Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-04
WHAT is THEOsOPHY?
Rev. l.. NJ. Walters, Rector of Christ
Church, Discusses 1t in All
Its Teachings.

At Christ church, corner of Tenth street
and Park avenue, the rector, Rev. L. MI
Walters, discussed 'Theosophy' last night
He said:
MANS material senses are involved in
this subject and text. Are there existing
elements. substances, powers and influences
which cannot be discovered, understood and
| controlled by the five senses? Has man
other powers above and beyond those com.
monty attributed to him, and by them can
he penetrate the future, unravel all mys-
teries. enter tho sacred precincts of God
and reveal to us the destinies of the race?
Certainly the Scriptures encourage us
to believe that, in part, at least, he can do
so, and men of all ages have sought in
many ways. by many means and in differ
ent names, to fix the limit of mortal mans
knowledge and powers. We bubble about
definitions. To many the word theosophy
is odious. Why? Only for the same reason
that to many in the world Christianity Is
an Objectionable word-the falsity of its
votaries.
"Theosophy means knowledge of divine
things. A theosophist is one who pro-
poses to hold intercourse with God and
heavenly spirits; one who processes to de-
rive his knowledge from the Divine Reve-
lation, and claims to be dlvinely illu-
minated. Why should not this definition
be applied to every Christian? Is he not
required to abide in the vine. exhibit the
light of God, receive instruction from the
Holy Spirit, and bear fruit unto holiness,
all of which has a spiritual, and not a ma
terial, significance? 1t is not theosophy
that we want to protest so much as it is
definitions.
The TheosophicaI Society. founded in
New York city in 1875 by Colonel Olcott
defines itself by the objects set forth as
the basis of its existence, as follows: The
foundation of universal brotherhood: the
study of literature, science and religion;
the study of the unexplained laws of ma
ture, and the physical powers of man. This
definition of It's objects does not entitle the
organization to call itself theosophical So
ciety. 1t is true that the history of theos-
ophy reveals the fact that different systems
of mysticism have been promulgated under
its name and all of them widely different
from each other.
The system of fire philosophers who
claimed miraculous intention through the
agency of fire Q493-154D. The leader, Par
acelsus n native OF Switzerland was a
famous alchemist and magician. He per-
formed some remarkable cures and credit
ed himself with being the monarch of med
tcine. He compounded the Elixir of Life
and claimed that it would prolong life in
definitely. This system provided a Sclu-
ton for not only every difficulty of physics,
but also for every doubtful problem of the
spiritual world. II became widely spread
on the Continent of Europe and had Il
strong advocate in England ia the person
of Robert Fludd. Fludd was physician
of great learning, especially in occult sci
ences and an adept in the Rosicrucian phil
osophy-that OF Paracelsus.
Another form OF theosophy is that
which claims direct divine illumination by
Immediate communication with God This
form, without the name, is recognized in
the early history of the church. According
TO this system finite cXistences emanate
from the Infinite. Angels and men owe
their origin to the One Infinite existence
No one can be lost except by the wilful
destruction OF the germ of life. This was
the system developed by that most sainted
of all mystics-Jacob Boehme, in the early
part OF the sixteenth century Measured
and tested by the age in which he lived and
the status OF the Christian faith surround
traordinary for their lessons of true de-
votion, piety and faith. His twenty-eight
different written treaties contain many alb
surdities but his services to the church
| and the Master led many thousands TO self
examination and truer Christian life
and he taught his nation that controversy
| was not the way TO success or immortal
| fly.
He says of himself: 7 never desired 20
! know anything of divine mystery: much
! less have I wished to seek or find It.
| only sought the heart of Jesus Christ. that
| there / might hide myself from the anger
| of God and the grasp of the devil. and I
| have beseught Ged to grant me His grace