It is written that the mighty gods are immortal, and may not Andûmana̤ in some blest abode still continue the existence of those whose lives were so nearly Deific? Only Andûmana̤ knoweth. Our sacred writings contain no revelation relating to such momentous questions, neither have our priesthood; whose lives are most virtuous and exalted, any knowledge concerning a possible continuity of existence, and to our despairing importunings the mighty gods make no reply. But this we do know, that the good and evil deeds of men are as seed sown broadcast. Has good seed been sowed? Then shall golden sheaves of a bounteous harvest be gathered. Have noxious seeds been cast upon the bosom of the wind to be wafted into the highways and byways? Then shall the unwise sower gather his harvest in weariness and sorrow.
Dear youths and maidens, and you of maturer years, on this commemorative occasion it will be well that we shall begin anew to sow the seeds of righteous conduct, of loving thoughts, of generous deeds, of helpful care for all who need our best service, for are not we all the children of Andûmana̤, the Creator of all that is? Then when we, too, shall pass into the silence, may we leave in the minds and hearts of those who may succeed us, memories as sweet as the fragrance of these rodel blooms, which now we will lay upon Andûmana̤'s altar, in recognition and remembrance of His love for having given to Ento those who surely were His most admirable children.
De L'Ester—Were it not so touching, it might be amusing to watch the faces of Inidora̤ and Genessano, but so worshipful is their love for their parents that they, like the assemblage, accord to them the fullest measure of their admiring homage. How, as those dignified, gentle mannered professors, followed by students and visitors from many lands, reverently go toward the Istoira̤ to lay their flower offering upon the altar dedicated to Andûmana̤ and His Messengers, the Deific ones, one is filled with wonder that despite the hopeless creed of these people, their faces wear an expression of serene composure.
Gentola—Yes, their faces do wear a look of serenity, but to my mind they also wear an expression of profound pathos. Their faces also express much intelligence, refinement and spirituality. Though when one realizes that they have no conception of the indestructible ego, the latter terms seems misapplied.
Those wonderfully beautiful, gentle, graceful and gracious youths and maidens are quite unlike the vivacious, self-assured young people of some portions of our planet. If the lesson of to-day has in their hearts found as full a response as it has found in my own, the professor will not have spoken in vain.
What a grand thing it is to have lived to such splendid purpose as have Genessano Allis Immo, the Lady Camarissa̤, and these, their sons.
De L'Ester—Truly so, and grander still that they continue to exist, and that through their lofty spirituality they exert over the minds of the Entoans an incalculable influence.
We now also will proceed to the Istoira̤. Yes, it is a pleasing ceremony. Scarcely less white than the marble altar are the fragrant rodel blooms laid on it by students and visitors, as they reverently salute the stately statue of Genessano Allis Immo, crowning its summit. This ceremony closes the observances of the present hour, and the assemblage is quietly dispersing. In the hall we will await their return. You have observed that a gentle seriousness is a marked characteristic of all the Entoans you have seen, and I will add that pathos is the minor chord of their being ever moaning out an appeal for that light whose radiance alone can pierce the veil between mortal consciousness and the spirit side of life.
Gentola—Inidora̤, the more I see of your people the greater is my surprise that in certain directions their knowledge is so limited. For instance, it seems very strange that such intelligent, and as I have been informed, such learned persons, as many of them are, have not, despite all obstacles, some accurate knowledge of the science of astronomy.