DialecticallymindedreadersofthisfarragowillatleastrecognizetheregionofthoughtofwhichMr。Clarkwrites，asfamiliar。Inhislatestpamphlet，“Tennyson’sTrancesandtheAnaestheticRevelation。”Mr。Blooddescribesitsvalueforlifeasfollows：——
　　“TheAnaestheticRevelationistheInitiationofManintotheImmemorialMysteryoftheOpenSecretofBeing，revealedastheInevitableVortexofContinuity。Inevitableistheword。Itsmotiveisinherent——itiswhathastobe。Itisnotforanyloveorhate，norforjoynorsorrow，norgoodnorill。End，beginning，orpurpose，itknowsnotof。
　　“Itaffordsnoparticularofthemultiplicityandvarietyofthingsbutitfillsappreciationofthehistoricalandthesacredwithasecularandintimatelypersonalilluminationofthenatureandmotiveofexistence，whichthenseemsreminiscent——asifitshouldhaveappeared，orshallyetappear，toeveryparticipantthereof。
　　“Althoughitisatfirststartlinginitssolemnity，itbecomesdirectlysuchamatterofcourse——soold-fashioned，andsoakintoproverbsthatitinspiresexultationratherthanfear，andasenseofsafety，asidentifiedwiththeaboriginalandtheuniversal。Butnowordsmayexpresstheimposingcertaintyofthepatientthatheisrealizingtheprimordial，AdamicsurpriseofLife。
　　“Repetitionoftheexperiencefindsiteverthesame，andasifitcouldnotpossiblybeotherwise。Thesubjectresumeshisnormalconsciousnessonlytopartiallyandfitfullyrememberitsoccurrence，andtotrytoformulateitsbafflingimport——withonlythisconsolatoryafterthought：thathehasknowntheoldesttruth，andthathehasdonewithhumantheoriesastotheorigin，meaning，ordestinyoftherace。Heisbeyondinstructionin’spiritualthings。’
　　“Thelessonisoneofcentralsafety：theKingdomiswithin。
　　Alldaysarejudgmentdays：buttherecanbenoclimactericpurposeofeternity，noranyschemeofthewhole。Theastronomerabridgestherowofbewilderingfiguresbyincreasinghisunitofmeasurement：somaywereducethedistractingmultiplicityofthingstotheunityforwhicheachofusstands。
　　“ThishasbeenmymoralsustenancesinceIhaveknownofit。InmyfirstprintedmentionofitIdeclared：’Theworldisnomorethealienterrorthatwastaughtme。Spurningthecloud-grimedandstillsultrybattlementswhencesolatelyJehovanthundersboomed，mygraygullliftsherwingagainstthenightfall，andtakesthedimleagueswithafearlesseye。’Andnow，aftertwenty-sevenyearsofthisexperience，thewingisgrayer，buttheeyeisfearlessstill，whileIrenewanddoublyemphasizethatdeclaration。Iknow——ashavingknown——themeaningofExistence：thesanecentreoftheuniverse——atoncethewonderandtheassuranceofthesoul——forwhichthespeechofreasonhasasyetnonamebuttheAnaestheticRevelation。”——Ihaveconsiderablyabridgedthequotation。
　　Thishasthegenuinereligiousmysticring！IjustnowquotedJ。
　　A。Symonds。Healsorecordsamysticalexperiencewithchloroform，asfollows：——
　　’Afterthechokingandstiflinghadpassedaway，Iseemedatfirstinastateofutterblankness；thencameflashesofintenselight，alternatingwithblackness，andwithakeenvisionofwhatwasgoingonintheroomaroundme，butnosensationoftouch。I
　　thoughtthatIwasneardeath；when，suddenly，mysoulbecameawareofGod，whowasmanifestlydealingwithme，handlingme，sotospeak，inanintensepersonalpresentreality。Ifelthimstreaminginlikelightuponme……IcannotdescribetheecstasyIfelt。Then，asIgraduallyawokefromtheinfluenceoftheanaesthetics，theoldsenseofmyrelationtotheworldbegantoreturn，thenewsenseofmyrelationtoGodbegantofade。I
　　suddenlyleapttomyfeetonthechairwhereIwassitting，andshriekedout，’Itistoohorrible，itistoohorrible，itistoohorrible，’meaningthatIcouldnotbearthisdisillusionment。
　　ThenIflungmyselfontheground，andatlastawokecoveredwithblood，callingtothetwosurgeonswhowerefrightened，’Whydidyounotkillme？Whywouldyounotletmedie？’Onlythinkofit。TohavefeltforthatlongdatelessecstasyofvisiontheveryGod，inallpurityandtendernessandtruthandabsolutelove，andthentofindthatIhadafterallhadnorevelation，butthatIhadbeentrickedbytheabnormalexcitementofmybrain。
