Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-29

near the number of children who Apply
DIR. Gertrude Van Pelt is the director or
the academic department. There is a COM
mercial school, an Industrial school ana
school of domestic science, to qualfy MIS-
Tingey's disciples to earn their own living
when they go eHt into the world. All OIL
the pupils are intended to be trained as
missionaries of the Universal Brotherhood
and teachers of theosophy, They are taught
from infancy to regard themselves as such
and to aspire to become national benefac-
tors.
Parents who Join the colony must sur
render their children and turn them into
the common fold The theory of education
invented and conducted by Nine. Tingley at
'Lomaland'' is based upon the repugnant
principle that affection and interest should
be general and not Individual: that 1t pro-
notes setishness for parents to love and
caress their own children, and that their
hearts should be devoted to the welfare of
other peoples children as much as to their
own. In other words, the present system
of home training Is considered defective,
because parents concentrate their affec-
lions upon their own children and destroy
or impair their future usefulness by en-
couraging self-will. self-love. vanity, jeal-
ousy, pride ano other qualities which inter-
fere with the proper performance of their
mission to the world.
The Raja Yoga.
The Hindu term "Raja Yoga" which Mrs.
Tingley has applied to her system of educa-
ton means literally royal union" or king
ly brotherhood" TO her it signifies the har-
monious development of the whole nature
physical mental and moral-which she be-
lieves to be impossible If children are per-
mitted 70 remain under home influences,
and in the excitement and competition OF
ordinary life. Home influences and envi-
ronments she believes, confuse the expand
ing mind of the child and stunt its growth
The children In, the Raja Yoga schools
come from all classes-the rich, the well-to-
do, the poor and some are homeless orphan
waits They are all treated alike, however.
They all so in and out, together and be-
cause the waif has no mother to love and
pet 1t its companions should not enjoy that
teach child its duties to it's little COM
rades; that helping and sharing is what
true brotherhood means, and thus implant
In the infant mind strong desire to begin
early to render noble service to humanity
True education consists In. the regulation
of the whole life upon the highest ideals
which must alike govern the most hidden
thoughts as effectually as it does the mu-
tual relationship of the children"
The children are therefore divided into
groups ana live in cottages under the care
OF older people - two matronS being as
signed to each group of girl children, while
the boys are looked after In the same way
by men guardians. Another matter which
Mrs. Tingley considers of vital importance
is self-help. Hence the smallest, even the
babies, are taught to take care Of them
thing. She has certainly a most beautiful
group Of babies-"lotus buds" she calls
them--in the Lotus Home. You never saw
lovelier sight in your life than those TWEEN
~ or thirty little tots two years Old and
under, undressing themselves and helping
themselves to their supper of mush and
milk.
Mrs. Tingley has been accused of cruelty
TO the children: of ill-treating the waits
that are under her care; but such a thing
cannot be. except to such people as believe
it cruelty to teach a child that crying will
not accomplish anything. for that Is the
first lesson that is taught in the Lotus
Home.
Where the Adults Live.
The women students occupy a large,
handsome building, with quaint dormer
windows and wide verandas, surrounded by
flowers and half hidden by eucalyptus
trees. Among them are several women
whose infatuation for theosophy has in
duced them to desert homes, husbands and
children to live in this romantic commu-
nity-in search of happiness The men stu
dents and older boys live In a camp of
tents under the care Of Joseph H RUSSELL
They call it Camp Karnak. and it is a
healthful, charming, open-air life The
married students and older members of the
colony are assigned to bungalows scattered
about the grounds, many of which are sur
rounded by beautiful gardens. They are
deprived of their children and are required
to take their meals at common table
Thus the whole tendency is to destroy home
life and its greatest blessings, although,
theoretically, the intention Is to eradicate
selfishness. broaden the mind and expand
the natural tendencies to benevolence and
philanthropy. The principle Is the same as
that upon which religious orders of seclu-
sion and monastic life are based The monk
and the nun withdraw themselves from the
pleasures and excitements of the world in
order that they Durify their S01Ic
thus be better qualified to pray for the sal
walton of mankind. The members of the
theosophise colony relinquish their own
children in order that they may do more
good to other peoples children and the
neighborhood at large.
There have been several scandals at Lom-
aland. Not all of its residents have en-
tered in peace. Wives have been followed
to these gates by broken-hearted husbands;
children have been pursued by writs of
habeas corpus, and various stories have
been circulated concerning the immortality
of the colony. But you cannot look into
the faces of the people who live there and
believe any such tales Vice always hangs
out its sign. Purity. refinement and cul-
ture are as easily detected In a human be-
ing as In a plant or a flower. The theoso-
phst colony may be composed of cranks
fanatics. silly. sentimental. impracticable
people. but they are not bad people, and
look contented and happy.
There are some important people here:
families OF wealth and high social position
Among them are said to be two mllionaires
The community live together to a certain
extent and take their meals together in
great refractory. All the kitchen and laurl-
dry work Is done by students In the do
nestle economy classes, and every woman
voluntarily performs her share of those
tasks. 1t Is remarkable feature of the
establishment, and Mrs. Tingley has her
theories upon that subject upon every
other.
The science or art of right living" she
explained to me. lis just essential for
happiness as a knowledge of books or the
affairs of the world. The dignity of this
important department-that is. the Kitchen
the laundry. etc.-is accumulated by the ed
vocational aspects. No declines to do
her share OF the work. and l teach them
that no person Is qualified to train chill
dren who is not familiar with dietary af-
fairs"
Training of the Children.
We had an exhibition of the talents, and
training of the children, and II was a most
remarkable one from every point of view
The self-possession, the mental activity
physca perfection. the reasoning powers
the fearlessness and the grace of the chill
dren is astonishing; but It all unnat-