The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-09-28
WHAT 1T is AND ISN'T.
Theosophist William Q. Judge
Tells of His Belief.
1t Is Not spiritualism or Mind Reading, But Is
Wisdom Religion-odd Fellows Hall
More Than Filled.

William Q. Judge. the leading theosophist
OF America, gave lecture last evening on
the subject. Theosophy, What 1t Is and
What 1t Is Not" Old Fellows Hall, where
1t was delivered, was filled to its last seat
aud many were turned away. The speaker
was introduced, after musical selection by
quartet. by DR.. Jerome AnderSo n. Presi-
dent of the San Francisco branch OF the
Theosophical Society. The speaker spoke
substance as follows;
~ take 1t that all men and women are In
the pursuit of happiness, but they do not
succeed. The rich, although in possession
of money and power. are unhappy. and the
poor are unhappy because they are poor
They are confronted on the one hand by
religion and on the other by the world.
Each brings them problems which annoy
from the cradle to the grave. 1t is OF these
problems we think theosophy gives solu-
ton.
NO SUNDERLAND vIsITANTs.
Let US sea for moment what theosophy
is not in order that we may better see what
it is. Theosophy is not spirituallsm. We
do not claim our parents or relation come
to us from some far away summerland to
talk nonsense and tells about things the
world has always known. Theosophy is
not Buddhism nor new form of that reli-
gion. Buddhism is religion pure and
high in its morals and embraces In its folds
fully two-thirds of the human race. Yet
the0sophy Is not Buddhism 1t is not
BrahmaniSm. Theosophy takes from Brah-
manism that which is good. TheosOphy Is
not ChriStianity,0f which, II we look closely,
we find 800 sectS 1t is none of these sects.
1t is the fundamental basis for Christianity,
for Buddhism, for Brahmanism, for Con-
fncnianian, for oil raliuinnQ NnItnnr Ia
theosophy phenomenal. 1t is not thought
reading or mental burglary.
Above all theosophy Is not the Theosophi-
cal Society. The latter was organized to
gether with widely differing views on many
subjects The prime basis, the only one
insisted upon. was the belief In universal
Brotherhood, and it was to form nucleus
for such a brotherhood the society was
formed. The only motto of the society is,
There is no religion higher than truth"
ALL MEN ARE BROTHERS.
What is theosophy? 1t is the wisdom
religion. 1t has no creeds, no dOgmas. No
matter the sect Of the members of its sOcl-
ETY., the only requirement Is belief IN q
universal brotherhood. When | say il is
wisdom religion l mean it will be when its
members are developed to its breadth and
depth to see that races, colors, creeds are
but barriers that separate brothers from
brothers. We believe man Is spiritual be-
ing and that he evolves, not from the mon
key, necessarily, but on seven different
planes Man as a body is controlled by
man the spirit. Man has a body, which is
the most apparent plane of our existence;
then an astral or more ETHEREAL body, life
principle. passions, soul, mind and spirit.
This being. operating on septenary planes.
is MANS an ego.
People mostly agree that the essential
part, the soul, is immortal. Well. when
did its Immortality begin? When and
whereof Our reasoning takes US to one of
the primal laws of theOsophy, or rather 10
a constantly reoccurIing manifestation OF
a law-reincarnation, that is, taking body
after body, as beads are strung on cord.
The cord is the spiritual essence and ac-
cumulating consciousness. Co working
with this effect is the ethical causation, the
moral adjustment known to us by its San
scrit name of 'Karma," which means ety.
molOgcally action, but morally it means
justice. 1t is in accordance with this law
we enjoy or suffer 1t is all the result of
prenatal and pOstnatal causes. II in pre-
yious life we earned life of bliss we reap
it, and If in that previous life we sowed the
wind we find ourselves reapIng the whirl-
wind.