Lectionary Readings for Sunday, May 19th, 2019

Holy Memorial Day 

Book of Wars Against Jehovih Chapters XXX and XXXI

Chapter XXX

1. Now, after the three false Gods, Osiris and Te-in and Sudga, had revealed these things
to mortals, they sent messengers to the Lord God, praying audience with him, that they
might disclose to him what they had done. Anuhasaj, alias De’yus, therefore, appointed a
time of meeting, and the Gods came before him and made their report. After which
De’yus said:

2. In all ye have done I acquiesce; neither have ye said aught that I would not have said,
save that I desired not to laud myself with mine own mouth. And thus ended the matter,
as to how mortals were taught to worship the names Lord and God, and Lord God, and
Ho-Joss, and Joss, and De’yus, and Deity, and Dyaus, and Zeus, and various other names,
according to the languages of the people of Jaffeth, and Vind’yu, and Arabin’ya, and
Parsi’e, and Heleste. And thousands of millions of angels of the Lord God and his Gods,
who were sent down to mortals, inspired them and taught them the same things through
seers, and prophets, and magicians, and through other people, also, by dreams and
visions.

3. And mortals were taught the secret of spiritually going out of their own corporeal
bodies, and returning safely; and in this state they were taken subjectively to the kingdom
of the Lord God, where they beheld him even as a man, sitting on a throne; and they saw
the great glory of his kingdom, and beheld the worshippers, millions of them, glorifying
De’yus, the false Lord God. And these persons became preachers on the earth;
enthusiastically stirring men up on every hand to draw the sword and spear and sling
to go forth in battle, to overthrow the doctrine of the Great Spirit and establish the De’yus.

4. And it came to pass that they thus accomplished the will of the Lord God in all these
divisions of the earth. The Jehovians, being non-resistants, were powerless before them.
Kings and queens on the earth accepted these doctrines, and they marshaled their armies
in all directions to establish the Lord God, who had said unto them: As much as ye exalt
me and my kingdoms, so will I exalt you. As I behold, ye are become wise and powerful
to rule over many on the earth, so will I give unto you large kingdoms in heaven.

5. And the false Lord God and his false Gods prospered in earth and heaven, as to
themselves and their kingdoms, hundreds of years, nine hundred years, and at this time
the Faithists of the earth were reduced to a small fraction of people, mostly hid away, as
sheep from wolves.

6. But in nine hundred and fifty years, behold, the worshippers of the Lord God, the false,
began to quarrel and fight amongst themselves. Even as by blood they had established
him, so by blood were the kings and queens of the earth overthrowing one another.

7. Because of the warfare, schools, and colleges, and houses of philosophy, were wasted
away; the factories for spinning and weaving were destroyed, and the lands not tilled.

8. And now of the heavenly kingdoms of Anuhasaj and his Gods, this is what occurred,
to wit: They had accumulated twenty-eight thousand millions of spirits, all of
whom were servants to De’yus and his Gods. For the most part they were below grade
ten, whilst three thousand millions were below grade five, which is helplessness.

9. Jehovih had so made men and angels that, whosoever had learned to abnegate self and
to labor for the good of others, was already above grade fifty, and his ascension should be
perpetual thereafter; whilst they that were below grade fifty, who had not put away
self (satan), should gravitate downward, toward the earth. Wherein it had come to
pass that the false Lord God and his false Gods were burdened with their kingdoms.

10. And though they were adorned to the utmost, having vast cities for their heavenly
capitals, with millions of attendants, and millions of musicians, who were forever
inventing new and wonderful music, and playing and singing, millions and millions in
concert, with millions of trumpeters, near and far off, to fashion echoes beautiful to the
ear; and though they had decorators forever inventing and changing their thousands of
millions of flags and banners, and the ornaments for the pageantry; though they had
millions of heavenly cities, built with heavenly precious stones and gems of splendor, and
with roadways and streets paved with heavenly diamonds and pearls; and though they had
tournaments, heavenly, and games, and rites and ceremonies, prostrations and salutations,
without end, with great ships, heavenly, capable of coursing atmospherea in journeys and
excursions, ships to carry hundreds of millions of angels, whose chief occupation was to
sing and chant the glory and power and dominion of De’yus and his Gods; yea, though a
large book could not contain a description of the thousandth part of their wonderful glory,
yet each and every God began to see coming danger.

