The subjoined extracts from the writings and public utterances of some of the leading members of the Theosophical Society will it is believed throw considerable light on the issues raised in Dr. Hartmann’s article in the number for October entitled “What is the Theosophical Society”; not so much perhaps as testing the validity of his observations as expanding their scope, and throwing into relief the true character of the Theosophical Society. Anything done or said by anybody without exception, not in harmony with the spirit of these extracts is entirely without binding power on the Theosophical Society or any of its members.
UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD THE MAIN OBJECT OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.
In support of this assertion it may be noticed that in the April number of the Theosophist for the year 1880 in the extract of the rules of the Society as given in 1879, it is alternatively described as the Theosophical Society or Universal Brotherhood, and further stated that “The Theosophical Society is formed upon a basis of a Universal Brotherhood.”
In March, 1880, in a speech by Ráo Báhádur Gopálráo Hurry Deshmuk, the Society is described in the following words: “This Society was established in America four years ago (i.e. in 1875) and its object is to inquire into the philosophies of the East, to announce the brotherhood of man, and to create the bonds of fellowship among nations and sects of different denominations.”
In the June number of the Theosophist for 1881, the name of the Society is again put forward as, “Universal Brotherhood” and its first object is stated to be—To form the nucleus of a Universal Brotherhood of Humanity.
The same sentiment is to be found enunciated by Mr. Sinnett in a speech made on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of the Society. He says: “But even this philosophical search for truth is hardly the primary object of the Society. That object is promoted by the philosophical search for truth, as I hope directly to show, that object itself is that pressed in the foremost watchword of the Society, Universal Brotherhood.” (Supplement Theosophist, January, 1883.)
In the last edition of his lectures, published in 1885, Col. Olcott quotes a passage from Lange’s “History of Materialism” p. 361, in which it is stated:—“That the new epoch will not conquer unless it be under the banner of a great idea which sweeps away egoism, and sets human perfection in human fellowship as a new aim in the place of reckless toil, which looks only to personal gain.” Col. Olcott then proceeds: “It is to such an idea as this that the Theosophical Society seeks to give a formal if not already a quite practical expression,” p. 30. Further on in the same book, p. 117, he states “Our Society might have added to the name ‘Theosophical’ that of ‘Philadelphian’ as it was always meant to be a Society of Universal Brotherhood and for promoting brotherly love among all races.”
In No. 8, Transactions of the London Lodge Theosophical Society, Mr. Mohini M. Chatterji, in a paper “On the Theosophical Society and its Work,” after enumerating the three objects of the Society, makes the following observation:—“Of these three the first (i.e. Universal Brotherhood) is to be looked upon as the crown and end, the other two are merely accessories and means. Every member of the Theosophical Society must be inspired by that end, but may or may not be interested in the other two objects.”
A letter from Dewan Bahadoor Ragoonath Row published in the Theosophist for March, 1884, and quoted in the same “Transaction,” still further accentuates this position. He says:—“Theosophy, as understood by me, is made up of three elements, viz, universal brotherhood, knowledge of truths discovered by science generally known to the ordinary scientist, and knowledge of truths still in store for them. It may be described in another way, viz, ‘universal religion and science reconciled.’ To be a Theosophist he must acknowledge and practice universal brotherhood. If he is not prepared to admit the principle, he cannot be a Theosophist. In addition to this, he should be a student of truths generally known, of course to the extent of his capacity. He should, besides, be a searcher of truths hitherto unknown. If he be all these three, he is undoubtedly a Theosophist. It is, however, possible that one may not be capable of knowing scientific truths, extant or prospective, and yet may be able to recognize and practice universal brotherhood; he is still a Theosophist. No one who does not admit and practice universal brotherhood, though he be a scientist of the first degree, can ever be a Theosophist.”
In the last published report (1886) of the Rules of the Theosophical Society it will also be seen that the first object of the Society is again stated as the promotion of a “Universal Brotherhood of Humanity.”