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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 8-267) >
ces of India. A brief summary of the doings of the Society since the arrival of its deputation in Bombay will be interesting to our readers. We need not here speak of those delightful Wednesday and Sunday evening receptions of natives, for they are the talk of the town. It is not too much to say that the address of Col. Olcott, President of the Society, at the Framjee Cowasjee Institute, took all Bombay by surprise. The sensation created by the lecture has not yet subsided. The visit of Madame Blavatsky and Col. Olcott to the Swamee Dyanund Saraswati in Northern India is well known to our readers. This visit brought many interesting things to light. The Swamee corroborated all that is written in the wonderful volumes of “Isis Unveiled.” Then, the visitors and the Swamee agreed in all the main doctrinal points of the Vedas; and thus a better and more cordial relation was established between the Theosophical Society and the Arya Samaj. The deputation have not been idle since their return to Bombay. They have been occupied in acquainting Europeans and Americans with the Indian people, their daily life and pursuits, their religious opinions, and similar interesting questions. It may interest our Parsee readers to know that Col. Olcott contemplates giving a lecture sometime in November next on the Parsees. Meanwhile we have before us a prospectus of a journal, to be called the Theosophist, which the Society have resolved to bring out in Bombay. It is to be conducted by Madame Blavatsky; and that lady’s connection with the best European and American journals for several years past is a guarantee of the new publication’s success. Among the list of contributors we notice the names of such well-known scholars as the Swami; the High Priest of Adam’s Peak, Ceylon, and President of the Sanscrit, Pali and Elu College of Colombo, the Rev. H. Sumangola; the eminent Buddhist controversialist, the Rev. Mohattiwatti Gunananda; and others no less famous in science. The “Theosophist” will be a monthly publication, and will be devoted to science, oriental philosophy, history, psychology, literature and art. The field is so vast, that were we not assured of the capabilities of its conductors and contributors, we should hesitate to credit all that is promised in the prospectus. But we entertain no fear, and predict unbounded success for the “Theosophist.”
Misery and politics have always been said to “make strange bedfellows;” we must now add Theosophy to the list. To say nothing of the “omnium gatherum” of all creeds, races and complexions, who seem to be enrolling themselves in its various Branches, there is a fine admixture of the expelled going on. Last October, the Pall Mall Gazette contained a spiteful and wicked lampoon against the Arya Samaj, especially the Bombay branch. This was charged with being a hot-bed of licentiousness, a covert chapter, in short, of the Vallabacharyas. It was, moreover, insinuated that this purely religious, and certainly harmless, society needed inspection by the Government, as a nest of traitors. Ofcourse, all Bombay knew that both these insinuations were absolutely groundless, and only attributable to a mean malice. This view was also taken, it appears, by the Theosophical Society, for its New York Council, immediately upon receiving the paper containing the libel, expelled the editorial writer in disgrace; he happening to be one of its own Fellows, a Jesuit layman, who had pretended to be enthusiastically loyal to Theosophy. The now unsavoury Hurrichand Chintamon was the President of the Bombay Arya Samaj, his expulsion from that body and the Theosophical Society taking place several months later. The expulsion of the Pall Mall Gazette writer was meant as a vindication of Hurrichand’s and his Samaj’s character against the charge of immorality; and a punishment of one who had causelessly insulted both. But some people have queer notions of honour and personal dignity, it would seem. The last mail from England brought news, that Hurrichand and his slanderer, arm in arm, had called on a prominent Theosophist and vainly sought an interview to vindicate Hurrychand’s damaged reputation. “A fellow feeling makes us wondrous kind”!
The friends of Hurrichand Chintamon, if he has any left, will do well to peruse the following:—
Important Notice.
Notice is hereby given that Thakor Mukundsing and Thakor Munnasing, landlords in Chhaleshwar, in Morthal in the province of Aligurh, as also Thakor Bhopalsing landlord of Aikh, are authorized to collect and receive subscriptions on account of “Veda Bhashia,” “Satiarth Prakash” &c., and a Power of Attorney in their behalf has been registered in the Registry Office. Subscriptions for “Veda Bhashia” &c., should be sent to Thakor Munnasing to his address as given above, and he will give the Subscribers the acknowledgments for the same. Those who wish to subscribe for the publication, should also apply to Munnasingji, and any enquiries that<... continues on page 8-269 >
Editor's notes