CHAPTER XXI.
A LITTLE ANCIENT HISTORY.
In the foregoing personal conversation, Thorwald had been uncompromisingin look and tone, as well as in word, toward the errors of my friend,but for the doctor himself I was sure he had the kindest feelings. Thediscovery of the dearth of spiritual perception in the doctor wasa greater surprise to Thorwald, I really believe, than our firstappearance was. And it was a surprise well calculated to awaken in hisfiner nature a feeling as near akin to indignation as the Martian mindof that era was capable of experiencing. So we had here the opportunityof observing how a member of this highly civilized race, one endowedwith such lofty attributes, would act under severe provocation. Theexhibition was instructive. Thorwald certainly resented with all theforce of his pure and upright nature all that was evil in the doctor'sattitude. Such doubt was entirely new to his experience. He had no placefor it; and he could do no less than cry out against it as he had done.But his manner softened as soon as the doctor's mood changed, and itwas apparent that he was ready to encourage in every possible waythe slightest indication of a change. And from this time Thorwald wasparticularly tender toward the doctor, evidently desiring to show himthat, unbending to everything like disloyalty to God, he recognized hissincerity when he declared that he would no longer set his will againstthe reception of the truth.
In this mind Thorwald said:
"I perceive, Doctor, that your sturdy self-respect and the fear thatyou might appear in a false position have compelled you to be unfair toyourself. You believe more than you confess, else why did you repel withsuch feeling my insinuation that you were a heathen? But if you haveever determined to go through life believing in only what your hand cantouch and your eye can see, let me induce you to close your eyes andfold your hands for a while, and with expectancy wait for the cominginto your heart of that divine influence which, encouraged howeverfeebly, shall presently show to your inner and better vision, in all hisbeauty, him whom no eye hath seen nor can see.
"I do not exclude you therefore, Doctor, when I say again that we haveall been drawn into close sympathy by the knowledge your companion hasimparted, and in what I have to say further I am sure you will both seea great deal to cause you to realize that your race and ours have thesame dear Father, who is guiding us to a common destiny.
"At your request I am to give you from time to time, as we haveopportunity, an account of the successive steps of our development, andI would like to say at the start that there will be one great differencebetween what I am to tell you and the rambling talk with which we beganour happy acquaintance. Then I gave you a few facts to show our presentcondition, without intimating that there was any higher force at workthan a natural desire in us to make the most of ourselves, and treat ourneighbors well. Now, since I have discovered that you can enter into myfeelings to a greater or less extent, I shall not hesitate to refer toits true source all that has helped us attain to our present condition,and all that is urging us on to a still higher state."
"We shall he very glad to know what you consider the spring of all thevast improvement in your race," I remarked.
"I did not use the word 'consider,'" replied Thorwald. "That would implydoubt where there is none. It is established beyond controversy thatboth our material and spiritual development have come only throughthe personal love and care of God for the creatures whom he has made,exhibited through all our history, but especially through the sending ofhis Son."
"Some on the earth recognize the same truth in reference to our race,"I said. "But, in general, people do not think much of such things, or ifthey think they do not say much. In fact, religious subjects are not asa rule popular in conversation."
"Why, what reason can there be for that?" Thorwald inquired with eagerinterest.
"Oh, there is too much indifference in the matter," I replied. "Isuppose most men do not think their relations to their Maker importantenough to give them any concern. And even the best among us shrink fromurging their opinions on others, partly because they know they arenot perfect examples themselves, and also from the feeling that theirfriends are intelligent beings and ought to know, as well as they do,what is best for them."
"Oh, then, my dear Doctor," said Thorwald, "I perceive that I havecommitted a breach of etiquette in forcing this subject upon you, andin asking you to put yourself in the way of receiving spiritualimpressions."
"In the circumstances, I think you are excusable," replied the doctor;"and, besides, I believe I introduced the topic."
"If you stay long with us," resumed Thorwald, "you will becomeaccustomed to religious conversation, for here there is entire freedomin such matters. Our spiritual experiences and the great possibilitiesof the future state are exceedingly pleasant things to talk about, wethink, and we feel no more sensitiveness in doing it than in conversingon the ordinary affairs of life. Being relieved of so many of the carespertaining to your existence, our minds are the more prepared to occupythemselves with these high themes, and what is more natural than thatwe should often like to speak to each other about them? As these thingsbecome more real to you and the necessity of spending so much time incaring for the body diminishes, you will gradually lose your presentfeeling. You will also find that, in making these subjects familiar,they need not lose dignity and you need not lose reverence."
"Thorwald," asked the doctor, "could you not give us a brief sketch ofyour career, so that we may compare it with that of our race?"
