Wichita eagle., 1888-04-26
SOME QUEER BELIEFS.
STARTLING THOUGHT SETTLING BE-
MEATH A PRACTICAL SURFACE.

Theosophy, the Re-embodiment Theory
and Other Strange Ideas Now in Vogue
in the Metropolis-Christian Scientists.
The VIII Power People.
Curious beliefs abound in this city just
how. The big, busy, commercial part OF
New York would be completely taken off its
feet did it know of the startling thought that
is seething underneath an apparently practi-
cal surface. One must be little touched
with some of the extraordinary isms ones
self to be able to learn about all the others,
for the people who are up to the neck in
mysteries and mysticisms DO not go around
talking about their works or their faith to
unbeliovers. That phase of conduct belongs
to vulgar wonder mongerS, who tinker at
what, in the vernacular of the Investigators,
are called physical manifestations" On the
contrary, secrecy is not only necessary to ad-
vanceTnent in occult science, but it is impress
sive as well. The man who is just entering
the doors of occult learning is deeply i'm
pressed by the air of mystery and secrecy
which is assumed b q the other fellow who
has trOdden the innermost receSSeS OF the
temple.
The men and women who fairly rees with
knowledge of the unknown are not found
among the common people. They are not Of
the clammy and long haired variety so rife
in New York years ago, and who became
known over the whole country as having to
do with tables and spirits. No, indeed.
They tread Administer carpets; some OF them
are clad in fine raiment, others in plain
attire, but all train in what are considered
the intellectual rank. Some Of them ere
perched ON judicial benches; some are officers
of library or educational associations; some
are writers; some are even scientists, al
though science and the supernatural are sup
posed to be mortal enemies.
At the mention Of theosophy everybody
quite naturally thinks of Mime. BlaYatsky,
author and founder of this phase of belief,
and presumably lone OF the greatest and
most successful iInpostors of all times"
Thirteen years ago she founded the Theo-
sophical society here. Its headquarters were
afterward transferred to India, and even
from that remote point this remarkable
woman spread her new religion all over this
country and Europe, and by this means de-
rived a handsome income, since each now
member must send handsome initiation fee
before he could receive his certificate OF
membership from Madras, and if he did not
receive his certificate he had not ''registered,"
as they call it, and could not receive the
ministrations of ''the brotherhood" other
wise Mahatrnas, tabled beings who had mas
tered the secrets of life and time and could
live 500 years as easily as they could live a
day.
These weird and wonderful brothers are be-
lieved in by various theosophists OF this city
even unto this day. There are pictures of
two of them in the possession of mighty be-
hevers They are regarded as more sacred
than Life itself, and are kept secure from pro-
fane and skeptical eyes under formidable
locks. The favored ones who have seen them
report them as representing dark skinned,
long haired Hindoos, thin and emaciated
to consumptions extreme point. An unde-
vout or untaught spectator ventured to re-
mark that he saw no good IN a wisdom which
did not enable them to keep more flesh on
their bones. He was reproved, and told that
to Mahatmas ''the flesh prodteth nothing
that in fact they preferred, for the most part,
to go about in astral bodies, leaving their old,
earthly flesh and bones lying around inani-
mate III caves anu lnOuAIaiIAs Aoi A4onIhS az q
time.
There are two or three persons here who
claim to have helped the late Bulwer do some
wonder working, such as is described IN
''Zanoni,n the Strange Story and The
Coming Race" These wiseacres assert that
Bulwer believed the things he described and
tampered with demons. As he Is dead and
cannot defend himself their story goes uncon-
tradicted. All grosser forms Of communi-
eating with supernatural beings have given
place TO higher orders of the work.
The reincarnationists, or believers in nu-
merouS re-embodiments of the soul, are per-
haps the most amusing and least dangerous
of these mystic cranks In all seriousness
they trace themselves back to great eras and
powerful figures Of history, and actually be
Eeve the curious stuff they talk. Tne re-er-
bodiment theory fosters the natural egotism