The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-12
death AND THEOS)PHY.
Theosophists LookWith Pecu-
liar Joy to the Hereafter.
NO USE FOR THE DEAD BODY.
How Some Dead 1heosophists Have
Been Cremated-Views of Living
Theosophist on This Interesting
Subject.

The visit TO Providence OF Mr.. Bu-
chanan Harding OF the Aryan Theosophl-
cal Society OF New York has made theoso-
phy a matter of a good deal OF popular
talk, and the theosophical view OF the
hereafter is naturally OF prime interest
1t is not altogether unlike the popu-
lar view held by many Christians
According To theosophists, every human
being is living soul, which always was
and ALWAYS will be, and which at times
: functions through a human body which IL
itself has built up 10 enable IL 10 act III
material plane. by many lhls necessary oI
action in physical plane IS dreaded. III Is
as IL the soul were thrown into a dungeon
IAN idea held by Plato, as well as other
mystics of ancient times, and present
among the Buddhists and Brahmlns OF
to-day, the Nirvana of the Buddhists be-
ing not annihilation, but cessation OF
existence on material planes. Death
removes the soul from its material con-
finement. Theosophists hold as, IN
way, did Henry Ward Beecher,
that they should restrain their first incli-
nation to mourn fora friend who dies, ana
should. instead rejoice that his best por-
tion gains by the physical death. Admis-
sable grief is only that sorrow inseperable
from parting, even if that parting be but
for short time.
Theosphists hold that souls which
function in bodies are free when the body
is laid TO rest at night, Just as the musician
in one meaning is free when he lays down
his instrument. More than this: During
the waking hours the soul has
considerable measure OF con-
seriousness that is not en-
ployed in the details OF physical existence,
but is more or less active in the unsub-
stantial realms, and rs in "a way In har-
mony with completely disembodied souls.
Therefore, the separation between living
and dead is less than is ordinarily sup
posed. Such conceptions largely diminish
the horrors of death.
For disposing OF the dead body most
theosophists favor cremation. The
ordinary objections to interment that are
advanced on sanitary grounds have
weight with theosophlsts. In addition
there is, they say, even after death, still a
tie between the corpse and that which
quit il, FOR that which quit il Is not only
the pure soul Dut covering of the
soul less material than the gross body,
though not unsubstantial. This cover
ing has 10 disintegrate at equal rate
with the corpse. The quick destruction
of the body by fire expedites both OF these
disintegrations. Mime. Blavatsky, the
high priestess OF thecsophy, directed that
her body should be cremated. Her ashes
were divided into three portions, one
each for the Asiatic, European and Am
ericau sections of the Theosophical Soci-
urn at No. IA Madison avenue, New York
city, in the charge of William q. Judge.
The body of Baron DE Palm was cre-
mated. The funeral was conducted at the
Masonic Temple I'm New York by Colonel
4,s0 il president sundatdn Gi the in society sEe
presence OF an assembly so large
as to seem at one time to imperil
its own safety. The ashes ofSattya,a a Hin
doc, who was cremated near New York city
were scattered in midocean. on stormy
night, when heavy banks OF clouds OBJ
scured the moon and the deck was de-
serted. A weird Hindoo chant, TO the
accompaniment of the pounding waves,
consigned them to al unmarked grave.
A member of the Theosophical Society
was recently asked how he would feel in
regard to his own funeral.
az should wish,' he said, "that those re-
manning should treat my body in such
way as to give them the most comfort; but,
for my own part, i should regret il they
made fuss over what j esteem a mere in
cident, and helpful one, at that. So far
as my cadayer Is concerned, should be
exceedingly pleased II they would choose
to burn the corrupt thing in the most ex-
peditious way. i have not the slightest
preference between pine box or a rose
wood casket, q fine dress suit with immacu-
late linen, or old clothes with dirty collar
and cuffs. But do hope that those who
are left behind will not make themselves
miserable by uncalled for wailings, which
but retard the progress of the disem-
bodied soul to its temporary, not eternal,
rest. IL my influences which j shall leave
behind will not be for good, l shall have
to square my record when my soul will
come again to human body from its
Temporary rest"
Among people OF such opinions burial
ceremonies would be most inappropriate.
A. ..mf- "A -.
garments and formal grief.