“May it please thee,” said the senior, “we have found favor with God, and grace and peace are multiplied unto us. We have washed in a stream, and thou seest our garments are white as snow. The circle will receive thee, when thou art willing to cast thy crowns into the treasury of good, and learn war no more. Thou wilt not regret the sacrifice, for what thou consecratest to the good of mind, will do thee more honor than all thy works of power. We saw a mystery unfolded to us, which will not do thee good, until thou shalt become acquainted with it also. The mystery of iniquity thou hast understood, from thy reception into the throne of power; but the mystery of godliness thou mayest yet learn. There are minds who can teach thee the mystery of mutual confidence. It will not be taught thee here; for now thou art surrounded with minds distrustful of each other. Thou distrustest them, and they distrust thee. But we have found a circle where no mind distrusts, because they know each other’s thoughts. The whole circle need no compulsion to do right, because right is their meat and drink. They delight in right, and wisdom is always with them. They worship God without fear, and love one another without dissimulation. There is a rainbow over their heads, and a cloud of fire by night to warm their hearts with love forever. There no iron rule becomes necessary to enforce obedience; for obedience is loved, and what is loved is not avoided. The Master is not a tyrant, but a father; and, when the father commands, his children delight to obey his commands. What is the wish of the father, is the wish of his children. Hence, no disorder or wrong can enter the circle we have found.”
K. Then, thou art satisfied with what thou hast seen and heard?
E. We are satisfied with what we have seen and heard. We will not return with thy permission to tarry here.
K. When wilt thou return to thy new friends?
E. When we can do no good here.
K. Thou wilt not expect to convert me?
E. We expect only thy pleasure. It is not our will to control thee, but to aid thee in the path of true wisdom and happiness.
K. Hast thou not been flattered with new things?
E. We have seen, and do testify, that new things have been discovered to us.
K. When new things have been found, is it not prudent to test them by experience before we trust too implicitly in them?