A letter from the General Secretary of the Indian Section was then read, offering on behalf of that Section its endorsement of and concurrence in the effort to make the Theosophical Congress a success. The Secretary then read the translation of a telegram received from the European Section and Mrs. Besant in respect to the Parliament of Religions:

Congratulations on your Convention. In reply to your telegram the European Section will give its approval and support of the plan for representing the Theosophical movement at the World's Parliament of Religions at Chicago. The dates will suit, and Mrs. Annie Besant will attend at the dates named by you, Sept. 15th and 16th, on her way to India. This telegram was received with applause and enthusiasm.

The League of Theosophical Workers then presented a report showing a great deal of work done. A telegram of greeting and loyalty was received and read from the Pacific Coast Committee, and another from Dr. and Mrs. Keightley from Europe, and one also from members in California. The hour of adjournment having been reached, the Convention adjourned.

AT SCOTTISH RITE HALL.

The Convention reassembled at Scottish Rite Hall with Dr. Buck in the

chair. The body of the hall was full. Miss Alice M. Judge played the organ while the delegates were assembling, and at about 3 the meeting was called to order.

The first business was the report of the Committee of the Parliament of Religions, which was read by Brother Bertram Keightley, as it contained a great many Indian names of very difficult character. A great deal of amusement was created by two or three extraordinary Indian names over which he stumbled, although as to the other names he did very well. The report stated that the Committee was of the opinion that the Convention should give its unqualified endorsement and approval of the proposals and place submitted in the address of Brother Wright and the documents annexed; that Branch Societies and individual Theosophists all over the world should join in the effort to make the Theosophical Congress at the Columbian Fair a success to the fullest possible extent. The General Secretary of the American Section was directed to call for subscriptions towards defraying the necessary expense incidental to the Congress, including travel of delegates from foreign countries. The report was received with great applause and intense interest, and the resolutions proposed were unanimously adopted.

Miss Katharine Hillard then read a paper on "Hurry" in America as arising from the element of greed. After Miss Hillard's paper Brother George D. Ayers of Boston addressed the Convention upon the subject of the "Masters", and then Brother J, Ransom Bridge of Boston read a paper on "The Gates of Gold". A paper by Dr. Allen Griffiths of San Francisco on "Karma" was then read on his behalf by Miss E. M. Daniell of the Aryan Branch. Brother Keightley then made an address of great interest, which was listened to with approval and applause, upon "India and the Theosophical Society", in which he related his experience in India and his work there as General Secretary. He also showed how the activity of the West is not possible in the Orient, the conditions being different, but he conclusively established the fact from personal observation of his own that Theosophy is by no means dead in India. His address was received with great applause, bringing the second session to a close. While the audience were dispersing there was music from the organist, which was encored by those who waited. Some of the delegates were entertained in the Aryan Hall with a lunch.

THIRD SESSION

The Convention reassembled at 8:20 in Scottish Rite Hall with Dr. Buck in the chair, the opening being preceded as before with music on the organ. As Dr. Buck was to speak on “The Antiquity of Man", he requested Dr. Buchman to take the Chair, and then delivered an address on the subject named, which was listened to, as were all the papers, with the deepest attention. At the conclusion of his address Dr. Buck reassumed the Chair, and at the request of some of the members asked Brother Judge to make an address, requesting the audience to excuse the hoarseness of his voice. Brother William Q. Judge then addressed the Convention on the general subject of "The Actual Foundation and Impulse for the Theosophical Movement”, showing that the Society was actually founded under the direction of the Mahatmas who constitute a Lodge of Initiates from whom religion and philosophy flow at all times. In the course of his remarks he drew attention to the fact that in a few days there was to be a parade on the Hudson River of fleets of all nations, engines of war and destruction of the most frightful power, and every one of them Christian, and that not a single Buddhist or Hindu ship would be there. These remarks were followed by prolonged applause. After Brother Judge Brother Claude F. Wright spoke on the subject of "Reason and Religion", showing that reason should be added to religion, and dealt mainly with intuition, which might be erroneous if not checked by reason. This brought the evening session to a close, and Convention was adjourned to Monday, the 24th, at 10.30.

FOURTH SESSION.

