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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 |
Points and Comments
There lies at the basis, even of the lowest paganism, an immense gulf of dark mystery and of dread seriousness.
The right hearted man feels a wrong done to a woman more acutely than if it had been inflicted upon himself.
To incorporate Christian dogmas into the Constitution could give no permanent advantage to religion, but would weaken its hold on popular esteem.
The new Reformed Episcopal Church has adopted the old unreformed Catholic doctrine of Hell, and General Stewart L. Woodford is accordingly a Dissenter.
A nice little boy on being asked by a visiting clergyman, “Who gives you your daily bread, my little man?” replied, “Dod, but Uncle Peter puts the butter and honey on.”
A little girl was surprised by her mother one Sunday afternoon, while playing. She asked her what she was doing. “Playing school,” was her reply. “But it’s Sunday,” said her mother. “Yes, I know it; but I’m playing Sunday School,” she answered.
A child had an aunt who wished to instil religious principles in its mind, so taking down Fox’s Book of Martyrs, was showing her the picture of the Carthagenian women being thrown to the lions in the amphitheatre. The child looked on sadly, tears standing in its eyes, and finally spoke pathetically, “Look at that poor little lion, he don’t get any.”
The “dollar of the fathers” is not a formidable rallying-cry. No relief has come from any burden. Meanwhile, corporations and wealthy individuals, regardless of what misery they might inflict, have forced into circulation the trade dollar, discredited before it was coined, and are now compelling the defrauded people to lose heavily from the discount it bears. The men who make and utter counterfeit money, are hardly less criminal than the railroad and other corporations, as well as persons, have been in procuring and passing of these spurious silver dollars.
The political outlook is not encouraging to partisans. The Republicans abandon the hope of supremacy in Congress, and seem to be in the attitude of men who have passed beyond the ideas which formerly associated them. But Democratic triumphs are little assurance of Democratic ascendency. The majority of American citizens regard them as ephemeral displays of a lost cause. The idea of the Republicans is that of a tenacious holding upon governmental power by virtue of the higher sense of the people; that of the Democrats, beyond the acquisition of power, is yet undefined and undefinable, if it be not destruction itself. There is not a hearty confidence of the people in either.
The Bible for Learners meets little favor with the critics of The Unitarian Review. There need be little surprise; the concessions of Christian Liberalists to their opponents have become so numerous as to indicate an utter obliteration of all points of difference. “Their hearts are crying for a Saviour who is God, and a Redeemer who can cleanse,” boasts the Methodist Quarterly, not without good cause. A Frothingham or some new Theodore Parker, must rise to liberalise Unitarianism, and teach its writers to express ideas distinctly and vigorously. Dr. Oort, an Evangelical Dutch theologian, shocks the senses of modern liberals when he applies the results of criticism to the mythical and over-edited stories of the Old Testament. They sneer when he defines Sinai as the <Moon[2]>-God; although Sin is the Semitic name of the moon. It wounds their sensitiveness to represent Samson as the name of the Sun-god Samas, and to call the marvellous narratives of the Book of Judges a sun-myth. Dr. Lange is more robust and virile. Himself avowedly “orthodox” he does not fear to set aside the literal actuality of the legends concerning Balaam’s ass, Joshua’s still-standing sun and moon, the story of Jonah and the personal appearance of Satan; while Jewish exegetists willingly add to these the myth of Samson and others. It is this hesitation in regard to the Bible-fetish which dissatisfies eager enquirers, and so often impels them to reject even the creditable parts of the collection. They cannot accept
“Vacant chaff, well-meant for grain.”
Aside from divine grace, man in this life consists of a ruined soul dwelling in a ruined body. When grace reaches and renews the soul, lifting it from darkness to light, and from Satan to God, so that it becomes a new creation, the body remains the same “muddy vesture of decay” that it was before the transformation of the spirit.
Notes about Authors
The fourth edition of “Isis Unveiled,” Mme. Blavatsky’s work, which is described as “a master-key to the mysteries of ancient and modern science and theology,” will soon be ready at Bouton’s. It will contain a new and etched portrait of the author. Among other books, soon to be expected at Mr. Bouton’s, are an octavo of 700 pages on the “Origin, Progress and Destiny of the English Language and Literature,” by John A. Weisse, M. D.; Stanfield’s “Coast Scenery,” a series of views in the British Channel, from original drawings; “The Philosophy of Existence,” in four books, comprising a history of Deities, or Theism and Mythism, a history of Heaven or the Celestial regions, a history of Demons or Demonism, a history of Hades or the Internal regions, and a history of Angels and Purgatory, by E. O. Kelley, M. D.; “The Rosicrucians: Their Rites and Mysteries,” with chapters on the Ancient Fire and Serpent Worshippers, and explanations of the mystic symbols represented in the monuments and talismans of the primeval philosophers, by Hargrave Jennings. The latter book will contain about 300 illustrations.