"I will do the best I can," answered Thorwald. "I think that is a goodsuggestion, and after that is done any of us can tell you the history ofdifferent epochs as opportunity offers. You are both such good listenersthat it is a pleasure to talk to you, but I want you to promise tointerrupt me with questions whenever you wish anything more fullyexplained."
We promised to do so, and Thorwald began:
"Our world is very old. The geologic formations tell us of a time whenno life could exist--long ages of convulsion and change in the crustof the globe. In time the conflict of the elements subsided and theboundaries between land and water were established. Then came vegetablelife, rank and abundant, preparing stores of coal and oil for use in thefar future. Animals followed, the first forms crude and monstrous,but succeeded by others better adapted to be the contemporaries andcompanions of our race.
"The planet was now ready for its destiny, and it was put into the handsof intelligent beings, made in the image of their Creator. This racestarted in the highest conceivable state, perfect in body, mind, andspirit. The material world was soon subdued to their use, and paradisereigned below. We do not know how long this condition lasted, but insome way sin entered and all was changed. Sorrow and death came, and athousand ills to vex us. Another period passed, and the race had becomeso wicked that it could not be allowed to exist. A pestilence sweptover the world, and all but one tribe perished. Through this remnant theworld was repeopled, but sin and woe remained, to be driven out at lastonly by a struggle too great for the arm of flesh alone.
"But the conflict began in hope, a hope inspired by the voice of God.From the very entrance of sin help from above had been promised in theperson of one who should conquer evil, and through whom the race mightbe restored to a much higher position even than that from which it hadfallen. Slowly the spirit of good, which is the spirit of God, workedupon the heart, and in all ages there were some who walked in thatspirit. By one such soul God raised up a people to whom he committed hismessage to the race, and through whom, at a later day, he fulfilled thepromise. Among this people there arose many faithful ones, and by them,from time to time, God added to his message, acting as the personalguide and defender of his people, and leading them by every path untilthey finally knew him, in every fiber of their being, to be the onlyGod.
"Prophets, too, there were among them, who, under divine guidance,foretold a time of universal peace, when the kingdom of Christ shouldcome in all hearts and when even the beasts of the field should dwelltogether in unity."
"Why, we have jus
t such prophecies," said I, "but they are generallyinterpreted figuratively. Do you really think they will be literallyfulfilled on the earth?"
"Well," answered Thorwald, "I have already told you what has come topass here, and I will leave you to judge from our experience as to whatwill come of the prophecies that have been made to you. From all youhave said at one time and another, I can see plenty of evidence that theearth is traveling the same road with us, and I have no doubt it willone day reach even a higher condition than the one we now enjoy.
"At length, when the time was ripe, God sent the promised Saviour. He,the Lord of heaven, came and lived as one of us. He gathered around hima few faithful souls, he preached his gospel of light and comfort tothe poor, and wept over the very woes he had come down to remove. Hishumility proved a stumbling-block to the selfishness of the world, andhis own nation rejected him. He conquered death and returned to hisFather's home, but his spirit, which had always been present in somemeasure, now came with force, and began, through his followers, the taskof regenerating the race.
"A feeble church, planted thus amid sin and darkness, took deep rootin loyal hearts, grew strong with persecution, and soon kindled a lightwhich pierced the darkness and gradually spread its illuminationover all our planet. The history of that church is the history of ourdevelopment. The race has not come so far toward its maturity without amighty struggle. The long course of preparation for the present highercondition has had many interruptions and obstructions. There have beendark ages of stagnation and threatened defeat, and there have beenages of hope and advancement. Through all this history the light of thegospel, though often obscured, has never been extinguished, and everystep of progress that has been made in our condition is to be traceddirectly to that light. We have not always been able to realize that;but, now that we understand more fully our wonderful career, we see howtrue it is that we have been led by a divine hand."
"Do you mean," I asked, "that your vast improvement in material affairshas come through Christianity?"
"Certainly," answered Thorwald. "Our civilization has walked hand inhand with true religion, and in all ages every permanent advance in ourcondition has come through the influence of the spirit of good, whichis always urging us to a higher and better state. In our progress manymistakes have been made, with consequences so serious as to threaten atthe time our final defeat; but a higher power has led us through all ourtroubles to a place of safety, where we can survey with gratitude thefield of conflict. If you so desire, I can relate to you at another timesome of the mistakes which have at times set us back in our march towarda physical and spiritual superiority."
We were pleased to notice by this last remark of Thorwald's that he hadstill in reserve many things to tell us, and we so expressed ourselvesto him.