Version: October 10, 2004
1998 draws to a close with great intensity as we are asked to focus our attention on the wholeness of our beings. Our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual bodies all need equal nurturing. As we help each body reach the highest expression possible, we in turn help and enrich all around us. This process is a paradox, and ofttimes confusing, as we move from self-centeredness to Self-centeredness. This time of year particularly we are focused on giving during the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year Celebrations. Unless we give from a center within ourselves wherein we strive for balance, love, and joy, the holidays lose the depth and magic that are inherent in them.
Thanksgiving, with the familiar story of the gifts of food from Indians to Pilgrims and the ensuing lessons of gratitude and cooperation, begins our holidays. We have the choice of participating with full consciousness of our own gratitude to the Divine Spirit in manifestation throughout our world, or numbing our bodies with too much food and activity.
Next, Christmas with its familiar story of the birth of Jesus and the attendant joy and celebration for those who could receive the glad tidings, brings us the choice of participating in the greatest gift of all: the message of Love, expressed through the life and teachings of The Christ, expressed simply through The Golden Rule of Brother/Sisterhood. The means at our command are simple also; sincere interest in others, a kindly smile, a soft word, a helping hand, and tolerance in times of stress.
This is also the time of the Winter Solstice. In our highly urbanized society, we seem to lose touch with pulsing rhythms of the natural world. Nevertheless, we are closely tied to those rhythms: the ebb and flow of the seasons, the waxing and waning of the moon, and the vast swings of the dance of earth and sun. Acknowledging such connectedness in some way at this time will help keep our connection alive as a conscious force in our lives, and thereby nurture our spirit.
And soon thereafter, the New Year brings an opportunity to assess our past year, looking with open eyes and hearts at our own strengths and weaknesses, with resolve to use the former to assist the latter. This is expressed so eloquently in From The Mountain Top: "As the Light of the wondrous Love of the Christ is shed on earth at Christmas time, may it be reflected in our hearts, renewing and strengthening our love, faith and hope in the New Year to come."
During this season we are given the opportunity to richly feed all our bodies, beginning with the Spiritual body and spreading out to renew and strengthen all the rest of our beings, and to help others in their own inner process.
- Eleanor L. Shumway
Guardian in Chief
- Ulla Sonntag
Without formality, without arbitrary organization, let all who feel and believe the truth of the Presence of a Redeeming Cosmic Force repeat the above daily and constantly. It will help to build a matrix - heart center - through which the Christ force will externalize in qualities of living power.
Let us keep clean our hearts and minds, and the earnest endeavor to realize His Presence daily will assuredly help in His Manifestation, and the Spirit of Love will impel humanity to ideals of true Brotherhood.
November 14-15, 1998
One hundred years ago, on November 15, 1898, at 8 P.M., the Masters of the Great White Lodge established a vital connection with humanity through Francia LaDue and William H. Dower in Syracuse, New York.
We are rich beyond compare with the teachings, guidance, and love that have always emanated from the Great White Lodge. On inner and outer planes, willing hands and hearts have erected a Temple that shines into every soul who comes within the encircling love pouring through this Center.
The dedication, sacrifice, and love laid upon the altar by all, past and present, who made this celebration possible, are reason for both gratitude and inspiration. This is a fitting time for all of us to rededicate and reconsecrate ourselves to our highest aspirations and ideals as we honor the sacred charge we have been given, that of truly living the Golden Rule in thought, word, and deed.
May we walk together in Love, Light, Joy, and Peace.
- Eleanor L. Shumway
At 10 a.m., many Halcyon residents and visitors to the community gathered to clean and polish the University Center, Temple, and Hiawatha Lodge.
The Noon Healing Service was conducted by Linda Rollison.
At 5:20 p.m., about 75 people gathered in Hiawatha Lodge for the informal celebration of the Temple's 100th birthday. The Lodge was enhanced by beautiful table decorations as well as a stunning display of oil paintings and Conte crayon portraits of Templars done here in California by Vladimir Nadejin, internationally known artist and President of Delphis Foundation, during his visit from Moscow, Russia.
After a delicious potluck dinner, Ron and Nashoma Carlson presented a delightful skit, and Cathy Greer sang Bless This House accompanied by Nashoma. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to the Temple, birthday cake was cut and served and we all settled down to visit and enjoy looking through the many photo albums of the Temple.
