age. But while there are methods of development in which
intellect is not at first made a chief factor it can by no means be
ignored in the long-run; nor are we now considering those methods. A
good intellect, therefore, is a necessary part of the equipment.

Good motives play a most important part, indeed, in occult progress.
They safeguard the aspirant on his upward way. Without pure motives,
without a large measure of unselfishness, the greatest dangers would
encompass him. But good motives cannot take the place of good sense
and relieve him of the necessity of thinking. He must develop judgment
and discrimination. There are things he must know, and he must use his
knowledge, or difficulties will follow no matter how noble may be his
intentions. Suppose, for illustration, that two men set out upon a
dark might to cross a wild and rugged piece of ground--one with bad
motives and the other with good. One is going out to rob a house and
if need be, to kill anybody who might try to interfere with his plans.
His motives are very bad but he has perfect knowledge of the dangerous
ground he is to cross and he will therefore travel over it in safety.
The other man has the best of motives. He is going to spend the night
with a sick and helpless neighbor. But he has no knowledge of the
rough and treacherous ground he must cross in the darkness and his
good motives will not insure him against stumbling over the stones or
falling into a ditch and breaking his arm. Good motives are not
enough. We must know! Progress in occultism is impossible without
knowledge.

But how is a keen, alert intelligence to be acquired if we do not
possess it? Like any other latent faculty or power it may be evolved.
As the physical strength may be steadily increased by constant
exercise of the muscles, so mind may increase in power by systematic
work. It should be exercised in original thinking. A stated period, if
only a quarter of an hour daily, can be set aside for the purpose. A
book on a serious subject will furnish material but the too common
method of reading, of following the author lazily and accepting
whatever he sets forth as a matter of course, is of little value. One
must read with discrimination, receiving the ideas offered as a
juryman would receive testimony from a witness, considering it from
every possible viewpoint, examining it in the light of known facts,
turning it over in the mind, weighing it thoughtfully, and accepting
or re