The herald., 1897-02-24
ANCIENT MYSTERIES
Conversions OF Theosoph!cai Collie ye Lad With
Imposing Ceremonies

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 23.-The corner
stone of the new school for the revival
of the lost mysteries of the antiquity
was laid this afternoon on Point Iona
with imposing ceremorI s The Theo-
sophical crusaders, who have just re-
turned from trip around the world,
We're the central actors in today's eXer-
cises. Mrs. Katherine a. Tingley of
New York. head of the esoteric cult and
successor to Blayatsky, officiated at the
ceremony, assisted by F. T. Hargrove
president of the Theosophical society in
America and Europe
tent and awning had been prepared
at the spot, and an arch of evergreen.
bearing flags of all nations, covered the
cornerstone. On the flagstaff near by
floated the Theosophical flag.
At 2:30 Mrs. Tingley, accompanied by
President Hargrove, Mrs. Claude
Falls Wright, Mrs. Alice Cleathes Of
London, F. NJ Pearce of New York II.
7. Patterson of Brooklyn, Rev. w. Will
Jams of England, Z. B. Rambo of San
Francisco, A. NJ. Pryse of New York, c.
F. Willard of Boston DR.. Wood of Wes
terly, r. l.; Col. e. T. Blackmer of San
Diego, Miss Anne Bryce of San Fran
! cisco. Abbot B. Clark of Los Angeles ard
| Dr. Allen Griffiths of San Francisco, be-
| sides a small boy and girl, entered the
| enclosure Some of them bore urns
| stsaming with mysterious fluids, others
| gilt bells, others Hi du scriptures and
parchments and still others carried
| pitchers and vases. The men were at
tired in ordinary dress, but the women
wore the gowns of high Theosophists.
| Mrs. Tingley wore the black gown, with
purple silk al her throat. She pro-
| nounced a few words, dedicating the
temple to the revival Of the ancient mys-
| teries and invoking the spirit of the an
cient sages. Then she took corn from
an urn and scattered it over the stone,
after depositing a box in the cavity. A
cruise containing oil was handed to her
ard she poured it out, With mystic words;
| the same thing was done with pitcher
| Of wine. Then she scattered dust, wa
ter and fire, as emblems of mans quail
tiles, and with the pronunciation of the
sacred word, 'aum," by the company
and chant in Sanscrit, the ceremonies
of the day were over, Addresses were
then made by the leaders present.
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES.
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 23-At least a
thousand people drove out seven mile:
to Point Iona and most of them stood
for three hours to witness the laying oi
the cornerstone of the school for The
revival of the lost mysteries of antiquity
Notwithstanding that the carnival wa!
in full blast in the city. Every availa biz
| IlNEry rlS III lOWt WAS Oul, DeSluSS OltJ
cles and other conveyances.
The ceremonies were most impressive
Flags of all nations, presented to thu
crusaders on their tour around th
world, were flung to the breezs when til,
cornerstone was laid. The Stars ant
Stripes was run up while the band play
ed Red, White and Blue" and Hail
Columbia"
On the cornerstone is inscribed
cornerstone S. r. L. M. A. Laid Feb
ruary 23d, 1897 by the foundress, Kath
arine A. Tingley, assisted in the cere
mony by E. Z. Hargrove, president 7
S. A."
In the center of the stone is piece O
onyx from the temple of the Sphinx il
Egypt, presented to the crusaders by
sheik of the Bedouins The foundation
of the building will be composed of ston
from all countries, suitably inscribed
Mrs. Tingley, as she laid the corner
stone, said:
II dedicate this stone, a perfect square
a fitting emblem of the perfect work tha
will be done in the temple for the benef
Of humanity and the glory of the ancien
sages."
All then Joined in repeating tiye sacre
word The reading of the beatitude
from the New Testament and a selectio
from the Bhagavad Gdta concluded tn
ceremonies, after which prominent The
) osoph!sts made addresses.