THE SHRINE OF FREEDOM
Lois Crawford
Entrance to The 'I AM' Shrine of Freedom,
Shasta Springs, Mount Shasta, California, USA
This Webpage is created especially for all those who know and love the story of Guy Ballard....who never tire of reading of his meeting the Master while hiking on the slopes of Mt. Shasta. It is for all who are familiar with the Founding of the 'I AM' Activity under the direction of Guy and Edna Ballard...for those who love and honor these two precious Souls who dedicated their lives to Spiritual Truth.
It is a great Joy for me to share these pictures taken this summer of 2008 when we traveled to the Mountain to renew friendships and to enjoy the progress being made by those who have dedicated their lives to carrying on the tremendous work of Guy and Edna Ballard....there at Mount Shasta as well as all over the United States....indeed, all over the world.
With this Webpage we will share the work of two very dear friends, Janie and Paul Chabot, students of the Ballards starting in the 1930s. Janie Chabot worked closely with Beloved Edna Ballard for many years at Shasta Springs.
Over the past few years Janie and Paul dedicated themselves to the Service of creating (with the help of other dedicated students) a marvelous memorial at Shasta Springs, one that commemorates the efforts of the Beloved Ballards as well as telling anew the story of Beloved Saint Germain and His Efforts to bring to people a more complete Understanding of the Spiritual side of Life.
All who come to Mount Shasta are welcomed at the Shrine of Freedom by Janie Chabot, seen in the picture below, who is carrying on with this project now without Paul, who passed on in July just before our visit.
Janie Chabot
Here she is showing Mirtha Verde-Ramo and Guillermo Valenzuela, visitors from Santiago, Chile the displays and pictures in the hall of the Shrine of Freedom, one of many spaces and rooms where she and Paul have displayed and explained the memorabilia collected from the Ballard years.
For us it was wonderful to experience a 'recall of days of old' through seeing familiar pictures, books, clothing....the awakening of oh, so many memories through seeing all the items pertaining to those early years of the 'I AM' Activity that have been brought together in one place by Paul and Janie and by students and friends of the Activity.
Here are a few of the rooms.
Statue of Quan Yin.
A figure of Beloved Jesus used in the Ascension Scene from the
'I AM Come' Pageant can be seen in the Ascension Room
The Count Saint Germain
Our Beloved Saint Germain.
Of course, there is much to see that is dedicated to the One Who is most responsible for the Spiritual Information that fuels and accelerates Soul Destiny of this Age. Above is one of His Portraits coming from a time when he was known to the world as the Count Saint Germain, the Wonder Man of Europe.
And here is how we now recognize Him
from a painting by Charles Sindelar.
Guy Ballard
This is a rarely seen picture of Beloved Guy Ballard
in which his resemblance to George Washington is evident.
Saint Germain's Messengers
An early photo of Guy and Edna Ballard
This is another early photo of Guy and Edna Ballard
He was tall and handsome and she was tiny and petite and very pretty.
Edna Ballard
Edna Ballard, among her many other talents, was a concert harpist.
She and Guy Ballard met during a time in which she was giving lessons on the harp. He saw her and quickly became one of her students. Some years later they married.
Both Guy and Edna Ballard were intensely Spiritually inclined. We get to know Guy Ballard first through the story of his meeting with Beloved Saint Germain while hiking on Mount Shasta and we share the Instruction that was given to him by the Master. Then we are told of the Ascension of David Lloyd as the result of being offered the Cup of Liquid Light by Guy Ballard when they met on the mountain.
We have the Instruction given at that time saved in the books 'Unveiled Mysteries' and from later encounters in 'The Magic Presence'. A few years later the Master approached Guy and Edna again and asked if they were interested in further Instruction...and this began the Master Training the Ballards received which is published in Book Three and in Book Four.
Then we can assume that one day Saint Germain could see that they were ready to take that Ascended Knowledge (generally only taught in Retreats) out to the public.
