The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-07

phical society held in the a. o. U. w.
DR.. Ellen B. Ferguson. who stated the
objects of the society, and read a Sc
lection from the Bhagavad Gita, chap
ter is. The Influence of Theosophy
in the Nineteenth Century was the
subject of the paper read by Mrs. a.
J. Webster, which was in substance as
follows: las we look back through
the ages and see how ethical teachings
have been expressed time and again BIZ
souls who have understood the science
of reaching perfected life, the eff
feet has been TO bring some at least
to d realizing sense of the truth that
the reality rested in themselves and
in no other. Theosophy is not new
idea; it is as old asntime. When a
great soul has reincarnated for the
benefit of, the world, the impetus given
to ethical teachings has continued for
centuries, the karmic effects of actions
has been less, because people have
been stirred to live better. AS far back
as we know all along the road travelled
by humanity, the lives of a Zoroaster,
a Confucius, Jesus and Buddha have
lifted the world to a higher standard
of spirituality and have been as mile
stones marking the progress of the
race to a perfected life and a knoWl-
edge of the wisdom of the gods. If
mankind could have kept alive the
spirit of Jesus teachings we should
not have to record Today the material
istic degeneracy of living that charac
terizes modern so-called Christianity
This perfected life reaches through all
the planes of manifestation, teaching
each one that he must raise himself by
himself, and with himself, all that are
in the universe. The truth shines forth
from every soul who seeks the good
Of the whole every soul who sacri-
fees self on the altar of universal
brotherhood. Those to whom these
great truths are known and who I'M
derstand their meaning, feel their past
influence upon their lives; they have
a dim consciousness that they have
lived and worked with the same earn
est souls before, and as they pick up
the thread anew, they feel renewed
zeal, new life is engendered, new hope
for the betterment of the world, new
adaptation to present conditions and
more determined effort to make every
thought and every action stepping
stone to higher attachments.
'Theosophy, as it has existed eter-
nally throughout the endless cycles upon
cycles of the past, so it will ever ex-
ist throughout the infinitudes of the
future because theosophy is synony-
nous with everlasting truth.
1.-The future of its vehicle, the The
osophical society, will depend almost
entirely upon the degree of selflessness,
earnestness, devotion, and last, but
not least, on the amount of knowledge
and wisdom possessed by those mem
hers on whom it win fall to carry on
the work, and to direct the society af-
ter the death of its founders.
Every such attempt as the Theoso-
phical society made has hitherto ended
in failure because sooner of later it has
degenerated into a sect, set up hard
and fast dogmas of its own and so
lost by imperceptible degrees that vi
-ality which living truth alone can i'm
part, but if this danger can be averted
the society will live on and into the
10th century; it will gradually leaven
and permeate the great mass of think
ing, intelligent people with it's large
minded and noble ideas of religion,
duty and philanthropy. Slowly but
surely it viii burst asunder the iron
letters of creed and dogmas of social
and caste prejudice; it will break
down racial and national antipathie
and barriers and will open the way to
the practical realization of brother
hood of all men. Through its teachings,
through the philosophy which it has
iSSCSoiCiS oliQ ~
the modern mind, the west will learn
70 appreciate the east at its true value.
Further. the development of the
psychic powers and faculties, the pro-
monitory symptoms of which are al
ready visible in America, will proceed
healthily and normally. Mankind will
be saved from the terrible dangers,
both mental and bodily, which are in
evitable when that unfolding takes
place, as it threatens to do in a hotbed
Of selfshness and evil passions.
Mans mental and psychic growth will
proceed in harmony with his moral