Война и мир

Chapter 3

           Isthatnotso?”saidtheRhetor,afteramoment’spause.

           “Yes,yes,”assentedPierre.

           TheRhetorclearedhisthroat,crossedhisglovedhandsonhisbreast,andbegantospeak.

           “NowImustdisclosetoyouthechiefaimofourOrder,”hesaid,“andifthisaimcoincideswithyours,youmayenterourBrotherhoodwithprofit.ThefirstandchiefobjectofourOrder,thefoundationonwhichitrestsandwhichnohumanpowercandestroy,isthepreservationandhandingontoposterityofacertainimportantmystery...whichhascomedowntousfromtheremotestages,evenfromthefirstman—amysteryonwhichperhapsthefateofmankinddepends.Butsincethismysteryisofsuchanaturethatnobodycanknoworuseitunlesshebepreparedbylonganddiligentself-purification,noteveryonecanhopetoattainitquickly.Hencewehaveasecondaryaim,thatofpreparingourmembersasmuchaspossibletoreformtheirhearts,topurifyandenlightentheirminds,bymeanshandedontousbytraditionfromthosewhohavestriventoattainthismystery,andtherebytorenderthemcapableofreceivingit.

           “Bypurifyingandregeneratingourmemberswetry,thirdly,toimprovethewholehumanrace,offeringitinourmembersanexampleofpietyandvirtue,andtherebytrywithallourmighttocombattheevilwhichswaystheworld.ThinkthisoverandIwillcometoyouagain.”

           “Tocombattheevilwhichswaystheworld...”Pierrerepeated,andamentalimageofhisfutureactivityinthisdirectionroseinhismind.

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