The record-union., 1894-06-04
THE COUNTESS WACHHMEISTER.
Her Address to the Theosophical
Society.
An Exposition of the Aims and Objects
OF the society-Brotherho
ia Religion.


meeting of the Theosophicai Society last
night at Pythian Castle. She was intro
duced by Albert Hart, who in few in
troductory words sketched the belief of
the Theosophists, saying that Theosophy
is the evolution of the mystery of life. 1t
has three objects-to form the nucleus OF
universal brotherhood of man, without
distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or
color; TO promote the study OF Aryan
and other Eastern literatures, religions
and sciences; to investigate unexplained
laws of nature and the physical powers
latent in man. Karma and reincarnation
are the central teachings of Theosophy,
furnishing the explanation of human life
and the motive Of human effort
The Countess said that Theosophy is
the outcome of generations on genera
tions of wise men. AS we see the differ
ence between Edison and Tennyson and
a savage, SO it is between Theosophy and
primitive belief
The adopts live in the world now. Their
favorite residence is among high mount
aims. There was one in san francisco
some years ago. There are English,
Scotch, Indian and other adopts. Madame
Blavatsky, who founded the society in
1870, was the pupil of an adept from In
dia, who came to England on political
mission. After his return she went to
India and met her master, being SNUG
gled into Thibet in a load Of hay, Euro
peans not being allowed to enter that
country.
The early members were mostly spirit
ualists, but the society has since spread
all over the world. 1t is vast brother
hood of all religions. The word religion
means binding together, but the term has
gone far beyond that purpose, and each
religion has built up wall about itself,
shutting out the rest OF the world. and
claiming to be alone right. Theosophy
seeks to break down this wall and draw
all men together.
When the speaker went to India she
was, on account Of her views, taken into
homes into which no European had
gained admission. Theosophy forms the
nucleus of true brotherhood. Religion
has not accomplished what it should. 1t
has built up walls: it has caused fearful
wars and the Inquisition, and the amount
OF blood shed on account Of it is awful.
The character of Christ is different 1t is
full of love. Religion has not brought
about the perfect love of Christ.
Theosophy wishes to break down the
walls and show that we are all brothers.
q
is asked if he will be tolerant Of others
religion. He is told to go down into his
own religion and find the truth. The
osophy is at the root of all religions.
The speaker gave her ideas of The first
cause, the starting point, whence all must
pass through all things to absolute con-
sciousness; the seven globes, of which
the earth is the fourth and the ego, must
pass around and through the seven chains
Ia nc al IA pH
all knowledge, ii passes into the absolute.
Theosophy teaches how to live, so as to
prOgress-how TO govern one's self, how
10 know oneis sell. The universe is the
ideation of the whole man. The way to
think is to think only what you ought
to govern your thoughts and choose them
We should teach children what not to
think. We should not say to them ut is
wrong to do this" but "It is wrong to
think this" Thought proceeds from ac-
ton. If we go on thinking bad thoughts
about person, we can make them kill
him-can make him die. 1t has been
done. Bad thoughts go out and make
others bad. If our own thoughts are
pure they can repel the bad thoughts of
others.
Reincarnation is the pilgrimage of the
ego to reach knowledge. 1t has to be
born again and again. Each time it is
formed by the life before. We are form
ing our next life by our thoughts in this
one Karma is the law of cause and eff
feet The lowest law is the law OF har-
mony. Ii we stray from it, pain and
suffering will result. We have no right
to Judge others; we cannot know their
souls. We may know the incidents of
their lives here, but we cannot know
their former lives, which have nodded
this one.
The faults and vices of a nation bring
punishment TO it. Every nation has its
keynote she said, land the harmony of
the universe is struck from the keynotes
of the many races. Rome struck its key
note in a conquest for the glory Of the
State. Greece struck its keynote for art.
India struck its keynote for spiritual
elevation and worship, asking for only
what she believed. In those three ma
tions we have the physical, the psychic
and the spiritual. Rome and Greece saw
the realization of their aims and fell.
India still lives, but her greatness has
been deprecated in the unraveling of
time. India was great. To-day she is
degraded. If America does not change
she will go. too. Her keynote is gold
everything tends to that"
The whole nation must strive for spir-
ituality, for charity, to do for others.
Theosophy teaches that not to be charita-
BILE is a crime. We should strive to know
how to live. Theosophy teaches this.
The Countess is a very pleasing and
impressive speaker and held the atten-
ton OF her audience closely.
a reception was rendered to her last
Saturday evening at the residence of Mrs.
Barber, Sll III street.