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vol. title: Vol Four of The Theosophical Society of The Arya Samaj of Arya-wart vol. period: Sept 1878 – Sept 1879 pages in vol.: 350 |
< The Theosophical Society (continued from page 8-142) >
oldest Vedas and in the philosophy of Goutama Buddha, Zoroaster and Confucious. But its chief object is to aid in the institution of a Brotherhood of Humanity wherein all the good and pure men of every race shall recognize each other as the equal effects (upon this planet) of one Uncreated, Universal, Infinite and Everlasting Cause. Such is the society which has sent four of its prominent members including its President on a mission to India towards which as the most ancient source of all knowledge, theological and scientiflc, the society seems to entertain the deepest respect and attachment. The party consists of the following members:—Coll. Olcott the President of the society,—Madame Blavatsky, a Russian lady of property, naturalised in America and corresponding Secretary of the society;—Miss Rosa Bates and Mr. Wimbridge, distinguished members and Englishmen by nationality. They profess first to learn the sublime truth including its secret arts that India has to teach and then teach Western sciences in their turn. They call themselves Hindus, are strict vegetarians and are served by Brahmin cooks. They say they have come to live and die in India. The Russian lady is said to possess the power of performing many feats that are popularly ascribed to jugglery, spiritualism and such other agencies, but which Madame Blavatsky professes to perform by her knowledge of science disclaiming all mysterious agencies. The visitors are at present in Bombay staying in a house placed at their disposal by Harichand Chintamoni, one of the few Indian members of the society. They receive visitors freely on Wednesdays and Sundays. They speak of every thing Indian with the profoundest respect.
While there is a great deal in the society as described above which is really laudable, yet when a study of the secret arts is made a part of its objects it assumes a mysterious aspect which fairly puzzles an ordinary man as to what to think of such a body. Let us hope that the presence of these able exponents of the principles of the society in our midst will enable us to understand them better so far as it is possible for the uninitiated to understand them.
 Colonel Henry OlcottPresident Theosophical Theosophical Society
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 Countess Helena P. BlavatskyFounder of the Theosophical Society
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<Untitled> (The portrait of Helena P. Blavatsky...)
The portrait of Helena P. Blavatsky stands before our readers this morning. We have already introduced this lady to them, as a woman of extraordinary powers and attainments, of great originality and breadth of thought, and above all as the founder of modern Theosophy. Her life is full of romance, of hair-breadth escapes on land and sea and from shipwreck, poison, sword, fire, wild beasts, and pestilence. This is not the time nor the place to give an account of her strange career, nor do we at this moment possess the materials to do so. Madame Blavatsky was born in Asiatic Russia and reared in the tenets of the Greek Church. But Russia was the last country where her free spirit could find full play. At an early age she left home and all cherished ties to seek strange lands and people. She has three times rounded the globe with no company but her own. She has been equally at <... continues on page 8-144 >
Editor's notes