her fold, as her Lord fed them. Protestants assert 
 the universal rigor of law. If this thing has been done for 
 forty years' why not now ? 
 
 (hieslion for the Independent Literary society, Milwaukee: 
 Resolved, lliat it is tlie prerogative of man to draw food 
 and fuel direct from the sun. I1ie Herald will furnish lead- 
 ers for the alhrmative if desired. 
 
THE IMMORTALS. 
 
 Ruskin says the world has sat at the feet of poets, philoso- 
 phers and scientists ; has been governed by Kings, Emperors, 
 Priests and republicans, and has not gro\yn any better. The 
 only hope is, therefore, in the working people. This poem is 
 written in the confidence that those people are Hving in Bay 
 View. And, that when the " coming man " gets liere, we 
 shall see him shod with hob-nails, and with a white towel 
 around his neck. However, if this coat fits any person who 
 wears blacked boots, and keeps his towel hung on a peg, he 
 has the right to put it on. 
 
 Hark ! now they come, who herald the day, 
 The dawning day of happiness. 
 See ! now they come who open the way, 
 The glorious way of righteousness. 
 
 Here are the ones who carry the light, 
 
 The light of the new dispensation. 
 
 The ire's the force that will drive out the night, 
 
 The night of man's degradation. 
 
 This is the royal manhood true. 
 Wearing the garb of the working man. 
 Come to ring out the old, ring in the new. 
 Come to destroy all glittering sham. 
 
 And in their stead, enthrone the right. 
 Set up the Kingdoms of man. 
 Reveal to Earth the glorious light 
 Hidden since time began. 
 
 ****** * 
 
 (162) 
 
THE IMiMOKTAl-S. ^"^ 
 
 All hail, immortal working men, 
 All hail ! ye true and brave, 
 Stronger are ye than all have been 
 Go forth, the weak to save. 
 
 Sound now the call to battle, that shall never know de 
 
 feat; 
 Begin the march to glory, that shall never know retreat 
 The world has long been waiting for you ; 
 Ruskin, the men you seek are in Bay View. 
 
THE HERALD'S EASTER GREETINGS. 
 
 Hail ! this light morn the gladdest day that has ever 
 dawned on earth, for now has science wrested the key from 
 the hand of nature and man may enter into her store house, 
 eat, drink and be merry. Now can be heard the voice of the 
 son of man sounding through the troubled waters of labor and 
 capital, saying " come unto me, all ye that labor and are 
 heavy laden, and I will give you rest." How will he give 
 us rest? By supplying our wants. Through the magic 
 touch of electric force, the flowing waters of earth shall be 
 turned into wine, to gladden the heart and nourish the body. 
 Moses, took water and threw it on the land and it became 
 blood. So do we. In the slow, laborious process through 
 which we draw wine and bread from the bosom of nature, it 
 becomes poisoned by the " worm of the still," it becomes red 
 with the blood of the toiling millions of farmers, railroad men 
 and toiling women whose lives are spent in this service. 
 
 Our brother, Jesus, showed us that the pure wine could be 
 made direct from the water. He showed us that bread and 
 meat could be developed direct from the elements of which 
 they are formed, without the old bloody process of toil and 
 sweat. He pointed to the law that would remove the curse 
 of toil that ignorance and disobedience had laid upon man. 
 He showed us how men should live as sons and daughters of 
 the living God, not as beasts of burden. He showed how 
 man should love his brother. It is not for one set of men, 
 (capitalists), to grind all the work they can out of the laborers 
 while he combines with others to keep the non-union men in 
 starvation, but because of ignorance and unbelief we have 
 said that we could not walk in the path he marked out. We 
 
 (164) 
 
THE herald's EASTER GREETINGS. 165 
 
 can not have the mastery over the elements He declared is the 
 heritage of man. We can not live drinking the wine of glad- 
 ness, rejoicing over our work. There is naught but the old 
 bloody way of the past. 
 
