View source for Hartmann F. - Light for Italy

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{{CTD literature
 | title = Light for Italy
 | author = Hartmann, Franz
 | original author name = Franz Hartmann
 | original language = English
 | original title = Light for Italy
 | has text = yes
 | publications = [[Lucifer/Vol3|''Lucifer'', vol. 3]], no. 13, September 1888, pp. 18-20
 | read links = [[Lucifer/Vol3/Text|Electronic journal edition in Teopedia]]
 | download links = [https://opusmagnum.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/lucifer_v3.pdf Original volume (PDF)]
 | origin = English: Franz Hartmann, ''Light for Italy''
}}
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AMONG all the countries of Europe there is perhaps none upon which the curse of priestcraft and superstition is resting heavier than upon Italy, the land of beauty and art. It is true that the political changes, which have taken place in that country within the past ten years, have done a great deal to remove from the minds of the populace that awe and terror with which they regarded those who, backed up by the authority of the state, claimed to have a right to rule over the consciences of men, pretending to be in possession of divine powers and to stand in that place which rightfully belongs only to God – ''i.e.,'' the divine spirit in Man. National heroes, such as Mazzini, Garibaldi, etc., have done much to weaken the power which theology had acquired over the state; but in all matters that belong to religion and the salvation of souls, priestcraft still claims its monopoly, and while the citizen despises the person of the priest, in whom he recognises an ignorant and arrogant mountebank, he still obeys his orders in spiritual affairs, for fear of losing some of the imaginary benefits arising from the imaginary authority of the church.

The reason why the average Italian, with all his desire for freedom, has not become more enlightened and is still in bondage to clerical vampires, is because all attempts to drive away darkness will be useless unless the darkness is displaced by light. Those who are most ready to denounce all Medicine as humbug and quackery are usually the first to run after doctors and druggists as soon as they feel a pain, and those who denounce the ignorance of the priests are often only too ready to ask for their aid and advice when the time comes to take leave of this life. Thus the foundation of the church, composed of ignorance of the laws of nature and love of the personal self, will remain solid and the demon

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of priestcraft will rule until ignorance is dispelled by knowledge, and the love of self driven away by the love of the divinity in all mankind.

At last the time for such a distribution of Light seems to have arrived; for in the midst of an atmosphere thickened by the evil and superstitious thoughts, arising from bigoted brains, a light has been kindled, which promises to send its beneficent rays into the darkest corners where the demons of clerical arrogance are still holding high carnival. A number of spiritually minded men and women have resolved to establish a “head centre for Theosophy” or a “Rosicrucian monastery” after the pattern described in a little book entitled, “Among the Rosicrucians,” and the place selected is on the borders of one of the beautiful Italian lakes.

For obvious reasons it is not desirable that the name of the locality of this institution should for the present be publicly known; but its situation is all that could possibly be desired. In the midst of vine-clad hills and surrounded by towering mountains, the scenery is at once beautiful and sublime; the steamers on the lake and the railroads afford ready means for communication with all parts of Europe. There are valleys which are comparatively unknown to the tourist, and inaccessible mountain tops, over which the thoughts may wander, lifting the soul up to the bright ethereal sky. This is the country of flowers and fruit, of dark forests and shadowy glens, of sunlight and poetry.

The house occupied by our fraternity is far more luxurious than would be expected in a place whose inhabitants care nothing for luxury. It contains over thirty rooms, which are furnished not only in elegant, but in almost extravagant style; each piece of furniture in the same room being of the same colour, harmonizing with the curtains and draperies. There is a large garden and vineyard, shadowy trees and an endless variety of walks, overshadowed by grape-vines and trees. It may be said that luxury is incompatible with spiritual development; but if the heart does not cling to such illusions, they will not affect the mind. If I care nothing for a gilded table, the fact of its being gilded will not be an obstacle for my thoughts.

It may also appear surprising that ladies, some of them being young and beautiful, have been proposed for membership in this community; but the true occultist sees in a woman – not the animal form – but the indwelling spirit, and if that spirit is strong and intelligent and beautiful, it matters little whether it is expressed in a beautiful or not beautiful form. The female element is as necessary to attain perfection as the male one, and in the absence of all temptation there is no opportunity to develop strength. Those who do not dare to come into the presence of a woman without running the risk of being overpowered by their sensuality are very weak indeed. Want of resistance and solitude breeds monkish imbecility and encourages a disordered imagination.

This institution must not be confounded with those sectarian orders, in

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which men and women enter to have a life of ease, or to conquer their passions, or to obtain a reserved seat in heaven. The inhabitants of this “convent” are supposed to employ all their energies for the purpose of spreading the light of intelligence and to induce mankind to think; they are supposed to have already conquered their passions and to be able to resist the external attraction of sex; they are believed to occupy already that seat in “heaven,” from which they can survey calmly the phantasmagoria of human illusions with their imaginary joys and ills, and to be able to regulate themselves the slides in the magic lantern, by which the images may be changed; so that spiritual thought will take the place of sensuality.

Will they accomplish their mission? All the external conditions are present to make the enterprise a success; all that is necessary is to find the proper kind of persons to co-operate in this object. Some of the best writers have promised their aid, the translation of “Magic” and other books into the Italian language has already begun, and it is proposed that a journal shall be published.

The members of this association would gladly welcome to their home every one who is a Theosophist, not merely in name, but in fact; but it is necessary that such should at their entrance leave all evil thoughts behind; that they should be neither querulous nor ambitious, nor be obsessed by prejudices or passions of any kind; for the object of this society is not to educate its members to become occultists, but to take such as have already seen the Light and who know how to serve the true interests of humanity.

The management of this institution rests entirely in the hands of its members, who reside at the “home,” and no one is accepted as a member who has not given sufficient proof of his capability and usefulness; but every lover of progress may become an associate, and after being invited, come and remain at the place, subject to the rules and regulations that have been established for that purpose.

This institution is not a secret society, and does not propose to work “in the dark”; but it does not seek notoriety, nor does it wish to excite the curiosity of the unthinking public. The above described outlines will, therefore, be sufficient to awaken the interest of those who are desirous for the progress of humanity, and to call for the sympathy of every lover of Truth.

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