Daily Honolulu press. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1886, 1885-11-11

particularly w tiS attSilpt W iSNiNS tue
old doctrines of the Gnostics with
little admixture of other Oriental Phil
osophics, under the head of 7Heosob-
hism There is large class who never
investigate, or think much on any sub
ject, unless it becomes Catching" and
is talked over, or becomes .'the rage"
in their own narrow circle, such people
often deceive themselves, and imagine
thing new because they have never
happened to hear of it before. Theos-
phism, is to large subject to dis
cuss at length in an article like the
present, and there is no necessity for
doing more than mentioning it in a
general way, as it has been mitten
upon by many Of the ablest writer Of
the past. AS Gnostisim, it was a
bungling mixture of the most beautiful
ideas of Christian spirituality, with
some Of the leading ideas Of the philos-
ophics Of the nations with whom the
early Christians both Jewish and Gen
tile had intercourse. AT present, while
many who profess belief in such doc
trines, have very vague and hazy ideas,
it is doubtless, as Theosophism, sort
Of belief, in direct spiritual know
ledge Of God independent of either
reason or revelation, strongly tinctured
with materialism, as this is the modern
tendency Of everything, whether scien-
tifc, religious, or philosophical. These
ideas would probably have been
suffered to remain dead and buried as
they have been for ages, but for the
fact that they have been dug up by
few persons of highly social position
and considerable reputation for intel
lectual attainments, whether these per-
sons were really most desirous for truth,
or only for notoriety, is question
that the future can best determine.
Truth kills, rather than developes fana-
ticism, which is only the exhibition of
human weakness and error, even when
mixed with truth in the promulgation
Of the greatest scientific, moral and re-
ligious facts the world has known.
Amy theory which depends on indi-
vidual experience independant of rea-
son, or revelation, opens the door for
such wide speculation, and SO many
and varied human imaginations. that it
may easily became the mother of a
large brod Of degenerate and fanatlcal
children. 1t is very humane to med.
die, from childhood up we can leave
nothing alone, and constantly we are
trying 70 improve even upon perfection
itself There is no great truth which
we do not drag through maze of
bewildering speculation. There is no
poem SO perfect that humanity and a
ctitic will not attempt parody, and no
chord SO sweet that we do not ring
changes upon it, until its original in
tention is lost, and its sweetness has
vanished and became only faint re-
membrance, Such things grow out of
restlessness and desire for change
which is seen in intellectually as well
as IN material and social affairs. The
class most notable in this respect are
those who often fail to appreciate
the beautiful in truths often repeated or
in familiar surroundings. Fanatical be-
lief in both science and religion, and all
nonstrosities accepted in the name of
art and "The Beautiful" have their
birth in this same love of changed no.
toriety, as often as in sincere desire
for truth. Some other time perhaps l
can say more on this subject in connec-
ton with Modern Artistic Deyelope-
ment and Modern Architecture. Social
ly, things are still little subdued, and
promise to continue SO useless we have
good rains and there is more activity
in business circles. The air is soft and
balmy and feels as though the rains
we're surely coming, but so far the win
ter storms have not arrived. About
the only startling event lately was the
recent attempt of three of the most
desperate of the convicts to escape from
San Quintin The scheme was cum
ningly planned but was fortunately a
failure. The attempt was made in
one of the hospital wards on the third
story, and they intended by cutting
through the wall, lowering themselves
down with rope, and killing the guard,
to escape by sealing the outer wall
They succeeded in removing all but
the last course Of brick, when they were
discovered and placed in the dungeon.
often wonder when Crime forces its
hideous visage upon the sight of the
public, when we shall be wise enough
to realize that constant moral and physi-
cal culture must have large part TO
i r