The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-04-25

Buddha type They have the power of
assuming any form and of transporting
themselves to the most distant places on
earth at will, and though they mingle con-
stantly with men are seldom recognized.
They sent Nine. BlaIhtsky to organize
the TheOsophical society, which they
watch over and protect All the members
of this brotherhood have lived thousands
of years.
Notwithstanding that about % per cent
of the members of the TheOsophical So
cety hold these and other beliefs, the So
ciety as a society holds no doctrines of any
kind. Under the constitution the society
can not be committed to any dogma, even
if belief in it should be unanimous. But
as individuals its members can hold any
belief. A man may be n Buddhist,
Christian, Jew, Mohammedan or Spirit
ualist and eXpOund his beliefs. But he
must subscribe to the doctrine of universal
brotherhood, which means that all men
are brothers by virtue of being sons of one
God and that all religions must be tolerat-
ed. There is also no distinction as to sex
or color in the society, negroes being con-
sidered as possessing souls as well as
white men. From this it would seem
there would be great diversity of belief
among the members But the contrary
is the fact The teachings of the myster-
ious brotherhood whom Nine. Blavatsky
represented are particularly synthetic and
harmonizing and show, as Theosophists
believe, that the various religions on earth
are only different expression of common
doctrine-one Truth clothes in various
garments. 1t is claimed that the three
views above enumerated were taught,
though in a varied form, by all the great
religious teachers and philosophers.
w. C. Judge is chief of the American
Theosophists. He is general secretary OF
he American section and vice president
of the whole society. He is very mys-
erious individual and although credited
with being himself an adept and men,
Der of the great Tibetan brotherhood,
is noted chiefly for silence on the sub
iect of occult matters. He is, in fact,
the Sphinx among TheOsophists. He
is about Al years old, quiet, unassumlng
and a man of tremendous will power.
Although attempting no oratory, he is
an impressive speaker, and has lectuerd
in half of the States in the Union. He
was prominent at the Worlds fair par
lliament of religions, on several occasions
addressing audiences of $500 and 5000
people Mr. Judge was one of the orig
| inal II charter members of the society
and is practically the founder of the
American section.
An interesting story is tOld of how
he started the first branch in New York
City. Prior to about 1880 Mr.. Judge
was the only Theosophist in the metrop-
oils. He knew no one whose mind ran
| in a similar channel, but he had an i'm
mense faith in the power of thought.
SO he used to sit in his law Office in
| Nassau street and mediate on the doc
trines of Theosophy, holding a meeting
by himself He confidently expected
that men with sympathetic minds would
be attracted to his Office by these medita-
tons. Nor was he disappointed. People
did drop in without knowing why, and
the conversation would turn to the sub
ject uppermost in the mind of Mr.. Judge.
In the course of time the law Office was
converted into q Theosophist meeting
room. A branch was organized later
on. 1t is now a prosperous institution,
and owns a $4,000 headquarters just
north of Madison square.
Mr.. Judge is also noted as a writer.
He is the author of Echoes From the
Orient" Letters That Have Helped
Me" and the ocean of Theosophy' and
is the translator of Patanjali's Yoga
Aphorisms. celebrated Hindu work on
magic and the "Bhagavad-G ita," the
most sacred of Hindu bibles. He is
also the founder and editor of the Path
Magazine of New York, the American
organ of Theosophy.
Among other well known members OF
the society are: DR.. J. D. Buck, dean
of Pulti Medical college, Cincinnati
Judge r. Yves. Mcbride of the supreme
court Of Indiana; Alexander Fullerton
formerly . well known Philadelphia min