　　“Yet，thisquestionremains，Isitpossiblethattheinnersenseofrealitywhichsucceeded，whenmyfleshwasdeadtoimpressionsfromwithout，totheordinarysenseofphysicalrelations，wasnotadelusionbutanactualexperience？IsitpossiblethatI，inthatmoment，feltwhatsomeofthesaintshavesaidtheyalwaysfelt，theundemonstrablebutirrefragablecertaintyofGod？”
　　Op。cit。，pp。78-80，abridged。Isubjoin，alsoabridgingit，anotherinterestinganaestheticrevelationcommunicatedtomeinmanuscriptbyafriendinEngland。Thesubject，agiftedwoman，wastakingetherforasurgicaloperation。
　　“IwonderedifIwasinaprisonbeingtortured，andwhyI
　　rememberedhavinghearditsaidthatpeople’learnthroughsuffering，’andinviewofwhatIwasseeing，theinadequacyofthissayingstruckmesomuchthatIsaid，aloud，’tosufferIS
　　tolearn。’
　　“WiththatIbecameunconsciousagain，andmylastdreamimmediatelyprecededmyrealcomingto。Itonlylastedafewseconds，andwasmostvividandrealtome，thoughitmaynotbeclearinwords。
　　“AgreatBeingorPowerwastravelingthroughthesky，hisfootwasonakindoflightningasawheelisonarail，itwashispathway。Thelightningwasmadeentirelyofthespiritsofinnumerablepeopleclosetooneanother，andIwasoneofthem。
　　Hemovedinastraightline，andeachpartofthestreakorflashcameintoitsshortconsciousexistenceonlythathemighttravel。IseemedtobedirectlyunderthefootofGod，andI
　　thoughthewasgrindinghisownlifeupoutofmypain。ThenI
　　sawthatwhathehadbeentryingwithallhismighttodowastoCHANGEHISCOURSE，toBENDthelineoflightningtowhichhewastied，inthedirectioninwhichhewantedtogo。Ifeltmyflexibilityandhelplessness，andknewthathewouldsucceed。Hebendedme，turninghiscornerbymeansofmyhurt，hurtingmemorethanIhadeverbeenhurtinmylife，andattheacutestpointofthis，ashepassed，ISAW。IunderstoodforamomentthingsthatIhavenowforgotten，thingsthatnoonecouldrememberwhileretainingsanity。Theanglewasanobtuseangle，andIrememberthinkingasIwokethathadhemadeitarightoracuteangle，Ishouldhavebothsufferedand’seen’stillmore，andshouldprobablyhavedied。
　　“HewentonandIcameto。Inthatmomentthewholeofmylifepassedbeforeme，includingeachlittlemeaninglesspieceofdistress，andIUNDERSTOODthem。THISwaswhatithadallmeant，THISwasthepieceofworkithadallbeencontributingtodo。I
　　didnotseeGod’spurpose，Ionlysawhisintentnessandhisentirerelentlessnesstowardshismeans。Hethoughtnomoreofmethanamanthinksofhurtingacorkwhenheisopeningwine，orhurtingacartridgewhenheisfiring。Andyet，onwaking，myfirstfeelingwas，anditcamewithtears，’Dominenonsumdigna，’forIhadbeenliftedintoapositionforwhichIwastoosmall。IrealizedthatinthathalfhourunderetherIhadservedGodmoredistinctlyandpurelythanIhadeverdoneinmylifebefore，orthanIamcapableofdesiringtodo。Iwasthemeansofhisachievingandrevealingsomething，Iknownotwhatortowhom，andthat，totheexactextentofmycapacityforsuffering。
　　“Whileregainingconsciousness，Iwonderedwhy，sinceIhadgonesodeep，IhadseennothingofwhatthesaintscalltheLOVEofGod，nothingbuthisrelentlessness。AndthenIheardananswer，whichIcouldonlyjustcatch，saying，’KnowledgeandLoveareOne，andtheMEASUREissuffering’——Igivethewordsastheycametome。WiththatIcamefinallytointowhatseemedadreamworldcomparedwiththerealityofwhatIwasleaving，andIsawthatwhatwouldbecalledthe’cause’ofmyexperiencewasaslightoperationunderinsufficientether，inabedpushedupagainstawindow，acommoncitywindowinacommoncitystreet。
　　IfIhadtoformulateafewofthethingsIthencaughtaglimpseof，theywouldrunsomewhatasfollows：——
　　“Theeternalnecessityofsufferinganditseternalvicariousness。Theveiledandincommunicablenatureoftheworstsufferings；——thepassivityofgenius，howitisessentiallyinstrumentalanddefenseless，moved，notmoving，itmustdowhatitdoes；——theimpossibilityofdiscoverywithoutitsprice；——finally，theexcessofwhatthesuffering’seer’orgeniuspaysoverwhathisgenerationgains。Heseemslikeonewhosweatshislifeouttoearnenoughtosaveadistrictfromfamine，andjustashestaggersback，dyingandsatisfied，bringingalacofrupeestobuygrainwith，Godliftsthelacaway，droppingONErupee，andsays，’Thatyoumaygivethem。
