Madame Blavatsky and Her Theosophy by Arthur Lillie

Author:Arthur Lillie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pronoun

CHAPTER X. ANNA KINGSFORD.

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I THINK WE HAVE NOW established that the Mahatmas of the Tibetan mountains are as unsubstantial as the mist-spectres of the Brocken. My task seems done; in reality it now begins. For we have to account not for the failure of Madame Blavatsky, but for her conspicuous success. How is it that a fibbing, cheating, variety performer, with her dressed-up dolls and gummed envelopes, obtained subjection over minds like those of Mr. Maitland, Mr. Hume, Dr. Wyld, Mr. Sinnett, Mr. Myers? How could third-rate conjuring tricks vanquish Dr. Anna Kingsford and Mrs. Besant?

Progress, it has been well observed, proceeds more by reaction than by action. The eighteenth century, without much evidence, believed in a spirit world. In the nineteenth century, the full swing of the pendulum has carried us far away from this idea. Our God is Darwin and evolution. But suddenly, on the top of this full-flavoured materialism, came the tapping tables; and folks of the highest fashion wildly consulted dead grandmammas and dead sporting uncles about their matrimonial or their Derby projects. But of these investigators, all were not equally frivolous. To some minds the new spiritualism presented the gravest problems, some scientific, some religious.

This gives us the two groups that Madame Blavatsky was able to influence—the mystics and the scientists. It must be remembered that at first very exaggerated accounts were in circulation regarding the Blavatsky miracles. Some of these stories were very astounding indeed, and when folks learnt that the chaos of the séance rooms had been reduced to order, and that a mighty adept was in existence who could control the turbulent spirits, they were naturally inclined to learn something of her methods. Dr. Wyld, the first President of the London Lodge, has assured me that all the theosophists that joined the society in his time, did so in the hope of mastering the secrets of magic. Each wished to be an Apollonius of Tyana. Then her theory that the phenomena were not due to spirits at all found much favour with the Society for Psychical Research, as they were trying to establish the same conclusion.

But a vulgar love of marvel, although it be dignified with the name of science, will never spread Europe, Asia, Africa, and America with “lodges” and “branch associations.” The Magus is of two patterns. There is the Cagliastro Magus, and the Saint Martin. By and by Dr. Anna Kingsford joined the society, and was elected president of the London lodge. A sketch of this lady and her work may let us into some of the secrets of Madame Blavatsky’s influence.

Anna Bonus was born in 1846. In youth she had the misfortune, or fortune, to have unsympathetic surroundings. This caused all soul growth to sprout inwardly rather than in the conventional channels. Also like St. Theresa from an early age she was of those who see visions and dream dreams. She married a gentleman named Kingsford, who subsequently took orders. She grew dissatisfied with Anglicanism, and sought a refuge in the Roman Catholic Church.

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