Preface
By Annie Besant
The privilege is given to
me, as an elder, to pen a word of introduction to this little
book, the first written by a younger Brother, young in body verily, but
not in Soul. The teachings contained in it were given to him by
his Master in preparing him for Initiation, and were written down
by him from memory–slowly and laboriously, for his English last
year was far less fluent than it is now. The greater part is a
reproduction of the Master’s own words; that which is not such a
verbal reproduction is the Master’s thought clothed in His
pupil’s words. Two omitted sentences were supplied by the
Master. In two other cases an omitted word has been added. Beyond
this, it is entirely Alcyone’s own, his first gift to the world.
May it help others as the
spoken teachings helped him–such is the hope with which he gives
it. But the teaching can only be fruitful if it is ,
as he has lived it, since it fell from his Master’s lips. If the
example be followed as well as the precept, then for the reader,
as for the writer, shall the great Portal swing open, and his feet
be set on the Path.
