THEOSOPHY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11663, 23 January 1902, Page 3

THEOSOPHY.

A lecture on "Theosophy, Science ,and Relfeion" was given in the Sophia. street Hall last night, to a thin audience of about thirty, by Miss Home, a member of the Dunedin branch of the Theosophical Society. Miss Home began by reading a statement of the characteristics and objects of this Society, as follows: " Theosophy is not a religion, but the essential truth underlying all religions and systems of thought. The Theosophical S'ociety was formed at New York, November 17th, 1875. A society of an absolutely unsectarian character, whose work should be amicably prosecuted by the learned of all races, in a spirit of unselfish devotion to the research of truth, and with the purpose of disseminating it impartially, seemed likely to do much to check materialism and strengthen tie religious spirit. Its objects are :^-First : To form a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, sex, creed, caste, or colour. Second: To encourage the study of Comparative Religion, Philosophy, and Science. , Third :To investigate unexplained laws of nature, and the powers latent w man. rfS T o person's religious opinions are 1 asked npon his joining, nor is interference with them permitted; but everyone is required, before admission, to promise to | show towards his fellow-members the same tolerance in this respect as he claims for himself. The Society, as a body, eschews politics and all subjects outsnde its - declared sphere of work. It is unsectarian, and demands no assent to any formula of belief as a qualification of membership. Theosophy, Miss Home said, was not, as many people supposed, invented by an eccentric Russian, Madame Blavatsky. It was the oldest religion and the oldest philosophy, combined, and Madame Blavatsky received instruction in its teaching from certain perfected men in India. The word means the wisdom, or the knowledge of the Gods, and therefore is older than the solar system. In later centuries religion and science had become divorced, even antagonistic, but this breach was how being healed. In former times religion and science were taught by the same persons. The combination was destroyed in Europe by barbarian incursions, and science was lost. Science returned with the Moors, but as these were accounted heathen, the church of the dav resisted its return, and there grew up a list of martyrs of science. No wonder that science became materialistic and antagonistic to "religion, with disastrous results •upon life and the aims of life. Reference was then made to Madame her "working hypothesis" of the meaning of the universe", an hypothesis which she and the more diligent students had proved to be absolute truth. It had been and is being applied to an increasing number of groups of "facts, with great success. At first Theosophy was opposed by both religion and science ; but in the face of facts both must now .recognise that there is something in this new teaching. Modern literature is saturated with the ideas of Theosophy, and so too is the pulpit, though the terms used by its followers are avoided. The science of the day ridiculed the scientific theoriesset forth bv Madame Blavatsky ; row many of these are being accepted and daily made use of. Instances were the Rontgen rays and wireless telegraphy, which she predicted before their discovery. Another was thought power, which has now been I proved in America to be a working force, as steam is, and made valuable use of by • mental healers. Science is turning from ; its materialism to the belief that the unii verse is founded upon and by one absolute conscious spiritual existence, which Mad- ■ ame Blavatsky taught was a trinity, pure > existence, power, and consciousness; and i * these are manifested in the universe as sub-

stance, force, and consciousness. Science now recognises that all matter is reducible to one primary element, and all farces and sensations to- one form of force, vibrations of different wave-lengths. With respect to consciousness, Miss Home spoke of _ the separate consciousness of the individual cells in a living body, and the superior consciousness of the aggregatioin which' is the " self " eff the body, und said it was no great step from this fact to the idea of supreme consciousness or self of the universe. She gave some advice how to go to work if it was desired to establish a group or branch in Timaru, and announced that she will give a second lecture n«xt Wednesday, on " Has man an immortal soul ?" remarking that if he has not. they might as well give up the study of Theosophy. Written questioins were invited, and in reply to the few sent up, Miss Horns said that"Theosophy decidedly recognises a God eminently to be worshipped, a great conscious entity presiding over nature; that she had witnessed the death-bed of a Theosophist, and could imagine nothing more peaceful; that Theosophy looked upon God as a living entity, who knows and guides what is going on ira the universe. Some Theosophie literature was distributed, and a- collection for expenses was taken up- „__________