1937-07-06 — Page 8

I

Ivar Brown Discusses Mysticism

and Pretences to the Sublime By

secured

such folk an Emily Bronte, but what can they Fell us definitely of the nature of this other world, this radiant glory? After all, the essence of "The Prisoner," in which Mr. Morgan, finds so fine a WOULD be ridiculous in apprehension. All her life, all her of the Absolute, in this case,

"the description of mystical experience, the face of so much poems, all those parts of "Wuther sublimated form of Going to

ing Heights" that bear the stamp of f Pictures, and therefore enjoys, is that the questioning spirit is de- reverence, past and present, vision were dedicated to her desire among those who have a taste for feated; its wings are allmost free for Emily Bronte's indulgence that this direct experience might it the popularity so widely won by but never quite. Merely to say that in dark matters to assert that she be repeated, that she might be latter and easier pastime. Good Then dawns the Invisible; the Un-

not citizens never wish to interfere with

geen its truth reveals in was merely morbid and hysterical again "really with it and in it

seeing it dimly through tears and other people's inoffensive pleasures, is only, without further definition, to and that her poetical addresses to

yearning for it through the walls be they of the senses or the spirit, repeat oneself and yet to say nothing What is this Unseen Truth? of an aching heart."

and they will naturally be glad. ifiat all.

No answer..

“Him for whom I wait," the Strange Power descending in the night, the shining "angel-brow," the Messen- ger of Hope, and so forth are the fond imaginings of sex starvation. Emily was not one to yearn like a ¿film-fancier, dreaming over last Saturday's visions of the glamorous screen. Admit, if you like, some element of the eternal woman in her communing with a Force, who "often comes to me." Even so, the strength of her emotion was mystical, and it is the mysticism which has revived and increased the popularity of her work in recent years. Mr. Charles Morgan, who wrote with great sym- pathy of Emily Bronte in a com- posite volume on "The Great Vic- torians," has found her poetry, es- pecially in “The Prisoner," "the most persuasive description of my- stical experience in our language." Being wholly without such exper- ience myself, I cannot discuss the accuracy of the description. But anybody can feel immediately and overwhelmingly the vehement emo- tion of the poetess. What I strongly dispute is the value of such emotion as a guide to truth, which is the my

stic's claim on its behalf.

There can be little doubt what- ever that mysticism is having a good innings at the present time. I have just received a copy of the first number of a new journal called "The Modern Mystic." Mysticism is an -inclusive

word. To define it we 'should begin with the Greek word "mystery," which began by mean- ing something so awe-inspiring that, you closed eyes or lips before

ADDICTS OF

He also

agrees with Miss Sinclair that Emily was "in with the Absolute.”

OF

No answer ever, except Emily's vaguenesses about celestial shine" and the general patter of mystics about happy half-hours with the

May anybody can find în the Absolute a' Absolute. Nor is there any explan- love compensation for the Actual.

ation of the constant, assertions that the world of sense-perception is un-

The weakness of mysticism Flirtation with the Absolute, an that is, of the intuitive or ecstatic real or at least has less reality than that apprehension of reality, a radically the other sphere intuitively reached agreeably vague notion - sof

of sensory

and- which is ungoverned by space, time, different matter from the Christian by abandonment

The less ¦

and bloodier

THE

ABSOLUTE

or any other relation, appears to be doctrine of a divine revelation to reasoning faculties. This is not to a fashionable habit of our epoch. That is natural enough. pleasant is the visible the more do we grasp at the invisible; the worse the conditions of life, the better the. unconditioned must appear. Since reasoning and reasonable people deny that mysticism is a pleasant the apparent terrestrial. futureof is that it never appears to bring and even a rewarding activity for mankind may be regarded as consi- back any information worth record--those who have the knack and the derably darker

than ing. Addicts of the Absolute will inclination. All withdrawals and ever it was in the history of the doubtless say that to ask thus blunt- escapes from the fret and fury of world before, it is an obvious course ely for news is a coarse and brutish the world have their delights, whe- to withdraw the mind from the pros- - attitude to adopt in so delicate an ther one is "going into retreat” in pect of this

sanguinary shape of activity. But why should not intui- an austere monastery or a sensual things to come and to assume that tion be asked to produce results just sty, indulging in the Absolute intuition will carry us to realms of as much as reason? We are al merely in alcohol. peace and bliss while reason is ways being told of the glorious my- Are these favoured few with their grappling with the next move in stical experience which awaits the inner light any more useful in humanity's race to suicide. Pursuit unimprisoned and is perhaps actual handling and healing the troubles

