The Irish standard., 1909-09-25
MRS. ANNIE BESANT
The High Prisstess Of Thsosophy on
RoincarnatiOn. -. 80

The High Priestess Of Thsesophy on
Rsincarnatien. So
For the enlightenment of such read
ers as desire to understand the occult
science of theosophy, of which Mrs.
Annie Besant is the eXpounder, thu
following article under her own sig
nature in the Chicago Tribune is re-
produced for what it is worth:
There are but three explanations o.
human inequalities, whether of facul-
ties, of opportunities, of circum-
stances: l. Special creation by God,
implying that man is helpless, his des-
tiny being controlled by an arbitrary
and incalculable will. H. Heredity
as suggested by science, implying an
equal helplessness, on mans part, he
being the result Of past over whici,
he had no control. III. Reincarna-
ton, implying that man can become
master Of his destiny. he being the re-
suit of his own individual past, being
what he has made himself.
Special creation is rejected by all
thoughtful people as an explanation
of the conditions round u.s. save In
the most important conditions of ALL
the character with which and the en-
vironment into which an infant i.
born. Evolution is taken for granted
in everything except in the life of
spiritual intelligence, called man; he
has no individual past. although he
has an individual endless future. Tie
character he brings with him-on
which more than anything else his
destiny on earth depends-is, on this
hypothesis, specially created for him
by God. and imposed on him without
any choice OF his own, but of the
lucky bag of creation he may draw ii
prize or a blank. the blank being a
doom of misery; such as it is, he must
take it,
If he draws a good disposition, fac
capacities, noble nature, so much
the better for him; he has done MOTH
ing to deserve them, If he uraw cor
genital criminality. congenital idiocy
congenital disease. congenital drunk
enness so much the worse for him: he
has done nothing to deserve them. If
everlasting bliss be tackled on to the
one and everlasting torment to tine
other, the unfortunate one must ac-
cept his i'll fate as he may. Hath not
the potter power over the clay? Only
1t seems sad il the clay be sentient,
In another respect special creation
Is grotesque. A spirit is specially Gre
ated for a small body which dies a
few hours after birth. II life on earth
has any educational or experimental
value that spirit will be the poorer
forever by missing such a life, and the
lost opportunity can never be made
good. If. Oh the other hand human
lie on earth is OF no essential i'm j.
portance and carries with it the Ger
tafnty of many ill dsinKs and suffer i.
inss and tho possibility Of everlasting
suffering at the end of it, the spiris
that comes into body that endures 70
old age is hardly dealt with, as it
must endure innumerable ills escape i
by the other without any equivalent
advantage. and may be damned for
ever.
The list of intustices brought about
by special creation might be extended
indefinitely, for 1t includes all in :
equalitdes; 1t has made myriads of
atheists, as incredible by the intelli-
rence and revolving to the conscience.
1t places man in the position OF the
memorable creditor Of God, strident!y
demanding: why hast thou made
me thus?"
The hypothesis of science is not us
blasphemous as that Of special crea-
ton, but heredity only explains bodies;
it throws no light on the evolution OF
intelligence and conscience. The Oar.
winian theory tried to include these,
but failed lamentably to explain how
the social virtues could be evolved in
the struggle for existence. Moreover,
by the time the parents had acquired
their ripest fruition Of high qualities
the period of reproductions was over:
children are for the most part born
in the heyday Of physical vigor while
the intellectual and moral qualities o;
their parents are immature. Later
studies have, however. shown that ac-
quired qualities are not transmiss:-
BILE, and that the higher the type the
fewer the offspring.
Genius is sterile" says science, and
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