At 10:30 a.m., the Guardian in Chief opened a special service of inspirational readings and Temple music dedicated to the Centennial Celebration:
Welcome to this morning's special service dedicated to the Centennial Celebration of the Temple of the People. Throughout this year we have focused on the contributions of those stalwart souls who have gone before us, building the foundations of the Temple strong and lasting. We have listened to talks in which they expressed their aspirations and ideals, as well as their joys and sorrows. This renewed connection to past voices helps us clarify our todays and look forward to the tomorrows. I see, with increasing brightness, the unbroken golden chain of the Temple work. Each person, past, present and future, is a precious link in that chain.
In the early days of the Temple work we were privileged to have many fine musicians and composers who left us a rich legacy of music. Some of this music is part of our regular ceremonies. Other pieces have not been heard for many years. This morning we will celebrate this legacy through the many gifted musicians now in our midst.
Then followed a program of music, interspersed by inspirational readings taken From The Mountain Top by the Temple Officers. The music consisted of works composed for the Temple by Edgar Cheetham, John Varian, Ebba Whitney, Duncan Ferguson, Doctor Dower, Francia LaDue, Monica Ting, Doctor Little, and Winogene Savage.
This inspiring music was performed by Larry Abrahamsen, Janice Freeman, Linda Rollison, Derene Darrah, Annie and Will Dunbar, and Cathy Greer, all accompanied by Nashoma Carlson. We were also treated to a rendition of Amazing Grace on the bagpipes by Joe Dickerson, and a Russian folk song by Sergey and Rita Moiseyev. The program was concluded by Edgar Cheetham's dialogue for piano and organ, Thirty Years After, in four movements: "Daniel Vision," "Malachi," "John the Baptist, from the Desert, Behold the Man of God," and "Transfiguration." This was performed by Brad Carroll on piano and Nashoma Carlson on organ.
The service ended with The Consecration Hymn.
The University Center was open after the morning service for fellowship and refreshments.
The noon Healing Service was conducted by Eleanor Shumway and George Colendich.
From 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Open House in Hiawatha Lodge was hosted by the Temple Officers, giving us all the opportunity to visit with our many friends attending the celebration from near and far.
Corresponding to the actual time of the founding of The Temple of The People in Syracuse, New York, in 1898, a Consecration Service was held in the Blue Star Memorial Temple at 5 p.m. The following remarks were made by the Guardian in Chief:
I want to welcome all of you here today as we meet at this sacred hour honoring the founding of The Temple of The People. One hundred years ago at this time in Syracuse, New York, the Masters called together a small group of people to hold a solemn service inaugurating the work of The Temple of the People. It was time to bring into manifestation on the physical plane a new vehicle for the focus of Lodge force, through which the Radiance of Divine Love and Wisdom might lighten humanity's understanding. The assignment was, and still is, a simple one: "to prepare a place where it might become possible for the overshadowing Christ to enter and send forth the message which the world has waited for so long." That preparation must happen within each human heart, that we may increasingly shine with the Divine Light. This endeavor has grown, solidified, and stands now as a beacon for hungry souls around the world.
Today we meet together to commemorate this event and honor our own ideals, aspirations and dreams, as well as the ideals, aspirations and dreams of those who made today possible.
We will now hear a special message from the Master to the Centennial Celebration.
My Dear Children:
For one hundred years I have been beside you as you labored to bring into manifestation a new step in the work of the Great White Lodge. Through this Lodge Center I have poured forth the message of the coming of a Great Spiritual Light to help all of humanity raise itself out of the darkness of the material self. As you look over the past years, you can see this Light impressing itself more and more upon every plane of being. Dark corners everywhere are being cleansed and the refuse of centuries is being brought into brightness. Now more than ever, everyone is being asked to help transmute this darkness of ignorance and despair into the realms of greater light, intelligence, power, and wisdom. My children, you are asked to hold firmly to your faith in our message of the Light of Truth even when you cannot see the myriad ways in which your faith furthers our work.
