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, " I have 

 seen with these eyes the glory of the Lord re- 

 vealed ! " 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. " Though I shall seem 

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

 then I shall return to you." 



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, 