Yes, just think about it. In order to serve the Greater Good they agreed to give up their normal daily routines and go out into the world to teach the Spiritual Knowledge they had received from the Masters.
And so they began to give classes, first to very small groups of friends. Then as more people all over the world became interested in what they had to share, the classes became very large and numbers of people came to help them. And they traveled from city to city, all over the United States for about three years until Mr. Ballard 'made the change'. During that time, Sanctuaries and Temples were established by groups of Students in many cities in the United States and elsewhere in the world.
It was thus that the 'I AM' Activity was born.
And through it an expanded understanding of God and of Life, for Body and Soul has been given to the people of the world....with no strings attached.
Charles Sindelar
Many well known people attended their large classes and some became their devoted students. Among them was a famous painter, Charles Sindelar who joined them in furthering their efforts. He and his wife Pearl were steadfast in their loyalty and financial support. He created the paintings for the covers of the music and magazines and other teaching material. For many years the magazine, 'The Voice of the I AM;' was edited by him and printed in Los Angeles at the Sindelar Studio until The Press moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Charles Sindelars work.
His painting of the Goddess of Liberty
And of the Three Fold Flame of Love, Wisdom and Power
Donald Ballard
Not much is known about Donald, the Ballard's only son.
Donald traveled and taught with them until he was drafted into the service in World War II. Later he and his wife, Virginia, for many years, edited the Magazine, 'The Voice of the 'I AM' and gave their service in the production of the 'I AM' Come Pageant. We, my husband and I were privileged to know them during our stays at Shasta Springs during the Youth Conclaves held at Mount Shasta, California. Allan worked with Donald in the electrical staging for the 'I AM Come' Pageant.
Donald and his mother, Edna were very close and he and Virginia were with her in Chicago at the time she 'made the change' in 1971. It was expected by many students, and I believe it was intended by Edna Ballard, that he would carry on as Head of the 'I AM' Activity. However the Board of Directors of that era had other ideas and when she Ascended, he was passed over and denied that opportunity. Donald made the change a few years later. These pictures commemorate certain times of his life and his Service to the Activity.
The Chart
One of the early students created the first concept for the Chart of
the 'I AM' Presence from which this one, as seen here, was designed and which is
now used in all Sanctuaries and Temples and by Students everywhere in their
homes.
Here it is shown with animated Violet Flames placed on either side.
This is the way it is often used today in the Violet Flame classes as well
in private homes.
Library and other Rooms
Lois enjoying the Library.
Allan enjoying a bit of rest
Mirtha and Guillermo
This is a display of clothes worn by Guy and Edna Ballard
as seen in the well known photograph.
Furniture from the Ballard Chicago home
Guy Ballard's chair and brief cases
Sindelar paintings and Ballard memorabilia
A Pageant costume
Picture of Pageant 'Disciples'
Here we see Beloved Edna greeting the people at the conclusion of the 'I AM Come' Pageant which is given every August in the city of Mount Shasta, California. The audience loved being able to come onto the stage and to greet her and other participants and to take pictures.
Beloved Edna pictured carrying the Flag
A room dedicated to the Ballard's Service
Joan of Arc....a Life Experience of Beloved Edna
Well.....There is more that could be told....but what I have shared here gives a
good idea of the effort made by Paul and Janie Chabot with the help of other
Friends of the Ballards as they worked to design this Memorial Shrine to
Freedom....how they have created a 'walk down memory lane' to help us remember
and to commemorate....to give Praise and Thanks to two very special people and
to the Beloved Masters Who gave them the Instruction and Guidance needed to
bring into the Light of Day the Spiritual Information required by those of us embodied at this time....They gave us what we needed in our Desire to
grow, Body and Soul and to serve the Higher Cause.
And now the very poignant
STORY OF THE ASCENSION OF DAVID LLOYD
The story of David Lloyd is part of the history of the Founding of the 'I AM' Activity and it is an enlightening one that speaks of Cosmic Service and of the Ascending Process...and of a Brother, David Lloyd, ready to Ascend.
