CHAPTER XXVIII.

A Symposium of The Order of the 15 (continued) "All we can say is that it is a direct outpouring of The Lodge-force, and the agents through whom it is manifesting are of no more importance, from the standpoint of the teachings, than would be the pipe through which a stream of pure water was led into a parched and thirsty land. Those who are athirst for the living waters will drink; those who are satisfied with that which is at their disposal will pass it by. Only the thirsty appreciate water.

"If a history of the personalities were set forth, with photographs, names, et cetera, of what avail would it be? Would it make the message any more satisfying? Would it make the truth any more true? Or would it, as has always happened heretofore, tend to detract from the teachings? Those who had a personal leaning toward the agents would cling to their personalities, excusing every eccentricity and perhaps following some personal bias or weakness, and would waste many words and much force in defending such personalities. Such an attitude has heretofore put many temptations in the path of agents, and has even made them unfit instruments for The Lodge to use. On the other hand, all who did not altogether admire the personalities of the agent would have a target at which to throw stones. To them all the teachings would be tainted by the personalities of the agent. This, and much more has been the sad experience of all past attempts to give out The Lodge teachings. The Karma ignorantly incurred in the past by the treatment of former agents of The Lodge is to be spared humanity this time if possible. As each individual grows into touch with this work on the Soul-plane and displays a right appreciation of the sacrifice made by such agents, and ability to judge the matter impartially and apart from personality, he will learn to know the Agents from the inner rather than from the outer standpoint.

"You are quite right in thinking that the teachings are themselves their own authority, for if they did not indicate their source no amount of specious claiming on the part of the agents would avail. 'If this work be of men, it will come to naught; but if it be of God, ye can not overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.'

"At present we can only say that this Movement is a modern prophet without the walls of the city, crying: 'Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.' It is a modern 'Voice of one crying in the wilderness, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' If that voice finds an echo in your heart follow it; if not, go your way in peace, for your time is not yet come.

"Many sincere Theosophists have questioned our Movement by asking why, since it comes direct from The Lodge, it is not given out through the already established channels. We do not desire to have it understood that the formation of this new channel is a reflection upon or a criticism of such organizations; for they all have their particular work. The work of this Order, however, is something quite different, i. e., the interpretation of the teachings of the Master Jesus and the giving of the help required by each Soul after it has reached a certain point of development where the teachings given out to the mass of students as a whole no longer meet its needs. This cannot be done by organizations that are bound by general rules; for their fundamental principle is that all must fare alike and take such general instructions as can be given without regard to the needs of individual pupils. If you will carefully study the chapter on Degrees and Orders1 you will understand why such laws and rules are necessary for such organizations, and from their standpoint, are right and proper. They must follow their instructions from The Lodge; for those are laws given to all organizations working on the negative side of the cross. Hence they must follow the nega

1 See The Voice of Isis, Curtiss, Chapter III.

tive law, i. e., advance can only be made collectively and all must fare alike as to instructions. The Order of the 15, however, as you will see from that chapter, is on the positive side of the cross and is put forth to aid those who need personal instruction; those who have reached a point where they can come into personal touch with the Masters of Wisdom interiorly, yet who need instruction and direction in forming such contact. We do not aim to supplant any established movements but should supplement their work in greatest harmony; for we build upon the same Rock of Truth where there is room for all. This is the Law; only he who asks can receive, because the asking opens the doors through which the help can come.

"Every Soul has implanted within it, as an integral principle, the power of intuition, just as every mineral, vegetable and animal has the power of selection or instinct which leads it to follow the lines of evolution best fitted for its growth and perfection in accord with its environment. This beneficent provision was not denied man-the highest point reached, so far, in the scale of evolution—indeed, it was given him in far greater abundance than to the lower kingdoms. With it was given the power of reason and free-will, that he might, if he would, know or he might, if he would, doubt and go astray and waste time—a privilege denied the lower kingdoms.

"The object of the personal instruction in this Order is to help each pupil to come into personal touch with his own Guru or Teacher, and thus receive his instruction in practical occultism at first hand. There are no two persons who need exactly the same help, and for that reason no Soul who had not reached Mastery would dare give instruction and assume the karmic responsibility for the teachings given. Therefore, when a student is prepared for such instruction the Teacher will be ready to give him personal training. But unless the student has awakened his intuition sufficiently to recognize the Master's presence, and has acquired sufficient knowledge of the laws governing such communications, the message is

apt to be misunderstood or even to be meaningless, for he will be unable correctly to interpret it. . . .

"The Order of the 15 is the sum of the numerals of 5. The 5 is the great mystical number of humanity, and was held most sacred by the ancients. On their Temples where the numerals were carved in stone the number 5 was inlaid with pure gold. The numeral 5 stands for humanity, hence this Order ordains to help humanity to reach the highest state of evolution. Its Teachings deal with the human every-day problems which must be mastered ere man becomes more than

man. . . •

"This is the Order of Transmutation or Alchemy. And while geometry and music are touched upon, more attention is given to the transmutation of all the baser qualities, including the elements or inner forces of all life, into the spiritual gold of Regeneration through the power of Divine Love. . . .

"The Order of the 15 has always existed, and traces of its various manifestations can be found in ancient and medieval history. All through the Middle Ages, the number 15 was celebrated with many religious ceremonies and observances, the Order of the Annunciation, held in such high esteem by royalty today and said to have been founded by Count Amadeus of Savoy, being but an adaption to Romish ideas of the ancient Order of the 15. The emblem of the Order of the Annunciation is a star on which is represented the annunciation surrounded by 15 love-knots. This also symbolizes The Order of the 15, for its mission has always been, even in the darkest periods of the world's history, to announce the possibility of bringing into manifestation (birth) the Christ-consciousness which is brought about by the spread of tolerance, liberty and brotherly love. The Masons, also retain a degree of this Order, called the Degree of the Fifteen, its main objects being de oted to the spread of "Tolerance and Liberty, against Fanaticism and Persecution, political and religious; and to that of Education, Instruction and Enlightenment

against Error, Barbarism and Ignorance." These instances all show that The Order of the 15 has always been the Open Door through which the Light of the Great Law has reached humanity and shown it how to evolve above the light of any one candlestick, be it ever so golden or its light ever so brilliant, and how to behold the Divine Law which imparts the Light to all, giving to each as much as his candle is able to manifest in the world. . . .

"The Order of the 15 is the Order of the Holy Grail whose lessons prepare for the final Initiation into the Order of the Flame. It is an expression of the Mother-force, the power of bringing forth. It is not what you know or believe, but what you bring forth in your life that admits you into full membership of this Order.3 . . .

"In those long past ages (4700 B.C. in Egypt) this Order was born. It was then that the mighty mystic teachings were given to the Race and the meaning of the symbol (Sphinx) foretold to those Souls who were entrusted with manifesting it. And today, as this great Aquarian Age begins its cycle, those Souls must once more gather together their reincarnated students and followers that that which was symbolized in stone may be manifested in the world today, but this time erected in the hearts and lives of men. But in that far off time, seeing the end from the beginning and knowing the impossibility of preserving unmixed with error and misconception the mighty esoteric truths for which this Order stands, they were preserved for those who knew, for those who could understand, in the majestic figure of the Sphinx. Therefore, each one who is today strongly drawn in heart and mind to these teachings was no doubt a follower of them in those ancient days, when the Celestial Teachers descended and gave directions how this sacred Order (then called the Order of the Sphinx but not the one so called today) and its principles should forever be preserved intact until the day of their complete manifestation.

2 Morals and Dogma, Pike, 160-171.

3 See The Voice of Isis, Curtiss, 61-62-63.