The San Francisco call., 1896-12-29
IHEOSOPHY IS
TAKING ROOT
Great Activity in Local
Circles During the
Past Year.
The Besant Faction Aids India
and the Judge People to
Build a Temple.
Count Wachtmeister Tells How the
New Gospel Grows in America
and India.

The close of the year witnesses un-
exampled activity among the various
factions of local theosophists.
That progressive branch led by Mrs.
Annie Besant in India and elsewhere, and
just now championed by Count Axel
Wachtmeister in local circles, is doing
all in its power to relieve the sufferers of
India, while the branch led by Judge ex-
poets to build an occult temple in this
State next year, and to keep up the work
of evangelization until the world is
spaDned with the teachings of theosophy.
II have been here about m onth." said
Count Wachtmeister yesterday, "and /
am just now editing the Mercury in this
City. At subscription of 81 a year we
do not conduct it to make fortune, but
to enlighten the world. u
There is much activity in India an
Europe just now among theosophists, and
great progress is being made here also.
My mother has just esta ablished societies
at Spokane, Fargo, Butte and Sheridan,
so you see there is some culture in what
some people designate the wild and
woolly' West"
The following appeal for the sufferers of
India is being widely circulated among
theosophlsts who belong to the Besant
section:
1t is a matter of common knowledge that
the famine area in India already involves a
popula tion numbering millions. The price of
lood is treble and the wide-reaching disaster
is aggravated by the fact that no less than 80
per cent OF the teeming population of India Is
agricultural and depends for its livelihood
solely on the crops. The spring crop partially
failed; the autumn crop has entirely failed,
and, though some rain has at last fallen, until
the next crop is sown and resped hundreds OF
thousands will be ruined and destitute.
Six months ago Mrs. Annie Besant appealed
through the public press OF India and Eng
land for help, and was the means of keeping
alive number of the starving but uncom-
planning natives. At that time the famine
area was very restricted, but since then the
terrible pest has increased with leaps and
bounds. Mrs. Besant is now on the spot, in
the region where the famine is the worst, and,
according to her lifelong custom, is busily
employed in measures for the relief OF the suf-
fering humanity about her.
Committees have been formed by mem bers
of the Theosophical Society in India to CO.
operate with the Government in bringing
comfort and relief to as many sufferers as pos
sible. The Indian representations of this
worldwide brotherhood being in direct contact
with the suffering ones, and numbering sew
eral hundred branches and centers through
out the whole OF India, are well qualified to
administer relief iund and make every cent
tell. The Theosophical Society is a non-secta-
rian body, and one OF its chief objects is the
amelioration of suffering humanity. The
members OF this society are not able indi-
vidually TO fully meet the demand, and they
ask contributions 10 the famine fund.
Many who have no interest in theosophy
will undoubtedly be glad TO know where to
place contributions with certainty of their
being wisely distributed. very little goes
long way in India. cent day per head will
not only keep body and soul together but pro-
vide a sufficiency. Millions of pennies are
needed, however. Mrs. Besant has just issued
another appeal TO her colleagues in the Occi-
dent, and any contributions that the public
in San Francisco and California may wish to
offer will be thankfully received and should
be sent to Count A. Wachtmeister, theosophi-
cal headquarters, Ala Mason street, San Fran
cisco. list OF the contributions will be
acknowledged through the public press.
The Blavatsky-Judge faction proposes
to estab an occult temple in this State
this year. 1t is said that the proposed
temple will be the only one of its kind in
the world. In it adopts will teach the
mysteries OF antiquity. Tuition, it is pro-
posed, will be free, and any one who de-
slres instruction will be admitted.
The following is an account of the plan
written by one of the adopts:
The plan of study has not yet been definitely
announced, but ii is understood that all the
mysteries of the ancient religions will be i'm
parted TO the students. Thought transference,
or the art of projecting the minds ideas
through space into the mind of another, will
be one OF the least OF the powers acquired. In
ierior penetration will be another attribute of
the psychologically developed soul. This is
the power of understanding the nature of
thing without any apparent effort of the
mind, such as knowing the contents of an un-
opened letter. The astral body of an adept
will be capable of transference from one part of
the world to another while the physical body
remains stationary. The will will be devei.
oped to the extent OF being able to cause death
by simple volition.
The trip of the Crusaders around the world
is the first of It's kind. The dedication OF the
college of occult science in March will be the
chief object OF their visit to California This
college will be the eonsummation Oh one of
the hopes with which theosophy has been
pursued. 1t win be the revival of the ancient
knowledge of the soul and the souls powers,
anu undoubtedly one of the most unique and
in teresting spots in the world.