DISCOURSE
DELIVERED IN
FULL TRANCE
BY
Mrs. CORA L.V. RICHMOND
_________
THE
SUBJECT BEING
CHOSEN BY THE AUDIENCE
" WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN
OCCULTISM, THEOSOPHY
AND SPIRITUAL SCIENCE ? "
_______________
DELIVERED AT THE CASSADAGA
LAKE CAMP-MEETING,
SUNDAY, JULY, 22, 1888
______________
INVOCATION
Infinite Spirit: Thou Giver of Every Gift, whether it be
of
light or of shadow, of sunshine or of storm, of the sweet blossoms of
summer
or the white rest of winter; whether it be of joy or of sorrow, of
laughter
of young hearts or the tears that human eyes must shed, in every
condition,
and underneath every sky of storm or full of brightness, we would
praise
Thee, oh God. Within no temple reared by human hands,
before
no altar consecrated by man to the praise of Thee; but here,
beneath
Thy temple-dome the blue arching sky, here with the pillared clouds and
glorious trees making a fair pavilion of the earth, here with Thy
carpet
spread before us freighted [sic] [weighted-Ed.]
with the incense offerings of many flowers, 0 God, we praise
Thee.
Encircled by crystal waters that upbear the Lily Blossoms that tell of
the Life Immortal; filled as the air is with the anthems of the winds
and
the songs of birds our hearts would turn to Thee in praise for every
gift.
Before the Shrine of the Spirit, within the altar consecrated unto the
Life Eternal, whose priestess is Truth herself arrayed in the whiteness
of Eternal Life, whose ministrants are Love, and Wisdom, and Knowledge:
here within the Shrine of the Spirit, oh God, we would praise Thee; for
every blessing that material life can bring, for all the joy of
childhood
and youth, and the experiences of middle age and the ripened
crown
of years, for whatever the earthly life can bring. But, more do we
praise
Thee for that immortal part, for the gift of the knowledge of Life
Eternal,
for whatever ministration in this hour makes certain that evidence of
life,
and makes man one, even in the present life, with the spirit of Thy
Truth.
May every heart receive and every mind understand the testimony of Life
Immortal; but, even as they receive this testimony may it not be in the
mind alone. May it not be evidence of existence after death alone, but
may it be the evidence of the living power of the Spirit here and now
in
the midst of time and sense, girded around, with the chains of the
dust,
trammeled by the artificial life of the senses still may the real
out-pouring
of the Spirit be within and upon those who worship here today.
May
they feel that the Fountains of Life are unsealed, that the Glory of
Life
Immortal is not merely a name nor a dream, but that it pervades and
purifies
their existence with its power. With its uplifting, it wipes away the
tears
of sorrow, it purifies and sanctifies suffering and daily toil, and
makes
more fervent and more glad the life and light, and glory of this summer
day. Oh, may every heart praise Thee in Spirit and Truth until
the
hand performs, the mind conceives, and the spirit realizes that all
that
there is of this life belongs unto Eternity and is Thine forever: 0 our
God. Amen.
DISCOURSE
Mr. Chairman and friends: if we deviate from
the
usual methods in treating this subject it is because it is the
individual
privilege of all speakers on the spiritualistic platform to express
what
they consider to be true. Understand us: no one is responsible
for
what we say; we express our own ideas. With us alone rests the
responsibility.
The words "Occultism" and "Theosophy,"
and
the combination of the words "Spiritual Science," in the
sense
that they are used in modern times, we consider are quite
unnecessary.
To us there is but one word expressing in modern times whatever is
included
in the meaning of ancient "Occultism," and that is
Spiritualism.
To us the word "Spiritualism" includes what has been, what is and what
will be the nature of Spirit and its relation to the Universe;
therefore,
when we are asked to compare the three words or terms, we consider that
a comparison can only be made where there is a difference, or where
there
is such a striking similarity as to cause some difficulty in detecting
the difference.
Occultism as taught in ancient days
beginning
with the Egyptians and ending with modern Theosophists and their
followers
is none other than a record of the Gifts of the Spirit in various ages,
under different names, under different kinds of expressions and
ministrations.
We do not recognize that the word "Occultism" implies any more
today
because it has been revised, nor do we consider that a revival of it
adds
anything to the wealth of Spiritual Gifts that are in the world.
There is only this: if we do study with
perfect
sincerity the records of the past, as Theologians have not done;
if we do recognize in the light of Spiritualism what was recorded in
the
past as it came, revealing the various sources and concerning the
practices
of the powers of the Spirit, we find that not only in the mystic rites
of the Egyptians, among the priests and priestesses of Osiris and Isis
and their beautiful ceremonials, if we can only follow their traditions
upon the banks of the Nile, they were recognitions and promises of the
Gifts of the Spirit, the ministrations to and the gifts that are within
man. Then if we do this we shall fulfill all that is essential.
