this sense delusion even claim that it is part of the creative law, and that through it man is attaining wisdom. The fact is, that it is not through it, but in spite of it, that man grows in understanding.

Sense consciousness has involved both heart and intellect in a world of false relations. The separation between body and spiritual mind has made sad havoc in our race harmony. Physical generation has taken the place of soul generation. Instead of bringing forth children of the mind, we are reduced to the menial process of manufacturing physical children-egos who have lost their bodies in previous earth lives, and are seeking further incarnations.

Our bodies fall to pieces because we are generation after generation trying to bring forth after the wisdom of Satan instead of the wisdom af God.

Jesus Christ made the unity in his body between the superconsciousness in the top brain and the Life Center, and by following his methods and identifying ourselves with his mental and spiritual consciousness, we may get back into our former spiritual estate in the Garden of Eden. "As in Adam all die, so in Christ all are made alive." The apostle saw the law in its depths, and pointed the only way out.

LESSON 4, JANUARY 26

CAIN AND ABEL.-Gen. 4:3-15.

3. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto Jehovah.

4. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And Jehovah had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

5. But unto Cain and his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

6. And Jehovah said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

7. If thou doest well, shall it not be lifted up? and if thou doest not well, sin coucheth at the door; and unto thee shall be its desire; but do thou rule over it.

8. And Cain told Abel his brother. And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

9. And Jehovah said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother's keeper?

10. And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

11. And now cursed art thou from the ground, which hath opened its mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

12. When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee its strength; a fugitive and a wanderer shalt thou be in the earth.

13. And Cain said unto Jehovah, My punishment is greater than I can bear.

14. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the ground; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth; and it will come to pass, that whosoever findeth me will slay me.

15. And Jehovah said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And Jehovah appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should smite him.

GOLDEN TEXT-Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer.-I John 3:15.

The story of Cain and Abel is an allegory of the movement of certain departments of the soul. Cain means possessor. This refers directly to that part of human consciousness that strives to acquire and possess. Cain was a tiller of the soil, which places him in the earthly domain. Abel means breath, which places him in the air or mental realm. These two are brothers, that is, closely related in consciousness. Abel does not represent the spiritual mind, but the mentality that controls the animal functions he was a sheep raiser. In Hindoo metaphysics, Abel would be termed the Animal Soul and Cain the Physical Body. Paul would call Abel the Creature and Cain the Flesh.

Making sacrifices unto the Lord is symbolical of a refining process which is constantly going on in consciousness. Every thought and act of man sets free an energy that gravitates to its appointed place in the various realms of mind and body. The Lord is the one Universal Mind which is the receptacle of all and receives all. If you have a thought of love and good will, you set free invisible emanations that are impregnated with those ideas. These ascend to a higher realm and form part of your spiritual soul, and

at the same time relate you to the Lord, who is the presiding Oversoul of the race. This is the inner meaning of offering sacrifices unto the Lord. Everything in nature is going through this refining process, and there is a constant ascension of matter to mind, and mind to Spirit. We are taught that a period will finally come where the whole universe will be resolved back into its original essence in God.

The thoughts of the mind are nearer to Spirit than the emanations of the body, hence the affirming of Abel was more acceptable unto the Lord than Cain's. The killing out by the body-selfishness all human sympathy and love, is the slaying of Abel by Cain. When the body demands possession of all the resources of mind and soul, and reduces existence to mere material living, it has slain Abel, and his blood, or life, continually cries from the earthly consciousness unto the Lord for expression.

When the selfishness of the body has killed out the finer impulses of the soul, and reduced to material existence all the higher aspirations, there is no longer pleasure in living. Without the soul the body is a machine, with but Mittle sensation and no progress. Cain thus tills the ground, but it yields unto him no strength.

The body feels its degradation, and those who get into this degenerate condition are usually miserable. Cain's punishment is great, and he fears the vengeance of the other faculties condemning the body for its impotency. But the Lord, or Divine Law, has fixed a limit to this, and we are warned not to destroy the body, no matter how great its sins. The mark set upon Cain to keep him from being slain, is the consciousness of his Divine origin. No matter how deep in transgressions the body may be, it still bears the stamp of God, and should never be killed out entirely.

Blessed are they who have the gift of making friends, for it is one of God's best gifts. It involves many things, but above all the power of going out of one's self and appreciating whatever is noble and loving in another.Thomas Hughes.

THE FAMILY-HARMONY IN

THE

HOME

Home is the Nursery of the Infinite.-Channing

EDITED BY MYRTLE FILLMORE

THE STORY OF LOVIE

help me out.

Chapter VI

TRIXEY'S LETTER HOME

EAR FATHER, MOTHER, GRACE AND AUNT JOY-Just to think if it! Your little Trixey is installed mistress of the dearest home that ever blessed a woman's heart. I am happy, oh, so happy! It seems as if one little heart could not contain the joy I feel, and so Jack offers his big one to

I wonder were the first couple as happy in their Eden as we in ours. You should see ours.

Our home is the

Ned has carried

most marvelous creation you ever beheld. into its architecture all the woodsy effects of these little wilds, without interfering at all with the elegance and comfort of a city home. I was wild with joy when I first beheld it, and so was Jack. One surprise after another awaited us, till we were in a perpetual state of exclamation. To find Janie Smith here installed as housekeeper, and everything going on just like it does at home, with nothing left unthought of! And then to think, it is our home-Jack's and mine! Where can I find words great enough to praise the munificent Giver! It is as if everything I had ever dreamed of or wished for had found its way to this home of Jack's and mine.

I am writing this letter in my little boudoir-Ned calls it "Queen Trixey's throne room," whatever he means by that. It is a dream of loveliness, and I suspect has been finished in white in remembrance of my childish love for

Aunt Susan's pretty white room. The doors are cherry with tall mirrors in them; the rest of the woodwork is creamy white. And oh, the decorations are so exquisitely delicate one might fancy an angel had plucked her wings to give softness and beauty to it all! The same old feeling comes over me of the Great Brooding Whiteness that soothes and blesses, and shall at last wrap humanity about and heal it of its sorrows and pain.

Through the open window come the songs of the wood birds. Such freedom and happiness as they express! We call them our little neighbors, and Jack really believes all these wood creatures take a personal interest in us and our affairs. They have never been frightened or interfered with and so are fearless, and whenever we go about outside, we have a retinue of them in attendance; and Jack really thinks they understand everything he says to them for you know they have been comrades all his precious life. It is really very interesting to watch them, and I am beginning to find out that in some ways they manifest more intelligence than men.

We are getting very close to Nature, and we feel that she is adopting us. I am reminded of Grace's idea about Nature being Mother-God. I believe it is a true one. Think of the wonderful motherliness which manifests in her bending skies and cradling earth, and the soft lullabys she sings through rustling trees and babbling brooks! And then her great providing breasts, nourishing alike all the children of earth, regardless of race or color! Yes, Grace darling, you were right; God has his mother-side.

Fairy tales are without interest or color compared with our living realities. Just to think of "Wiseman's Wildwood"—that is the name Jack and I have decided on for our home-having all these years eluded the clutches of the greedy world, has nestled here in undisturbed naturalness, just waiting for Jack and me! For Jack and me—oh, my heart is so full it would seem at this moment God's completeness is ours, and there is nothing more to wish! But the "bright ideal still glows down upon us," and we know