At this important time I bid you hold strong in allegiance, faith and trust to the Lodge and to each other. I ask you to reaffirm both your pledges, and your recognition and acceptance of the Lodge, myself, and our agent. With conscious self endeavor you must focus your mind, your body, your soul on the Temple work imbuing every aspect with mutual understanding, voluntary yielding, and helpful interchange with each other on all planes of being. This will bring you truer adjustment, greater activities, purer transmission of finer forces, and with wider and broader dissemination of spiritual powers. Individually and as a group you have constantly sent us your appeals, efforts, ambitions and aspirations for closer, more intense relationship to the Lodge. Be still and listen in the Silence and you will know beyond all shadow of doubt what you must do.
Again and yet again I have given you the answers you crave. If I were to remain silent, irresponsive, closed, and deaf to your demands and prayers, you would consider me a faithless guide, servant, and father. Shall I expect less of you by asking for anything short of your full faith and following? This will tax your powers of flexibility, obedience, and balanced unity, but it lies within your own hands, hearts, and souls entirely. The evolution of the entire human race lies in the balance. It is your responsibility to act, and some small act of yours may very well prove to be the critical one for all humanity. This may seem to be a heavy task, but you are fitted for it.
As you leave this Temple tonight, I ask you to enter The Temple of your own Inner Being. In this place of Light and Silence will come the realization that each of you is charged to truly see the Spirit of God within yourself, your friend, neighbor, stranger, and family, as well as every other part of the manifested universe, and your response to every atom must be from Spirit to Spirit. Become a conscious example of the priceless gems of Truth and Wisdom, of Opportunity and Power held inviolate in your innermost selves.
I want you all to realize the importance of the present; never mind the past, or the future, they will be cared for. It is now that is of greatest importance. Every day, and yet, one moment at a time. Dig deep and lay the foundations well, lest any shaking of the upper beams loosen the underlying stones of the outer Temple. Do not allow yourself, or others if you can help it, to miss the sweet humble blossoms lying close by your side in reaching out for the larger, less fragrant blooms in the distance, and listen when I speak. Sink your very souls in the great Father-Mother heart, the beats of which vibrate through your own with every pulse of the same. Remember that I am one with you, not outside of you. It is my privilege to be your guide; it is your privilege to be an integral part of the Great Plan to build into The Temple a greater measure of joyful endurance, holding power, peace, and awareness of My Love for you.
Your Father-Brother,
Hilarion
After a brief period of meditation the congregation sang God is in His Holy Temple.
The Feast of Fulfillment followed. At its conclusion the Guardian in Chief gave the Consecration:
The Master has asked us tonight to enter The Temple of our own Inner Beings; to listen carefully; to realize our oneness with all life; and to express our faith in His work in our daily lives. We hereby pledge ourselves to continue the work we have been called to do - the simple task of preparing a place for the manifestation of the Avataric Force. As we stand here now, looking forward to the years ahead, we offer our dedication and consecration of this Center of Light which are always being expressed through our idealism, our aspirations, our obedience and our love.
The service was concluded by singing The Consecration Hymn.
The Centennial Celebration Day was concluded by a Meditation Meeting in the Temple at 7 p.m., conducted by the Inner and Outer Guards of the Temple.
-- Ulla Sonntag
Darkness was over the face of the deeps, the darkness that is nonexistence. Time and Space lay asleep in the heart of the Universal Soul. Motion, the first-born son of the past Manvantara, the first that shall always be last, rested from his long labor. Nothing was.
A long, low, shuddering sigh, welling up from the heart of Infinite Compassion, awoke to action the germ in that heart; and the non-manifested appeared as the manifested point. A thrill of Love desire swept over the Infinite, the great abyss, and out from the manifested point shot forth Lucifer, son of the first morning, bearing in his hand the torch that should lighten the new Manvantara.
On, on he sped in ever widening circles, leaving a trail of sparks behind from the torch he carried, on the spiral lines made by his passage. The torch was fed from the oil of his own life, and when he had reached the outermost ring of the space so created, the first great sacrifice was completed. He had effaced himself that the universe should be lighted. He lived no longer as a single entity, but in the radiance of manifested Light.
Another long thrill of the eternal Germ, and again the point swelled, enlarged, and from its depths came forth three other radiant forms, following the path made by the first, and Will, Wisdom, and Potency, bearing their sheaves of garnered experiences from long past ages, swept onward, scattering with outstretched hands those precious grains of truth, to complete the sacrifice made by the Light-Bearer - the first square of the new Manvantara.
