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The THOUGHT OF THE MONTH A TIME OF CELEBRATION By THE IMPERATOR [H. Spencer Lewis] [From The Rosicrucian Digest July 1935] THE month of July offers us much food for thought in connection with the revolutionary changes made in the forms of modern civilization. In the United States of America, of course, July 4, called Independence Day, is celebrated as the anniversary of one of the greatest steps taken in a forward manner for the independence and progressive evolution of civilized beings. But in other parts of the world the month is singularly and signally important in a similar manner. On July 14 in the year 1789 the French Revolution began, which history records as an outstanding event in the modernization of human rights and interests, and this day is known as Bastille Day. The first day of July is the anniversary of the birth of Canada. When we stop to think of what the Dominion of Canada has accomplished in turning vast unsettled and unattractive lands into magnificent cities, great estates, ranches, and picturesque parks, and in building up a tremendous nation of highly cultured and progressive citizens, and also realize that all of this was accomplished in sixty-eight years, we see what can happen when civilization steps forward in one of its cyclic movements. It should be remembered also that with all of the population in Canada today constituting large cities and a mighty, potent nation, there are several million Canadians who have migrated to the United States and live on American soil. These should be added to the total population of Canada's citizens and devoted supporters, for no Canadian ever loses his love and staunch support of his native country even though circumstances tempt him to live in other lands and become a naturalized citizen under another flag. During the month we find the birthday anniversaries of such persons as Coolidge, J. D. Rockefeller, Finley Dunne, Tarkington, and Henry Ford. A few of the interesting events that have occurred during the month of July in past years present to us an idea of the diversified activities of human nature. On or about the 20th day of July in the year 1927 young Mihai, five years of age, became King of Roumania. What a story of the strange demonstrations of that which is called fate! A child robbed of its complete freedom and happiness to assume the fateful and unhappy position of a king, while other children of the same age born in the same country, perhaps in the same section in a city, remain in poor families and attain no fame at all! And on that same 20th of July in the year 1869, Thurston, the famous magician, was born. He lived to perfect his art to such an extent that the smoothness, sureness, and subtility of his acts caused millions of persons to doubt that only mechanical craftsmanship and purely mental and physical skill accounted for all of the mysterious things that occurred in his presence. Human nature preferred to think that he possessed some mysterious supernatural power, but he retired from public entertainment work leaving many thousands convinced that something more than ordinary trickery or magic guided his professional work. There is ever a tendency in human minds and hearts to attribute to the supernatural that which is not easily comprehensive. That psychological tendency on the part of mankind is accountable for many great frauds that have been perpetrated on the public and will continue to be perpetrated in response to the same urge for many centuries to come. It was on the twenty-third day of July, 1885, that General Ulysses S. Grant passed through transition, creating a great international sorrow in the hearts of many, many thousands who knew him and loved him. His body was finally encased in three elaborate and expensive coffins of various materials including metal, and a tomb was eventually built to contain these coffins which cost $600,000.00. It is strange how human beings will spend a hundred times more to build and maintain a huge structure to house a lifeless body when that same public would not give one-tenth of that amount to have made him happy while he lived. On the other hand, on the 21st day of July in the year 1926--just a few years ago--there ended a great trial and inquest hearing and investigation in Dayton, Tennessee, to determine, if possible, whether the story of creation as found in the book of Genesis was literally and completely true in every word and thought expressed therein, or whether the findings of modern science modified that account and gave us a truer and better picture of the real details to substitute the allegorical one contained in many Christian and non-Christian writings. The decision was in favor of the Biblical account; thus we see that a group of a few men could steel themselves against the Cosmic impulses and urges toward modernization and a broadening of our vision, and force the majority of men and women to look upon the ancient records as far more reliable than that of the present time. While we were honoring great men of the past that brought freedom of thought and action to modern civilized nations, a jury convicted John Scopes, a teacher in a high school, for daring to step outside of the old orthodox beliefs and teach what modern science had proved to be true or nearly true. Mankind wants the truth and yet he must have that truth served to him in a form that does not shock his ancient and honored, respected and proved traditions and ways of thinking. He who dares too greatly to advocate the truth and reveal new knowledge brings himself to a place and a time where some of his followers and a majority of thinking people are ready to crucify him, unless he is hypocritical enough to veil his teachings in garments of ancient thought. In most civilized countries the month of July is one of the warm months when millions of persons will seek recreation and pastime interests in the out-of-doors. Some will go to the mountain tops, declaring this to be the only place where peace and rest can be found. Others will go to the valleys, seeking solitude and comfort. Others will join with excavating parties and go to distant places, while others will stay at home. The poor will wonder in what sense some days or weeks of the summer can be called happy and joyous vacation days, while they labor with no change in their customary habits. And the wealthy will wonder how they can emulate or imitate the happiness, the satisfaction, which the poor find in remaining at home. Each group will envy the other, while a few who know the laws and principles will realize that each hour and day of the week, month, and year can be made what we will it to be, regardless of the expenditure of money or a consideration of time and place. Certainly, the month of July offers opportunities for greater expression of freedom in thought and action than many of the other months of the year, and if we take advantage of this period and make it serve in broadening our vision of life and adding to our intimate contact with nature and mankind, we will make it truly a revolutionary month in every sense of the word. | ||
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