It speaks of a Spiritually awakened and prepared human/Soul Partnership in the person of Guy Ballard and of the need of each one to prepare for and be ready to render Service to one's fellow man or woman. It speaks of being ready to take the next Cosmic Step by being in the right place, at the right time, prepared for The Next Great Adventure.
This story appears toward the end of Chapter 8 in Unveiled Mysteries....this is a wonderful chapter, as indeed they all are....
The experience related here began when Saint Germain asks Mr. Ballard to meet him on the Mountain in seven days....we pick up the story there:
'On the morning of the seventh day, I
(GB) left my lodge at four o'clock and reached our meeting place at ten-thirty. I sat down on a log to wait with a feeling of
wonderful exhilaration, which I knew to be the result of my meditation.
I was so deep within the contemplation of my God Self, I did not hear
anyone approaching until a voice spoke to me.
I looked up and saw an old man with white hair and beard, whom I thought at first sight, was an old prospector, although his clothing was too clean for that occupation. As he came up to me and held out his hand, that too confirmed my feeling—he was not a laboring man. We exchanged greetings, chatted for a few moments on generalities, then he turned to me, and said:
'My friend, I would like to tell you a story. It won't take long. I haven't told anyone for a long time. I would like to try once more.'
By that time, I began to have a feeling of intense interest. It occurred to me he might be thirsty, and as I reached for a cup to get him a drink from the spring by which we stood, a Crystal Cup formed within my hand, like the one Saint Germain had held out to me several times. The old man looked up and with eyes shining and excited, almost shouted:
'It is he! It is he!'
I did not know what to do, so I insisted he drink. As I looked within the cup, I saw it was filled with the same clear, sparkling liquid the Master had given me. The old man grasped it eagerly, and, with an intense expression of the deepest gratitude I have ever seen, drank the contents. He immediately became very calm and quiet, but with it all a deep, intense sincerity. I asked him again to tell me the story, and he began by saying:
'My father was a British officer stationed in the Punjab of India where we made our home. When I was sixteen, he financed a friend who went to South Africa to try his luck in the diamond mines, but my father never heard from him afterward.
'The year I was twenty, a tall, handsome stranger, a man of great wisdom, visited my father at our home. He had come to bring a message from father's friend.
'I bring you news,' he explained, 'from the friend whom you financed four years ago. He met with great success on that venture, in fact became very wealthy. He has recently passed on at the mines, and left no relatives. His entire fortune has been left to you. In case of your passing, it is to go to your son. If you desire, I will take charge of the matter and have it transferred at once.'
'I cannot leave India at the present time, 'my father replied, 'for I am on government duty here. I appreciate greatly your offer to take care of the matter for me.'
I was standing near-by during their conversation, and when they had completed arrangements, the stranger turned to me.
'My son,' he said, 'when you find the man who will offer you a Crystal Cup of Sparkling Liquid you will have met the one who can assist you in raising the body. I cannot tell you more than this, except that you will find him on a great mountain in North America. This may seem vague to you now but it is all I can say.'
The stranger left, and a month later my father, who had ridden out to adjust certain government matters with the natives was shot, and passed on before he could be brought home. I was an only son, and after another month, mother and I prepared for our return to England. Just before we left, the same stranger came again, and said, he was ready to transfer father's fortune to me. I explained father had been shot.
'Yes,' the stranger replied, 'when I left two months ago, I knew your father would pass on before my return. I have arranged for the fortune to be transferred to you, or rather to the Bank of England for you. Here is money you may wish to use on the journey home, also the papers of transfer, and the credentials you will need at the bank. Present them, and you will receive custody of your wealth. Much of it is in diamonds of the first quality.'
I thanked him, and offered to pay for his services but he replied:
'Your kind intent is greatly appreciated but that is already adjusted. I will be happy to accompany you to the steamer at Bombay.'
