The
Unitarian Movement has brought the world many outstanding voices for
liberty and justice, some who would not be stilled even in the threat
of death or material loss. One of those was the Czech minister Norbert
Capek. Born in 1870 at the end of the oppressive Austrian Empire, his
poor family sent him off to his rich uncle to apprentice as a tailor,
and to work his way through University. But the young Norbert quickly
became disenchanted with the family's rigid Catholic faith and joined
the Protestant movement, whereupon his uncle dismissed him.
Fortunately the Protestants took him in. He
finished seminary and became one of their most outstanding ministers.
Beginning by selling Bibles, he soon established his own small
magazine, publishing articles on psychology and science....subjects not
popular with the Catholic church of that era or perhaps even today.
Young Norbert became so popular an evangelist
that the police began to make frequent raids on his meetings, and
forbade his publications. The young minister, fearing for the safety of
his friends, fled to the safety of America, where religious differences
there some that more tolerated. On arriving he became introduced to
Unitarianism, and quickly found it was what he had long been looking
for. Working with his friends he strived for the establishurent of the
free Czech state at the end of World War 1, and returned to
Czechoslovakia as a Unitarian missionary, and was eagerly greeted by
the Czech people.
In the '20s their congregation flourished, but
suffered economic hardships in the '30s. But worse was yet to come.
With the Nazi takeover of Czechoslovakia Capek became a man marked for
death. But he refused to f1ee. Instead he qontinued to do what he could
to speak out for individual rights and freedom. Finally he was arrested
and sent off to a concentration camp, and there was injected with a
lethaI poison. "Martyrs in the Unitarian religion," says his
grandson, ttare an unusual thiig,"'but I would argue with him. Norbert
Capek is only the tip of a Unitarian iceberg, a visible symbol of many
who through the ages found that liberty and justice for themselves and
others was far more important than their own financial circumstances,
or even the continuation of their own 1ives.
Rev. Capek gave The Unitarians a beautiful flower
communion service in which the exchanging of flowers symbolizes the
unity of the congragation, but also, its individuality. Each flower is
different, beautiful in itself, but adds to the greater glory of the
whole garden. Rev. Capek did not leave something for the Unitarians
alone. IIe left something for the whole wold. With his quiet courage
and his quiet strength he defeated his toturers, defeated them perhaps
in a way that he, himslf, didn't really understand. But it was a
victory better. than any force of arms could win, and that my poor
words can even hope to describe. May mankind continue to have those
willing to win such victories. May the world be full of Capeks!
There's
no complicated mumbo jumbo stuff in.this wonderful book, and you need
have no previous knowledge of Tarot Cards to be able to use it. Tarot
Spells is full of easy to understand instructions on how to use
positive thinking with incantations which are praetical for all faiths,
and The Tarot Deck to help project your creative visualization into The
Spirit World for help to reach your goals, and assist others to
overcome
problems. There are proving almost any situation
from overcoming obstacles to attract a better love 1ife. Magick at its
best.
THIS IS OUR 4th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE! Each issue is a small victory that
each of you helps us win. We want to thke this opportilnity to thank
all of you. The Polleys.