The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-04
ARYANS AND THEIR CUSTOMS.
Dr. Grimths Removes Some MiscOncep-
tiOns About tho Hipdus.

lions About tho Hindus.
DR.. Allen Griffiths, Pacific coast lecturer
on theosophy, spoke last night in Pettis'
music hall upon the Aryan race. He
said the Aryan race, of which Western
peoples are part, is the fifth great root
race of humanity, and two root races are
yet to follow. The Aryan race began
about 100000 years ago in the north of
Asia. The first division was the Brahmins,
who are the oldest nation and trace their
history back to the beginning. He pro-
ceeded:
The preservation of the Hindu Aryans is the
result of adherence to the teachings OF adopts,
mahatmas and high beings of previous human
titles. The Jews claim to be the Oldest people,
but are infants in age and wisdom compared
to the Brahmins. The Jews sprang from the
latter and, like other branch races, wandered
from the home OF the parent stock and set up
as an independent and chosen people The
Jews are about 5000 years old. There are now
three main divisions of bumanity-the Cauca-
slams, Mongo.ians and Philippians. The two
last are in decline, having had their cycles of
activity and now fall into observation. Each
individual has taken part in the history of all
past peoples and will do so in all future nations
Generally speaking, the great root races are COM
posed OF the same individuals which incarnate
in them A root race may he considered
lHutVluudi composed OF its units hS u mans
body is made up of the infinitismal lives within
his physical organism. Each has an individual
life OF its own, but exists with all
others which go to make up the
body as a whole. The Aryan race, then, il con-
stituted OF units. egos, that also constituted
the four previous races. Each individual in
carnates in every race, and each race incarnates
seven times on our planet. One race merges
into the next and is in advance of its prede-
cessor; ali is progress.
The Hindu people are not only the oldest, but
the wisest. Their customs, because not under
stood, are ridiculed. Investigation discloses
the fact that they are founded upon principles
of law and nature Man. unassisted. cannot
advance far, nor can he OF himself originate
The keynotes of basic laws and prnci-
pies have to be sounded for him by
those higher than himself. Then he
is able to work ont infinite variations. Adopts
and mahatmas struck the keynotes for early
humanity and we have since been ringing the
variations. True assistance is to help man help
himself. Only in this way is man assisted. He
has 10 learn by experience.
The caste system Of the BrRhmius ID founded
upon natural law. There four castes-the
priests or teachers; the militia and govern
mental officers; merchants and agriculturisis
clerks assistants ana the great body of helpers
Ii Is "A natural division of the human family and
holds in western lands TO degree. The status
OF individuals naturally places them in one of
these four divisions. A member of lower
caste may rise 10 the next higher, but elevation
depends upon his own exettion and fitness
Many misconceptions are current regarding
other matters in India Some OF them arc due
10 missionaries who, from prejudice against
"heathenish" customs, or insufficient knowI-
edge, condemn them. Missionary work In India
is not encouraging, If We may rely upon the
conclusion OF the Tdb,d the principal Roman
catholic organ of Great Britain. We quote from
lis editorial: 1.-The official statement as TO the
mora! aud material progress OF India, which has
recently been published, supplies a very inter
estiug contribution to the controversy on the
missionary question. II appears from the fig.
ures that WAlle We effect a very marked moral
deterioration in the natives by converting them
TO our creed, their standard is so high
that, however much we Christianlze them, we
cannot succeed in making them altogether as
bad as ourselves" The figures giving the pro-
portion Of criminalty in the classes OF India are
follows;
Native Caristian converts ..............1in go
BLulAlpta 4 IN 3, ~
"Ihis last item" says the Tablet lis q magnif-
cent tribute 10 the exalted purity of Buddhism,
and that people might reasonably send out mis-
sionarIes u convert us"
The burning 81 widows is another almost
haseiess report Occasional instances have
taken place. swami Sariswau Bramin high
caste ami gentleman of scholarly attachments.
thus writes upon the subject.
This Is called Slttee. The widow ascends
the funeral pile of the dead husband, and is
consumed IA him. 1t was never a custom OF
my country, and has died out. II We the IN
yentIon OF women themselves, OF women OF high
sulrlE, who would not survive their husbands II
the price Of life vas 10 be dishonor. Ii began
not more than 80 years ago, and arose IN this
way: IL was after the Mogul conquest The
Prince OF oodypoor had a beautiful daughter
The emperor, Mohammeian, desired this
daugh FOX bis haIeIa- The prince refused. They