The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-03-13
From the Architects Plans.

| every age, can be claimed as the
osophist. Nothing could indicate more
clearly the universally of this new sys-
/ tenn for the teaching of world-old
| truths. Theosophy, we may say, has
! existed ever since man became a rea-
soning animal, and it is only presump-
| ton on the part of us moderns to i'm
agine it a new thing.
Still the combination with Wagner
| ism, which is a very advanced musical
| cult on it's own account, is distinctly
new and so far seems remarkably sue
cessful.
I'VE have given this lecture re-
marked Mrs. Cleather, lin quite
number of country towns, where you
would imagine the average intelli-
gence was not up to the requisite stan
dard. But everywhere 1t has been well
received. The people seem to thor
oughly appreciate our ideas"
Mrs. Cleather, herself a disciple of
the great high priestess Nine. Bla-
vatsky, is a petite woman in a cream
colored gown of some marvelously
soft clinging material. 1t is the robe
of a priestess. There is something
ethereal about it, and as she stood on
the darkened platform, a CLEAN OF
white against the background of black
curtain, she seemed to have just mate
rallied from another sphere. This, of
course, is but pure fancy, for Mrs.
Cleather is practical enough IN her
ways and knows how to carry her
propaganda into the midst of busy,
Woodworking world; how to bring the
truths she has to tell home with force,
appealing alike to toil-begrimed work.
er and money sodden plutocrat.
couple of years ago there was
wonderful awakening in theosophical
circles. Mrs. Tfngley, the leader of
the Universal Brotherhood, started
crusade around the world, Mrs. Cleath-
er being a member of the party. There
were nine or ten people altogether and
it proved a pretty expensive trip, cost
ing over 0,000 The American theos-
ophists cheerfully footed the bill, for
there were substantial results to show,
seventeen new societies being started
in foreign parts and thousands OF adj
herents being gathered into the new
scheme of philosophy.
1t is estimated that there are some
5000 theosophists in the United States,
and that there is money behind the
faith is shown by the latest develop
ment, in which the State of California
is particularly interested. There are
riddles in psychology which none Of us
can comprehend, there are latent
powers in man the existence of which,
except among members of the adept
fraternity, is never suspected. The
real action of thought, in spite of mod
ern scientific Investigations, is still
concealed from us, the phenomena of
hypnotisfn, clairvoyance and thought
transference are but imperfectly un-
derstood.
Latter day scientists, even men such
as the wizard-like Edison, cannot eX-
plain these things, so the theosophists
are going to take the matter in hand.
Possibly we may know good deal
more Of these mysteries of ancient
times when the new college at Point
Iona, near San Diego, gets into work.
ing order. For the cause theoSophistS
in all parts of the world have sub
scribed thousands of dollars, and there
is no doubt that the half million re-
CURED to complete the structure will
be forthcoming in due time. A little
over year ago there was a great
gathering at Point Iona, when Mrs.
Katherine Tingley, as high priestess.
deposited, with all sorts of cabalistic
rites, an Egyptian onyx taken from the
Temple of the Sphinx in the corner
stone of the building.
And what is the good of all this fuss?
the Philistine, the man who dwells in
the outer darkness, will naturally in
quire. Well, of course, the college will
benefit only those who seek for the !
light; it will facilitate inquiry into the
lost mysteries of antiquity. It will be |
in short a sort of modern and purified |
Temple of Eleusis. Useless for the
unbeliever to venture there, his lack |
of faith will blind his eyes to the Won !
ders which are to be revealed. But |
for the genuine student of occult af- |
fairs the institution holds out welcom- |
ing hands, and already numerous ap-
plications for membership have been |
received from all parts OF the world.
Therefore, overlooking the bay of San |
Diego, and close to the boundary of the I
United States, we may expect before |
long to see college established unlike /
any other which modern years have
witnessed.
But not the least peculiar feature |