The Convention met on the 24th of April at 144 Madison Avenue. The Committee on Nominations reported names for the Executive Committee, the Council, and the General Secretary and Treasurer for the ensuing year:

Brother Willam Q. Judge was elected General Secretary, Brother Alexander Fullerton, Treasurer. The following Executive Committee: William Q. Judge. Alexander Fullerton, Alpheus M. Smith, Elliott B. Page, Frank I. Blodgett, Henry T. Patterson, Robert Crosbie The Council was also elected, representing all sections of the country. After this Brother Keightley lectured on "The Necessity for the Study of Metaphysics", which elicited a great deal of discussion, begun by Mr. Henry Frank and participated in by Ayers, Wright, Judge, Keightley, and others. This brought the meeting to the hour of adjournment.

LAST SESSION.

The last session was held at Aryan Hall, 144 Madison Avenue, at 2:30, Dr. Buck in the chair, the Hall being full. The Chairman proposed discussion, and the subject of Branch work was taken up and discussed in a very able manner by Brother White of Washington, Patterson of Brooklyn, Claude F. Wright, B. Keightley, Mrs. Blodgett, Miss Hooper, Mr. Wadham, Mr. Percival, Mr. Hecht, Miss Stabler, Mr. Rambo, Mr. Wright, Dr. Day, Mr. Wade, Mr. Faulding, and others. This session was interrupted at about 3 o'clock, and the whole Convention was then photographed on the front steps of the building. Many street urchins and truck drivers assembled on the street to watch the operations, creating no little amusement. At 3.45 the delegates reassembled in the Hall, and the discussion was closed at about 5.15.

The following important resolutions were passed:

Whereas, the growth and reputation of the Theosophical movement have caused persons in various parts of the country to advertise themselves as teachers of Theosophy and to offer, as such, tuition in Occultism and Occult arts for a money consideration; and

Whereas, the Founders and leaders of the said movement and of the Theosophical Society have uniformly declared that genuine instruction in Occult study can neither be given

nor received upon condition of pay, such instruction being possible only to the spiritually qualified, and never imparted for gain;

Therefore Resolved, that this Convention hereby declares its disapproval and condemnation of any persons who, being members of the Theosophical Society, claim or offer to teach knowledge of Occultism, the Occult arts, or of any Occult practice or the means for performing any phenomena, or to give training or teaching in any Occult or psychical development, for payment to be made to such asserted teacher for such teachings.

Resolved, that any member of the Theosophical Society offending against the spirit of the foregoing Resolution thereby proves his or her unfitness for membership, and is to be justly regarded as not in conformity with the nature, spirit, and teachings of true Theosophy.

Resolved, that the General Secretary be empowered to transfer the sum of $100 from the Lectureship fund in his hands to the Pacific Coast Committee for Theosophical work as a contribution towards the maintenance of the Pacific Coast Lecturer.

Resolved, that no Officer or Committee of the T. S. should appear as such in print as publisher or approver of any general treatise, doctrinal, expository, or other controversial matter, but that they should confine their official names to diplomas, charters, blanks, general information about the T. S., and the like.

The last resolution was in respect to the imprimatur which was printed by the Pacific Committee on the burial service written by Bro. Copeland. The scheme for raising money for the work by G. E. H. was also brought forward, and some badges in enamel with the seal of the T. S. were examined. These are being made at Dayton, and, as so many liked them, the notice will be given later of price; they are gotten up also by G. E. H., who will give the small profits, if any, to the fund.

The Convention adjourned sine die after passing a vote of thanks to Miss Judge the organist, to the ladies and gentlemen who had made the reception on Saturday evening a success, and to Brother A. S. Brolley, who had voluntarily acted as stenographer to the Convention. After this the delegates informally met in the same place and listened to an address from Brother Keightley on the subject of the study of the "Secret Doctrine".

On Saturday evening, the 22d, a reception was given to the delegates and visitors at the Aryan Hall, which was crowded and full of the greatest and best feeling. Music was added to the proceedings, and the members of the League furnished refreshments. This Convention was certainly most successful in every respect, and the newspapers of the city gave it the fullest reports, the best being in the New York Tribune.

THE ASHES OF H. P. B.

