The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-09-05
Countess de Canavarro's
Conversion to Buddhism
Arouses Regret.
This Is Step Toward Sec
tarianism," Say the
Lady's Friends.
The Dharmapala to Gross the Allan
tic in the Hope of Interview
ing the Pope.

Quite a stir has been made among local
theosophists by the account published in
The CALL of Countess de Canavarro being
publicly received into the Buddhist faith
in New York by the Dharmapala. The
lady has been for two years a prominent
mem Der CT the Golden Gate Theosophical
Society, and both she and her husband
are well known here and in Honolulu.
Countess de Canavarros intimate
friends have been aware for some weeks
OF her intention to become a Buddhist
num-" said a prominent member OF the
Golden Gate Society Yesterday. ''She Is a
very enthusiastic, brilliant sort of woman,
and imagined that the best way she could
serve humanity was by leading an asceuc
life of study and seIf-denial, in order to
teach and work among the people later.
"Theosophists regret her action, because
We consider that by embracing any one
religion she has backslided into sectarian-
ism. Theosophy EN- braces all religions
and is above them all. 1t is contrary 10
our reaching for man or woman with
earthly ties 10 renounce them in order TO
live life of asce ticism. Nine. de Cana
varro leaves husband and son OF about
Is. The huS band is the representative OF
Portugal in the Hawaiian Islands and the
boy is in college across the bay. Both the
Count and the son went to see her OFF
when she left San Francisco for New y ork
on the 18th of August and the parting
must have been a bitter one, for the hus-
band and wife were very devoted"
The Dharmapaia, who received the
Countess into the Buddhist faith, is
monk of tile order she proposes to enter
Mt1tr al frfn a W
company his convert to Europe, after
which she will continue on her way to
Ceylon via the isihmus OF SueZ, while the
DharmapaIa will go 10 Paris and after
ward to Rome. He proposes to study the
internal workings of the Catholic church,
and if possible obtain an interview With
the Pore.
A theosophicaI friend of the Dharma-
pala said yesterday: Il have Just received
a letter from him, in which he tells me
that he intends 10 pass some time i'll
Rome. He is struck by the many points
OF resem DIance between Buddhism and
Catholic Christianity, and he expects to
have no diff Guilty in obtaining the inter
view with the Pope"
Count 4. de Cenavarro, the husband OF
the convert to Buddhism, remains a Qe-
voted Catholic. Re is the only repre-
sentative of Portugal in the Hawaiian
Islands. and although in public life he
does not use his title of Count, friends OF
his wife declare that he is related to the
royal family of Portugal. He returned to
Honolulu few DAYS after seeing the
Countess off to New York.
|. de Costa Duarte the Portuguese Con-
sui here, stated yesterday that ne could
scarcely believe that the wife of his friend
had really been received into the Budd hist
faith. MIR. a. de Canavarro sailed for
Honolulu about two weeks ago, and gave
me no intim alton of any trouble III his
family He is friend with whom l fire.
quently correspond, ana having heard
nothing from him l am still in hopes that
the lady is the wife of another Canayarro
There are many Canavarros, just AS there
are many Browns or Robinsons."
After bordering over the matter min
ute the Consul added:
Whoever the lady is, she chose a hot
place for her novltiate when she went to
Ceylon. 1t Is not so not. though, as the
place she will go to later on, if she de-
Buddha. Whether 1t is my friend Cana
varro's wife or not. l know that he has re-
manned good Catholic"
There is absolutely no doubt, however,
about Miranda de Canavarro, the convert
TO Buddhism, being the wife of the Portu-
guese Consul at Honolulu. He is a very
quiet, dlgnified man, who seldom reveals
&c
Those who know him best say that
though he has said nothing he has felt
his wifes loss very deeply.
Mrs. de Cavavarro is the daughter of the
late Judge McElroy, who died in MERGED
County about fifteen years ago. On her
mothers side he is Spanish and although
47years of age, is still beautiful woman
with traces OF her Spanish origin in her
brilliant dark eyes and black hair. She
was born in Texas, but came to California
in her infancy, and was educated at a con-
vent in Calaveras County. Her father left
her a large ranch at Hornitos, Mariposa
County. Shortly after his death she went
to Honolulu, where she married 4. de
Canavarro, who had even then held the
position of Portuguese Consul to Homo.
ulu for some years.
In the islands Mrs. de Canavarro occu.
pied a prominent position in society, and
was active in philanthropic movements,
particu arly among mem bers of the Portu-
guese colony. 1t was only about two years
ago that she became interested in theo-
sophy. Later on she drifted toward Budd-
hlsm and the teachings of the Dharm a.
pala, while he. was IN .his City had much
TO do with inducing her to decide on be-
coming a protested Buddhist. Her friends
say that they do not believe she will re-
main toT many months in the convent.
Their theory is thai she will study the
teaets OF her new iaith, and when she
becomes Z Budd list theologian that she
Will return 10 California 10 make converts
The Dharmapala has not desired her to
give any OF her large fortune to the con-
vent, so all her property will go to her son.