Version: October 10, 2004
During the Convention week as we met together in both social and ceremonial gatherings, there was additional force generated by the focus of our aspirations and ideals. Everyone seemed to go the extra mile in every situation. We heard the Master's Message to the Convention and felt pulled by the heights, even while part of our inmost selves was assailed by fear of the next step. But that next step, shorn of the fear that magnifies it all out of proportion, is clearly outlined in His words: "... your relationships one to another must be stripped of all pretense, all self-seeking, all selfishness. The tests you will continue to meet are based on the Law of Brother/Sisterhood and involve the finer courtesies of life, the gentle services for youth and age, the ability to withhold rather than to give ridicule or criticism, to bear with and not to provoke, to entertain the Christ within your hearts in such a way that you become the absolute embodiment of Light and Love."
We do not have to seek out dragons to slay, or big confrontations to overcome. We simply have to live each day, giving of the very best within ourselves. It can be a gentle day when small miracles occur for ordinary people. If it is a day of turbulence or upset, we can endeavor to transcend personal feelings and grievances. We need to remember that the turbulence is also a necessary part of the learning process and is not a jealous god bent on retribution or revenge. We do have the power to learn and to overcome, and most importantly, we only need to do this learning and overcoming one step at a time. Why do we make these things so difficult for ourselves?
One of our dear Temple members said it this way: "Could we not shift the reluctant gears of habit and change our direction so that our actions would be prefaced by an inward look? If we could achieve this, think of how many false steps we would save ourselves and how much richness we could bring to the pattern of our daily lives. There is no need to accept monotony as a part of our lives, for each of us carries within us that divine spark that can change any dull activity into an inspiring experience, once we learn to Look Within, and by so doing to add a whole new dimension to our lives."
-- Eleanor L. Shumway Guardian in Chief
August 1-8, 1999
SATURDAY, JULY 31
At 10 a.m., many residents of the community gathered to clean and polish the University Center, Temple, and Hiawatha Lodge.
The Noon Service was conducted by Zelma and George Colendich.
At 7 p.m., the community gathered in Hiawatha Lodge for the informal opening of Convention.
Chris Thyrring read In the Lodge of the Red Star:
In the Lodge of the Red Star we have met and renewed our allegiance to the Tribes ... to the Warrior Forces of the Universal Chief of Life. His war lance is the flaming sun. His Peace Pipe is the silvery moon. His lance has points as many as the sands of the sea, and no one can escape them. When the Great Chief lights his pipe at night and passes it to his brothers, the Star Men, great rings and wreaths of light glow in the sky. This is the voiceless Chant of Peace that bears to the Great Spirit the message that all is well with his world children. And the Great Spirit lights another star with love; another soul glows with the fires of hope and faith in the Master Chief, whose songs of life and sweetness fill the cabins of the tribes.
-- Hiawatha
Everyone sang Bless This House, accompanied by Nashoma Carlson. The program that followed included a recitation by Nashoma Carlson, songs by Rita and Sergey Moiseyev, Igor and Elena Veller, Janice Freeman, Linda Rollison, Ivan Ulz and John Messer.
The Guardian in Chief, Eleanor Shumway, officially opened the 100th Convention in the Blue Star Memorial Temple:
I want to extend to all of you a warm welcome to the formal opening of the 100th Convention of the Temple of the People. Centennial markers are important ones, giving us the opportunity to formally examine the present in terms of the past; and to look at possible directions for the future. From the beginning we have been asked to honor the connection between all forms of life by every thought, word, and deed during every day. We are learning that unless we can be the things we believe in, those ideals remain on a spiritual shelf, gathering dust. Only as we put them into action do they glow with the Light and Love of God. We have been granted guidance and directions in rich abundance, being asked in return simply to use them to the best of our ability with all our heart and mind.
The congregation then stood to sing the Convocation Hymn, Gitche Manito the Mighty, accompanied by Nashoma Carlson and Brad Carroll.
The Guardian in Chief invoked the blessings of the Great White Lodge on all proceedings:
In the name of the Great White Lodge and by the power vested in me as the Guardian in Chief of The Temple of the People, I hereby open this 100th Annual Convention by invoking the guidance and blessings of the Powers that rule the destinies of worlds and races, the Brothers of the Fire Mist, the Dhyan Chohans and Dhyani Buddhas, and the Masters of Love and Wisdom, on all proceedings and all who participate in person or in spirit in the Convention for the benefit of all humanity, promoting the Brother/Sisterhood of all Creation.
The sacred charge, Warriors of Light, was sung by Ivan Ulz, accompanied by Nashoma Carlson and Brad Carroll. The congregation joined for the final part of the charge.
The Master's Message to the Convention was then read by the Guardian in Chief:
To My Beloved:
Heartfelt Love and greetings do I extend to my children, both seen and unseen: you who are here now, those who have gone before, and those yet to come. One hundred short years ago you assembled in the first Convention, with high aspirations, driven by the power of your Soul's quest for Spiritual nourishment. Each year thereafter you have gathered together to reaffirm your ideals and aspirations, to renew your sacred vows to your Higher Selves and to the Great Lodge of Masters.
During the past one hundred years you have solidified the Temple organization; you have endeavored to establish a physical Center through which the voice of Love may spread to all those who hunger for the tones of that Voice. I have watched this being accomplished through countless sacrifices, deep suffering and personal anguish. I have also seen the countless moments of great joy, of love, of warm nurturing of friend and neighbor, and of the quiet assuming of the myriad humble tasks of everyday living in a Lodge Center.
You now stand at an important milestone on the Path of Discipleship. The road divides and you are faced with three choices. The first is beguiling with glimpses of golden cities nearby, open to you for the asking, with power and fame on every side in exchange for blind, unquestioning self-service. What you cannot see from this point is the rapid, downward movement of this path, twisted and black, finally plunging into the dark abyss of undifferentiated matter.
The middle way is horizontal, comfortable, smooth, warm, and pleasant, offering only minor challenges, giving only minor rewards, and gradually numbing all of your senses. It will be much further down this path before you reach the point of accounting for the development of your own souls.
The third way is the one straight ahead that climbs steeply, exposed to the elements of the inner realms that will find your weaknesses and test your strengths as do the piercing alpine winds as they buffet the climber who challenges their upper crags. As you struggle toward the heights, your endurance deepens, your breath fills every corner of your being with joy, your senses sharpen, and even as you appear to stumble or fall you are aware of the love and protection surrounding you.
Always do you have the choice of which way you will travel. You must take the first step yourselves. Always do I stand to extend a helping hand, but you must ask for help each day. I have told you again and yet again, you have been given the map clearly marked, and that you are fitted for the climb before you. It is your responsibility to move forward. You cannot stand still. You feel pulled by the heights, and yet are fearful of the dangers, of the depths you seem to see before you. Illusions all, the only reality is the heights, and the only way to reach those heights is one small step at a time, keeping your eyes, your hearts and souls fixed firmly on the Light above.
As you enter a new cycle of the Temple work you must bear constantly in mind that your relationships one to another must be stripped of all pretense, all self-seeking, all selfishness. The tests you will continue to meet are based on the Law of Brother/Sisterhood and involve the finer courtesies of life, the gentle services for youth and age, the ability to withhold rather than to give ridicule or criticism, to bear with and not to provoke, to entertain the Christ within your hearts in such a way that you become the absolute embodiment of Light and Love.
As you meet and overcome these tests you develop the strength to successfully battle the Powers of Darkness. Remember, the Powers of Darkness, as well as the Powers of Light, are not outside of you somewhere; they are within your heart. That is where the battle is fought, that is where the battle must be won. It is your responsibility to take up the little things of life and do them wisely, gladly, with willing heart and loving, pure service. It is not your responsibility to ask others to do what you must do. Remember, the faults you see in another are not yours to correct now or ever. Correct your own and you will be surprised to find your brother's or sister's faults have disappeared.
