The Story of the Innumerable Company

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©arbarb Bibinitp ftcftool

ANDOVER-HARVARD THEOLOGICAL

LIBRARY

GIFT OF
ROBERT RAIBLE

The Innumerable Company

The

Innumerable Company

By
David Starr Jordan

President of Leland Stanford jr. University

Boston
American Unitarian Association

PS
j ft 4

Copyright iSgS '
David Stair Jordan

Copyright 1904
American Unitarian AaaodatiM

Tha UnrnraJty Preaa, Cambridge, U.S. A.

To my Wife

Jessie Knight Jordan

When man shall rise to manhood's destiny*
'When our slow-toddling race shall be full grown.
Deep In each human heart a chamber lone
Of holies, holiest shall btulded be,
And each man for himself must hold the key*
Each man must kindle bis own altar fires*
Each burn an offering of bis own desires*
And each* at last* bis own High Priest shall be!

THERE was ojice a great mountain
which rose from the shore of the
sea, and on its flanks it bore a
mighty forest The slopes of the moun-
tain were green with soft grass and white
and rosy with the flowers of spring* But
beyond the crest the mountain grew
harsh and wild, then ridges and gullies,,
peaks and chasms, springs and torrents*
Farther on lay a sandy desert, which
stretched its monotonous breadth to the
shore of a wide, swift river. What lay
beyond the river no one knew, because
its shores were always hid in azure
mist.

Year by year there came up from the
shore of the sea an innumerable company
of men and women* Each one must
hasten over the green meadows to cross
the mountain and the forest, faring onward
toward the desert and the river. And this,
was one condition of the journey, — that
whosoever came to the river must breast
its waters alone. Why this was so, no one
could tell; nor did any one know aught of
the land beyond. For of the multitude

who had crossed the river not one had
ever returned.

As time went on, there came to be paths
through the forest. Through its meadows
no one seemed to need a path, ♦ ♦ ♦ but on
the mountain to go without a guide seemed
hopeless. Those who went first left traces
to serve as guides for those coming after.
Some put marks on the trees; some built
little cairns of stones to show the way they
had taken in going around great rocks.
Those who followed found these marks
and added to them. And many of the
travellers left little charts which showed
where the cliffs and chasms were, and by
what means one could reach the hidden
springs. So in time it came to pass that
there was scarcely a tree on the mountain
which bore not some traveller's mark;
there was scarcely a rock that had not a
cairn of stones upon it

In early times there was One who came
up from the sea and made the journey
over the mountain and across the desert
by a way so fair that the memory of it
became a part of the story of the forest.

iad Men spoke to one another of his way, and
many wished to find it out, that haply they

ths might walk therein* He, too, had left a

ws Chart, which those who followed him had

on carefully kept, and from which they had

ted drawn help in many times of need
xs The way he went was not the shortest

a, way, nor was it the easiest The ways

tSt that are short and easy lead not over the

ty mountain* But his was the most repaying

& way* It led by the noblest trees* the fairest

Is outlooks* the sweetest springs* the greenest

he pastures* and the shadow of great rocks in

ed the desert* It was as if the breath of the

yj fresh blooming meadows followed one all

•a the way through the forest* And the chart

4 of his way which he left was very simple

io and very plain* — easy to understand*

c« ! Even a child might use it* And indeed

l there were many children who did so.

On this chart were the chief landmarks

g | of the region* — the mountain with its forest,

y i the desert with its green oases* the flower-

rt carpeted pastures of the high lands* the

it \ paths to the hidden springs* But there

t, were not many details* The old cairns

were not marked upon it; and when two
paths led alike over the mountain, there
was no sign to show that one was to be
taken rather than the other* Not muck
was said as to what food one should take,
or what raiment one should wear, or by
what means one should defend himself*
But there were many simple directions as
to how one should act on the road* and by
what signs he should know the right path*
One ought to look upward* and not down-
ward; to look for ward, and not backward;
to be always ready to give a helping hand
to his neighbor: and whomsoever one
meets is one's neighbor* he said*

As to the desert* one need not dread it ;
nor should one fear the river* for the lands
beyond it were sweet and fair* Moreover,
one should learn to know the forest* that
he might choose his course wisely* And
this knowledge each one should seek for
himself. For* as he said* "If the blind lead
the blind* both shall fall into the ditch*"

