Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-28
THEOSOPH|ST COLONY
"Lomaland" and It's Auto
cratic Ruler.
ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
MADAME TINGLEY's WORD IS
LAW IN THE COMMUNITY.
Something About the Woman and Her
Aim for the Brotherhood
Of Man.
ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
SAN DIEGO. Cal, August 10. 1905
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Star and the Chca
Record Herald.

Record Herald.
SAN DIEGO, Cal, August 10, 1906
The harbor of San Diego is formed by a
monstrous natural breakwater; a peninsula
rising 500 feet In height and extending sew
eral miles from the mainland into the sea.
1t is a noble and useful freak Of nature.
At the seward end is lighthouse which
guides ships into the harbor, and a little
back Of 1t is a military cemetery in which
the victims of the recent boiler explosion
on the gunboat Bennington are laid. On
the harbor side, at the edge of the water,
is Fort Rosecrans, military barracks with
Notifications. which is expected to defend
the city of San Diego and all that apper-
tains thereto from invasion. The govern
ment owns about one-third of the peninsula.
large part of the remainder. and the land
Immediately adjoining the federal reserva-
ton, is occupied by a theosophist colony.
The theosophists call the peninsula Iona
land" They call the city of San Diego
Port Orient" and have other names for
other things, and they cultivate senti-
ments, habits and customs that do not con-
form to the conventionalites of civiliza-
ton.
'Lomaland" is an absolute monarchy,
governed by an autocrat, Her Serene High
ness Katherine Tingley-a remarkable wo-
man. 1t Is the headquarters of what Is
known as the Universal Brotherhood Of
Man, limited. / take the liberty OF adding
the word Limited because the universal
ity of the brotherhood stops where Kath-
crime Tingley places her finger, and no one
is admitted to Its privileges or allowed to
enjoy it's benefits who Is likely to interfere
with the tranquility of her reign.
A Significant Explanation.
The printed official announcement of the
organization contains this significant ex-
plantation:
1.-The government Of the Universal Broth
erhood is autocratic and rests entirely in
the hands of the leader and official head,
who has the privilege of nominating her
successor. The methods are entirely in the
direction of an accumulation of individual
responsibility and the establishment OF
true harmony of life. 1t is unnecessary to
say that no compulSion is used and that,
even in the case of children punishment is
unknown.
1t asserts that "brotherhood is fact in
nature" and it processes Ito make it liv-
ing power in the life of humanity l do
not know what this means, but every one
will admit that 1t is amiable and benev-
olent announcement. However, in practi-
cal application 1t does not include any per-
son who resists Mrs Tingleys authority
or questions the accuracy or wisdom OF
her judgments. The Universal Brotherhood
reminds me that Josh Billings was willing
to accept the theory of salvation offered by
the Universalist Church, provided he might
be allowed to name few exceptions
The theosophists have several hundred
beautiful acres inclosed by a high fence,
with imposing gateways of Egyptian de-
sign. There are semimiltary guards in
khaki uniforms at each portal, and no per-
son Is admitted without invitation or until
his errand is known and approved at head
quarters. The grounds are highly deco
rated. There are avenues of palms, the
most graceful and feminine Of trees; there
are fountains filed with lotus flowers.
which are the emblem Of the society; and
you can see that wonderful blossom In
greater perfection there than anywhere
have ever seen-in Asia, Africa or the
islands of the sea. Long slopes are COW
cred with plants of brilliant plumage, inter-
spersed with pepper trees and shrubbery
They say that "Lomaland' is intended to
look like Egypt, but there Is nothing in
Egypt as beautiful-not even the gardens
of the khedive or those that surround the
palaces of his predecessors upon the banks
of the tawny Nile.
Point Iona was once thickly covered with
a forest, and it is Mrs Tingley's design to
restore 1t as rapidly as possible. Thou
sands of young trees have been brought
from the mountains and transplanted under
the care of Mr.. George Gowsell, formerly
of the United States geographical survey,
who is a resident member Of the brother
hood Some of them have been arranged
after mystical designs for purposes of wor-
ship-for groves were the gods hrst tenn
ala