DialecticallymindedreadersofthisfarragowillatleastrecognizetheregionofthoughtofwhichMr。Clarkwrites，asfamiliar。Inhislatestpamphlet，“Tennyson’sTrancesandtheAnaestheticRevelation。”Mr。Blooddescribesitsvalueforlifeasfollows：——
“TheAnaestheticRevelationistheInitiationofManintotheImmemorialMysteryoftheOpenSecretofBeing，revealedastheInevitableVortexofContinuity。Inevitableistheword。Itsmotiveisinherent——itiswhathastobe。Itisnotforanyloveorhate，norforjoynorsorrow，norgoodnorill。End，beginning，orpurpose，itknowsnotof。
“Itaffordsnoparticularofthemultiplicityandvarietyofthingsbutitfillsappreciationofthehistoricalandthesacredwithasecularandintimatelypersonalilluminationofthenatureandmotiveofexistence，whichthenseemsreminiscent——asifitshouldhaveappeared，orshallyetappear，toeveryparticipantthereof。
“Althoughitisatfirststartlinginitssolemnity，itbecomesdirectlysuchamatterofcourse——soold-fashioned，andsoakintoproverbsthatitinspiresexultationratherthanfear，andasenseofsafety，asidentifiedwiththeaboriginalandtheuniversal。Butnowordsmayexpresstheimposingcertaintyofthepatientthatheisrealizingtheprimordial，AdamicsurpriseofLife。
“Repetitionoftheexperiencefindsiteverthesame，andasifitcouldnotpossiblybeotherwise。Thesubjectresumeshisnormalconsciousnessonlytopartiallyandfitfullyrememberitsoccurrence，andtotrytoformulateitsbafflingimport——withonlythisconsolatoryafterthought：thathehasknowntheoldesttruth，andthathehasdonewithhumantheoriesastotheorigin，meaning，ordestinyoftherace。Heisbeyondinstructionin’spiritualthings。’
“Thelessonisoneofcentralsafety：theKingdomiswithin。
Alldaysarejudgmentdays：buttherecanbenoclimactericpurposeofeternity，noranyschemeofthewhole。Theastronomerabridgestherowofbewilderingfiguresbyincreasinghisunitofmeasurement：somaywereducethedistractingmultiplicityofthingstotheunityforwhicheachofusstands。
“ThishasbeenmymoralsustenancesinceIhaveknownofit。InmyfirstprintedmentionofitIdeclared：’Theworldisnomorethealienterrorthatwastaughtme。Spurningthecloud-grimedandstillsultrybattlementswhencesolatelyJehovanthundersboomed，mygraygullliftsherwingagainstthenightfall，andtakesthedimleagueswithafearlesseye。’Andnow，aftertwenty-sevenyearsofthisexperience，thewingisgrayer，buttheeyeisfearlessstill，whileIrenewanddoublyemphasizethatdeclaration。Iknow——ashavingknown——themeaningofExistence：thesanecentreoftheuniverse——atoncethewonderandtheassuranceofthesoul——forwhichthespeechofreasonhasasyetnonamebuttheAnaestheticRevelation。”——Ihaveconsiderablyabridgedthequotation。
Thishasthegenuinereligiousmysticring！IjustnowquotedJ。
A。Symonds。Healsorecordsamysticalexperiencewithchloroform，asfollows：——
’Afterthechokingandstiflinghadpassedaway，Iseemedatfirstinastateofutterblankness；thencameflashesofintenselight，alternatingwithblackness，andwithakeenvisionofwhatwasgoingonintheroomaroundme，butnosensationoftouch。I
thoughtthatIwasneardeath；when，suddenly，mysoulbecameawareofGod，whowasmanifestlydealingwithme，handlingme，sotospeak，inanintensepersonalpresentreality。Ifelthimstreaminginlikelightuponme……IcannotdescribetheecstasyIfelt。Then，asIgraduallyawokefromtheinfluenceoftheanaesthetics，theoldsenseofmyrelationtotheworldbegantoreturn，thenewsenseofmyrelationtoGodbegantofade。I
suddenlyleapttomyfeetonthechairwhereIwassitting，andshriekedout，’Itistoohorrible，itistoohorrible，itistoohorrible，’meaningthatIcouldnotbearthisdisillusionment。
ThenIflungmyselfontheground，andatlastawokecoveredwithblood，callingtothetwosurgeons(whowerefrightened)，’Whydidyounotkillme？Whywouldyounotletmedie？’Onlythinkofit。TohavefeltforthatlongdatelessecstasyofvisiontheveryGod，inallpurityandtendernessandtruthandabsolutelove，andthentofindthatIhadafterallhadnorevelation，butthatIhadbeentrickedbytheabnormalexcitementofmybrain。
