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

THE THEOSOPHICAL PATH
of duty. William Quan Judge, in his tale about the round towers in
ancient Ireland, brings the idea home to us very clearly by showing the
dire results attending an even momentary neglect of right action.
The story runs, you remember, that there were many round towers
throughout the land, and that the sacred fire had to be kept burning in
each one of them. These fires were never to die for they were the outer
symbol of the spiritual light in the hearts of the people. "But all this
altered, and unbelief crept in while the fires were kept up as a form."
One of these fires was attended to by an old man and a young one. Finally,
one day, the young man came late to relieve the older one, who, on this
occasion feared to leave him in charge because he saw a dark and silent
shadow near him. But he had to depart. Then at the critical moment
the young man left the fire in order to look at one of the other towers,
and when he returned, although but a short space of time had elapsed,
to his horror his own fire was just expiring, and he was unable to revive it.
This fire was the last one, and he had failed in his trust. The ancient
mysteries had to be withdrawn, and the destiny of Innisfallen was inter-
rupted for countless ages.
The results of our wrong actions may not always be as plain, nor as
far reaching as in the tale, but we cannot judge the final effect of even the
smallest act of omission. We shall have to meet the effects of all acts
sooner or later. In this connexion it is easy to imagine that many of
the problems we face today do not confront us lor the first time. Our
Leader speaks again and again of 'another chance,' and we are told that
the Divine Law, in its mercy, gives us many opportunities, placing us
repeatedly among the circumstances wherein we have previously failed,
until we arouse that in us which will override the difficulty. Are we
going to fail again at the old milestones? The Hour of Right Action is
Here, and Now.
Right action is brought about by the working in us of the Spiritual
Will. Have ure not all had the experience of some distasteful task to be
performed? Procrastination takes hold of us and the duty becomes more
difficult and irksome the longer it is delayed. It may be that we let it go,
and if sensitive, we feel the weakening effect of the neglect. On the
other hand, by consciously calling upon our inner strength, or through
force of circumstances, or by being fired by some noble example, we may
arise and perform the necessary action. The duty is done and we are
astounded to find how simple it was.
The feeling of relief and freedom that follows such an arousing of
ourselves gives us a new hold upon life. But as we have not learned that
the 'Hour of Right Action is Here,' we lose the continuity, forget the