The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-08-17

The following article, reprinted
from a recent copy of the Indepen-
dent, will be read with interest, es-
pecially at this time, when the
Theosophists here are claiming con-
siderable attention. 1t was writ
ten by the Rev. John p. Jones, a
missionary Of the American Board
in Madura, India.
The best place to study, and the
only place to rightly understand
Theosophy is India. In spirit, in
methods, even if not in origin, it is
Oriental. India is the home of its
"MahatmaS,n the most congenial
field for its "OcCult phenomena" and
the most fruitful nursery of its esOteric
doctrines. The eyes of Western The
OsOphists turn to the East for light,
and with fervent prayer they look to
the Orient for inspiration. One is
greatly embarrassed at first to know
what is meant by TheOsOpby. The
studied vagueness of it's founders
and the self-contradictory mysticism
of its defenders help us little. Mrs.
Besant's esOteric unintelliSibility in
her writings only adds to ones per-
plexity. Is it philosophy or reli-
gion? Or is it merely social human
itarian movement? Does it recognize
a God, or is it atheistic or pantheistic
in its teachings, or does it show favor
to idolatry? Who knows? The writ
er has, at various times, seen affirma-
tive replies to every one of these
leading defenders of this strange
creed in India. Consistency and per
spicuity are the only two gOddesses
which they decline to worship.
A few facts may aid us in solving
some of it's mysteries. Its advent in
India was synchrOnOus with that of
the writer, about fifteen years ago.
It's founders, Madame Blatavsky and
Colonel OlcOtt, proclaimed it as an
"Esoteric Buddhism," and empha-
sized its hostility to Christianity. It's
avOwed purpose was to eXpel the re-
ligion of Jesus from India. This was
their popular watchword, which drew
many Hindus to it. The mighty
progress and growing influence of
Christianity in India is such as to
give transient popularity to any
movement whose chief aim S to an
tagonize it. That it was a form of
Buddhism, even though "esOteric,"
was no recommendation
The writer remembers how the Hin
du temple in TInnevellI had to be
purified, at no small expense, after a
The0sOphical meeting held within its
precincts.
But a new religion must have its
verifying miracles; yea, more, the
wonder craving Hindu mind demand
a ~; m
sian lady grasped the situation and at
once began to produce the Occult
phenOmenan with which her name
will ever be connected. TO the Ordi-
nary educated Hindu they were "won-
derfup' and satisfying So TheOs0pny
spread marvelOu-iy for brief day.
But Madam Blavatsky's tricks were
too coarse aud numerous. Her evil
day and that OF TheOsOphy soon came
to n merciIcss and complete exposure
of all her frauds as conducted IN Ma
dras aud elsewhere. TIE stranga and
childish freaks attributed to "Koot
HoOmI" and the mahatmas were con
shown, hy her former ac
to be the vulgar tricks Of
the high priestess of TheOsOphy her
self The expose was so overWheIm-
ing that the other leaders of the move
meut at once dispatch, q Madame Bla-
vat-ky to other lands. And that was
the last of her aud OF "OCCultism" in
India. At least t. present leaders of
the movement, while avOwing the
possibility am even existence of such
wisely decline to have
more to do with them pub
Iicly. With the fall of the Russian
lady and her "wouders,' the distinct
ively religious character of the move
ment vanished. For more than five
years if let religion severely alone,
lud busted itself somewhat with an |
effort to encourage the study of Oi
entail literature aud with prociaimiug |
.he doctrine of the "bTOtherhoOd OF |
man The foTmer Of these ia a very |
desirable thing to encourage, and the |
after Is II paramount Importance in |
his caste-rIdden country Bat the |
writer has yet to see the first evidence |
# serious Intention among Theoso-
lhi-t- in this matter. The her even
ug while speaking with an educated |
member Of the UheOsOphic9l Society |
- Madura ! found that membership |
lid not change their caste relations in
he least. Caste barriers are as high |
.uI a- iupassahie inside of TheOsophy |
IS outside of H.; and this gentleman
that they never had meet
nos together SIS TheO~Ophi-ts because
f their difiareucesl The great enemy |
# brotherhOoj i'm India -- the caste
ysiem-sits cOmplaceutly IN the lap
# Iheoeuphy.
Thus the movement lRuguished for |
few years and many of its branch |