“Yet，thisquestionremains，Isitpossiblethattheinnersenseofrealitywhichsucceeded，whenmyfleshwasdeadtoimpressionsfromwithout，totheordinarysenseofphysicalrelations，wasnotadelusionbutanactualexperience？IsitpossiblethatI，inthatmoment，feltwhatsomeofthesaintshavesaidtheyalwaysfelt，theundemonstrablebutirrefragablecertaintyofGod？”
Op。cit。，pp。78-80，abridged。Isubjoin，alsoabridgingit，anotherinterestinganaestheticrevelationcommunicatedtomeinmanuscriptbyafriendinEngland。Thesubject，agiftedwoman，wastakingetherforasurgicaloperation。
“IwonderedifIwasinaprisonbeingtortured，andwhyI
rememberedhavinghearditsaidthatpeople’learnthroughsuffering，’andinviewofwhatIwasseeing，theinadequacyofthissayingstruckmesomuchthatIsaid，aloud，’tosufferIS
tolearn。’
“WiththatIbecameunconsciousagain，andmylastdreamimmediatelyprecededmyrealcomingto。Itonlylastedafewseconds，andwasmostvividandrealtome，thoughitmaynotbeclearinwords。
“AgreatBeingorPowerwastravelingthroughthesky，hisfootwasonakindoflightningasawheelisonarail，itwashispathway。Thelightningwasmadeentirelyofthespiritsofinnumerablepeopleclosetooneanother，andIwasoneofthem。
Hemovedinastraightline，andeachpartofthestreakorflashcameintoitsshortconsciousexistenceonlythathemighttravel。IseemedtobedirectlyunderthefootofGod，andI
thoughthewasgrindinghisownlifeupoutofmypain。ThenI
sawthatwhathehadbeentryingwithallhismighttodowastoCHANGEHISCOURSE，toBENDthelineoflightningtowhichhewastied，inthedirectioninwhichhewantedtogo。Ifeltmyflexibilityandhelplessness，andknewthathewouldsucceed。Hebendedme，turninghiscornerbymeansofmyhurt，hurtingmemorethanIhadeverbeenhurtinmylife，andattheacutestpointofthis，ashepassed，ISAW。IunderstoodforamomentthingsthatIhavenowforgotten，thingsthatnoonecouldrememberwhileretainingsanity。Theanglewasanobtuseangle，andIrememberthinkingasIwokethathadhemadeitarightoracuteangle，Ishouldhavebothsufferedand’seen’stillmore，andshouldprobablyhavedied。
“HewentonandIcameto。Inthatmomentthewholeofmylifepassedbeforeme，includingeachlittlemeaninglesspieceofdistress，andIUNDERSTOODthem。THISwaswhatithadallmeant，THISwasthepieceofworkithadallbeencontributingtodo。I
didnotseeGod’spurpose，Ionlysawhisintentnessandhisentirerelentlessnesstowardshismeans。Hethoughtnomoreofmethanamanthinksofhurtingacorkwhenheisopeningwine，orhurtingacartridgewhenheisfiring。Andyet，onwaking，myfirstfeelingwas，anditcamewithtears，’Dominenonsumdigna，’forIhadbeenliftedintoapositionforwhichIwastoosmall。IrealizedthatinthathalfhourunderetherIhadservedGodmoredistinctlyandpurelythanIhadeverdoneinmylifebefore，orthanIamcapableofdesiringtodo。Iwasthemeansofhisachievingandrevealingsomething，Iknownotwhatortowhom，andthat，totheexactextentofmycapacityforsuffering。
“Whileregainingconsciousness，Iwonderedwhy，sinceIhadgonesodeep，IhadseennothingofwhatthesaintscalltheLOVEofGod，nothingbuthisrelentlessness。AndthenIheardananswer，whichIcouldonlyjustcatch，saying，’KnowledgeandLoveareOne，andtheMEASUREissuffering’——Igivethewordsastheycametome。WiththatIcamefinallyto(intowhatseemedadreamworldcomparedwiththerealityofwhatIwasleaving)，andIsawthatwhatwouldbecalledthe’cause’ofmyexperiencewasaslightoperationunderinsufficientether，inabedpushedupagainstawindow，acommoncitywindowinacommoncitystreet。
IfIhadtoformulateafewofthethingsIthencaughtaglimpseof，theywouldrunsomewhatasfollows：——
“Theeternalnecessityofsufferinganditseternalvicariousness。Theveiledandincommunicablenatureoftheworstsufferings；——thepassivityofgenius，howitisessentiallyinstrumentalanddefenseless，moved，notmoving，itmustdowhatitdoes；——theimpossibilityofdiscoverywithoutitsprice；——finally，theexcessofwhatthesuffering’seer’orgeniuspaysoverwhathisgenerationgains。(Heseemslikeonewhosweatshislifeouttoearnenoughtosaveadistrictfromfamine，andjustashestaggersback，dyingandsatisfied，bringingalacofrupeestobuygrainwith，Godliftsthelacaway，droppingONErupee，andsays，’Thatyoumaygivethem。
