Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-24

} enshrined, would certainly do honor to the
sincerity of her numerous followers Should
such intent be indeed carried out, New York
City will probably be tho place selected
since 1t was there that Madame Blavatsky
laid the foundations of the then future Theo.
sophical Society.
What Colonel Olcott Is Doing.
The retirement of Colonel Olcott is due al
once to the increasing bodily infrmities Of
old age, and to long expressed desire te
devote the balance of his life to literary
work in the interests of the society. Fol
several years past, in fact, the Colonel ha,
been gathering together a rare collection Of
| ancient sanskrit works-some of. which are
palm-l leaf manuscripts-the value of which
are recognized by all Orientalists. It is his
| purpose to have them translated, and to make
Of them the nucleus Of library devoted tc
theosophical growth and research. The
nucleus thus brought together is housed for
the present at Adyar, where the Colonel
will probably pass the remainder of his
| days. A history of the T. 8. movement is
also par. of his literary programme al
ready begun, and which will undoubtedly
be Of great interest, personal and other
wise.
Colonel O1cott, for reasons best known to
himself was Madame Blavatsky's chosen
associate in the work of founding the Theo-
sophical Society, and many and interesting
must be the episodes that passed between
these two. Utterly dissimilar and at vari-
ance on many minor point, each was loyal
to the other and as one in all that concerned
the work in hand. OF the Colonel himself
there is little that is new to be said. Sol
dier, journalist, man Of the world, and for
the last II years staunch theosophist, his
career is familiar to most.
Choice Of the Next President
As to the man who is to succeed him as
head, the choice presumably lies between
Vice President w. @. Judge and Bertram
Keightly, Corresponding Secretary of the
Indian section; but of this, there is no cer-
tain saying, and the result may be sur
prise all around.
The record of the society for the past wear
is not without significance. When Madam
Blavatsky passed away the conviction
among outsiders was general that theosophy
was doomed. So far, however, from this
being the case, that event was the signal for
general uprising among theosophists
everywhere, and of wave of activity as
yet unparalleled in the history of the move
ment. Theosophy, understood or not,
praised or anathemized, is fast becoming a
household word. In England is this espe-
cially true; the frequent lectures given by
Mrs. Besant and others, as we'll as the more
generous attitude of the press, having
largely contributed to this effect
Centers for information and work have
also been established in all the different
countries of Europe; ''branches'' started
wherever members do congregate, and in
this latter phase Of the movement the
United States takes the lead. An active
propaganda of theosophical literature has
gone into effect and charitable work among
the very poor inaugurated wherever practi-
cal. The Indian section, moreover, has
just closed very successful convention of
Its own-delegstes from Europe and America
attending.
The Material Homo Of Theosophy.
So far the American section, while having
central headquarters in New York City, has
yet had no building suited to that particular
purpose, but the recent purchase by the
Arvan Branch in that city of S45, 900
structure fills the need, and all theosophists
in general, and American theosophIsts in
particular, are expected to help pay for it
thus making of it national and interna-
tional affair after the pattern of the head
quarters at London.
Starting in 1875. the Theosophical Society
now NUMBERS some LOO OrancneS, anu mas an
individual membership of thousands. It
publishes several periodicals. the chief of
which are the Iheosophist of India, edited by
Colonel Olcott; Lacifsr, of London, founded
by Madam Blavatsky, present editor, Mrs.
Besant: The Path. of New York, under the
able management of w. @. Judge. AS a
body it has three objects: O The forming
of nucleus of universal brotherhood
without distinction Of race, caste, sex, creed
or color; (2) To promote the study of
Aryan Ind Eastern literatures, religions
and sciences; (3 To investigate unex
planned laws of nature and the psychical
powers latent in man. Under object No. 1 it
plants itself squarely upon the side of re-
form, social, moral and political; objects
2 and are more esnecially tor those inter- |
ested in such studies; incidentally they |
include active opposition based on grounds |
peculiar to theosophy and which were not |
long since elaborated in the columns of The |
to what is known as modern |
spiritualism: and also quite as earnest !
stand against the promiscuous use of hypno- |
tism, which it terms when practiced as an
art, as incipient black magic. As to re-
ligions, it holds that all are true-more or
less. TO separate the error from the truth |
Is to fnd-theosophia.
Work Among the Buddhists.
To those who confound theosophy With