There were many who followed his
way and gave heed to his precepts* The
path seemed dangerous at times* especially

--»**.-

at the outset; for it by along dizzy heights,
through tangled underwood, and across
swollen torrents* But after a while all
these were left behind* The way passed
on between cleft rocks, into green pastures,
and by still waters; and in the desert were
sweet springs which gave forth abundantly,
and about each spring the flowers sprang
tip fast in their season*

But some who tried to follow him said
that his Chart was not explicit enough*
Each step in the journey* they contended*
should be laid out exactly; for to travel
safely one should never be left in doubt*

Now* it chanced that on the slope of the
mountain there was a huge granite rock*
which stood in the midst of the way*
Some of the travellers passed to the right
of it* while others turned to the left*
Strangely enough* the Chart said noth-
ing concerning this rock* No hint was
given as to how one should pass by it*

When they came to the rock* many of
the travellers took counsel one of another*
and at last a great multitude was gathered
there* Which way had he taken ? For

in the path he took they must surely go*
Many scanned the rock on every side, to
find if haply he had left some secret mark
upon it* But they found none ; or, rather*
no one could convince the others that the
hidden marks he found were intended for
their guidance*

At nightfall, after much discussion* the
old men in the council gave their decision*
The safe way led to the right* So he
who kept the Chart marked upon it the
place of the rock, and he wrote upon the
Chart that the one true path leads to
the right* Henceforth each man should
know the way he must go*

Moreover, those who bore the records
showed that this decision was justified*
They wrote upon the Chart a long argu-
ment* chain upon chain and reason upon
reason* to prove that from the beginning
it was decreed that this rock be the test
of the destiny of every man*

But in spite of argument* there were
still some who chose the left-hand path
because they verily believed that this was
the only right way. They. too. justified

their course by arguments, line upon line
and precept upon precept And each band
tried to make its following as large as it
could* Some men stood all day by the
side of the rock, urging people to come
with them to the right or to the left* For*
strangely enough, although each man had
his own journey to make* and must cross
the river at last alone* he was eager that
all others should go along with him*

And as each band grew larger* its
members took pride in the growth of its
numbers* In the larger bands* trumpets
were blown* harps were sounded* and
banners were waved in the wind* Those
who walked shoulder to shoulder under
waving flags* to the sound of trumpets*
felt secure and confident* while those who
journeyed alone seemed always to walk
with fear and trembling* It was said in
the old Chart that where two or three were
gathered together on the way* strength
and courage would be given them* But
men could not believe this* and few had
the heart to test whether it were true
or no*

So the bands went on to the right or
to the left, each in its chosen path* But
after they had passed the first great rock,
they came to other rocks and trees and
places of doubt* Other councils were
held, and at each step there were some
who would not abide by the decision of
the elders* So these from time to time
went their own ways* And they made
new inscriptions on the Chart, and erased
the old ones* each according to his own
ideas* And there was much pushing and
jostling when the bands separated them-
selves one from another*

At last one of the oldest travellers in
the largest band — a man with a long
white beard* and wise with the experience
of years — arose and said that not in
anger* nor in strife* should they journey
on* Discord and contention arise from
difference of opinion* Let all men but
think alike* and they will walk in peace
and harmony* Let each band choose a
leader* Let him carry the Chart, and let
him night and day pore over its precepts*
No one else need distress himself* One

i «

had only to keep step on the road, and
to follow whithersoever the leader might
direct

So the people chose a leader, — a man
grave and serious, wise in the lore of the
forest and the desert* He noted on the
Chart each rock and tree, drawing in
sharp outlines every detail in the only
safe path* Moreover, all deviating trails
he marked with the symbol of danger*

And it came to pass that day by day
other bands followed* and to them the
Chart was given as he had left it* And
these bands, too* chose leaders* whose
part it was to interpret the Chart* But
each one of these added to the Chart
some better way of his own* some short
cut he had found, or some new trail not
marked with the proper sign of warning*

And with all these changes and addi-
tions, as time went on, the true way
became very hard to find* At one point,
so the story is told, there were twenty-
nine distinct paths* leading in as many
directions ; each of these* if the Chart be
true* came to its end in some frightful

chasm. With these there was a single
narrow trail that led to safety; but no
two leaders could agree as to which was
the right trail One thing only was
certain: the true way was very hard to
find, and no traveller might discover it
unaided

And some declared that the Chart was
complicated beyond all need* There was
one who said, "The multiplication of
non-essentials has become the bane of the
forest." Even a little meadow which
he had found, and which he called the
" Saints' Rest/' was so entangled in paths
and counter-paths that, once out of sight
of it, one could never find it again.

