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| source title = | | source title = London Spiritualist | ||
| source details = | | source details = No. 285, February 8, 1878, p. 72 | ||
| publication date = | | publication date = 1878-02-08 | ||
| original date = | | original date = | ||
| notes = Some lost words and the ending were recovered by HPB. | | notes = Some lost words and the ending were recovered by HPB. | ||
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}} | }} | ||
... | {{Style S-Small capitals|Some}} time ago the news reached England that a Theosophical Society had been formed in New York, some of whose members, by means of magical arts, could exercise sway over spirits, human and sub-human. Our good friend, Colonel Olcott, in his opening address as president of the society, laid much stress by the wonder-working powers of a Mr. Felt, who by the exercise of occult knowledge would teach the members how, in true old magical fashion, to raise elementary spirits by incantations and the burning of odoriferous compounds. Time rolled on, but silence reigned as to the success of the efforts of Mr. Felt, who, indeed, seems to have dropped out of existence, so far as the Theosophical Society is concerned. Next came the news that the Theosophical Society was to be resolved into a secret organisation, which step, moreover, precluded the obtaining of any information as to the doings of Mr. Felt. More recently, without any appeal to the results of new and verifiable observations, Colonel Olcott favoured the readers of these pages with an interesting and elaborate series of speculations as to the nature of spirits, and their relation to the material world. | ||
... {{Style S-HPB SB. HPB note|in their giving us their facts first and their conclusions afterwards, instead of reversing the process, if indeed they are able to copmlete a reversal.}} | Whether the members of the Theosophical Society in America number more than fifty, whether they agree among themselves, and whether the ideas put forth by Colonel Olcott were formally endorsed by more than two of the members before publication, we do not know. But a coherent and well-thought-out system has been put forward, leaving, for the consideration of those who examine it, the vital question—“Is it true?” In the course of recent discussions on the matter, expressions have been used to the effect that these Occultist ideas will cause “divisions among Spiritualists,” “the formation of two schools,” and soon. English Spiritualists are not so foolish; but while united on the solid basis of proved facts, are quite content to good-temperedly discuss speculations of all kinds. So we request Colonel Olcott, now that he has given English readers the outline of the system he advocates, to produce his facts in support of a few of the more vital points thereof, and thus put inquirers in the way of verifying them for themselves. The scientific method of proving a new truth is to adduce an array of facts which can be verified, and afterwards to draw only those conclusions which the facts necessitate, The theological method is to launch a speculation first, and to leave its adherents either to find facts to fit it if they can, or to do without them altogether. After the large amount of talk which has taken place about Occultism, it is high time that the facts were forthcoming. | ||
Colonel Olcott, for instance, alleges that “elementaries” exist and manifest at ''seances. ''He defines them to be “impure, disembodied, perishable human souls.” He has launched the assertion; but where is the evidence of the perishability of any portion of each being so communicating? He offers none. By the positive method, he would be required to give—say, a dozen indisputable and verifiable facts, which admit of no other conclusion but that the alleged perishability is unquestionable. Can we not have this point briefly cleared up by him first, and if no evidence exists to demonstrate it at present, can he select any other cardinal doctrine of Occultism which he is prepared to demonstrate by facts, instead of to promulgate by assertions? | |||
Madame Blavatsky, in her interesting and valuable writings, tells us much about adepts having power to leave their own bodies, and to obtain information by the visits of their spirits to distant persons in distant places. May we ask whether her well-known Occultist friends in London now go through the labour of writing long letters to her, or whether time and trouble to all concerned are avoided, by her “astral spirit” visiting them in London, and obtaining the information face to face? If not, why not? And if not, has her spirit ever, on any single occasion, obtained any information in long and complete detail, from any friend of hers in London? If not, do adept ship and magical powers “work” outside the realm of words? | |||
Our Transatlantic friends have given to their privileged readers some interesting speculations, the truth or error of which observers may in the future be on the alert to verify or cast aside; but in future there would be much economy {{Style S-HPB SB. HPB note|in their giving us their facts first and their conclusions afterwards, instead of reversing the process, if indeed they are able to copmlete a reversal.}} | |||
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<gallery widths=300px heights=300px> | |||
london_spiritualist_n.285_1878-02-08.pdf|page=14|London Spiritualist, No. 285, February 8, 1878, p. 72 | |||
</gallery> | |||