forms of the Threefold World, embracing within themselves all the possibilities of the three modes of motion, the three extensions of matter. The Points are omnipresent, and hence have "become" the Sphere.

Consciousness has traced its way through the Kingdoms, encountering and grappling with the resistance of the Form World, apprehending its threefold character in successive stages. At the limit of its outward sweep Consciousness achieves awareness of itself, and proceeds to the mastery of the Forms in similar successive stages, inversely this time, by transmuting their extensions into terms of consciousness.

I submit, therefore, that the description "Fourth Dimension" is misleading, and tolerable only as a stop`gap; for that which it is intended to describe, so far from being a further extension of matter, is exactly the reverse, and indicates in reality the first great step towards the understanding and complete mastery of Matter by the Spirit.

E. L. Gardner

THE WAR AND THE PROPHETS

By "MERCURIAL"

WE have heard much of prophets and prophecies

in connection with the present war. Passages

from the Bible have been quoted-some of them remarkably apt-and ancient documents have been unearthed which seem to have a special bearing upon the world-shaking events of 1914. But it is not so generally realised that the war was frequently foretold by modern as well as ancient prophets-not only by writers who based their forecasts on a knowledge of military strategy and international politics, but by men. and women now living, who use subtler methods of looking into the future.

I have by me, as I write, a copy of the Occult Review, a monthly magazine "devoted to the investigation of supernormal phenomena and the study of psychological problems," and well known, in spite of this alarming sub-title, for its sane and reasonable outlook. This copy is dated January, 1912, and in it the Editor refers to some previous remarks of his own concerning the horoscope of the German Emperor. It appears that the Kaiser's "stars" for the next few years were (at the then time of writing) extraordinarily adverse, indicating wars and general disasters of great magnitude. Having referred to this, the Editor goes on to say-and

from here I quote his article verbatim: "I do not wish to express an opinion as to the credibility of the prophecies of the French seeress, Madame de Thebes, but her references to Germany are at least worth quoting in this connection, if only for the curiosity of the coincidence. Here is what she says (I translate from her almanac for 1912):

Germany menaces Europe in general and France in particular. When war breaks out, hers will be the responsibility, but after the war there will be no longer either Hohenzollern or Prussian hegemony. This is all Berlin will gain by her violence, and the brutality of her political methods. have said and I repeat that the days of the Emperor are numbered, and that after him all will be changed in Germany. I say the years of his reign. I do not say the years of his life.

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Elsewhere the Parisian prophetess observes that everything points to the fact that as far as they (the French) are concerned it will not be possible to avoid the arbitrament of arms. The year 1913 seems to her

to bring the crisis to maturity."

A similar astrological prophecy, more accurate in point of date, was published three years ago in L'Echo du Merveilleux (p. 521) from the pen of M. Larmier. It predicted" the fall of the House of Hohenzollern and of the German Empire in 1913 or 1914," and stated that Wilhelm II was "the last German Emperor of the House of Hohenzollern. If there is war in 1914 between France and Germany, France will be victorious."

It may, of course, be said that these two prophecies were influenced by the national sympathies and desires of the writers. This cannot be suggested with regard to the remarkable statements made by Mr. A. P. Sinnett, Vice-President of the Theosophical Society and author of Esoteric Buddhism, etc., in the October number of

The Vahan (the official organ of the Society in England and Wales). "In March, 1911," says Mr. Sinnett, "I gave a lecture to a large audience at the Asiatic Society's rooms in Albemarle Street, embodying the information I had received a month or two previously. I kept notes of that information at the time of its reception (in January, 1911)."

Here are some verbatim extracts from the notes referred to:

The present German plan was not to annex Holland but to attack Belgium. There would ultimately be a general war in which Germany, including Austria and the Turks, would be opposed to Great Britain, Russia, France and Italy. The German Emperor was the centre of German hostility. He had some regard for his English kinsmen, but was the bitter enemy of the race. Bismarck was working on him, though he

was not conscious of this. . . . The Kaiser's scheme contemplated a direct attack on and the conquest of England. He was not aiming at an indemnity, but he wanted to be crowned King of the British Empire. It was decreed that the issue of the great war would be on the side of the Allies. It would be terrible for the German people.

Mr. Sinnett, like the French prophetess quoted, at first gave 1913 as the year of the war, which he was told would be "short, sharp and terrible ". He goes on to say, however, that the Balkan War “drew off some of the mysterious unseen forces making for disaster," so that the great catastrophe was postponed, though not averted. "The time thus gained," he remarks, "was admirably made use of in the improvement of our navy, and in April, 1912, I was told that the danger of an actual invasion of England seemed practically over.' Finally a note made in April, 1913, is quoted, as follows: Germany was holding back, knowing the complete preparations of the Entente powers. If war began we should send 200,000 men to France to operate with the left wing."

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Turning to another source, we find in Modern Astrology for January, 1914, (a monthly magazine "devoted to the search for truth concerning Astrology") a long article dealing with the probability of a great European War. The following extracts are of interest:

For several years there has been much talk about a European War, and with each succeeding year a large number of people have been expecting it to break out. Some students of Astrology have been carried away by this opinion, and seizing upon the minor influences of the war god, Mars, have unwisely predicted war. Hitherto we have abstained from all such predictions. We are not and never have been fatalistic in our interpretation of the starry heavens. . . . We do not think a European War is bound to take place if the representatives of the nations do not desire it. . . . We have always held that it is unwise to make definite predictions that are evil, for the simple reason that, desire being father to the thought, a very strong desire carries with it the possibility of its fulfilment. We very strongly desire peace; not the peace-at-anyprice which sacrifices strength and honour through weakness, but the peace that arises out of goodwill and mutual understanding. And we fail to see the necessity for war amongst nations who pretend to civilisation and enlightenment.

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Having expressed this opinion, the writer goes on to speak of the year 1914 as a year of tension," and examining in greater detail the planetary influences that prevail during its progress, he says:

The end will not be achieved without struggles for power in various parts of the world. . . . There will be foreign troubles and international rivalry and jealousy affecting the greater part of Europe, and it will be fortunate if there are not actual warlike measures undertaken and the movements of troops and warships.

In summing up, however, the writer comes to the conclusion that in spite of "the rising of Mars in the yearly horoscope," which will " stir up warlike talk, and even show indications of a war fever," the great European War is not inevitable in this year, and that though the stars may " incline" towards it, they do not "compel" a world-wide conflagration.