[...] and then we saw, standing
over the square where the arms of the cross joined the stem, a larger Being.
We all seemed to know Him at once instinctively. It was a manifestation of
the Christ in what you have come to know as Presence Form.
He stood there silent and still for a long time, and then lifted His right hand
on high, and we saw a column of light descend and rest upon it as He held it
aloft. This column was a pathway, and on it we saw another company
descending and, when they came to the uplifted hand, they paused and
stood still with their hands folded an their breasts and heads bowed. Then
slowly the hand moved out until it had swung round and down and the
fingers pointed over the plain, and we saw the column stretch out towards
us in mid-heaven until it bridged the space between the mountain and the
plain, and the end of it rested over the multitude gathered there.
Along this column walked the company last become visible, and hovered
above us. They spread out their hands then and all slowly turned towards
the mountain, and softly we heard their voices half speaking and half singing
a hymn of devotion to Him Who stood there all so beautiful and so holy that
at first we were awed into silence. But presently we also took up their words
and sang, or chanted, with them; for that evidently was their purpose in
coming to us. And as we sang there arose between us and the mountain a
mist of bluish tint which had a very curious effect. It seemed to us like a
telescopic lens, and brought the vision of Him nearer until we could see the
expression on His face. It also acted similarly on the forms of those who
stood just below Him. But we had no eyes for them, only for his gracious
face and form. I cannot describe the expression. It was a blend of things
which words can only tell in small part. There were blended love and pity
and joy and majesty, and I felt that life was a very sacred thing when it held
Him and us in one bond. I think others felt something like this too, but we
did not speak to one another, all our attention being taken up with the sight
of Him.
[...] then all gradually faded away. But the effect was a very definite sense
of His Presence remaining and perpetual. Perhaps that was the object of
the vision being given to the new-comers who, although they could not
see so clearly as we could who had been here longer, yet would be able
to see enough to encourage them and give them peace.
We lingered sometime longer, and then quietly went our ways, not speaking much,
because we were so impressed with that we had witnessed. And also, in all these
manifestations there is always so much to think out after. It is so glorious that
one is not able, while it is taking place, to take in all the meaning. That has to
be thought out gradually; and we talk it over together, and each gives his impressions,
and then we add them up, and find that a revelation has been given of something
we did not understand before so well. In this instance what seemed to impress us
most was the power He had of speaking to us in silence. He did not utter a word and
yet we seemed to be hearing His voice speaking to us whenever He made a movement,
and we understood quite well what the voice said, although it did not actually speak.