and those using the atoms of the family gave them new and other impressions and tendencies until at last Ego after Ego was attracted to the family devoid of talent. The same may and does happen in respect to virtue. Hence as we act and live we raise up or pull down the general standard. This is also beyond doubt the real reason for the ancient insistence on the purity of the family line; it is at the same time the cause for the amalgamation of many races to produce a new one, as we see here in our own land. JULIUS.

TITERARY NOTES.

DR. HUBBE-SCHLEIDEN, F. T. S. and Editor of German periodical Sphinx, has seen fit to start a Theosophical Society in Germany which has no official connection with the T. S., and yet he has at the same time used our seal and symbols on the prospectus issued. The name he takes is Theosophische Vereinigung instead of Gesellschaft. All the original impulses and light he had in the direction of theosophy he got from the T. S., and it passes the comprehension of German and non-German theosophists why he should desire to start a similar movement, declining all coöperation with the T. S. The weak excuse is offered that Germans are so insulated as to refuse to belong to a Brotherhood they do not themselves start. The Doctor believes this but we do not; and it must be evident to any thinker that the realization of a Brotherhood is put very far away when another is begun simply because ours started first with Englishspeaking people. Sweden, Spain, France, and India do not think so, nor do the mass of Germans either. He also mistakes and issues misleading notice when he calls the T. S. "Indian", for it is not that. If it is anything special, it is American in impulse, origin, form, and method. But as Dr. Hübbe-Schleiden is bent on his course, even though he was years ago advised contrarywise by the Masters of T. S. in whom he believes, we wish him well, and may all good attend his efforts.

THE DREAM CHILD, by Florence Huntley, is one of those imaginative treatments of the unseen world which the now-pronounced popular tendency to the Occult is sure to educe by the dozen from writers eager to seize the spirit of the age and to supply it with pabulum that shall have quick reward. Ingenious, vivid, tender, perceptive of the all-powerful force of a pure and mighty love, this book gives a picture of the supra-sensual life which may captivate many a soul just hearing of Reincarnation. There is no need to point out its inaccuracies or misconceptions, for one great fact disposes of all,-namely, that revelation of astral and spiritual condition can never come from imagination or preference, but only, if genuine, from Those who Know. Novels and dreams and fancies must ever be fruitless, since nothing but testimony can certify, and testimony has to be from witnesses. The most vigorous intellect and the purest heart furnish no map of a realm they have not entered, and for the outlines of such a map we can but go to such disclosures as Masters have been pleased to make. Other searches are vain and misleading, however they may

charm or soothe. And so the successive books, like The Dream Child, as they patter from the press, need only the touchstone of Masters' testimony to dispel any confidence in them as real. (Arena Publishing Co.; Boston.)—[A. F.] AZOTн, or the Star in the East, is by A. E. Waite and published by the Theosophical Publishing Society, 7 Duke Street, Adelphi, London. It makes large claims in the most gentle words, but none of which it in any way supports. It cannot be regarded as a useful contribution to theosophical literature. Its sub-head is Embracing the First Matter of the Magnum Opus, the evolution of the Aphrodite Urania, the supernatural generation of the Son of the Sun, and the alchemical transfiguration of Humanity". It is also called "a new light of Mysticism", but I fail to see where the new light is. The style is good, but for all that it is no way clear to a theosophist. The printing is by the H. P. B. Press and is well done. The book is very large and the price is 21 shillings, 236 pages Imp. 8 vo. It is fair to state what the author claims thus: "The conclusions reached in the work are the result of considerable research into the significance of the Hermetic and Mystical Symbolism contained in alchemical literature, and as regards fundamental doctrine they offer a reasonable harmony between the transcendental teachings of Eastern and Western Theosophy".-[J.]

FEBRUARY LUCIFER is a particularly rich number. H. P. B. gives "Notes on the Gospel according to John"; Dr. Hartmann writes on "The Foundation of Christian Mysticism"; Dr. Pratt's able article on 'Linguistic following Doctrinal Change" concludes; most curious facts are stated in Mr. Frank Cushing's "Zunis"; Mr. Rego sends a paper upon "The Musical Scale and Man: an Analogy", read before an Australian Lodge and worthy of preservation everywhere. Mr. Laheri's article, "Buddhism and Hinduism", shows that there is a tendency among Eastern Theosophists to excite the jealousy of the latter by encomia upon the former, and quotes Mr. B. Keightley's correction of the President-Founder's assertion that H. P. B. avowed herself a Buddhist. The article is calm and fair and judicial, and its excellent spirit, joined with the facts it cites and the others it evidently has in store, commend it to the fraternal consideration of all who love peace and would save the T. S. from any sectarian leaning. Lucifer's magazine reviews are ever of astonishing extent and care, and its record of Theosophical works makes an exhibit whereof any Society might be proud.-[A. F.]

