The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-06-17
Tie 1heosophioal society. phenomenal


as that is.
In 1877 the first theosophic pubiica-
tion-outside some epl1emeral news
Paper appeared. 1t was Mad
anne Blavatsky's Isis Unveiled a
work of 1900 octave pages which has
run through six editions and is still in
growing demand. Two years later the
official ma gazine organ of the society.
The Theosophist. was started in Bonn
bay, India. Soon afterward another
monthly. which was and remains the
ablest in the field, was started in New
York. by Mr. W. G. Judge, as the organ
of the American session, under the
name Of The Path, Lucifer, LIE Lotus,
Sphynx, Nahan. and various other mag
azines followed. in various parts of the
world. until now there are some fifteen
or sixteen. all of which seem to have
lourished. in English, French, German,
Dutch. Spanish. Rindoo and other
languages. In 1880 the first theosophic
matter was printed in England. a.
small tract entitled. How Best to Be
come Theosophist, and a couple of
years later great impulse was given
to the movement in that country by the
issue of Mr. A. P. Sinnett's Occult
World, followed not long after by his
"Esoteric Buddhism" bo;h works Of in
| tense popular interest and still in large
demand. Now, there are over 800 the
osophic books of recognizable chara-
ter as books, and not mere works of
fiction zen around
selected bits of real or imagined "oc-
lcultism. to meet popular taste. And
in addition to these, have appeared, in
ten different languages. 2 multitude
| of theosophic pamphlets, tracts and
leaflets, all OF which have had wide
circulation and eager acceptance
About 100000 of these brochures are
annually distributed by the society
The greatest and most Comprehensive
OF theosophic books. The Secret Doc
trine," has gone through three editions
already, and this is significant when
the fact is realized that it is a much
larger and more expensive book than
Isis Unveiled" and one which is little
likely to appeal TO any but educated
and intellectual people. 1t is indeed
open TO question whether the vast and
profound system Of metaphysical phil
osopfly which is the root, or foundation
of theosophy, can, IN the present condi-
ton of humanity, appeal to many
other than that comparatively limited
iclass. But its ethical teachings are
simple and what may properly be styI-
ed us eXoterlc system. is easy of COM
Irrehension, and perhaps even more
reasonable and acceptable to all intel
llgent minds than many dogmas with
which the cradulity of mankind has
been cajoled for ages.
The Theosophical society, as a so.
clety. has no dogmas. 1t has three de-
clared objects; a. ITO form the nu-
cleus Of a universal brotherhood of hui
mainly, without distinction of race,
creed, sex, caste or color" (2l ITO pro-
mote the spread of Aryan and other
eastern lteratures, religions. philoso-
plies and sciences. and 10 demonstrat e
the Importance of their study" Isl ITO
investigate unexplained laws of nature,
and the pyschic powers latent in man =
Evidently, Jew, Pagan. Protestant and
Catholic may, and in fact do meet upon
equal terms on that common platform.
And, respecting the first object, it is
worth while to remark in the laneua ge
of Mr.. c. F. Wright. a prominent the
osophic lecturer that st must not be
understood "a promoting socialistic
! or communiStic sodality. based upon
laws OF finance or necessity or the Wis
llonary and unnatural concept of the
! Equality of man, but an attempt to
break down the walls Of estrangement
between sects, religions ard nations.
freeing man from the degrading philos-
| cphy of self-interest, and helping him
! to practical realization of the God with
in him.
Although the society is unsectarian.
devoid of a creed, and Acknowledges in
the widest sense the right of its indi-
| N4uu0a, ll4CillDclS 10 private Judgment
land independent belief theosophy Of
fers two dogmas which are generally
taccepted by members. as indeed they
are by vast numbers Of persons. with
more or less cleaTness and openness of
aYowal, outside this organization. The
first Of these is the universal rule of
a bsolute and exact justice, under wha t
is known as the law of "karma. -
which obtains upon the material plane
lof the universe, there being known as
cause and effect and is no less op-
lerative upon the mental and physi 5al
planes, where it metes out
to men consequences, which take
the forms of punishment or awards in
| just proportions to the quality and de-
| gree of the impelling causes. Every
! thought and act of man has its result
necessarily proportioned to it in kind,
and every result in its turn inevita bly,
becomes a cause for other results.
Thus every man is constantly, whether
consciously of unconsciously. shaping
seed Of inevitable results This
would involve acceptance of the rank
est sort of fatalism, were not man
Iendowed with the god-like prerogatives
of reason and will. He has the power
lin himself if he will exercise it. to re-
strain himself from sowing the seeds
of evil, to ''fill his life with blameless-
ness" In proportion as he does so
good consequences accrue to him, just
las he may enjoy health as result OF
,proper care for his physical being. Or
iif base desires and selfish purposes OBJ.
Iscure his good and he does evil, he
A