egetable characteristic. Likewise in the animal
world, the mineral and vegetable characteristics are present and in
addition the characteristics of the animal world are to be found, which
are the faculties of hearing and of sight. In the human world the
characteristics of the mineral, vegetable and animal worlds are found and
in addition that of the human kind, namely the intellectual
characteristic, which discovereth the realities of things and
comprehendeth universal principles.

Man, therefore, on the plane of the contingent world is the most perfect
being. By man is meant the perfect individual, who is like unto a mirror
in which the divine perfections are manifested and reflected. But the sun
doth not descend from the height of its sanctity to enter into the mirror,
but when the latter is purified and turned towards the Sun of Truth, the
perfections of this Sun, consisting of light and heat, are reflected and
manifested in that mirror. These souls are the Divine Manifestations of
God.

31: O THOU WHO ART DEAR, AND WISE! THY LETTER DATED ...

O thou who art dear, and wise! Thy letter dated 27 May 1906 hath been
received and its contents are most pleasing and have brought great joy.

Thou didst ask whether this Cause, this new and living Cause, could take
the place of the dead religious rites and ceremonials of England; whether
it would be possible, now that various groups have appeared, whose members
are highly placed divines and theologians, far superior in their
attainments to those of the past, for this new Cause so to impress the
members of such groups as to gather them and the rest into its
all-protecting shade.

O thou dear friend! Know thou that the distinguished Individual of every
age is endowed according to the perfections of His age. That Individual
who in past ages was set above His fellows was gifted according to the
virtues of His time. But in this age of splendours, this era of God, the
pre-eminent Personage, the luminous Orb, the chosen Individual will shine
out with such perfections and such power as ultimately to dazzle the minds
of every community and group. And since such a Personage is superior to
all others in spiritual perfections and heavenly attainments, and is
indeed the focal centre of divine blessings and the pivot of the circle of
light, He will encompass all others, and there is no doubt whatsoever that
He will shine out with such power as to gather every soul into His
sh