448 A Century of Science 



immortality had not yet been seriously shaken by 

 Father Rowland s demise. There were some curi 

 ous incipient symptoms of a resurrection myth. 

 Their leader s death had been heralded by signs 

 and portents. One aged brother, while taking his 

 afternoon nap in a rocking-chair, fell forward upon 

 the floor, bringing down the chair upon his back ; 

 and at that identical moment another brother 

 rushed in from the garden, exclaiming, &quot; I have 

 seen with these eyes the glory of the Lord re 

 vealed ! &quot; Evidently, the fall of the rocking-chair 

 prefigured the fall of the wood-pile, and the mo 

 ment of Rowland s fatal injury was the moment 

 of his glorification. Then it was remembered by 

 Sister Caroline and others that he had lately fore 

 told his apparent death, and declared that it was 

 to be only an appearance. &quot; Though I shall seem 

 to be dead, it will only be for a little while, and 

 then I shall return to you.&quot; 



The morning s conversation made it clear that 

 these simple folk were unanimous in believing that 

 the completion of Father Rowland s work de 

 manded his presence for a short time in the other 

 world, and that he would within a few more weeks 

 or months return to them. It seemed to Dr. James 

 and myself that the conditions were favourable to 

 the sudden growth of a belief in his resurrection, 



