The morning call., 1893-10-09

gent and thoughtful people of all countries.
and nearly every one who reads or studies
at all knows something of it and it's prin-
ciples. These principles. the speaker
stated, were three = first, to form The
nucleus of universal brotherhood; second,
to study Aryan and other Eastern litera-
ture, religions and science, and demon
strate the Importance of such study: third,
10 investigate unexplained laws of nature
and develop the psychical overs laientin
man. PausiDg here, Mr.. Dharmapala
gave brief but comprehensive history of
the principal religions of the East, which
had all sprung from Asia. ''the home of all
religions" Brahminism, the oldest, be-
gan in polythelsm and ends in pantheism.
At first the elenents-fre earth, air and
waler-were worshiped; then the human
mind changed, and monOtheism succeeded.
during which one supreme being was rev.
cred. After this pantheism was evolved
and still continues In different forms.
Pantheism recognizes o divinity in man
and believes in the ultimate absorption of
man into the one great divinity.
'Karma," the speaker said, "underlies
all the religions of India and is one of the
two great principles of theosophy. 1t Is
the great law of retribution: the law
which says, AS man soweth so shall he
reap" OF Mohammedanism he said that
it was the youngest OF the religions. being
six centuries younger than Christianity.
1t was not philosophical religion, but
was a missionary religion, one which had
converted the people by the edge of the
sword rather than by reason, and because
of this the most intelligent class in India
are the Mohammedans, although branch
of it. called the Sufees, has philosophy
and q psychology of its own.
The religion of ConfuciuS is practical
one. COnfuclus die not believe in wasting
the brief lifetime of man in idle specula-
ton. Love to man and loyalty to the
King was his motto. and his precepts are
precepts Of practical morality appealing
directly to the thinking mind of the Chi
nese. OF Buddhism Mr.. Dharmapala
spoke al some length, saying that there ex-
ist many misconceptions about it, though
475,000,000 people believe In IL absolutely.
Brahminism is a religion of priestcraft;
Brahmin believes a priest can send him
to happiness or torment. Buddhism was
a protest against this. AS men grew in
knowledge they rebelled against the
thought of one man condemnlng another
in this way, and then Buddha came and
Buddhism was established. THAT was
twenty-four centuries ago." said the lee
tureT, land its tenets are as true now as
then, as are its systems OF ethics, phllos-
ophy and psychology"
or Christianity he declared that the
teachings of Christ and Buddha were
Identical, but the Old Testament was an
tagonistic to Buddhism.
buddhism recognizes supreme being,
but he does not interfere with natures
laws nor the affairs OF men. There is in
Buddhism no at0nement and no forgive
ness-eaeh one works out his own sal
walton.
Theosophy he Endorsed as being the
broadest of all religions, since it takes the
best it finds in each and he closed by ex-
planning as clearly as possible the various
terms, occultism. mahatmas. nirvana and
others familiar to theosophical students,
and urging his hearers not TO take any one
eises ideas on religion. but 10 study and
decide for themselves.
After his lecture came to an end Mr..
Dharmapala answered several of the
many questions passed ND to him from the
audi ence both wisely and wittily and then
left the hall to visit the Overho W meeting
which was patiently waiting promised
word from him despite the lateness OF the
bnur