THEOSOPHICAL LECTURE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 715, 14 January 1910, Page 6

THEOSOPHICAL LECTURE.

-The organiser , of! the New ■ Zealand -Theosophical Society, Mr. J.,' E; 'Thomson, delivered an' instructive lecture at the : Theosophical' Society's' new room," Ballance Street, last; night. He chose forhisi subject'"The' Building of Character;" 'and' kept, his': audience closely, interested iby. describing the various phases., of character' buflding. ; ' It'-was pointed out-' that, to' attain to anv; ; £peat; stage ofmental ' development tne individual mustgive attention: to 1 his physical body, that he'may build, a sound mind, in a sound body, and make it of the purest materials possible. The foods : we eat were:classified into.- three great'; kinds, each imparting certain qualities to the body. -'-Grams and nuts-':were foods of- high qualify, :'and built: pure bodies. ' The' speaker referred-to'-the- great necessity for: controlling ■■ the .bind - 'as a" .means'.to 1 -an end,;:and'■ that end '• was ■ meditation. • Control of emotions, was a great) factor :in tho 'dovolipmentof the individual and: the ■:building of character. The thoughts which: drifted in and out of • oiir- minds were. daigerous, and the checking of such - thoughts ■ must .be practised' that, tho person might build a strong- mental -body.- -There was: a -'great tendency to follow leaders and'not strike out'definitely..on our own, account and think- :V 'for', ourselves. "Read ;by ..all means," he.,counselled,--"but'think over whfct- is; read; assimilate, it;- and build'' a--strong : mind thereby." . The methods : of - indefuiite Ithinking • so common : nowadays was -deplored: by- 'thtf leistnrer,' arid the great waste of time in' discussing trivial; ■ was denounced.,:- The - saving:; "What wo think of, that we become, was true,'-and we-were able to build our futures in accordance'with our thoughts.Man was referred:-to, as a "fraction of Divinity,", and not a "worm of: earth," and : the. sneaker said;.that'- if;our physicians would-; impress this ' upon - their patients more cures would result. Some • questions were asked, and : they received interesting answers;' A vote or thanks was: passed, arid a substantial collection in. aid of the furnishing fund was -taken up; Mr. Williams, vicepresident of the branch, was liMtns ebair.