Lectionary Readings for Sunday, April 14th, 2019

Holy Memorial Day

Book of Divinity Chapters XV and XVI

Chapter XV

1. In Mouru, God and his officers were using all their strength and wisdom to provide for
the removal of his hosts to Craosivi. The demand for builders, surveyors and carriers,
with power, was so great that God determined to send trumpeters through the kingdoms
of Ahura, the false, asking for volunteers.

2. For this purpose he sent twelve otevans in different directions, some even going
through the city of Ctusk, Ahura’s capital, and they proclaimed aloud what they wanted.
And it came to pass that in less than one year the otevans gathered out of Ahura’s
kingdoms seven million angels capable of grade seventy, who were able to fill the places
required.

3. This was the most damaging blow of all to Ahura’s kingdoms, for he thus lost the
wisest and most powerful of his people. And this news went like fire before the wind. His
sub-Gods began to revolt against him, claiming their own kingdoms. Many of them
openly preached in their heavenly places against him, accusing him of falsehood and of
being a mere pretender, with little power.

4. Nevertheless, he had great power in the name Ahura’Mazda, for he was believed in
heaven, to be the same God, even I’hua’Mazda, that inspired Zarathustra. And mortals
also, living and dying in this belief, could not be convinced otherwise. And when their
spirits left their mortal bodies, Ahura’s angels took them to the heavenly city of Ctusk,
where they beheld its glory, shining and magnificent. And they took them in sight of
Ahura’s throne, but not near it, and they were obliged to crawl on their bellies a long
distance even for this purpose. And the throne was kept radiant with perpetual fire. Then
they were made to re-crawl their way back again, until out of the city. After that it was
said unto them: Behold, we have shown thee Ahura’Mazda’s heavenly city and the glory
of his throne. Himself thou canst not behold till thou hast performed the service which is
required of all souls entering heaven. Nor canst thou come again to this city,
most brilliant, majestic, till thou hast served under thy Lords and masters thy allotted
time. After that thou shalt come here and dwell in peace and rest and happiness forever!

5. And these spirits knew not otherwise, nor would they believe, if told; and they thus
willingly made slaves of themselves hundreds of years, carrying provender, or doing
drudgery to certain masters who were again serving the Lords and the sub-Gods, going
through the same rites and ceremonies in heaven as they were accustomed to on earth.

6. But Jehovih provided for all things, wiser than the wisest Gods. He created His
creations with a door on every side, full of glory and freedom. Out of earth and
atmosphere conjoined, He created animal and vegetable kingdoms. And He created the
trees of the earth and the flesh of animals out of these two things, the dust of the earth and
the air of heaven.

7. With this possibility created He them; that in death their corporeal elements should go
to their respective places, where they belong. But this possibility created the Creator, that
in the death of a vegetable and in the death of an animal, when the atmospherean part
flieth upward, that it should carry with it a small possible part of the dust of the earth, and
it thus doeth His bidding.

8. With this possibility created He His creations: that the earth giveth away of its
substance into atmospherea hundreds of years; and the fields become barren, and produce
not; and certain animals become barren and produce not, and their races go out of
existence. And He created man subject to the same forces; and when the earth is in the
giving-off period, behold, man ceaseth to desire of the earth; he crieth out to his Father in
heaven for the light of heaven.

9. With this possibility created the Creator the earth and the heavens above the earth:
a time for the earth to give off its substance, the which flieth upward hundreds of
years; and a time for the earth to receive from the atmosphere, surcharged from the
regions far away, an addition of substance, for hundreds of years. And when it is
thus receiving, it is called the time of a’ji, because that which falleth (condenseth) is aji.

10. When a’ji cometh upon the earth, the drujas come also. The days of the darkness of
earth are their delight; their harvest is in the rich falling a’ji; it suiteth their laziness and
their inclination to bask about. They become in those days like an over-fed animal; and to
their masters, the false Gods, they become worthless, for they derive their sustenance
without labor. A’ji is their delight; but they are also like a foolish man drinking wine with
delight, who continueth till his delight turneth to madness. So the drujas feast and disobey
their masters; and then they become boisterous and unruly, full of disorder and evil intent,
defiant, believing themselves to be Gods and Goddesses. Like a beggar with a pocket full
of money, who lacketh discipline and determineth to glut his passions to the fill, so is it
with the drujas in the time of a’ji.

11. Thus Ahura counted without Jehovih; in his heart he had conceived great power in
his kingdom; but the long a’ji told upon his heavenly places seriously. His sub-Gods
no longer paid him tribute, to support in ease and glory his five millions of heralds,
his five millions of musicians, his five millions of ceremonious paraders, giving
and providing for them constantly new costumes and new palaces and new decorations.

