Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-01-16
THEosoPHY- CHRISTIANITY.
Written for the Sow


Putting aside the ranging beliefs held
within the ranks of Christianity, be-
liefs which have split it up into our
three hundred complicated creeds, we
find one thought in which all agree The
claim of the church is that of a special
divine relation. This demand is made
by all alike; this is preached from all
pulpits, believed in all pews. On what
Is based this claim? Upon the posses
SION of certain essays and histories
which, as a collection, we call the Bible
And what is our warrant that this book
is divine revelation? Only the word
of the book itself. And what is this
book? How came we by 1t? There are
no existing manuscripts older than $50
A. D. AT that time the council of Lao
dicea made the first official list, which
did not include Revelations. In 405 A.
D. Innocent l fixed the New Testament
as 1t now stands. Modern apologists
are endeavoring to strike a mean be-
tween the two ideas of a literal inspira-
ton in thought and purely human or
igin.
The claim now made is of divine in
spiration in thought. But if this be so
should not these books furnish US with
pictures of men of reverend mien and
peaceful aspect, calm, holy, wise, such
as bef1tted these directly inspired of
God? Instead of that we find even with
in the lifetime of Christ himself, even
among his immediate followers men
proud, quarrelsome, hotly ambitious
Again and again is Jesus obliged to re-
Duke them. These quarrels for prece-
dence and power begun then, kept up
by Peter against Paul, handed down by
their respective followers, continue until
today. That which is made doctrimal
in one age is overturned in the next
and each in turn cries out This is true
religion; all else cometh of evil"
But true Christianity says, Theosophy
Is found in the teachings of Christ. With
this 1t agrees wholly. Tt asserts, how
ever, what is readily seen, that we have
teachings. We have none of that which
he gave in secret to his disciples, nor Of
that greater knowledge of which he told
them, "But We cannot bear it now.
That is, they were not developed enough
to receive it. All religions are but
reforms of old ones. The one truth dixie
the one life in all bodies) Is in all relig-
ions. A formal religion is to the truth
what the cocoon is to the grub; a need
ed covering, but covering needed but
for a time The day dawns when the
cocoon must burst If the life within is
to continue.
Christ came to free the mind of the
Jews from the ShackleS that priesthood
had put upon it, to break down the form
that was hindering the further evolution
Of the human soul Only fourteen years
after Christ the same conflict took place
between Peter and Paul Peter chung
to form and would have all men en-
brace formal Judaism. Paul saw deep
d., and tried to give to men the spirit
OF Christianity, the thought that all
men are alike the children of enc God.
"There are diversities of gifts" he cries,
but the same spirit, and there are diff
ferences in administration, but the same
God worketh all in all All reformation,
all forming again, is brought about by
some one man who, like Paul, sees the
true teaching of Christ, that it is the let
ter that killeth, the spirit that gfveth
life,
Theosophy today comes once more to
break the moulds which men constantly
put upon human minds. 1t is unfriendly
to no religion, no sect; for 1t holds from
the fact that religion exists is proof
that there are human souls who need
to have truth presented in that form.
The sunlight is pure; but none can bear
It's direct rays; most of US have need
that 1t should come softened through
glass of various hues.
But theosophy, while recognizing this
calls out again as did Christ, This is
good, but there is better Ye are God S
Live and think as BELTS divine beings,
Be perfect as the father in heaven.
M. S. Guild.