The Washington times., 1894-06-19
WILL NOT TALK THEOSOPHY
Rev. Mr.. Ennis Respectfully Declines
Mr.. Wriqht's Invitation.
HAS MORE PRESSING BUSINESS
Madame Blavatsky's Follower Criticises the
Clergymans Criticisms-Accuses Him of
Being Unfair-Evolution in the Spiritual
- Well a. Material World.


- Well a. Material World.
Rev. Howard Wilbur Ennis. Of the Western
Presbyterian church, street, between Nine
teenth and Twentieth streets, will not ac-
cept tie invitation OF the Blavatsky Theo-
sophical Society to meet Mr.. Wright in public
debate. He answered the letter OF President
Cofin yesterday, and the latter gentleman
will receive the communication this morning.
The following is copy of the letter:
WASHINGTON, d. G., June IS, 1894
GEORGE N. COFFIN, esq, President Blavatsky
Lodge, Theosophical Society:
DEAR SR-Your communication Of the 18th at
hand
Your proposed method of weighing and set
tling religious differences passed away with the
scholastics Of the Middle Ages.
Mr.. Wright has already had the public ear on
several occasions in disseminating his views,
whereas have asked attention but once in OPP
posing the same | can not see wherein Mr..
Wright has suffered from unfair treatment He
may occupy the rostrum to his hearts desire un-
disturbed.
From my point of view the question is not open
for debate. Theosophy has been weighed in
the balance and found wanting" by q Judge
higher than-of earth.
Again, as am not in the business of revivify-
ing either oefunct methods or effete religions in
the face OF pressing duties of far higher import
/ must respectfully decline your invitation
Very truly yours,
HOWARD WILBUR ENNIS
Pastors Study, Western Presbyterian Church.
A reporter of The TIMES visited Mr.. Ennis
residence, No. 1918 l street northwest, yester
day and learned from him the reason Of his
declining the invitation.
Mr.. Ennis said that he did not wish to carry
the mattar fllrfhar la only prppnsai
to give the public an idea of what was being
done to undermine the belief of the orthodox
church, and, If possible, to reveal their
fallacies, and that he did not propose to
waste any more time on it. as there was moth
ing to be gained by further discussion.
wRIaHr's CRITICISM OF Mr.. ENNIS.
A TIMES reporter then took the copy Of Mr..
Ennis letter to President Collins residence,
No. 1921 Twentieth street northwest, where
was also Mr.. Wright, OF whom Mr.. Ennis
spoke in the letter. Mr.. Wright said:
''At my recent lecture on Occult develop
ment, Mr.. Ennis was present, and at the close
Of the lecture he asked me two questions in q
hurry. l told him that l did not know
whether could answer them quickly unless
they were simple ones.
lone of the questions was how do thaoso-
phists regard God? The other was relative to
reincarnation. I asked him II he wanted
this for sermon on theosophy, and he
would not answer my question, and did not
give me an opportunity for schollary discus
sion. l should have left Washington a week
ago, but remained. l heard of Mr.. Ennis
sermon by accident, andr resolved to hear it
Delivered
Mr.. Wright thought that Mr.. Ennis re-
marks were somewhat ridiculous, or at least
he expressed himself to that effect In re-
gard to the ministers remarks he said. among
other things:
"What has become OF Madame Blavatsky's
spirit-no, not that; we will call it her karma?"
Anybody, whether he be 4 theosophist or not,
ordinarily educated, would be aware that the
meaning of the Buddhistic word karma is not
spirit or soul, but action and reaction. or
cause and effect.
"Whstsoever a man soweth, that shall he
reap. That is the meaning of kurma. He
made jokes on Madame Blavatsky, drawing a
cigarette basket by aid of certain magnetic
powers, and other statements made by me Of
that nature which ne misrepresented. He
said these were only fit for Hindoo fakirs and
jugglers. As matter of fact, without mean
ing anything irreverert. / would ask Mr..
Ennis il the miracles of Jesus such, for in
stance. as the finding of the piece OF money
in the flsh's mouth. are to be classed among
the same feats OF so-called legerdamain!''
Then he went on to say that the religion he
professed was so simple child could under
stand it, and declared that theosophy was a
mass Of incoherent terms. Does Mr. Enuis
profess to understand thoroughly either
Ezekiel or Revelations? 1t seems to me that
the latter is far more tncomprehensible than
the secret doctrine.
Mr.. ENNIS RIDIcuLED EVOLUTION.
Mr.. Ennis made a joke upon the successive
appearance in our earth of mineral. vegetable,
animal and human kingdoms, something
well known to the ordinary student of evolu-
ton and geology, yet Mr.. Ennis compared it
to a merry-go-round. / have only to quote
here Prof. Huxley in one of his recent lee
lures as having said:
The law of cycles or circles is the most
abiding one in nature. and can be seen in its
action in every science from astronomy to
"a great deal of Mr.. Ennis address was an |
appeal to the emotions, to mothers hearts |
and little children, and the like What he said |
about our idea Of God was absurd. II we are !
respectful enough to call God it instead Of |
giving it e sex, and speaking OF father |
hood and ignoring motherhood, there is no |
reason why Mr.. Ennis should be so indignant |
'Sex is purely animal physical thing and |
can have nothing to do with that in which |
we move and live and have our being To |
make of God a great Father is 10 anthropo-
morphise Him and to make God in the i'm
age of man.
"As to what he said about Madam Ba-
vatsky being like MAJ, it is not a teaching
Of theosophy nor a desire of theosophy to
make 'mannish women This is distinct |
;lur and literally without foundation. Be-
cause said Madame Blavatsky smoked cigar
,ttes (Which was true) did not mean that
svery theosophist should smoke cigarettes.
MADAME BLAvATsKY's PERSONALITY.
~ was merely giving description of her
personality, and when said she was both in
and powerfully like man, GER
ainiy no intention should be conveyed that
heosophy sought to make mannish women
"The only reason the theosophists had in
challenging Mr.. Ennis was to give an oppor-
unity for honorable information to the pub
ic. Mr.. Ennis has backed out of this for
which am sorry personally. The excuse he
makes that the methods suggested of stimuli
aneous appearance on the platform of differ
mt religious representatives had passed
tway is destroyed at once by mere reference
o the Worlds Fair parliament of religions.
''It is only another illustration of the fact
hat the ministers are afraid to have their
Iiews examined in public or to give reasons
or the faith that is in them Mr. Ennis has
Ittacked and dishonorably presented theos-
,phy, and has made use of his church and
pulpit to do this.
"The time is certainly coming when some
~ ONT PAY slOO FOR A LOT WHEN YOIr CAN