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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 |
Theosophy
The great gathering at the Framji Cowasji Hall on Sunday afternoon last, on the occasion of the first lecture given by Colonel Olcott on the subject of “Theosophy and its aims”, could scarcely have been a greater success or more complimentary ovation to the chief mover in the proceedings, nor was it less so to those distinguished friends who have accompanied him to these shores on a mission of peace and good will such as the wisest and worthiest may feel proud to share in. The Hall, though a spacious building, was inconveniently crowded; every available space where standing room could be obtained was filled with eager listeners. Something more than a mere sprinkling of Europeans were present, and it being known that the lecture would be given in English, none, it is to be presumed, but those who understood that language were present. A more respectable audience, or one seemingly more profoundly interested in the subject to be discussed could scarcely have been desired. The raised platform was made to accommodate as many as could be conveniently seated there, and amongst them, in addition to the lecturer, were Miss Rosa Bates, Mr. Wimbridge and “the observed of all observers” the Countess Blavatsky, whose hearty affability with those around her, seemed to tell of distinctions cast aside as worthless, and of the concentration of every energy of a great mind into the one word earnestness. Stern determination is a characteristic not readily to be mistaken, and unless we misread its outward and visible evidences, there rests under the polished quietude of that lady’s manners the legible assurance:—“I know that I am right; my course, therefore, is straight ahead”.
After a few remarks from Mr. Jugmohandass Samuldass, the zealous manager of the Hindu Dnyan Vurdhak Library, under the auspices of which society the present meeting was inaugurated, Colonel Olcott addressed the audience.
As this address has already been published at some length by the daily papers, and as our limited space precludes more than a mere commentary upon it, we must of necessity confine our observations to that limitation, conscious though we are that, to furnish anything short of the lecture itself, in extenso, is to rob it of very much of its force and beauty. To rest content with the hacknied statement that the lecture was an able and interesting one, would be to do it an injustice. It was an eloquent and masterly oration. Not an utterance was vented at which the most fastidious intellect could carp, not a disagreeable truth commented upon, the impurity of which was not already strong in the nostrils of every observer. If the lecturer hit hard at times, it was without ill-nature; and however unpalatable may have been some of his strictures, they must at least be accorded the merit of being truthful. Theosophy, then, turned out not to be the demon that it was thought had been awakened. So far as it had yet been made intelligible, theosophy inculcated the total and uncompromising renunciation of that incrustation of falsehood and unwarranted mummeries which it must be admitted has been suffered, for the most unholy purposes, to obscure the primal beauty of that vedic revelation from which all creeds and theological systems of the world have from time to time been drawn. To continue with renewed vigour, and with the greater facilities that a residence in this country will <... continues on page 8-170 >
Editor's notes
- ↑ Theosophy by unknown author, Indian Spectator, The, Sunday, March 30, 1879