The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-04-19

the leaders of her society she is simple in
her ha tiss and method of living. and be-
sides there are ample evidences of sincere
enthusiasm and devotion in the cause of
theosophy. Her conversation is frequent
ly piQuant, always interesting and attimes
indicative of considerable thought and
conviction. The elevation Of Hindoo
women is a subject which has enlisted her
sympathies, and will no doubt be the theme
of an address in this city. In person she
is about the medium height, with an intel
lectual face beaming with kindly express
sion, and her bearing is simplicity itself.
She Travelled through India with Mrs.
Annie Besant as a companion. ana sup
ported her on a tour of the principal cities
when Mrs. Besant lectured and spoke for
the lberati on of Hindoo women. This
tour gave her peculiar opportunity OF learn
ing very much about the theosophieal ex-
perts aud management OF the society. so
what she has 10 say in this respect is inter-
esting:
81 have resd with considerable surprise
some statements made BY Emmette Cole
man in connection with Mrs. Annie Be-
SAINT" said the Countess yesterday.
Mr.. Coleman says that the Theosophical
Society is affiliated with absolute Hindu
ism, which finds its ablest exponent and
leader in Mrs. Annie Besant. Theosophy,
rs is we'll known, claims to have its one
root idea ia all religions and to be the
basis of every religion. and. in accordance
with this idea, when we were in Ceylon
Qor l have had ibe pleasure Of accompany
ing Mrs. Besant on her tour through India
Mrs. Besant never mentioned Hindooism.
but leetured solely on Buddhism, giving the
esoIeric meaning of the tenets of that
religion. When in Bombay among the
Parsea community her lectures treated OF
the Equestrian religion, and when in
M0hammedan towns she turned the atten-
ton of her hearers to the Koran.
Colonel Olcott has been most particu-
lar in stating before every lecture that the
Theosophical society has nothing to do
with the private beliefs of either its Off
GERS or members; that he himself Delays
10 the Buddhist religion; that Mrs. Besant
has sympathy for the Branma Vidya, an
esoieric meaning of the Hindoo religio u.
but her personal sympathy does not affect
the Theosophical Society.
Now Mr. Emmette Coleman says that
Mrs Besant has advocated the child mar
rage system, condemniDg the adult mar
rage OF Occidental nations.
This | absolutely deny. Many have
asked her to give an opinion on child mar
rage, and she has always refused to give
any opinion, saying that she had not
studied the question sufficiently TO enable
her to express any views on the mat er.
Mr.. Coleman says that Mrs. Besant iIas
enjoyed the worships of many gods
Does he understand what she means BY
sueh an expression, which / am not sure
that she ever used. But think | can ex-
plain what has given rise to the error.
Mrs. Besant has talked much about
idol worship. saying that in worship t.
the deity it is help to have concrete
object on which to concentrate the mind
and then through that idea let the sopl
watt up in worship to the deity. and that
Is both the origin and use of ID oil worship.
The many gods Mr. Coleman talks about
are simply attributes of the one deity. and
in worshiping them the Hindoos send out
their tribute of praise TO either love, JUS
tice, charity. etc. which the particular god
is supposed to represent, it being part of
the universal deity which contains all and
is all.
Mrs Besant has extolled the original
casts System which in past ages caused
India 20 be 1.-The greatest country Ia the
world, and tho mother of all religions.
Now, though Emmette Coleman has given
lecture On Hindooism, he probably
knows nothing Eabout the caste system,