Related drafts for the first, second, and third scenes

2nd MASTER OF CEREMONIES: Dear friends, the signs of the times herald significant things. We, who feel called to be guardians of the forces that guide the course of human life, stand today at a turning point, and no less so do you, with whom we now have the task of uniting. Until now, the streams of work that lead humanity toward its goal had to flow separately in the course of time. Some of our human brothers did not know the foundations on which the soul must build if it wants to bind itself to the realm of the spirit. Many streams of light descended into their dull spiritual lives. And many believed that they knew the essence of that on which their faith depended. This essence itself had to be kept safe in the sacred places of consecration, where those who could bear the burden of the heavy trials of life could see the higher light. This is now to change. All people who are well-disposed toward the light of the spirit should be able to participate in the first degrees of enlightenment. This is how it is arranged in the plan of the world's progress.