The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin: etc., and to draw on the treasury of Great Britain for the expense,
which was afterwards to be refunded by an act of Parliament laying
a tax on America. My plan, with my reasons in support of it,
is to be found among my political papers that are printed.
Being the winter following in Boston, I had much conversation with
Governor Shirley upon both the plans. Part of what passed between us
on the occasion may also be seen among those papers. The different
and contrary reasons of dislike to my plan makes me suspect that it
was really the true medium; and I am still of opinion it would
have been happy for both sides the water if it had been adopted.
The colonies, so united, would have been sufficiently strong to have
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin |
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Historical Lecturers and Essays by Charles Kingsley: Apollo, the Satyr to the God. Marsyas and Apollo, the base and the
noble, are, as in the old Greek legend, contending for the prize.
And the prize is no less a one than all free people of this planet.
In proportion as that nobler idea conquers, and men unite in the
equality of mutual respect and mutual service, they move one step
farther towards realising on earth that Kingdom of God of which it
is written: "The despots of the nations exercise dominion over
them, and they that exercise authority over them are called
benefactors. But he that will be great among you let him be the
servant of all."
And in proportion as that base idea conquers, and selfishness, not
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