Again desire moved the Germ to action, and out from the point came seven other forms, brilliant, scintillating, pure and beautiful. Perfected beings, male-female they were and, like the others, the flower and fruit of preceding ages - Form, Number, Harmony, Truth, Justice, Strength and Power. They yielded themselves to light and vibration with glad submission and were torn apart to feed the multitudes born from the third great sacrifice to the Universal self, and from their death chant was born the new song of life, the New Creation.
- Francia LaDue
First Guardian in Chief
All who love their fellow men and women and desire the dawn of this Golden Age when "the lion and the lamb shall lie down together" can help by attuning their hearts to the reconstructive forces of the Holy Christos and radiating through their hearts and minds the spiritual energy that will unify and cement all the races of the earth in the bond of Holy Brotherhood.
Let each one ask himself, "How much am I doing to help on this glorious plan of redemption, how much unselfish love am I putting forth, and how much hate and other lower qualities am I transmuting into light and love, thus adding to the sum total of good, that the Divine Ones may use as a matrix in and for the Great Work?"
We live in a world of shadows and illusions, groping blindly for light. The lower planes of existence are unstable and wavering, blinding our vision and tripping us, entangling our feet - understanding - as we seek for the realities back of this shifting outer panorama of changes. We are crystallized as to our modes of thought, as to our use of words, and it is difficult to break away from old forms and habits. But as the great Master has said, if we can attune ourselves to the One Great Reality, the One True Light, "Then thy shadows shall flee away, and thou shalt behold the King (Divine Truth) in His Beauty and Holiness."
- Dr. W. Dower
Second Guardian in Chief
It is not a question of morality, integrity, or anything else discussed at this time. It is something deeper than all these. I have told you repeatedly that without charity, understanding, sympathy, and pity for even the meanest thing that lives, the disciple would bar his own path. The Brotherhood of Man is a fact in nature and life, and disciples of the Lodge above all things must try to manifest that Brotherhood regardless of individual faults and failings.
Every unselfish service, every willing sacrifice rendered by a human being to another is a stretching out of the hand of the Christ _ Every effort made to atone for wrongdoing is a step toward self-redemption _ Remember that the touch of a loving hand, the low soft word of sympathy, condolence and compassion spoken by your brother or sister in your need is a touch of the hand of God, the voice of an all-powerful servitor, comforter, and coadjutor; that the love welling up in your hearts unselfishly is, as it were, the Breath of God outbreathed by yourselves.
When true Brotherhood becomes a reality on this planet then will the New Order of the age be ushered in. The present state of seething fermentation, unrest, wars and rumors of war will no longer exist, but instead the power of the Spirit will prevail. Love will take the place of hate, selfishness will become selflessness, inharmony - harmony. All people will realize their unity with all other creatures.
But in the transitional period between the old and the new orders elemental disturbances in all nature, planets, nations, organizations and people must inevitably occur. The Avataric Force through Its harmonizing impulses works to destroy the old and helps to usher in the New. After the balance is restored, it will come in power and glory. The Christ principle is the principle of balance manifesting in all life according to natural and Divine Law.
To realize this great force of the Divine Incarnation now impinging on the aura of humanity, one has to tune in to the inner spiritual vibrations where the Unity of all Life, the One Great Reality, eternally exists and all life on all planes is part of that Eternal Plan. Listen with thine inner ears for the overtones now resounding through all nature.
At this present great time there is a responsibility resting upon the shoulders of every being who loves his or her fellow men and women and would wish a new and higher consciousness to ensoul the peoples of the earth. We can help on right conditions of brotherly/sisterly love and universal peace by sending out from our hearts and minds thoughts of Peace, Love, and Brotherhood, encircling the whole earth, without distinction; for in the last analysis, we are all One, and have come from the same Source and will go back to that Source when the hour strikes. So let us all as One "gird on the Breastplate of Righteousness, the Helmet of Eternal Truth, and go forth to battle against the powers of darkness, armed with the Sword, the purified Will, of the Spirit of God."
- Pearl F. Dower
Third Guardian in Chief
Every day is Christmas Day, all year round, for every man and woman on earth. Every Great Teacher that we have known since the world began has taught this one basic Truth. For the past 2000 years this Truth has been known in the western world as "The Golden Rule." It is an irrevocable Law that says, "Do unto others as you would that they do unto you." Throughout every age its substance has remained the same.