12. So, first one and then another of his sub-Gods revolted; and Ahura was powerless to
enforce obedience, for so dense was a’ji that whoever Ahura sent forth only reveled in
sumptuous feastings. And it came to pass that, in years after a’ji sat in, when over six
hundred of Ahura’s sub-Gods had dissolved all connection with him, and of the two
hundred yet remaining, who were situated close about Ctusk, Ahura’s heavenly place, not
ten of them could be relied upon in emergency.

13. At this time Ahura resolved upon regaining his lost dominions, and it was like a
man having lost heavily at the games, resolving to win all or lose all. Accordingly,
Ahura set his workmen to building parade ships, fifty thousand. He said unto his
remaining sub-Gods: Behold I will traverse the heavens in such magnificence and glory
that all angels and mortals shall fall down and worship me. And surely, too, this time of
a’ji must come to an end; and in that day I will remember those that have been faithful
unto me. And I will also remember, with a curse, those who have been unfaithful to me.

14. For fourteen years the workmen were building Ahura’s fleet, and yet they had built but
thirty thousand ships. For so great was the desertion of his skilled men that failure met
him on all sides. But with these thirty thousand ships Ahura determined to travel
throughout all the atmospherean heavens.

15. Accordingly, he called together his heralds, five millions; his musicians, five millions;
his masters of ceremonies, five millions; his masters of rites, five millions; his marshals,
ten millions; his captains, twenty millions; his generals, three millions; his Lords, one
million, and of his sub-Gods, one hundred and fifty, with their attendants, twenty
millions; his bearers of trophies, ten millions; his light makers, ten millions; his waterers,
ten millions; his torch-bearers, five millions; his body-guard, thirty millions. Besides
these there were the bearers of banners, the proclaimers, the road makers, the surveyors,
the directors, and so on, more than fifty millions. And yet the traveling hosts, one hundred
millions, and waiters for them, one hundred millions. In all there were upward of four
hundred millions of spirits that went within the thirty thousand ships, and the ships were
not full.

16. And the ships traveled in the form of a pyramid, but not touching one another, and yet
fastened together. And the base of the pyramid was four hundred miles wide every way,
and four hundred miles high. And the belt of light around the pyramid was a thousand
miles in diameter every way; and it was ballasted to run within fifty miles of the earth’s
surface.

17. Thus sat out Ahura for a whole year’s cruise in atmospherea; and wherever he went he
proclaimed himself thus: Ahura’Mazda, the Creator! The Only Begotten Son of the
Unknowable! Behold, I come; I, the Creator! I have come to judge heaven and earth!
Whoever is for Me I will raise up to Nirvana; whoever is against Me I will cast into hell.

18. The pyramid reflected light in its travel; and Ahura’s emissaries on earth used this as a
testimony that all things were about to come to an end; the earth to be cast out, and
heaven and hell to be filled up with spirits, each to its place, according to its obedience or
disobedience to Ahura’Mazda.

19. On the other hand, Ahura’s revolted sub-Gods laughed at him; and, as for the over-fed
and debauched drujas, they mocked at him. So it came to pass that when Ahura visited his
revolted sub-Gods in their kingdoms, instead of regaining their allegiance, he was sent on
his way with hisses and groans. And yet never since the earth and her heavens were, had
there been such great show and pageantry.

20. Before Ahura had visited half the kingdoms in atmospherea he foresaw the futility of
his project; the probable downfall of his own mighty kingdoms began to break in on his
heart. Enthusiasm for his name was on the wane, and all his magnificence had failed to
restore him to what he had been.

21. Now, whilst he was absent from Ctusk, the capital of his kingdoms, he had deputed
Fravaitiwagga to reign in his stead, and to maintain the order and glory of his throne.
Fravaitiwagga was a deserter from God’s Haienne colony in Haraiti, where he had been
educated two hundred years, and was expert in primary surveys and buildings, but
impatient for advancement beyond his capacity. He had now been with Ahura three
hundred years, learning little, but feasting and frolicking, being a great flatterer of Ahura,
and given to long speeches and flowery words.

22. Whilst Fravaitiwagga was on the throne, and after the departure of Ahura on his
excursion, there came to him one Ootgowski, a deserter from Hestinai in Zeredho, who
had been in Ahura’s service a hundred and fifty years, but banished from his heavenly
place by Ahura on account of gluttony and drunkenness, since which time he had been a
wandering spirit, dwelling sometimes in one kingdom and then in another, and oft
visiting the earth and gaining access to the oracles, and even to mortal priests, where he
represented himself, sometimes as Ahura’Mazda, sometimes as God, sometimes a
favorite Lord, sometimes Fragapatti, and Thor, and Osire, and, in fact, any name he
chose, issuing decrees and commandments to mortals, then flying away to return no more.

