The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-04-09
THE PHILOSOPHICAL MOVEMENT.

To the Editor Of the Journal and Courier:
Having, in our last article, briefly
outlined the distinction between The
osophy, the Theosophical movement
and the Philosophical society, let us
consider the question of the desirability
and practicability of che Theosophical
movement at the present time, and then
some of the beliefs which generally are
accepted by most students of Theoso-
ply.
1t needs no argument to show that at
the present time humanity Is suffering.
The question to be considered is the ma
ture of the remedy. Heretofore the
tendency among most men has been TO
hold to the idea that the evils through
which mankind are going can be cured
by legislation. Those who have the
Theosophical movement at heart be-
lieye that such is not the case-that
legislation is, at the best, only tenn
poray alienation and that no perma-
nent change can be effected except by
change in mems hearts. Such an idea
put forth few years ago, so far as this
century is concerned, seemed Utopian.
Now, there is a large and rapidly grow
ing class of people who begin to see
that it is not so. This is the result of
the Theosophical movement. And al
though the period of extreme suffering
must last some little time longer, and
although the suffering, especially
among the very poor, may for while
increase, nevertheless the dawn is be-
ginning to break-the dawn of day
whose glad sunshine will tighten the
hearts of many who are oppressed with
the heavy burden of care and of want.
Why is legislation Intellectual except
as temporary expedient, so long as
mems hearts remain in their present
condition?
During the ordinarily known period of
the history of mankind, the forms of
government have been many, as So
hcalled Freedom broadens slowly down
from precedent to precedent 1t will
be noticed, however, that as Theoeracy
gave way to the government by the
king, as the absolute monarchy gave
way to the limited monarchy and gov
eminent by the Commons, as govern
ment by the Commons gave way to
democracy-each time mems hopes
were raised, only to find that, after ALL
the end desired had not been attained.
And here in these United States, in this
government of the people, by the peo-
pie and for the people, there is oppres-
sion, injustice and inequality so great
that nearly all are suffering, more or
less, and thousands are starving in the
midst of plenty. But one more great
change can be made in our form of gov
eminent, and that is the change to-
ward Socialism. If Socialism should
fail, next in order would come anarchy
and then its inevitable reaction-a
stern form of despotism.
What reason have we to believe that
Socialism will avail where the other
forms of government have failed
None that are sufficient. If the Theoc-
racy had been conducted by men wise
and unselfish, in spite of the imperfec-
tons of government mankind would
have been happy, so far as any govern
ment could have made 1t So The same
proposition is true of government by
absolute monarchy, by the commons
and by democracy. The trouble lies
not in the form of government SO much
as in the fact that men themselves are
selfish.
We cannot reform others before we
reform ourselves. First cast out the
beam out of thine own eye and then
shalt thou see clearly to cast the mote
out Of thy brothers eye
To do this to an extent sufficient to
make a great change for the better in
the lot of humanity, is not only practi-
cable, but easy of attainment, now that
the Theosophical movement is making
such Roadway in the world. To show
this will be the object of the next artl-
Gle. RUFUS McHARA