On Saturday, the 22d of April, the General Secretary had succeeded in having the receptacle in the Headquarters Room finished to receive the ashes of H. P. B., and the same was inspected by the delegates to the Convention during the recesses. It consists of a portion of the design adopted, being the central marble slab and the receptacle combined. On the slab are the seal of the Society, the word “Om”, Madame Blavatsky's full name, and the prominent dates of her life, 1831, 1875, 1879, 1891. The slab is of Sienna marble. The receptacle is a bronze box faced with plate glass, and inside is the casket made of pure onyx, resting on four crystal balls, and in which rests the portion of H. P. B.'s ashes given to the American Section. When funds are in hand the remainder of the design adopted will be added. A full description of the receptacle and the casket, both as now erected and as to be finished, will be published in a subsequent issue of the PATH.

Disappearing through the eye, objects cease to exist as such and become ideas alone. -Book of Items, 88.

OM.

AUM

If you urge that I am young and tender, and that the time for seeking wisdom is not yet, then you should know that to seek true religion, there never is a time not fit.-Fo-sho-hingtsan-king, 479-440.

TRUST is the best of relationships.-Dhammapada, v. 204.

VOL. VIII.

THE PATH.

JUNE, 1893.

No. 3.

The Theosophical Society, as such, is not responsible for any opinion or declaration in this Magazine, by whomsoever expressed, unless contained in an Official Document.

Where any article or statement has the author's name attached, he alone is responsible, and for those which are unsigned the Editor will be accountable.

MASTERS, ADEPTS, TEACHERS, AND DISCIPLES.

T1

HIS article is meant for members of the T. S., and chiefly for those who keep H. P. B. much in mind, whether out of respect and love or from fear and envy. Those members who believe that such beings as the Masters may exist must come to one of two conclusions in regard to H. P. B.: either that she invented her Masters, who therefore have no real existence, or that she did not invent them but spoke in the names and by the orders of such beings. If we say she invented the Mahatmas, then, of course, as so often was said by her, all that she has taught and written is the product of her own brain, from which we would be bound to conclude that her position on the roll of great and powerful persons must be higher than people have been willing to place her. But I take it most of us believe in the truth of her statement that she had those teachers whom she called Masters and that they are more perfect beings than ordinary men.

The case I wish to briefly deal with, then, is this: H. P. B. and her relations to the Masters and to us; her books and teachings; the general question of disciples or chelas with their grades, and

whether a high chela would appear as almost a Master in comparison to us, including every member from the President down to the most recent applicant.

The last point in the inquiry is extremely important, and has been much overlooked by members in my observation, which has extended over the larger part of the T. S. An idea has become quite general that chelas and disciples are all of one grade, and that therefore one chela is the same as another in knowledge and wisdom. The contrary, however, is the case. Chelas and disciples are of many grades, and some of the Adepts are themselves the chelas of higher Adepts. There is therefore the greatest difference between the classes of chelas, since among them has to be counted the very humblest and most ignorant person who has devoted himself or herself to the service of mankind and the pursuit of the knowledge of the Self. On the other hand, there are those chelas high in grade, actual pupils of the Masters themselves, and these latter have so much knowledge and power as to seem to us to be Adepts. Indeed, they are such when one compares them with oneself as a mere product of the nineteenth century. They have gained through knowledge and discipline those powers over mind, matter, space, and time which to us are the glittering prizes of the future. But yet these persons are not the Masters spoken of by H. P. B. So much being laid down, we may next ask how we are to look at H. P. B.

In the first place, every one has the right to place her if he pleases for himself on the highest plane, because he may not be able to formulate the qualities and nature of those who are higher than she was. But taking her own sayings, she was a chela or disciple of the Masters, and therefore stood in relation to them as one who might be chided or corrected or reproved. She called them her Masters, and asseverated a devotion to their behests and a respect and confidence in and for their utterances which the chela has always for one who is high enough to be his Master. But looking at her powers exhibited to the world, and as to which one of her Masters wrote that they had puzzled and astonished the brightest minds of the age, we see that compared with ourselves she was an Adept. In private as in public she spoke of her Masters much in the same way as did Subba Row to the writer when he declared in 1884, "The Mahatmas are in fact some of the great Rishees and Sages of the past, and people have been too much in the habit of lowering them to the petty standard of this age". But with this reverence for her teachers she had for them at the same time a love and friendship not often