POSTLUDE.
Literature is but a symbol.
A book is but an array of signs by which ideas are conveyed, facts transmitted, or truths revealed.
The office of literature is to instruct, inspire, entertain, or demoralize the reader.
Varied as individuality itself are the literary devices of authors.
Innumerable are the expedients to which human intelligence resorts in its efforts to transmit knowledge, to impart ideas and ideals, or to illustrate and elucidate truths.
Born of individual aspirations, ambitions and convictions, and formulated by individual genius, are the poems, essays, dramas, songs, sermons, and even the satires of literature.
And none of these has excuse for being, except its creator has something of value to express, reveal or illustrate.
If the author’s motive be pure, and if his cause be just and his art sufficient, we forgive the mere literary form or trick by which he commands attention and awakens interest.
If, for example, a feathery skit be employed to illustrate a substantial fact or lofty principle in nature, or some current social or philosophic pretension, it should not offend the wise. It could in nowise minimize Truth, nor belittle the great purpose in the background.
It is possible, however, that it may teach a valuable lesson by indirection. It may enlarge the understanding and remove the prejudice of a few people.
To travesty a noble theme is easy, for in this great world of ours the sublime and the ridiculous forever march side by side, and oftentimes their relation is one of great intimacy.
Side by side walk the noble and the ignoble, the wise and the foolish, the serious and the mirthful, the fine and the unrefined, the lofty and the trivial, the religious and the sacrilegious, the philosophic and the foolish.
The wise man and the faker hourly cross each other’s paths, and their contact and contrast often afford a laugh for the merry and a lesson for the thoughtful.
F. H.
HARMONIC SERIES
The Harmonic Series, now in process of publication, is an exposition of the Exact Science and Moral Philosophy of Individual Life. It is a natural bridge between Modern Physical Science and the Ancient Oriental Religions. It is a reconciliation of the Physical and Spiritual Sciences. It is an adaptation of the Ancient Wisdom Religion to the needs of Modern Scientific Intelligence. It is an original formulation. It is a modern re-statement of the laws, principles and processes of an Individual Spiritual Self-Development.
The Volumes Thus Far Completed Are:
Vol. I-HARMONICS OF EVOLUTION by Florence Huntley, Cloth $2.00
Vol. II, THE GREAT PSYCHOLOGICAL CRIME, by TK., Cloth $2.00
Vol. III-THE GREAT WORK by TK., Cloth $2.00
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CHICAGO, ILL.
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Supplemental Harmonic Series
The Supplemental Harmonic Series presents for liberal thinkers such books as have unusual merit and which offer contributory fact and corroborative evidence of the science and philosophy of the Great School.
These books are not offered as official expositions of the School of Natural Science, but as valuable literature which supplements the general position and purpose of the School.
New books will be added and old books revived, from time to time, so that this series will eventually cover the many and varied lines of ethics, history, research and discovery.
Vol. I = THE GENIUS OF FREE-MASONRY, by J. D. Buck Silk Cloth and Gold—- $1.00
Vol. II = = THE CRUCIFIXION by an Eye Witness, Silk Cloth and Gold, $1.00
Vol. III, CONSTRUCTIVE PSYCHOLOGY by J. D. Buck, Silk Cloth and Gold, $1.00
Vol. IV-THE UNKNOWN LIFE OF JESUS, by Nicholas Notovitch, Silk Cloth and Gold———- $1.00
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