The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-09
he HAD A DREAM.
Lyman J. Gage, Formerly Sec
rotary Of the Treasury,
Has Joined the TheOsophists at
Point Iona.
HAS BOUGHT A SITE
And Will Build a Home Beside
Mrs. TingIey's Temple.
Some Members of His Family
Already There.
HAS BOUGHT A SITE


brotherhood at Point Iona. bought
site for $4,000 on rock promontory
for home, and viii devote his life
and fortune to the spread of theo-
sophy Mr.. Cages new home Will al
join Nine Tingley's temple.
Within the last six months Mr.. Gage.
who before becoming secretary of the
treasury was president Of the First
National bank Of Chicago, has made
two mysterious trips to southern Cali
fornia On both he conferred with
Madam Tingley.
This action. in the minds of friends
here has explained why Mr. Gage
dropped business. gave up $4,000
year position with the New ork
Trust company. and came west.
The story, briefly, is that he received
instructions in a dream TO seek ADVICE
at the hands of the Point Iona
priestess.
He had the persuasive voices of
relatives too. in his ears, for at POINT
Iona Colonel and Mrs. Brainerd, the
latter his sister, dwell as members OF
the brotherhood, and the grandchll-
dren of the former secretary are mem .II-
bers of the Raja Yoga school at lne
Homestead.
First Bid for Notoriety.
This institution at Point Iona came
into its first great notoriety few days
ago when its high priestess brought
libel suit against a California newspaper
which resulted in an elaborate eXposl-
ton of the alleged practices there.
one Of the witnesses at the trial held
at San Diego. Cal. a DR.. Anderson, had
been a member of Mrs. Tingley's cab
met In his testimony he described the
clothing worn at ceremonies, he sald ne
wore his gornw, something like shirt,
but rather longer, beited al the waist,
over his undertaking.
1t was the same with the women as
with the men, he said. 1t was one of
the pledges of membership that the
costumes pc worn.
DR.. Anderson described his initiation
into the Society OF Lost Mysteries OF An
tiquity. He said ali who we're present
sat on canvas and We're supposed to be
taking part in an ancient ceremony All
were dressed in light muslin costumes
and the rite was solemnized in the open
air
Describing the initiation. DR.. Ander-
son said it consisted chiefly of Mrs.
Tingley telling of her dog Spot and
what the dog had done. Then Mrs
Tingley ate some fruit, which was sup
posed to be a mysterious symbol and
part Of the high initiation which was
taking place.
Dr. Anderson told of how he was made
a member of the Order of the Rising
sun 4 ne CIlSL LFdtULE VI Ills AAiAtAc-
ton was ne said, that candidate held
a sunflower. There was another order
known as the ancient Order OF Scribes,
which was high
In referring TO the food of the children
DR. Are arson said: THE little tots are
fed principally on bread and milk. They
seem to have sufficient"
Couldn't stand the Food.
He would not fall into line with her
ideas as to food He said he desired
to have them fed. while she desired
to have them starved first. because
they could then more quickly kill out
the lower animal nature in those
children. She believed in giving them
little food. and the doctor protested.
This she told him personally. He con-
tinued:
II was going through the grounds
with Mrs. Tingley. We came to those
babies and one was only a few days
old She was explaining her methods
Of starvation She said that in one
case she withheld food twenty-four
hours. The child was about one year
old She said that the children's low
er nature was subdued and broken
that the quickest way to bring it about
was to adopt the course of withhold
ing food until the child came to its
senses-until its soul appeared
In reply to a question touching the
status of the institution, the deponent
said:
"Truthfully. it is not a theosophical
society at all It is a seeded move
ment from the theosOphica1 sOciety-a
branch"
DR.. Anderson said he left the insti-
tuition because his influence had been
destroyed for the reason that he re-
fased to regard Mrs. Tingley as a
divine being
Katherine A. Tingley has woven a
spell about her own career and in her
many existences seems to have been
confused
The earliest glimpse which is con
tanned Of her is in 1900 B. C.. when she
and Nine. Blavatsl1y were making a
pastoral sojourn in Egypt She reaD-
Feared several times in various parts
of the world. where she made the &C
quaintance OF noted adopts. and espe-
cially OF the person who now is sup
posed to live In Spots. her spaniel
AS far as plain history is concerned.
Mrs. Tingley was born in Newburv-
pert, Mass. about fifty-five years ago.
Her father was named Westcott and
his saloon and hotel were conducted in
such manner as to bring down upon
him the displ of the community
The authorities eventually refused to
renew the license for the place
The daughter Of this establishment
obtained an insight into life far differ
ent from the peaceful existence in the
valley Of the Nile. for she was then a
reckless hoyden. She has some recol-
lection Of being sent to a convent at
Montreal but the historians. who
have no esoteric notions fail to md
any time in her life which could have
been devoted to religious training.
Mrs. TingIey a Printers wife.
She fed to New Orleans and mar
RED Richard Cooke. a compositor. bv
whom she had one child. which she
said she adopted This child. Flossie.
was beautiful. and her photograph has
frequently been produced on Easter
cards and mcttos. She is generallvs de-
picted as carrying lilies.
Mrs Tingley's second husband was
George W. Parent detective and
later a saloonkeeper. ana it is MOI
known whether or not she had anx
children BY him. She adopted two
boys. however. who have been known
az various names. Her first fr,n l,.,..