My Library

SIMON the Essene was born some twenty-five or thirty years before the last coming of our Lord; he was the son of well-to-do parents, his father being a sheik or noble, who was in many ways a very remarkable man. He possessed considerable occult knowledge, and knew of the existence of the Great White Brotherhood, with which he was connected. He was a tall, handsome man, with dark hair and beard, large, deep-set eyes, strong, prominent nose, and high check-bones. At the time at which he is seen he is wearing an Eastern head-dress of very bright colours, and a long robe. He seems to be more Jew than Arab, though he spends part of his life in the desert. He knows of the expected Coming, and has, in fact, the attitude of mind of those who are expecting Him to-day. He is in close contact with certain members of the Brotherhood, and is a man of mark, both in the inner and the outer worlds. He possesses both a house in one of the larger towns and a centre or camp out on the edge of the desert, where it appears that some of his occult activities take place. His wife is a pious and beautiful woman, and there appear to be several children, as well as servants and a number of animals. As a boy, Simon had two distinct sides to his character. On one side he was somewhat intractable, adventure-loving, and independent, and under its influence he did a great deal of riding on horseback and pursued the manly exercises of the times. He was liable to outbursts of temper, followed, at times, by impulsive actions which he generally regretted soon after they were performed. On one occasion he rode off with a group of friends into the desert, causing much grief and no little heartache at home.