Thatyouhaveearnedforthem。TherestisforME。’)Iperceivedalsoinawaynevertobeforgotten，theexcessofwhatweseeoverwhatwecandemonstrate。
“Andsoon！——thesethingsmayseemtoyoudelusions，ortruisms；
butformetheyaredarktruths，andthepowertoputthemintoevensuchwordsasthesehasbeengivenmebyanetherdream。”
Withthiswemakeconnectionwithreligiousmysticismpureandsimple。Symonds’squestiontakesusbacktothoseexampleswhichyouwillremembermyquotinginthelectureontheRealityoftheUnseen，ofsuddenrealizationoftheimmediatepresenceofGod。
Thephenomenoninoneshapeoranotherisnotuncommon。
“Iknow。”writesMr。Trine，“anofficeronourpoliceforcewhohastoldmethatmanytimeswhenoffduty，andonhiswayhomeintheevening，therecomestohimsuchavividandvitalrealizationofhisonenesswiththisInfinitePower，andthisSpiritofInfinitePeacesotakesholdofandsofillshim，thatitseemsasifhisfeetcouldhardlykeeptothepavement，sobuoyantandsoexhilarateddoeshebecomebyreasonofthisinflowingtide。”[236]
InTunewiththeInfinite，p。
Certainaspectsofnatureseemtohaveapeculiarpowerofawakeningsuchmysticalmoods。[237]MostofthestrikingcaseswhichIhavecollectedhaveoccurredoutofdoors。Literaturehascommemoratedthisfactinmanypassagesofgreatbeauty——thisextract，forexample，fromAmiel’sJournalIntime：——
ThelargerGodmaythenswallowupthesmallerone。ItakethisfromStarbuck’smanuscriptcollection：——
“IneverlosttheconsciousnessofthepresenceofGoduntilI
stoodatthefootoftheHorseshoeFalls，Niagara。ThenIlosthimintheimmensityofwhatIsaw。Ialsolostmyself，feelingthatIwasanatomtoosmallforthenoticeofAlmightyGod。”
IsubjoinanothersimilarcasefromStarbuck’scollection：——
“InthattimetheconsciousnessofGod’snearnesscametomesometimes。IsayGod，todescribewhatisindescribable。A
presence，Imightsay，yetthatistoosuggestiveofpersonality，andthemomentsofwhichIspeakdidnotholdtheconsciousnessofapersonality，butsomethinginmyselfmademefeelmyselfapartofsomethingbiggerthanI，thatwascontrolling。Ifeltmyselfonewiththegrass，thetrees，birds，insects，everythinginNature。Iexultedinthemerefactofexistence，ofbeingapartofitall——thedrizzlingrain，theshadowsoftheclouds，thetree-trunks，andsoon。Intheyearsfollowing，suchmomentscontinuedtocome，butIwantedthemconstantly。Iknewsowellthesatisfactionoflosingselfinaperceptionofsupremepowerandlove，thatIwasunhappybecausethatperceptionwasnotconstant。”Thecasesquotedinmythirdlecture，pp。65，66，69，arestillbetteronesofthistype。Inheressay，TheLossofPersonality，inTheAtlanticMonthly(vol。lxxxv。p。195)，MissEthelD。Pufferexplainsthatthevanishingofthesenseofself，andthefeelingofimmediateunitywiththeobject，isduetothedisappearance，intheserapturousexperiences，ofthemotoradjustmentswhichhabituallyintermediatebetweentheconstantbackgroundofconsciousness(whichistheSelf)andtheobjectintheforeground，whateveritmaybe。Imustreferthereadertothehighlyinstructivearticle，whichseemstometothrowlightuponthepsychologicalconditions，thoughitfailstoaccountfortheraptureortherevelation-valueoftheexperienceintheSubject’seyes。
“ShallIeveragainhaveanyofthoseprodigiousreverieswhichsometimescametomeinformerdays？Oneday，inyouth，atsunrise，sittingintheruinsofthecastleofFaucigny；andagaininthemountains，underthenoondaysun，aboveLavey，lyingatthefootofatreeandvisitedbythreebutterflies；oncemoreatnightupontheshinglyshoreoftheNorthernOcean，mybackuponthesandandmyvisionrangingthroughtheMilkyWay；——suchgrandandspacious，immortal，cosmogonicreveries，whenonereachestothestars，whenoneownstheinfinite！Momentsdivine，ecstatichours；inwhichourthoughtfliesfromworldtoworld，piercesthegreatenigma，breatheswitharespirationbroad，tranquil，anddeepastherespirationoftheocean，sereneandlimitlessasthebluefirmament；……instantsofirresistibleintuitioninwhichonefeelsone’sselfgreatastheuniverse，andcalmasagod。Whathours，whatmemories！
Thevestigestheyleavebehindareenoughtofilluswithbeliefandenthusiasm，asiftheywerevisitsoftheHolyGhost。”[238]