THE

WORLD GOES BY

ULYSSES" By

JEWSPAPER accounts of cross- A

+

or

tistics to put her above her sensible Well, sister There is for me a most un- Just pleasant arrogance about that spook- it ish kind of mysticism which is al- de- ways nodding its lofty head, saying it knows better, and is deeply shock- myled and pained if you vulgarly · say "Prove it.” In such cases-mysti- cism seems to be no more than a kind of sloppy self cosseting - which with is concealing its absurdity pretentions to the sublime.

of this world than are the ungifted many to whom reality is still real, while, soul-marriages with the Ab- solute smack sadly of fudge or self- deception? I think not Returning to the Brontes, we may note that it was practical Charlotte who kept things going. There is indeed irony in the fact that without practical -If it will make it any Charlotte we should have heard al- easier for you. (Pändemonium,most nothing of Emily, the mystical its bring out the cleverest in me. They which the Court has to quell, al- poetess, and of her strange nocturnal presence. But mystery has travell-induce day dreams in which I am though enjoying it as much as the encounters which now encourage cri-

·ed so-far as now to be associated the witness on the stand, and with any baffling

if spectators). crime and with

you don't know some of my im- Q† (furious)

I see. anything which lies outside pro-

aginary come-backs to an imaginary here is a simple question. bable happenings or normal belief.

cross-examiner, you have In this new magazine I find articles

missed how did you happen to know some of the most stimulating read- was 11:15 when you saw the on the Rosicrucians, on reincarna-

ing in the history of British juris-fendant? tion, on Zen, "a device for freeing

A prudence.

Because I looked at the soul from its fetters," on Stone-

During all of the cross-examina-watch. henge, on Roger Bacon, and on the tions. I am always very calm. How-

Q Egyptian mysteries of Osiris, child

And just why did you look of Queb and Nut. There are also ever frantic my inquisitor may wax, at your watch at this particular reflections on the fourth, fifth, and with each answer, winning the ad-

I just sit there, burning him up time? sixth dimensions by the novelist Mr. miration of the courtroom and," at

To see what time it was, Gerhardi, who skips with the

Are you accustomed ut- most confidence over ground which

times, even a smile from the judge look at your watch often? himself.

That is one of the uses to is impenetrable jungle to me.

Just what the trial is about, I which I often put my watch. Discarding the toys and trifles of never get quite clear in my mind. [** Q I see. Now it couldn't, by occultism, we should, to be fair, at- Sometimes the subject changes in any chance, have been 10.15 tempt to understand mysticism in the middle of the questioning, to stead of 11:15? its most reputable forms. It may, allow an especially good crack QOh, it could have been 10.15?

SKAL Yes, sir. It could. for example, mean "reliance on my part. Usually 1 am - testifying spiritual intuition as the means of on behalf of a friend. It's Justice

ASA acquiring knowledge of matters in-I'm after Justice and a few Singapore. accessible to the understanding." hearty laughs....... This e seems to march with belief in Let us whip right into the middle standards by answering like that, I the illusory nature of time and of of my cross-examination. With a usually adjourn the court until next material happenings and in the pos- sneer on his face, the lawyer points day. sible apprehension of a reality far a finger at me.

If possible, however, Tlike to drag transcending the world of sense-per-

You think you're pretty it out until I have given my ants-⠀⠀ ception. Mystics continually talk in funny, don't you?

gonist a big final wallop and, wip- terms of an imprisonment which A I have never given the ing his forehead, he mutters, bars them from present communion matter much thought.

witness." with Strange Powers and Celestial

A

to

Yes, sir, if I had been in

When I feel myself lowering my

Your

Oh, you haven't given the Ar F step down from the witness

Saeng glory and from the spiritual ecstasy matter much thought, oh? Well, you stand, as fresh as a daisy” there, is of such partnership. Mr. Morgan in seem to be treating the examing a round of applause which the Judge his article on Emily Bronte be-tion as if it were a minstrel show, makes no attempt to silence. Cer- lieves that Emily not only strove A (very quietly and nicely) tain Judges even wink pleasantly at for this unity 'but achieved it. I have merely been taking my cue me as Ptake my seat.

She was tired of being enclosed. from your questions. She was weary

Q Perhaps you would rather glorious world of escape to "that

'which, I believe, I conducted this

immediate 'talk?

she had once enjoyed

19 My only fear is that, if I ever am really called upon to testify baby court,

won't be asked the right questions.

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