Is the perception of God from within the Soul. Its manifestation is the attitude of the individual toward others. Religion is the true efflorescence of life: Love of God (The Infinite Mother-Father: Love and Wisdom) Love to all Souls.

The Angels Of Religion

Not only do the higher Angels announce the coming of, and accompany the Messiahs - but from Dispensation to Dispensation there are especial lines of life that bear forward the seeds of Truth, even in the "darkest Ages," between the Messianic culminations - there are always those embodied Angels to testify unto the Truth.

When there seems to be a lapse from the teachings of one of the Masters of Truth, there are really no "lapses" or retrogressions; certain lives being ready for a Dispensation, are attracted to its "heralds" and to the Messianic Life that reveals its message. When all are "gathered in" that are thus ripe for that particular "harvest" - the recession is because the average human lives on earth were not ready, and many times such as are selfish, ambitious or powerful, use the New Name of Religious Truth to serve their own selfish purposes.

The building up of Priestcraft (see the Brahmins of India), Kingcraft, and Worldly Hierarchies, is because of this seeming recession. Ever in the midst of the "dark ages" of a Dispensation "Reformers" appear to remind the people of the Primal Truths taught by the Great Teacher whom they (the people) profess to follow - but from whose teachings they have departed. These Embodied Angels usually form the centers of groups - and with their followers are persecuted, oft-times put to death by those who claim 167 to represent the real teaching; - The forces of the World - Mammon - obtains possession of the Name under which a Truth has been presented. Thus all history shows similar decline or decadence from the Light of the Messianic lives; hence those who arise with a "Message" are considered the enemies of the established order of things:

To the Brahmin - with his love of caste and his obedience to the ceremonials of his order - the later expressions of Bhuddist, Jabiist and others amount to heresies.

Altho Bhudda Guatama established and bore forward the greatest Light Asia had ever received since the first dawn of its wonderful Religion - today one looks in vain for the temples, shrines, and more simple teachings of Prince Siddartha (Guatama). Again the Priests (Brahmins) hold sway and one must leave India and travel to China and other Eastern lands to find the strongholds of Buddha; there are mental, more than physical, indications of the preservation of his sublime teachings. The Jainists are still permitted to bear forward their works of humanity, kindness - to all living things - and form a large part of the business element of India; while the "Brahmo Somaj" or "Young India" constitutes the element that connects the Hindoo with the Modem World.

In Persia the "Parsees" rarely are found; - but here and there scattered over the Orient these followers of Zoroaster (Zardusht) worship at the shrine of the sacred Flame, Ormuzd, and keep their lives pure and free.

The history of Judaism and Christianity are too well known to refer to except in illustration. Always were the "Children of Israel" disobedient, always were the "prophets" reared up to call them unto the "true God" from whom they often wandered.

The true "Apostolic descent" is in the line of embodiments of these Angels.

We can better illustrate with modern times, we can easily see how Religious thought in Christendom has emerged from the bounds of creed and dogma - into the broad Light of a return to The Sermon on the Mount. Every sect or cult in Christendom, claims, of course, to be the way, but the true Angels can be easily traced; "by their fruits ye shall know them."

Geo. Fox and the Quakers - "Mother" Ann Lee and the Shakers. Dr. Priestly - John Wesley - John Murray - were "Reformers" of "The Reformation." "The Protestant Reformation" was a great awakening, an attempt to return to the first Principles of Christianity as taught in "The Sermon on the Mount," especially in the "Golden Rule" - which is the key to all Religious action toward one's fellow beings. We know that Erasmus certainly prepared the way for the "Reformation" - leading to Calvin, Knox, Melancthon, and chiefest of all, Martin Luther.

True Religion needs no "Reformer" - it is a possession,' but people not possessing the true shift from one interpretation to another - until they have attained the true perception.

We have in mind many of the various leaders and teachers within the Church of Rome, often persecuted because of their Christlike Teachings. One would go far to hear the enchanting voice of the Monk Savonarola. Ah I the "line of the Angels" passes into and out of the church oftentimes by the gateway of Martyrdom.

Back, back unto the very groups that gathered around the early Christian teachers - and back to the Disciples and Apostles of Jesus - we may find the Angels of groups.

Epitomized in the Bibles or Sacred Books of the various Nations and Ages one may find the pure Light of the Spirit of Religion - often veiled and obscure - but running like a silver stream of crystal water, now visible and apparent, now hidden, yet still clear, again to re-appear more beautiful than ever.

All Bibles are not Sacred Books. All Religion is not in the possession of any Race, People, Sect, Cult.

Religion: the Universal, Infinite God, manifesting to, and recognized by, the human Soul, must be perceived, felt, known.

Yet we must turn to India for the Vedic words - and must bear in mind that from India has come, perhaps, the most profound perception of Deity and the most perfect (tho' intricate) statement of His Manifestation. The Vedas, Shastras, and various Zends - of the far East, together with the Confucian compilations, form such records as serve to show the resplendence of some of those minds whose names are not even known to the Occidental Scholars.

Pure Transcendalism - The perception of the Infinite without any trace of Materialism, must have been bom in that far-off country and in a culminating age of pure Religious perception. An Absolutely Pure Perception of God as Spirit has few illustrations in Western minds. We might almost depend upon the "philosophers" of Germany, France, and England - and later America, for the un-material Deity, for the "Supreme Intelligence" recognized by them outside of Theological schools and definitions.

The Angels of Religion, therefore, must not be looked for merely in the History of the Church (or Ecclesiastical organizations), be that church Pagan - Jewish - or Christian - many of them surely mere within the Church, many, many, were outside its pale. And whether without or within, usually were martyrs: - i. e., unrecognized and sacrificed as "sowers of sedition," "heretics,"Infidels" etc., etc

But who can declare - or in what pictured or graven image portray - or in what sounds of music - or in what written or spoken word - the true meaning of Religion? This nearness to, and communion with, the Infinite? This Love and Wisdom working from within and through the Innermost of the Soul and expressing itself in all that is most beautiful toward humanity and every living thing?

To this Divine attainment all human.experience must tend; and wherever found, beneath whatever sky or Temple-Dome, Under Whatever Name, True Religion is one and the same thing, can have but one meaning.

The history of the Religious beliefs of the world cannot be here stated; but the shining pathway of those who have borne forward the messages of Truth may be traced, whether to the fiery doom of martyrdom or to the "Exaltation" - (misnamed) - of a throne.

True Religion, under whatever name - or obscuring formulas, is:

The Knowledge (perception) of God. (The Infinite, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Eternal One), from within the Soul.

The perception and knowledge of the Immortal Soul - (finite) like unto God.

Knowledge of the Fraternity of Souls; their relation to each other. The expression of Religion may be in any language-form ceremonial - temple - or in silence - according to the dictations from the Spirit.

The recognition of the qualities (Godlike) of the Soul as "like unto God" - gives the animating impulse and incentive to all good.

The attitude and manifestations toward human beings, and all other lives, under the dominating influence of true Religion must be all that is just, kind, beneficent and good.

"A New Commandment I give unto you: that ye love one another."