Every teacher who has given this truth to man has offered it as the only way whereby humanity can possibly endure, correct and transmute the misery that seems to dominate the history of humanity and overcome the hopelessness that follows such conduct. And yet, as the Babe is born in the manger, so is the Truth of God born in the darkness of strife and struggle, hatred and greed and lust, the unhappiness that prevails in the lives of so many. But the Babe is not born only once each 2000 years in one manger on earth to try to survive against such overwhelming odds. He is born every day in the hearts of all men and women.
The Babe only appears as a Babe because He is making His first attempts to attain conscious recognition for each of us. His first cry of righteousness is heard unmistakably even in the heart of one who may die a little for denying that "Still Small Voice." But it is not the Babe who weakens, for He is the first appearance to humanity of the source of the Life that created the Universe.
With every thought, word, and deed that makes up our daily life, this Ray of Life is given a chance to be born into the heart of anyone making the choice.
When we make that choice with the motive of Common Good for All Humanity, the Babe is born; the mystic star of Eros glows the brighter through the surrounding darkness. This is the Star of all Christs, Messiahs, Avatars being born in the hearts of all of us.
By these choices we assure that the Light of the World make every day of the year another Christmas Morn on earth.
- Harold E. Forgostein
Fourth Guardian in Chief
The word paradox can be defined as an argument that apparently derives self-contradictory conclusions by valid deduction from acceptable premises. Having spent my professional life as a teacher checking papers, either the answer is right or wrong, and yet I always knew that there were other arguments my students could advance. So I have struggled with paradox. The more I study the Temple Teachings, the more I understand the Master's statement that two diametrically opposed methods of action can possibly both be right. Let us explore paradox a bit.
The Temple Teachings on the one hand tell us we must live together to prepare a place where the overshadowing Christ can come to bring the message the world has waited for so long. On the other hand, "Love Thy Neighbor," while enduring the sandpapering that we must do to and for each other AND don't take any of it personally! Some of us are also asked to live at the Center, with a particular assignment under the intensities of the forces that flow through such locations. A nice place to live? Yes. A cauldron? Yes. A fish bowl? Sure. A tightly knit community of group hermits? That, too! The forces here at this center work on the shadows in our own natures to a degree and intensity that is often uncomfortable. We cannot prepare a physical place of quiet, calm and peace until we have established those conditions within our own souls and hearts, and then, in our physical lives. It doesn't happen through material activities - painting, remodeling, or rearranging stuff - although these things definitely have their proper place. The preparing of that place for the Avatar paradoxically comes in the moments of conflict, of confusion, and disorder. For it is in the choices made in the heat of those moments that we build, little by little, that place of peace.
Does this mean we should always be a Pollyanna, seeing only goodness and light? No, we are human after all, and emphatically charged to learn to become fully, consciously, human, with an awareness of our connection to everything in the universe, and especially our connections to our selves and to our neighbors. The Golden Rule is not child's play. It is a serious assignment, demanding everything we have interiorly to manifest the action of that Golden Rule onto the physical plane.
A wise man once told his chelas, "God spoke to man, saying there are many veils between man and God, but there are no veils between God and man." Our job is to remove the veils, one by one. We are told we are drawn to the Temple by choices made at the soul level, responding to the Master's call. We get here and, all too often, we attempt to change Halcyon and The Temple according to our own lights, and when it doesn't change at the speed, or in the direction we personally desire, we project the blame onto our neighbors, The Temple, or other outside circumstances.
The very forces that brought us here are operating to test our staying power, to help us burn the dross from our lower natures and to nurture us, if we could but understand that. At best, it takes a lot of heat from those spiritual fires before we begin to even dimly see a larger picture. The farther we progress on the path the more and more subtle the tests become, always testing the individual Dweller on the Threshold.
When we draw a line between Temple members and non-Temple members anywhere we turn our back on God, hanging up a veil that obscures our clarity of vision. And yet we are told that joining the Temple, and especially the inner orders, is an irrevocable step in which we pledge to consciously continue the spiritualization of our beings, for indeed we have been working on this process for a very long time. At this point of consciousness a different kind of testing begins, and becomes much more subtle. Such a paradox! It is a privilege indeed to be a part of this organization of service; and yet The Temple of The People is symbolic of the Temple of Humanity, the Temple of the Universe. It is not an elitist club, excluding anyone or anything.
