Los Angeles herald., 1893-01-15

this heroic sisterhood be reared; as,
when classic architecture had reached |
perfection, there rose the gothic and
made the Greek seem cold. From the
light OF starry worlds to the pearly se-
crets of the deep, from blushing east to
glowing west, the vision will be glad
dened by plenteous, unstinted. un-
spaakable beauty. The whole universe
is its temple, and every fair form, fresh
color and sweet sound in earth, air or
sea make up the blessed ministration.
x<*
Mrs. Besant, the high priestess OF
theosophy, has given us two lectures or
discourses on her favorite subject. She
seems to thoroughly understand electric
and magnetic forces, astral bodies and
ETHEREAL matter. She has probably
made GONE new converts, and theosoph'
ical literature should now be the rage.
In glancing over some new books the
other day / chanced to pick up new
work on occult adventure entitled Mir
rikh, or Woman from Mars, by Fran
els Worcester Doughty, a noted theo-
sophical author and writer on occult
subjects. In it l find an excellent de-
scription of the scenery surrounding the
Buddhist temple, Nagkon Wat, used for
religious ceremonies and celebrations.
1t is near Auekor in dense forest, and
is approached by steps that seem inter
minable. The architecture of the tenn
pie is of pagoda style, and it is 250 feet
high. 1t is a strange old temple, the
very names of whose builders is lost in
the mists of ages. 1t is the dwelling
place of the Cambodian priests, and
in it they worship Buddha, and OF
Al fAtl
are the most faithful and persevering.
They are practical and deep spiritual
thinkers, whose minds are capable oi
the deepest metaphysical reflections,
minds stored with an accumulation OF
spiritual and occult knowledge almost
beyond comprehension. We talk OF our
civilization and progress. When our
forefathers were saveges these people
were enjoying the height of glorious
civilization. When the naked Britons
drove the hosts OF Caesar into the sea,
Angkor was old, and this massive pile
stands monument today OF religion
which abounds in a profound sense OF
the littleness of man and the greatness
OF the God who constructed the mighty
temple OF the universe. The scenes are
well taken in this book, the description
accurate, and although the plot and oc-
currences are impossible and overdrawn,
still they furnish vehicle on which to
frame and explain reincarnation, occult
ism, spiritualism and general outline
of theoeophy and its teachings. There
is particularly fine description of the
| Journey to the wilds of Thibet, in the
land OF the Grand Llama which contains
the most mysterious of cities, Lh'asa.
Here are the residences OF the Llamas,
the priests, whose prayers are supposed
| to be the most powerful and repre-
sent the :. true Nirvana, and attend
to the wants of the highest priests
of their order at the famous shrine, the
lamasery of am.dagong. They teach
that there is living God, who, through
His spirit messengers, rules the exls-
| tence of His creations. The latter part
of the book is devoted to an impossible
| journey or trensmigratlon of an astral
| body to the planet Mars and what 1T
sees there, and much space is devoted
! to the reincarnation theory. Altogether
it is an improbable and impossible
story, full OF imagination, but contain
ing many explanatory thoughts pertain
ing to the Swedenborgian theory and
the teachings of Reynaud and Kardec
on reincarnation.
In connection with the above subject
would like to mention a work by
James Freeman Clarke, entitled, Ten
Great Religions, an Essay in Compare
tive Theology. DR.. Clarke, who is the
pastor of the Church OF the Disciples of
Boston, gives an outline of the history
OF each Of the religions that have ex-
erted the most influence in space and
time. The work is one of consummate
merit and SURPRISING interest. Full OF
patient and thorough study, in
which judicial impartiality. the
catholic and loving spirit, is
manifested in the whole work.
Much space is given to the Chinese,
Brahmanism; Buddhism, or the Pro-
testantie of the east Zoroaster and
the Zend Avesta; Mahommed and
Islam.
His second part to Ten Great Reli-
giops or the comparisons OF all religions
is far superior to any other volume in
the English language in giving fair
and Just comparison of heather reli-
gions with Christianity. Animism,
Polytheiem, Pantheism, the soul and it's
transmgration in all religions, idea of a
future state in all religions and the
future religions of mankind are all
faithfully portrayed and discussed In a
learned and understanding manner.
x*x M
Esoterie Buddhism by A. P. Sinnett,
president of the Simla Eclectic Theo- !
sophical society, is now in its sixth edi-
tion. In the east the inner spiritual
meaning of Buddhism has never been put !
into books, but is confined to those who
have tine religious exaltation that en-
ables them to receive it. 1t is. this |
meaning which Mr.. Sinnett has
been the fret to give TO |
the western world, and in this I
he has rendered an important |
service to speculation as we'll sreligious
thought. His chapters on Esoteric |
Teachers, The Consultation of Man, |
Kama Loca, Buddha, Nirvana and The |
Universe are full of powerful thought |
and convincing argument.
x*x
The Occult World, also by A. P. SIN |
nett. we will simply mention as COM
papion to Esoteric Buddhism and which |
embraces matter of peculiar interest to !
American readers, especially to spirit
ualists.
x*x
Some time ago when A. J. Mounteney |
Jephsen, one of Mr.. Stanley's oficars,
was in the United States he was asked !
to write some stories for children. He |