Chapter 17
The Voice came to Tae, saying: The fourteenth year is My year. Behold, the harvest of My laborers, who came first out of Uz, is ripe for deliverance.
In the heavens of My Gods, I bequeath a time for them to labor also; and when their angel hosts are prepared for a new resurrection to a higher heaven, I come and deliver them.
For fourteen years, you and your hosts have labored with My infants; those whom I gave into your keeping have prospered, and now shall be emancipated, and you shall be emancipated also, from all further responsibility over them, except any whom you may take upon yourselves.
Call your people together, old and young, and, with suitable rites and ceremonies, fulfill My commandments for them, and bequeath to My children the titles, BRIDES AND BRIDEGROOMS OF LIBERTY.
So Tae appointed a day of emancipation, and had it proclaimed before all the people of the colony.
And on that day, one thousand of the infants who had attained to fourteen years of age came into the temple of Jehovih. And they were clothed in white, with uncovered heads, boys and girls, each carrying a sprig of acacia, and they marched in from the west, two abreast, then separated one to either side, forming a crescent with the horns to the east.
The fifty-two founders sat in the east, and were thus between the horns of the crescent, and they were clothed in black, with white aprons, but with Zarathustrian hats on the men’s, and with sky-crescents on the women’s heads.
Behind the founders, another thousand children of younger years were stationed, and they bore the flower-wreaths intended for the Brides and Bridegrooms of Liberty.
Outside of the crescent, the next younger class of a thousand infants was stationed. And beyond these, were the members of Shalam (who joined after the founding 52); and beyond them, were the visiting Uzians.
On the north and south the musicians were stationed, and between them and the crescent horns, on the exterior, were the marshals of Shalam.
Es arose and went and stood in the center of the crescent, facing east. Tae represented the Voice of Jehovih, and Es the voice of the young brides and bridegrooms who were to speak in concert with her. || After prayer and suitable music:
Tae said: In the name of Jehovih, and by His Light upon me, I declare the place of the Holy Covenant open to the voice of mortals. Who here knows the times of Jehovih, and the day and year in the place of His kingdom?
Es and the Brides and Bridegrooms of Liberty: In Jehovih’s name, greeting from the west. Behold, this is the brides’ and bridegrooms’ day of liberty. We stand before you and your hosts to answer our love for the benefits you have bestowed upon us in the Father’s kingdom. We bring you sprigs of acacia as tokens of remembrance of the everlasting life you have shown to us.
Tae said: The east answers in love and sorrow, but receives your keepsakes with great joy.
EBB: Before the Almighty, all things move onward; to His decrees we bow in reverence.
Tae: Are you not satisfied?
EBB: We are more than satisfied with the love and blessings we have received.
We were fatherless and motherless, and you gathered us up, fed and clothed us. But, greater than all, you have taught us to love and honor you in our Father’s name.
Tae: We went forth in duty, but Jehovih has answered us with love. We found you helpless, with none to care for you, or to save you from destruction. We brought you here and provided for you without price and without expectation of reward.
EBB: But you have bound us; how can we ever repay? None can know the fullness of our gratitude.
Tae: We have watched you since before you stood upright; your every little step has been both a responsibility and a joy to us. O, why will you leave us? Who knows the love of the aged for the young, whom they have watched from day to day?
EBB: We will not leave you; but, behold, we are no longer children, we are strong and learned.
As you saved us, so let us go forth in our might to save others. Who can teach the aged that those they raised up are not always babes? O, give us our liberty! Behold, we are clothed as brides and bridegrooms!
Tae: And turn you loose without anyone over you to guard and bless you?
EBB: Jehovih will guard and bless the righteous who serve Him. We are His!
Tae: Who is Jehovih? And where?
EBB: He is the Life and the Knowledge, Who is present everywhere, the All Person, Who created us alive, Who, by giving, created all things. He is our shield.
Tae: It is well that your faith is in Jehovih, but you have bound us with your love. What is bound on earth shall remain bound in heaven. Though we give you the formality of liberty, our hearts will ever go out in love to you.
Though we emancipate you here on earth, remember, we are growing old. Before long, we shall join our fathers in heaven. Where we go, we shall again prepare for you.
And, when you come to us again for a season, behold, we shall go on together again for a time and a season.