Last year I told you more and more hungry souls will flock to your door. Greater numbers will bring greater tests. You are fitted for this work. Remember to keep close together with harmony, preventing the forces of negation and separation from gaining power. Transcend personal feelings and grievances in your compassionate desire to help others.
Seventy-five years ago I gave you these words, and they are as true now as then: "Work for and in me, as you are a part of myself. If you fail you help to keep me back, and if I go on you also are lifted up and helped to scale the heights of life. Group upon group of souls must go on together in an endless chain to infinity. There is no other way, and there can be no separateness with progress in the spiritual sense. One may keep back the many, due to the Law of the Unity of all life. Be true to yourself, be true to us, and you will hear my voice in your souls and feel my touch on your hearts. I give you my blessing, which is myself."
In tender love,
Your Father-Brother Hilarion
The congregation then sang Creeds Disappear, Hearts Remain, accompanied by Nashoma Carlson and Brad Carroll. The service was concluded with the Feast of Fulfillment.
The Noon Healing Service was conducted by Eleanor Shumway and George Colendich.
At 1:30 p.m., the community gathered at The Central Home for a luncheon and a chance to visit.
At 7 p.m., the Sunday evening meditation meeting was held in the Temple.
-- Ed Eberman
At 10 a.m., a forum entitled "Beacon Fires Renewed" was held in the Temple. The small book Beacon Fires was first published in 1899, and contains precious teachings from Master Hilarion given to Blue Star. In the preface to the book, Blue Star says of the Master, "[His] sole purpose in life is the regeneration of the human race, championing the cause of the 'common people,' asserting their rights and seeking to remedy existing abuses; yet ever, as a true mystic, trying to bring all to the recognition of the realities of the inner life, and the God within [all life]." One hundred years later we are given the opportunity to add new fuel of thought, word, and deed to those spiritual Beacon Fires in our daily lives that they may inspire us, and those around us, to new heights within.
Speakers were Richard Lentz, Barbara Ricardo, Willy Gommel, and Linda Rollison.
I've spent some little time here wondering myself how it should be, and I have decided for once to try to practice what I've been preaching to myself for some years. I haven't written this talk, thus making me have to read it to you -- I just made a few little notes -- but I am going to talk with you. This is perhaps my little gesture in "renewing the Beacon Fires."
After all, everyone here is my friend. That in itself is a beacon to me. I started out thinking this over by wondering: What is a beacon? What is a beacon fire? Why do we need to renew it?
My dictionary says: "1. a signal fire, especially one on a hill, pole, etc.; 2. any light for warning or guiding; 3. a lighthouse; 4. a radio transmitter that sends out signals for the guidance of aircraft, as at night or in fog; 5. a person or thing that warns, offers encouragement or guidance, etc."
Lighthouses, airport beacons, guide and navigation lights, even celestial bodies -- these are all beacons. For me, the salient point is that we are, in a sense, at sea. It can feel awfully dark out here in this plane. We're a long way from home, about as far as we can get. So we need something to show us the way back Home. A beacon is most useful at night, during cloudy weather, fog, or whatever -- just those times when it's easiest for us to get lost. It feels to me as though it's night time in the world. When I say the world, am I talking about the plane or the planet? I don't know. It doesn't matter. I'm on the planet; I'm in the plane; it's all one to me -- so far.
At the beginning of 1987, I had never heard of a place called Halcyon. I had never heard of a religious society called the Temple of the People. I sure have now! The word "Halcyon" was given through devious means to my friend, Charlie Bunch (whom many here have met), and it became an odyssey to discover what on earth this meant. The only other clue we were given was that it was somewhere along Highway 1. The atlases don't have the name "Halcyon" in their indexes; most maps don't show it, at least not the kind I had in Reno, where I was living at the time; but, with a little detective work, I found it. So one day -- in fact, it was July 4, 1987 -- Charlie Bunch and I were in my old VW bus driving up Halcyon Road, and -- "What's this on the left? Wowwww!" Was that a beacon, or what?
Well, we came. There was no one here. It was a Saturday, that July 4, 1987. But we saw the sign that said the Sunday service was going to be held at 10:30. So at 10:30 on July 5, there we were, and we both sat through our first feast -- not the last. And, following that, the noon service. Then, in Eleanor's house, which at the time was the one right across the street where the Lowmans live now, lunch. That was the first taste of Halcyon hospitality -- again, not the last! So I'm here, looking up at this light on the ceiling, which has its counterpart at the top of the roof, which is a beacon.
What is the Theosophical significance of beacons? We're wayfarers. We're in the world, trying to find our way, as Ivan often sings. We're not big enough to be the All, so we can't see the All -- yet. That's why we're here. We're studying the All. It's an awfully big table that's spread for us. Sometimes it seems overwhelming. I stand in awe of the prospect of what I'm entrusted to do, what I'm entrusted to be, but Wowwwww! what an experience.
We are all in this together. That means that we all need beacons. We all need to see the light on this roof from afar. This Convention, this Temple, are such beacons. They guide us; they give us place; they orient us, giving us a sense of direction; they give us an answer to the questions, "Why am I here? Why do I have all this noise and clutter and clatter in life? Why is the world the shambles it seems to be?"
How can these be a beacon to us? What are the dimensions of (a term I just coined) Beaconicity? We have to persevere through time; we have to endure through space -- all three dimensions of it. We're told, for instance, in the Feast Service: "We are gathered together, seen and unseen ..." So that adds the dimension of spirit versus material. That, to me, has said a lot. I hear that at least every month, and that reminds me how un-alone we are at all times, even when we seem alone. The All is us, and we are the All.
We are beacons to each other. I know I never feel like a beacon, yet I know I am because I look at all these other people who are in the room with me, and I know you never feel like a beacon either, but I know you are, because I feel your radiance every day. I feel your sharing every day; I feel your love, your warmth every day. We hug a lot. That sure talks to me.
We are alive, more than most have the opportunity to be, because we are given the wherewithal to know that we are alive. We are given the wherewithal to know that we exist and, to a large measure, why. It's amazing how much more we exist -- how much more existing we get done (if I can be permitted that combination of terms) -- because of the knowledge we have. I know I will never succeed in exploring or trying on for size all of the Temple teachings. I know Master has given me more than I can possibly handle. So does that make me want to meet Master more, or less? Neither. I still want to meet Master some day.
Master is a beacon to me. He is a beacon to all of us; he is a beacon to the world. And there we have one of our deepest duties: we are appointed to show that fact to the world, to transmit the Master's Beaconism. We are the visible sign of the Master who is, at the moment, a not-very-visible (in the typical sense) beacon unto this world. We have our limitations: we need to be autonomous, we need to be responsible, but we need to lean on each other, too -- and we sure do. And I love it.
We are a Society of Beacons. These are "the good old days." We are "the good old people." Onward together into a bright future -- no matter how dark the surroundings seem!
-- Willy Gommel
-- Ed Eberman
The theme for today is "Beacon Fires Renewed." This beacon is The Temple and its fires are the principles upon which it is built. These fires must be tended all year long. Usually, it is by whichever one of us is at hand at the moment. Sometimes the fires burn low and steady; sometimes they burn hot and fierce. At times, it takes all of us, simultaneously, to keep the fires burning. At other times, it requires only one or two, and always, there is one, or many, of us to stand guard that it does indeed keep burning. All year, we enact the energy and busy-ness of our every-day lives, all the while keeping one eye on that fire. And then, for one week, we convene, together with the Masters, and conscientiously refuel and diligently tend the fires that they burn brighter and brighter each year so the beacon will shine further and further into the world, lighting the path for those of us who are still lost and searching for its way.
This Convention each year marks a time of renewal, of reflection, and of reaffirmation. Re-newing requires examination of the present. Re-flection requires examination of the past, and re-affirmation requires dedication to the future. This Convention each year requires that we collectively chart our course; individually, observe our present; and together, become our future.
