The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-18
ANNE BESANT TALKS
President Andrews's Remarks in
Introducing Her.
WHAT THE THEOSOPHISTS. SAY.
Their Leading Spirit Tells Some OF the
Things which the Little Woman and
Her Followers Think Are the Essen
tials of Human Life and Happiness.

In spite OF the snow good sizad au-
dience applauded President Andrews
and Mrs. Besant as they came upon the
platform at Blackstone hail last night.
Anne Besant is a slender graceful
woman with a sweet serious face crowned d
with smooth gray hair rolled back from
her forehead. She was dressed in black
Her delivery is clear and forceful with
little attempt at oratorical effect but she
has the clean enunciation which comes
from a due regard for the vowels in
speaking. aud which Is pleasant to hear
President Andrews introduct ory re-
marks in no way committee d him to
theosophy but they showed the cordial
hospitality of broad and true scholars hip
for this unfamiliar doctrine.
lie said that an eminent divine had re-
monstrated with him for ihus giving
countenance TO doctrine that contro-
verted Christianity.
IL was his faith in Christianity that
brought him there. lie thought it possi-
ble that the new faith might have a
mission TO the men and women OF our
time. IL emphas'z ID quite a number of
tbin2s that Christians profess To believe.
III lays great stress upon the persls teuce
OF individu ual life in other spheres than
WIS. ~ ACht Cd bilc AOClIlue
OF regeneration, being a faith whicn tells
OF thousands OF regeneratioas.
lie spoke OF what Mrs Besant had un-
dergoJe In her quest for truth, declared
his belief in tree speech anu requested
for the speaker the undivided attention
of her hearers.
In her opening remarks Mrs. Besant
called attention to the difficulty of Civ
lug more than the merest outline of any
one OF the great sciences or religions
In AN hour, much more then the science
which is the epltome of all Others, tue
religion out OF which all others have
grown.
"Theosophy is friendly to other rei-
Rions and aims to show that they possess
great truths. IL is also the ally of reli
gion against the materialism OF the time.
The universe Is essentially spirit. Life Is
primary, not product. Force or energy
however its manifestations vary is one.
Iheosophy classes these manifestations
as existing Oh seven different planes In
the universe. To correspond with this
the constitution of man i seven-fOld.
The astral body, the second principle,
was explained as an ether body. lhe
counterpart of the physical and relating
man to tne ether of science which is now
regarded as the great reservoir of all
force.
"A new sense Is beginning to evolve
itself that will respond To the vibrations
or thought rs the eve responds TO the
vibrations of ligut. The hienly sensitive
nervous organizations of Americans are
favorable TO the evolution Of this sixth
sense.
Recent Investigations break the force
OF the materialistic induction that the
growth of thought and the brain vary
together from the cradle TO the grave. 1t
Is possible to prove that intelligence is
separable from the physical brain. 1t is
possible for a man to SO train himself
that his intelligence can work independ-
emily of the body.
In every case" said Mrs. Besant, "the
function OF life precedes the formation OF
the organ" This is opposed to the ma
terialistlc theory aud was reinforced by
copious illustrations.
The doctrine of reincarnation was
shown to be in the regular order of evo-
luton, the knowledgs aud experience
aimed in any one life serving as the
basis for ADVANCE in succeeding lives.
Then comes the completion of evolu-
tion, when the perfected human ego can
enter Niryana, or reincarnate for the sake
OF the suffering, struggling race to which
h once belonged. OF such are the worlds
saviours." The lecture closed with an
eloquent appeal for the help and better
ment of humanity.