11. Jehovih had said: Two precipices have I left open for testing man’s strength, and they
are: great prosperity and great adversity.

12. And behold, satan came upon them in the guise of a good friend. First, he went to
Anuhasaj and said unto him: Thou greatest of Gods! Who is like unto thee? Behold, I
came to thee in the beginning, and told thee what to do, even to stretch forth thine hand,
and heaven and earth should be thine forever, for thine own glory. And lo, it hath come
on finely! Thou hast routed Jehovih and His hosts in heaven and earth; they are as a
remnant skulking away. Hear me, then, O De’yus, for I will not only praise thee for what
thou hast accomplished, but I will chide thee for thy failings.

13. De’yus said: Wherein have I failed, O satan? And satan answered, saying: Thou art
too honest for thine own good; too pure for thine own benefit; too unsuspecting as
regards thy Gods. Being thyself honest, thou hast easily attributed honesty unto others,
and they have taken advantage of thee.

14. Anuhasaj said: How? Satan answered, saying: In the first, thou saidst to thy Gods:
Maintain ye your schools, and colleges, and factories, and otherwise prepare the spirits of
the dead unto resurrection. And as fast as they arrive at grade thirty, send ye them to my
kingdom, that Hored may be glorified forever. But lo and behold, thy Gods used the
angels as slaves, to build up the glory of their own kingdoms. They have suffered their
heavenly places of education, for the most part, to be scattered and gone. Neither have
they inspired mortals to instruction, as I warned thee at the first. And mortals have thrown
aside their schools and colleges, and their places of art, and have become riotous, and
given to gross living, and there is no resurrection in them. Which matters show thee that,
soon or late, all the spirits of the earth will be of no grade at all, but as fetals and vampires
to live on mortals.

15. De’yus said: Why are mortals become gross livers? Satan answered him, saying:
Behold, in thine own revelation to mortals thou saidst to them: Partake not of fish, nor
flesh, nor blood, for food, nor of anything that breatheth the breath of life. And now,
behold what came to pass: Thy three Gods, whom thou hadst elevated and trusted, fell to
and made other revelations, wherein they said: Partake of fish and flesh; for they desired
to please mortals. And lo, it hath come to pass that man not only warreth for thee, but he
warreth to the right and left, for it is in his blood, after the manner of beasts that feed on
flesh. Thy Gods had no right to give this law unto man without first consulting thee, to
know thy will and pleasure.

16. Anuhasaj said: Alas, it is true. What shall I do? Satan said: Thou shalt call thy Gods
before thee and chide them in thine own way, and command them to go down to mortals
and re-establish learning and industry, instead of war. Anuhasaj said: Even so shall they
come and receive my reprimand. They shall know of a truth that I am the Lord their God.

17. Satan went to the other false Gods, every one separately, saying unto each: Hear me,
O thou wisest of Gods, who shouldst in fact be at the all highest Godhead in heaven,
because of thy great wisdom and integrity. Behold, I came to thee at the first and foretold
thee how thy kingdom should become great and glorified; and even so hath it come to
pass. When thou puttest forth thine hand to do a thing, it is done; for thou wert born into
life different from all others, and for the highest of glories. And because of thy greatness,
behold, all the Gods of heaven are jealous of thee and fear thee, all of which thou knowest
of thine own knowledge. Now, whilst I accord this unto thee, I will also chide thee for thy
shortness.

18. For, because thou art honest thyself, thou believest the same of others; wherefore thou
art cheated and ill-used on all hands. In the first while, thou didst send thy highest grades
to the Lord God, to be his; yea, thou hast robbed thine own kingdom of its finest and best
subjects for the glory of De’yus. And who is De’yus more than thou? Is he not a coward?
for he feared to give his own doctrines to mortals; but he abridged his words till they were
worthless. And thou and thy fellow-Gods made his doctrines up in full for him! Yet thou
servest him as if he were thy superior.

