The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-10
NJ ME-. BLAVATSKY.
The Author Of Isis Unveiled Pre-
pairing To Go To India
AUCTION SALE OF CURIOS
What Theosophist Relates About the
Society in New York.

red flag waving yesterday in the rain the door
of No. 300 West Forty seventh street. ths visible
token OF the breaking up of one of the best known
and of the remarkable places social resort
IN New York. The household goods OF Nine. II. r.
Blavatsky sold at auction. and the Lamasene Of
the Philosophical Society to-day is more. To .
HERALD reporter one of the members of this remark
able society related the story of its organization in
this city about follows.-
Mime. Bavatsky. the author of ''Iss Unveiled" is
lady OF Russian BIRTH who has been resident of New
York for over five years Her life has been passed
mostly in Eastern countries and she ia OF the
few Europeans of liberal education who have become
thoroughly Oriental not only in tastes and manners
but in religion At the time of her coming America
she was appointed by the Imperial University OF st.
Petersburg commissioner to investigate Spiritual
ism. which subject had IT that time attracted great
notice in Russia Accepting the appointment, she
at once thrown in contact with nearly all the
more prominent Sprituaists in the country MS well
az the believers in what ordinary people term the
sup rnatural. From this circumstance il hap
pcnei that her house for two years past. has
been the centre of movement in modern thought
which has attracted attention all the world The
of trckstcrs who under the Of Spiritual
ism, We're imposing the credulous and making .
pscuGo-fame by clumsy charatanrv found in her
who had studied Eastern psychology together
with Eastern religion and who could by no means be
imposed upon. To the investigators of spritualsm
she became known who, accepting many of the
phenomena genuine. explained them by stin
more surprising philosophy than that of the Spirit
ualists themselves.
THE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
As time went by and the lady became known to
many people of the first culture it was evident thai
she was in America for purpose. One and another
Wi
her that there truth in what she maintained,
Then the surprising feature of her soiourn in this
country made manifest. Practically under her
leadership society was formed embracing people
who actually believed in magic, and some Of whom
professcd to have learned its principles. The
story OF the Roscrucians told in New York.
The society of course secret but enough Of
its objects and beliefs made public to excite the
bitter opposition of many different classes and the
ridiculc, bitter or good natured. of many others.
While perhaps the most of those who read of the
Philosophical Society. laughed at it convention Of
lunatics there were many Others, men of science
well as men OF letters who did not disdain contro-
ycrsy with Thcosophsts and who found that whether
lunatics or not. they certainly not fools.
Thenner circle Of the society was always yelled in
mystery. The Theosophists themselves did not
know which of their number among the
initiated After the first few months of it's existence
the society had stated meetings. Many of the
original members dropped away, and those who
Joined afterward had always the privilege Of keeping
their brother members knowing it,
CREEDs ABJURED.
So curious an association would necessarily have
object 1t was rs the name OF the society itself
implies, religious motive, an irreligious one.
the reader to intcrprett Bitterly in opposition
the plan. for it acknowledges crcedis nearly
in accord with the Buddhist belief than with any
other known religion of the present age The society
kept tngether by correspondence and by the So
cial influence OF Nine. Blavaskys Salon.
Taking a French HAT at Eighth avenue and Forty
seventh street she furnished 1t in the most curious
manner and crowded every room with strange
trophies of travel. Oddities of all kinds, from
Samese idols to Partisan toys filled her parlor, while
stuffed beasts and tropical leaves and grasses adorned
| the corners. The house always open to her
friends and their friends. and it was Liberty Hail.
| freedom that became license marked the talk
and religious and philosophical controversy was al.
eli parts Of the world and some Of the best known
citizens of New York were frequent visitors.
IN THE ..LAMAsERy'
Isis Unveiled the book published year aQo.
which became well known an attack on dognatio
religion and modern science. was the means OF at.
was named the Lamasery by OF the society,
after the Thibean monasteries and colleges Not only
the peculiar people who pass their lives apparently
in studying oddness. but recognized scholars were
to be found among her guests. DR.. John A. Weisse.
are among her warmest friends. and the Princess
Ra4kovtz tlow the wife of New York journalis and
the Countess Paschkof have been among her honored
guests. General Doubleday. of the United States
Army; John l.. O'Suivan. the ex- Minister to Portu-
gal and his wife, met there with Methodist bishops.
Catholic priests artists actors infdel writer's jour.
nalists. spirtualists. ply scians, Freemasons aud
Colonel Chaille Long the African explorer Is .
friend OF Nine Blavatskys uncle General Faydcyef
tho Russian soldier and dplomatst and favoritc Of
the Grand Duke Alexander of Russia and has been
frequent visitor at the Lamasery. Masons OF the
highest degree there often for the lady, with
her other attainncnts. numbers knowledge of Ma
sorry not exccllcd by many grand masters and she
possesses diploma from England, sent by John
Yaker of the highest degree of the rite of Memphis
REMARKABLE CHARACTER.
The social nature of the evenings spent in the
little psrlor great element of the IN IL
be success of the movement, for among those who
went to the woman there many who fell
under the spell of her eloqucnce and became for the
time vt least. theosophists. The society itself
has achieved q worldwide notoriety. English,
| French, German, Turkish, Hindoo aud Russian
papers abound in illusions to II. aud while
branch societies have been established all over the
world coalition has been formed between the Theo-
sophcal Society aud the Arya Samsj of India which
IL the great reform Vcdic Society. Nine. Blavatsky
avows her connection with secret societies in the
East and has said for long time that she
should have done what she came to America to do
she would return to India. This time. she says.
has arrived, and she il making her arrangements to
depart at no distant day.
Therefore IL that yesterday the auctioneers flag
waved ut her door and the curios not already disposed
of at private sale sold to the highest bidder.
The sale itself WINS nnnteresting the weather
bad and few buyers present Little money was
realized in comparison to the value of the articles
sold but the lazy herself she sat In an inner room
and smoked cigarette declared she glad IL was
whether the Theosophical Society will survive the
of the lady to the heathen whom she prefora
tn Christians remains be seen.