The best way to become our future is to periodically turn around and walk backwards into the future. This way we can see where we've been by what's behind us, we can see where we are by what surrounds us, and this will tell us if we're moving in the right direction.
Let us each look behind us to where we've been, around us to where we are, and let us adjust our course according to where we want to be.
Thank you.
-- Barbara Ricardo
The contents of Beacon Fires are the words of Master Hilarion. Chapter One, "The Turning Point of Civilization," describes the setting within which our drama unfolds: humanity is at a critical stage of development. This chapter portends events of the 20th century. Chapter Two, "Learning to Live," provides guidelines for living and encouragement for students of occultism and seekers of spiritual growth. It suggests that the path to spiritual wisdom is to blend the asceticism and mysticism of the East with the call to action of the West. "Learn to merge yourself in the whole and from that point judge your own personality." Chapter Three, "Sensation and Contact," discusses the role of sensation. Sensation is essential to life; abuse of sensation causes pain and needless suffering.
Chapter Four, "The Eternal Love," encourages idealism. The power of idealizing is one with the power of loving. Chapter Five, "Pain and Sacrifice," explains what true sacrifice is and the nature of true giving. Even the act of giving, appearing to be unselfish, can come from self-centered motives, in which case the act is not true giving. If I truly desire to serve a cause, I will serve in the way in which I am called, rather than how I imagine I would like to serve. This guidance applies to our daily relationships with family and associates, as well as to the most noble of causes. Chapter Six, "The Power of Little Things," extols the virtue of doing what is in front of us to do. For each of us, our duty is where we are. The true battle in life is between spirit and matter, angels and demons, and daily it must be won, within each of us.
The Temple published Beacon Fires in 1899. Chapter One, "The Turning Point of Civilization," is prophetic in nature. There are references to class differences; scientific aristocracy vs. the masses; cultured classes indifferent to the fate of a nation or people; self-gratification vs. the good of the people.
The New Columbia Encyclopedia defines "revolution" as follows. In a political sense it is a fundamental and violent change in the values, political institutions, social structures, leadership and policies of a society. Economic inequality has been recognized as an important cause.
In Beacon Fires the Master states, "There has never been a time in the history of the world when each separate nation of the whole stood in such an attitude of attention and expectation." Universal war will be declared. There will be overthrow of present conditions all over the world. A new order of things must follow politically, industrially, socially.
The New Columbia Encyclopedia describes World War I as the largest war the world had yet seen. The prominent causes were the imperialistic, territorial, and economic rivalries that had been intensifying from the late 19th century.
Just a partial list of the revolutions and wars of this century is staggering. This list is included only to illustrate the dimensions of the work facing us: 1910-1940, Mexican revolution ; 1912-1913, Balkan Wars; 1914-1918, World War I; 1917, Russian revolution; 1919-1938, League of Nations; 1932-1935, Bolivia/Paraguay at war; 1935, Italy attacked Ethiopia; 1936-1939, Spanish Civil War; 1937, Japan at war with China; 1938, Hitler seized Austria; 1939, USSR attacked Finland; 1939-1945, World War II; 1945, United Nations formed; 1945-1960's, Cold War between Western powers and Communist bloc; 1959, Cuban revolution; 1966-1976, Chinese cultural revolution; 1979, Iranian revolution; 1970's to the present, Succession of limited wars; proliferation of guerrilla warfare and terrorism.
Beacon Fires tells us that when all the desolation, sacrifice and suffering following the wars begin to focus on the physical and mental planes, the fruits of that suffering and sacrifice will begin to manifest. A new vibration of the world will be awakened, signaling the birth of a new race. A nation, by the growth and development of its individuals, may create conditions, may "prepare the soil," and demand a true leader. It is predicted that at the close of this era there will be an "adept in the presidential chair," and there will be an equal chance for every man, woman and child.
A poem written by Maya Angelou for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations is a fitting expression of the overall message of Beacon Fires. It expresses the hope that the good within each and every one of us will prevail.
We, this people on a small and lonely planet
Traveling through causal space
Past aloof stars, across the way of indifferent suns
To a destination where all signs tell us
It is possible and imperative that we discover
A brave and startling truth
And when we come to it
To the day of peacemaking
When we release our fingers
From fists of hostility
And allow the pure air to cool our palms
When the curtain falls on the minstrel show of hate
And faces sooted with scorn are scrubbed clean
When battlefields and coliseum
No longer rake our unique and particular sons and daughters
Up with the bruised and bloody grass
To lie in identical plots in foreign lands
When the pennants are waving gaily
When the banners of the world tremble
Stoutly in the good, clean breeze
When we come to it
When we let the rifles fall from our shoulders
And children dress their dolls in flags of truce
When land mines of death have been removed
And the aged may walk into evenings of peace
When religious ritual is not perfumed
By the incense of burning flesh
And childhood dreams are not kicked awake
By nightmares of abuse
When we come to it
Then we will confess that not the Pyramids
With their stones set in mysterious perfection
Not the Garden of Babylon
Hanging as eternal beauty
In our collective memory
Not the Grand Canyon
Kindled in delicious color
By Western sunsets
Not the Danube flowing in its blue soul into Europe
Not the sacred peak of Mount Fuji
Stretching to the rising sun
Neither Father Amazon nor Mother Mississippi who, without favor,
Nurture all creatures in the depths and on the shores
These are not the only wonders of the world
When we come to it
We, this people, on this minuscule and kithless globe
Who reach daily for the bomb, the blade, the dagger
yet who petition in the dark for tokens of peace
We, this people on this moat of matter
in whose mouths abide cantankerous words
Which challenge our existence
Yet out of those same mouths
Can come songs of such exquisite sweetness
That the heart falters in its labor
And the body is quieted into awe
We, this people, on this small and drifting planet
Whose hands can strike with such abandon
That in a twinkling, life is sapped from the living
Yet those same hands can tough with such healing, irresistible tenderness
That the haughty neck is happy to bow
And the proud back is glad to bend
Out of such chaos, of such contradiction
We learn that we are neither devils or divines
When we come to it
We, this people, on this wayward, floating body
Created on this earth, of this earth
have the power to fashion for this earth
A climate where every man and every woman
Can live freely without sanctimonious piety
And without crippling fear
When we come to it
We must confess that we are the possible
We are the miraculous, the true wonders of this world
That is when, and only when
We come to it.
-- Dick Lentz
Do you ever dream of life in a more simple natural time, when a fire on every hearth was flickering and crackling, bringing warmth and comfort to every heart and body, instead of being something relegated to poetry and imagination? Did you ever keep vigil all night on a hilltop, feeding the blazing fire that signaled to your people that the fleet was in, or the enemy was sighted, or the sun, upon which all life depends, had been born again? Have you ever stayed outside at night with only a campfire to light the immense and mysterious darkness, and felt how warm you are on the side near the fire, and how chilly the other side feels?
Where is the battlefield for the Warrior of Light in the 21st century? We live in artificial illumination and artificial warmth, huddled in front of flickering screens which propagate manipulated illusions of information, protected from the great forces of nature which dominated our conscious lives in earlier times. How can we find the link to a natural life, in such a cocoon of deadening stultifying protection?
When we take a walk at night, and look up to our older brothers, the brilliant steadfast stars, do we realize that they are offering us the key to the golden gates of the realm of heroic living? When our soul is soothed by gazing upon a field of all the colors of the rainbow expressed by spring's wildflowers, do we hear the whisper of their fragrant message to us, their older brothers and sisters? When we look deeply into the eyes of our neighbor or our friend, do we read therein the message of hope that radiates from their soul to ours?
