Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-18

TAIroNs AND THE HUMAN SOUL
Such notions prevail concerning theosophy
that it is not at all wonderful if the man who
gave a pleasant welcome to a STAR reporter
who called at his residence on street few
evenings ago, has been invested in popular
gossip with mantle of mystery. This was
DR.. Elliott Coues. the leader of what is known
as the theosophical movement in this country,
a man of good height, 1.-THE, well-knit figure
and large head with strong features, a mass
Of blonde hair and flowing beard of the Saxon
type.
His surroundings at home are of modest ele-
gance, such as one would expect to find in the
house of student and scientist, who had the
means to crafty his tastes. DIR. Coues con-
Quoted the reporter to his library, and smiled
when he learned that the reporter had come to
talk about theosophy.
This thing is all abroad" said DIR. Coues as
he settled himself in an easy chair and leisurely
rolled cigarette. Beneath the surface there
is movement the strength of which | am in a
position to feel and measure You can meet on
the streets of Washington to-day a thousand
people who are members of the secret gnostic
theosophical society" The doctor paused to
lgnt his cigarette, and, perhaps, to give the
reporter chance to get over the surprise
which he manifested at this statement
The INTEREST IN THE MOVEMENT.
'There is a growing interest in this matter
the doctor went on, IAN interest manifesto in
the constant inquiries made for information.
At social gatherings you will catch people talk
ing of theosophy. People who have heard
little Of 1T want to know what it is; people who
have learned something want to learn more.
You will find it everywhere barely below the
surface. This psychic movement is natural
turning toward something that promises. to
explain facts and experiences in every MINIS
life which his preacher and the orthodox or
surface religion, throw no light upon. Theos-
ophy, however, is not religion. 1t is philos-
ophy-the philosophy of spiritualism.
HOW HE BEGAN.
"Ten years ago." said DIR. Coues, II began to
seriously inquire into the truth of these mat
tiers. / came to the inquiry with twenty-five
years of scientific work and training behind
me. 1t was matter of intellectual integrity
with me and a duty that felt owed to science,
as well as TO my own spiritual nature. So
called phenomena demanded investigation.
travelling to Europe. sought information in
England, where men of reputation as scien-
lists had long conducted psychical research.
l applied to magnetiZers and hypnotiZers
in France and in Germany consulted men who
had given serious study to questions relating
to these phenomena, including number of
the leading psychical researchers, like Baron
DuPrel for example. As a result found that
there was body of fact, of phenomena. that
In any honest spirit of inquiry could not be
ignored. Returning home 1 began to make
researches for myself, pursuing inquiries with
as much caution. sitting testimony with the
same care that had been accustomed to employ
for years in the work which had gained for me a
recognized position as biologist and natural
ist. There were truths which | brought for
ward and put in scientific boots and breeches.
SO to speak-truths which had been in the
keeping, for the most part of cranks and per-
sons who did not understand them and had
never applied the test of scientific inquiry to
them. As scientist of some reputation, had
the ear Of the public and gained a hear
ing for many statements which would
have fallen UNDECIDED from unknown
lips, however true and important they
might have been. There is also much in modes
of expression or ways Of putting things which
sometimes make all the difference of accept
ance or rejection. l have a certain faculty of
expression which sometimes tells a person what
he really believes better than he can say it him
elf A large proportion of the so-called
spiritual Recommendation of spirits at
dollar ahead-are the grossest frauds and the
stupidest shams. But there are manifesto
tons, and one who seeks can have experiences
which cannot be explained by any assumption
OF fraud. These ordinary manifestations, the
so-called materialiZations in cases where no
fraud is possible, are almost never spiritual
manifestations in the sense of being produced
this life.''
CONDENSED ASTRAL FLUID.
The reporter spoke of the theory that
such manifestations might be produced by an
aura surrounding the medium and persons in
the seance room.
THAT is it," said DIR. Coues. ''These forms
are produced by what may call the condensa-
ton of astral fluid, which by this process be-
comes palpaple and visible for brief time.
Theosophy, however, does offer proof Of the
life hereafter, but this proof does not lie in the
ordinary spiritual phenomena. l have had
other evidences Of, and have proved in other
ways, the existence of the soul and its sur
vival OF the dissolution of the body, as a con-
sclous individual entity, capable of sustaining
the functions of thinking, feeling, remember
ing, and willing on a higher plane, just as the
physical body does on the material plane"
FAITH AND FACT.
"Then, if you can prove that, why do not
| clergymen cooperate with you?" asked The
STAR reporter.
DR.. Coues' face lighted up with smile.
"Ah," he said, ''that is the very point The
moment you prove the case the parsons occu-
patton is gone. 1t passes from a question of
faith to matter of fact. When you prove a
creed to be true you destroy it for all priestly
purposes. The truths that religion that the
parson asks you to accept on faith then become
matters OF fact, capable of proof, and the par
son has to give way to the scientist. In the
old days the Persian magus or the Greek HERO
plant combined the two-the scientist and the
parson-in one person. but we have no men big
enough for that to-day. When thing becomes
accurately known it is no longer a religion.
1t Is science. Theosophy is not religion; it
Is philosophy with science that offers evil
dence of things unseen. l cannot sit and listen
with patience to who does not know
whether his liver is on the right or left side of
his body, who knows nothing of the structure
of his own body, expound literally text from
| the Bible, to which some of the greatest minds
of the world have given its proper esoteric in
depreciation. The old Jewish Qabbalah, and
the Interpretation given the New Testament by
the gnostcs during the first three hundred
years of the Christian era before Constantine
| established his official church, give rational
readings of these texts and records For in
stance, take the story of Jonah and the whale,
| which is believed in and repeated day after
day as literal record of an actual
| conference.-the swallowing Of man
by the whale. Now the record. as read
by a Qabbalist is that Jonah went on q
missionary expedition to Nineveh. The Nine
vites worshiped Dagon, the fish god. Jonah
was swallowed up by the great fish, or the fish
god, and thrown up again. That is, the Nine
vites would not accept mis- teachings and put
him out. All of the stories in the Old Tesla
ment are explcable by Qabbalistic interpreta-
ton in a similar way, the written garment OF
the Mosaic law being very different thing from
the spirituality which it embodied.
THE HUXLEY LIMIT OF THE UNKNowABLE.
mo church has monopoly Of truth, nor in
deed, Of anything but the errors peculiar to it
| self. There is a point where all religions