19. The false God said: Alas, it is true, with all my wisdom I have acted like a fool.
Because I was too honest and pure for De’yus and his Gods, they have taken advantage of
me. What shall I do? Satan said: I told thee at the first, that the time should come when
thou shouldst rise to be higher than all other Gods. Behold, the time is near at hand
when thou shalt strike the blow. Thou shalt not only have thine own kingdom, but the
kingdoms of thy companion Gods; and even De’yus shall be tributary unto thee and thine.

20. The false God said: What shall I do? And satan answered, saying: De’yus will scent
the danger to his kingdom, and he will summon his Gods for consultation. Be thou ready
with thine answer unto him and them; not hastily, for such is the manner of the weak;
but most deliberately, in high holiness of purpose, for the good of mortals and spirits.

21. Thus alike and like spake satan unto all the false Gods; and they nursed the planted
seed; held it in the light and shade to see it grow, till it became the very giant of each
one’s understanding.

Chapter XXXI

1. In course of time Anuhasaj called the meeting of his Gods in Hored, and Osiris and
Sudga came; and great were the pageantry and show that day; and the pomp and glory and
splendor of Sanctu; with thousands of millions of trained slaves, with their dashing
officers of high rank. For at this time it was nearly seven hundred years since even
generals and high captains could come into the presence of the Lord God, the false, save
by crawling on their bellies, even for miles.

2. And in and around about the heavenly house of the capital were erected fifty thousand
pillars of fire, kept forever going by the labor of his slaves, some of whom stood in their
tracks laboring at one thing for more than a hundred years, without change of watch, or
rest, being threatened with hell, and being too impotent to believe otherwise. None could
walk upright to the throne of the Lord God save his high Council, his high marshals, and
his Gods, and Anubi. And none else were permitted to look upon him, under penalty of
being cast into hell.

3. At first his Gods came to feast with him once a year, for more than a hundred years;
after that, for awhile, once in six years; and afterward, only once in fifty or a hundred
years; and then only by special command.

4. So it came to pass that the coming of De’yus’false Gods was an occasion of rejoicing
and glory to upward of twelve thousand million inhabitants of the kingdom of Anuhasaj.
For, far and near, they were extra clothed and fed, and granted freedom for the time
being.

5. On the last occasion referred to, the Gods were received by hundreds of millions, called
the receiving hosts, in fire-ships of great size and brilliancy, and thus conducted up to the
roadways of the court, nearer than which the receiving hosts dared not approach. There
the Gods were met by De’yus’high Council and high marshals, and with them entered the
area and walked up to the high arch of the capital, which led into the place of the throne
of the Lord God. When inside of the Arch, the Council and marshals parted on either
side, and, with the head bowed, chanted an anthem of praise to De’yus. The Gods also
bowed with respect and friendship, and walked in the midst directly toward the throne.

6. When they were near at hand, the vice-Gods, on either side of De’yus, rose up, saying:

7. In the name of the Lord God of the heavens of the earth, who come here, upright, and
as Gods?

8. The Gods responded: Behold, we are sons of the Lord God, great De’yus, and of a truth
are we Gods! We demand audience with our Godhead, for the glory of our kingdoms and
his.

9. De’yus said: Peace, O my vice-Gods! I do recognize these, my brother Gods. Greeting,
in the name of heaven and earth.

10. The Gods responded: Greeting unto thee, O Lord God, mightiest of Gods. In thy
mighty name, De’yus, we salute thee worshipfully, to know thy will and pleasure, that we
may serve thee in wisdom, and power, and love.

11. De’yus said: Welcome, O ye Gods; the freedom of Sanc-tu is at your hands. Behold, I
will clear my palace, that we may privily, and most holily, consult together for the good
of angels and mortals.

