New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-07
PHILOSOPHY AND OCCULTISM.
MRS. BESANT EXPLAINS THEM.


SHE DELIVERS AN INTERFERING LECTURE At
CHICKERNG HALL.
IL was splendid audience both in numbers and
quality which Mrs. Annie Bant addressed last evening
from the platform OF Chickering Hail. she spoke for
one hour and seventeen minutes and retained the in
terest OF every one from beginning to end. The APP
plause amid which she retired marked and pro
longed. she tripped along at such lively pace
during the delivery Of ahe lecture that several attempts
to show appreciation OF her eloquent and striking
utterances were checked by evident dsnclnatiOn
to pause even long enough to receive these sincere
signs Of approval. Her theme was "Theosophy aud
Occutism'
"The cwo words" she said. ought to convey differ
ent IDEAS to the people, but unfortunately they are
confused in many minds. The word 'theOsophy' I'M
plies universal wisdom, and universal wisdom NUT
include wisdom Of every kind. But while theosophy
includes Occulhsm, Occnltsm does no include the
osophy. occult>m is n special branch which must
by its very nature be confined to few persons IT is
speciality An enormous majority OF the people will
be repealed rather ahan attracted by the Ideal that II
sets up. The Occultst Is Indifferent to most worldly
affairs. He Is Of cold exterior. His placid way OF
taking the various matters which excke the most Of
mankind marks him as one not likely TO prove gen
orally attractive. He IS essentially secontained and
passioness. TheosOphy on the other hand has moth
ing of coldness about it, and when understood must
the individual to the highest perfection. 1t endeavors
10 soften all the harsh feelings that divide
man from man, and to spread brotherhood between
class and class. Against such theory why should
antagonlsns 1t is only because it is not under
stood that IL does not sweep the whole world. Dc
cusm only be followed by theOsophists tleOsOphy
must be understood before occultism can be begun.
Occultism Is not question for the platform il fol
lowed In silence and not In speech 1t Is growth
oat goes on below the surface and has nothing TO 90
any nj N
The speaker lere entered upon an explanation Oh
the principles of tleosophy Then she drew dlstlnc-
tOns between science philosophy and religion. Sci
ence,' she said, works through the senses of men
by force OF observation; philosophy works through the
intellect by the employment OF every method Of reason
religion appeals to mans highest nature without deny
ing observation, reason, but supplements both TO
Theosophy claims that the universe may be studied
under different aspects that consists OF an evolving
than merely matter and energy, that this evolving life
has gradually uniolded itself into different stages TO
cpes, and that each OF these principles In Is
directly related to corresponding principle or
nature has the possibility of unfolding senses aud
capacities which enable the Individual to examine a
OF the ndiy dua life the centre OF the life Of
The universe, exists what is often called the Divine
human grasp is at present constituted, that
within one has the principles which are the prin-
physical stage by the physlca, body just physical
nature can be examined by way Of the physical senses
capacities well adapted to explore the other planes
Of the universe the physical adapted to
the exploration Of physical planes that can grad
ualy evolve these hidden capacities. and that the
evolution OF the race Is simply the unfolding Of these
powers, the gradual development of these hidden
powers in man.
The 1peaker described the belonging to the
physical class, the senses of touch, smell hearing and
sight Then she passed to the astral sense.
which she defined and described at length, well
the physical conditions necessary for the exertlon OF
its power. The relations which 1t bore TO the super
natural the condition Of enhancement and hypnotlsm
were set forth in their distinctive bearing TO one
another She inveighed strongly against the practices
Of hypnotism destructive Of the minds and bodies
Of tine subjects Of experiments for the Illustration
OF that power. She cited many authentic instances
also Of the clarvoyant. Her closing words consisted
OF strong defence of the underlying principles Of
tleosophy. which she declared were rapidly making
their way In the world and being unwitngly accepted
by representatives OF many creeds.