CHAPTER I.

PRINCIPLES OF NATURE.

Nature is the manifestation of a hidden energy
which we call God. The principles of nature are,
strictly speaking, methods or laws of action. Each
thing has a nature of its own : and the nature of one
thing differs entirely from the nature of other things,
as the nature of a horse is unlike that of a dog, cat,
bird or man. But there is a resemblance, and these
resemblances, divergent as they are to the point of
utter and complete antagonism, emanate from one
universal source of energy which actuates and creates
the various natures of which we are cognizant. If
it were possible to know of the jfirst manifestation of
energy, it would undoubtedly be that of inertia —
repose — silence — as a seed just planted.

Nature is movement; but what of that thing
around which motion turns ? Motion cannot exist
without a center ; which is not manifest or known
except through motion. The nature of things is to
move and in motion to change : but the nature of

27

28 THE TEMPLE OF THE ROSY CROSS.

inertia — which is not an object — is to be silent and
draw, — wooing things to itself. Centers do not
move ; but, womb-like, produce things.

Nature belongs to energy : it is not an entity ; but
it is the property of entities. My nature belongs to
me: it is my property, as is my coat, in which I
clothe myself for my satisfaction.

I change my nature in like manner as I do my
apparel, although the processes are invisible and
more slowly accomplished.

Everything in existence has a nature wrhich is
nothing more nor less than the condition in which it
is, and which, being understood, constitutes the so-
called principles of nature. A principle is that which
is self-existent, self-poised, eternal and immutable.
An object cannot be such. Why? Because things
or objects change in motion.

All the principle that exists in nature is that invis-
ible and incomprehensible energy which thinks and
forces things to be ; wherein it objectifies itself.

Those things which appear to be inert, or which
are called "dead matter," are wholly dependent
upon inexorable law, or certain fixed rules or methods ;
whereby existence is possible.

The principle of their existence — or their nature
— is to lie still, and to receive the kneading and
moulding given by a force greater than they have
themselves. As an egg, under the pressure and heat
of the brooding hen, lies inert, silent, breathless and
expectant, so does matter — the beginning of nature

PRINCIPLES OF NA PURE. 29

— lie bound and chained in the grasp of inexorable
law waiting the coming of the Master to open the
prison door and set free the captive Ego. Oh,
dawn of sense! Thou rising sun of freedom's day!
Whence comest thou ? Who taught thee ? Who
gave thee the first impulse to break the law that
bound thee fast — as a chick breaks through the shell
which shuts out the light of another life ? Oh, sense !
Thou risest up and thou fallest even as does the
sun, — typical of growth and decay, — the two great
opposing principles of nature, which are in reality
only the movements of one thing, — Ego.

Action and reaction, attraction and repulsion, good
and evil, light and darkness, mind and matter, heat
and cold : all are called principles of nature, when in
fact, they are simply manifestations of the power
that produces nature. There is a nature of life,
also a nature of death, a nature of health and a nature
of disease ; but, in order that such natures may ex-
ist, some one must live and die, or enjoy and suffer.

The only way by which energy may be known is
by what it does ; and nature is its first work and the
methods or ways of its doings constitute the prin-
ciples thereof.

The great principle by which creation is carried
on, is the mathematical principle of division, multi-
plication or expansion.

A unit equally divided becomes two units, but
when quartered there are four units ; and no matter
how minute the division may be, each part is still a

30 THE TEMPLE OF THE ROSY CROSS.

unit and equal to the original unit which is lost in the
division. Furthermore, the difference between the
division of matter and the division of energy is as
follows : — matter by division becomes less and less
till nothing is left, while energy becomes sexual by
division, and thus propagative of its kind ; thereby
creating, by division, new sources of energy.

The division of energy here alluded to is as follows :
— one part being the energy of giving, while the
other part is the energy of receiving, — "'Male and
Female created He them."

These two great principles of division and multi-
plication, are virtually one, the creative principle of
God, motion and emotion, — called nature.