EBB: O Jehovih, preserve us ever pure and wise, so that Your hosts may continue this love in our travel through Your everlasting kingdoms!
Tae: Such is ever the beginning of a kingdom of the Father: Where a few gather together in His name, fulfilling the commandments, there is the starting-place for them.
Pity those who live and die in this world, not having found and lived within a kingdom of the Father.
EBB: To remain true to Jehovih’s heaven, what a glory, time without end! Make us strong and wise, O Father, to bring them into Your kingdom on earth. Help us to make them comprehend.
Tae, in the Voice: With liberty I also give responsibility.
Es, in the Voice: Your chosen comprehend; as You give them liberty, even so do they emancipate those who saved them.
Tae: I provide saviors to the helpless; but to the wise and strong, I say: Save yourselves.
EBB: We want no one but You, Jehovih, to save us. We bind ourselves to You from this time forth, forever!
Tae: Whoever strives to save himself, shall not fail before Me.
EBB: We covenant to You, Jehovih, to strive now and forever, to save ourselves from all sin and unrighteousness, in thoughts, words and deeds, and to serve You with all our wisdom and strength, by doing good to others as long as we may live.
Tae, of himself: Then, in Jehovih’s name, and by His authority vested in me, I bequeath you liberty forever. Jehovih be with you all. Amen.
The Brides and Bridegrooms: In Jehovih’s name we release our saviors from all responsibility for us forevermore. Jehovih be with you all. Amen!
Tae: Draw to Me, and receive from My hand, says Jehovih. Whoever covenants to Me, I covenant to him.
Whoever registers to Me, shall be registered in My heavenly kingdoms. When My chosen enter heaven, behold, My holy angels are there to receive them.
The Brides and Bridegrooms: We covenant to You, Jehovih, to be Yours forever.
Register us in Your everlasting kingdoms; make us acceptable associates for Your holy ones in heaven.
Teach us, O Jehovih, to look down into our thoughts, words and behavior, every day and hour, with swift reminder to do all the good we can to others, so that we may be an honor and glory in Your works.
Tae: Come to Me, My beloved; receive from My altar the token of liberty in My name! ||
The marshals then brought the points of the crescent together, in front of Tae, leaving a space between. The guards, then, brought the children with wreaths forward, filed to pass between Tae and Es, who had advanced to the apex of the horns. The saviors (the founders) drew up in single file, facing the west.
And now, at a signal from the chief marshal, the brides and bridegrooms turned in at the crescent, one from each side, and, as they did so, they gave the acacia to the founders, while the wreaths were placed on their heads by Tae and Es, the bearers passing the other way. And as they did so, Tae said:
Receive this token of liberty in the name of the Almighty. It was grown by Him, gathered by His loves, and is bestowed by your benefactor as a crown of Jehovih’s kingdom on earth.
Es, in response: This is more precious than the crown of any king or queen on earth. In Jehovih’s praise I receive it; it is an emblem of a new beginning in my life, a wreath of liberty. The saviors (founders) said: This acacia shall be my register before the Almighty of your love. ||
After this, the musicians sang and chanted while the audience resumed seats.
Tae said: A new life is before you. In the past you were directed and criticized, and told what to do and what not to do. Now you shall not be disciplined so, but you shall discipline yourselves.
Because we have bestowed you with liberty and responsibility, so shall you bestow one another. So that from this time forward, you shall not criticize, direct, or dictate to one another. For, as you are free from us, you are free from one another.
In the past, you reproved one another for various trifling faults; but now, you shall not reprove one another, nor reprove any person above fourteen years of age; remembering constantly that you are not keepers or supervisors over your equals or your elders.
And for any faults or shortness you may perceive in others, except infants, turn away, do not see them or mention them. Such matters are between Jehovih and the doers.
And now, behold, it is proper for you to go into Uz, and see the uzians, and observe how they live, both in splendor and in misery.
For which purpose, you shall be provided in groups of a dozen or more, and be accompanied to the cities of Uz to visit there for a season.
And, if it so happens that you desire to remain in Uz, then so be it; you shall remain.
And if you desire to return here, then you shall return.
But you shall not return here as you came, as helpless babes, but as workers.
And if you choose to remain with us, then you shall make the covenant of brotherhood with us, being one with us in all things; and this place, or its sister colonies, shall be your home as long as you may desire.