The Indianapolis journal., 1898-02-24
THEOSOPHY.
Letter from Dr. Franz Hartmann
Read at the Recent Convention.

To the Editor OF the indianapolis Journal:
In your published statement of the pro-
cedings of the theosophical convention
saw no mention of a communication sent TO
that convention by DR.. Franz Hartmann.
In view of the very just attitude of many oe
the branches ana individual members in
combating the unconstitutional assump-
tons of Mrs. Tingley. that letter OF which
| inclosc YOU a copy. is of more than pass
ing interest. 1t is written by leading the
osophical thinker and author and condenses
the sentiments of those who have at heart
the interests of the theosophca movement
rather than of any society. which at best
can be no more than vehicle for .,,, that
movement 4 MEMBER.
Indianapolis. Feb. q.
The letter alluded to is dated Hallein,
Austria. Feb l. is addressed to the annual
convention of The Theosophical Society in
America. and is as follows:
Dear Brothers-It is with great pleasure
that | remember the spirit of harmony
which prevailed during our convention at
New York In 1897 and I regret exceedingly
not to be able to be again present during
the coming convention I therefore take the
liberty as an old friend of II. p. Blavatsky
and w. .. Judge, to send you greetings, and
in my own name, no less than mouth
piece of many people i'm Germany and Aus
tria, To address TO you the following in
IF we look at any church. theosophical
society or any similar corporation or or
ganiZation whatever. we always find that
it is an organism composed of many parts.
each having its seven principles, the same
as any individual man. The physical body
of such society is formed by the persons
composing it; its astral body by the in-
stinctS and desires: the quality of their life
depends ON the quality of the spirit pervad-
ing the whole; the kama rupa Is consti-
tuted by those who care only for the form
of their society, but do not recognize the
spirit; and kama manas is represented by
those intelligent members who use their in
tellectual powers for the mere purpose OF
advancing the interests of their church or
society, and ii they do this in the spirit or
intolerance and in opposition to the spirit
of universal brotherhood they represent the
deviiSh element of their church. They con-
sttute the animal body of their society. or
the beast in each church. spoken OF in st.
Johns Revelation and which has to be
overcome by the spirit of the true church.
THE true church Theosophical Society
is composed of those who care for wisdom
more than for the form in which ii is to
become manifest they are more anxious
that the light of truth should spread through
the whole body of humanity than that "
should be made subservent to the interests
of any sect or society. They work for the
spreading of light through the darkness.
and not for the fattening and glorifcation
OF their society. leaving the development OF
that material body to the law of its own
nature. which is the law of karma-this be-
ing the law of justice. according to which
every enterprise will receive its reward ac-
/ cording to its actions Those who are wise
and above society interests constitute the
head the top of the body. they are the
real leaders. whether or not their names are
publicly known.
THE beast in the church is the same as
the beast in each member, and has to be
conquered by the spirit of wisdom in the
church and in each member; but If all the
efforts in Il society are directed principally
to the advancement of its own material in
crease and glory the body will grow fat,
but the spirit will depart and a theosoph-
ical society. from which the spirit of wis
dom has departed, is 'theosophical' only in
name. Happily, this has not yet taken
place in the TheosOphical Society in Amer
lea, and all true followers Of theosophy re-
member with pleasure the wise words
spoken by Mr.. Temple at the last annual
convention. and which were received with
| reclamation and enthusiasm when he said:
Every man, every woman and every child
on ehis earth, If they are willing to work for
the brotherhood of man and humanity, is q
member of the Theosophical Society,
whether they have diplomas or not 1t is,
therefore, not those who swear to the flag
of a certain leader or cling TO the dogma
of certain authority however great such
a person may be. who constitute the true
and free Theosophical Society Instituted by
II. p. Blavatsky on the basis of UNIVERSAL
brotherhood. IL the external form and his
torical documents were decisive 3 IN TINS TINS
right than any other president to call
himself the only leader of the theosophicai
movement all over the world, TO pose as
the patented keeper of divine wisdom, to
regard the external body of his church as
the only means of salvation, and to exclude
the whole of humanity from the light or
truth, unless they were to submit to his
supposed infallible dictates.
The TheosOphical Society, founded at
New York in 1875. has always been free and
universal, recognizing no pope, prescribing
no creed or dogma or authority, not even a
belief In the existence of mahatmaS or
adopts, and this freedom was maintained
until the dogma Of the existence of adopts
was forced upon u oY the dnn mistsken Mo p,o r
endeavor in Germany. Austria and other
countries is to make clear to the public the
difference between the spirit and the form
manifestation.
derstand the absolute freedom OF that Theo-
sophical Society which was instituted by
Fl. =. Blavatsky and founded by Col Oh
colt. W. q. Judge and Others and to which
all who act according to the principle laid
down in its constitution belong. We desire
to keep the theosophical movement, in this
country at least, free from the spirit OF
clericalsm, intolerance and partisanship.
However much we may esteem the great
ness of this or that person. we do not wish
to belong to any personality or to be the
blind followers of any leader bVt We seek
to attain theosophy. the mastery of our own
self. For this purpose we have not, as has
enormously been stated by some, founded
rev exclusive society of our own: but
we called the attention OF al 10 INC hecss-
sity of Teviving the true spirit of that IN
ternatonal theosophical brotherhood OF all
humanity which has existed on the higher
plane for thousands of years; whose laws
and regulations may be found in all the
books of the sages and. among others, IN
tho Bible. where it says, Thou shalt love
thy neighbor thyself These are all the
laws we need We ask no loya ty' to any
personality regardless of principle, and We
owe allegiance TO no man; but strive to
bo loyal to the principle of humanity and
recognize as our brothers all who are will
ing TO be recognized as such.
True brotherhood is only possible on a
theosophical basis, which is the recognition
OF the unity and indivisibility of the light or
divine wisdom that shines into all. whether
they belong to a church or not This light
is nobody's invention or creation, and no
one is excluded from ii except by his own
ignorance 1t has found its expression at
all times in different forms and organiza-
tons. and one of these Is the TheosOphical
Society in America. In that society IL viii
manifest itself as long as the spirit OF toll
GRANGE prevails therein. and while that
spirit prevails shall we be glad to meet our
brothers there and to cooperate with them
Wishing you good success. | am with
many others across the sea. yours very fra
teinally. DR. FRANZ HARTMANN.