Matter is under law ; but God is above all law.
Energy is divided into two unequal parts, viz. — the
known and the unknown. That very small part
called the known is again divided into four elements,
called fire, water, earth, and air ; or the four king-
doms, — mineral, vegetable, animal and human ; or
the four points of the compass, — north, south, east
and west ; or the four great principles, — darkness
and light, life and death ; while the great undivided
and unknown occupies the center of creation and is
the Ego — or man.

This center I conceive to be a vacuum ; because
it is the opposite of matter and of motion.

It is the soul of man ; the throne of the Ego ;
that principle which says, thinks, feels and knows
that "I Am." This is the dome of the Temple of
the GREAT GOD.

PRINCIPLES OF NATURE. 3 1

Motion cannot exist without a vacuum around
which to whirl and produce a vortex, into which
spirit may rush, as into a womb, to gestate and take
form.

Intelligence is synonymous with light ; while
ignorance is the same as darkness.

til we know of creation is revealed by light.
Alas ! How very small it is when compared to the
boundless and fathomless depths of ignorance which
enclose it, as the night encloses a fire-fly.

Nature is always dual ; but God is one who has
no opposite and is beyond comparison.

Man cannot exist except he rest in the bosom of
that mystery whose symbol is the darkness which
conceals all things — even life and light itself — and
invites to sweet repose.

Nature, the first manifestation of GOD, is a won-
drous mystery, containing within itself GOD and all
the known and unknown things of creation : formless,
yet producing forms, which, being ignorant, are made
intelligent ; blind, and made to see ; without sense,
yet made sensible : and all by reason of GOD who
"is all, and in all."

That nature per se is a relentless, unfeeling, re-
morseless power, needs no argument. It moves on,
regardless of the waste of worlds, or the sacrifice of
life or forms. To nature, death is the same as birth ;
and it creates forms but to destroy them.

Nature suffers not, neither does she enjoy. Re-
move sensation from nature, and it is neither good

32 THE TEMPLE OF THE ROSY CROSS,

nor evil. The earth, water, air, electricity, the sun,
moon and stars, without something with which to
make comparison, are all alike indifferently good
or evil.

There can be no good or evil save to and for things
that suffer and enjoy. This indifference corresponds
to ignorance, for, out of indifferent nature comes all
of life ; even as knowledge springs from ignorance.
And what is ignorance but the night of mind : as
intelligence is the rising sun of sense.. Who has
explored the depths of the night of time which is
behind us ; or who can tell us of the extent or nature
of the future, which, like a black impenetrable wall,
closes us up in the tomb of a moment of time ?

We come from the night, and to it we return,
when wearied, for a renewal of life. We have no
recollection of that which transpired when we were
in the dark waters of the womb ; nor are we con-
scious that we are even now gestating, in souls we
call our own, from the formless spirit of brooding
darkness, the smouldering or the brighter light of
forms which cannot help the conscious feeling of
being number ONE, the great I himself.

~ That is, indeed, the principle of nature, which the
world calls GOD.

As already stated, all things are dual, and nature
is both animate and inanimate, while law is that force
which compels inanimate things to either cease to be
or to move on to another plane of being. Law is
then, both destructive and constructive, as to things
that are under the law.

PRINCIPLES OF NATURE. 33

But in the evolution of humanity there is a point
of growth wherein that outward force of circum-
stances which governs and controls the weak, becomes
an inner force, a force of thought, reason and re-
flection, which guides and directs by persuasion and
counsel, rather than by the violence of pain, which
leads upward and onward to the realm of power,
where man and law are ONE, and where pain and
death are not. Is it not a fact that the external
force of light causes physical eyes and sight to exist,
and is it not also a fact that an inner force analogous
to light, causes spiritual eyes and sight to exist, eyes
which see principles rather than symbols, and the
reason and use of things rather than the theatrical
play of existence.

It is this inner light which suggests to man the
power and privilege of choice of principles of nature
and of action ; which enables him to make the most
of himself.

34 THE TEMPLE OF THE ROSY CROSS.