The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-01
INFLUENCE OF THE0SOPHY.
PAPER READ BEFORE THE THE
OSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

Theosophy Not a Creed, But 6
knowledge of the Immutable
Laws by Virtue of Which AL
That Is Exists.
The Philosophical society held its last
meeting yesterday at the A o. u w
hall, prior to removing to its handsome
new quarters in the Realty block at 2Zl
South West Temple street. where they
have fitted I'D the south half of the
ground floor for a lecture hall and a
reading room. The latter to be open to
the general public and the society pro-
poses in its new home to extend its work
especially among the working classes,
and to exemplify the spirit of universal
brotherhood, which is its fundamental OBJ
ject.
Last nights meeting was very well at
| tended and was opened by the singing of
Zion, the Holy City" by Mrs. Green.
The paper read was in part, as follows:
What good it it? Is theosophy bene-
flcial factor in the tiresome problem OF
mundane existence, or is it only another
protitless threshing of the east wind of
the unknowable with the weak fail of
mans self-delusion?
Both by word and deed we may answer
the question, telling and demonstrating
what this moral force has wrought in US,
and illustrating the influence it will exer-
else in proportion TO its general accept
ance upon all humanity II theosophy
were. like Christianity, thing TO be
swallowed whole and estioningly, 1t
would be simply 81 - anc Without
reason for existence. The wol i'd has
not a creed; it is a knowledge OF the
immutable laws by virtue of which and
and in subsection to which all that is
exists; a knowledge limitless without be-
ginning and without end, to the acqulS1-
ton of which We address ourselves,
knowing that our advancement in 1t Will
be duly proportional not only TO our
respective capabilities but to the
thoroughness with which we severally
conform 10 the harmonious operations OF
those laws, TO the utmost of our compre-
tension of them. The laws are. and il is
not our believing or non-beiieving in them
that will save or damn us, but our Wllful
refusal to know, or knowing, to obey
them. that will continue their operation
u9o-- US as pain; such continuance OF
ignorance and rehabilitation, with their
attendant protraction of the sorrows of
life. being what we deem damnation.
VASTNEsS OF THE UNIVERSE.
The first thought. perhaps. grown in
the mind from theosophic seed. is a
realization OF the overwhelming Vastness
of the universe, of time, and of the forces
of that shadow of being-man. The
triviality of his interests, the unreality OF
his cares. the insigniticance OF all mum
dane things that his heart holds dear,
floods the mind with WEAKNESS ana dis
gust.
The first light that breaks upon this
mental gloom is shed by comprehension
OF the law OF karma, which is the law or
harmony pervading the universe, the
law Of perfect justice that is inherent in
all being. 1t holds out no delusive hopes
of evadlng. through prayers and offer
ings, professions of repentance and the
Vicarious atonement the consequences OF
our evil deeds, but brings us 10 a reallZa-
ton that We must stand alone, and
thereby our self-reliance grows, and be-
lief in absolute justice no longer appailS
but strengthens. Let a man once get a
conviction of the truth of karmic action
fixed in his mind, and he cannot help try
ing to do as nearly right as he knows
how. His whole life will be moulded by
the knowledge that:
1t knows not wrath nor pardon; utter
It's measures mete. its faultless balance
weighs,
Times are as naught. tomorrow it will
Or after many days.
Suck is the law which moves to
righteousness,
Which none at least can turn aside or
stray;
The heart of it is Love the end of it
Is Peace and contamination sweet. Obeyr'
The narrow limits of even the longest
mortal life would be manifestly made
quate to the working out of Karmic
justice for the good and evil of that
single incarnate existence: furthermore.
we are assured that its rewards and pun
ishments are largely bestowed through
the conditions of life into which we are
born. Hence the dogma of reincarnation
is indissolubly connected with that of
Karma- Acceptance of these two dogmas
through life inspired with confidence
that he. and everybody else. viii get
exactly what is destined in this life, and
that his happiness or misery in the next
VIII depend largely upon the use he
makes of this. the cares ard anX:eties of
existence are unlimited and ne
in no complaints against fortune
learns to put but a low valuation upon
material things. which are in themselves
as inpermanent as their possession is
unstable, and, at best, brief.
CAUSE AND EFFECT.
Among his first lessons after entering
upon the path. was that he could do
absolutely nothing that was not liable to
have an effect upon others, and that not
only his deeds. but his words, and even |
his thoughts. were subject to the same |
law. Hence the necessity for self-control /
and the practice of love, kindness and |
forgiveness toward his fellow man.
In its further effects upon the individual. /
stimulates to the acquisition !
of learning and ifnpels the student to ex- !
pand his knowledge of the relations be- !
tween himself and the absolute. 1t |
teaches that nothing is too high for the |
aspiring soul to seek to know; that moth !
ing is to be believed of which reason VIII 4
not approve; that blind faith is as deadly 1
to the soul-as utter unbelief.
The theosophist trained to look beneath ,
the surface of things and by preference |
to recognize good and truth wherever he /
may find It, is lenient in his judgment of /
the errors of his fellow man, especially /
IN matters of belief. He may justly de-
nounce false teachers and expose the /
inventions by which the highest and (
noblest truths have been perverted, but /
ne is full of sympathy and honest desire
to be helpful to the victims OF credulity
Last. but not least, theosophy fits one
to die 1t robs the grave of its terrors
through correct understanding of this
ife and of the conditions which follow
physical death. We do not believe in he'll.
The worst that IS going 10 befaH us
awaits our return to earth life. That
win be just what we have deserved. and
f we do better then and still better in
he next life, and so on, the time will
1vanfrIa1iv arrive when we won't have to /