Spiritualistic Experiences of Dr. De Novo Orleanski
A Spiritualist! eh? The term is too tame. My enthusiasm is now, after fifteen years’ investigation, unmitigated and unlimited. These thin-milk believers are no good; they go stumbling stupidly over blocks. My position is amongst the recognized associations. I am an ornamental member of the “Scientific Society for the Suppression of Quacks.” For this membership and the honors conferred I paid three dollars. Then you will find my name enrolled among the graduates of the “Viennese and French System of applying Electricity.” Matriculation and certification of ability to practice cost me only twenty dollars, and the loss of one night’s sleep. The British Association made me an honorary member in recognition of my great and undoubted ability as a form-materializationist. In the State of Maine, my name is among those who constitute the “Society for the Detection of Adultery in the Liquor Traffic.” For this honor conferred, unsolicited and by a unanimous vote, I paid for only the drinks of the officers of the society, say one dollar and eighty-seven cents. Member of other bodies I am, of greater or lesser importance, but fifty dollars will cover the entire expense of these titles and distinctions which I beg to record for the encouragement of new beginners.
A good dignified address, very impressive style of approach, a written application, a small fee, and the goal is yours! The result: In different cities my friends give me different titles, as “Professor,” “Doctor,” “Judge,” and the like, which opens many a door to my entrance as a magnetizationist.
Enthusiasm is not the word. No! a passionist, rather! My experience is promised. Very well, then, fifteen years ago by chance I read a small work by A. J. Davis, or Hudson Tuttle possibly, called “Strange Visitors” or something like that—oh, come to think, it might have been “Disembodied Man,” or the “Hollow Globe.” At all events it made a powerful impression. At that time I kept a family grocery store. In less than a week all such menial pursuits were prodigiously repulsive. Enough! I sought Mme. Beaconsfarm, who was advertised as a French seeress, astrologer, and most extraordinary natural medium and clairvoyant. In two moments she described my feelings as well as I myself could. Said she: “You are in painful situations.” Nothing could be truer. “Come again to-morrow,” she said, “and a spirit will foretell your future.” Price two dollars; for every subsequent interview one dollar and a half. How much cheaper than paying pew-rent!
On the morrow she said: “Your life is discordant. You are a healing medium, you have other gifts. But your business is in the way; it must be given up.” For this séance I paid her one dollar and a half and I promised to call on the morrow. For she (the spirits over her tongue, I should say) said: “We are your band! Great work in the future for you! Great prize for you!”
My God in heaven! I shouted for joy. My grocery store was neglected; so was my bigoted wife, and the children ceased to interest me. My wife went about the house crying, giving expression to bigoted hatred of every thing in the name of Spiritualism. Oh, good Lord, how I did suffer. The only comfort I found was in the delightful private little mediumized room of Mme. Beaconsfarm. My wife began to make me dreadfully miserable. That’s the way with these churchal bigots the world over.
Another appointment with Mme. Beaconsfarm! On this occasion she gave the names of MY BAND! Glorious, wonderful minds. There I was still in the grocery business; yet great spirits were watching and developing me!
St. John, Peter the Great, King George the III, Buddha, (she gave this as the correct name) Jesus, Ptolemy, Queen Mary, Swedenborg, and twelve astrologers of great learning in knowledge! You observe my great band? The grocery business was given up to my wife. Of course it was badly run down from several weeks of absence on my part. But it was the best I could do for my children and bigoted wife.
Great news through Mme. Beaconsfarm next day! In a very delicate way, (most bewitching she invariably was) she said: “Can’t make no progress with your mediumship gifts while living with that woman!”
Now I had never whispered a line about my feelings toward my wife. What a perfect test! My God, didn’t I suffer? But I couldn’t be stopped in seeking after truth. The truth is sacred wherever found, whether at home or abroad, you know; so saying to disturb my bigoted madame, away I went after the great prize with my distinguished band of spirits. Talk of tests! Talk of “fraud-proof conditions!” Why, I had nothing but tests—tests upon tests, tests upon tests—from the first to the very last of my visits to Mme. Beaconsfarm. (By the way, please give her a call when you visit that city again. First sitting, $2.00; each after that, $1.50. I have first and last paid her over five hundred dollars in cash for sittings, etc., and declare it was the cheapest pew rent in the city.) All this happened fourteen or more years ago. Since that I have had a hard experience; but I wouldn’t have had it different. Why should I? “Whatever is, is right,” was my doctrine after reading an article in a Spiritualist newspaper, and I practice upon it.
My bigoted old madame, whom I have not seen for twelve years, had to take the grocery and the children. All the suffering I had about it I kept in my own breast. Spirits knew all about it, and that was enough for me. Very probably Madame had her own trials and hardship; but the rule, “Whatever is, is right,” comes in as a reconciler. It’s the biggest moral discovery of the age.
Since twelve years my powers of magnetization are wonderful—most extraordinary. Sometimes the spirit of a departed husband takes up his residence in my body. He makes …
Editor's notes
- ↑ Points and Comments by Wilder, A., Man, New York Saturday, October 26, 1878
- ↑ “Moon” is handwritten over the damaged printed word.
- ↑ Untitled illustration by unknown author
- ↑ Notes about Authors by unknown author
- ↑ Spiritualistic Experiences of Dr. De Novo Orleanski by unknown author
- ↑ Untitled portrait by unknown author