Be it so! I am competent to deal with them. And I want here to notify anyone who thinks to destroy my work, or to destroy those who with self-abnegation and selfless courage are helping me in the work of trying to save my country from the forces of hell which are now ravaging Europe--I want to notify any evil magician who is interested in this matter, that if he gets in the way of my resolve it will be he who will suffer and not I. The ring which I and the Masters behind me draw round our workers can be passed with evil intent only at the peril of the one who passes. This is no threat to use evil magic. We do not use evil magic. But we know how to deflect a malicious current from its chosen victim, so that it returns with overwhelming force upon its own source. And I also want to say to those who in their ignorance or wantonness allow themselves to be used as catspaws to draw the devil’s chestnuts from the fire, that fire will burn, and that the devil’s hot chestnuts stick to the fingers. This is an unpleasant subject. I will now leave it. Let me talk to those who are ignorant of these matters, and most people are ignorant--even those who have “studied psychism.” Many an innocent (or half-innocent) soul has been driven nearly insane by the pressure of the evil thoughts of others, by the will-driven thoughts of others. Let me advise such not further to weaken themselves by fear, but to strengthen themselves by prayer. I have said that there is a god and a devil in every one of you. Turn to the god for protection from the devil. If there were no devil in you, the devils of others could not harm you. Remember that. Set your own devil to serve your own god. If you want to use signs and symbols, meditate on the cross of Christ. The cross of Christ is profound enough for a lifetime’s meditation. Do not use evil magic to protect yourself against evil magic. Call on the god within to send evil back to its source. Protect yourself before sleep by prayer to your god for protection. The evil workers can sometimes reach your soul in sleep when they cannot reach you while awake. The child’s prayer, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep,” is more potent than a magician’s spells. Childish, you say? Yes, but I am writing now for those who are children in these things, be they seven or seventy. Of all countries on earth, America is the most abysmally ignorant of the dangers of evil magic. Be willing to be children until you acquire adult knowledge of these subjects. “I am in no danger, for I understand these things,” is often said with self-gratulation by these who are in the very grip of the evil forces. Truly, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. If you want an added protection, my children, guard your own evil passions and resentful thoughts, your jealous emotions and unkind criticism of others. The devils ride on waves of anger and resentment.