The Theosophical Society, the Blavatsky Lodge, and the Working Women’s Club

 THE PRESIDENCY OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

It is stated that the presidency of the Theosophical Society and the hegemony of Theosophists in general, so far as Europe is concerned, is to pass from the hands of Colonel Olcott into those of Mme. Blavatsky, whose position has hitherto been that of general secretary of the movement. This division of authority is of an entirely friendly character, and is dictated by considerations of expediency alone. The Colonel will continue to exercise from his headquarters at Adyar, Madras, the functions of the president of at least the Indian section of the Theosophists.

THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

The settlement of the staff of the European section of the Theosophical Society under the recently authorized presidency of Mme. H. P. Blavatsky, with headquarters in the Avenue-road, Regent’s Park, and in connection with the general headquarters at Adyar, Madras, is, writes the London correspondent of the Manchester Guardian, being approximately completed. Mr. G. R. S. Mead is appointed secretary of the European section, the treasurership of which is assumed by Miss E. Kislingbury. This lady’s name will be familiar in the memory of some as a sometime secretary of the now dispersed National Association of Spiritualists, at one time the most earnest and scientific spiritualistic corporation in London, having its home, library, lecture-rooms, and head-quarters generally in Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury. The indifference with regard to ordinary religious systems professed by Theosophists is exemplified by the acceptance of so intimate an office by a lady who has for several years past been a member of the Romish Church.

THE HEADQUARTERS OF THEOSOPHY IN ENGLAND.

The Lecture Hall of the Theosophists was opened lately, and a large crowd of visitors and members assembled for the occasion. The opening addresses were made by Mrs Annie Besant, Mr A. P. Sinnett, Mr Bertram Keightley, and many others, who were delegates from Spain, Sweden, and America. The hall will hold 300, and is constructed of polished wood, on the ceiling of which is painted blue, the signs of the zodiac. A large mirror stands behind the platform bearing on its surface a six pointed star, surrounded by a serpent; and above are other occult emblems, such as the lion’s head, the bull, the winged scorpion, &c.; the sloping ceiling is beautifully painted with rushes, lotus flowers, &c., and pastoral foliage, by Mr Macnail, a well-known artist. The arrangements of the house are not yet complete, but it will shortly be ready for occupation by Madame Blavatsky and her Secretaries, and those members who are concerned in the working of the Theosophical Society in England. This is the first time that the Society has obtained the possession of permanent headquarters in London, but thanks to the liberal help of many members, and especially to the generous conduct of Madame Blavatsky, the work undertaken by the Society can now be done most thoroughly. — Woman’s Penny Paper.

THEOSOPHICAL GOSSIP.

July has been an important month for theosophists. Was it by chance that the third day of the month and the seventh month of the year saw the opening of the new meeting room at the new head quarters of the Theosophical Society. At 8.30 p.m. a crowded meeting was addressed by the president, Mrs. Annie Besant, who declared the hall duly opened. It was an interesting sight, and one not likely to be forgotten, that crowded room filled with earnest and eager faces of men and women in the prime of life, bearing for the most part the signs of earth’s struggle upon them. The centre of the thoughts of all Madame Blavatsky sat, looking ill and worn with suffering, on a slightly raised platform, by the side of Mrs. Besant. Every theosophist present knew that to this woman’s energy and devoted perseverance was due this latest result of a philosophical activity, a creative movement now circling the globe. Mrs. Besant concluded her opening address with words that found an echo in every heart, when she uttered the fervent wish that the hall might become a centre of theosophical activity, a real home for all earnest members of the society, where all might be sure of a cordial welcome, ready sympathy, advice and help in difficulties, a true centre of brotherhood and study, and therefore of progress, where hidden truth might be revealed, and so many brought to enter upon that path of upward progress which is the one aim of Theosophy to open to every child of man. Delegates from abroad gave brief accounts of the progress of Theosophy in their several countries, which could not fail to stimulate all present with hope and renewed energy in the cause of Truth and humanity. The hall is being utilised on Thursday evenings at the meetings of the Blavatsky Lodge, for a series of discussions on “Theosophy in relation to the Problems of Modern Life,” and we are looking forward in October to a course dealing with Theosophy “from the root up.” As the present headquarters are located at 19, Avenue Road, Regent’s Park, N.W., and situated in one of the most intellectual, and still most accessible suburbs of London, these weekly lectures and discussions cannot fail to do much to make known the aims and scope of Theosophy. Through the energy and self-sacrifice of Mr. Chapman, F.T.S., a Theosophical Lending Library has been opened at Mile End Road, that the Lamp of Truth may shed its rays into the dark places of the East of London, the district of slums, sweating dens, and chronic want and misery. The Tract Mailing Scheme, for the distribution of Theosophical Leaflets by post is now in full activity, under the direction of Mrs. Alice Gordon, 7, Nevern Road, Earl’s Court, S.W., to whom contributions may be sent. Students of astrology will be interested to know that a new monthly, Fate and Fortune, has been started, and promises to be a great success. I think the sensation of the month for Theosophists has been caused by the vigorous onslaught made by Madame Blavatsky on two recent contributions to literature, one from the pen of Count Tolstoi, the other written by Mr. Grant Allen. The former, in Kreutzer Sonata, exposes and denounces the licentiousness of men in the marriage relation, whereby women’s health is wrecked, and children’s blood, robbed of vital energy, and hearts, homes, and happiness ruined. The latter, in The Girl of the Future, desires to see the physical interests of coming generations put in the foremost ranks, and the mental, moral, spiritual, and even humane interests and instincts of women made subordinate to the introduction of the finest possible type of human animals. 