Everything we are is reflected in the world we perceive. There is nothing in our experience that does not reside within our being. When we see pain and suffering, we are watching a living breathing movie of our inner life. When we know joy and delight, we radiate Love to all around us. The choice is ours, whether to contribute to the Darkness, or to the Light. And it is a choice which can affect the course of evolution of the whole human race, for ages and ages to come.
We are the children of the Avatar, the Christos come to dwell in the hearts of all mankind, to bring to birth the Age of Peace and Brotherhood. We are now facing a cycle of purifying fire the likes of which has not been seen for a long time. The symbol of this conflagration is a cross, like the one upon which the last Avatar was crucified. It is a cross of balance, the symbol in turn of the human experience in the natural world of fire, earth, air, and water. In this cycle, it is humanity itself that is being crucified, and the cross is of our own making, the product of ages of disobedience to the Law of Love which is God. It depends upon those of us who can see and know the truth, whether humanity will successfully pass this crucial initiation, and whether the promised transmutation will occur now or be delayed for endless laborious ages to come.
None can escape the consequences of our flagrant and persistent disregard of all we have been taught, which after all was only the compassionate response to our passionate desire to know. It is useless and foolish to think that it isn't our fault. We wouldn't be living on the earth today if we were not responsible for the conditions that prevail.
But equally true is the brilliant fact that it is we who have the power to change the course of history, to create the conditions that we all know should prevail for the children of earth. Our battlefield is in our own hearts and minds. The weapons that will bring victory are simple and at hand: a pure heart; devotion to duty; control of the lower self; faith in the Love of the Father and in the perfect justice of the Higher Law; courage to tell the truth to ourselves and to others; willing service to all our other selves; and sincere altruism which puts the needs of others above our own.
We can choose if we wish to struggle against our destiny. That will only prolong the war between the great Forces that even now holds our very survival in the balance. Or we can choose to accept that the responsibility for the evolution of humanity through and beyond the tarry swamp of Kali Yuga, the real Dark Age, is ours.
Knowing that we hold the power of salvation in our hands, does it not become evident that we may as well get to work? Our task is huge, but it is very simple. And we can start very near to home. We can accept that whatever conditions prevail in our lives or in our world represent nothing more than our opportunity to understand and to help. It may seem that Mother Nature is a remote goddess, but if we look within the seeming alienation of a technological wilderness, we might see that all that drives our machines is the little lives of fire, the same lives that used to warm us at our hearth.
We can realize that everyone on earth is doing the best they can to live as they should, and look within our own hearts for the source of all our problems and hurts. This is self-responsibility, and without it we cannot take another step. We can embrace all life brings us with confidence and joy, and trust our inner knowing, the Angel that guides us if we will only listen, to help us find the solid stepping stones on our path. There is no failure on that path, only lessons needed to strengthen the seeker for future testing and refining.
We can find the fire of creativity and joy within our own souls, and when we find it, we can pursue wholeheartedly that which we love to do. Our every honest effort to contact and express the creative stream of Life is a Lightsword which cuts through all shadows and blinding illusion, which severs the chains of bondage to pain and suffering that hold our race in thrall. It cannot matter what the arena of activity our desire to be of use may bring us to, and no one is more worthy than another. When we fearlessly search our own hearts, we find a spark of pure fire, the spark of God that lives in every manifested thing, and that spark becomes a torch which illumines our way. And if we are willing to pass that way, no matter how steep or treacherous the path, we in turn become Beacon Fires, lighting the way for the lost and broken ones, warming the numb and frozen ones, and generating a Light bright enough for even the stars in heaven to greet and welcome home.
-- Linda Rollison
The Healing Service was conducted by Nashoma and Ron Carlson.
At 7 p.m., the Temple officers presented their annual reports in the Temple.
Report of the Treasurer
-- From the Mountain Top, Vol. I, p. 185
One of the great symbols in our Temple Treasury is this building. Constructed in 1923, it was built in the shape of the human heart, representing by extension the heart or center of all systems in creation. Whether the nucleus of an atom, the queen of a hive, the beating heart of a mammal, or the core of a galactic cluster, each entity is connected by a common thread to all other entities, from the minuscule to the magnificent. Life in its infinite variety pulses with the essence of one energetic source, which flows through all creatures and things.
The job of a single cell in an organism is noble in its simplicity: each has a vital, singular purpose to fulfill. The entire organism depends on cells in a wide array of systems to do their jobs, and if one fails, another appears to carry on with the work. Individually and together, we are pulsing with the intelligent life beat of something much grander than we can grasp.
This differentiation and determination is the motive power of life. Like those cells, we are uniquely gifted personalities in this Temple family, using our gifts, making mistakes, rubbing up against our own and other quirky personalities-doing our jobs as we live out our various interpretations of the Temple Teachings the best we know to do each day.
What kind of cells are we? We are strong and fragile; gracious and rude; we are metaphoric and literal in our interpretations of the Teachings; we are compassionate and selfish; understanding and misunderstood; we are vulnerable and threatening; fearful and loving. We are yin and yang, opposites who sometimes must look deeply to remember our common ground. We show our worst and our best in our interactions, fire and water and earth and air hissing and spitting and growing and tempering and loving one another, day by day. We are frail humans working to become divine. We are the heart of the Temple Treasury.
That which is treasured generally becomes so by effort expended in its creation, cultivation, or appreciation. This place is no different, and never has been: it depends on us to commit our conscious awareness, our obligation to principles, our grace, our gifts, our love, our best efforts to its upbuilding and advancement. Each conscious effort by one of us is both the source and the result of an extraordinary fusion of spirit and matter that manifests through all of us onto the physical plane, motive power flowing to us, through us, and back to the Heart of God.
It seems fitting that we, as humans, have arms which extend out from our bodies at the same level as our hearts, for it is in the activities of daily life and through the touch of our hands that we manifest the Greater Heartbeat into this world. Just as this Temple building sustains and nourishes us by its radiance and purpose, so we become channels for the touch of the Masters, doing our best in our own small corners of the world to bring a sense of connection to the Whole, an aura of peace in the midst of life's whirling, a loving presence in the lives of those around us.
By doing what is at hand for each of us, we exalt the work taken on by those who went before and those who will follow. Most of us will be gone from this plane 100 years from now, but surely the work symbolized by this Centennial Convention and this building will continue, as Templars everywhere work together to prepare a place in our hearts and lives for the Overshadowing Christ to enter.
-- Marti Fast
Report Of The Scribe
A full century of the outer Temple work has passed, and this is the one-hundredth Temple Convention. This is no small matter for any of us, for the history of the Temple is the history of humanity, and humanity's fate cannot be separated from all nature and the starry heavens. We must also keep in mind that what we see happening to us is only a very tiny portion of a much bigger picture, for there are seven great races of humanity alive on and within this planet, while on the outer surface of our globus we are only familiar with one. So even if some great catastrophe should exterminate us upon surface Earth, there would still remain six other unknown races of us deep down in the hidden crevices or bowels of the Earth. Besides, humanity is certainly not limited to this little planet which is at the lowest point as compared to conditions elsewhere; humans populate the entire cosmos and there are more advanced humans on other planets.
One hundred years ago a great cosmic force came to humanity to all humanity, mind you -- raising the vibrations of all things and beings in the aura of this entity we call Earth. This great cosmic force "returned in a cloud," so to speak -- that is, works from within on planes interior to the physical, entering the hearts -- and this is not a mere figure of speech -- of all humans simultaneously. It would be more correct from an interior standpoint to use the phrase "human animal," as we are not truly human yet (or, should we say again, have fallen from our divine status as described in the Secret Doctrine), and this is exactly why the Avatar can be compared to a Master husbandman teaching full obedience to beasts of burden. Just as the wild beast evolves into a beast of burden, the divine amber slumbering in our hearts may get fanned into the flame of universal love. If we let the Avatar do his work and neither stifle it nor force the bud open, we may soon find that we are one with each other and all nature, and realize that we are that love. Having fallen, however, below the level of wild beasts, it is difficult for humanity to see its inherent greatness, its inseparableness from and essential identity with the Higher Self, the Masters, the White Lodge or God.
