The herald., 1895-10-14
TheosophicaI Discourse

Abbott B. CLARK of San Francisco de-
livered very instructive lecture at the
hall at 1881 South Spring street last
night, entitled, eff a man die shall he
live again? or proofs of re-birth on
EARTH" The following is an epitome of
the discourse:
Thesophists claim that the soul is i'm
mortal, that it progresses by means of
human experience in many human
bodies. Theosophy is one OF the lost
systems of thought, but Philosophical
knowledge has always been accessible
where one has earnestly desired to find
it, The question. shall -an live again,
has always been answered, il the ques-
tioner was looking with persistence. 1t
has always been proven that the ego or
soul existed through introspection. The
occult science of theosophy shows how 10
develop that power: but it cannot be
bought. The only science of modern times
that is anything like exact is mathemat-
les, and this can neither be touched.
tasted nor weighed; yet in this country
people are always asking for material
proof; and this has been proven by the
mind. solely through having to do with
questions concerning the mind. So With
incarnation; having to do with the mind
and inner senses. we must look for proofs
though the mind and also the inner
senses. The proofs of incarnation ar
range themselves under the head of JUS
tice. logic, science and intuition.
Justice is one of the highest functions
of the human mind-as yet but slightly
developed. To account for the inequali-
ties of human life but three theories ex-
ist One is that eacn birth is a new SOUL
fresh from thu hand OF God, who made
it and is therefore responsible for it. If
temperament, inherent character
good or bad, are all made by God, then
is the injustice most terrible, for He
would be responsible for their dispo-
sition. bad temper, passion or thieving
tendency. and all their character and the
circum stances attending their birth. If
this were true. then the coming of one
child to Asiatic parents one to the
Sums OF city where it is taught to
steal, and one to wealthy Christian par.
ents by the creation of God, would be a
most horrible injustice to the children,
in the matter, would be the victims of
most merciless creator. The material.
istio theories of chance and heredity are
equally uni ust to the victim, the respon-
sibiliiy being simply shifted from God to
the parents. Theosophy offers the only
just explanation, viz, that each soul.
being i'm ortal in the past, has created
for itself its own destiny.
Starting out from the civine in the be-
ginning, pure but ignorant each has Gre
ated for himself according to his own
mind, and is therefore suffering or en-
joying the fruits of his own choice. One
who has chosen evil reaps misery until
by sheer force of suffering he reforms.
The man who dies in evil awakes to his
next rebirth in the .lums, rs the man
who sleeps the sleep of intoxication
awakes IN the gutter or station house
q n ne at N a
in the present; as it sows in the present
so will the future be. Another fragrant
injustice that is disposed OF by reincsrna-
ton is the idea that child dying goes
to heaven, leaving his brothers who we're
so unfortunate as to live to run every
chance of going to eternal perdition.
Logically. reincarnation is needed for
the development of the soul. otherwise
why should it come here at all? Tbeo-
sophy teaches that nature exists for the
evolution OF the soul. In case of death
in infancy, or during youth, little or no
experience has been acquired. AS exper-
fence is the only channel through which
wisdom can be gained, in cases like these
an early leincarnation would be an abso-
Lutte necessity to fulfill the object of hui
man life.
Assuming the immortality of the soul,
pre-existence becomes inevitable for I'M
mortality means existing eternally-
eternity having no ending, cannot have
had beginning. 1t is as illogical to
think of an immortal soul having been
crented at birth as to talk of stick hav-
Ing only one end. That which begins in
time must end in time.
If we have existed throughout eternity,
we must have b,en sOmewhere--for mill
ions OF years probably evolving on this
earth.
Up to date scientists speak of the atom
as unit of force; others as unit of
tnH inn NJ
Huxley consciousness, force and matter
are inseparable and Goequal fctors in
themselves, therefore the atom must he
considered as unit of consciousness or
mind. The atom is therefore the soul of
everything in nature. 1T is the soul
ture is.
Embryolog7 proves that the animal
| soul in man has evolved up through all
| the lower conditions. During the few
months OF CESSATION, the embryo repeats
| the entire process of evolution through
the animal soul bears the memory of its
| long evolutionary journeys and imprints
| its record upon matter.
| The difference between theosophy and
| modern science is that the former in
| cludes the whole of nature while science
| leaves mar; out. Science Gays that every
! thing in nature is indestructible; yet the
| cannon ball can Ue dssipated in vapor;
| but, say they, it Is the atomic essence or
! basis which is indestructible to man. The
personality may be dltsipated, but is
atomic esSence-the substance of the soul
| can never be destroyed.
As the iron atoms will reaggregate as
iron, 40 matter, once raised to the human
plane. will reageregate around its center
OF attraction-the unit of consciousness,
! the human soul. Another great law of
science always known as theosophy) is
the indestructibility OF force; this must
include will force and intellectual energy,
which move and guide all Others.
Attractions and repulsions and cause
and effect also prove reincarnation. all
our attractions being for the earth, make
it inevitable that we should return. just
AS an acid poured over hundred aka
line bases seeks alone that one for which
il has the greatest affinity. so the soul
seeks the parents who have for it the
greatest sum of Karmic attractions. As
the lover seeks the beloved, gravity draws
the falling stone, so the soul seeking
earth comes to its own.
Bishop Montgomery's Sermon
Bishop Montgomery preached in Azusa
10 ri n% <~f