The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-01
THE THEOSOPHISTS.
A GREAT HINDU REVIpAL.
Nioncurc ID. Comway's visit 20 she Abode OF
an. oceuts Philosophers ne Madras.

NJ. ID. Conway writes from Adyar (Mad
rasl under date OF January LIST, to the Sat
Francisco Chronicle: And what or where
Is AdvarY IL Is the centre of the new Gull
called tbeosophy. whose believers see in II
the fuIfilment OF vast visions aud prophe.
cies while unbelievers find repetition oi
the Nous frauds which have attended the
history OF religious enthusiasm in all time
one hears stories OF able men--European
as well as Hindu-who have abandoned
fair prospects, left family and friends,
10 devote themselves 10 this new move
ment One hears rumors OF new py-
thones and thaumaturgist, by whom are
fulfilled old fables, so that the Tree so iong
deemed neurological, which yields Whit
ever Is asked of it-rubies or rupees ih-
ciuded--is actually at Adyar. When
smiled at these runners my convinced
friends in Australia said: ''Only 90 and
investigate the matter for yourself Ana
so. hearing n letter from one OF them,
made nv way from the revered footprint
Of the doubling disciple at 1t. Thomas
mount 10 this shrine OF the undoubting.
Ash approached Adyer bridge i stopped
TO INQUIRE for the residence Of the "Coiin-
tess Blayatsky," that beng the name on my
letter OF Introduction. Every native on
the roadside knew the place, and a girl
trotted beside the carriage TO make sure OF
nv entering the right gate. On il was writ
ten Headquarters OF the TheoSophcal
Society,""
Just inside the gate was the dilapidated
carcass OF a big blue pasteboard elephant,
one OF two, as afterward learned. which
some Madras gentlemen had set up at the
gate on the occasion of a recent theos0-
phist anniversary. The csrriage-road
winds through large and leafy park up
to handsome mansion. The spacious
yeranda displayed every elegance, but II
was noccupied. For time my coolies
yainly tried TO find some one about the place,
and was conscious OF a half hope that no
one might be at home. / had promised Seve-
raj friends in CeylOn interested IN spirit
uaIism and its dark-compIeXiOned sister,
tbeosopby, that | would make this call
and heed whatever fact or truth might be
offered. but had no faith that anything lay
for me in occultsm," after thirty years
observation OF similar phenomena" |
was afraid OF being out OF place among en-
tbusiasts of "a movement | believed super
stitious. but at The same time hdd already
recognized theOsophy as an important con-
Temporary phenomenon in India. Buddhist
Ceyion was ablsze with il. the The0SOphi-
cal Society al Colombo being united with
the Freethlnking Association OF the same
place.
NV hesitation between fear OF ObtrudiEg
on those whose belief | was little likely TO
share and the feeling that ought TO know
whatever they could show or tell me. was
ended by the appearance OF a gracious
Young Babu, who came TO bring me the
Countess Blayatsky's welcome and TO say
she would presently receive me. Next, 4
youth of more remarkable appearance. deli
cate and almost maldeniy, advanced. Dut
when, in response TO his greeting, offered
nv hand. he said. gently, II cannot shake
hands with YOU" | afterward learned
that this youth is what his mystical iaith
terms "a lay Chela -; that he already pos
sesses the power OF appearing at distance
i'm his astral body, and that he fears to
shake hands lest his magnetism, or what
ever his occult virtue is termed, depart.
Colonel Olcott was absent, rounding IN
some distant place a new branch OF the
society, OF which he is president. The
countess was cordial. and urged my re-
manning until the morning. ] agreed 10
remain during The rest of the evening. and
consequently was with her and her CO.
workers for near six hours.
Besides the two mentioned, other Indian
gentlemen were present, among them MI.
Novendranauth. ST., known 10 ne by rep
utation as editor of the indian Mirror.
America was represented i'll the company
OF DIR. Hartmann, Of Colorado. Another
person present was W. T. Brown, Of Ghs-
Cow, a Young man OF education anu pleas
ant manners, who told me some OF his mar
yellous experiences. Indeed, they all told
me their mary ell0us experiences, but when
| limited that would like to carry away
some little marvel Of my own experience,
the reply unpleasantly recalled vain al
tempts made these many years to witness
spiritualistic phenomenon. was once
more put off with narratives of what had
occurred before | came and predictions
of what might occur if | should come
again IN the great ,'by and by" y cabi-
net shrine was pointed out. in which let
tiers were deposited and swift answers re-
ceved from the wonderful mahatmas far
way in the Himalayas; but when | pro-
posed 10 write a note | was told that only
q few DAYS before the mahatmas had for
hidden any further cabinet correspondence.
Just nv luck The Countess Blayatsky.
as have since learned. had been forewarn-
ed OF my visit by one OF her friends In
sydney, and il seems little unreasonable
that the mahatmas, with whom she is in
daily communication, should have terml-
mated their cabinet miracles Just when one
was coming who needed them more than
the convinced already. TO whom, appa-
rentiy, the signs were limited.
The theosophists said that probably,
even II an occult phenomenon occurred,
would have suspected II OF being trick,
but in this they were mistaken. Ii a
mahatma, or the countess, or anybody
else, can answer note | can write, and
show that they under stand the gatter to
which 1t should refer, | will believe i'm
theosopby. Though | was not shown any
evidence Of occult phenomena beyond the
familiar testimony which would equally
confirm the miracles OF Romanism (and they
are none the less miracles because the the
osephists say they are not miraculous)
i was not TO go away without
experiences OF a startling kind. | was
invited TO see the cabinet shrine.
II was tastefully. not 10 say estheti-
cally, decorated, and when the doors were
opened richlv-wrought metal work was
dIsplayed. In the midst sat small figure
of Buddha, and on each side was the portrait
OF a mahatma In frames about seven inches
high, done. rs l was given 10 understand,
by some "occult" process. These faces
were not without a certain beauty, but.
had not been told they were actual men.
should say they are ideals on their way
to eonventionalization, like the face OF
Buddhs. One Of the two is the famous
kootoomi. or Khothume (as | saw /; writ
ten on document in the house,. lie
holds praying-machine In his hand.
The burning question In certain circles
is: Does Khothnme really eXisty Theoso-
phists declare that Kbothurhe is the de-
scendant Of Raiput kings, chief successor
CT the most venerable rishis. or rahats.
heir OF their power over nature able to
render himself invisible and TO visit inan