Our assignment is The Golden Rule: "Do unto others _" There is no mention of which kind of others: members, nonmembers, black, white, yellow or brown, old, young, drinkers, nondrinkers, slobs or neat-nicks, the list is endless. Everyone is "others." Think of the magnitude of that simple word, "others." We have to learn to live TOGETHER with all the conflict, all the glory, all the sorrow, all the joy that implies. I cannot tell you what to do in each circumstance; I can only point out the general direction and have faith that the way you work it out will be the wisest for you, trusting that you will fit your individual way into the fabric of the whole, those many wholes that include your self, your family, your neighborhood, your physical AND spiritual community, your county, your state, your nation, and your world. The concentric circles about each one of us spread out, out, out; intersecting, overlapping, interweaving a magnificent whole; the challenge being the paradox of avoiding the pitfalls of getting to the point of guarding our own personal pattern jealously, to the exclusion of anyone else's pattern.
Our outer physical environment is an expression of our inner environment. Absolutely everything and every event is tightly connected. As we take pledges to our Higher Selves in each new step on the Path, we set into motion certain Laws of Life. It may look like we are getting away with something or arranging things to suit some personal agenda, but sooner or later, slowly but inexorably, the Law demands an accounting to restore the balance of the Divine Pattern. Usually at that time the lower self swings into frantic action, projecting all sorts of stuff onto our mates, our families, our neighbors, onto any visible target, even onto ourselves as "bad" people. The premise seems to be, "Better the familiar darkness than the unfamiliar Light." But the wonder, the glory, the saving grace, is that the lower self is not all we really are. We can take that small "self" into the arms of our hearts, comfort it, quiet it, reassure it, and help it to understand that the next small step is right and true, and that we can learn to take those steps together. It is a matter of listening. The listening doesn't have to be intense periods of meditation, it doesn't have to be in quiet Nature places, though both meditation and Nature have much to teach us. The listening is a state of inner awareness, of being alert for that small still voice. That voice does not pound on the door of our consciousness. It waits quietly with downcast eyes for us to notice, to listen, and to act.
-- Ulla Sonntag
We are being trusted by the Law to notice, listen, and respond appropriately. The fact that we were drawn to these teachings means that we are already fitted for the responsible to live them every day in every way. We have to know with every fiber of our being that we are so fitted. We cannot be like the man who said, "Vitamins are no good! I tried one once and it didn't help me at all." The vitamins on the spiritual path work just like those on the physical plane. Taken regularly with right habits of living, they enhance life, giving it a richness, a depth of dimension that takes your breath away with the glory of it all. But it is not a one-time shot, administered by Master in a doctor's coat. We have the responsibility of daily, hourly, self-administration, thereby enriching not only our own lives, but all the lives around us. What a simple task, what a paradox, what an awesome task _ but if we weren't up to it, we wouldn't/couldn't be here. What are we going to do about it?
What are we going to do about it? What can we do about it? I see a few simple steps, the first of which is to lighten up. LIGHTEN up our material lives of things, for each physical thing has an energy that either pulls on us or lifts us. LIGHTEN up our mental things. Our brain-minds drive us unmercifully and we need to take a deep mental breath and decide on who or what is running our show, the real self or the brain mind. LIGHTEN up our psychological selves. See our strengths and rejoice in them, savoring who we really are instead of heaping ourselves with recriminations on who we are not or should be. A very wise lady once said, "Getting rid of 'should' and substituting 'could' helps to build into our consciousness the concept of choices." We slowly develop the faith that we not only can choose, but that we are learning to choose wisely through experience. LIGHTEN up our concept of time and learn how much time pressures us. Facing the pain of living in today's world, we numb our consciousness by driving ourselves to do more, more, more, until we, in truth, are spinning out of control, while paradoxically congratulating ourselves on how much we are getting done, how much we are fixing. We become addicted to the cycle of pain, fix, pain, fix, until we forget how to break free.