23. Ootgowski came to Fravaitiwagga and he said unto him: Greeting to thee, O God, in
the name of Ahura’Mazda! Behold, I am sent to thee in great haste by our Creator,
Ahura; who commandeth thy presence in the province of Veatsagh, where is held a
mighty Council with Ahura’s re-affiliated sub-Gods. What preferment Ahura’Mazda
hath fashioned for thee I know not. To this Fravaitiwagga answered as followeth, to wit:

24. Who are thou, and from what kingdom? And above all, why art thou come without
heralds and attendants? To this Ootgowski answered, saying: Behold me! Knowest
thou not me? I am Haaron, God of Sutuyotha! Who else could come so quickly?
Who else but I runneth fearlessly unattended betwixt the kingdoms of the Gods?

25. Fravaitiwagga had been drunk many days, and was so dazed with the pretentious
Ootgowski that he took for granted that he was indeed Haaron, a great friend to Ahura.
Fravaitiwagga called his Council together and appointed Semmes to be God in
his stead; and so Fravaitiwagga departed in an arrow-ship, with messengers, for
Veatsagh, which lies in an entirely different direction to where Ahura was traveling.

26. Semmes, the deputized God of Ctusk, was faithful to his office for four days, and then
proclaimed recreation until the trumpet call from the throne. And in this interval the
debauchee, Ootgowski, obtained access to the floor of the inner chamber, and seduced
Semmes to accompany him, carrying off all the costly gems and jewels of the throne! And
when without the capital, they embarked with their plunder in an arrow-ship to some
unknown region.

27. For many days the members of the Council waited for the trumpet call, but not
hearing it, resolved to learn the cause. And after diligent search, not finding Semmes,
but discovering that the throne had been plundered of its valuables, they were thrown
into great confusion. In two days after this the throne was destroyed, the Council
divided and gone, and the heavenly city of Ctusk turned to riot and plunder.

28. And there were in Ctusk and near about, upward of four thousand million angels with
no God, nor leader, nor any head whatsoever. Thus it came to pass that Jehovih took the
throne from Ahura, as had been prophesied.

29. And whilst this was going on, Ahura was away with his pyramid fleet, being
discomfited wherever he went. But in two hundred and twelve days after his departure
on his journey, messengers came to him and told him what had happened in Ctusk.

30. Ahura gave orders to sail at once for his capital; which was done, and his pyramid
fleet hastened with all possible power. Suffice it, in a few days he was back in Ctusk, a
witness to the rioting and plundering going on. But the majesty and splendor of his fleet
quieted the people, and restored order for the time being; nevertheless he was without a
throne and without a Council.

Chapter XVI

1. During the fall of a’ji, God decreed to his Lord Gods, to his Gods and Lords, and
Goddesses, as followeth, to wit: As ye have gathered of the rising atmospherean part of
the living earth-substance, so shall ye now turn for your regimen above. It is in heaven
now like unto the waters of the earth. When it raineth not, mortals go to the well and fetch
up water out of the earth; but when it raineth they go not to the well for water, but set out
vessels, and the rain filleth them.

2. So, in the times of dan and half dan and quarter dan, our hosts bring their regimen up
from the earth. Wherein ye have many employed as laborers. Behold now, a’ji will rain
down upon us sufficient and more than sufficient regimen for one hundred and eighty
years. Suffer not, therefore, your laborers to fall into idleness, for this will lead to
mischief. But immediately put them to other occupations; suffer them to have no spare
time.

3. The mathematicians discovered there would fall no a’ji in Yaton’te, nor on the lands of
Guatama. So, God sent from several divisions in the heavens laborers for those regions.

4. Two heavenly kingdoms, Gir-ak-shi and Soo’fwa, of Heleste and Japan, grieved God
more than all the rest. For these had become strongholds for Ahura, who had pursued the
warfare on earth till in those two great divisions all the Faithists, the Zarathustrians, had
been put to death. And the mortal kings of those countries had issued laws commanding
all people to be put to death that professed the Great Spirit, Ormazd (Jehovih). And the
law had been carried out effectually.

5. So God bewailed Soo’fwa with lamentations. He said: O Japan, my beloved,
down stricken! How can I restore to thee mortal seed? Thou art afar; no man on thy
soil heareth the Creator’s voice! How can I carry her; she lieth down with cold feet.

