The record-union., 1892-11-24
PHBOSOPHY.
The Subject ExhaustiveIy Discussed
by DR.. Alien Grifitts.
ssAdepts and CycIes''-what the Pa
ciflc Coast Lecturer Had to
Say to His Hearers.

An intelligent audience gathered in
Pythian Castle last night to listen to an
address upon "Theosophy, Adopts and
Cycles" by DIR. Allen Grifitts. The
speaker began by saying:
There is but one authority and that is
the individual conception of truth. Al
though ultimate truth may not be COM
pretended by finite minds, yet its
horizon constantly expands, and the pro-
cess constitutes eternity. In this sense,
truth may be understood as knowledge
OF nature, law, and the mind of man as
related to the mind of Cosmos. While
individual conceptions differ, and always
will, because each one occupies a differ
ent position and attitude relative to truth,
yet the accumulated knowledge of ages
of study; of investigation and classifca-
ton, demonstrated and tested by all
sages of the past, has resulted in
body of knowledge which may be ac-
cepted by the student as a working
hypothesis. This vast store of wisdom,
the aggregation of milleniums of
exploration OF the fathomless deeps
of natures secrets and potencies, consti-
tutes Theosophy. The key notes of basic
laws of man and nature were struck by
high planetary spirits for infant hu-
manity, almost infinite variation of which
man has since been sounding. Thus,
Theosophy is two-fold in origin and con-
stitution, and pertains to Diety. Cosmos
as whole, planetary systems, our own
and other worlds, and all racial and in
dividual conditions. 1t is the only phil
osophy advanced since Plato's time which
attempts rational solution of these and
other problems; which traces the evolu-
ton of Cosmos and man step by step
through lahyrinthian maZes extending
over milliards Of cons. Other systems
pertain TO parts of the scheme, and when
limited by partial knowledge or ignor-
ance. evade issues by relegating phenom-
ena to the realm OF the unknowable, an
inscrutable power, or that weakest of all
subterfuges, a Especial Providence"
Theosophy Investigates and explores all
things, and questions the very gods in
search of more knowledge upon all that
the mind of man aSplreS to know. II con-
siders no thing too sacred for investiga-
ton; nor is such a course deemed bias
phemous or sacriligious, but rather the
natural expansion of the soul reaching
out toward its source and ultimation,
Deity.
Theosophy has existed from time i'm
memorial. Since the earliest existence
of man on this planet as a thinking being
he has had certain conceptions of him
self, his origin sand destiny. The ag-
gregate of these at a given time exactly
indicated the degree of his mental and
spiritual evolution. Hence, at different
tions, and as his nature expanded
through experience his conceptions en-
larged cOrrespondingly. From earliest
times he strove to formulate his ideas
and transmit them to posterity, At first
he utilized primitive vehicles, such as
nf,g,ly l ]
these were his means of expressing
truths originally impaired to him by
adopts who were mem berS of other and
previous humanities, but who choose to
llnger behind and instruct our race
These means We're also more adequate of
expression of those truths than means
later employed, which were words,
written and verbal. When language
was substituted for signs and sym
bols was inaugurated an initial
error, for il was first
attempt to define the Infinite in
finite terms. Creeds, dogmas and priest
craft resulted as an inevitable cOnse-
quence. Man soon came to accept the
formulated conceptions Of few thinkers
rather than think for himself. This state
OF affairs was perpetuated and holds i'll
our day. These thinkers. perceiving that
their position gave them power over the
masses, yielded to q weakness of unen-
power for selfish purposes. Thus origi-
nal teachings of man, nature and destiny,
primarily impaired to man by AdeDts.
became distorted out of all sem mblance to
original meanings, thereby losing much
OF primitive purity. The Christian Bible
is a striking instance Of the same in our
day. Pure teachings were only saved
from total obliteration by periodical ap-
pearances Of sages among men who were
initiates of the mysteries OF Theosophy. |
which had been preserved, pure and in
tact, in the custody of Mahatmas. But
Tor these visitations man would long
since have become stranded upon shifting
sands of his own ignorance for, without
such assistance and direction, he is una
BILE to advance beyond narrow limits.
lie is thus dependent upon those higher
than himself in the scale of evolution.
1t is from these high beings, Adopts
and Mahatmas great SOULS, that has
come knowledge which is now advanced
as IheosOphy.
The last quarter of every century
marks an era OF greater activity in mental
and spiritual affairs than any other period
of the century. So tar remote as record
traces is this perceived to be true. 1t is
true now. We are in the last quarter
of our century, and this springtime sea-
son of the world is utilized by Adopts to
increase the worlds store of knowledge
II. z. Blavatsky was the chosen messen-
ger ana the 1heOSopnlcal society the
channel now utilized for that purpose.
Blavatsky's claim is substantiated by the
volume of previously unknown knowl-
edge contained in her works, Isis Un-
veiled'' and 'The Secret Doctrine" be-
side general Vheosophical literature,
which contain knowledge not elsewhere
found.
The Theosophical Society was founded
by H. Z. BlaVatsky, Colonel II. S. Olcott
and William q. Judge in New York City
in 1915. 1t has three objects: rirst-To
form nucleus of an universal brother
hood of humanity without distinction of
race, creed, sex or color.
Second--To promote the study of ORR
entail literatures, religions and sciences,
and demonstrate their importance
Third-To investigate unexplained laws
of nature and latent powers in man.
The society is composed of men and
women OF every belief and nationality.
who study theosophy. Theosophy is the
philosophy Of being which requires study
and application for its mastery. 1t
teaches that evolution proceeds along