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in the intuitions of a particular race which appears from time immemorial to have combined the two characteristics of nomad wandering with their flocks and herds and the symbolization of their religious beliefs in monuments of stone。 The monuments themselves have taken different forms in different countries and ages； but the identity of their symbolism becomes clear under careful investigation。 Together with this symbolism we always find the nomad character of the builders and that they are invested with an aura of mystery and romance such as we find nowhere else； though we always find it surrounding these builders； even in countries so far apart as India and Ireland。 Then； as we pass beyond the merely monumental stage； we find threads of historical evidence connecting the different branches of this race； increasing in their complexity and strengthening in their cumulative force as we go on； until at last we are brought to the history of the age in which we live； and finally most remarkable affinities of language put the finishing touch to the mass of proofs which can be gathered along all these different lines。 In this magic circle countries so remote from one another as Ireland and Greece； Egypt and India； Palestine and Persia； are brought into close contiguitya similar tradition； and even a similar nomenclature； unite the mysterious builders of the Great Pyramid with the equally mysterious builders of the Round Towers of Irelandand the Great Pyramid itself； perhaps antedating the call of Abraham； re…appears as the official seal of the United States； while tradition traces the crowning…stone in Westminster Abbey back to the time of Solomon's temple and even earlier。 For the most part the erewhile wanderers are now settled in their destined homes； but the Anglo…Saxon racethe People of the Corner…Stoneare still the pioneers among the nations； and there is something esoteric in the old joke that when the North Pole is reached a Scotchman will be found there。 And not least in the chain of evidence is the link afforded by a tribe who are wanderers still； the Gipsies with their duplicate of the Pyramid in the pack of cardsa volume which has been called 〃The Devil's Picture Book〃 by those who know it only in its misuse and inversion； but which when interpreted in the light of the knowledge we are now gaining； affords a signal instance of that divine policy by which as St。 Paul says； God employs the foolish things of this world to confute the wise； while a truer apprehension of the Gipsies themselves indicates their unmistakable connection with that race who through all its wanderings has ever been the guardian of the Stone。
In these few paragraphs I have only been able to point out very briefly the broad lines of enquiry into a subject of national importance to the British and American peoples； and which interests us personally； not only as members of these nations； but as affording proof on the largest scale of the same specialization of universal laws which each of us has to effect individually for ourself。 But whether the process be individual or national it is always the same； and is the translation to the very highest planethat of the All…originating Life itselfof the old maxim that 〃Nature will obey us exactly in proportion as we first obey Nature〃； it is the old parable of the lord who； finding his servants girt and awaiting him； then girds himself and serves them （Luke xii。 35 to 37）。 The nation or the individual who thus realizes the true principle of the Shepherd and the Stone； comes under a special Divine guidance and protection； not by a favouritism incompatible with the conception of universal Law； but by the very operation of the Law itself。 They have come into touch with its higher possibilities； and to recur to an analogy which I have already employed； they learn to make their iron float by the very same law by which it sinks； and so they become the flock of the Great Shepherd and the building of the Great Architect； and each one； however insignificant his or her sphere may appear； becomes a sharer in the great work； and by a logical consequence begins to grow on new lines of development for the simple reason that a new principle necessarily produces new modes of manifestation。 If the reader will think over these things he will see that the promises contained in the Bible whether national or personal； are nothing else than statements of the universal law of Cause and Effect applied to the inmost principles of our being； and that therefore it is not mere rhapsody； but the figurative expression of a great truth when the Psalmist says ‘〃The Lord is my Shepherd；〃 and 〃Thou art my God and the Rock of my salvation。〃
SALVATION IS OF THE JEWS。
What does this saying of the Master's mean？ Certainly not a mere arrogant assumption in favour of His own nationalitysuch an idea is negatived； not only by the universality of all His other teaching； but also by the very instruction in which these words occur； for He declared that the Jewish temple was equally with the Samaritan of no account in the matter。 He said that the true worship was purely spiritual and entirely independent of places and ceremonies； while at the same time He emphasized the Jewish expectation of a Messiah； so that in this teaching we are met by the paradox of a universal principle combined with what at first sight appears like a tribal tradition quite incompatible with any recognition of the universal reign of law。 How to reconcile these apparent opposites； therefore； seems to be the problem which He here sets before us。 Its solution is to be found in that principle which I have endeavoured to elucidate throughout these lectures； the specializing of universal law。 Opinions may differ as to whether the Bible narrative of the birth of Christ is to be taken literally or symbolically； but as to the spiritual principle involved there can； I think； be no difference of opinion。 It is that of the specialization by the individual of the generic relation of the soul to the Infinite Spirit from which it proceeds。 The relation itself is universal and results from the very nature of the creative process； but the law of the universal relation admits of particular specialization exactly in the same way as all other natural lawsit is simply applying to the supreme Law of Life the same method by which we have learnt to make iron float； that is to say by a fuller recognition of what the Law is in itself。 Whatever other meanings we may apply to the name Messiah； it undoubtedly stands for the absolutely perfect manifestation in the individual of all the infinite possibilities of the Principle of Life。
Now it was because this grand ideal is the basis on which the Hebrew nationality was founded that Jesus made this statement。 This foundation had been lamentably misconceived by the Jewish people； but nevertheless； however imperfectly； they still held by it； and from them this ideal has spread throughout the Christian world。 Here also it continues to be lamentably misconceived； nevertheless it is still retained； and only needs to be recognized in its true light as a universal principle； instead of an unintelligible dogma； to become the salvation of the world。 Hence； as affording the medium through which this supreme ideal has been preserved and spread； it is true that 〃Salvation is of the Jews。〃
Their fundamental idea was right but their apprehension of it was wrongthat is why the Master at the same time sweeps away the national worship of the temple and preserves the national idea of the Messiah； and this is equally true of the Christian world at the present day。 If salvation is anything real it must have its cause in some law； and if there is a law it must be founded upon some universal principle： therefore it is this principle which we must seek if we would understand this teaching of the Master's。
Now whether we take the Bible story of the birth of Christ literally or symbolically； it teaches one great lesson。 It teaches that the All…originating Spirit is the true Parent of the individual both in soul and body。 This is nothing else than realizing from the stand…point of the individual what we cannot help realizing in regard to the original creation of the cosmos it is the realization that the All…originating Spirit is at once the Life and the Substance in each individual here and now； just as it must have been in the origin of all things。 Human parentage counts for nothingit is only the channel through which Universal Spirit has acted for the concentration of an individual centre； but the ultimate cause of that centre； both in life and substance； continues at every moment to be the One same Originating Spirit。
This recognition cuts away the root of all the power of the negative； and so in principle it delivers us from all evil； for the root of evil is the denial of the power of the Spirit to produce good。 When we realize that the Spirit is finding its own individualization in us in its two…fold essence as Life and Substance； then we see that it must be both able and willing to create for us all good。 The only limit is that which we ourselves impose by denying its operation； and when we realize the inherent creativeness of Spirit we find that there is no reason why we