"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