The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-09-19
A CLASS IN THE0S0PHY.
SUCH HAS BEEN STARTED IN
FOSTER HALL.
synopsis of Mrs. Thirds First Lectur,
to Her Pupils -Three Funda-
mental Principles.

Tuesday evening Mrs. Thirds in
augurated new policy in the instruc-
ton of her pupils in the study of
Theosophy. Heretofore she has de-
livered class lectures each Tuesday
evening at the hour of 1880, at the resi-
dence of Mrs. 7. Il. Foster, Nuuanu
street; hut the number of those seeking
instruction having largely increased it
was deemed best to hold the meetings
of the class at Foster hall and to throw
them open to the public.
When Mrs. Thirds arose to speak,
therefore, last evening she stated that
that meeting marked the beginning of
a consecutive series of lectures upon
Theosophy. 1t was impossible in
several lectures or a short series of lee
lures upon the subject to clearly show
the connecting links between the prin-
ciples of Theosophy. Consequently the
series proposed would be consecutive,
for instruction only, would be informal
and the speaker would offer her
service in answering any questions pro-
posed by the class.
After these remarks she opened the
subject o! the evening and said: II
wish to present to you tonight the
three fundamental propositions upon
which the whole philosophy of Theos-
ophy rests. They are difficult to COM
prehend, but if understood the vague
ness of the subject disappears.
"The Secret Doctrine" two books
written by Madame Bavatsky and
others postulates, first, what it calls the
absolute. That is, the existence of a
great, omnipotent, overshadowing prin-
ciple called spirit. Manifested things
are not eternal. The absolute has ex
listed from all eternity and will continue
on forever.
Primarily the absolute includes both
spirit and matter. Throughout the
universe, in the world of nature, we
observe two aspects-spirit on the one
hand and on the other, matter. Matter
we regard as the clothing of the spirit
| By this | mean matter which lies be-
! hind the matter we see and into which
the matter we see resolves itself. 1t il
impossible to disassociate the ideas o
matter and life. 1t is just as easy tt
consider book without two sides, 4;
hand without its opposite surface.
Life is associated with matter and il
the secret of its existence. Every atom
in nature, even to the nomadic, partake
OF the human body-is alive. Yes, on
bodies are filled with infinitesimal lives
Every life must be conceived as on th,
one side spirit and on the other matter
The whole cosmos is life, everywher
present, and matter is everywhere EN-
bodying it. We cannot regard the all
solute as the first cause, but the spiri
within, the energy, the force.
The second principle is that all spac
we may say space in the abstracts
great field upon which manifestation
are periodesimal. This law is universe
All that we know of life, all that W
know of nature, convinces us of thi
philosophy.
The third point is that there exists
great over-soul, the intelligence of TN
! worlds. This is the combined INTEL
gences, the universal mind, of which W
/ ourselves are sparks or rays. Bein
sparks, or atoms of the great spirit, "
, are enabled to evolve up to the unive
8 sal spirit above. We are all destined
: this cycle of necessity to pursue I'll
natural course from the lowest to II
t great mind.
There is no favoritism in nature. A
v souls, or sparks from the great spiri
{ must pursue like course of develo
ment. All minds are identical in facu
a ties and capabilities, and must evolve
e the supreme mind. We are too proi
/, to think of ourselves as units. The
|. the greatest of mistakes is made. |
our minds not develop by sharing IN Il
q minds of others?
d The evolution of the individual mil
6 is dependent upon its connection vii
d the universal mind around us. III
r animal is on different plan on this a
count. He lives in an intellige
n world, but is utterly oblivious to
r. being unable to respond to the vi
r versal mind around.
?, These three propositions lie at b
N foundation of Theosophy, and before
ID pupil can get a clear idea of the subje'
s, must understand them not by arbitra
reasoning, but phllosophically
10 The speaker then heard and answer
as several queries, after which the meeti
m adjourned.
~, Lecturer smith Coming.