< Ancient Theosophy (continued from page 3-131) >
philosophy founded on the sublime neo-platonic and Pythagorean principles, and embodying the vast spiritistic know ledge acquired by years of study among the brahmins of India and Gymnosophists of Egypt, through which he was “enabled to put spirits of impurity to flight, to foretell future events, to discern the secret thoughts of others, to be visible or invisible at will," and evoke the spirits of the dead.
Philostratus, who compiled the account of his extraordinary career by command of the Emperor Septimus, Severus tells us, on good authority, of the prophecy of a pestilence at Ephesus foretold by Apollonius, and of the death of the Emperor Domitian at the moment it occurred. He also narrates the following in his fourth book: —
“A young woman of beautiful person was laid out upon a bier, and was in the act of being conveyed to the tomb. She was followed by a multitude of friends, weeping and lamenting, and among others, by a young man to whom she had been on the point to be married. Apollonius met the procession and commanded those who bore it to set down the bier. He exhorted the proposed bridegroom to dry up his tears. He enquired the name of the deceased, and saluting her accordingly, took hold of her hand, and murmured over her certain mysterious words. At this act the maiden raised himself on her seat, and presently returned home, whole and sound, to the house of her father.”
Among the numerous examples given of the wondrous power of Apollonius is the statement of rendering himself invisible before the whole Roman court and the Emperor Domitian on the occasion of his having been cited before the Emperor, and when he described the proper discrimination which should be made between the varying schools of Theosophy. Of his death, no particulars were ever found, but after his disappearance cities were raised in his honor; and they were not unmerited, for of all the adepts he stands preeminently one of the purest and best.
Truly, the remarks of Godwin on the old leading spiritists apply to Apollonius, for verily he was one of those who exercised their wisdom—
“in its genuine and unadulterated form, at all times applied it to purposes of goodness and benevolence, and that their interference was uniformly the signal of some unequivocal benefit either to mankind in general or to those individuals of mankind who are best entitled to their aid. It was theirs to succor virtue in distress, and to interpose the divine assistance in cases that most loudly and unquestionably call for it.’’
Ancient Theosophy; or Spiritism in the Past
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Editor's notes
- ↑ Ancient Theosophy; or Spiritism in the Past by Sotheran, Charles, Spiritual Scientist