The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-07-23
Theosophy and Hsredity.


Theosophy and Hsredity.
DIR. Allan Griffith lectured upon
Theosophy and Heredity yesterday at
theosophical lecture room, 43l11s South
Spring street.
He opened bis address by remarking
that modern methods of thought and in
vestigation were superficial, which often
resulted in mistaking effects for causes.
This 10 true as to the theory Of hered.
ity, which, as commonly understood, is
misleading. Viewed superfcially it ia
inviting and satisfactory, but when in
vestigated it is discovered to be made
quate to nationally account for mans
presence and condition on this earth.
The heredity theory may be stated in
few words, viz:
A given child ia what he is physically,
mentally and morally, because he has
been so endowed by parents and ances-
tors. Thus one child may be born in
the lap of luxury and lead happy and
sacceasful life, while another is born in
the elums Of low, beso.ted parents, and
from birth is destined to life of misery
and misfortune. Both are, thus, crea-
lures Of the whim and caprice of blind.
sightless fate. In one case, kind and
beneficent; in the other, cruel and ma
levolent. The child, the one most con-
cerned, has by this fallacious theory no
voice in his fate, no choice in his des-
tin-.- Reason end juutioc cut no fEurcn
as factors, while chance and accident
run rampant and daeh athwart the do.
main of law like unbridled steeds bent
upon escape from pursuing furies.
But the esoterio philosophy, the old
wisdom religion, shed light upon this
as it does upon all other problems, and
it enables the student to demonstrate
the truth or falsity of it's teachings by
independent investigation. And that,
coupled with it's widespread and univer-
sal application to every department OF
knowledge and human endeavor, con-
stitutes Its supremacy.
Three propositions are submitted for
thoughtful consideration OF students:
First-The existence, evolution and
Immortality of the soul, the thinker,
constituted as it is OF the infinite poten-
tislities of its source and goal, Deity.
Second - Repeating and successive
earth lives, or incarnationH, of each
thinker. as the natural order of its evo-
luton and existence.
Third-Karma, the law of the con-
servation of energy. or cause and effect.
which connects all earth lives Of each
thinker in an unbroken series.
He then entered into a general discus
sion of the subject, and closed by saying
that life viewed in the light OF Theosophy
demonstrates two propositions:
First-Man's complicated nature and
indissoluble connection, not only with
his fellows, but with all that livee.
Second--That he cannot for himself
attain real progress and happiness. ex.
cept as he exerts himself to asaist his
fellows and all lower Kingdoms to evolve
towards the common goal of higher
life.
Y. w. q. A.
The Sunday afternoon meeting at the
rooms of the Y. W. @. A. was one of un-
usual interest, the speaker being Mr.. W.
B. Jacobs, SO widely known in Sunday
school circles throughout the country.
The devotional exercises were led by
Miss Rider. Mr.. Jacobs based his re-
marks on the 13Sth Psalm. the central
thought: II will praise Thee with my
whole heart"
do we have that attitude Of praise
that there is no question as to who has
the fret place?
''Half-hearted religion is almost worse
than no religion at all.
1T isn't for me to pass judgment on
the weakest member, but Christ's church
is suffering from half-heartedness. l
scarcely know which cauees greatest
wonder in my mind, my forgetfulness or
Gods patience and loving-kin6ness.
Il have never thanked God for the
Chicago fire, but I have thanked him
many times that he burnt up all my
worldly possessions, for l was getting a
little out OF my way-through prosperity
IN business losing my dependence ON
Him-and thank Him that He brought
me back.
There is only one thing that will sat-
isfy the human heart, and that 10 the
love OF Jesus Christ. All things else are
small in comparison"
The address was followed by short tes-
timonies from number present.
Church OF the Now Era.
The morning discussion was on the
subject, How shall the masses obtain
justice?
In the evening Professor Bowman
chose for his subject, The church and
state OF the New Era. He said:
"Fcr IL years now / have been very
much dissatisfied with the social and
political conditions surrounding me.
After 10 years' service as a Methodist
minister found myself obliged to com
ont from the theological plane OF relig-
ious thought into the philosophical.
With the wider mental sphere which
this change opened before me came