That is why no human can be truly judged as to his or her standing on the scale of evolution, because any one of us can do a sublime thing any minute and leave behind his fallen state and place himself on the very top of the ladder of existence. By analogy, the same is true for all humanity. We can still awake from the nightmare we created in the semblance of humanity, disguised as humans which we are not yet, and awaken in an instant and mend our ways and even save this doomed planet which to occultists was always known to be a living thing, a very highly evolved being or entity.
What can we say, then, about the past hundred years? Despite all efforts of humanity to resist the call for waking up; despite all the strange, foolish and dangerous things we invent and do to divert our attention from that universal force and voice in our hearts, there are ever more and more of us who feel that very same Love and Light within, and realize evermore its inherent power, beauty, and majesty. Let's keep in mind that if we all are sufficiently united with that light, the need for the physical plane will be gone and it will be indrawn.
We have come into the Temple ranks when the work started a hundred years ago, and perhaps some of us have returned since then to participate a second time, to pick up loose ends and to continue what was left unfinished; and when we are gone it is in our physical or spiritual children that we will return. We were once a mighty family, and one day we shall be surely united again in a great and giant family that will be able to do all the things we cannot do now. Our seeming insignificance as small people at present should not upset us; let us remember that in reality and truth there is no high or low. Also, seeing ourselves as so absolutely little, let us keep in mind that this is only the beginning of the work and, from a certain standpoint, the real work hasn't even started yet.
We must hold our hands and pray and stand together, for in unity is our strength. We cannot see and realize our oneness with our Father in Heaven as long as we fight or permit the destroyer to enter our ranks, our hearts. We must realize that everything that separates us is in reality an attack on our very lives and on our Father and Mother who are in reality both authors and engineers of the work. All they expect from us is to assist them. And yet, we should not think of ourselves as insignificant. Master says that even the tiniest of all Temple children is just as important as is the Agent, and that each of us should think of ourselves as the one point on which alone depends the success of the entire work.
We know that great changes are imminent for the entire human race and the planet itself. It may seem there is only disorder and chaos at present, but we must never forget that there is always a stronger hand and perfect law and harmony underneath all war and turmoil. It is more important than ever to stand together now and permit nothing to come between any two of us. Whatever it is, let us put it out of our hearts and minds; this is the least we can ask of ourselves on this one-hundredth Temple Convention. We must honor Father and Mother, our heritage -- not only as disciples but also as real children of a very real Father.
On September 15, 1901, most important words on the past, present and future of the Temple work were spoken by the Master Morya -- words addressed to the Executive Committee of the Temple. These words are as timely now -- perhaps even more timely -- than they were back then. Let us keep these words, this force in our hearts for the duration of this one-hundredth Temple Convention:
"Many cycles have passed since it was last possible to openly declare the same mysteries entrusted to you, and upon your use of the knowledge acquired and faithfulness to vows assumed, depends still greater knowledge. You have been given a sacred trust in the Father's exposition of ancient philosophy, a trust that may well revolutionize modern thought. That a like trust was given to and betrayed by others has no bearing on the case. Your responsibility remains the same.
"But one thing can thwart your efforts and nullify your influence -- that is friction between those at the Central point and distrust of her whom we have chosen.
"I will not commend you for work accomplished, for it has been done for yourselves. Always remember the work as well as the reward is your own."
-- Istvan Balogh
Report of the Inner Guard
Wow -- 100 Temple Conventions! This one is my 27th. As well as marking the end of a century of Temple Conventions, it starts us off on the next 100 Conventions. This is the time for new resolutions and renewal of the many former resolutions we may have let slide. What we need is a monumental burst of determination and energy to navigate our Temple beliefs, our Temple spirits and our fellow man through the coming years. With all the wonderful outpouring of love and light from our Brothers and Sisters on High -- we can take their great gift and use it in our everyday life. The unique way we each use this same life force awes me. I am continually amazed at the myriad uses of the same piece of information by each and every person.
The many ways this unending message of love and brotherhood from the Masters is disseminated leaves me wide-eyed -- it is coming at us, to us, through us and rebounding from us everywhere. From micro to macro, it's all around us; from all of our modern technology to the major changes in world situations down to the very small everyday things. We can actually see the message of brotherhood expanding before our very eyes; the interaction of the planets and stars and right back to our own front yards -- a mother chicken helping her chicks. This wonderful God-given force is everywhere and in everything. We cannot ignore it any more.
We, living here in Halcyon, seem to see ourselves as trying to be spiritual beings. It is an admirable aspiration, to say the least! We could become complacent and self-satisfied. After all, we are here in Halcyon, aren't we? Guess what?!? Even we have to do our own part to live the Master's Messages.
I have a couple resolutions to share with you. I resolve to remind myself what brotherhood means to me and I resolve to strive to live in brotherhood and harmony with all in my world. I resolve to work on letting the peace, light, love and joy given freely to us by the Masters shine through me to you and to take the time to see it shine from each and every one of you. We can nurture and honor the power and presence of God within every body and every thing.
Thank you.
-- Margaret C. Thyrring
-- Ed Eberman
Report of the Outer Guard
Good evening. The position of Outer Guard symbolizes the responsibility to the masculine aspect -- the protecting, questing, balancing force.
I would like to offer a way to use the balancing force. With our very busy everyday lives, we find it a challenge to take time to devote to our spiritual growth. Setting aside a little time may help. As an example, last December sixth, at the Sunday evening meditation, it came to me that there are lots of words spoken here in the Temple life: Master, Christ, Christos, Teachings, Temple, obey, love, ifs, ands, and buts, and a whole bunch more. All these words, which have been said or heard, or will be said or heard, and many more words, are used over and over. These arrangements of words result in hundreds of different messages used here in the Temple. The Temple offers the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Service and evening meditation, daily Noon Healing Service, and classes on Tuesdays and Fridays. These services, classes, and meditations can offer an accelerated effect which can help in our balancing.
Thank you.
-- Ron Carlson
Report of the Guardian in Chief
"What is Convention?" The word itself means to come together in common purpose. In 1915 Blue Star called the Convention "a little window of the Great Temple, through which those who will do so may catch a glimpse of the Altar decked with the flowers of devotion and compassion culled by countless generations of those who have worshipped before that Altar." The form of Convention, indeed even the time, has changed over the years. The first Convention was held in October, and only later was the time changed to the first week in August during which the Master told us there is a convocation of Masters, and it was time to align ourselves with that particular flow of force.
The length of our Convention has varied from three days to nine, depending on strength, energy, and need. In Syracuse, the meetings were held in private rooms and public halls. In 1903, just after the move to Halcyon, there appeared the following notice in the Artisan: "There will be no regular Convention of the Temple members this year, on account of the lack of facilities for entertaining any large number of people near Headquarters, and because of the press of work on those at the center, in preparing right conditions at this important transitional state of the work. There will be held, however, an informal conference at Headquarters on August 30th, to which all members are invited ... Hotel and boarding accommodations may be secured at Oceano, and at Arroyo Grande, distant one and two miles, respectively, from Headquarters. Members can secure transportation to and from these places." Headquarters was the two-story house occupied by Blue Star on the four acres just south of the Central Home garage.
Beginning in 1904, and continuing until 1923, when the unfinished Temple building was first used, most gatherings for Convention were held in the Halcyon Parlors of the Sanitarium. One year, the Union Hall in Arroyo Grande was rented to make parts of the Convention even more accessible to the public. Over the years, the one thing constant has been Convention itself. Meetings, ceremonies, services, social gatherings, and excursions have changed to meet the needs of the times.