Unquestionably the priests who ministered in
the
ancient temples of Ion, and those who in the still more remote period
combined
science with religion, who were the first interpreters of physical
science
and art through inspiration, were similarly endowed with those who
possess
the Gifts of the Spirit today. All past knowledge, indeed, all
real
knowledge of every age, must be the result, primarily, of inspiration,
that is the spiritual perceptions are quickened, to derive of spiritual
and material things from those intelligences who exist beyond and above
the earthly state. Memnon, striking the fires of knowledge upon
the
ancient altars of being and giving language to the ancient Egyptians:
the
priests in their temples and caves discovering the secret sources of
alchemy
by spiritual power; that which belonged to the ancient sons of Hermes,
not the Hermes of history of Grecian mythology, but the still more
ancient
philosophy; that of Hermes the Divine; the directly inspired religion
which
Hermes the first gave, the inspiration of the primal truths of the
universe
to man, pointing to the real center of light and motion,
and
this vivified by the soul, is the basis of the ancient Hermetic faith.
The foundation of all the ancient mysteries is the basis of spirit.
The knowledge that came to the Egyptians did
not
come by external education or outward observation, but the external
manifestations
and observations were merely employed to verify to man's senses, to
such
as could not receive through the spirit, the truths that had already
been
declared, its the principles of life are those that relate to the
spirit;
and these we may trace, whether, it is in the ancient Egyptian ritual,
where it is strictly preserved as the knowledge of things divine; or,
whether
we follow it down through India and China through the Brahminical
faith,
whether we take up the Zoroastrian faith, and into Persia trace the
secret
elements that were but symbols of this Divine Light.
Whatever was occult in the ancient time
pertained
to the spirit as the meaning of the word life in every ancient
language
is the in-breathing of the soul; whatever was not occult was merely
mechanical
experimental, and was wholly secondary to the power of spirit as
personified
in those endowed with the gifts of knowledge by the gods.
Every ancient record makes half-deific,
half-mortal
the beings who gave the primal truths unto the world, like Hermes,
those
primal truths have not only been perceived a priori in every
age,
but if properly interpreted have been given in almost the same language
in every age. The perception of Truth is Occult, its
demonstration
to the senses is intellectual merely. This perception of the
Primal
Principles of Truth in the Universe must have existed in every age, for
even scholars begin to understand that the records of antiquity instead
of merely records of superstition and the result of bigotry and
ignorance,
contain in themselves the same essential elements of Divine Truth.
The Kabalistic lore has preserved, in a
somewhat
broken manner, the evidences of the ancient symbolic mysteries to
modern
times: from the Egyptian through the Hebraic and Roman Catholic
churches
there are preserved some fragments of this Kabalistic lore; but the
real
interpretation of the occult mysteries of the past must come from the
spirit
world. No man with the outward reason or the scholarship that is
of the earth alone can decipher the symbols, ceremonials, records,
inscriptions
and formulas the real interpretation of which only belongs to
Spirit.
The Real Word of Life has never been transmitted from any external
source,
has only been passed down from generation to generation through that
mysterious
method known in the church as the Apostolic Descent, but known
in
Spirit as the Direct Parentage of the Soul.
Thus every age had its prophets and seers;
but
for the purpose of protection and that the secrets revealed in those
mysterious
ways might not become polluted by contact with matter, because the
people
in the material phase of life could not understand those inner truths
and
scientific symbols, secret orders were instituted for the exercise of
these
sacred, secret and mysterious rites, now the thought of mankind is such
that whatever is sacred, secret and mysterious is not necessarily
looked
upon with fear, is not placed under outward ban, but means whatever is
"Sacred"; in the light of ancient mysteries the word "sacred"
meant
what was only known to spirit. The ancients knew that inspiration
is the true key to all such knowledge, so that if a man were to
approach
the subject of those mysteries without Spiritual cultivation he could
not
understand them.
These occult perceptions and gifts did not
so
much relate to the power of man's spirit while enthralled as to the
Divine
State of the human spirit after many forms of life had been expressed:
the ability to perceive the absolute nature of the spirit; the prophets
and seers in every age were believed to be re-incarnated souls who had
many times existed in the earthly life and in the other planets, who
came
endowed each time with added gifts and functions; while all the deities
of antiquity were those who had conquered many worlds; had dwelt here
many
times, who consequently dwelt in an atmosphere of superior spiritual
unfoldment
that enabled them to give the Truth of the Divine Mind. This was
true of Hermes who was believed to be a god. The reason of this
was
that, like the Messiahs, he had dwelt upon the earth until all its
heights
and depths had become fully revealed to him, he became aware of the
mysteries
of things and from him to the few followers, those alone who could
accept
his truths, was imparted the secrets of controlling matter. This
power of controlling matter could only belong to those who had reached
a certain degree of unfoldment, we mean: "controlling matter
absolutely",
not simply by mechanical or organic means.
