came
to know you long before seeing you to-day. I have seen you many, many
times though you were hundreds of miles away from me, and I seem to have
been in communication with you, though I never have spoken or written a
word to you. Not only so, sweet lady, but it has been my happiness to
receive from you many uplifting thoughts and I felt as if I was led by
the Divine Spirit which is in us all to come here to-day and say to you:
Thou sweet spirit, I have no houses nor lands, no money nor wealth, no
name nor fame, but I have attained realization, and through that
attainment I see the Divine in you; and its manifestation to such an
eminent degree in you has attracted me towards you, and I say to you
now, sweet one, that in your becoming my bride our lives will be
expanded, and we will attain unfoldment that we could obtain in no other
way. Thou bright one, what sweet communings of soul with soul, we will
have; for having consecrated our bodies to the Eternal One, we will each
day manifest a brighter light, and both of us shine as one in our love
for each other, and for all. And, dear one, in that beautiful light and
life will our cup of bliss be filled, and many besides ourselves will
drink therefrom.'

"The lady smiled very sweetly on him and bade him take a seat on her
right. Then rising and facing her other suitors she said, 'Friends, I
thank you for the interest and kindness you have shown towards me, but
you all made one mistake, and that is in thinking I am merely just what
this material form stands for, in thinking I am a woman and only a
woman, and nothing but a woman. And in thinking so you come, one with
gifts of silks, laces, gold, ivory, spices and many other things, as if
that was all I needed. Another offers bravery and protection for me,
thinking I was a weak woman and could not take care of myself; another
wants to make me a Princess, so as to excite my pride and vanity, by
causing so many to bow down to me, as if my joy consisted in having my
pride and vanity fed, and in looking upon my fellow beings as my slaves,
whose whole life is to contribute to my enjoyment. Then another offers
me a home and to make me the mother of many children; as if that was the
highest attainment for a spiritual being; while still another offers me
money, good things to eat and drink and wear, only what this body of
mine seems in his eyes. No, I will have to decline all your offers,
because you are under the illusion that I am