Chapter Nine
The day before Worship Sure Hands borrowed several household
servants and put them to work in The Temple. Just before dusk, he
and his workmen carried three objects from his worshop into The
Temple. But as they were covered with heavy tarpaulins, no one
could tell what they were.
2 When the covers of the windows were finally opened, the secret
was still kept, for Sure Hands had covered his work with a large
cloth. Posting a servant to stand guard, he went to bed.
3 The following morning the people filled The Temple. As The Old
Fox entered he found that three walls of The Temple had been
whitened, and that the further one had been painted black. The
sculptures had been placed in the middle of the black wall,
raised half-again a man's height on its stout platform.
4 He turned to face the congregation, standing before it. "I
am as curious as you," he announced. "I have not seen
what my son has produced, but I am sure it will be fitting to
represent The Lords. Let us see what the skill of his hands and
those of his craftsmen have produced."
5 He nodded to Sure Hands, and the young man pulled a rope
allowing the cloth to fall away. When it did, cries of joy went
up from the crowd, and The Old Fox stared in wonder.
6 There was a sculpture of a young maiden, perfect in form in a
flowing robe with the hood pushed back. Her left hand was held
aloft, and her right hand held outward, as if reaching for
someone. And there was a sculpture of a young man, perfect in
form, likewise in a flowing robe with his hood thrown back. His
right hand was raised, and his left hand extended. And in the
raised hands the two figures held aloft The Star Of Spirit!
7 The Old Fox raised his hands to the sky, crying, "Glory be
to The Lords! And glory be to Their Servants!" And as The
Old Fox brought down his hands, he noticed the faces of the
sculptures. The young man, without doubt, was his brother, and
the maiden the first Spirit who had spoken to him! "Tell me,
my son, how you came to make this great work and how you chose
these faces."
8 "I saw it all in a vision," Sure Hands told him.
"It came to me immediately when you drew The Symbol for me.
When I was almost done, weary from sleep, a maiden's voice spoke
to me and said, 'Three walls of The Temple are you to whiten, and
the furthest one you are to darken as dark as the cloudy night.
In the mid of this darkened wall, you are to put Our symbol. When
they ask you why the wall is darkened, you will say 'Behold, the
darkness of the lost, and before it, The Light that keeps it
away; and The Light that shall shine out and save the
world.'"
9 The Old Fox again raised his hands, clapping them together.
"Great is The Glory of The Lords!" he cried. And the
congregation followed suit. Many times they did this joyfully,
until all were weary.
10 Then The Old Fox motioned them to be quiet. "Now
already," he continued, "there is some confusion, and
even some complaint, but this is only natural as we are not yet
sure exactly how it is that The Lords wish us to worship Them.
But each day They are teaching us more and more. And as I learn
it, I will pass it on as much as possible, when we are together.
But when we are not, I will send messengers to you that you shall
know quickly The Guidance of The Lords.
11 Now it has already been questioned how we shall greet
one-another, and how we shall greet strangers. Now, to those you
know who are of The Faith, you shall greet them in this
manner....raise your left hand, put your thumb to the palm, and
put the two middle fingers down over it. And in greeting, you
shall say 'Peace! Prosperity!' And when they are departing from
you, you shall do the same, but say, 'May The Lords go with you.'
12 Now, if you should meet a stranger or one of another faith,
you shall simply say, 'Greetings!' and spread your flattened
palms outward, at your sides.
13 Now, if they are entering your home, you shall bid them
welcome. And when they are departing from you, you shall say
'Good journey!'"
14 Now Little Yellow Blossom Fox rose. "Teacher," she
asked, "why is it we have two kinds of greetings? Why don't
we simply use the one for all?"
15 "It is so, good child," The Old Fox answered,
"so we will not offend. Someone of another faith may take
offense to The Lords Blessing which you are giving them with The
Greeting. Or, they may resent you wishing upon them The Lords
company.
16 So be cautious how you greet people. Greet all courteously,
but greet those of The Lords with The Lords, and those who are
not with The Lords, without The Lords, so that no one is
offended."
17 The girl sat down, pleased. Little Sure Fox rose. "Good
Teacher," he asked, "what does the Symbol mean? Why do
we hold our hand thus?"
18 "The thumb," explained The Old Fox, "is
ourselves. The two fingers we cover it with are The Laws and The
Teachings of Spirit. The circle formed by the hand represents
both the material world and The Spirit World. The small finger is
Our Mothers. The large finger is Our Fathers. These also
represent The Lords. All these symbols put together, make the
strongest of signs." The young man seated himself,
practicing making The Symbol with his fingers.
19 "Now, I will teach you a prayer, a prayer that The Lords
have given me. It shall be said always at the beginning of our
worship. For when all are seated The Speaker shall enter The
Temple and light two candles or lamps, and shall say these
words....'Blessed are The Lords of Spirit, Our Blessed Fathers,
and Holy Mothers. By
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