Produced by Al Haines
MODERN SAINTS AND SEERS
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF
JEAN FINOT
BY
EVAN MARRETT
LONDON
WILLIAM RIDER & SON, LTD.
CATHEDRAL HOUSE, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C.
1920
PREFACE
THE FOREST OF ILLUSIONS
"Listen within yourselves, and gaze into the infinity of Space andTime. There resounds the song of the Stars, the voice of Numbers, theharmony of the Spheres."—HERMES TRISMEGISTUS.
In these days the phenomenon of religion, which we believed to havereceded into the background of human life, is reappearing among us,more vigorous than ever. The four years' desolation into which theworld was plunged has rendered the attraction of "the beyond"irresistible, and man turns towards it with passionate curiosity andundisguised longing. The millions of dead who have vanished frommortal sight seem to be drawing the present towards the unsounded deepsof the future. In many cases their loss has taken all joy and colourfrom the lives of those who survive them, and tear-stained faces areinstinctively turned towards the portals of the Great Mystery.
Occultism is triumphant. In its many different forms it now emergesfrom obscurity and neglect. Its promises excite our deepest thoughtsand wishes. Eagerly we examine the strength of the bridge that it hasbuilt between this world and the next; and though we may see our hopesslip down between the crevices, though we may find those who have beendisappointed in a more despairing state than before—what matter? Westill owe thanks to occultism for some cherished moments of illusion.
The number of its followers increases steadily, for never before hasman experienced so ardent a desire for direct contact with theUnknowable. Science will have to reckon with this movement which iscarrying away even her own high-priests. She will have to widen herfrontiers to include the phenomena that she formerly contemned.
The supernatural world, with its abnormal manifestations, fascinatesmodern humanity. The idea of death becomes more and more familiar. Weeven demand, as Renan happily expressed it, to know the truth whichshall enable us not to fear, but almost to love, death: and anirresistible force urges us to explore the depths of subconsciousness,whence, it is claimed, may spring the desired renewal andintensification of man's spiritual life.
But why is it that we do not return to the old-established religions?It is because, alas, the Great Agony through which the world has passedhas not dealt kindly with any form of established faith. Dogmatictheology, which admits and exalts the direct interference of thedivinity in our affairs, has received some serious wounds. The uselessand unjustifiable sacrifice of so many innocent lives, of women, of oldmen, of children, left us deeply perplexed. We could not grasp thereason for so much suffering. Never, at any period in the past, havethe enemies of humanity and of God so blasphemed against the eternalprinciples of the universe—yet how was it that the authors of suchcrimes went unpunished?
Agonising doubts seized upon many faithful hearts, and amid all themisery with which our planet was filled we seemed to distinguish acreeping paralysis of the established faiths. Just at the time when wemost had