Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, SEPT. 8, 1891. Theosophists.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 8 September 1891, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, SEPT. 8, 1891. Theosophists.

Followers of Paracelsus, in the sixteenth century, were known as Theosophists, and that suggested the name of the society founded by Madame Blavatsky in 1875, which aimed at universal brotherhood and the study of Eastern philosophy. Mr Stead, in the Review of Reviews, has an interesting character sketch of this lady, of whom we are reminded by the late cablegrams announcing that Mrs Besant asserts that since Madame Blavatsky's death late last May, she has received letters from the spirit world similar to Madame's. Madame Blavatsky was no vulgar medium, in fact she regarded herself as specially bound to combat and oppose the spiritualistic movement. No one knew better than she that the phenomena of spiritualists were often entirely genuine, but she telt herself in possession of knowledge which enabled her to explain them as originating from super-physical causes, quite unlike those to which the spiritualists assigned them. She made it possible for some of tb.9 most cultivated and sceptical men and women to believe ardently, that not only does the invisible world that encompasses .us contain intelligencies vastly superior to our own in knowledge of the truth, but that it is possible for man to enter into communication with these hidden and silent ones, and to bo taught of them Divine mysteries of Time and of Eternity. Madame Blavatskv proclaimed herself as the directly commissioned messenger of the celestial heirarchy, charged by tbora to reveal the Path by which any one who was worthy or willing might enter into direct communication with these sublime intelligencies.

Mr Stead in summing up says these things are too high for me. It is the human side of Theosophy

that fascinates me. But I can say of my own knowledge that she was undoubtedly a very gifted and original woman to converse with, a fiery, impulsive, passionate creature, fall of failings, and personally the very reverse of beautiful. She was unique, but she was intensely human, and a v/oman to her heart's core. She aroused the passionate devotion of both men and women, fcrhe was to her followers ps the oracle of God. They had t'lii^ treasure in a very earthen vessel, but it was there.

Her mantle is now claimed by one who for very many years, fought, shoulder to shoulder, with the late Charles Bradlaugh in the forefront of tho militant atheism. It was announced, shortly after Mr Bradlaugh's death, that Mrs Jiesant had discarded the work of her lifetime, but it will be news that she has taken up the most opposite course so quickly, and now strives to assist the impulse created by Madame Blavatsky's writings, which are credited with being likely so accomplish serious and important modifications of religious thinking.