　　Thatyouhaveearnedforthem。TherestisforME。’Iperceivedalsoinawaynevertobeforgotten，theexcessofwhatweseeoverwhatwecandemonstrate。
　　“Andsoon！——thesethingsmayseemtoyoudelusions，ortruisms；
　　butformetheyaredarktruths，andthepowertoputthemintoevensuchwordsasthesehasbeengivenmebyanetherdream。”
　　Withthiswemakeconnectionwithreligiousmysticismpureandsimple。Symonds’squestiontakesusbacktothoseexampleswhichyouwillremembermyquotinginthelectureontheRealityoftheUnseen，ofsuddenrealizationoftheimmediatepresenceofGod。
　　Thephenomenoninoneshapeoranotherisnotuncommon。
　　“Iknow。”writesMr。Trine，“anofficeronourpoliceforcewhohastoldmethatmanytimeswhenoffduty，andonhiswayhomeintheevening，therecomestohimsuchavividandvitalrealizationofhisonenesswiththisInfinitePower，andthisSpiritofInfinitePeacesotakesholdofandsofillshim，thatitseemsasifhisfeetcouldhardlykeeptothepavement，sobuoyantandsoexhilarateddoeshebecomebyreasonofthisinflowingtide。”[236]
　　InTunewiththeInfinite，p。
　　Certainaspectsofnatureseemtohaveapeculiarpowerofawakeningsuchmysticalmoods。[237]MostofthestrikingcaseswhichIhavecollectedhaveoccurredoutofdoors。Literaturehascommemoratedthisfactinmanypassagesofgreatbeauty——thisextract，forexample，fromAmiel’sJournalIntime：——
　　ThelargerGodmaythenswallowupthesmallerone。ItakethisfromStarbuck’smanuscriptcollection：——
　　“IneverlosttheconsciousnessofthepresenceofGoduntilI
　　stoodatthefootoftheHorseshoeFalls，Niagara。ThenIlosthimintheimmensityofwhatIsaw。Ialsolostmyself，feelingthatIwasanatomtoosmallforthenoticeofAlmightyGod。”
　　IsubjoinanothersimilarcasefromStarbuck’scollection：——
　　“InthattimetheconsciousnessofGod’snearnesscametomesometimes。IsayGod，todescribewhatisindescribable。A
　　presence，Imightsay，yetthatistoosuggestiveofpersonality，andthemomentsofwhichIspeakdidnotholdtheconsciousnessofapersonality，butsomethinginmyselfmademefeelmyselfapartofsomethingbiggerthanI，thatwascontrolling。Ifeltmyselfonewiththegrass，thetrees，birds，insects，everythinginNature。Iexultedinthemerefactofexistence，ofbeingapartofitall——thedrizzlingrain，theshadowsoftheclouds，thetree-trunks，andsoon。Intheyearsfollowing，suchmomentscontinuedtocome，butIwantedthemconstantly。Iknewsowellthesatisfactionoflosingselfinaperceptionofsupremepowerandlove，thatIwasunhappybecausethatperceptionwasnotconstant。”Thecasesquotedinmythirdlecture，pp。65，66，69，arestillbetteronesofthistype。Inheressay，TheLossofPersonality，inTheAtlanticMonthlyvol。lxxxv。p。195，MissEthelD。Pufferexplainsthatthevanishingofthesenseofself，andthefeelingofimmediateunitywiththeobject，isduetothedisappearance，intheserapturousexperiences，ofthemotoradjustmentswhichhabituallyintermediatebetweentheconstantbackgroundofconsciousnesswhichistheSelfandtheobjectintheforeground，whateveritmaybe。Imustreferthereadertothehighlyinstructivearticle，whichseemstometothrowlightuponthepsychologicalconditions，thoughitfailstoaccountfortheraptureortherevelation-valueoftheexperienceintheSubject’seyes。
　　“ShallIeveragainhaveanyofthoseprodigiousreverieswhichsometimescametomeinformerdays？Oneday，inyouth，atsunrise，sittingintheruinsofthecastleofFaucigny；andagaininthemountains，underthenoondaysun，aboveLavey，lyingatthefootofatreeandvisitedbythreebutterflies；oncemoreatnightupontheshinglyshoreoftheNorthernOcean，mybackuponthesandandmyvisionrangingthroughtheMilkyWay；——suchgrandandspacious，immortal，cosmogonicreveries，whenonereachestothestars，whenoneownstheinfinite！Momentsdivine，ecstatichours；inwhichourthoughtfliesfromworldtoworld，piercesthegreatenigma，breatheswitharespirationbroad，tranquil，anddeepastherespirationoftheocean，sereneandlimitlessasthebluefirmament；……instantsofirresistibleintuitioninwhichonefeelsone’sselfgreatastheuniverse，andcalmasagod。Whathours，whatmemories！
　　Thevestigestheyleavebehindareenoughtofilluswithbeliefandenthusiasm，asiftheywerevisitsoftheHolyGhost。”[238]