Needless to say that Madame Blavatsky does not fall in with Mr. Grant Allen’s views, but denounces them with a plainness of speech and directness of aim, of which perhaps only a woman is capable. But in an age which seems to believe that rotteness, if only out of sight, is rotteness no longer, this is very bold dealing. No one complains, no one concerns himself about social corruption; but let the hem of the garment of foulness be touched and a howl of execration goes forth from gentlemen of the press, as if the very life of humanity was threatened. Truly we still love darkness rather than light because our deeds are evil. An important change has been made in the organisation of the society. In accordance with the unanimous wishes of “the Fellows of the Theosophical Society in Europe,” Madame Blavatsky has accepted the “duty of exercising the presidential authority for the whole of Europe;” but “let no one imagine that this reform in any sense suggest separation from, or even the loosening in any way of the authority” of Colonel H. S. Olcott, who remains, as heretofore, the President-Founder of the Theosophical Society, the world over. “But it has been found impossible for him while living in India to exercise accurate discrimination in current matters of guidance of the Theosophical Society.” Hence the above-mentioned shifting of the weight and burden of presidential responsibility.

- Mrs Cooper-Oakley lectured, on the 22nd ult., to an intelligent East-end audience on Theosophy. On Thursday last she opened a discussion at the Blavatsky Lodge, the new headquarters of the Theosophical Society, on “Woman in Modern Society” (the Family.

WHAT THE THEOSOPHISTS ARE DOING.

Times and seasons were propitious, and the British workman—for once—was kind. The new hall of the Blavatsky Lodge was opened auspiciously, before everybody who is anybody left town. The opening meeting was a great success, although, perhaps, belated visitors, who found themselves unable to find standing room, might have wished that fewer Theosophists had come upon the field. Delegates from Philadelphia, Spain, Holland, Belgium, and Sweden successively addressed the meeting. Mr. A. P. Sinnett, who has done so much to make known the teachings of Theosophy, in his novels, “Karma” and “Muted,” as well as in his more serious works, “Eastern Buddhism” and “The Occult World,” spoke at some length, and Mr. Bertram Keightley, who has lately done such splendid work for “the cause” in America, gave an interesting account of the way he had been made to realise, in that hospitable country, that the Brotherhood of Man was no mere catchword, but a living active force. Mrs. Besant made a stirring appeal to all who heard her, to devote themselves with frank speech and noble life to the uplifting of humanity.

The Working Women’s Theosophical Club in the East End has been supplemented this month by a Theosophical Lending Library, which will be opened every Tuesday evening for the purpose of answering questions by inquirers. Birmingham has enriched its city by the formation of a nucleus of a Theosophical Lodge, and a large room in a central position has been opened for the study and discussion of Theosophical teachings. A Theosophical Lending Library has been opened at Brighton, and another at Bradford. All along the line are signs of awakening interest in Occult study and Eastern thought. 

Spain is doing her duty to the rising generation by the printing and distributing of thousands of pamphlets among the universities, schools, libraries, clubs, and Colonies on Theosophical subjects. Holland and Belgium are busy scattering translations of important articles, culled from Theosophical journals, amongst the people, and the press is being induced to insert notices of Theosophical interest. Sweden boasts a large and active Theosophical Lodge, and many translations of Theosophical works are already on sale, while more are being prepared for press. In Sweden, at present, newspapers are severely silent on these topics, but the visitor and tourist who is interested in Occultism rejoices to find upon the bookstalls important works on Theosophy.

The new hall of the Blavatsky Lodge is to be utilised for weekly lectures and discussions on Theosophy, in its relation to the problems of modern life.

