o her chosen ones, which is more perfect than that
power of inward vision that brings forth secret beauties in every corner
of our earthly dwelling-places? How small a price to pay for this
alone:--the absolute fealty to her that is her one demand?

"Yet there have been many unfaithful: many that have been called, and
found wanting.--Bitter enough their self-wrought punishment! the
yearning, never to be crushed, for her gifts once known and now removed.
These in their anguish do her much despite: paint her as devil, call
Philistia down upon her in wrath. They call us blasphemers who serve
her. Yet what is she but the great Goddess of Truth, holding by one hand
the All-Father; by the other her Mother, and ours? And by this Union of
which she was the first-born, cometh also all we can know of perfect
beauty, all our heritage of creation and creative power. Shall it not be
for us to make this known to men? to the unbelievers? Showing them that,
in working for our Lady, we are likewise serving their God, who is also
ours?

"Thou, Joseph, hast been chosen her priest. Thou and I together know how
little is any reward but those she gives: how vain that petty applause
of the Philistines for which many an artist has betrayed both his art
and himself. But we who remain long at our apprenticeship, learn well
how petty is the outward and visible of success.--Have we not been led
up into the high place of communion, where, for a little, the veil is
lifted, and the image of Truth shown blazing in the splendor of Her
shrine? These are our moments of fortification and of revelation. No man
who has stood before that vision has failed to understand why the laws
of Truth and the law of the mass of men can never be the same. In the
communion we gain the strength that bids us disdain all applause of man
given for things other than the highest and best. And it is our secret
sense of this, which, through humiliation and defeat, through mockery
and revilement, through want and privation, shall keep us steadfast and
of good courage!

"Look you, Joseph, even now she stands, Immaculate One, radiant upon her
height, searching, with fearless eyes, our hearts, and those of that
multitude that kneel, and lift their arms to her in supplication!--And
some can raise their eyes to hers and smile; and some--look you, alas,
how many!--must shrink and cower away beneath the scrutiny before which
no deception will avail.--Those now withdraw themselves, to