The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-10-28
San Diego, Cal, oc. ~,
DELIGHTFUL air of mystery
\ broods over the "institution"
on Point Iona, over which
Mrs Katharine Tinglev rules,

and winch mas attfacted Wlue aVlehVsoh
since the Hon. Lyman J, Gage, Revival
of the Lost Mysteries OF Antiquity, took
up his residence there, The place is
called the International Brotherhood,
the Raja Yoga School. the school for
Lost Mysteies Of Antiquity. the Thee
sophical headquarters and by hall
dozen other names, There Is battling
story connected with the very site, and
ever since the institution was establish.
ed the public curiosity regarding 1t mas
been keen and unsatisfed.
The story of Catherine Tingley has
been recounted often. 1t has been said
that she was an adept in clairvoyancy
and similar mysterious practices before
she blossomed into the .Purple Mother
hood. of Point Iona She succeeded
William Q. Judge as the head of the
Theosophical Society. founded by Nine.
Blavatsky. In this succession. as in all
other moves made by the leaders Of the
cult, there is enough secrecy to give
spice to the proceedings. Mrs. Tingley.
at any rate, is acknowledged by her
followers to be absolute in authority,
with power to appoint her successor.
Her rule is for life-this life. Whether
she will exercise supervision over the
Point Iona institution after translation
to another sphere of activity, is still
another secret.
Soon after Mrs. Tingley's accession to
the Theosophical throne the society was
enriched by the contributions OF several
rich men in the east. Some of them
dropped their usual labors and joined
the colony then forming. while Others
performed work for the society while
remaining in business. Hints were Civ
en- of enormous accretions OF wealth
from sources not divulged.
Agents of the society appeared about
ten years ago in San Diego and quietly
acquired the lands on Point Iona, now
occupied by the "ins.stutionl. The
word went out that millions were to be
expended in improvements. Several
names of national reputation were circu-
lated as behind the movement. From
somewhere, somehow. the people of San
Diego learned. or thought they learned,
that Point Iona was selected at the
instance Of mahatmas in the Orient, the
object being to facilitate communication
between the Pacific Coast and the ORR
ent by mysterious means unknown to
the world. Telepathy, ether waves,
wireless telegraphy, soul vibrations, and
few other methods were suggested.
The Theosophists threw no light on the
subject. and permitted the common folk
TO think what they pleased.
In due time, after further rumors had
gained circulation, the leaders arrived
in San Diego to lay the cornerstone Of
the "School for the Revival OF the Lost
Mysteries Of Antiquity" A splendid, |
tantilizing title it was. The San Die
gans were recovering from the effects
of another educational stunt, known as
the boom, which had enfated the place
to the bursting point of ambition, and
then punctured itself with hideous COM
bustion and bankruptcy They were
badly crippled, but they recovered their
spirits quickly. for there is something in
the shimmering air of this place which
disposes toward grandeur and credulty.
II is as good as Tarascon, the home of
the great Tartarin, where the very air
enlarges every image. The San Diego
people did not linger long in welcoming
the School for the Revival, &c.
On pleasant emiHence on the Point,
commanding an unobstructed view to-
ward the Orient, the ner-stone was
laid. If anybody thinks there was any
omission of ceremony, he is mistaken.
There was a procession, with Mrs. Ting
lev at the head, attired in symbolic
,.ohar caIectiong yera read from the
sacred writings of India, Persia, and
Japan. Corn, wine and oil were laid
upon the stone with obscure incanta.
tions. Finally, after series Of esoteric
observations by distinguished unknown
visitors, the cognoscenti gathered about
the stone and repeated, with bated
breath the wonderful word that is al
ways spelled in capitals by the elect
the word "OM!"
This brief but potent conjunction Of
letters was said at the time to be the
word used by Joshua and his host out
side of Jericho. After the proper apph-
cation Of shouts, as the sacred writings
inform us. the walls fell. The Point
Iona true believers say that this aston
;sbipo effect was accomplished through
the power of rythm, exactly as a httie
dog trotting over bridge starts a VI
uo1 s+ro;n. +hp structure. AT