Magick Without Tears

"UNSERIOUS" CONDUCT 289 of importance who does not attribute his success to devotion of quite similar quality. Here they are: 1. The Cloud on the Sanctuary. On reading this book, Mr. X, who was desperate from the conviction that no success in life was worth a tinker's dam, decided: "This is the answer to my problem; the members of the Secret Fraternity which this book describes have solved the riddle of life. I must discover them, and seek to be received amongst them." 2. X, hearing a conversation in a cafe which made him think that the speaker might be such an one as he sought, hunted him down-he had gone on his travels-caught him, and made him promise an interview at the earliest possible date. 3. This interview leading to an introduction to the Fraternity, he joined it, pledging his fealty. But he was grievously shocked, and nearly withdrew, when assured: "There is nothing in this Oath which might conflict in any way with your civil, moral or religious obligations." If it was not worthwhile becoming a murderer, a traitor, and an eternally damned soul, why bother about it? was his attitude. 4. The Head of the Fraternity being threatened with revolt, X went to him, in circumstances which jeopardised his own progress, and offered his support "to the last drop of my blood, and the last penny of my purse." 5. Deciding to perform a critical Magical Operation, and being warned that serious opposition might come from his own friends, family, etc., he abandoned his career, changed his name, cut himself off completely from the past, and allowed no alien interest of any sort to interfere with his absorption in the Work. His journey to see the Head seemed at that time a fatal interruption; at the least, it involved the waste of one whole year. He was wrong; his gesture of setting the interests of the Order before his personal advancement was counted unto him for righteousness. There should be no need to extend this list; it could be