The trip revealed to me his Great Wisdom and beside him I felt like an infant. I know now that he enveloped me in a Radiation which has stayed with me throughout the years. He arranged for transportation, accompanied us to the boat, and his last words to me were:
'Remember—the Crystal Cup. Seek and you shall find.'
After a most wonderful voyage, we arrived at Southampton, went on to London, and presented my credentials to the Bank of England. The official to whom I presented them remarked:
'Yes, we were expecting you today. Here are your bank and check books.'
I looked at them to see how much my fortune amounted to and was amazed to learn a hundred thousand pounds had been placed to my credit. Five years later, my mother passed on. I transferred one half of my wealth to a bank in New York and began the search for 'the man with the Crystal Cup.'
I can never repeat the disappointments, the trials, the sorrow I have been through but in the face of everything, somehow I could never give up. The thing which seems so strange to me is, while I have grown old in outer appearance, my energy and strength are as great as ever, sometimes I think greater, than in my fullest youth.
In years, I am seventy. Today, I just wanted to follow this trail, and praise God I have found you. My desire was so great, it was almost irresistible.
'But my good man," I (GB) asked, "what am I to do for you?'
'You will know,' he replied, 'for I know I have made no mistake. In the heart of this majestic mountain is a Great Power. I feel it. Ask God to show you what to do.'
Suddenly, I felt the 'Mighty God-Power' surging forth so strong, it almost lifted me from the ground. Making the sign Saint Germain had taught me, I called to God for Light and raising my hands in salutation said:
'Mighty God in man and the Universe!
We seek Thy Light! We seek Thy Wisdom! We seek Thy Power!
Let Thy Will be done in and for this, My Brother, who has sought and found me to do for him I know not what.
Thou knowest! Manifest Thy Will through my mind and body, and let whatever is to be done for this Brother—Thy Son—come forth'.
As my hand came down, it held the Crystal Cup filled with Living Liquid-Light. I offered it to him, and my Mighty God Self spoke again.
'Drink without fear. Thy search is ended'.
He drank the contents without a moment's hesitation. I stepped forward quickly and took both his hands in mine. Slowly and steadily every vestige of age disappeared from him, and the God in me continued:
'Behold! Thou art forever free from all earthly limitation. Ascend now unto the Great Host of Light Who await Thee'.
Very slowly, he began to rise from the ground, and as he did so, his human garments disappeared, and he became clothed in raiment of glistening white. I let go his hands. Then in a voice of deepest Love, he said:
'I shall return to thee, Beloved Brother. Well shalt thou be repaid for this Transcendent Service. Thou wert the only one through whom this could be done for me. Some day, thou shalt see why',
and with a happy smile, he disappeared on a Radiant Pathway of Light.
As the Mighty God-Power Within me receded, I was so astounded, I fell on my knees and offered the deepest prayer of my Life in grateful humility and praise for the privilege of giving such service.
I rose and the Master Saint Germain received me into his wondrous embrace.
'My Beloved Brother!' he said, 'I am greatly pleased. Noble and faithful was your attendance upon the Great God Within you. Beautifully did you receive your Mighty 'God in Action.' I do indeed congratulate you. You will ever be held within Our Embrace, even though outwardly you may not always be aware of it.
'You have become a worthy 'Messenger' of the Great White Brotherhood and the Ascended Host. Hold close to your Mighty God Self. Thus, you will ever be ready for service wherever and for whatever is required.
My Love enfolds you until we meet again. I will keep you informed.'
Slowly, I wended my way back to the lodge,
every step praise and gratitude
to the 'One Mighty God' that molds us all into
'Eternal Perfection.'
Thus ends Chapter Eight.
There is one more chapter in Unveiled Mysteries entitled
'Venus visits the Royal Teton'.
This will take you back to The Pathway
Lois J Crawford
2004....2008