SHORT CHOICE SELECTIONS from H. P. Blavatsky, with contributions by several members of the Swedish Theosophical Society, is edited by Bro. William Harnquist of the Swedish Branch, who has sent it to us. It is published at Stockholm. Beginning with the Address to the Archbishop of Canterbury, it gives several good articles by H. P. B. But the first one, to the Archbishop, was not in fact written by her, but by our old friend Richard Harte, F. T. S. The series ends with H. P. B.'s article, My Books.

THEOSOPHICAL SIFTINGS, Vol. V, 17-18, is a reprint from the Theosophist of Mr. Sinnett's "Studies in Buddhism". The enormous expansion of public interest in everything touching Theosophical doctrine revives in journalism the formerly-passing questions as to Oriental thought upon the soul, immortality, Nirvâna, and the like, and it is timely to reissue correction by a competent and percipient expositor of the strange misconceptions of such writers as Max Müller, Rhys Davids, and Dr. Kellogg. In his lucid manner Mr. Sinnett presents the real Buddhist thought, shows it contradictory of the Western inter

pretation of it, and with relentless logic disperses the gaping wonder and the pious groans and the Evangelical pity of the philologist and the parson. Theosophists need this clear-cut exposition for use at the present era, and will need it all the more as the Church wakes up to the advance of Theosophy and seeks to hinder it by blundering quotations and mistaken exegesis. The authoritative works by Buddhist teachers are better guides to Buddhism than a dissection of Sanscrit works by an Oxford student or a superficial glance at Hindustan by an American missionary.-[A. F.]

FEBRUARY THEOSOPHIST.

· Old Diary Leaves XI" relates circumstantially the cremation of Baron de Palm, the first public cremation in the U. S., at Washington, Pa., under Theosophic and scientific auspices. The sheet soaked in alum, now universally used, was a device of Col. Olcott. The whole cost of the incineration was only about $10. Mr. John M. Pryse continues his collection of "True Welsh Ghost-Stories"; there is a long critique on Bishop Copleston's "Buddhism ", but done with too little controversial and literary skill to be thoroughly effective; and W. R. Old, with the same admirable diction and force which made his What is Theosophy? one of the choicest and best-selling of recent Theosophical publications, begins an article on "Psychometry". The Theosophist reprints a letter from Col. Olcott to the N. Y. Evening Telegram offering to "cordially greet" any aspirant for H. P. B.'s vacant place who shall produce two passwords given him years ago as an easy means of identifying real messages. The letter has not secured from all Theosophists a conviction of its wisdom, little as they anticipate the advent of an aspirant thus fortified with vouchers.-[A. F.]

THE ASTROLOGER'S MAGAZINE is published by Allen Leo at 12 Ludgard Road, London, England (Peckham), and is devoted to a proper presentation of the science devoid of charlatanry. It contains from time to time simple lessons in astrology. The price is $1.50, to be ordered from the proprietor.

BOOK NOTES, Theosophical, Occult, Oriental, and Miscellaneous, is a little monthly in charge of Mr. John M. Watkins and issued by the T. P. S. The subscription is Is. 6d. It contains a synopsis of the contents of every Theosophical periodical, and a notice of new works. If carefully and judiciously carried out as projected, it will give important information to Librarians and others.

JOURNAL OF THE BUDDHIST TEXT SOCIETY OF INDIA. The first number of this, January, 1893, is at hand. It is published in Calcutta and edited by Sarat Chandra Das, C. I. E. The yearly subscription is five rupees; address the Secretary, 2 Creek Row, Calcutta. There are eighty-six pages in this number, with eight pages Appendix. To orientalists this journal will be very useful. It has several pages in original Magahdi, Tibetan, aud other text. It is pleasant to see that all the offices of the Society are filled by native orientals, with no disfigurement from so-called European oriental sham lights. Bro. H. Dharmapala, F. T. S., is Assistant Secretary. Among the articles in this are Constitution of B. T.S., Indian Pandits in Tibet, Lamaic Hierarchy, and several old oriental works. The Appendix treats of the Bon Religion in Tibet and gives some Folk Tales.

"THE COSMIC ETHER, the Invisible Actuator of the World of Matter and Life", by B. B. Lewis, is a learned treatment of the Ether as the source of universal vital phenomena, and in most condensed style handles Light, Electricity, Gravitation, the Aurora, Comets, the Solar Corona, Cosmic Evolution,

etc. There are not a few Theosophical affiliations, and the work is serviceable to Theosophy directly by expanding conception of the ether and thus pointing to the Akasa behind. So instructive is it that students may salute it with glad welcome. But unfortunately the punctuation has apparently been left to the printer, and is of exaggerated atrocity, so bad that almost every sentence has to be reconstructed to educe sense. This becomes so wearisome as to be intolerable. A valuable book is thus made practically serviceless, and learning paralzyed by ignorance. A worse case has rarely occurred. It should be reprinted and carefully corrected, being well worth that. (M. A. Sewall, Bridgeport, Conn.)-[A. F.]

Mirror of the Movement.

AMERICA.

DAYTON T. S., Dayton, Ohio, was chartered March 18th. It has 14 Chartermembers, and is 73d on the American roll.

