The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-01-11
THE OBJECT AND ORIGIN OF THE
THEOSOPHICAI, SOCIETY

AAtA4OPSi lALN<AiL ROSiibi T.
To the Editor of the Journal and Courier;
1t is we'll known probably even by
those not interested In this society that
Brotherhood" is its aim, but it Is not
in general understood to what extent
all its various activities center In this.
have heard 1t remarked even by those
who We're in a position to see much of
its workings that there was nothing
essentially distinctive about the Theo-
sophical society, brotherhood being the
aim of variety of other movements.
Quite true this is of many movements,
but the distinction rests in the one
polntedness and thoroughness of the
aim 1t seeks to demonstrate that
brotherhood is not nearly sentiment
or theory but fact In nature, resting
on the eternal law of being, and that it
is fact which must be recognized and
lived up to if the race would progress.
1t touches the keynote of the difficult
ties of the age. To make plain this
fact, it presents to the world for It's
consideration a philosophy harmonious
in itself and having as one of the fun
damental propositions the essential
unity Of all life. 1t recognizes and fa-
cllitates the study of ancient religions
and literature, which show that baslcal-
ly humanity has common needs and
common aims and that all religions
have the same underlying truths. 1t
investigates mans inner nature and Of
fers an explanation of the laws govern
ing it,an understanding of which makes
plain the solidarity of the human fam
of n thn rpa1-
ization of the truth of brotherhood is
neglected, The organization advocates
no especial social reform. 1t does not
work primarily to improve any exter-
raj condition with belief In brother
hood as a part of its platform. Its
business is to show the fact. More
over it seeks to form the nucleus of a
universal brotherhood without any dis
tinction whatever. This can mean
nothing else than that it seeks to de-
velop enough souls to live this truth,
which 1t Is trying to show to man in
every possible way. For If 1t is a truth
it can and must be lived. All truth
is living-those who know the relation
of the nucleus to the biological cell will
understand still further it's significance.
| 1t is plain to see that much growth
and development is necessary for the
realization of such an aim. Even to
our feeble comprehension of a senti-
ment SO far beyond u.s. it is evident
that the roots must strike to the very
center of mans nature. The fruit can
not at once be apparent. AS to the
| origin Of the movement it will be well
to call to mind that 1t was started in
1875, when the world was not troubling
itself deeply about the lack of the
spirit Of the brotherhood, and that it
started with the same definite objects
it has at present. 1t was not started
in cropping way by some who vague
ly felt the need of more love among
man, who gradually learned by expert
ence the Importance of studying and
developing mans inner life to bring
this about, and who intuitively worked
up philosophy upon which they con-
stantly improved through added spir-
itual growth. On the contrary, those
coming into the movement were
taught; they may have seemed to
grope. AS they often only imperfectly
perceived the relation of these objects
to each other, and their bearing upon
evolution at large but the movement
itself started with definite aim, from
which it has not swerved, and those
remaining in touch with it have felt a
force of which they knew they were not
the generators, either collectively or in
divdually. Whose but a Master hand
could touch SO surely the pulse of hui
manity's inner life? Who but Mas
ter of Wisdom could respond SO wisely
and profoundly to the deepest needs of
the time? SEPHUS, X