Madame Blavatsky has been induced by the earnest and repeated request of the European Fellows of the T. S., to take over the Presidential authority for the whole of Europe, and in future all official business of the Theosophical Society in Europe will be transacted at Head Quarters in London, where Madame Blavatsky herself resides.

THE THEOSOPHIST CREED.

A large number of Theosophists assembled at the headquarters of the Blavatsky Lodge London, to hear all about the “septenary in nature,” which a Mrs. Cleather explained in the course of a very interesting paper, given in the form of a lecture. Everyone seemed to enjoy it, save an irreverent reporter who was told lots of things which he thought were funny until it was explained to him they were very serious. He heard about the faculty of consciousness and the reflex in material nature, of the unknown and the unknowable, of the an of elemental thought, of higher metaphysics, of “universals” and “particulars,” and of the “rootless root from which springs all that is, all that was, and all that ever will be.” The lecture, it was carefully explained, was collated from the works of accredited Theosophists, and notably of course from those of Madame Blavatsky. The atmosphere after a time was full of gas and sevens. Everything was in sevens. It was remarked that there were seven planes of being—that we had a sevenfold consciousness—that occult science recognises seven cosmic elements, that the light of the Logos was concentrated in the seven senses—that there were seven ways to bliss, seven ways to sleep, and seven paths in esoteric Orientalism. It was also urged as an example in sevenfold phenomena that in some people the striking of the seven notes in music evoked the corresponding images of the seven colours. It was also said that fevers, smallpox, and the measles, and all the ills that flesh is heir to, were attributed to the mystic seven. Discussion followed, and all the devout Theosophists seemed happy.

AN EVENING AT BLAVATSKY LODGE.

A few weeks ago I found myself in the neighbourhood of Regents Park, London, not far from the head quarters of Theosophical Society. Being anxious to learn something about the fashionable craze, I persuaded, a somewhat reluctant friend, a member of the Blavatsky Lodge, to procure me a card of admission for Thursday evening; when mundane matters are discussed, and the profane are invited and share the wisdom of the elect.

The meetings of the Blavatsky Lodge are held in a pleasantly arranged hall, a recent structure, erected by contributions of the faithful, and ground adjoining the Theosophical head quarters. The hall itself is wainscoted with light oak; and portions of the roof have been prettily painted by Mr. Machell, the artist, who is a fellow of the Society. A few photographs of Eastern subjects adorn the walls, and æsthetic draperies delight the eye. I was fortunate in having chosen an evening for my visit, when the world-renowned Mrs. Besant was the speaker of the night. The subject was “Woman in Antiquity,” but it struck me that nineteenth century woman came in for that lion’s share of attention, needless to say. The orator—for no other word fitly describes this most eloquent speaker—held the attention of her audience from beginning to end. Her address lasted almost an hour and was followed by a most instructive discussion. Certainly the Theosophists have adopted a wise course in thus inviting the thoughtful attention of outsiders to the secrets of the Society, and in eliciting for their own instruction, the views of intelligent listeners upon subjects of especial interest to themselves.

On the evening in question Mrs. Besant’s powerful statement of the iniquitous position of the married woman as defined by law, and the cruel injustice to which she is thereby subjected, drew forth a very instructive explanation from a barrister present, whose name I did not catch, of the difficulty in which administrators of the law found themselves when called upon to deliver judgment in cases of wife-beating, and other forms of abuse of marital authority. Magistrates, he explained, knew from experience that adequate punishment, in the rare cases where the statute book allowed its infliction, causes more misery to the hapless wife and family than to the wretched criminal. Women, in a few cases, were willing to retaliate on their persecutors in a mild way, but even handed justice were meted out, not only would the half-killed wife be the first to beg off her brutal tyrant, from the punishment he had brought upon himself, but all the wives in the neighbourhood would there and then resolve to submit to be done to death by inches, rather than risk the infliction of summary justice upon their brutal lords.

I fancy this threw a new light upon the light sentences constantly passed upon wife-beaters, sentences which never fail to call forth a storm of indignant protests from the advocates of women’s rights. Another important point made in the discussion which followed the lecture, was the total inadequacy of law, or any external regulation, to bring about a satisfactory social state. Reform must proceed from within outwards, spiritualize the men and women, and they will infuse vitality into the dead letter of the law. Enact laws, as perfect as those promulgated in the Sermon on the Mount, and with the standard of morality in changed form from what it is today, the new laws will remain as powerless to effect a moral revolution as have been the edicts of the Master. The responsibilities of women of wealth and position having come upon the carpet, a vigorous appeal was made from various standpoints, and from different members in the meeting, to women to extend the ostracism, now and severely exercised upon the frail of one sex, to the men of loose life. Women were further urged, in plain, but quite delicate fashion, to avoid inciting the evil by the use of low-necked dresses and sleeveless bodices. This, to the unenlightened masculine mind, seemed only reasonable, for if ladies are urged to shut their doors against fast men, they should not themselves be permitted to act as inciters to seduction.