 Shame ! on such weakness. Shame ! on the world that has 
 chained the lightening to its wires, that has annihilated space, 
 that has outwitted time and sends its message ahead of the 
 clocks, that warms itself by natural gas and beats the sun by 
 its electric light. And now it can't find that the law by which 
 the demands of life may be satisfied without the toil that 
 makes life a curse, "not worth the Hving." Oh! science 
 and civilization, ye have done much for man, but except you 
 do more you and we had better have never been born, if 
 we must work like beasts to supply the demands of the body, 
 why force upon us the developed train, the sensitive nerves of 
 manhood ? But worse tlian this, you have invented machinery 
 to take' our places and now we must starve for want of the 
 work we perhaps might better die than do. Have ye no 
 bread to ofter but must be red with our brothers' blood ? 
 You have multiplied our wants until our scanty wages are but 
 as a drop of water to our parched tongues. Cease now your 
 proud boasts of what you have done for man. Go into the 
 wilderness of want and hunger with our brother Jesus and 
 there with him wrest from nature the secret by which water is 
 made wine, and air and light are made bread and meat. 
 You have every advantage m discovering this secret. 
 Electricity, chemistry and biology, are well known to you. 
 Feed us with the living bread from nature's overflowing store- 
 house or we perish with hunger. Give us the new wine of the 
 kingdom of man ; happiness, knowledge, virtue and brotherly 
 love, or we die of this consuming thirst. Make the opening- 
 greeting true history or mankind will curse you. God help 
 you. 
 
APPEINDIX. 
 
 WHO WANTS MORE LIGHT? 
 
 Liberty's light went out. The woman's light has gone out- 
 Why? The light of the one was hidden in coal, the other is hid- 
 <len in words, and there is no money to pay the miner or the 
 printer. The woman was to stand at the gateway of the "New 
 World" to show the "way to the tree of life,'' that all might eat 
 and live forever. She ta.k*^s the place of the "angel with the 
 Haming sword," to keep man out of Paradise. Could the light 
 shine, would the darkness comprehend it? Perhaps not. I 
 have little hopes that the truths set forth in these pages will 
 have much otfect, until the workl shall have been purified by 
 Ih-e. 
 
 But such parts of the book as I have been able to pay for 
 (:« bout one third of its pages) are sent out as a witness of a 
 higher law of being than man has known. If there be those 
 who desire to more of these truths, be it known that one hun- 
 dred and twenty-live dollars will pay for tlie first one thousand 
 copies, when it could be furnished for $50 per thousand. Past 
 
 Since the above was in type, T have received as a Christmas 
 present the money necessary to complete a press edition, 
 from a husband whose love of the writer doth so exceed his 
 contempt of the writmg. And now in this effort, to place 
 Religion on the sure foundation of Science, I have a right to 
 claim the help of the Press. 
 
 Brave Knights of the Pen ! ! Hel}) the woman lift the 
 world to the Light. The Old, has a man with a world on his 
 
 (166) 
 
APPKNDIX. 167 
 
 back. The New, has a woman with a world on her breast, 
 giving a new life. 
 
 Know ye not, oh men of the press, ye represent the God 
 incarnate in words as does the Pulpit in worship. 
 
 "The Word was God." 
 
 I was in advance of Tyndall in advocating a prayer test. 
 This book is the result of experiments continued through 
 twenty-five years. Instead of being a work of inimagination, 
 as Mr. Ingersoll thought, it is the vital outgrowth of facts of 
 people I have known ; which have been recorded in a journal, 
 the first date being May 2 th, 1862. Having found (by the 
 test of induction) the truth, I was prepared to unite with my 
 fellow working people here, and urge upon all the necessity of 
 seeking to find the laws of growth in the higher life. Some 
 friends think this work is ])orn fifty years to soon. " Earning 
 our bread by the sweat of our brow," we have no use for our 
 money except to glorify man. So such as we can afford to 
 wait. The best use could be made with the money put into 
 this work, was to give employment to others. So it can be no 
 loss. Working people should be as anxious to give jobs as to 
 gei them. We give a few extracts from out home paper, the 
 Bay View Herald, to show what we are trying to do. If it 
 be thought by any, that we are in any wise able to help in the 
 uplifting of the race, we can furnish books or papers at the 
 cost of labor and material. Duties are ours. Results are with 
 (^,od. 
 
BAY 
 
 ^¥lEWi 
 
 
 / / II III Bill WW 
 
 HERALD. 
 