All this time there were many bands
that wandered about in circles, finding
everywhere cairns of stones, but no way
of escape. Still others remained day after
day in the shadow of great rocks, disput-
ing and doubting as to how they should
pass by them. There were arguments
and precedents enough for any course;
but arguments and precedents made no
man sure.

And it came to pass that most travellers
followed the band they found nearest* At
last, to join some band became their only
care; and they looked with pity and dis-
trust upon those who travelled alone*

But the bands all made their way very
slowly* No matter how wise the leader,
not all were ready to move at once, and
not all could keep step to the sound of
even the slowest trumpet There was
often much ado at nightfall over the pitch-
ing of the tents* and many were crowded
out into the forest* At times also* in the
presence of danger* fear spread through
the band, and many of the weaker ones
were trampled on and sorely hurt*

Then* too* as they passed through the
rocky defiles* some of them lost sight of
the banners* and then the others would
wait for them* or perchance leave them
behind* to struggle on as best they might
without chart or guide*

And there were those who spoke in
this wise: "Many paths lead over the
mountain* and sooner or later all come
to the desert and the river* It does not

matter where we walk; the question is*
How? We cannot know step by step the
way he went Let us walk by faith, as
he walked If our spirit is like his, we
shall not lack for guidance when we come
to the crossing of the ways/' And so
they fared on* But many doubted their
own promptings* "Tell me, am I right ?"
each one asked of his neighbor ; and his
neighbor asked it again of him* And those
who were in doubt followed those who
were sure*

So it came to pass that these who walked
by faith likewise gathered themselves into
great companies* and each company fol-
lowed some leader* Some of these leaders
had the gift of woodcraft* and saw clearly
into the very nature of things* But some
were only headstrong* and these proved to
be but blind leaders of the blind*

Then one said* " We must not be filled
with our own conceit* but must humbly
imitate him* We must try to work as he
worked ; to rest as he rested ; to sleep as
he slept* The deeds we do should be
those he did* and those only* For on his

Chart he has told us, not the way he went
past rocks and trees, but the actions with
which his days were filled" Then those
who tried to do as he had done, moved by
his motives and acting through his deeds,
found the way wonderfully easy. The
days and the hours seemed all too short
for the joy with which they were filled.

But, again, there were many who said
that his directions were not explicit enough.
The Chart said so little. "That we may
make no mistake," they said, "we must
gather ourselves in bands and choose lead-
ers. We cannot act as he acted unless
there is some one to show us how."

Thus it came to pass that leaders were
chosen who could do everything that he
had done, in all respects, according to his
method. And they added to the Chart
the record of their own practices, — not
only that " He did thus and so," but also,
"Thus and so he did not do." "Thus
and thus did he eat bread, and thus only.
Thus and thus did he loose his sandals.
In this way only gave he bread and wine.
Here on the way he fasted; there he feasted.

At this turn of the road he looked upward
thus, shading his eyes with his hand Here
he anointed his feet ; there his face wore a
sad smile. Such was the cut of his coat;
of this wood was his staff; of such a num-
ber of words his prayer/' And many were
comforted in the thought that for every turn
in the road there was some definite thing
which he had done, and which they, too,
might perform*

Thus the duties of every moment were
fixed* But as the days went on these
duties grew more and more difficult* No
one had time to look at the rocks or trees;
no one could cast his eyes over a noble
prospect; no one could stop to rest by
the sweet fountains or in the refreshing
shadows* One could hardly give a mo-
ment to such things* lest he should over-
look some needful service*

Then many lost heart* and said that
surely he cared not for times and observ-
ances* else he would have said more about
them* When he made the journey* it was
his chief reproach that he heeded not these
things* With him* ceremony or observ-

ance rose directly out of the need for it,
each one as the need was felt To imitate
him is to feel as he felt* With him feel-
ings gave rise to word and action* " So
will it be with us* It is not for us to imi-
tate him in the fashion of his coat or the
cut of his beard* He went over the road
giving help and comfort* as the sun gives
light or the flowers shed fragrance* all un-
conscious of the good he did/' And in this
wise did many imitate him* They turned
aside the boughs of the trees* that the sun-
shine of heaven might fall upon their neigh-
bors* And* behold* the same sunshine
fell upon them also* They removed the
stones from the road* that others might not
stumble over them; and others removed
the stones from their way also*

