Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Ron Stephens and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net THE STORY OF ANNA KINGSFORD AND EDWARD MAITLAND AND OF THE NEW GOSPEL OF INTERPRETATION BY EDWARD MAITLAND. EDITED BY SAMUEL HOPGOOD HART. "The days of the Covenant of Manifestation are passing away; The Gospel of Interpretation cometh." "There shall nothing new be told; but that which is ancient shall be interpreted." * * * * * "Now is the Gospel of Interpretation come, and the kingdom of the Mother of God."--_C.W.S._, Part I. No. ii. (part 2) 10. 11. and Part II. No. xiii. 31. THIRD AND ENLARGED EDITION. PRICE THREE SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE. BIRMINGHAM: THE RUSKIN PRESS, STAFFORD STREET. 1905. _1st Edition ... Christmas, 1893._ _2nd Edition ... Christmas, 1894._ _3rd Edition ... Christmas, 1905._ PREFACE TO THE FIRST AND SECOND EDITIONS. This book is designed (1) in satisfaction of the widely-expressed desire for a more particular account than has yet been rendered concerning the genesis of the writings claiming to constitute a "New Gospel of Interpretation"; and (2) in fulfilment of the duty incumbent on me as the survivor of the two recipients of such Gospel to spare no means which may minister to its recognition and acceptance by the world, for whose benefit it has been vouchsafed. Although largely biographical in character, this book is not a history of individuals, but of a Work, and involves only such personal references as are necessary to such history. It is not, however, a full or a final account that is contained in it. Such an account can be given only in the form of the regular biography which is in course of preparation. This book is an instalment only of that biography, being put forth in advance of it, partly, as said above, to meet a present need, and partly, to prevent a total loss of the record in the event of my failure to complete it--a contingency of which, in view of the magnitude of the task and my advanced age, I am bound to take account. E.M. PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.