THEOSOPHY AT PORT CHALMERS.

Evening Star, Issue 10401, 24 August 1897, Page 1

THEOSOPHY AT PORT CHALMERS.

A theosophical lecture was delivered in the Foresters’ Hall, Port Chalmers, last night by Mr A. W. Maurais, who at the same time replied to certain charges recently brought against the Theosophical Society and its teachings. The lecturer first defended Madame Blavatsky, read letters showing her high position in Russian society, and ridiculed the idea of her being a “fraud.” Her labors, he said, were severe and unremitting, and her earthly reward slander, abuse, and misrepresentation. Passing to the early history of the church, the speaker essayed to show that the original teachings were in their essence theosophical; but within 200 years a great flood of ignorance and bigotry had swept over the church, and a conflict was being waged between the Gnostic doctors on the one hand and the mob (led, however, by some learned men) on the other, victory remaining with the latter. Nevertheless, some of the original teachings were yet to be traced, the doctrines of karma aud reincarnation being amongst them. That mysteries were taught in the infant church, and believers separated into grades, was sought to be shown by quotations from the Fathers. Back of the Triune God of the church was the Unknown Rootless Root, postulated alike by Brahmin, Buddhist, Zoroastrian, Egyptian, and Gnostic philosophical systems, and a mutilated trace of that teaching might still be found in the Athanasiau Greed. An exposition of Theosophical teachings as to man and the universe was then given. There was nothing in the universe that was not also in man, hence the latter could bring himself into relations with all the planes of nature and the various orders of beings from God to the nature spirits. Man, the “ eternal pilgrim,” had been through the universe, and was now climbing back to the source whence he emanated, taking back with him experience, stored not in the perishable physical brain but in the spiritual memory. He could expedite bis progress by bringing himself into attunement with the divine melody, and consciously assisting in the; great plan of evolution. The destiny of man, said the lecturer, was glorious beyond conception; he would pass from glory to glory, ever climbing higher and taking a larger share of responsible work in the Kosmos of God. While yet ignorant of himself he would require faith, the study of Theosophy- would add to his faith knowledge, and knowledge of himself would eventually lead to wisdom. All that man wanted was within himself the Kingdom of God was within him—and he could by meditation, purity, and unselfish work fan into a flame the spark of divinity —the Christos—within him, About seventy persons were present, and the lecturer received a vote of thanks at the close.