HPB-SB-14-5

H. P. Blavatsky Scrapbooks

from Adyar archives of the International Theosophical Society

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vol. 14, p. 5	volume 14, page 5 vol. title: vol. period: 1882 pages in vol.: 174
Legend HPB note HPB highlighted HPB underlined HPB crossed out <Editors note> <Archivist note> Lost or unclear SBT, DT Restored

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eng • рус

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The Indian Mirror.

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CALCUTTA, TUESDAY, NOV. 28, 1882.

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<Untitled> (The Septenary Anniversary and general meeting…)

The Septenary Anniversary and general meeting of the Theosophical Society in Bombay is, we understand, postponed to Thursday, the 7th December. Madame Blavatsky, accompanied by delegates from several Branches, left Allahabad on the evening of the 23rd instant for Bombay. A large number of friends, both European and Native, waited at the railway station to see them off. Delegates from other Branches, which now number above forty in this country, will soon follow.

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<Untitled> (A public meeting in connection with the first anniversary…)

A public meeting in connection with the first anniversary of the Prayag Psychic Theosophical Society was held at Allahabad at 5 p.m., on Wednesday, the 22nd instant. All the leading European and Native gentlemen of the station were present on the occasion. They evinced a great interest in the Theosophical movement, and many questions about Theosophical matters were asked by the audience, who very much appreciated the remarks of Mr. Sinnett, the Editor of the Pioneer, who occupied the chair. We hope to publish a short account of the meeting in an early issue.

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Correspondence.

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[We do not hold ourselves in any way responsible for the opinions of our correspondents.—Ed., I. M.]

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The Theosophical Society and its Enemies.

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to the editor of the “indian mirror.”

Sir,—Every one who has intelligently watched the progress of the Theosophical movement in this country is bound to admit that a great good has resulted from it to the country, and that to some extent it has succeeded in rolling the tide of denationalization backwards. It is ridiculous to deny that this movement is spreading among the people with wonderful rapidity. We think the Theosophical Society is justly entitled to demand the devotion of all interested in preserving the national life of India. Under these circumstances, it is painful to find some of our countrymen raising their impious hands with parricidal fury to give a secret stab to the noble cause of Theosophy in this country. The position of these men it is not easy to understand. If the Theosophical Society or its leaders are weighed in the balance, and found wanting, why not make the result of the experiment public? For Theosophy affects a large body of our countrymen. But when one finds these soi-disant censors of public movement, shun the light of the day, and under cover of private friendship dig dangerous pitfalls in the way of such a movement of national utility, one can scarcely avoid some amount of suspicion as to the sincerity of their motives. Dante’s advice guarda & parsi—is no doubt a safe thing to follow in matters of this kind; but an apostate from the Society had one such mischief in the chief towns of the Punjab and Behar that it is absolutely impossible to let it pass unnoticed. Thanks to the virtuous indignation of this Brutus who claims to love truth more than he loved the Theosophical Society, but who, strangely enough, when speaking of the Founders of the Society, forgets the duty he owes to her at the last-named place—Bankipore. Many persons, in sympathy with the Society, desisted from joining it because it was under its present leaders!!! Now this, indeed, is too much, and one acquainted with the real facts of the matter can scarcely look with equanimity upon the unabashed host of misrepresentations which is thus drawn up in array before one; more specially when one remembers that the father of this brood is not quite sure that his statement in a recent number of the Hindu Patriot about a brother of his is free from the charge he would fain bring against others; for we know it is false. Unles the ex.-F. T. S. leaves the Society strictly alone, or publicly makes his charges good, some of his former brother—members will find it worth their while to take up the quarrel, and leave him naked indeed. One capable of sending under editorial cover in a laudatory hymn, published in the Hindu Patriot, a flagrant lie in connection with his own brother—a Pundit now in Europe—is well capable of telling like untruths about those he honors with his dislike. I for one give him the lie direct with respect to this false statement (which will be pointed out when necessary) and challenge him to disprove me. I repeat, unless he leaves our Society and its founders alone, his own falsehoods will be publicly exposed by several of his ex-brother members.

Yours, &c.,

Mohini Mohun Chatterji, F. T. S,

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ARYA DARPAN. 15 September 1882.

An Appeal to the Educated Natives.

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India was once the great centre of civilization and education; and its varied sciences, arts, and philosophy, astronomy, pure and mixed mathematics, geodesy, metaphysics, logic, poetry, &c., were taken and sent over to the different countries of Europe and Asia, from which those European countries reached the climax of civilisation and education by culture; but those sciences and arts gradually sunk in the abyss of the most oppressive foreign rule in mediæval India. Through the medium of western civilisation and education, those very sciences and arts are appearing anew and creating a good deal of wonder in modern India.

The astrology of ancient India is the most wonderful of all the existing sciences, although many of its portions have been completely destroyed and lost in mediæval times. The present dilapidated condition of the science and even its relics have of late created a good deal of wonder in the scientific world.