12. Thereupon De’yus gave a signal for all his officers and attendants to retire beyond
the Arch, the which they did. And now that the ceremony of reception was over,
Anuhasaj came down from his throne and greeted the Gods cordially by clasping hands,
after which they all sat down on the foot seats of the throne; and there were present
De’yus, and Osiris, and Sudga, and no others within hearing; for Te-in had not come.

13. And for a while they talked together like long-separated friends; and lo and behold,
the satan that was within each one of them began to fail him as regardeth reproving the
others. For even the smothered seed of love which the Great Spirit had given them began
to swell up, as if about to burst forth a mighty power. So the time passed on, and none
dared approach the subject of his soul and resolution.

14. Till at last, De’yus, the most schooled in satan’s cause, put an end to their old-time
stories and trivial conversation; he said:

15. So much have I loved you both, and am now moved by your august presence,
that with all my majesty and power I am weaker than a young child: who will
unconcernedly reprove its own father. Or more I am like an old man that, in the
absence of his child, findeth cause to quarrel with it; but on seeing it return, breaketh
down utterly, and turneth from his previous grieving to an outburst of manifest love.

16. Osiris said: What can move thee to this seriousness, O De’yus? For even as thou hast
spoken, so hast thou uttered the sentiment long heavily lain on my heart. But which now,
in reverence to thee and thy great kingdoms, causeth me to melt down like snow in a
summer’s sun. Pray thee, go on!

17. Sudga said, As I live, ye twain, so far my superiors as before whom I am nothing,
have spoken the very sentiment of my soul. Pray ye twain, go on; for so great is my love
unto you, your most extravagant wish shall be answered by me, though I labor a thousand
years to accomplish it.

18. Thereupon De’yus sweetly told his tale, even as satan had taught him. And then he
bade Osiris speak his mind, and also Sudga speak his; which they did, even as satan had
taught them their parts. When they had finished, De’yus, much surprised by their pitiful
tales, even as the others were at his, thus spake:

19. My Gods, how easier it is to find fault with the state of affairs than to find a remedy. I
have seen such as find fault with their neighbors, or with the kingdom, or ancients, and
yet turned and accomplished the same faults themselves. We all do know that one of the
complaints we had against the old Divan laws was their bondage over the Lords and their
dominions, holding them to the letter. Whereupon, when we confederated, it was to
give independence to each and every Lord to rule his own heaven and division of the
earth in his own way. And this was granted unto all my Lords and unto me and my
kingdom likewise. And behold where it hath harvested! In the fullness of my soul I gave
you certain doctrines to give unto mortals, chief of which was to make my names
worshipful on the earth. But I bound you not, saying: Do ye this, and no more. But I
said unto you: Here is the substance of the foundations of my doctrines. Go ye unto
mortals and teach them these things, adding or abridging according to your own wisdom.

20. And this ye accomplished, and added thereunto the temptation to mortals to become
carnivorants, whereby the grades have fallen woefully. And now ye find fault with me for
exacting a certain number of slaves annually of a certain grade; complaining that your
own kingdoms are becoming flooded with drujas.

21. Osiris said: Hear me, O Lord my God, for I have labored for thee and thy kingdoms
many a hundred years. Nor are my words in passion, but well considered; wherein,
therefore, if I err, I ask no excuse on account of hastiness. First, then, that our
confederation was founded to make a mighty kingdom, heavenly, having dominion
over mortals on the whole earth; of which kingdom thou wert to be the chief and
greatest glory, and ourselves second. To all of which our songs to this day bear testimony.
But, as for songs or testimonies in the libraries of heaven, that our confederacy
was founded chiefly to get rid of the Divan laws, I have not seen nor heard of one.

22. Sudga said: What I have done is done. I was commanded to a division of the earth, to
subdue it unto De’yus, and I have so accomplished it. I have listened to your complaints,
but neither hath offered a remedy. Ye twain are higher in rank and wisdom than I; when
ye have spoken to the purpose I will also speak. For my part, I am thankful there are no
Divan laws to bind me.

