THE CHIEF OF THEOSOPHISTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8854, 16 April 1892, Page 5

THE CHIEF OF THEOSOPHISTS

The succession to Col. H. S. Olcotfc in the presidency of the Theosophical Society will probably devolve upon Mr. William Q. Judge, V.P.T.S., and president and general secretary of the American section of the society, who is at present in the United States. An alternative measure, which does nob appear likely to be seriously entertained, is that the presidency of the Theosophical Society should be hold, so to say, in commission by the members of a supreme council, comprising the general secretaries — Messrs. Bertram Keightly, M.A., William Q. Judge, G. R. S. Mead, 8.A., and A. Carroll, M.D.—respectively of the Indian, the American, the European, and the Australasian sections, each of these sections being equal and autonomous. Meanwhile Colonel Olcotp trill, as his health permits, vary his sedation by a visit to Akyab, in Btumah.and will also possibly proceed to Calcutta and Buddha Gya. In connection with the last-named, it may be mentioned that ib has just been brought into unusual prominence and interest by the discovery of a Pali manuscript, the "Vishuddhi Marga," the "Pure Way," or " Path to Nirvana," a production of the fifth century of the Christian era, and described as a " superb compendium of Buddhistic philosophy and metaphysics." This Pali manuscript will, probably, soon be available in an English version, having hitherto remained untranslated owing to the lack of financial or other opportunity.

Ib is stated that M. Serullaz, who was sent out by the French Minister of Posts and Telegraphs in search of the Isonandra tree in Malaysia, has returned with several specimens, which are to bo planted in Algeria, while the cultivation of these guttapercha trees will also be attempted in French Guiana. M. Serullaz has discovered considerable forests of the Isonandra gutta, and has also devised a method of " milking" the trees without destroying them, as the crude operations of toe natives invariably do.