But many were still in doubt and hesi-
tation* The record* they said* was not
explicit enough* They counselled together*
and gathered in bands* and chose leaders
who should tell them how to feel* And
the leaders gave close heed to all his feel-
ings and to the times and seasons proper
to each* Here he was joyous* and at a

signal all the band broke into merry
laughter* Here he was stern, and the mul-
titude set its teeth* There he wept* and
tears fell like rain from innumerable eyes*

As time went on* repeated action made
action easy* The springs of feeling were
readily troubled* Still each one felt* or
tried to feel* all that he should have felt
No one dared admit to his fellows that
his tears were a sham* his joy a pretence*
his sadness a lie* But often* in the bottom
of their hearts* men would confess with
real tears that they had no genuine feeling
there*

Then the people asked for leaders who
could bring out real feelings* And there
arose leaders* who by terrible words could
fill the hearts with fear ; by burning words
could stir the embers of zeal; by the inten-
sity of their own passions could fill the
throng with pity ♦ with sorrow* or with in-
dignation* And the multitude hung on
their lips ; for they sought for feelings real
and not simulated*

But here again division arose; for not
all were touched alike by those who had

power over the hearts of men* Some fol-
lowed the leader who moved them to tears;
others chose him who filled them with fear
and trembling* Still others loved to linger
in the dark shadow of remorse* Some
said that right emotions were roused by
loud and ringing tones* Some said that
the tones should be sad and sweet*

Then there were some who said that
feelings such as all these were idle and com-
mon* When he trod the way of old* it
was with radiant eyes and with uplifted
heart* He saw through the veil of clouds
to the glory which lay beyond* We follow
him best when we too are uplifted* Now
and then on the way come to us moments
of exultation* when we tread in his very
footsteps* These are the precious mo-
ments; then our way is his way* In the
rosy mists of morning we may behold the
glory which encompassed him* In mo-
ments of silent communion in the forest
we may feel his peace steal over us* In
the lilies of the field we find the perfection
of his raiment* In the gentle rain that falls
upon the just and the unjust we may know

.».*.

the soft pity of his tears. When the sun
declines, its last rays touch with gold the
far-off mountain-tops beyond the great
river*

And the uplifting of great moments, fill-
ing the souls of men with peace that passeth
understanding, came to many* As they
went their way, this peace fell upon their
neighbors also* And no man did aught
to make them afraid* And others sought
to go with these, and thus they became a
great band*

So they chose as their leaders those
whose visions were brightest* And they
made for themselves a banner like the
white mist flung out from the mountain-
tops at the rising of the sun* They spoke
much to one another concerning the white
banner and the peace which filled their
souls*

But as they journeyed along, the dust of
the way dimmed the banner, and the bright
visions one by one faded away* At last
they came no more*

Then the people murmured and called
upon the leaders to grant them some

brighter vision, something that all could
see and feel at once, — some sign by which
they might know that they were still in
his way. "Cause that a path be opened
through the thicket," they said, "and let
a white dove come forth to lead us on ; or
let the mists beyond the river part for a
moment, that we may behold the far
country beyond"

And one of the leaders standing at the
head of the column, clothed in the morn-
ing light as with a garment, raised his
staff high in the air. The sun's rays
fell upon it, touching the morning mists
with gold, and threw across them the
long shadow of the upraised staff. The
shadow fell far out across the plains, and
about it was a halo of bright light And
all the band looked joyfully at the vision.
Adown the slope of the mountain and
out into the plain they followed the way
of the shadow. And all the time the
white banner waved at the head of the
column. The people said little to one
another, but that little, was a word of
praise and rejoicing.

