vol. xxx, no. 4 april 1926 universal brotherhood - a fact in nature

THE THEOSOPHICAL PATH
been transmogrified and diminished into an ecclesiastical dogma, so that
man has been disinherited of the wisdom to which he is the rightful heir.
The scenes of life may pass and fade, but that which is eter-
nal abides ever with us; and love, faith, fidelity, in their true essence,
are always at the center of our being, ready to germinate into newer
and grander fruitage in due season. May thy Easter be blessed!
THE DOVE OF PEACE
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\.'IUT why a dove? Is peace a pretty, soft, cooing thing? Peace
is the greatest power in the universe: the sovereign pourer,
that binds invisibly all warring elements in a mighty har-
,...:ij mony. Peace is the consciousness of Unity, that underlies
all modes of individual existence. Peace is the essence of that unity.
But why the dove?
It seems that there was once a time when symbolism was a lan-
guage, fully intelligible perhaps only to such experts as heralds and the
lords they served, but also broadly legible by the illiterate masses of
the people. Indeed, it was counted one of the duties of the bards to
inspect and to correct heraldic devices, and to be able to emblazon coats
of arms with records of events, or personal achievements in such a way
'as to be understanded of the people.' The heralds' college in England,
for instance, still exists, but heraldry has lost its meaning for the generality
even of educated people. It has outlived its usefulness.
But emblems still are used; though it is noticeable that our car-
toonists and draughtsmen for the comic papers seldom rely upon the
understanding of a symbol, but generally take the precaution to attach
a descriptive tag or label bearing the explanation of the symbol or the
name of the person in words: for now all can read, though few can de-
cipher symbolism.
And so, not being deeply versed in heraldry or symbolism, I ask
myself why should a dove be chosen as the representative of peace.
Peace is divine, her presence is majestic, more powerful than law, more
beautiful than justice, more impersonal than love. She does not rule,
she issues no commands, she judges none, nor punishes. She is the
.