Alleged Magician at Their Work
The Theosophists allege that certain persons exist who by them are called “adepts,” and who are able to control the intelligences who produce the phenomena witnessed in the presence of physical mediums. Our position has been that we know of no direct evidence from any European but Madame Blavatsky that such is the case, although several trustworthy and critical Europeans have expressed their belief in the same, founded not upon personal observation, but upon the testimony of others. We have recently received the following newspaper report, published in America about the end of January, 1875, in which Colonel Olcott’s testimony is recorded as to the existence and the powers of the alleged magicians. The difference in method between the evidence thus given, and that recorded by Mr. Crookes in relation to which names, places, times, and measurements are given without the inclusion of anything tending to mystify the reader, will be obvious at a glance:—
Col. Henry S. Olcott, President of the Theosophical Society of New York, and author of Peoples from the Other World, etc., lectured at Paine Hall yesterday afternoon and evening to large audiences. His subject in the afternoon was “Human Spirits and Elementaries.” After a brief personal statement concerning the obligation which he was under as a descendant of one of the early Pilgrims to express without fear his honest convictions, however distasteful they might be to others, Col. Olcott proceeded to the discussion of his subject.
The problem which we are trying to solve, he said, has vexed the mind of man from the beginning of time. We cannot run back far enough in the traditions of the pre-historic period to lose sight of the human soul striving to pierce the gloom which intercepts its view of the inner world. For countless centuries the hands of the race have been trying to tear away the veil of Isis and lay bare the secrets of nature which lie beyond its folds.
Guizot, the great Frenchman, says that “Belief in the supernatural is a fact, primitive, natural, universal, and constant in the life and history of the human race. Unbelief in the supernatural begets materialism, emotionalism, sensuality, social convulsions, amid whose storms man again learns to believe and pray.” The Apostle Paul evidently holds the same view, for he says: “If, after the manner of men, I have fought with beasts and Ephesus, what advantageth me if the dead rise not? Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.” It is as natural a craving of the soul to seek for a glimpse of its real home as for the imprisoned bird to beat its breast against the bars of its cage in a vain struggle for liberty. What permanent alliance, then, is there between the soul and the body of man? and what is there in all the collected and digested facts which we call science to intimate that the desires, attractions and affinities or powers of the one should be bounded or limited by the functions and capabilities of the other? What is there in the whole range of human knowledge to warrant any other inference than that the apothegm of Guizot is based upon a profound study of natural law.
There may be within the sound of my voice many who base their faith upon the revelation of the Scriptures. Have such ever considered the meaning of the passages dotting the Old and New Testaments which certify to the ap-<... continues on page 12-23 >
Editor's notes
- ↑ Alleged Magician at Their Work by unknown author, London Spiritualist, No. 489, January 6, 1882, pp. 2-4
Sources
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London Spiritualist, No. 489, January 6, 1882, pp. 2-4