The San Francisco call., 1896-07-05
Donios
a Mrahatnna

Abbott B. Clark, formerly of the Theo-
sophical headquarters, corner Golden
Gate and Van Ness avenues, this city, has
just returned after a years absence on lee
ture tours. He says that the interest in
Theosophy is becoming widespread and
that the lecturers find their halls packed
with interested and intelligent people in
every part of the United States. Mr.. Clark
has lectured through New England, the
Central States, British Column bia and the
Northwest, and is now on his way to
Southern California, where, he says, there
are more people asking for Theosophy
than anywhere else.
"The reason, he says, ''for the special in
quiry there is because much of the Pacific
Coast, and especially Southern California,
was once embraced in an ancient conti-
nent on which great civilizations -four
ished and in which much spiritual
knowledge obtained. The impressions of
this are still retained in the astral light
and are now being reproduced.
"Theosophists are enthusiastic over the
new cycle on which the Theosophical So
ciety has entered. Members are joining
faster than their diplomas can be en-
crossed and sent out something over
twenty day.
"The crusade is meeting with great sue
cess in Europe. 1t is led by E. L. Har-
grove, president of the Theosophical So
ciety in America, Mrs. K. A. Tingley, sue
cessor of Nine. Biavatsky, William Q.
Judge, Mrs. keightley, better known as
Jasper Nirmand, and several other en-
inent Theosophists. They are now in
England, and will visit all the countries,
capitals and large cities OF Europe, hiring
the largest halls and holding conventions
and mass meetings everywhere. The at
tention of kings and rulers will be called
to the needs of the masses and especial
work will be done for the poor.
"The object of this crusade is to spread
Theosophy among the people,"
what good will that do, they can't un-
derstand it?''
'You are mistaken. Theosophy is the
most rational and natural system of
thought in the world. 1t Is practical, and
will solve the problems of life. Suffering
comes from the violation of law. Theos-
ophy will teach man the laws of nature
and how to live up to them. The princi-
pal teachings of Theosophy are brother
hood, the universal reign and rule of law,
called karma, and the evolution of the
soul by means of reincarnation. That is
more easily understood than vicarious
atonement or predestination. 1t is saliva
ton by works, not by faith, and the labor.
ing people want opportunity, not charity.
1.-The crusade will teach brotherhood on
scientific basis, as law of nature, the
violation of which, like that of any other
law, brings suffering. They also will carry
a message OF unity from nation to nation
as living protest to the present warlike
condition of things. After leaving Europe
they will go to Egypt. India. Australia,
China, Japan, and return to this country
by way OF San Francisco.
About the wedding at the headquarters
In New York? Well, in the first place,
there was no veiled Mahatma there. No
one was veiled. That was ali talk. The
wedding was private and none but mem
bers were admitted. There was nothing
sensational about it. The wedding was
conducted according to ancient Egyptian
sacred rites and was most solemn and i'm
pressive.'
"Is it true that they claimed to have
been married in Egypt 5000 years ago?"
at was so stated. That they had sscri-
need themselves for humanity ages ago
and now renewed the bonds under which
they had lived and worked before. The
wedding was demonstration that the
osophy IS not opposed to marriage, but
that Ii leads in this as in all other reforms
by setting up a high IDEAL of welded life.
Social purity should begin at home. What
begins at home will end in the whole
world.'
Mr.. Clark lectures at 800 Post street to-
night on The Theoso ,hical Crusade and
the Mahatmas'