BIOGRAPHY OF SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

spend hours with the students in meditation and devotional singing. Spiritualpractices were intensified on holy days.In the early part of 1898, the site of the Belur Math, the present Headquarters ofthe Ramakrishna Math and Mission, was purchased with the help of a generousdonation from Miss Müller, the devoted admirer of the Swami. Mrs. Ole Bullgave another handsome gift to complete the construction, and the shrine at theBelur Math was consecrated, as we shall see, on December 9, 1898. Sometimeduring this period the Swami initiated into the monastic life SwamiSwarupananda, whom he considered to be a real 'acquisition.' This qualifiedaspirant was given initiation after only a few days' stay at the monastery,contrary to the general rule of the Ramakrishna Order. Later he became editorof the monthly magazine Prabuddha Bharata, and first president of the AdvaitaAshrama at Mayavati, in the Himalayas, founded on March 19, 1899.Among the Western devotees who lived with Swami Vivekananda at this timewere Mr. and Mrs. Sevier, Mrs. Ole Bull, Miss Henrietta F. Müller, MissJosephine MacLeod, and Miss Margaret E. Noble, all of whom travelled withhim at various times in Northern India. The Seviers identified themselvescompletely with the work at the Mayavati Advaita Ashrama. Mrs. Ole Bull, thewife of the famous Norwegian violinist, and a lady of social position, greatculture, and large heart, had been an ardent admirer of the Swami during hisAmerican trip. Miss Müller, who knew the Swami in both England and Americaand had helped defray, together with the Seviers and Mr. Sturdy, the expensesof his work in England, had come to India to organize an educational institutionfor Indian women.Miss MacLeod had attended Swami Vivekananda's classes in New York, and formonths at a time he had been the guest of her relatives at their country home,Ridgely Manor. She became his lifelong friend and admirer and cherished hismemory till the last day of her life, but though she was devoted to him, she neverrenounced her independence nor did he demand that she should. By way ofspiritual instruction, the Swami had once asked Miss MacLeod to meditate onOm for a week and report to him afterwards. When the teacher inquired how shefelt, she said that 'it was like a glow in the heart.' He encouraged her and said:'Good, keep on.' Many years later she told her friends that the Swami made herrealize that she was in eternity. 'Always remember,' the Swami had admonishedher, 'you are incidentally an American and a woman, but always a child of God.Tell yourself day and night who you are. Never forget it.' To her brother-in-law,Francis H. Leggett, the Swami had written, on July 16, 1896, in appreciation ofMiss MacLeod: 'I simply admire Joe Joe in her tact and quiet ways. She is afeminine statesman. She could wield a kingdom. I have seldom seen such strongyet good common sense in a human being.'