| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: remember them unceasingly, ever keeping before thine eyes the
fear of God, and his terrible judgement seat, and the splendour
of the righteous which they shall receive in the world to come,
and the shame of sinners in the depths of darkness, and the
frailty and vanity of things present, and the eternity of things
hereafter; for, `All flesh is grass, and all the glory of man as
the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof
falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever.'
Meditate upon these things alway and the peace of God be with
thee, enlightening and informing thee, and leading thee into the
way of salvation, chasing afar out of thy mind every evil wish,
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: believe it may go on until he learns this by experience Yet it must be
impressed upon the young that they may be careful not to follow the old
lawless crowd, but keep their eyes fixed upon God's commandment, lest
His wrath and punishment come upon them too. It behooves us to do no
more than to instruct and reprove with God's Word; but to check such
open wantonness there is need of the princes and government, who
themselves would have eyes and the courage to establish and maintain
order in all manner of trade and commerce, lest the poor be burdened
and oppressed nor they themselves be loaded with other men's sins.
Let this suffice as an explanation of what stealing is, that it be not
taken too narrowly but made to extend as far as we have to do with our
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from King Henry VI by William Shakespeare: despair?
QUEEN MARGARET.
From such a cause as fills mine eyes with tears
And stops my tongue, while heart is drown'd in cares.
KING LEWIS.
Whate'er it be, be thou still like thyself,
And sit thee by our side; yield not thy neck
[Seats her by him.]
To fortune's yoke, but let thy dauntless mind
Still ride in triumph over all mischance.
Be plain, Queen Margaret, and tell thy grief;
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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 In a German Pension by Katherine Mansfield: from very far away, then again as though all the churches in the town had
been suddenly transplanted into their street. They stirred something in
him, those bells, something vague and tender. Just about that time Anna
would call him from the hall. "Andreas, come and have your coat brushed.
I'm ready." Then off they would go, she hanging on his arm, and looking up
at him. She certainly was a little thing. He remembered once saying when
they were engaged, "Just as high as my heart," and she had jumped on to a
stool and pulled his head down, laughing. A kid in those days, younger
than her children in nature, brighter, more "go" and "spirit" in her. The
way she'd run down the road to meet him after business! And the way she
laughed when they were looking for a house. By Jove! that laugh of hers!
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