There are people who are quite incredulous in the belief of the science of astrology, although its wonders have of late been revealed in many countries of Europe and America. It is out of sheer madness that such people do not believe in its truth even when many astrological calculations made by Indian astrologers have been corroborated by facts and their truths laid bare before their eyes.

It is a matter of deep regret and humiliation that the modern educated Indians do not take a bit of interest in the recovery and in the cause of the furtherance of the long-lost Aryan sciences, and they are not prone to encourage the veteran Indian Philosophers, who may still be found living in many a corner of the vast Indian empire, for the re-establishment of the bygone fame of the philosophy and the sciences of the ancient Indians; but, on the other hand, they discourage those Indian philosophers by their arch remarks and derision. We, therefore, make an earnest appeal to the masses of the modern educated natives to instil the minds of the veteran Indian philosophers, of different schools of Indian philosophy and sciences who are still found living, scattered over, in different parts of India, with the spirit of encouragement for the furtherance and improvement of the Aryan sciences and philosophy, and for the recovery of the full harvest of fame, which India once had the good luck to gather in. Theos.

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Fund to Enable Mr. Bradlaugh to Fight the Bigots.

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Subscribers to the Fund through the Philosophic Inquirer, Madras: P. Murugesa Mudaliar, 1r. (This gentleman also paid the cost of remittance, 1 rupee, 8 annas); P. Ruthnavelu Mudaliar, 1r.; R. Soobaroya Mudaliar, 1r.; A. Govinda Charlu, 1r.; J. S. Lincoln, 1r.; R. Jagannathiah, 1r.; V. E. Sudarisana Mudaliar, 8a.; P. Tiruvambala Pillay, 8a.; N. M. Doraisawmy Pillay, B.A., 2r.; V. Soobaroya Mudaliar, 1r.; A Friend of Freethought, 2r.; V. R. Gopaulasawmy Naidu, 1r.; G. Sreenevasulu Chetty, 8a.; C. Runga Charlu, B.A., 8a.; K. Seshia Chetty, 8a.; C. Etherajulu Naidu, 8a.; some Friends (12 at 4 annas each), 3r.; A. Anthikasavulu Naidu, 8a.; M. S. A., 1r.; S. N., 8a.; V. A. Rajarathna Mudaliar, 1r.; V. Condasawmy Mudaliar, 5r.; E. S. Sreenevasa Row, B.A., 8a.; A. Kistnasawmy Iyar, B.A., F.T.S., 2r.; T. R. Gopaulakristna Pillay, 1r.; R. Jayaraja Row, B.A., F.T.S., 1r.; N. Parthsarathy Naidu, 1r.; P. Vencataramia Naidu, 1r.; A Madras Master of Arts, 1r.; P. C. C., 8a.; An F. T. S., 1r.; H. S. Olcott (Col.), President Theosophical Society, 10r.; H. P. Blavatsky, Editor Theosophist, 10r.; D. K. Mavalankar, Recording Secretary, Theosophical Society, 5r.; Seven Poor Theists (Theosophists), 10r.; T. Ramanuja Pillay, F.T.S., 2r.; P. Parthsarathy Naidu, and three others, 1r. 2a.—Total, 73 rupees 2 annas.—R. Forder, 35, Alderney Road, London, E.

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THE NATIONAL REFORMER.
SUNDAY, November 12, 1882.

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<Untitled> (The Theosophist for October contains…)

The Theosophist⁵ for October contains an account of the curious movement, part spiritualistic, part heretical, part mystic, now being conducted by Colonel Olcott in the island of Ceylon. We are not quite sure that we ought not to add “part Buddhistic” to the above description. Colonel Olcott and his friends are clearly at war with orthodox Christianity, but it is not so clear whether they mean to remould Vedism, or what they quite mean when declaring their opposition to materialism.

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<Untitled> (A Madras Member of the N. S. S., and a Theosophist…)

A Madras Member of the N. S. S., and a Theosophist.—We have received yours and two other letters, but do not see any utility in opening out a discussion. Having expressed our editorial opinion, it was only fair to insert a reply, which we have done; but as this reply has not in any degree modified our original judgment, no further discussion would be useful. Religionists, whether Theosophists or Trinitarians, are not Secularists. On outside topics of social or political reform, we are pleased when they work with us. On theology there cannot and ought not to be any point of union.

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<Untitled> (H. Fish.—Colonel Olcott has been misinformed…)

H. Fish.—Colonel Olcott has been misinformed. A Secularist can join any such society if he pleases. Mr. Bradlaugh and Mrs. Besant personally consider that belief in “supernatural” phenomena is inconsistent with Secularism, but no such declaration is required for membership. The gentleman spoken of by Colonel Olcott is a Vice-President of the N. S. S., and has most certainly not been expelled because, in the exercise of his discretion, he joined the Theosophical Society.

Editor's notes