| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Shadow out of Time by H. P. Lovecraft: die in 2,518 A.D.; with that of an archimage of vanished Yhe in
the Pacific; with that of Theodotides, a Greco-Bactrian official
Of 200 B.C.; with that of an aged Frenchman of Louis XIII's time
named Pierre-Louis Montagny; with that of Crom-Ya, a Cimmerian
chieftain of 15,000 B.C.; and with so many others that my brain
cannot hold the shocking secrets and dizzying marvels I learned
from them.
I awaked each morning in a fever, sometimes frantically
trying to verify or discredit such information as fell within
the range of modern human knowledge. Traditional facts took on
new and doubtful aspects, and I marvelled at the dream-fancy which
Shadow out of Time |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The King of the Golden River by John Ruskin: room for it now, for the roof was off.
"Sorry to incommode you," said their visitor ironically.
"I'm afraid your beds are dampish. Perhaps you had better go
to your brother's room; I've left the ceiling on there."
They required no second admonition, but rushed into Gluck's
room, wet through and in an agony of terror.
"You'll find my card on the kitchen table," the old gentleman
called after them. "Remember, the LAST visit."
"Pray Heaven it may!" said Schwartz, shuddering. And the
foam globe disappeared.
Dawn came at last, and the two brothers looked out of Gluck's
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Smalcald Articles by Dr. Martin Luther: iniquities of us all, Is. 53, 6.
Likewise: All have sinned and are justified without merit
[freely, and without their own works or merits] by His grace,
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, in His blood,
Rom. 3, 23 f.
Now, since it is necessary to believe this, and it cannot be
otherwise acquired or apprehended by any work, law, or merit,
it is clear and certain that this faith alone justifies us as
St. Paul says, Rom. 3, 28: For we conclude that a man is
justified by faith, without the deeds of the Law. Likewise v.
26: That He might be just, and the Justifier of him which
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The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Tour Through Eastern Counties of England by Daniel Defoe: seamen to man the navy, when any expedition is at hand that
requires a sudden equipment; at other times, being excellent
sailors, they are tenders to particular men of war; and on an
expedition they have been made use of as machines for the blowing
up of fortified ports and havens; as at Calais, St. Malo, and other
places.
This parish of Barking is very large, and by the improvement of
lands taken in out of the Thames, and out of the river which runs
by the town, the tithes, as the townsmen assured me, are worth
above 600 pounds per annum, including, small tithes. NOTE. - This
parish has two or three chapels of ease, viz., one at Ilford, and
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