The Hindoos say that the emerald gives the gift of knowledge and memory. It also gives the ability to tell the future, even as the green laurel tree of Apollo did. The emerald also confers immortality on the soul, and enables it to gain faith. This belief will surely explain why greenstone amulets are so common in the tombs of the Egyptians, for faith would bring them safely to the Fields of Peace, where immortality was enjoyed. Isis, the goddess of the crescent moon, which often mystically means the pure soul, is sometimes called the “Lady of the Emerald”--that is, she whose soul is pure enough to gain immortality. When Pizarro went to Mexico he found that a goddess there was worshipped as the Goddess of the Emerald. The emerald is often seen on the breastplates of Pallas and of Minerva, for both these goddesses stand for the Divine mind--the all-enduring Wisdom. The Virgin Mary is often represented clothed in a green mantle and standing on the crescent moon. She has faith and hope until the Day-star awakes in her heart. The walls of the New Jerusalem are seen by John in Revelation to be made of jasper. The New Jerusalem, like the Ark and the Temple, is said by mystics to be a soul symbol; hence, how appropriate that the green jasper should be the material of which it is said to be made! Among the Chinese, Tao is said to have been miraculously born of “the excellent Virgin of Jasper.” Green is sometimes said to be the colour of the planet Mercury,[10] which is the planet governing the mind and conferring knowledge--knowledge not only of the kind essential to material success, but also inspirational knowledge and celestial wisdom. The god Mercury had assigned to him nearly all the main attributes of Hermes, just as Hermes in the same way received the main characteristics of Thot and his companion Anubis. The “green hill of Anubis,” where the good souls were directed, is the hill of everlasting life and of Eternal Wisdom. Thot also had green hills dedicated to him. It is probably due to the Phœnicians that we have place names perpetuating this fact, _e.g._ Toot’s Hill in Epping Forest, Tothill Street, Tooting, and Tewkesbury. In Christian times the archangel Michael was given the work and attributes of these gods; and surely it is marvellous the number of hills and rocks sacred to St Michael, while in ancient pictures we often see him conducting the souls of the departed to the green hill of Zion. [10] See Appendix II. When we think of the great gifts symbolised by green, how full of meaning seems the green turban of the Mohammedan who has visited Mecca! We can also realise what great truths could have been taught, and no doubt were, in the “Green Schools”[11] of the Persian sufis. [11] See Appendix I. * * * * *