“Mr. FELSENBURGH stood so a moment longer, then he turned down the steps, passed across the platform and disappeared.

“Of what took place outside we have received the following account from an eye-witness.  The white volor, so well known now to all who were in London that night, had remained stationary outside the little south door of the Old Choir aisle, poised about twenty feet above the ground.  Gradually it became known to the crowd, in those few minutes, who it was who had arrived in it, and upon Mr. FELSENBURGH’S reappearance that same strange groan sounded through the whole length of Paul’s Churchyard, followed by the same silence.  The volor descended; the master stepped on board, and once more the vessel rose to a height of twenty feet.  It was thought at first that some speech would be made, but none was necessary; and after a moment’s pause, the volor began that wonderful parade which London will never forget.  Four times during the night Mr. FELSENBURGH went round the enormous metropolis, speaking no word; and everywhere the groan preceded and followed him, while silence accompanied his actual passage.  Two hours after sunrise the white ship rose over Hampstead and disappeared towards the North; and since then he, whom we call, in truth, the Saviour of the world, has not been seen.

“And now what remains to be said?

“Comment is useless.  It is enough to say in one short sentence that the new era has begun, to which prophets and kings, and the suffering, the dying, all who labour and are heavy-laden, have aspired in vain.  Not only has intercontinental rivalry ceased to exist, but the strife of home dissensions has ceased also.  Of him who has been the herald of its inauguration we have nothing more to say.  Time alone can show what is yet left for him to do.

“But what has been done is as follows.  The Eastern peril has been for ever dissipated.  It is understood now, by fanatic barbarians as well as by civilised nations, that the reign of War is ended.  ’Not peace but a sword,’ said CHRIST; and bitterly true have those words proved to be.  ‘Not a sword but peace’ is the retort, articulate at last, from those who have renounced CHRIST’S claims or have never accepted them.  The principle of love and union learned however falteringly in the West during the last century, has been taken up in the East as well.  There shall be no more an appeal to arms, but to justice; no longer a crying after a God Who hides Himself, but to Man who has learned his own Divinity.  The Supernatural is dead; rather, we know now that it never yet has been alive.  What remains is to work out this new lesson, to bring every action, word and thought to the bar of Love and Justice; and this will be, no doubt, the task of years.  Every code must be reversed; every barrier thrown down; party must unite with party, country with country, and continent with continent.  There is no longer the fear of fear, the dread of the hereafter, or the paralysis of strife.  Man has groaned long enough in the travails of birth; his blood has been poured out like water through his own foolishness; but at length he understands himself and is at peace.