LIBER CAVSE
already quite enough knowledge to enable it or its mem-
bers to formulate a magical link with the adepts.
io. Shortly after this, one called S.R.M.D. announced
that he had formulated such a link, and that himself and
two others were to govern the Order. New and revised
rituals were issued, and fresh knowledge poured out in
streams.
11. We must pass over the unhappy juggleries which
characterized the next period. It has throughout proved
impossible to elucidate the complex facts.
We content ourselves, then, with observing that the
death of one of his two colleagues, and the weakness of the
other, secured to S.R.M.D. the sole authority. The rituals
were elaborated, though scholarly enough, into verbose
and pretentious nonsense: the knowledge proved worth-
less, even where it was correct: for it is in vain that pearls,
be they never so clear and precious, are given to the swine.
The ordeals were turned into contempt, it being impos-
sible for any one to fail therein. Unsuitable candidates
were admitted for no better reason than that of their
worldly prosperity.
In short, the Order failed to initiate.
12, Scandal arose and with it schism.
13. In 1900 one P., a brother, instituted a rigorous test
of S.R.M.D. on the one side and the Order on the other.
14. He discovered that S.R.M.D., though a scholar of
some ability and a magician of remarkable powers, had
never attained complete initiation: and further had fallen
from his original place, he having imprudently attracted
to himself forces of evil too great and terrible for him to
withstand.
57