HPB-SB-14-114: Difference between revisions

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{{Style P-Subtitle|THEOSOPHY.}}

{{Style S-Small capitals|At}} the recent meeting of the Theosophical Society at Bombay, the Chairman and other speakers en{{Style S-Lost|…}}ered into considerable detail, regarding the objects of the Society, a short recapitulation of which may be interesting to our readers. To the bulk of the people of India, the Society is chiefly known as an association, which professes belief in the existence of “the brothers” who are supposed to be in possession of knowledge, occult science, not usually found among mankind, and who are able to perform feats, which, in the estimation of the vulgar, class them very high in the ranks of conjurors. This knowledge and wonder-working power are claimed in a lesser degree by some, at least, of the initiated brotherhood, and the public have on several occasions had presented to them accounts more or less detailed of the mystic brothers and the wonderful deeds performed by their agency. At the recent annual meeting of the Society, however, the brothers and their wonder-working powers, as well as the extraordinary manifestations affirmed to have taken place, the details of which are well known to our readers, occupied quite an inconspicuous place, and the aims of the Society to found a universal brotherhood of all men and to bring to light and usefulness knowledge hitherto possessed by a few initiated, were the leading ideas which the Chairman dilated on. “The leade{{Style S-Lost|…}}s of the Theosophical Society,” said the Chairman in his opening address, “have this peculiarity as compared with all other philanthropists I know of who have declared for the same good object (universal brotherhood), that they go on to show how the thing can be done. “They claim to have discovered the true channel through which sympathies may flow between European and Asiatics, that channel being philosophical study. Another end which the Society has in view is to promote a searching investigation into the original bases of all religions, with the idea of justifying all, rather than of overthrowing any. In a sentence, then, the aims of the Theosophical Society are, according to Mr. Sinnet, universal brotherhood, which is to be attained through philosophical study and a searching examination of the elementary principles of all religions, with a view of discovering the elements common to all. These in themselves are highly laudable objects, however much men may differ in opinion, regarding the means to be used for the promotion of a brotherhood, which is to be universal, and had the Society confined itself to the inculcation and promotion of these objects exclusively instead of mixing up with them an occultism which is popularly regarded as near akin to the tricks of the conjuror, we venture to think that it would have met with less hostility; though probably it would scarcely have attracted the same attention. We offer no opinion regarding the hidden science, which the uninitiated theosophist studies. All we venture to say is, that this is more an age of demonstration than of faith, of knowledge than of belief, and that what to the uninitiated may be proof of the clearest kind is to the outer world, lying in darkness, in many instances the flimsiest self-deception, and, it may be, the purest pretence.

{{Style S-HPB SB. Archivist note|[A blue oblique stroke is drawn at the left of “Our Contemporaries.”]<ref name="editor-114-ink">The writer of the mark has not been established.</ref>}}

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The following communication reaches us, as will be seen, from a well-known author. The fact that Mr. Tupper addresses “Light” shews that he takes some interest in Spiritualism—how much or how little we do not know. We are glad to know, however, that we shall shortly be able to give our readers some of his “Experiences” on the subject, as a free and fair inquirer:—

{{Style P-Signature custom|{{Style S-Small capitals|Martin F. Tupper.}}|1 style=plain}}

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