Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-05-05

reach the conclusion that under the re.
Gently secuted names of Magic, Sorcery,
Alchemy, some real and important science
had been concealed but like the lost
word of the Freemasons, which they have
been seeking in vain ever since the murder
of Hiram Abiff, the key to this occult
knowledge had disappeared, at least from
the Western World.
1t was at this juncture that the Theo..
sophical Society was organized at New
York. In the year 1875 Russian lady.
Madame Blavatsky, of high birth and
exalted station in her own country but
having long since resigned all social posi-.
ton and qualifications for the pursuit of
Truth, took up her residence in the
United States. This lady brought to her
task-which, stated succinctly, was the
reunion of Eastern and Western Science,
and the advancement of human knowledge
of the most vital ind-peculiar and unique
qualifications. She had spent years of her
life at the very fountain-head of the occult
wisdom of the Orient. She had sat at the
foot of those Adopts of whom, and of
whose powers, the West has heard so
much, but without even fully realizing the
fact of their existence. She was familiar
with recondite truths. She possessed an
energetic and active temperament. And
she had the inestimable advantage of
knowing whittier she was tending, and of
understanding fully that grammar of
Occultism the mere Alphabet of which had
SO bewildered the brightest minds of the
Occident.
Madame Bavatsky chose for her most
intimate associate and colleague in the
great work before her, Colonel W. S. Vi.
colt, an American who had been one OF
Secretary Stanton's trusted lieutenants
during the rebellion, who had been edu-
Gated for the bar, and who for several years
had been struggling, with characteristic
perseverance, to force from Nature the
key to her most obscure principles. Col.
Olcott had been Spiritualist. The phe-
nomena had forced conviction upon him.
But he was not the man to rest content
with anything short of a satisfactory solu-
ton, and the selection of him as President
and Founder of the Theosophical Society
has proved fortunate, or, to speak more ac-
curately, wise.
The Theosophical Society was estab-
lished by earnest inquirers after truth.
Its purpose was to trace back to their
fountain.head the currents of occult sci.
ence which had, ages previously, diverged
SO broadly, and which had during so long
period been pursuing such different di.
rections at the East and at the West. The
fundamental principles of the Society were
simple. 1t was not hostile to religion.
On the contrary it sought to know and
profit by whatever truths might be found
in all religions. But it started without
dogmas and without embarrassing limita-
tions. It was to be devoted to the study
of Occultism, especially the Occultism of
Asia. This involved the investigation of
the Oriental religions and sacred books,
and the Oriental systems of philosophy.
Thus the calculation of the Aryan and
Greek Mysteries, the elimination of long
buried reconcile truths, the restoration of
that ancient knowledge which gave to its
possessors wonderful power over Nature,
and, as corollaries of these pursuits, the
solution of the momentous problem OF
Mans hereafter and ultimate des-
tiny-are embraced in the scheme
of the Theosophical Society. And if, as
the founders believed, there existed in
the Orient band of Adopts who had
mastered all arcane knowledge, and had
attained to very high degree of GER
tainsy respecting supramundane condi.
tions, it seemed possible, indeed even
probable, that the great enigma of the
universe was to be solved eventually by
the right and patient pursuit of these in
quiries. The Theosophists at the outset,
however, took issue with the Spiritualists.
Spiritualism, it is true, formed one of the
objects of Theosophical research, but the
conclusions of Spiritua lism were not &C.
cepted by the new association. The pri.
mary point of difference between them is
the cause of the so.called spiritualistic
manifestations. The Spiritualists assume
that all the phenomena of the circles are
produced by disembodied human spirits.
The Theosephists do not admit this as
sumption. They believe that the phenom-
ena may be produced by more than one
agency. In fact it may be said that they
only accept the facts of Spiritualism, re.
jecting the doctrines largely.
The Theosophical Society made rapid
Roadway. Aided by the New York press,
which in half skeptical, half encouraging
way, recorded it's progress and discussed
IFS aims, il attracted from the first many
thoughtful and inquiring minds which
WCI0 oAccobioACo DobA Wibu OCiChSO ofAo
Theology, and which welcomed what
seemed promising endeavor to regain lost
clues to vital truths. In the course of the
next two years the Society grew apaee. 1t
sent its tap-roots out, on the one side into
Asia, on the other side into Europe. It's
list of members embraced many world
known names names renowned in the
annals of scientific research, as well as in
art, literature, medicine, law, politics,
commerce and diplomacy.
In 1877 an important step was taken.
This was the publication, in New York, of
most remarkable work by Madame Bla-
vatsky, entitled Isis Unveiled" The
title was not felicitous. In fact it was
misleading, inasmuch as the Veil of Isis
certainly was rot removed by the gifted