Imagine if you will the coming together, for a common purpose in that first Convention, of the 43 people pictured so solemnly in the photo we have on the office wall. They came from all parts of Syracuse, New York, as well as other parts of New England and as far away as Ohio and Illinois. They traveled by train, trolley, and horse and buggy. They found lodging in rooming houses, hotels, and with friends. They were impelled by a new vision, a new impulse that was so grand, so inspiring that they were lifted into new realms. Nothing would ever be the same in their lives again.
This first Convention met together en masse, and in committee, striving to articulate the tremendous forces that were being poured into this effort by the White Lodge to bring into being a new expression of the Father/Motherhood of God, the Brother/Sisterhood of all humanity. They had been called together to accept a simple assignment: that of deeply, richly living the injunction of "Thou shalt love the Lord, Thy God, with all thy heart and mind, and thy neighbor as thyself." A simple assignment -- potent, powerful, and irrevocable.
When any of us, then or now, are caught up in these very high spiritual forces, we forget that in the act of reaching toward our ideals, we call into action the opposite -- those testing forces which help us develop our strength, our staying power, and our resolve. And so it was then, and ever has been; the high ideals and aspirations; and the ensuing tests which resulted in squabbles and personality conflicts. But the dream held and the work of the Master moved forward.
Today, what do we do to get ready for Convention? For Temple members who feel it is the beginning of a new year, there is a feeling of preparation for a new cycle. We pay our dues, we make new resolutions concerning our inner life. On the outer physical plane most of us give extra attention to our homes and yards, making a special effort to clear out cupboards and flower beds to be ready for what is to come. We come together to give special, loving attention to the Temple, University Center, and Lodge. Most of us have that pleasant feeling of anticipation we get when, ready for a party, we await the arrival of our guests. Many make an equal effort on inner planes to align themselves with pledges made to the Higher Self, weeding out those things which clutter the inner homes and gardens of the soul. "All I am or hope to be, here and now I offer Thee," is heard and accepted every time we sing it. Convention is a time particularly suited to bringing that offer into clearer focus. Ready or not, Convention always comes, always bringing with it a tremendous sense of renewal, which for me often feels like upheaval as I endeavor to bring these forces into my life in a meaningful way.
After one hundred Conventions, what have we learned from those stalwart souls who have gone before us? The squabbles and conflicts drop away as the dross is burned from our lower natures. What is left for us and those yet to come is the pure gold of our predecessors' sacrifices, aspirations, joys, ideals, suffering, and transcendent love. Theirs were the hands that spread the message of hope, that assisted comrades to take the last step of passing into new realms, that ploughed and watered a thirsty land that others might have food, that gave the precious gift of music to gladden hearts, that ministered to the world's disinherited, that lightened the loneliness or fear of those in need; quiet hands that served the Master by reaching out to nearby tasks. They are the hands that have passed on the Temple banner to our hands.
As always, we have the power of choice as we stand with that banner in hand. Every single day we must choose tolerance, understanding and love. We must choose daily to accept the idea of self-responsibility for our own individual spiritual unfoldment. In the 1913 Master's message, the last line reads, "The one last word I would leave with you is SELF-RESPONSIBILITY." This includes choosing loving acceptance of ourselves and others. We only learn this process by doing, questioning, adjusting and trying again, always trusting in our faith in the Master's guidance.
It is so easy to say, "Faith in the Master's guidance." That guidance has never stopped, never faltered. Perhaps our ability to put our faith into action in the inner recesses of our hearts is easier in the stillness, but the real test of our faith in His guidance comes in the heat of anger, hatred, disillusionment, jealously, passion, discouragement, and sorrow. These qualities are the testing side of love, compassion, hope, tolerance, aspiration, tranquility, and joy. The process of building the bridge between the human and the divine is slow and daunting, largely because we leap ahead with our minds, ofttimes leaving the emotions and spirit behind. Learning to rest back into the Master's guidance is the way to gain the strength and acceptance to meet life's daily challenges.
As the Guardian in Chief, I have told you from the beginning that the reason we are here is not, and never has been, the pleasant, beautiful tranquility of a place called Halcyon. Such a place is a wonderful benefit; but no matter where we live in the world, we have been called together interiorly to live in the physical world, to learn our lessons in the physical world, and to make manifest on the physical plane things of the spirit. We are here to serve the Master through the Religious Society of the Temple of the People. Yes, Halcyon is a pleasant place to visit, to live in, but unless the priority of what it symbolizes gets a renewed pledge from all of us, Halcyon will become just so much real estate.
The sacrifice and dedication of those who have gone before us must serve an an example, a beacon of light to lead us on. It was never intended that Halcyon become a shelter for the few. You may become bored with the same message, over and over again, that we must become the thing we believe in. That message in myriad expressions has come pouring in on us for the past one hundred Conventions. The fact remains that it is the bottom line. All else is non-essential. It is our choice and no one else can make it for us. Individually we go forward, but only if we go together. A true paradox.
The officers of the Religious Society of the Temple of the People are the Inner Guard, Outer Guard, Scribe, Treasurer and three Delegates-at-Large. Each office symbolizes a certain aspect or facet of the Temple work. The office of Inner Guard symbolizes the responsibility to the feminine aspect of manifestation -- the nurturing, connecting, indwelling spiritual force. The position of Outer Guard symbolizes the responsibility to the masculine aspect -- the protecting, questing, balancing force. The position of Treasurer symbolizes the responsibility to our storehouse of spiritual treasure filled with the jewels we have been given to use, to care for and enhance. The position of Scribe symbolizes the responsibility to the records of our aspirations, hopes, and faith and the flow of these to and from all human hearts and minds.
The three positions of Delegates-at-Large, chosen from those Temple members who do not live here in Halcyon, symbolize the many members world-wide whose dedication to the Truth expressed through the Temple teachings is inspiring. They are meeting the challenge of putting these teachings into daily practice without the outer group support and daily meetings that we are privileged to enjoy here at the Center.
These officers are not elected; rather, they are appointed at the suggestion of the Master. They meet with me regularly to discuss matters that relate directly to the Religious Society and the outpicturing of the inner work of the Temple. As in years gone by, each one will bring their own consciousness to the office, thereby enlarging, sustaining, and nurturing the Temple, themselves, and all of us. For the ensuing year, the officers of the Religious Society of the Temple of the People will be: Margaret Thyrring, Inner Guard; Ron Carlson, Outer Guard; Marti Fast, Treasurer; Istvan Balogh, Scribe; with Sergey Moiseyev in Castro Valley, Lupko Salom in London, and Karsten Kimritz in Berlin as Delegates-at-Large.
As Guardian in Chief, the appointed agent of the Master of the White Lodge, I give you His words: "Poor tried and tortured fragments of the Temple self! How little have you known of yourselves; yet there is so much to learn, so much that you must steep into your consciousness over the fires of purification ere you can rise superior to the limitations which hold you in duress. Yet, for your comfort be it known that the power to so rise lies within yourselves and we who stand and wait hold wide open the gate of enlightenment as we see you running the great life race.
"Lay hold of that power within you, and use it to study yourselves with never-ceasing effort. Never mind about studying the other man, the other woman, for within yourselves are all the secrets of life; and not until you understand the mysteries of your own paradoxical and contradictory qualities can you possibly understand your neighbor or know your God.
"With sympathy, encouragement, and never-ending hope, in true devotion, your father, Hilarion."
All of us together as Templars have a simple assignment. We must build on the foundations of our rich heritage the edifice of the Great Inner Temple in such a way that we can hand on to the next generation a work glowing with the building blocks of our dedication, our commitment, our sacrifices, our pain and our joy. Let us use this 100th celebration of Convention to re-ensoul the convening process. We must work together in Love, Light, Joy, and Peace.
-- Eleanor Shumway, Guardian in Chief
At 5 a.m., many community members and guests went to the high dunes to watch the sunrise and eat a picnic breakfast.
The Healing Service was conducted by Marti Fast and Willy Gommel.