At ten o’clock the meeting of the Blavatsky Lodge was dismissed by a few words from the president, summing up the results arrived at in the evening’s discussion, and a most instructive and agreeable programme brought to an end.

- A New Club for the benefit of working women and poor girls has just been opened in the East-end by the Theosophical Society. It is called the “East London Club for Working Women,” 193, Bow Road, E. The inauguration took place on Saturday evening, August 16, when a number of girls working in the match factories sat down to a sumptuous tea, and spent a pleasant evening, winding up with an impromptu dance, which they thoroughly enjoyed. This Club owes its existence to the kindness of a gentleman, who brought a cheque of £1,000 to Madame Blavatsky asking her to devote it to the use and benefit of poor and working women. Madame Blavatsky, being too much of an invalid to undertake the responsibility, deputed Mrs. Annie Besant and Miss Cooper, members of the Society, to do the practical organisation for her.

The kind donor only stipulated that no dogmatism should be taught. The house is a large, old-fashioned building, with fine rooms, and has been charmingly arranged to be as homelike and comfortable as possible, and a good library is in course of formation. There is accommodation for twelve girls who are homeless and friendless. The Club is for every woman without distinction. At first it was suggested that only girls belonging to the Trades Unions should be invited to join, but as this would not be in conformation with the spirit of the donor, Madame Blavatsky expressly desired that no distinction of any kind should be made, either political, trading, or social. This being also one of the main principles of the Theosophical Society, the Club will be worked on these comprehensive lines. A large dining-hall, to which Messrs. Bryant & May contributed £50, has also been built, where food can be obtained at cost price.

AN EAST END WOMEN’S CLUB.

The East London Working Women’s Club, which has just been opened, promises to be a very successful undertaking. Hitherto the class of the community for whose benefit it is intended, and which comprises match-girls, fur-pullers, and others who follow very poorly paid avocations, has had no institution at all answering to a club, and in this respect it has been left almost alone by the various religious and philanthropic bodies which have done good work in many directions in the district. A gentleman of means, who desires to remain anonymous, became cognisant of the want, and he placed a thousand pounds in the hands of Madame Blavatsky to be expended for the purpose. Madame Blavatsky secured the assistance of Mrs. Besant; and she was again was fortunate enough to find in No. 193 Bow-road, a house in the very centre of the factory district which, with a little alteration, could be made to answer admirably for the club premises—one of those large old-fashioned houses which speak of a time when Bow was very much more like a country village than ever it will again. The lease of this was purchased; the house which was in a very ramshackle condition, was put into repair, and a hall built at the back to serve as a dining-room and meeting-room, and thus accommodation was provided for twelve residents and a club for about a couple of hundred others. The special object of the donor was that the club should be made bright and attractive, so as to get the girls as much as possible out of the streets and places of amusement, where they might get into mischief; though he was anxious also that anything like preaching at them or lecturing them should be strictly tabooed. The house has been prettily furnished and a couple of pianos provided, a matron has been placed in charge, and a band of ladies is being organised who will make it their duty to be present each evening by turns. The residents will be selected from the most deserving cases, orphans the preference, and for 2s. a week they will enjoy the privileges of lodging, light, and membership of the club, while the non-residents will, for their subscription of 6d. a month, have the run of the club from 6 to 10.30 every evening, and on Sundays from half-past ten in the morning until the same hour at night. The large dining-hall will accommodate comfortably a hundred girls at a time, and after the 1st of October meals will be provided at cost price, but intoxicants will neither be sold nor permitted on the premises. There are four good sitting-rooms and a library, and magazines and newspapers will be placed upon the tables. It is hoped, as the autumn approaches, and if the notion takes with the members, to start classes for singing, drawing, and the like, and lectures will be given upon popular subjects. The committee-room will be let as a place of meeting for friendly and other societies who have hitherto had no resource but a room in a public-house, the East End being very badly off in this respect, so that the institution will, in addition to being of service to the factory girls for whom it is primarily intended, supply a want to others of the working classes. At the opening meeting about fifty girls were supplied with a plentiful tea. Afterwards the girls inspected the house and then gathered in the large drawing-room, where the purposes of the club were explained to them. The evening concluded with some songs and a dance, and each of the girls was presented with fruit and cake as she left.

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