THEOSOPHY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2362, 1 June 1899, Page 21

THEOSOPHY.

A lecture entitled " Theosophy : A Living Power in the World," was delivered in the Victoria Hall 6$ Sunday night, by Misa Lilian Edger, M.A., who has recently returned from her now annual lecturing tour in India. The lecturer, after drawing attention to the characteristic differences in the Indian and British races, emphasised the desirabilty of each taking from the other the good which was lacking in itself, and pointed out tho fact that ©very religious system had but ono aspect of religion, fo all are necessary to show the truth which underlies all systems. Our mistake lies, she said, in accentuating the differences instead of the agreements, and in copying each other's vices instead of virtues. Two companion pictures — one drawn from the Hindu and the other from our own Scriptures were then presented — each giving an almost identical account of creation and evolution. This evolution must proceed ; must go on until wo. become perfect, and as yet we aye but in the earlier stage?. • No system* of religion which fails to make us better 'men and women is worthy of entertainment for a moment. She maintained that Theosophy is a living power embracing all systems, and by following its teachings we may, nay. must, in time become perfect, not with a mere human perfection, but with that perfection of which Jesus spoke whon he commanded us thus: — " Be ye perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect." We have each within us the seed or breath of divinity according to the Hindu or our own Scriptural phraseology, and both seed and breath, given the correct environments and conditions, must, by evolution, by unfolding or growing, become like itp source — a divine being. An important point wns the explanation of the two apparently conflicting accounts of the creation given in Genesip. The lecture was listened to with great attention throughout, and should be productive of a better understanding of Theosophy, and also of its one compulsory condition — that of universal brotherhood.

Last week the Westport Coal Company shipped 6380^ tons coal and the Cardiff Company 1386 i tons, making a total of 7767 tons.