HPB-SB-13-86

H. P. Blavatsky Scrapbooks

from Adyar archives of the International Theosophical Society

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vol. 13, p. 86	volume 13, page 86 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

< “The Theosophical Society.” (continued from page 13-85) >

upon to say anything that is likely to interest or enlighten the ordinary outside observer. It is purely a scientific and a technical matter; and one which no one would be justified in discussing who had not specially studied it. To study it, moreover, certain conditions have to be fulfilled, and a certain careful, special, training to be gone through beforehand. We may, however, state that this portion of Theosophical research is founded on the principles of esoteric philosophy that taught by the Yoga school of ancient Hindu thinkers. Both Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott have specially trained for and studied the subject—the former having actually spent several years in a Himalayan monastery—and they speak most convincingly thereon. More, they have adduced the most irrebuttable evidence in proof of what they say: namely, that they are capable of holding communication with certain adepts in Psychical science, hundreds of miles away, in a manner that is simply phenomenal. We hope, ere long, to return to this sub-division of our subject; and will, therefore, conclude for the present.

In concluding we feel bound to take this opportunity of tendering the heartiest thanks of that portion of the native community whom we have the honor of representing, to Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott for their self-denying kindness in paying our city a visit at this tryingly unpleasant season of the year, for the affability, courtesy and kindness with which they have invariably treated all such of us as have been to see them, and for the thoroughly sincere feelings of goodwill they cherish towards our entire nation, accompanied as those feelings are with practical manifestations of an anxiety to administer to our national progress and true welfare. We earnestly hope and pray that the Theosophical Society may gather strength and prosperity; and be able, in due course of time, to accomplish all that its energetic and enthusiastic founders (and numerous friends) cordially desire that it will.

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Visit of the Theosophists to Tiruvallam.—Col. H. S. Olcott and Madam Blavatsky the Founder of the Theosophical Society proceeded to Tiruvallam, near Arcot, on Sunday last accompanied by Mr. R. Ragoonatha Row Garu President, and Messrs. P. Sreenivasa Row Garu, C. V. Cunniah Chetty Garu, and G. Muttu-sami Chetty Garu, Vice-Presidents, Mr. Subba Row Garu Secretary and Messrs. Lakshmi-kanta Row Garu, C. Gurusawmy Chetty Garu, P. Therumala Row Garu, G. Chengalroya Chetty Garu Thengrarajah Garu G. Narasimulu Chetty Garu and G. Subbiah Chetty Garu Fellows of the Theosophical Society and a few others. On alighting at the station the party was received with due honors by Temple authorities there and conducted to the building prepared for their reception. In the evening the party visited portions of the temple worth visiting and in the flower garden attached to the temple, Col. Olcott performed the initiatory ceremonies of three gentlemen of whom one is Mr. L. Dorasawmy Naidu Garu of Madras, who waited there for admission into the Society. Tiruvallam is a pretty large town near Arcot, and it has a large Hindu Temple which possesses some historical interest. The place is held in much reverence by the Hindus. Vedantists principally, as it is believed to be the sanitarium for a high order of Mahatmas. Col. Olcott and Madam Blavatsky evidently had very cogent reasons for visiting this station and it is believed that they were thoroughly satisfied with their visit. The Members of the Association who were present there witnessed a certain phenomenon which confirmed their belief in respect to this order and the success which is in store for the Branch Association formed for the town of Madras. The party returned to Madras by the mail train which arrived at the Central Station on Monday Morning. A Chapter for admission of the members into the Theosophical Society has been opened on Thursday last at the Residence of Col. Olcott and Madam Blavatsky, Luz, and over a hundred members have already joined the Association. Col. Olcott and Madam Blavatsky proceeded to Nellore and Guntoor this evening, and on their return will make a short stay at Madras.

Notes by the Way.

Colonel Olcott sends two pamphlets from Bombay. One gives “The Whole Truth about the Theosophical Society, and its Founders.” It is the outcome of some fatuous slanders put about by the Rev. Joseph Cook, of Boston. A specimen of these is the statement that Colonel Olcott and Madame Blavatsky had “come to India to study the ancient system of magic and sorcery to return to the United States to teach tricks to mediums already exposed”! Mr. Cook is one of the worst products of that offensive alliance between sensationalism and a pseudo-scientific theology which a craving for novelty on the part of audiences and for notoriety at any price on the part of a few professors of the flatulent style of oratory has produced. He seems, however, to have been thoroughly driven out of the field, smitten hip and thigh from Dan even unto Beersheba—from Bombay to Poona. Poor man! he gave the Society the largest gratuitous advertisment in his power; and it is open to a casuist to contend that he ought to have had a vote of thanks, instead of being “posted as a coward and a slanderer.”

