A DISTINGUISHED THEOSOPHIST.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1025, 19 October 1903, Page 4

A DISTINGUISHED THEOSOPHIST.

In the course o£ an interview accorded to an Auckland Star representative, Miss Lilian Edgar, the .distinguished theosophist, gave some interest ing particulars in regard to her work. Miss Edgor explained that Benares was the centro from which the Indian work was directed, just as Auckland is the centre for New Zealand, and Sydney for Australia. “ 1 have been there,” sho said, for just throe yoars. I was thoro for a year before that, and then I came back and was working in Australia for about 18 months. “ What is your work, Miss Edger ? ” <i The . work is principally lecturing. There are two things really that the society is working for in India. One —it is a little difficult to explain. It is assort of reviving and vitalising of the religion of the country itself. You know, of course, that the theosophieal society knows no creed, but really embraces all religions, and is therefore in sympathy with them all. We try to add more tolerance and breadth and vitality to their religions. In India, before the society went there, the religion bad reached a ratbor low ebb. The young men, growing up in touch with European ideas, failed to appreciate their own religion which they heard so often made the subject of contempt. But this has been greatly remedied during the last 25 years through our own work and that of other agencies.” “ Your work is mostly among the Hindoos, then ? ” “ Yes, and their religion has been shown to bo fit to stand by tho side of any religion in the world, both for its philosophy, and for its power of arousing devotion Our work is done by means of branches_ of which we have about 100 now, com posed of from half a dozen members each to 100 or more. In these branches the various theosophieal books aro studied together with tho hooks of the mombors own religion. And a great many of them would toll you that through theosophieal study thoy havo beon ablo to Eee more meaning and spirit in their own books. ’ 11 Do you get much sympathy from the Europeans ? ” “ I cannot say that they aro very sympathetic, although there is an improvement in that direction,” “ Can 3ou tell our readors anything about the phenomenal phases of Hindoo worship ? ” t . , <> No. I have seen next to nothing of that. It is quite apart from our work, and tho most religious people of India, those among whom our labors are carried on do not care about the phenomenal side. Among tho .best Indian priests there are no phenomena performed at all.” _ •> The second and most important work wo aro doing is educational, to try and combine religious teaching with education. Hindoo religion is, of course, taught, because hitherto iu the mission colleges Christianity has been taught, and in Che Government schools no religion is taught at all. Wo have issued text-books, based on the Hindoo Scriptures, but put into a somewhat more English form and these text-books are gradually coming into use in the other colleges apart from our own workers.” , . , »Your society, then, does not mind what religion it. teaches so long as it is a religion which uplifts ? ” u Exactly. Because wo think all reunion comes from the samo source, but this one is specially adapted for tho Indian people among whom wo work.” “ What is your ultimate object—to produce one universal religion ? ” “No not to make tho religions one. but to brin" the members of the different religions into closer sympathy with one another and cause them to recognise that they aro really following tho same truths, only in difierent forms. That is par of our object, and another part is to strenthen all tendency towards spiritual li e. Not • spiritualistic ’ mind. lam glad to notice a disposition to raise the standard of education among the women of India. This is not a part of our work, but a great deal has been said by the missionaries abou their being very uneducated, Many of them are, but I have met a number who were exceedingly well educated. The eis a growing desire among the Hindoos that their wives and daughters • shall be we educated, but on Hindoo lines of course. To those who desire to Know more of Miss Edger’s views on Theosophy, we commend her book, “ Elements on Ineosophy, just issued. _

At a special of the Timaru Borough Council Mr Liiico, the Government veterinary surgeon, was appointed manager of the municipal abattoirs. Ice Council decided that slaughtering be let by contract. The original loan of ±6ooo for abattoirs is now found to bo insum« cient, and application is to be made to the Government for a further loan of .£650. The Hindu term for the motor-car is the “ devil-carriage.” The surface area ol the moon is about as great as Asia and Australia combined. During a hailstorm at Dumferliue, the hailstones fell on one side of the street only,.