The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-28
REORGANIZATION.
Mrs. Sarah A. Harris on Multi
piled Existence.

Mrs Sarah A. Harris of Aurora Branch
of the TheosOphical Society, Oakland. de-
livered a lecture at Red Mems Hall, 800
Post street, last night on the subject of
i'Rein carnation," which. with the Law of
Karin a." form the keystone of the so-called
"WIsdom-religiOn."
Rencartion is considered one of the most
ohtise subjects for the Western mind to
unravel, and it is only when it is considered
with the Law of Karma" that it receives
sufficient lucdation to entitle it to accept
ance as a hypothesis of the scheme OF Gre
alton.
The lecture on the Law of Karna,"
which is to be delivered next Sunday, is
continuation of last nights theme, viewed
from the stand point of necessity, Karma
being tile cause and reincarnation the effect
OF certain laws working.
Mrs Harris reviewed the subject first
from its historical side, citing countries and
nation of their code OF morals, and terml-
mated by saying: ut is stated that a t one
time, reincarnatI0n was the universal be-
lief, and even now it is held by vast ma
joTity OF the worlds inhabitants"
I'VE OF the Western world regard 1t as
an enigma. We stand aghRst at the vast
number OF questions that come up when
THAT word, viii b is volume, Is mentioned,
and we pause before drawing aside the cur
tain. We hesitate to study into this truth
Of reincarnation and the problems of life
and creation.
TO person accustomed TO the orthodox
idea of Vicarlous atOnement, the theories OF
reincarnatlOn and karma are aJSurdltleS.
But let him follow the paths that Specula-
tion may pursue with nature as guide,
and lie will nave not only a broader Idea OF
life, but a better idea OF God.
owe are fold that the periods OF QaV and
night, Of life and death, are corresponding
periods Of activity and assimilation which
extend throughout all nature. They OBJ
tain, not only in n0mentary existence, but
eternal Hfe-in the day, in the seasons,
years, lives and cycles. Without the period
of rest the period OF activity would be I'M
possible. and, vice versa, the period Of ac
tlyity is the result of the impulse or mo-
mentum gained during that OF assimi-
lanOn.
What we are to-day make up the warp
and wool OF what the soul Is to be in the
far future. What we are to-day is the cri-
teTi0n, for the same reason, of what we have
been. Tie organ is modified by the func-
tions, and not the functions by the organ.
AT the birth Of a people on planet there
is an influx of souls vari0uSly developed
| from the silencei Of Pralaya. then kind
mother nature has them i'll hand. All have
| an equal chance, and there Is no justice
| with the divine were 1t not so.
"IheGS0phy sees IN relneaFnauon the only
explanation for different characteristics in
| nations and not in individuals. The laws
OF heTedIty are, if true. the greatest sar-
! casm that Gods creation can throw against
| his eternal justice. To be forced into flesh.
| to be incarnated in a body predisposed to
| evil is a traYeSty on the mercy of God, if
! that soul has only the enc brief existence to
prepare Itself Tor facing the eternal, from
| which there is no appeal. No, | regard the
laws of Geredity as absolutely misleading,
if not false.
"a soul answers the call of God through
! his laws and reincarnation. Does il go in
a base vessel? Then it was not far enough
advanced to demand better conditions for its
manifestation. In that way only does the
alleged law of heredlty exist"