 IAN IS LOVE" 
 
 OPliNlONS OF THE PRKSS: 
 
 As lij;hl aiiti darUm'ss .uu tdgetlior and ,i:(io I 
 and evil are linked liy Inseimrable )n>nds, we init 
 the two together in onr selei-tion ol" the many 
 opinions of t)ie Pres-s called lortli by tlie tirsi 
 imblieation of this work. 
 
 •'As a work of fietion this story has decided 
 merit. The life of rich and poor, pro- and anti- 
 slavery families, is well sketched, and sketched, 
 we are jdeased to say, with manifest indepcii 
 dence t)f French and English models.— [Wis. . I. 
 of Ed., Gen. Fallows, editor. 
 
 "A semi-philosophical novel of some interest, 
 the work of an active but unbalanced mind, full 
 of visionary thoughts, etc.— [N. Y. Tndepen<U iit. 
 . " Paul, Paul, thou art beside thyself. Mu( )i 
 learning doth make thee mad." — Felix. 
 
 (1G8) 
 
MAN IS LOVE. 169 
 
 The authors' name is not given. Hk merely 
 styles himself as one who knows, or thinks that 
 he knows that " Man is Love," in which case he 
 is happier than some of his fellows, whose ex- 
 perience leads them to think differently. Por- 
 tions of the work are excellent and indicate 
 riginal ihought, etc.— [Eve. Tel., I'hila. 
 
 "The author of " Man is Love," sets out to 
 prove that human nature is not so bad as repre- 
 sented, but on the contrary, is at bottom noble, 
 even adorable, and her reasoning is plausible— 
 contains food for serious reflection. Darwin's 
 ask is mere play compared to the painstaking 
 abor of this author.— [Detroit Post. 
 
 "The story is not above the average. How- 
 ever, whatever opinion the public may form re- 
 garding the work, the author has no disturbing 
 doubts on the question.— [Sat. Eve. Gaz., Boston. 
 
 What the Greek youths did and endured for 
 Hcllen's sake, men will be ready to do, in diflFer- 
 cnt lorms, for beautiful women, etc. Our en- 
 thusiasm for this new regime is somewhat de- 
 pressed by the extremely long time we must 
 wait. This golden age can only come when 
 woman's nature is so developed that her smiles 
 and frowns are the reflections of infinite love 
 -[N. Y. Home Jour. 
 
 There are sentences which have the exquisite 
 charm of Lambs Rosemond Grey. The book is 
 of much interest and we hope to hear from the 
 writer in a second volume.— [N. Y. Even'g Mail. 
 
 Eva, the heroine, and her lover, Tom, have 
 some passages of sentiment and experience in 
 life which entirely redeem them from common- 
 place romance, two characters well worth 
 study.— [Philadelphia Age. 
 
 Could not have been written before this ajrc 
 a pioneer in the christian and philosophical 
 plane of love, unfolds a new theory of love as 
 the power of God in the world, has a mission 
 in the world, some passages surprise one by 
 their power and spiritual insight.— [Living 
 Way, Cal. 
 
 There are many interesting passages, but the 
 movement is not rapid;— on the whole the 
 book is well worth reading.- [St. Louis Rep. 
 
 The absurd title of an American story.— [N. 
 V. Herald. # 
 
170 MAN IS I.OVE. 
 
 The poorest thing about the book is the title, 
 it has decided felicity ot diction and absurdity 
 of idea, slave and child features of much inter- 
 est, diiik-ct quite good.— [N. Y. Even'g Mail. 
 
 To point out what we regard as its iserious 
 and pestilential errors, takes more time than 
 we can give to it.— [St. Louis A. 
 
 A story of varied incident in which children, 
 men and women are depicted as in life. In all 
 of us there is something of the Divine, some 
 germ at least of that the sacred writers meant 
 when thev said God is love.— [Washington Daily 
 (•hron. 
 
 "Our moralist says " not the sword or the l)al 
 lot is to govern the world in the future.— Wom- 
 an's smiles and frown will be the chief good, 
 the most terrible curse. 
 
