HPB-SB-13-83

H. P. Blavatsky Scrapbooks

from Adyar archives of the International Theosophical Society

T i

vol. 13, p. 83	volume 13, page 83 vol. title: vol. period: 1882 pages in vol.: 229
Legend HPB note HPB highlighted HPB underlined HPB crossed out <Editors note> <Archivist note> Lost or unclear SBT, DT Restored

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eng • рус

<Untitled> (We notice that Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott...)

We notice that Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott, founders of the Theosophical Society, have been most cordially received by the citizens of Madras. The Hon’ble Raja Gajapatthi Rao, Dewan Bahadur Raghunatha Rao, the Hon’ble W. Dabrew, member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon, the Hon’ble Humayun Jah Bahadur and other well-known and leading personages greeted them upon landing. Messrs. Raghunatha Rao and Subha Row who had proceeded some distance out at sea in a boat tastefully decorated, overtook the steamer India and received them. They were accommodated in a house fitted up for them, where Mr. P. Viziarangum Mudelyar read the following address:—“We the undersigned, who entertain great respect for you, welcome you to the Capital of Southern India. We need hardly express our appreciation of our valuable services for our country; and we trust that your advent here will be a means of placing within our reach the advantages afforded for investigating the mysteries of nature and Psychical powers latent in man.”

Night-Thought.

A Sonnet

(A Sonnet.)

The breathless silence of this moonless night Is music without words: voiceless tone, Like th’ Ocean’s undistinguishable moan, Or like the trance of the lone anchorite, When thought and feeling change him to the stone— A living power—but mute and blind of sight! Yet would I break the spell, and take a flight The tingling silence of the starry zone Beyond;—beyond the reach of earth-born thought, Up to a heaven beyond man’s highest heaven, Where stars fade never, and no darkening spot The sun disfigures, nor the moon is driven To put on mourning weeds for half her life!— Alas! but I am chained fast to this world of strife!

S. J. Padshah.

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<Untitled> (Col. Olcott thus concludes his address...)

Col. Olcott thus concludes his address to the Hindu community at Madras:—

Come then, ye old men and young men of Madras, if ye call yourselves of India, and would make yourself worthy of the blessings of the Rishis, join hands and hearts with us to carry on this great work. We ask you for no honours, no worldly benefits or rewards for ourselves. We do not seek you for followers; choose your proper leaders from among your wisest and purest men, and we will follow them. We do not offer ourselves as your teachers, for all we can teach is what we have learnt from this Asia; the Gospel we circulate is derived form the recluses of the Indian mountains, not form the professors of the West. It is for India, we plead, for the restoration of her ancient religion, the vindication of her ancient glory, the maintenance of her greatness in science, the arts and philosophy. If any selfish consideration of sect, or caste, or local prejudice bars the way, put it aside at least until you have done something for the land of your birth, the renown of your noble race. In this great crowd I see painted upon your foreheads the vertical sect-marks of the Dwaitas and the Visishta-dwaitas, and the horizontal stripes of the Shaivas. These are the surface indications of religious differences that have often burst out in bitter words and bitter deeds. But with another sense than the eye of the body I see another set of sect-marks indicative of far greater peril to Indian nationality and Indian spirituality than those. These marks are branded deep upon the brains and hearts of some—though, happily, not all—of your most promising young men, the choicest children of the sorrowing Mother India, and they are eating away the sense of pride that they belong to this race and have inherited this noble religion. These are the B. A., B. L., and M. A., brands that the University over yonder has marked you with. After three years of intercourse with Hindu nation and of identification with its thought, I almost feel a shudder when some noble-browed youth is presented to me as a titled graduate. Not that I undervalue the importance of college culture, nor the honourable distinction one earns by acquiring University degree; but that I say that, if such distinctions can only be had at the cost of one’s national honour and one’s spiritual intuitions, they are a curse to the graduate and a calamity to his country. I would rather see a dirty Bairagee who has his ancestors’ intuitive belief in man’s spiritual capabilities, than the most brilliant graduate ever turned out of the University, who has lost that belief. Let me companion with the naked hermit of the jungle rather than with a graduate who, though loaded with degrees, has by a course of false science, been made to lose all faith in anything greater in the universe than a Hæckel or in any powers in himself higher than those of procreation, thought or degestion. Call me a conservative, if you will; I am conservative to this extent that, until our modern professors can show me a Philosophy that is unassailable; a Science that is self demonstrative, that is, axiomatic; a Psychology that takes in all psychic phenomena; a new Religion that is all truth and without a flaw I shall proclaim that which I feel, I know to be the fact viz., that the Rishis knew the secrets of Nature and of man.

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<Untitled> (The Bangalore Spectator, an Anglo-Indian paper...)

The Bangalore Spectator, an Anglo-Indian paper, thus speaks of the Theosophists in Madras:—

The Theosophists are, apparently, making much progress in Madras, if we may judge from the published reports in the newspapers. Colonel Olcott has been delivering two very lengthy lectures in Madras, explaining the views of the society; and he has succeeded in enlisting the sympathies of the leading native gentlemen on his religious behalf. Both the Colonel and Madame Blavatsky were at a place called Tiruvellum, near Arcot, a week ago, and they were accompanied by a whole retinue of their friends and admirers from among the Hindu community of this city, including magistrates, judges, millionaires, merchants, and all others who have influence in the land. We believe the Theosophists form a pretty respectable number in Madras, and as the “leaders” of the native community have joined, the “smaller fry” are sure to allow their religious convictions to follow suit.

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<Untitled> (Col. Olcott’s recent address at Madras...)

Col. Olcott’s recent address at Madras on “The Common foundation of All Religions,” is perhaps the best of his efforts that we have yet noticed. It is a most learned and lucid exposition of the Theosophic creed disclosing much that is the common heritage of all religions. But we are not competent to judge of its practical value.

Cosmography.

As deduced from the Electrical Theory of the Universe

As deduced from the Electrical Theory of the Universe;

By Joseph Pollock.

Cooper and Co. Medows Street, and at this office

Reduced Price Annas 8.

Editor's notes