We have forgotten that our real self is truly free, free to become One with God and all Good. Our God-given task is that of working hand in hand with the evolution of consciousness, specifically, our consciousness. Master Hilarion tells us, "Consciousness is all that is. It calls with inner ether and is complete within itself, is the with-in-ness of all things, all life forms and without which nothing is. If master consciousness be called, held toward or regarding any person, condition or problem, master consciousness responds, for it is itself speaking within itself in Call and Answer. Each is inseparable from the other. If love consciousness be sent forth to any being or object, love answers, though it may not be known or realized immediately in a definite way by the answering point.
"The answer, however, cannot be withheld. It follows the law that nature abhors a vacuum. Answer and Call are one in themselves. It is the same as when a breath is taken by the body, air is drawn in. Or while outdrawing a breath is taking place, the indrawing one has been set in action at the same instant. Hate consciousness manifests in the same way indicated above as do all the varied multiplicities between the two poles of love and hate.
"You send me conscious outreach and I am with you. You give your brother or sister conscious love and he or she is near. You give me doubt and I am far distant. You hate your brother or sister and he or she knows you not. It has nothing to do with form, time, or space. Through experience you learn to know and sense the signs of differed consciousness. You smell smoke, you sense fire. You see light, you know day. You are filled with fear, you watch for an enemy. You are filled with peace, you are in the Presence of your friend. You breathe the Fragrance of Sandalwood, I am with you. You are charged with electric prickings, the Lodge is imminent. You are penetrated by living fires, the Watcher is on the Threshold. Light rose perfume wafts over, the Great One is near.
"The responsibility implied in the foregoing need scarcely be mentioned, it stands in such bold relief. What we are in consciousness, that we are. The Call in Consciousness is the positive pole around which responsibility centers. The answer, the negative pole, follows and takes course in accord with the Call. It cannot do otherwise. Its power is dependent upon the Call, lies inherent within it. The Moment of Call is a Moment of Initiation to the one sending it out and a test to the one receiving it. Though the process of initiation seems indirect and far removed this nevertheless is identical in reality to the finest minutiae. The initiation consists in consideration of one's brother or sister, one's other selves, the lesser selves, the Answer, before and while sounding the Call. It behooves you who would tread the Path of Initiation to Call Truly if you would have Dependable Answer, Reliable Guidance, Safe Home, with Peace and Rest at the Last." Answer and Call are one in themselves - the Divine Paradox.
- Eleanor L. Shumway
The message of the Christ -- the Christmas Message to mankind conveys the idea of Devotion above and through all else. Devotion to God, to Principle, to our fellow man even unto death, does indeed establish the Rhythm of the Song Celestial.
Bernard H. Lentz passed away October 20, 1998, in Atascadero, California. Born December 26, 1903, and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Bernard became fluent in Spanish and spent three years working in Cuba. Moving back to New York in the 1920s he worked as a bookkeeper, biller, typist, translator, and interpreter. Bernard contacted the Temple through an old friend of the family and joined in 1928. In 1933 he moved to Halcyon, where he worked closely with Dr. Dower on a project of editing Doctor's letters and producing the book Letters of Light. He became a Temple priest and served on the altar as well as in the office.
Bernard moved from Halcyon in the early 1950s to work with the Department of Defense. He returned in the mid-1980s to live here. His encyclopedic memory of things Theosophical was especially valuable at the study classes. His twinkling sense of humor and wry delivery enlivened many a class.
In December of 1992, when a serious fire engulfed his home, his great-niece, Susie Clark, saw the fire, pulled him from the house, and called the fire department. Increasing short-term memory loss and shock forced relocation to a care center in Atascadero. Bernard was still a delight to visit, still able to speak on subjects Theosophical, with innate good manners and humor, until the very end. Vaya con Dios, dear friend.
New babies arrived this fall, to the delight of parents and grandparents. Nils and April Thyrring welcomed Bjorn Colen Thyrring in San Francisco on September 9, 1998. Nearly two weeks later on September 22, 1998, in Charlottesville, Virginia, Damian and Juel Rollison greeted Zoe Eudora Rollison. Grandma Linda Rollison joined them the next day for two weeks of loving care.
Eric and Jennifer Hamby welcomed Laken Noelle on December 5. Grandma Susan Boetcher is visiting for a while to help out.