At 3 p.m., there was a special ceremony marking the planting of two trees in memory of Anora Gibson and Jessica Greenwaldt.
In the University Center at 5:30 p.m. the regular study class was held. Special readings from letters to and from Dr. Dower and Francia LaDue were read. This was followed by a potluck dinner in Hiawatha Lodge.
At 10:00 a.m., the Social Science session was held in the Temple. Any interested members and guests were asked to share thoughts on the subject, "The Temple: The Next Hundred Years."
-- Ivan Ulz
TOMORROW IS A WHOLE NEW DAY
"The bear will growl at the lion; the eagle will alight on the bear's head and pluck out its left eye; the ox and the lion will close in a struggle to the death; the ox, the bear, the lion and the eagle will form a square, from the center of which will arise the temple, the architect of which will rule the earth."
The above prophecy was received by the Temple on January 7, 1899. There was no additional information transmitted as to the meaning or interpretation of the prophecy, save the single statement that "All would come to pass as was written on the Inner Light."
Five years passed before there was new information on the subject. In the March, 1904, issue of The Temple Artisan we read:
"Within the last month it has been revealed that the prophecy came from a most high degree of the Great White Lodge, and that it is almost cosmic in its greatness; also that the different divisions of the White Lodge are watching with anxious eyes the forces now being precipitated upon the earth. The correspondences of the Prophecy must work out on other fields of action in addition to the nations of the earth. The four great divisions of this planet must be represented by the symbols of this prophecy. While nations are doubtless represented by the four animal forces referred to, the four great racial types of Humanity should also be indicated. Thus the Ox may typify not Germany alone, but all Teutonic peoples, and may even include other races like the Chinese and Japanese who are of slow and plodding natures. So far as Humanity is concerned, four great types would be symbolized in the prophecy. As to other fields of action, it may afford some food for thought by unlocking the symbols with another Key. Consider the Ox as Labor, pure and simple -- unorganized Labor, which practically means the masses. The Bear is a constricting inhibiting force in its extreme action and may well represent Unionism -- Organized Labor. The Lion, a predatory force, is Capital. The Eagle is the Spirit of true Liberty. The left eye is the Manasic eye, the eye of the head as opposed to the right eye -- the Buddhic -- or eye of the Heart. In this light, the prophecy would read: Organized labor will growl at capital; the spirit of true liberty will alight on, or enter, the labor unions, and rid them of their lower mental forces. The masses and capital will close in a struggle to the death. The masses, organized labor, capital and the spirit of liberty will become coordinated -- form a square, from the center of which will arise the temple, the architect of which will rule the earth."
On the one side, then, we have the outline of a true occult sociology that must come to this our spiritually darkened planet -- that fell from as high a status as are the other planets of our solar system -- and that darkness constitutes, last but not least, the web of separateness; this separateness made us tear from one another philosophy, ethics, and politics. The above outline of a true occult sociology demands that humanitarianism or brotherly love must be included in our thinking, but even more in our living. It must be made an essential element -- nay, the major guiding force in our lives until it will grow like the enchanted everlasting tree, up to the highest corner of heaven and be capable of tearing down that worst of all Iron Curtains -- that of human selfishness. And do this we must, of course, not only on an individual but also on a collective level. This means the introduction of brotherly love into politics among nations; this means the kindling and awakening of the fires of true compassion and pity in the heartless Scrooge for the fate of his fellow man; this means the binding back to God of the soulless atheist who might be a socialist intellectually but lacks the power and wisdom to put his ideas for reforming society into practice in a way that may be both acceptable and beneficial to all; this means liberating the masses from leading the life of a mindless robot in a system of wage slavery, and thus, saved by the Spirit of true Liberty, awakening them to the reality of the essential oneness of us all, with one another, with all forces and substances of Nature.
We know on the other hand that it is through the soul substance of the single human being that the so-called "great changes of society" are effected, for the reason that the real forces of Nature, the power of the Great White Lodge, must always be poured first into one single atom or group of atoms who are in the karmic position of becoming transmitters for that energy. Master says that since the destruction of Lemuria it has been impossible to have the seven disciples the Lodge needed to transmit new evolutionary waves simultaneously on the physical plane. The Temple could be founded -- and this a milestone in human history -- because the seven were again together on the physical plane. This means that the Lodge can now use us to evenly distribute forces, the lack of which created an endless chain of political systems (during the last couple of millions of years of human history) where either true liberty was suppressed, or the unions or their equivalents were either unknown or outlawed, or the masses were ignored in toto, or capital ran amok with no control or responsibility whatsoever.
But all this now may change -- and right for the next hundred years of the Temple, "the Architect of which will rule the Earth." And just as promised, Master has truly sent "more people to our door," making straight the way for, first, truce; secondly, coalition; and finally, alliance and union -- that is, brotherhood -- between those four forces which have been the deadliest antagonists imaginable until now: the Masses, Organized Labor, Capital, and the Spirit of True Liberty. Those of us who look upon the Temple as the most important thing in our lives, know and feel that the personal lot of each of us, no matter where we are located geographically, is extremely important. The Temple membership is our closest family. We were invariably struck by the power and beauty that was added to our ranks, until then limited to America and Germany, with the establishment of the London Group in the second half of the eighties. And those of us who have physically been to Germany and met our brothers and sisters there, know full well how much stronger we became, and what a great opportunity we all had to learn from each other, when the German Section of the Temple was born in the early 1930s. And when we became a hundred years old, the promise of the Supreme has been fulfilled; Divinity brought to us our Russian brothers and sisters, with their tremendous heart force, humbleness, and love.
Truly, no human, no devil can henceforth destroy the Temple, and the days of miracles are not over yet, and what we will see tomorrow will be that all of our dreams of a godly world where "the Lion and the Lamb shall lie down together," will come true, because:
"The ox, the bear, the lion and the eagle will form a square, from the center of which will arise the temple, the architect of which will rule the earth."
-- Istvan Balogh
It takes approximately 100 seconds to read a page aloud. The next 100 seconds is the first 100 seconds of the next 100 years. There are roughly 31,500,000 seconds in a year, and that means that there are about 3.15 billion seconds in a century. Put that way, it doesn't sound like very many seconds, to me. A century is not a real long time, but each of the present seconds we're going through is the first second of that next 100 years, and it's an opportunity.
I've been sitting here listening to messages from England, from Germany, from Russia (with love), and I am struck by the fact that, although we have to have events like this and although we have to talk like this, that isn't the point. What these talks do, what these events do, is flesh out the point. And the point is that I am sitting in this room with what looks like about 20 wonderful people. These 20 or so wonderful people are shadowed by unknown swarms of equally wonderful people all over the place, some of whose voices we hear, some we don't ... unless we listen inwardly. We can listen to this talk, or any of the other talks, inwardly; we can listen outwardly -- that's what we're "doing" now -- but to listen inwardly, we have to BE. What am I? I am enfolded. I am enfolded by a warmth, by a love, by a light that cannot give up, that will not give up. Giving up is unheard of at the level of BEING. We're all going to make it, folks -- it's just a matter of how, and what we choose along the way.
That message rings through loud and clear to me. We are getting inward vibes, as it were. We're getting an inward impulse. My heart is certainly singing right now the song that the Masters want us to sing, and they are singing with us in their conclave Upstairs. There is something incredible about just being here in Halcyon on this day, in this meeting. In the next 100 years ... We haven't seen anything yet.
-- Willy Gommel
As I sat here, a little thought came to me. Imagine for a moment the people of 100 years ago at Convention. People -- us -- each day doing what's at hand, struggling with the sorrows, the angers, the fears, participating in the joys -- live people with blood coursing through their veins. How could they have looked ahead to today? And here we are, these same people, the blood coursing through our veins, our fears, our joys, and the golden road of history to come opens before us. And how do we know the wonders that are before us? And each of us set our foot on that golden path.