But it came to pass, as the day wore on,
that the sun rose in the sky, and drew the
mists up from the valley* With them
vanished the long shadow of the staff, and
in its place appeared the sandy plain* The
feet of the people were sore with the rocks
and stones* The air was thick with dust*
Their hearts were uplifted no longer* In-
stead they were filled with doubt and
distress*

And the people repined and murmured
against their leader* But the leader said
that all was well; even in the way he
went there had been stones and hindrances*
More than once had he carried a heavy
burden along a dusty road But he never
doubted nor complained, and so the radi-
ance round about him never faded away*

But all the more the people clamored for
a sign* "Let the bright vision of the
morning appear to us again*" At length,
worn with much entreaty, the leader
raised once more his staff above his head*
The sun at noon fell upon it* But as the
people gazed they saw no long line of
radiance stretching out across the plains

amid a halo of shining mist The
shadow of the staff was a little shapeless
mark upon the sand at their very feet

Then the leader cast his staff away and
went by himself alone, sad and sorrowful*
That night, as he lay by the roadside,
he looked upward to the clear, calm,
honest stars* They seemed to say to
him, "See all things as they really are*
This was his way* 'In spirit and in
truth' means in the light of no illusion*
Not all the visions of mist or of sun-
shine can make the journey other than
it is/'

So he came to look closely at all things
on the road* Day by day he read the
lessons of the desert and the mountain*
He learned to know directions by the
growth of the trees* By the perfume of
the lilies he sought out the hidden springs*
By the red clouds at evening he knew that
the sky would be fair* By the red light in
the morning he was warned of the coming
storm. And there were many who fol-
lowed him and his way, though he did not
will it so.

And he taught his companions, saying :
" We must seek his way in the nature of
the things that abide* To learn this nature
of things is the beginning of wisdom* For
day unto day uttereth speech* and night
unto night showeth knowledge* The way
of nature is solid* substantial* vast* and un-
changing* He who walks in it stands
secure* as in the shadow of a high tower
or as if encompassed by a mighty fortress*
The wisdom of the forest shall be granted
to him who seeks for it with calm heart
and quiet eye/*

But among his followers there were
many who were eager and would hasten
on* and although they spoke much of the
Nature of Things and of the Law of the
Forest* they were contented with speaking*
"The road is long," they said to them-
selves, " and the hours are fleeting/' They
had no time to contemplate the glory of
the heavens* The beauty of the lilies fell
on unobservant eyes. For all these things
they trusted to the report of others. The
words passed from mouth to mouth, losing
ever a little of their truth. And in this

wise the voice of wisdom was turned to
the language of folly* For the nature of
things is truth. But no man can find truth
except he seek it for himself. And so they
fared on, each well or ill, according to the
truth to which his way bore witness.

Meanwhile those who bore the white
banner remained long in council. At last
one remembered that it was written, "Faith
without works is dead, being alone." And
it was written again, " Those who follow
me in spirit must follow me in spirit and
in truth." The essence of truth lies not
in thought or feeling, but must be ex-
pressed in deeds. Right feelings follow
right actions. Thus it was with him; thus
wifl it be with us.

Then they went their way together,
doing good to one another. And each
called his neighbor "brother ; " and some
bore cups of cold water, and some balm for
healing; some carried oil and wine and pots
of precious ointment. To whomsoever
they met they gave help and comfort. The
hungry they fed. The thirsty were given
drink. He who had fallen by the wayside

was lifted up and strengthened, and the
blessing of cleanliness was brought to him
who lay in filth and shame* The blessing
of him that was ready to perish came upon
them, and the heart of the widow sang for
joy*

But soon those who were filled with zeal
for good works were gathered together in
great bands, and each band wished to
magnify its work* In every way * to all
men who asked, help was given* They
searched out the lame and the blind* and
brought them* that they might perforce be
healed* Cup after cup of cold water was
given to the little ones* even to those who
might bring water for themselves* They
cared for the wounded wayfarer long after
his wounds were made whole* It was
their joy to bathe his limbs in oil and wine*
or to swathe them in fragrant bands* And
the wayfarer ceased to bear his own tent
or to seek his own raiment* What others
would do for him* he need not do for
himself* And those who did not help
themselves lost the power of self-help*
And those who had helped others over-

much came themselves to need the help
of others*

At last the number of the helpless be-
came so great that there was no one to
serve them* Many waited day after day
for the aid that never came* and they grew
so weak with waiting that they could not
take up their burdens* The little ones
were thrust aside by the strong* and as the
band went on many of them were forgotten
and left behind* They fainted and fell by
the healing springs* because there was no
one to give them drink* and they could not
help themselves*