6. Whilst God lamented, the voice of the Father came to him, saying: Hear Me in My
wisdom, O My Son. I will not suffer Ahura to go thither. Withdraw thy guards from the
evilest of men. Suffer him to go his way. Ahura shall be brought home before he visiteth
Soo’fwa and Gir-ak-shi.

7. God perceived; and he sent messengers to the guard over Ootgowski, saying to them:
When ye come to the guard, even to the captains, ask permission to speak to Ootgowski.
And the captain will permit. Whereupon, ye shall say to Ootgowski: My son, thou camest
hither, saying: Put a guard over me, for I am obsessed of Satan with the seven horns
(tetracts). And God appointed a guard over thee. In this day, behold, God sendeth to thee,
saying: I will no longer guard Ootgowski. For his glory he shall enter the kingdoms of
Jehovih and become a worker for righteousness’sake.

8. When the messengers had said this much to Ootgowski, the latter said unto them: God
is wise; I volunteered to have myself put under guard, but I am tired thereof. Say to God,
his Lords and sub-Gods, I will come to Jehovih’s kingdoms and work, for righteousness’
sake. But yet a little while I desire rest and travel. So Ootgowski was granted freedom
purposely, and of his own accord he went and destroyed the foundations of Ahura’s
throne, as hath been told. And Ahura thus hastened home without completing the travel of
the heavens.

9. Jehovih said: What mattereth a name? Let them call the Creator Ahura’Mazda, and call
Ahura’Mazda the Creator. Since He hath not shown Himself in a ship, or in the figure of a
man, behold, thy inspirers shall teach His Ever Presence.

10. God perceived, and a record of the name was made and entered in the libraries of
heaven. And God looked abroad and saw that the same thing was even so in Gir-ak-shi
and Heleste. And God entered this also in the libraries of heaven. And the reading
thereof, translated, is as followeth: In the land of Celeste, the highest, most sacred name
of the Great Spirit, the Creator, was decreed by God to be Mazda; and the same thing is
decreed of Japan.

11. Hence it was known from that time forth that the origin of the word Master, as
applied to the Creator, sprang from those two countries only, and from no other division
of the earth. Of this matter, God said: In thousands of years this word shall be testimony
to mortals of the war in heaven of this day, which reached not to the heavens of these two
lands. And it was so, and will continue forever!

12. So God had no footing in Japan nor in Heleste, nor had he sufficient power to
establish a God or Lord in either country, or in the heavens belonging to them.

13. And when Diva assembled, God propounded this matter, on which the fourteen
members spake at length. And then Div decreed: To the swift messengers in attendance,
and through them to the etherean Goddess, Cpenta-armij, deploring of Diva in
Jehovih’s name: Two heavenly kingdoms and two corporeal divisions have walled
themselves about in idolatry. A’ji hath yet six years, and dawn twenty-six.

14. In thirty days thereafter the star-ship, Gee’onea, from Haot-saiti, in etherea, made its
appearance in the heavens above, first observed on the borders of the bridge Chinvat. God
sent immediately a swift-rising Ometr to meet the star-ship and conduct it to Craoshivi,
whither he had gone with one of the transports, with two hundred millions, well
selected, to found a new city in heaven. Suffice it, in three days’time the star ship
landed in Craoshivi with one million laborers provided to endure till the coming dawn.

15. After due salutations, Os, chief Captain of the ethereans, said unto God: In Jehovih’s
name am I come to possess the heavenly places, Soo’fwa and Gir-ak-shi, and their lands,
Japan and Heleste. This work must be accomplished before dawn; before the coming of
Cpenta-armij. Send thou, therefore, thy messengers who know the places, that I may
conduct my hosts thither to labor.

16. God then gave messengers to Os, and the latter departed and went to the kingdoms
named; and it so happened, by the wisdom of Jehovih, that this took place at the same
time that Ahura had returned and found his capital and throne demolished. Hence Ahura
was powerless to interfere with the labor of Os and his hosts.

17. So Os divided his forces and possessed both Soo’fwa and Gir-ak-shi, together with the
divisions of the earth thereunto belonging. And Os possessed the corporeal temples of
worship, and the places of the oracles, and all places for consulting spirits. And he taught
not the name of Jehovih, nor of the Great Spirit, nor of the Father; for none of these
would be received. But this he taught; thus he extolled; thus inspired OF THE MAZDA, THE
CREATOR; OF THE VOICE THAT SPAKE TO ZARATHUSTRA, THE ALL PURE. To goodness and good
works; to self-denial and love; to justice and truth; of mercy and obedience to the all
highest light in the soul.