Marvelous!
-- Nashoma Carlson
I've been jogging in the mornings lately. This morning I saw a couple of things. Sitting here, hearing everybody talk, it reminded me of some of the interviews I've heard where Dr. Dower would ask questions [of Master] about the symbolism of things that Blue Star had seen. He would say Blue Star saw this or saw that, and what does it mean? I've had those questions about my own life and things that I've seen, and whether there's any meaning to it or how it affects me?
This morning I saw two interesting situations. As I was jogging down the hill, I saw a snake in the middle of the road. It was just one snake, and the snake didn't make it to the other side of the road. I assume it was BEING, as Willy so often likes to remind me, and in its BEING it got run over by a car. Its life was ended. I was wondering what that means, if it even means anything, and for some reason I thought of it as offering me some kind of a note of caution -- look both ways before you cross. It reminded me of a conversation I had last night with my family, because in Nipomo there was somebody who was trying to coax a young child into a car. Fortunately the child was cautious and didn't believe what this adult was saying, and fortunately some kind of possible terrible thing was averted and reported to the police. I was thinking, in all of my desire to trust and to keep an open mind, I have to have some kind of space for some caution. Anyway, that was on my mind this morning.
The second thing that happened was along the road, where we have a field. Recently there have been a couple of hundred pigeons that have gathered along the side of the road, and they're probably torturing the heck out of these farmers who are planting all these seeds by eating them all up. But I can't help as I go by to raise my hands over my head and give a little clapping, because when I was a kid I raised pigeons and I get such a thrill out of seeing a flock fly. I did it again, and an amazing number of pigeons rose. What I found so interesting in symbolism was that out of all these hundreds of pigeons, there is one that is pure white, the color of the robes. I'm struck that no matter how much I try to look at the whole flock, I end up watching only where that one white pigeon flies. It feels as though that one white pigeon is the temple, and it just seems that the Temple has a firm ground or a firm place in the world, the same way that one white pigeon does. If that one white pigeon got killed the way that one snake got killed, it obviously wouldn't be there to see.
So I'm grateful for that one white pigeon, and I also realize that there's caution and work necessary so that one white pigeon can maybe make two white pigeons in the next hundred years.
-- Rick London
I wanted to share a dream I had about 2 1/2 months ago -- a very profound dream about the Temple. In the dream, the Guardian in Chief was standing at the central altar, preparing to conduct the noon meeting. Around the central altar were the chairs as we see them, but the walls of the Temple were invisible or clear. This wasn't just the border of the Temple building: the Temple building radiated out and out and out. I especially remember it down into the four acres -- it was very, very large.
Inside the Temple, all of the Temple priests, all of us who are here right now, were scampering about looking for more robes. We needed all the robes we have now, and we needed all the robes of all the priests who had gone on before us, because many people were coming into the Temple, and there was a lot of service to the people that had to happen. I especially remember Zelma, who was in the midst of this, and had this beautiful mauve collar and rope on her. I don't remember too many other faces specifically.
So we were working, and everybody knew their job. We were doing our job. Coming from the area of the four acres were lots and lots of people coming into the Temple, people who had not been here before. As seems to be the case now, most of them were Russian, but they were from all lands. From the feet walking on the earth there was a fine dust in the air, just a very fine dust, through which the light of the sun was shining, creating the same mauve and peach and golden glow. It was as if, because of the dust raised by all the people coming to the Temple, we could see the light. That was my profound dream.
I don't get to see very far into the future -- I hardly know what the next hour will hold -- but it seemed, and still seems after 2 1/2 months, a fitting start perhaps for the work that we are so privileged to be able to continue here. So happy centennial, one and all! I guess we have a lot to do.
-- Marti Fast
The Healing Service was conducted by Margaret and Chris Thyrring.
-- Ed Eberman
The Healing Service was conducted by Barbara Ricardo and Istvan Balogh.
At 12:30 p.m., a picnic was held at the Halcyon Cemetery. While Linda Rollison and Zelma Colendich worked on oil paintings, others watched and visited about the history of this corner of Halcyon, in use since 1908.
A community campfire was held at sunset in a corner of the four acres near the Central Home. Songs, marshmallows, s'mores, and visiting made this a special time.
The Healing Service was conducted by Linda Rollison and Willy Gommel.
At 2 p.m., in the Temple, a service, "Spiritual Treasures," was held. This included special readings from our rich heritage.
At 5:30 p.m., the study class was held in the University Center. The Guardian in Chief read papers from the Temple archives.
After the class a potluck dinner was held in Hiawatha Lodge, followed by visiting over the Temple photo albums.
Again, after sunset there was a community campfire near the Central Home, with fellowship and singing.
At 8 a.m., breakfast was served in Hiawatha Lodge.
The Healing Service was conducted by Ron and Nashoma Carlson.
Again at sunset, a community campfire was enjoyed by all. Roasting potatoes in the hot coals was a special treat.
At 10:30 a.m., the Temple Builders' Program was held in the Temple. The Guardian in Chief spoke of the Builders -- the children's department:
This morning is Temple Builders Sunday and, on behalf of all the children, I welcome you. Our children constantly remind us that everyone must come to the place of the child-like mind and heart in order to enter into the Kingdom of God. The Builders have been an important focus for the Temple, particularly since it moved from Syracuse. The program has changed over the years to meet changing needs and interests. When I became a Builder in 1942, we met with Ella Vogtherr, MaryLouise Lentz, and Pat Mallory in the Temple on the second and fourth Sundays of every month. Five or six was the beginning age. The program was set: candle lit, offering collected, a lesson read, songs sung, prayers recited, and at home we had no choice about attending. One just did. Over the years, the work of the Temple Builders has covered many approaches, many activities, and many children. There have been times that there was only one Builder, and others when the circle numbered fifteen or more. As times have changed, so have the programs, with some of the ceremonial observances kept, but with a lot more activity-based focus, including community service and exploration, and quiet times of talking over things that need a spiritual focus.
This past year we have had a full year of a new grouping of Builders. Rick Ricardo led the older group for six months with Rick London as able assistant. After Rick Ricardo's passing, Rick London and Linda Rollison bring a Temple focus into the minds and hearts of those older Builders. I have been gathering the younger ones together in a group, often assisted by Ivan Ulz. This morning we honor our children and children everywhere.
Several papers written by Builders over the years were read by Linda Rollison. Sergey and Rita Moiseyev sang a Russian song to the children and Ivan Ulz involved all of us in singing The Lollipop Tree with him.
The candles were lit by Johnny Foremaster and Sam London. The offering was taken by Violet Drummond and Julie Moiseyeva. The candles were extinguished by Tory Drummond and Alex Moiseyev.
The Healing Service was conducted by Barbara Ricardo and Willy Gommel.
At 3 p.m., the annual Ice Cream Social made us all very happy at the home of Ron and Nashoma Carlson. Ron presented us with a volcano cake complete with whipped cream "lava" flowing down the chocolate sides.
At 7 p.m. the Convention Benediction Service was celebrated in the Temple.
-- Harold Forgostein
Within that place in softest measure,
Tread the path marked out so clear,
In an ever-radiant beauty,
For the inner ear to hear.
Where waters sing and grasses blending,
Stately trees o'er all so strong,
Intermingle with a blending,
Of a tender human song.
Waving trees and singing waters,
Here it is the lilies blow,
Telling of a soul's great whiteness,
Love -- that God above may know.
-- W. H. Dower
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: June 20, Istvan Balogh: Light of the Avatar, Part II, The Holy Presence; June 27, Nadezhda Bikalora: Women's Activity at the Economic Crisis; July 11, Dick Lentz: Preparation; July 18, Ivan Ulz: Ring of Return; August 15, Eleanor Shumway: Convention Musings.
ginc templeofthepeople.org -- Send e-mail to the Temple directly