The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-25


A very large audience packed the Odd
Fellows hall last night to listen o a lee
ture by A bbott Clarkson on What Is The
csophy The speaker began by saying that
all OF what he should say regarding the
osophy in the talk he was about to give
had been learned from theosophical lit
erature, but that no one was asked 10
accept anything said unless it appealed
10 his reason and intelligence or until
he lad proved it true This is one of
the first principles of theosophy. 1t does
not req lire one to believe any thing up
on authority. The speaker then gave a
brief history OF theosopny, beginning
with the first trace OF the word in the
twelfth century before Christ and follow
ing it down to the beginning OF the the
osophcal society under Madame ii. 7.
Blavatsky.
1heosophy is tie religion OF science
and the SCIENCE OF religion, the combina
tion OF common sense and aspiration,
the marriage OF intellect and intuition.
1t fills the long-felt want of a reforma-
tory institution, broad enough to sympa-
thize with all reforms and fanatical in
nothing. Its object is to seek the truth
underlying all religions. sciences and
PHILOSOPHERS ana to unite mankind in
q common bond OF brotherhood, and a
belief in universal brotherhood. without
any distinctions. is the only require M nt
for Nom bership in the society. Theos-
opny is rot materalism, spiritualism,
Christianity, Brahmauism or buddhism,
hut the basic truth underlying all of
them. Theosophy teaches that all men
are in state of evolution, and the be
lief Of any man in science or religion is
only the view which he takes Of truth
from his own particular standpoint. The
osophy shows the unity OF it all and
teaches that God is the universal divine
power, the maximum OF nature, and
there is a ray OF God in every man, while
all nature is pervaded by the divine es.
sence. God is natural and nature is spir-
itual.
The word man mems the .hinker.
Theosophy teaches that the thinker is a
ray Of the divine thought shot down into
matter and travelling this 'cycie OF me-
cessity By means or reincarnhtlon. Rein
carnation is the process OF the souls ev
olution on this planet. Through it all
there is 40 indestrdctable individuality
which strings together the various per-
sonalities as pearls upon line. One
aspect OF the universal law is the law
OF cause and effect. and is called karma.
This teaches that tire is 10 escape fiom
the natural consequences of any thought
word OF deed. Therefore we can only
attain peace when we have quit creating
had Karin along enough for the effects
to have worked themselves nut and been
replaced by nothing but grace and good.
Human solidarity is the great principle
which underlies all political, social,
intellectual and spiritual welfare. And
no reform can achieve permanent success,
except as il j. based upon human solidar-
ity or brings about permanent bene fiji, ex-
cept 1t promotes universal bruths rhood.
AT the close half an hour was given to
answering questions from the audience.
1t was announced that on next Sunday
at II a. IN. there would he q lecture IN
the same place on Wealth and Poverty.
and another at 7:t5 p. m. on Reincar-
nation.