Leading me to the right a few paces, he said: “This is the Master whom thou wilt hear; and as thou hearest, so do ye.”
M. My son; hear the counsel of a father, and forsake not the law of thy mother. These many years have I presided over this circle, and my children hear my voice. They revere my advice, and yield me honor by obedience. At my table thou wilt sit, and receive the bread thy mind will need. Here, we welcome thee from the tears and woes thou hast seen, and here shall thy mind be satisfied with the abundance of mercy received and enjoyed by all of us. But, when thou shalt go on thy mission, bear the banner thou seest, and the glory of that banner shall wave over the world with the smile of peace. Thus, thou wilt see thy reward in the work thou wilt perform for the good of mind in need.
When the Master had concluded his charge, my guide said: “No mind can receive instruction without a teacher, and no mind can teach the truth, unless he be taught. If thou wouldst advance, Thomas, in the knowledge of this sphere, thou mayest understand that thou wilt apply thyself with all diligence to the work before thee. And in order to make thee acquainted with thy care, I will proceed to instruct thee in the use of those implements, which are necessary to expedite the work devolving upon thee.”
He then took a chisel and mallet, and said: “Some minds are rough, and need thy labor to remove the uneven surface. Take thou this chisel and mallet, and when thou findest a rough stone, which thou seest can be made smooth, then let thy strength be expended upon it, even as we have sought to make thee serviceable in this temple, by removing the roughness of thy mind. As thou seest we have done thee no harm by rendering thee more beautiful, and better adapted to thy position in this edifice; so mayest thou work to render others what we have made thee. But to aid thee in thy labor, thou shouldst take this square and plumb, so that thou mayest try the stone, until it squares with this rule, and works with this line and plumb, when thou wilt see its use in the temple for which thou hast prepared it. I have now given thee thy directions, and trust thou wilt shew thyself a workman, who will be faithful to the trust committed to thy charge. What sayest thou?”
T. Thou wilt find thy servant faithful in all things. But may I know my Master?
G. One is thy Master, but many are thy fellow servants. He who controls as a father controls his children, by the voice of kindness, is thy Master, and we are his family. Dost thou not know who controlled thee, and made thee obedient? He is thy Master. The mind that controls others, is the Master of those whom it controls, while those who are controlled by him, are servants to obey his will. The Master is as the servant, and the servant as the Master in the work required of thee. We may not be controlled as slaves are controlled, nor yet as slaves are worked; for our Master is not a tyrant, but a co-worker with us in the good of all. He rules with attraction, as the sun rules the planets. He rules with wisdom, as he has received wisdom. Force has no authority here, only as an attractive principle to hold the workmen in a desired position—a position for which they are fitted.
T. When we serve one another, we are servants, I suppose.
G. We are servants of good to them. But when we serve ourselves by their industry, we serve them as slaves are served. Thou wilt see we are free, and yet servants of many. Dost thou see the eagle perched on that banner?
T. I see. He cries, “Many in one.” Many may be one, and one many.
G. Truly, Thomas. Many may not be in one also. Thou hast seen many oppress the few. Thou hast seen the few victorious over the many. I know thy course against tyranny. I saw thee when a stripling, in the cause of freedom, but thou wast not as thou seest now. Here freedom is not oppression by force. No mind will say unto thee, “go, and thou goest; or come, and thou comest;” because it is his will, and not thine. Here, thy Master’s will is thy will, and what is thy will that thou doest, as thou art required. When thy Master and thou agree in all that thou doest, thy freedom is what slaves do not enjoy, nor is thy servitude the bondage of slavery.