The other pamphlet is an address on “The Spirit of the Zoroastrian Religion,” delivered by invitation before a large meeting of Parsis, at Bombay, by Colonel Olcott. He castigates them rather freely for their apathy and indifference to the esoteric truths of their religion, and for the content they shew with its mere husks. After all Parsis are in this respect very much like other people. All forms of religion become gradually destitute of their pristine fire, and then comes the revivifying spirit; and men cry out that Religion is dying. Whereas they mean Theology; and false Theology besides.

M. A. (Oxon.)

A Hull Team of Frauds.

For some years past Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hull, formerly of Portland, Maine, have been doing a thriving trade in materializing spirits for the edification of Gobemouches in general and Hazard, Hatch and Colby in particular. The editor of the Banner has waxed most pathetic in describing the suffering of the “pure, honest and genuine medium,” Mrs. Hull. His eloquent flights in describing her gifts have only been equalled by those of the octogenarian Hazard. With the aid of Mrs. Hull, Hazard has been able to fondle and trot on his knee his special spirit pets, and take moonlight walks with other of his numerous female relatives who have gone to spirit life. Being a man of large property, he has been able to buy more of this sort of amusement than any other man in the country; he is bound to have it even if it does come high.

Page after page of the Banner has been filled with his descriptions, rivalling Munchausen. Mr. Hatch of Astoria having lost a daughter visited the frauds at Terre Haute, and having thus prepared himself to swallow a large dose, took the Hulls into his home and there had the felicity of seeing his daughter, as he supposed, and not only did his darling materialize as substantially as in life, but such illustrious personages as Jesus and Confucius put in an appearance and were readily recognized. Why shouldn’t they be? Prince Napoleon who went to spirit life so suddenly with the aid of a Zulu, came and fell in love with the spirit daughter and then no doubt blessed the Zulu who had been the means of making it possible for him to form the acquaintance of Mr. Hatch and family. Something less than two years ago the editor of the Journal was informed by one of the elect who had the entrée of the Hatch mansion, that in a few months a grand wedding was to take place with the Prince as groom and Miss Hatch as bride. Whether this happy event was ever consummated, is not known at this office.

A few months since the Hulls rented a house in Brooklyn and opened out for business. Every precaution that could be thought of to guard against detection was adopted. Applicants for admission to the show were obliged to register their applications in advance, with references. The necessary qualifications were, monumental faith in the claims of materializing mediums in general, and Mrs. Hull in particular, together with the ability to pay the fee. Everything now seemed propitious and a long and profitable season could reasonably be looked for. With the influence of the Banner, backed by the prestige gained at Hazard’s and Hatch’s, there seemed to these worthies nothing in the way. They did not realize the growing strength of public sentiment, demanding conditions which would in the end bring to light their nefarious practices. Engrossed in their unholy work they had failed to note with sufficient care the growing enlightenment of the public which was being rapidly increased by the Religio-Philosophical Journal. Finally, their fears were excited by Dr. Crowell who, in the last issue of his paper, denounced Mrs. Hull as a fraud. Something had now to be done to quiet suspicion, and once more make themselves “solid” with the spiritualistic public, and while beating about for some scheme to blind the public, Mrs. Cora L. V. Scott-Hatch-Daniels-Tappan-Richmond began a lecture engagement in New York, which had been perfected, the Journal is informed, by her “friend” Emmette Densmore, whom many New York Spiritualists will remember as the man who is reputed to have sent his family to Europe one day and staid behind to accompany Mrs. Richmond—at that time, Mrs. Tappan—on the next week’s steamer for England. The Hulls evidently “knew their woman;” they were undoubtedly familiar with her efforts to screen Bastian and Taylor when the Spiritualists of Chicago requested those tricksters to prove their claims by allowing test conditions. Although Mrs. Richmond then alleged that she was backed by her band of ‘high spirits,’ her attempt to whitewash those young men was a disastrous failure. However, the Hulls evidently hoped that being nearer the Hub, from which emanates the champion fraud defender

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Editor's notes

Sources

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  Light, v. 2, No. 68, April 22, 1882, p. 186

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  The Religio-Philosophical Journal, v. 32, No. 5, April 1, 1882