The Deification of the Sons of Moonshine
One would have thought that as much attention as the subject is worth has already been devoted to those red. herrings trailed by Theosophists across the path of Modern. Spiritualists, the Himalayan Brothers. The gigantic assurance given by Theosophists to the public is, that these Brothers form a secret society living in the Himalayahs, and that they, with their colleague, a good woman living in Bombay, are able to control and produce nearly all the phenomena known to Spiritualists. No evidence of weight to that effect is before the world, and the absurdity of the position is enhanced by the circumstance that a hymn in honour of the Himalayan Brothers, recently written by a Theosophist, is already published, and in circulation among Theosophical believers in assertions given through physical mediums. The whole subject, therefore. Is growing too temptingly amusing to be easily let alone.
The hymn is written by Sohrabji J. Padshah, and is printed in all seriousness in The Theosophist of last month. All history reveals the tendency of primitive races to gradually elevate their departed great ones into heroes; as more time elapses, miracles are gradually ascribed to them, until finally the departed man is made into a god, and is worshipped as such. The supposed vast gulf separating the alleged Brothers from the rest of mankind, gives as free play to the imagination as if they had been dead. and buried five hundred years, and how far some of the Theosophists are already on the road to deify them, may be judged from the hymn printed in The Theosophist. It is addressed “To the Himalayan Brothers,” a name, by the bye, which we claim the honour of being the first to give to our mysterious friends, to whom we stand godfather to that extent only. Mr. Sohrabji Padshah opens his sonorous song of praise to the hypothetical Himalayan Brothers thus:-
“Gods of this nether sphere:- |
O’er all things that destroy Peace, Love and Harmony, From us who mortal be,— Knowledge and Hope and Thought By us are dearly bought: And that which is your life but forms our bier.’
The Brothers, it seems, have already been made immortal, as one line in the foregoing verse indicates. The same poet describes man as “writhing on to the fatal end,” but the Brothers 88 having no grave awaiting them:—
“Not thus, ye brothers I oh not so |
The following verses were not printed in The Theosophistt:—
Oh Brothers, take a steamer from Bombay: |
<Untitled> (Obsession)
Obsession:—A legal authority writing from India, puts a question: which others besides himself would like to have satisfactorily answered. He says:— “I have a sister who is suffering from spiritual influences probably, and I would therefore thank you to recommend to me a practical method in Spiritualism which will enable me to me my sister from the thraldom of spirits.” Can any of our readers give the information required?
The Nomenclature of Spiritualism
Mr. C. F. Varley has suggested to us how desirable it is that some step should at last be taken to select by mutual agreement unobjectionable words to designate psychical phenomena and operations connected therewith. Take, for instance, the common misuse of the word “magnetism” by certain Spiritualists, to indicate something which is not magnetism, and hears no pre-eminent relation to it. The healing influence of one person upon another is by them sometimes called “magnetism;” the term “mesmeric influence” is said to be objectionable as applied to the fact, on the ground that the power was not first discovered by Mesmer; perhaps “psychical influence” would do. However, we do not now suggest any particular words or terms, but think that healing mediums would do well to call a meeting on neutral ground, and to invite a few scientific and other persons to meet them, in order to get rid of inaccurate words at present in use in the healing art, and to select others, less objectionable and less prejudicial. They should agree to abide by the decisions of the meeting, as it would be useless for one medium to adopt better language if his brethren and the press did not also recognise the new terms. The advantage would be considerable. Not only does the misuse of the word “magnetism” excite prejudice in the mind of every scientific man who approaches the subject, convincing him that the speakers scarcely know what magnetism is, but if he comes as a patient, the mistaken use of the word establishes a point of contention between him and the operator, likely to weaken the good effects the mesmeric treatment might have given, had their minds been more quiescent and more in rapport. Although healing mediumship and the word “magnetism” have been used by us as illustrations, there is no reason why the whole nomenclature of Spiritualism should not be critically examined and improved. Madame Blavatsky in Isis Unveiled introduced one good word into the movement, namely “psycho-graphy,” and it has been of special utility ever since.
Editor's notes
- ↑ The Deification of the Sons of Moonshine by unknown author, London Spiritualist, No. 474, September 23, 1881, pp. 145-46
- ↑ Obsession by unknown author, London Spiritualist, No. 474, September 23, 1881, pp. 146
- ↑ The Nomenclature of Spiritualism by unknown author, London Spiritualist, No. 475, September 30, 1881, p. 157
Sources
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London Spiritualist, No. 474, September 23, 1881, pp. 145-46
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London Spiritualist, No. 474, September 23, 1881, pp. 146
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London Spiritualist, No. 475, September 30, 1881, p. 157