The Mission of Theosophy

Southland Times, Issue 19202, 13 November 1903, Page 2

The Mission of Theosophy

I Miss l.ilinn Kdger gave her first lecture ! on Theohopliy last night in Ashley's Hrill to v largo and appreciative nudionco. Miss Kdger is an exceptionally brilliant speaker, with a pleasing manner and clear delivery, and treated her subject with logical insight. The lecturer explained that the new discoveries of science in clairvoyance/ hypnotism, magneti.siu ami thought transference demanded new formulations with regard to the ideas of man and Nature : that in religion there was a wider tolerance among denominations, even to the clergy of one sect helping the clergy of another, that in philosophy the Western minds had begun to see clearly that the old tenchings of the East could illumine their own metaphysics. The Theosophical Society is composed of students who are ready to search for truth in all directions. Tho study of comparative religions shows that in the similarities of religion lie the basic principles, and that the differences arc- only to be* found in details and ceremonials. For example all religions teach one God, all tench tho God- of Love, ail teach that 'man is a child of God, or a my from tho central Divine Sun. or a seed in which lies latent the potentiality of divinity, and all teach the revelution of God to man through a divine teacher. The TheosophiCal Society may be compared to religious truths in the same way as an astronomical to astronomy. Tho chief object of tho Society is the forming of a nucleus of the universal brotherhood of humanity. without distinction of race, sex, creed, caste, or colour. The aim at brotherhood is based on the divine spark in each man. The spirit must be, one of love and tolerunce. A nron needs to create a harmonious thoUght-atmosphoro around him. and instead of arousing opposition ami antagonism by delariug that he has the whole truth n«id that Ull who differ are false, to radiate joy and peace to all whom be' contacts.. Ndne of us have Truth, wq qnly ace fragments of the truth, each his owtf fragment. A time has dawned when men realise that the East has something to teach the West and vice versa. Where the Western brings great energy and intellectual and scientific knowledge to help humanity, so the Eastern brings that introspection and devotion to the spiritual jtfe. In order to understand the East wp must needs judge it by its best, not by itH worst. With our British lovp of fair play wo sco that Christianity must be judged by its teachings, and by th? -best of itb followers ; no Hiuduiam or uny other religion of the East must be Judod by its authorised, not the MOvaHOfti'

cal scriptures, and by its most cultured Adherents In the search for truth the fecture? Pictured the seekers journeying «fll from the outside to a central divine Sffbt * • they toiled on to the light thev-ifelt the law of love working, if theyi turned to the outside they came at once under the law of pain, Where one journeyed from the North to the Centre he was told to go South, and where one in the South asked how to get to the centre he was told to go North. •-><> with truth-seekers— all roads led to i.nci to those who earnestly tried to pjnij the life and to work, with an 0 " 1 1 ; ful devotion, if the same kindly feeling and tolerance is continued. Miss Edger will doubtless have a sun larger audience this evening, when •will lecture on the Mystery of I-ne ami Ueath,