Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-17
BLAvATsKY AND DIR. COUEs.
The Faithful Followers OF the Russian
Defend Her from Criticism,

MEETING AT WHICH THE HEAD OF THE
oSosrIc soorKrr WAS LIKESEp TO A BAr-Ax
xrToRr TO SUPPRESS TIE REBELLION AGAINST
MME. BLAvATsKY's AUTHORITY.
1t was not the Senator from Delaware, but
another Mr.. Anthony Higgins. that called the
meeting at Grand Army hall to order last
evening. This Mr.. Anthony Higgins was
slender, with long and lanky gray hair that
fell down upon his shoulders. He was attired
in solemn black and had deep, solemn voice.
The audience he addressed was gathered in
response to q published call, stating that at
this meeting correct information as to what
theosophy is and what il is not would be given in
discourses by Mr.. VIM. Q. Judge of New York,
general secretary Of the American section Of
the Theosophical society, and Mr.. Archibald
keightley, of London, general secretary Of the
English section. There were about a
hundred present, including many women
The two general secretaries, it appeared from
their remarks, came here as the representatives
OF the Blavatsky theosophists for the purpose
OF accommodating DIR. Coues from the order.
There has been a somewhat lively controversy
going on in the journals devoted to the discus
sion of theosophy and kindred topics Dr.
Madame Blavatsky's intentions. He referred
to her
MYSTERIOUS BROTHERHOOD
in the wilds of Thibet, the adopts, seers, or
mahatinas who are represented as having at
tanned mastery of immaterial forces, as fanciful
creations of the Blavatsky brain, and accused
her OF hocus-pocus. DR.. Coues is president
Of the Gnostic Theosophical society of this
city, and by his position a scientist has
gained, perhaps, more notice as theosophist
than any other man. His rebellion against
the rule OF Madame Blavatsky has of course
attracted attention. One result has been the
formation here of a Blavatsky society, of which
Mr.. Higgins is president. movement is on
foot, it is stated, to form among theosophists
an esoteric branch-a higher degree in the
order-whose members will be bound to obedi-
ence to the head Of the order.
MIR. Higgins, In his opening remarks, made
no mention Of DR.. Coues' name. but various
remarks about "science on stills" "a scientific
phantom, and "a peacock with a scientific
feather in his cap" were generally understood
to have reference to DR.. Coues.
MADAME BLAvArsKY's LIFE.
He introduced Mr.. Keightley, who said he
could best answer the ISLANDERS leveled against
Madame Blavatsky by giving some account of
her daily life in London where she has resided
for the last two years and half. Mr.. Height
ley said she rose at or in the morning went
straight to her writing table and spent the
whole day at her writing, resting only at 2
evenings she gave to friends who called on
her. She worked at her writing, he said, from
twelve to fourteen hours day. She rarely
went out of her house, as she was afflicted with
a mortal disease, and she could not suffer a
chill without serious results. Mr.. Keightley
spoke at some length on theosophy, explain
ing the doctrines of Karma and reincarnation.
MR.. JUDGES REMARKS.
Mr.. Judge devoted himself to some extent to
DR.. Coues, whom he mentioned by name. He
ikened Dr. Coues to bat that had spread out
its wings 80 as to becloud and darken the minds
Of the people of Washington on the subject Of
theosophy. He pronounced absurd the
statement attributed to DIR. Coues that one
might meet thousand members of the secret
Gnostic Theosophical society in the streets of
Washington. He denied that the Theosophical
society was Madame Blavatsky. He declared
that its only purpose was the propagation of
truth and the promotion of universal brother
hood. Madame Blsvatsky, he said, had gained
no power other than that which was the attri-
butte Of q great mind, and she had expended
her own fortune to establish the Theosophical
society and advance its interests.
Mr.. Judge said that the women Of America
ought to defend Madame Blavatsky, who had
always defended their cause. but they would
not do it until she was dead. Mr.. Judge spoke
of her as the only adept who was qualified to
transmit to the western world the wisdom Of
the east. Speaking Of theosophy, he said that
an erroneous impression prevailed that il was
Buddhism. He said it was not opposed to
Christianity, but by it only could passages of
Scripture be intelligently read. 1t was not. he
claimed, opposed to spiritualism. The facts Of
spiritualism, he said, could not be denied, but
spiritualists had never deduced any law from
them. What they should do was to tabulate
and put these facts in such form that science
would be compelled to accept them.
Mr.. Higgins, speaking at the close Of the
meeting, helped to promote the universal
brotherhood by heaping considerable sarcasm
upon DR.. Coues and his pretensions.
What Prof Coues Says.
A STAR reporter called on DR.. Coues this
morning to ask about the attack on him at the
above meeting. Prof. Coues laughed and said
he had long and steadily maintained
in the face of great deal
Of good-natured chatting by some of his
friends, that there was moral dynamite about
but that he hardly expected it to break out
among strolling fakirs, whom 1t was impos-
sible for him or his friends to take uotice
of. He said he was sorry that his
eccentric old friend, Madame Blavatsky,
was not better informed as TO the character of
these people who are making her ridiculous
I'm spite Of all her faults and failngs," he said
"She does not deserve this treatment" am
Of course, greatly interested in spiritualism,
theosophy, and other aspects of psychical
science, but certain established institutions
and recognized prophecies as well as social dis
tinctions must be observed in these as in other
matters. 1t is, Of course, not the slightest con-
sequence to me or any one else what may be
said about me by such persons"
HE TOOK THE OATH