St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-10

In 1877 the first theosophic pub
lication-outside some ephemeral news
paper articles-appeared. It was Mad
anne Blavatsky's 60 Isis Unveiled"
work of 1880 octave pages, which has run
through six editions and is still in growing
demand. Two years later the official maya
zine organ of the society, 1.-THE Thecsophist,"
was started in Bombay, India. Soon after
ward another monthly, which was and re-
mains the ablest In the field, was started in
New York. by Mr.. W. @. Judge, as the organ
of the American section, under the name of
"1he Path" "Lucifer, !" sic Lotls,' Sphyn1,"
"Val,an," and various other magazines fol-
lowed, in various parts of the world, until
now there are some fifteen or sixteen, all of
which seem to have fourished, in English,
French, German, Dutch Spanish Hindoo and
other languages. In 1880 the first theosophic
matter was printed in England, a small tract
entitled, GLOW Best to Become Theoso-
phist,' 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" both works of intense
popular interest and still in large demand.
Now, there are over three hundred theosophic
books of recognizable character as books, and
not mere works of fiction, which have been
written around selected bits of real OF
imagined "occultism, to meet popular taste.
And, in addition to these, have appeared, in
ten different languages, a multitude of theo-
sophie pamphlets, tracts and leaflets, all of
which have had wide circulation and eager
acceptance. About two millions of these
brochures are annually distributed by the
society. The greatest and most comprehen-
sive of theosophic books, 'sThe Secret Doc
trine," has gone through three editions
already, and this is significant when the fact
is realized that it is much larger and more
expensive book than isis Unveiled" and one
which is little likely to appeal to any but
educated and intellectual people. It is in
deed open to question whether the vast and
profound system OF metaphysical philosophy
which is the root, or foundation Of theo-
sophy, can, in the present condition of
humanity, appeal to many others than that
comparatively limited class. But its ethical
teachings are simple and what may properly
be styled its exoteric system, is easy of COM
prehension, and perhaps even more reason
able and acceptable to all intelligent minds
than many dogmas with which the credulty
of mankind has been cajoled for ages.
The Theosophical Society, as a society, has
no dogmas. 1t has three declared objects:
~ 'sTo form the nucleus of universal
brotherhood OF humanity, without distinc-
ton of race, creed, sex, caste or color.'' az
''To promote the study of Aryan and other
Eastern lteratures, religions, PHILOSOPHERS
and sciences, and to demonstrate the impor-
lance of their study ~ 'eTo investigate I'M
explained laws of nature, and the psychic
powers latent in man. Evidently, Jew,
Pagan, Protestant and Catholic may, and in
fact do, meet upon equal terms on that COM
mon platform. And, respecting the first
object, it is worth while to remark in the
language of Mr.. C. F. Wright, prominent
theosophic lecturer, that sit must not be
understood as promoting a socialistic or
communistic sodality, based upon laws of
finance or necessity, or the visionary and
unnatural concept of the equality of man,
but an attempt to esbreak down the walls of
enlargement between sects, religions and
nations" freeing man from the degrading
philosophy of sef-interest, and helping him
to practical realization of the God within
him.
Although the society is unsectarian, devoid
of a creed and acknowledges in the widest
sense the right Of its individual members to
private judgment and independent belief, the
osophy offers two dogmas which are generally
accepted by members, as indeed they are by
vast numbers of persons, with more or less
clearness and openness of avowaI, out
side this organization. The first of these is
fha mi rr1to of OH Inf
justice under what is known as "the law of
Karma,' which obtains upon the material
plane of the universe, there being known as
"cause and effect" and is no less operative
upon the mental and physic planes, where it
metes out to men consequences, which take
the forms of punishments or awards in just
proportion to the quality and degree of the
impelling causes. Every thought and act of
man has it's result, necessarily proportional
to it in kind, and every result in its turn
inevitably becomes cause for other results.
Thus every man is constantly, whether con-
sciously or unconsciously, shaping his own
future by sowing the seed of inevitable
results. This would involve acceptance of
the rankest sort of fatalism, were not man
endowed with the god-like prerogatives of
reason and will. He has the power in him
self, if he will exercise it. to restrain himself
from sowing the seeds of evil, to 'sfill his life
with blamelessness." In proportion as he
does so, good consequences accrue to him,
just as he may enjoy health as a result of
proper care for his physical being. Or, if
base desires and selfish purposes OBJ
scure his good and he does evil, he will
suffer therefore, just as drunkenness,
gluttony, or any other animal vice, surely
brings upon him physical i'll. All happiness
and good that come to man must have been
earned, and all evils in affection, estate or
person, are Of his own making. And from
this memorable law there is no escape by pro-
fessions of repentance and faith, or through
the intercession of any mediator, for the law
is sef-operative and not the decree of any
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