Now we will learn what this draped recess may contain. Ah, a descriptive composition, and in tinted marble. Not an agreeable representation, but an instructive reminder of a religious rite of happily bygone centuries.
Before us is an altar, on which lies the draped form of a young girl, her eyes closed as though in sleep. The loose robe drawn aside from her bosom reveals the contours of a maiden in the first blush of womanhood. At her side, holding in his upraised hand a long, keen bladed knife, which he is about to thrust into the heart of the unconscious victim, stands an aged, majestic looking Priest, his crimson robe in strong contrast to the white robed, golden-haired girl, who is to be sacrificed by knife and flames to an imaginary god or gods.
While one must admire the consummate art which so faithfully has represented this scene, one shudderingly turns from it, as being a horrible reminder of the many crimes and cruelties, which in the name of Religion, have been, and still are perpetrated.
Madame, it is a lamentable truth, that incorrect conceptions of the attributes of the Supreme One, ever are allied to cruelty. This statement applies not only to Ento, and Earth, but to all Planets inhabited by humans. It is only when man has become highly evolved, that spirit, the ego, dominates the animal soul, and God is apprehended as love, not hate.
Ancient Ento spirits, and others of comparatively modern times, have informed us concerning their religious rites and customs, which during the passing centuries have, with the exception of the sacrificial rite, remained almost unchanged. They relate that the victims of that horrible rite generally were drugged into unconsciousness, yet at times, willing victims, hoping thereby to appease the offended Gods, and thus avert some calamity, went consciously, courageously, to their death. Though deploring the ignorant fanaticism of such an act, one feels impelled to admire the heroic and generous nature of one willing to yield his or her life as a sacrifice for the real or fancied good of others.
In this adjoining recess is another composition, scarcely less pathetic, but devoid of the element of cruelty. On a large malachite base is a stone altar, on which lies the nearly nude body of a dead boy, and over and about him is a mass of inflammable material, bursting into flames. Thus in very ancient times the Entoans disposed of their dead. It is a very realistic representation of a custom of remote times, and certainly is not the production of an artist of recent days. Yes, incineration of their dead, is with the Entoans, a universal custom but during many centuries it has been accomplished in a more scientific, and less repellent manner.
You still express surprise, that the Entoans, physically, are formed as are we, and the peoples of our Planet. My dear madame, believe me, when I reiterate, that humans, no matter of what Planet, are essentially the same. Disabuse your mind, now, and for all time, of the idea, that necessarily, different Planets must produce entirely different expressions of life. One Intelligent Energy directs the universe, and one universal Law prevails. Should you visit Venus, Jupiter, or indeed any Planet inhabited by humans, you would find man, only as you know him. Evolved, it is true, on some Planets, to a higher spiritual, consequently to a more perfected physical plane, and a more advanced state of civilization. Spiritualized humans are the expressions of spirit entities. These spirit entities must act within their limitations, and never, never, by any possibility, does a spirit entity take possession of any other than the evolved human organism. Spirit knows no such negation as retrogression. When man on any Planet has evolved to a certain condition, or degree, he becomes a partially self-conscious soul, and then he walks erect. Ages pass and he becomes a Spiritualized Being, Spiritualized through the incarnation in him of a Spirit entity, which enables him to fully recognize himself. Not until then, is he evolved into the Spiritualized IMMORTAL—THE GOD MAN, as are all Spiritualized MEN everywhere.
Nay, you owe me no apology. I quite understand your mental state, and desire that you shall ask such questions as naturally must occur to you.
Observe now the very beautiful hangings of this apartment. They are of thick, lustrous silk, and their rich shades of crimson and gold form an excellent background for these superb paintings and marbles. It is to be regretted that limited time and space will not admit of a more detailed description of the many works of art in this collection. As it is, we must content ourselves with glances here and there. We think it advisable to notice this large painting, which vividly illustrates another feature of the sacrificial observance. It represents the interior of a richly ornate temple, and on a raised space stands a number of Priests and Priestesses, clothed in long, flowing, crimson and yellow garments. With the exception of three Priests, who are brown haired, blue eyed, and fair skinned, all are very dark hued. The hair of the younger, dark complexioned Priests is very black, and worn quite to their shoulders, and that of the aged ones is as white as wool, and worn in the same fashion. Around the heads of all are narrow fillets of gold, binding back their flowing locks. On these fillets, directly over the forehead, are golden suns, the points of the rays tipped with yellow jewels—topazes, I should say—and the centre of each sun is what appears to be a fine ruby, encircled by topazes.