Page 24 - Michael 2024 March

“Remember,

ye are

brethren.”

“At that moment I beheld a dark shadowy being, vided nations and say, ‘Remember, ye are brethren.’
standing, or rather floating, in mid-air between Europe “Instantly, the inhabitants, casting from them
and America. Dipping water out of the ocean with his weapons, became friends once more and united
right hand, he cast it upon America, while that in his left around the National Standard.
4
hand went upon the European countries. Immediately,
a cloud arose from these countries and joined in mid- Again, I heard the voice of my most beautiful and
ocean. For a while it remained stationary, and then it mysterious visitor say: ‘Son of the Republic, look and
moved slowly westward until it enveloped America in learn.’
its folds. Sharp flashes of lightning gleamed through “At this, the dark, shadowy angel placed a trum-
at intervals, and I heard the smothered groans of the pet to his mouth and blew three distinct blasts. Tak-
American people. A second time the angel dipped ing water from the ocean, he sprinkled it upon Europe,
water from the ocean and sprinkled it as before. The Asia, and Africa. Then my eyes beheld a fearful scene.
dark cloud was then drawn back to the ocean in whose From each of these countries arose dark black clouds
heaving bellows it sank from view. A third time I heard that were soon joined into one. Throughout this mass
the mysterious voice say: ‘Son of the Republic, look there gleamed a bright red light by which I saw hordes
u
and learn.’ 2 4 The ill-omened specter from Africa could mean the
“I cast my eyes upon America and beheld villages, capture and enslavement of Africans brought to Amer-
towns, and cities springing up, one after another, un- ica, affecting all towns and cities, pitting the southern
til the whole land from the Atlantic to the Pacific was slave states against the northern free states, eventually
dotted with them. Again, I heard the voice say: ‘Son of resulting in the Civil War. After the War ends, we reunite
the Republic, the end of the century comes. Look and as American brethren, and our country comes together
learn.’ 3 again under one flag, as the end of the century comes
“And with this, the dark, shadowy angel turned its (1877). This was very likely the second, and worst,
face southward, and from Africa an ill-omened spec- peril. The worst is behind us, and we’ve come through
ter approached our land. It flitted slowly over every it with the resulting national social, political and cultural
town and city of the land. The inhabitants presently progress, realizing that in unity there is strength as a
set themselves in battle array against each other. As I nation of united states—united in heart, mind, body, and
national soul! This gives us renewed hope in facing and
continued to look, I saw the bright angel – on whose
brow rested a crown of light, on which was traced the defeating the third peril. Did we delay the third peril as
reluctant, but successful participants in WW I and WW
word UNION place an American flag between the di-
II? We were one nation undivided after WW II, when
Americans were relatively virtuous and God-fearing.
2 This could mean from the discovery of America, the We came close to WW III in the Cuban Missile Crisis
seeds of revolution of the American colonists were slowly (1962), but JFK was assassinated in 1963. There was
being sowed, as resistance to corrupt British rule and an assassination attempt on then President Ronald
its controlled currency, gradually increased until the Reagan in 1981, but the Berlin Wall came down in 1989
Revolutionary War broke out. during his presidency. The worst is behind us, and
—Ann and Steve Ziniti we’ve come through it with national, social, political,
3 After the Revolutionary War succeeded in freeing the spiritual, and cultural progress, realizing that in unity
Colonies from British rule, our country expanded from there is strength as a nation of interdependent states,
the Atlantic to the Pacific during the next 100 years. united in heart, mind, body, and national soul.
—Ann and Steve Ziniti —Ann and Steve Ziniti u

24 MICHAEL March/April 2024 www.michaeljournal.org