ARYAN T. S. Sunday evening lectures in March were: 5th, Evolution (Part 2), Miss K. Hillard; 12th, The Man in the Universe, Alex. H. Spencer; 19th, The Solitude of the Soul, H. T. Patterson; 26th, The Theosophy of St. Paul, Rev. James Taylor.

"H. P. B." T. S. had Sunday lectures in March: 5th, Resurrection and Reincarnation, Donald Nicholson; 12th, Measure for Measure, Jas. H. Connelly; 19th, Health, Dr. E. G. Day; 26th, Monads, Dr. T. P. Hyatt.

BROOKLYN T. S. had for Sunday evening lectures in March: Theosophy as a Religion, Alex. Fullerton; Evolution, Theosophy, and Religion, Wm. Main; The Destiny of the Soul, as taught by the Church, Materialism, and Theosophy, Leon Landsberg; The Persistence of Spirit and Matter, Miss E. M. Daniell.

N. Y. LECTURE BUREAU Supplied lectures in March: Krishna T. S., Philadelphia, Wm. Main on Evolutionary Cycles and Miss K. Hillard on The Serpent of Evil: Varuna T. S., Bridgeport, Jas. H. Connelly on Dwellers in the Astral World, Henry T. Patterson on The Solitude of the Soul, and Burcham Harding on Practical Theosophy; Atma T. S., New Haven, Leon Landsberg on The Origin of the Devil, and H. T. Patterson on The Solitude of the Soul.

CHICAGO T. S. has for its Syllabus of Discussions in March and April, Universal Brotherhood, Reincarnation, Karma, States of Consciousness, Manas, Death and After, The Rationale of Heaven, Conscience, and Links between Religion and Science.

ARYAN T. S. invited Mr. Alex. R. Webb, the late Consul at Manilla whose conversion to Mahommedanism has been so extensively noticed in journalism, to address it, March 7th, upon "Theosophy in Islam". Mr. Webb joined the

old Pioneer T. S. in St. Louis years ago. He has of late travelled and studied in Moslem lands, and is establishing in New York the publication of a weekly Moslem paper and of books expounding that religion. The Aryan Hall was

crowded, some persons standing. After the single speaker upon the schedule._ topic of the evening, Spiritualism," Mr. John M. Pryse, concluded, Mr. Webb lectured for an hour and a quarter. It was deeply interesting to see and hear upon the platform of the unsectarian T. S. a representative of a religion so little known in America. Five of the world's great faiths have now been represented at the Aryan meetings.

BLAVATSKY T. S. has received a munificent gift from one of its new members, -Bro. Pom K. Soh. It is a full set of the Encyclopædia Britannica, an excellent general library, a table and book-case. Others have aided in various ways, the hall is filled on occasion of public lectures, and the Branch is growing in numbers. It was fitting that the Branch in the Capital should be named after the Head of the Society, and for both reasons the American Section regards it with special interest and hope.

BROOKLYN LOTUS CIRCLE began on Sunday the 12th of March with Miss Chapin in command and an attendance of twenty-seven. This is very good for a beginning. They have an advantage in being in a residence part of the city near a great many homes. They meet at the Brooklyn T. S. headquarters. Miss Chapin and others who started the N. Y. Circle are missed by that, but did well in beginning the work in their own Branch. The songs used by the Circles are being printed on the Aryan Press and will be for sale very cheaply by the PATH in a short time.

"THE PAST MONTH has been a rushing one in Chicago Theosophical circles. What with lectures, Branch meetings, special meetings, socials, etc., sometimes as many as three gatherings crowding into one day, we may fairly claim greater activity than ever before. Bro. Claude F. Wright's presence has given an impulse to local work which has already produced encouraging results. At his suggestion Chicago Branch has adopted the plan of admitting visitors by card, also his idea of associate memberships, which have been readily sought by inquirers. A syllabus of discussions, also his suggestion, has been issued, with the result of increased attendance at Branch meetings and vigorous study on the part of members called upon to participate. A course of Sunday evening lectures has been started at Headquarters in addition to similar work done in the southern part of the city in the League Room. Bro. C. F. Wright opened the down-town course with an address in Athenæum Hall, March 5th, his subject being "Salient Points of Theosophy”. About 300 people were present, many of whom before leaving asked for tickets of admission to next Branch meeting. Another promising result of the present activity is the formation of a new Branch by our Swedish members in the northwestern part of the city. It is appropriately called the Wachtmeister, in honor of the Countess whose name is dear to all Theosophists. Bro. Jakob Bonggren is its President; Bro. Wm. Westerlund, Secretary. There is promise of another Branch in Englewood, a near suburb, of whose organization I may be able to give account next month." (Communication).

CLAUDE F. WRIGHT arrived in Chicago, Tuesday, February 14th. On the Thursday following he attended a class for the study of the Key to Theosophy on the north side of the City; Friday he addressed a meeting on the south side on "The Ego." On Saturday he lectured before the Chicago Branch on Occultism". Sunday afternoon he addressed the Ramayana Branch on Dreams", and in the evening spoke at the rooms of the League T. W. on The Theosophical Philosophy." The Tuesday and Wednesday following he