Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-20
BLAVATSkY IN LONDON.
The High Theosophical Priestess Sets
Up Her Throne.
From Vanity Fair.

From Vanity Fair.
Nine. Blavstsky is the fountain head OF the
new religion, the loadstar Of those who seek
for truth the high priestess-nay. the female
pope of theosophyl Go to 10 Avenue road, St
Johns Wood. There she sits on a throne. q
cigarette in her mouth, a rose in her hand
And her disciples lounge and kneel around her
with worshiping gaze, raptured smile,
competing for the honor OF giving her a light,
or an ash tray, or Of tanning her with an In
dian punkah.
What does she say? Not much. Hot
night-''been rather successful"-~a other
cigarette bon soir, bientotr' These are
the abrupt sentences uttered by the Uracle IN
an asthmatic sort of way. Each word is re-
ceiyed with enthusiastic murmurs: .'Ah! il is
but she who can talk thusi'
Poor humanity! What have we come to,
At $50 OF an evening last week a tremendous
crowd gathered at the door of 10 Avenue road
Tor the opening Of the Bavatsky lodge This
is the high prIestess' future domain, where a
spacious room on the ground floor is conse-
Grated 10 the theosophIcal meeting. Ii re-
sembles a church with it's Gothic wooden cell
ing and little loggias at one side: cabalistic
signs and mystic animals adorn the panels. DO
you notice the three weird paintings opposite2
DO they represent the human form of the fu-
ture, or is Ir our astral SHELF Anyhow. they
are curiosities; but is not the room full Of cu-
There they sit, row upon row, all possible
types. Young and old, pretty and ugly women
though more of the latter-men of all ages,
stern-looking old army men, others with dis
heyeled locks and wistful eyes-images of me-
diaval fanatics.
At the far end Of the lodge platform 10
erected, from which different members of the
brotherhood hold forth. Neither in church.
nor at Sarah Bernhardts nor in parliament was
there ever such an interested and attentive an
4 a l. -
of the speakers-some bending forward with
one hand TO the ear. like MIR. Gladstone when q
Parnellite is addressing the house; others with
their faces buried in their hands, showing by
deep Rrunts OF satisfaction, or an occasional
! start Ting bravo" that they are not asleep.
Mr.. Sinnett spoke few unctuous words on the
opening OF the lodge; then Mrs. Besant an
nounced that some foreign members had some
remarks 10 make. A Dutch and a swedish
lady read rambling reports on the spread
of theosophy in their own countries. Then
a hush came over the assembly: Mr.. Kest-
ley will give his experiences in America
| theosophists trip to the new world" There
was nothing new in his speech, nothing 20 re-
veal the secret Of the doctrine, only round
abouts and commonplace however eloquenty
put Then Mrs. Besant came on again, repeat
ing in other words the speech her brother in
Buddha had just made. She, too, spoke OF the
meaning of thoosophy, but without explaining
anything; il was mere dodging, trying 10 look
as If she were explaining things and not ex-
planning them at all IL all seemed 30 over
wrought-so theatrical. She wound mp by sing
ing her praise-hers, the creatures Of their
creed. All faces lighted mp in ecstasy; all
hands clapped endless appausel
Then the common herd having fought their
way out, the select ones trooped 10 the end Of
the room, where Nine. Blavatsky, familiarly
called III. p. H., p" was reclining in state 30 re-
ceive the homage OF her devotees. Crouched
on oriental cushions she reminds one OF those
shapeless Indian idols who crowd the temples
of the east IN all their gilt and dust-covered
glory. For an hour the fanatics addressed
her in awe-struck tones, some STOPPING %
their knees, others kissing her hand, even the
hem of her garment all lost in ecststic adj
mirstionl-