23. De’yus said: The remedy lieth in overturning the cause of the falls in the grades. For
sake of glorifying themselves, my Gods have suffered places of learning and industry to
fall to pieces, both in heaven and earth. There be such as give glory unto charity, and unto
rites and ceremonies; but I say unto you, my Gods, INDUSTRY AND LEARNING stand higher
than charity or rites and ceremonies; especially so standeth industry that yieldeth
profitable support.

24. Osiris said: Where, O Lord my God, lieth the difference betwixt that which is written
or spoken? In thy opening words thou hast even now reiterated the bondage of the Divan
laws over the Lords. And in the next breath thou sayest: I command you to re-establish
the places of learning and industry.

25. Sudga said: Are not written laws less arbitrary than spoken ones? for we see them
beforehand, and are not, therefore, shocked by the sudden audacity.

26. De’yus said: In either case is it not true that the highest in power and mightiest in the
plans and arrangement of his kingdoms must either take jibes and insults from his
inferiors, whom he hath lifted up and made what they are, or otherwise fall brokenhearted on the loss of their love and worship? For on all hands we behold, alas,
beneficiaries are apt to turn like venomous serpents, and strike, even though the blow
would send themselves into destruction.

27. Osiris said: That is most especially true, O De’yus, where the highest kingdoms owe
their glory and greatness to those that have been subsidiary and built them up. None are
so slow to see their danger as they that are exposed to it. There be such who, holding high
places, if but their slaves knew who they were and how deceived, would bind them in
knots and cast them into hell.

28. Sudga said: But in such cases is it not better, O my wise brothers, that the highest who
have been raised up by the toil and industry of others, that labored to have them glorified,
turn from their own glory and selfish ends, and divide up their ill-gotten kingdoms, and
bestir their lazy carcasses by sending assistants to those that have them in their power?

29. De’yus said: Most wisely spoken, both my Gods. But how shall we teach apes
and monkeys to know their masters? They crook their tails and squeal, imagining
themselves great monarchs. Whereas, were they cut off from their masters, they
would come to grief most ignominiously, or be the foremost plunged into torments.

30. Osiris said: Thou wisest of Gods, is it not most strange, wonderful, how better we can
see others’shortness than our own? Nor are we much quicker to find a way to save them,
which we oft could do were they not self-conceited fools, than to guard our arms, so that
when they show the least sign to do us wrong, we inwardly swear within our souls to hurl
them into hell.

31. Sudga said: O my loves, it is a sad reflection, when we survey mighty kingdoms at
their quarrels, knowing that, if either dare lift a hand to destroy, we ourselves hold the key
whereby they can be, both, stript of their highest subjects and their greatest glories, and
left in the ruins of their own evil concocting. But the wise abide their time, and oft are
fortified when others know not of it.

32. De’yus said: My most wise Gods, ye have spoken great wisdom. I will weigh your
words and be governed accordingly. For your most holy visit I am honored above all I
deserve.

33. Osiris said: Words cannot express my reverence for thy spoken words, O De’yus.

34. Sudga said: I am bowed with sorrow to leave the place of so much wisdom, love and
power.

35. And now Osiris and Sudga stepped backward, four paces each, but separate from
each other, with their heads still bowed. By a signal, the vice-Gods re-entered and
stood beside the Gods, and then all, with heads bowed, raised their hands and saluted
in the sign CENTRAL SUN. De’yus answered them on the sign MUSIC OF THE SATELLITES.

36. Slowly now, and with measured step, to low sweet music, backward, the Gods
and vice-Gods crossed the area and passed the Arch, where the vice-Gods left them
and returned within. But the Gods were now met by the high Council and high
marshals and conducted to the entrance gate, where they left them, and they were
received, Osiris and Sudga, by their hosts and reconducted to their ships, with great
pomp and honor, and they at once set sail for their own heavenly kingdoms.

37. Now, in this whole proceeding, the Gods were all surprised that Te-in came not, nor,
by messenger or otherwise, answered the summons; nor could one of them imagine the
cause.