Chapter W 



JOSIAH 



I WILL now tell you of one of these impressively simple 

 and yet, to me, inspiring gatherings. Here is a clear space 

 in front of a solitary sacred tree upon whose great trunk 

 has been tied the colours of The Men of the Trees, a white 

 flag emblazoned with a green tree. In front of the tree in 

 a hollow square, stand the original members under the 

 leadership of the Forest Guides. Hard by the great tree, 

 and close to the colours, stands the Master of Ceremonies 

 who calls upon all members to prove their membership 

 by holding forth their left hands bearing the insignia of 

 office — the badge of The Men of the Trees. This same 

 movement is the recognized salute of greeting amongst 

 members. To make doubly certain that no outsiders are 

 present, the Forest Guides are asked, "Are all present true 

 members?" They make a rapid survey of the ranks and 

 after a short pause reply, *'A11 present are true members." 

 The Master of Ceremonies then puts the direct ques- 

 tion, "Are the hearts of all men present Safi?" meaning 

 clean. Each Forest Guide replies for his own men, "Every 

 man's heart is Safi." Any member with an unfulfilled 

 obligation, tree-planting or otherwise, cannot be said to 

 have a Safi heart, and is not allowed to be present at such 

 a ceremony. 



41 