And the burden of the way grew very
hard and grievous to bear* Then there
were those who said that one cannot help
another save by leading him to help him-
self* All that is given him must he repay.
Sooner or later each must bear his own
burden* Each must make his own way
through the forest in such manner as he
may*

So they turned back to the old Chart*
They would read his words again* that
they might be led to better deeds* In

these words they found help and cheer*
These words spake they one to another*
They came like rain to a thirsty field, or
as balm to a wound, or as good news
from a far country* And there was won-
derful consolation in the thought that for
every step of the way he had spoken the
right word

So those who knew his words best were
chosen as leaders* and great companies fol-
lowed them* And as band after band
passed along* his message sounded from
one to another* His words were ever on
their lips* Those who could run swiftly
carried them far and wide* even into the
depths of the forest* To those who were
in sorrow they came as glad tidings of
great joy* and beautiful upon the moun-
tains seemed the feet of those who bore
them* Wherever men were weary and
heavy-laden* they were cheered by his
promise of rest*

But there were some who turned to his
message only to gratify sordid hopes or
vain desires* He who was lazy sought
warrant for sleep* He who was covetous

looked for gain* He who was filled with
anger sought promise of vengeance* There
were many who repeated his words for the
mere words' sake. And there were some
who used them in disputations about the
way* And the words of help on the Chart
they turned into words of command. Each
one took these commands not to himself
alone, but sought to enforce them upon
others. "For it is our duty," they said,
"to see that no word of his shall be un-
heeded of any man." And many rose in
resistance. And the conflicts on the way
were fierce and strong; for with each
different band there was diversity of inter-
pretation. Thus the words of kindness
became the voice of hate.

And it came to pass that all along the
way the green sward was red with the
blood of wayfarers* Everywhere the leaves
of the forest were trampled by struggling
hosts* And "In his name" was the watch-
word of each warring band. And each
band called itself " his army." And who-
soever bore the sword that was reddest,
they called the "Defender of the Faith."

They placed his name upon their battle-
flags, and beneath it they wrote these fear-
ful words, "In this sign conquer/' And
each went forth to conquer his neighbor,
and the wayfarer fled from the sight of
their banners as from a pestilence* But
" Conquer, conquer," was no word of his*
He spoke not of victory ov'er others; only
of conquest of oneself* He had said* "Re-
sist not. but overcome evil with good/'
And till all men ceased to resist and ceased
to conquer* no one found himself in the
right way* Then some one said: "By
words alone can no one truly follow him*
His words without his faith and love are
like sounding brass or tinkling cymbal*
Out of the abundance of the heart the
mouth speaketh* When the heart is
empty* the speech of the mouth is idle as
the crackling of thorns beneath a pot/'

And there appeared other bands from
the number of those who had passed to the
right of the first great rock; and seeing the
tumult and confusion of the others* they
said to themselves: "These are they who
followed not us* We have chosen the

.

better part Our leader bears the only
perfect Chart All other charts are the
invention of men. In the right Chart there
can be nothing false; in the others there
can be nothing true* Those who have not
the true Chart can never go right, not even
for a moment For even good deeds done
in the paths of evil must partake of the
nature of sin. Straight is the way and
narrow is the gate, but there is no safety
except ye walk therein*"

So they went on, stumbling ever along
the rocky road, never resting, never mur-
muring. " For the way at best is a vale
of tears/ 9 said they. " and no one would
have it otherwise. He found it thus in
his time. He was ever a man of sorrows
and acquainted with grief. More than all
others had he suffered. It was his glory
to be despised and rejected of men. For
the greater the abasement, the greater the
exaltation in the land beyond the river."
So day by day they walked in the hardest
part of the road. But they spoke often
together of a land of pure delight, of sweet
fields beyond the swelling floods, and of

turf soft as velvet that rose from the river's
bank*

If perchance on the way they came to
green pastures, they would hasten on, lest
they should be tempted to rest before the
day of rest was come* From sweet springs
they turned aside* that theirs might be the
greater satisfaction when they came to the
sweetest springs of all* They shut their
eyes to beauty and their ears to music*
that the light and music of the unknown
shore might burst upon them as a sudden
revelation* They looked not at the stars*
lest perchance these should declare a glory
which was reserved for the land beyond
the river* Dreary and harsh was the way
they trod* But in its very dreariness they
found safety* They sought no pleasure*
they fought no battles* they wasted no
time* In the pushing aside of all tempta-
tion* the scorn of all beauty and idleness*
they found delight* Against the strength
of granite rock they set the force of iron
will Withal* at the bottom their hearts
were light with the certainty of coming joy*
Even the multitude of conflicting paths

gave them a peculiar satisfaction; for what-
ever way they took was always the right
way*

