ver around the shores of our consciousness. Among the
"saints" and "initiates" who work outside the borders of accepted
dogma, there are often to be found some whose originality and real
spiritual worth is not generally recognised, and instead of turning
away from their "visions" and "revelations," we should rather examine
them with close attention. Even if our faith gains nothing, we shall
be sure to pick up psychological treasures which could be turned to the
profit of science.

We have been re-living, in these recent years, the "desolation" of the
prophets, only that the suffering of the few in former times became
with us the suffering of all. There is the same difference between the
troubles of ancient Judea and those of the modern world, as there is
between her miniature wars and the colossal conflict whose aftermath is
with us still.

Yet now, as in the time of Isaiah, the nations long for eternal peace,
and the desire for a world more in harmony with man's deepest thoughts
and wishes is one of the dominant causes of religious schism and revolt.

Let us hope that the world-wide catastrophe that we have witnessed may
yet lead to the realisation of the ideal expressed by Jesus, and by the
ancient prophet before Him:--

"And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people:
and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears
into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more." And again--"The work of
righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness
and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable
habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."

Many are being stirred to new life and action by dreams which hold, in
almost every case, some fragment of the longed-for truth, however
foolish or illogical in expression; and we should in consequence
approach the dreamers with all the sympathy of which we are capable.
Often their countenances are made beautiful by love, and they will, at
the least, provide us with a golden key to the fascinating mysteries of
man's subconscious mind. What though their doctrines vanish from sight
under the scalpel of analysis? It is no small pleasure to contemplate,
and even to examine closely, such delightful phantoms.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Modern Saints and Seers, by Jean Finot

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