 The title, vague as it is excentric, atfords no 
 clue to the contents of this book. The story is 
 told in a way quite independent of classical 
 models— with freshness and vigor of delineatiou 
 —inculcates a sort of optimist philosophy based 
 on the inalienable right of every human being 
 to be loved and thought well of.— [N. O. Times. 
 
 The best part of Man is Love is the preface, 
 in which the author undertakes to prove the 
 litness of the title— some gems of gold— does not 
 pav to search through its 470 pages to find 
 them.— [Literary World. 
 
 Man is Love is the startling proposition of a 
 Southern authoress. We wish for the sake of 
 humanity, she had been more successful in 
 proving her theory. Some may lind it interest- 
 ing, we confess we are not of that number. 
 — [Theadore Tilton's Golden Age. 
 
 Of Man is Love, it may be said, if the preface 
 is a representative of the Ijill of fare, it must be 
 good reading for subject and moral alike 
 The author is evidently in earnest in writing 
 and rather confident than otherwise, of orig- 
 inal deserts to be recognized.— [Bos, Times. 
 
 Told in a sermonizing way, American lif«? is 
 faithfully depicted —[Eagle Press. 
 
MAN IS LOVE. 17J 
 
 OI-^IMIONS OK THE t^KOt^LE. 
 
 Mrs. M. C, ex-president of W. C. T. U. "I 
 liui-e tried some of your theories aud Oh! what 
 a heaven it makes of home. The book is full 
 of capital things and crowded with thinking." 
 
 I wouldn't give the thing house loom. W. 
 
 My husband never read a book that did him 
 so much good. Wife. 
 
 There is no head or tail to it. w. 
 
 Reading that book to my wife I had to follow 
 wherever her work called her, when she was 
 washing I had to tune up loud. Farmer. 
 
 Oh! that blessed book, when will you write 
 another ? I have lived so much of it that I 
 know it is true. Miss. 
 
 I sat up nearly all night to read it. Mother. 
 
 I should say, part hog. part bear, part aliga- 
 tor. with a little sprinkling of angel thrown in 
 for yeast. Oapt. 
 
 "Man is Love.' I am on that platform. 
 
 n. W. Beecher. 
 
 Handsomely bound, price $1.75.— [Press. 
 
NoTE.—Canto 13, page 85. A woman in the Milwaukee House of 
 Correction was gagged according to law for singing on a Sabbath evening. 
 See reports. 
 
 ERRATUM 
 
 P^or " Copyrighted by Herald Publishing Co.," read " Bulah 
 ikinton & Son." 
 
 CUT OF ROLLING MILLS. 
 
 Mills closed by labor troubles, May, 1886. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 CANTO I— The Poet's Story, 
 2 — The New Light, 
 3 — Marriage of the Son, - 
 4 — Tom's Story, 
 5 — The Five Friends. 
 
 6 The Five Friends — Continued,^ 
 
 7— Science Refuses Religion, 
 
 8_W0MAN OF THE WeST, 
 
 g — Birth of the Son, 
 I o— Woman of the West— Continued, 
 ii — Satan's Wooing, 
 J 2 " " Continued, 
 
 ' 13 — 
 
 16— " 
 
 18- " 
 
 20 
 
 The Working People, 
 
 The Working People's Prayer Test, 
 
 Prize Essay, - - ' ' 
 
 The Immortals, - - " ' 
 
 The Herald's Easter Greetings, 
 
 Appendix, 
 
 PAGES. 
 
 1-5 
 
 6-7 
 
 8-1 1 
 
 12-21 
 
 22-45 
 
 46-50 
 
 51-55 
 56-60 
 61-62 
 63-72 
 
 73-80 . 
 
 80-84 
 
 85-90 
 
 91-100 
 
 101-108 
 
 109-119 
 
 120-126 
 
 127-143 
 144-147 
 148-15 1 
 152-154 
 155-158 
 159-161 
 162-163 
 164-165 
 166-172 
 
Capt. E. B. WARD, founder of Bay View. 
 
 Sample home of a day wage-worker in 
 the employ of the North Chicago 
 Rolling Mill Co., Bay View. 
 
HELP THE 
 
 LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 
 
 e ai5 971 053 1 m 
 
 Lir 
 
 O 1 HE LIGHT.