But there were some among them who
lost all heart* And they threw their charts
away and set forth in disorder through the
forest and up the mountain* Some of them
came safely to the river* far in advance of
the hands they had left behind* But to
most the way was strange* and harder
than of old* And as the journey wore on
they began to hate the forest and all its
ways*

So they fared on* together or apart* in
ever-deepening shadow* They distrusted
their neighbors* They despised the joyous
bands who trooped after their leaders with
mouthing of verses and waving of flags*
They were stirred by the sound of no
trumpet They were deceived by no illu-
sion of sunshine or of mist* They said:
"We know the forest; no one knows it
but ourselves* There is no future; there
is no way; there is no rest ; there is no bet-
ter country* The azure mists are shadows
only* hiding some dreary plain* if haply

they hide anything at all Evil is man;
evil are all things about him. Love and
joy, hope and faith, all these are but flick-
ering lights that lure him to destruction*
Vultures croak on the rocks* The foun-
tains flow with ink* Danger lurks in the
desert* The name of the river is Death,"
And when they came to the shore of
the river they saw no rift in the clouds
above it, for their eyes were filled with
gloom*

But as time passed on* the way of man
grew brighter* whether he would or no*
No day or hour was without its joy to
him who opened his heart to receive it*
And men saw that most of the difficulties
and dangers of the way were those which
they unwittingly had made for themselves
or for others* Thus* as the road became
more secure* it no longer seemed dreary or
lonely*

And so it came to pass at last that men
ceased to gather themselves in great bands*
Nor did they longer set store on the sound
of trumpets or the waving of flags* The
men who were wisest ceased to be leaders

of hosts* They became teachers and help-
ers instead

And with all this a sure way was from
day to day not hard to find Men fell into
it naturally and unconsciously* And the
ways which are safe are innumerable as
the multitude of those that may walk
therein* In my Father's house* so the
Chart said* there are many mansions* and
each mansion has its different setting* and
diverse are the paths which lead to it

And those who had gone by devious
ways came from time to time together*
Each praised the charms of the path he
had taken* but each one knew that in other
paths other men found as great delight*
And as time went on many wise men
passed over the way* and each in his own
fashion left a record of all that had come to
him*

But the old Chart men kept in ever-
increasing reverence* They found that its
simple* honest words were words of truth,
and whoso sought for truth gained with it
courage and strength* But they covered
it no longer with their own additions and

interpretations. Nor did any one insist
that what he found helpful to himself should
be law unto others. No longer did men
say to one another, "This path have I
taken; this way must thou go"

And some one wrote upon the Chart
this single rule of the forest : "Choose thou
thine own best way, and help thy neigh-
bor to find that way which for him is
best/ 9 But this was erased at last; for
beneath it they found the older, plainer
words which One in earlier times had
written there, " Thy neighbor as thyself 9 *

Men told me* Lord, it was a vale of tears
Where Thou hast placed me, wickedness and woe
My twain companions whereso I might go ;
Thai I through ten and threescore weary years
Should stumble on beset by pains and fears.
Fierce conflict round me, passions hot within,
Enjoyment brief and fatal but in sou
When all was ended then should I demand
Full compensation from thine austere hand;
For, 'tis thy pleasure, all temptation past.
To be not fust but generous ai last.

Lord, here am I, my threescore years and ten

All counted to the full; I f< oe fought thy fight,

Crossed thy dark valleys, scaled thy rocks harsh height,

Borne all the burdens Thou dost lay on men

With hand unsparing threescore years and ten.

Before Thee now Intake my claim, Lord, —

What shall I pray Thee as a meet reward?

I ask for nothing. Let the balance fall J

All thai lam or know or may confess

But swells the weight of mine indebtedness;

Burdens and sorrows stand transfigured all;

Thy hand's rude buffet turns to a caress.

For Love, with all the rest. Thou gavest me here,

And Love is Heaven's very atmosphere.

Lo, I have dwelt with Thee, Lord. Let me die.

I could no more through all eternity.

*

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