The Temple received many expressions of comradeship and congratulations for the Centennial Celebration. These included Sophie and Laszlo Reicher in Budapest, Hungary; Natalia Toots, Svetlana Belinsky, Vladimir Nadejin, and Maria Drozdova-Chemovolenko in Moscow, Russia; Otto and Renate Sanft, Karsten Kimritz in Berlin, Germany; Daniel Entin from the Nicholas Roerich Museum of New York, New York; John Algeo, President of the Theosophical Society in America, in Wheaton, Illinois; Robert and Leatrice Bonnell of the Southwest District of the Theosophical Society in America in Long Beach, California; Magdalena Cumsille, head of the Supreme Council of American Co-Masonry in Colorado; Grace Knoche, Head of The Theospohical Society, in Pasadena, California; Emmett, Carmen and Ken Small of the Point Loma Publications in San Diego, California; members of the Temple Square in Munich, Germany; and members of the Temple Square in London, England.
For ten days in October five Temple members from our German section visited Halcyon: Otto Sanft of Berlin, Rudy Schott of Landshut, Karl and Clara Mae Beer of Munich, and Roswitha Siehr of Baldham, Germany. This was the first visit to the Center for all of them and there were many happy times shared among us all.
On October 17 Natalia Toots, Svetlana Belinsky and Vladimir Nadejin arrived from Moscow. Vladimir is President of Delphis Foundation, Natalia is Editor in chief of Delphis Magazine, and Svetlana is assistant editor. They brought copies of the recent issue of Delphis, which was dedicated to the Centennial of The Temple of The People. Their long-time friend, Juan Carlos Segura, who has been staying in Halcyon for some months, was very helpful with translations.
Valerie Blustin came from London on November 8 to participate in the Celebrations, returning on November 20.
Other visitors included Larry Abrahamsen, Alan Cash, and Tatiana Axionoff from San Francisco, Sergey and Rita Moiseyev with their children Julie, Alex, and Anna from Oakland, Cathy Greer from Riverside, Jeff Ingle from Los Angeles, Boris Liechtenstein, Margarita Bulgakova, and her mother, Zoya Bulgakova from Long Beach, Olga Fedosova and her son Alex from San Mateo.
Temple groups: There are groups in New York City; and London, England, as well as several in locations in Germany, Lithuania, Russia, and Ukraine who meet regularly to study and discuss the Temple Teachings. Anyone wishing more information about these groups can contact the Temple offices in Halcyon.
William Quan Judge Library serves Temple members, residents of Halcyon, and friends with an interest in Theosophy, or who are doing research involving some of our special collections. Our library is staffed by volunteers; hours are Mondays, 9-11 a.m. and 6-8 p.m., and Fridays, 9 a.m.-12 noon. Other hours are by appointment through the Temple office.
The University Center Gallery is open by appointment. Please call the Temple office at (805) 489-2822 for information. This year the exhibition consists of paintings by Harold E. Forgostein, fourth Guardian in Chief of the Temple. This exhibit, "The Song of Hiawatha," features 12 of the series of 24 four-by-four-foot oils depicting the life and legends of Hiawatha and the League of Six Nations, along with their working watercolor sketches. The sketches give the viewers a glimpse of the creative process Forgostein experienced as he developed the final compositions for the larger paintings. Also on display are many interesting articles and artifacts accumulated through Temple history.
The Temple Healing Service is held at 12:00 Noon each day in the Temple. All are welcome to attend. A Meditation Meeting is held in the Temple on Sunday evening from 7 to 7:30.
Study Classes under the auspices of Temple Officers and various Temple Orders are held regularly in the University Center on Tuesdays and Fridays at 5:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Sunday Services are held at 10:30 a.m. in the Temple. the Feast of Fulfillment (the Communion Service of the Temple) is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month. The last Sunday of each month is a prayer and meditation meeting. Other Sundays are speakers meetings. The public is cordially invited to all services.
Speakers in the Sunday services were: September 13, Eleanor Shumway: Excerpts from 1929 Symposium on Loyalty; September 20, Istvan Balogh: The Light of the Avatar; October 11, Eleanor Shumway: A Wake-up Call; October 18, Barbara J. Ricardo: Elmer Hedin's Prometheus, the Light Bringer; November 8, Eleanor Shumway: Inspiration, Faith, Love, Service, and Insight; November 22, Marti Fast: Service; December 13, Eleanor Shumway: Living the Paradox.
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