The first secret of ancient chemistry or
alchemy
under the Divine Teachers was the secret of Spirit and its power over
matter;
next came the organic secrets, such as were in the air, the earth, and
the water, but principally [in] fire. In the next stage came the
more external science of mathematics which was carried to its highest
perfection
in Egypt, notwithstanding its remote period of antiquity. The
mathematics
of Egypt is that of science today.
Occult force instead of being derived from experiment and external
observation
was derived from within, prompted by the Divine Energies which were
there,
always assisted by the Divine Intelligence that emanates from the
Spirit
instead of from material sources, that has given all the Real knowledge
that is in the world. We consider that the reason
{
?} {that material sources-Ed.}
may formulate and arrange that knowledge for the superficial purposes
of
outward existence.
True occultism was the controlling of
material
and spiritual things by spiritual, independent of the usual organic
agencies,
we wish you to know what we mean by this; we would like to make it
clear
that the occult forces of the ancients differed as much from their
mechanical
forces, as spirit power today differs from the steam- engine; the
occult
force was the force from within; was the power of volition, enlightened
volition, governing the material agencies, was brought into activity by
the divine energies that were unfolded in various ways of severity and
asceticism. Perhaps that was essential to constitute an
adaptation
in the ancient age of matter, and differed from the ceremonies in
modern
time, because that age was different, the earth itself was more gross,
matter itself had not become spiritualized as highly as today. So it
was
needful that those who would have contact with and control spiritual
agencies
and be guided by them, should prepare themselves, that they should be
separated
from slavery to the senses, that their bodies should not enthrall them,
that they should not be governed by the various superficial forms of
life
that are customary in human existence. This was because the senses were
more powerful, then the world of mind was not so extensive, the power
of
the Spirit was illustrated by very few, there had not been added that
other
strata of spirit life, as today, only a few could be separated from the
many to receive spiritual gifts, because only a few could bear the
severity
of life and denial essential to the practice of the Gifts of the Spirit.
In every instance of occult power not only
must
the outward life, conform to the requirements but there must be the
real
endowment from within; so if two people from this audience were to
begin
fasting and adopt the severity of the ancient life and were to resolve
to retire from the world and all its external temptations, one might
have
Gifts of the Spirit and the other might not. This is because in one
instance
there would be endowments which the other had not. The reason of this
is
because the experience in expression of one soul is different from the
experience of the other. All do not enter life upon the same
basis,
all do not live on the earth upon the same basis, somewhere in Eternity
lives are equalized and balanced, but not here at the same time:
therefore teachers, prophets and those who practiced a life of
asceticism
for the purpose of exercising the Gifts of the Spirit, were those
endowed
primarily with those gifts, and who removed every thing that stood
between
them and the adaptation of those principles.
Thus primarily we go back to ancient Egypt.
The
history is imperfect, which leads you there; you can only rely upon
Inspiration
and Knowledge from Spiritual sources to teach that the primitive
religion,
as well as the knowledge of ancient Egypt had its foundation in
Spiritual
Gifts, and that even the science of numbers, that which is considered
the
most perfect external science in the world was derived from
Inspiration,
was a gift of the gods, and that the Egyptians to a very great degree
of
perfection, carried forward the science of mathematics until you are
indeed
compelled to turn to their tablets and records as the basis of your
mathematical
science. Then you follow this line into India, into the various
countries
of Brahminical faith and find that there still have been perpetuated
many
of the mysteries of the ancient occult science, you become aware by
reading
the "Light of Asia" and other poems published by Edwin Arnold, as
well searching the records which are now held in the British Museum,
that
basis and foundation of both the Brahminical faith and the faith of
Zoroaster
was the basis of Absolute Spirit; that this truth was sacred
knowledge;
that its exemplars, as exalted as truth itself, made clear in that age
that which was perfected and carried forward by certain lives who kept
themselves aloof from the world and who knew the secret mysteries, who,
by severity of life practiced the Gifts of the Spirit, unfolded the
powers
that were given them by the gods who held sway over certain mortals who
could hold communion with this same power.
The Brahminical religion has fallen from
this
original estate, the followers of Zoroaster have become swallowed by
modern
idolatry, would you know why? Because the foundation of those religions
is only preserved in the many rites and ceremonials in the Orient; yet
you see both the true and false expression of those powers in the East
today: the Real Adepts endowed with all gifts, and the jugglers, those
who perform tricks of sorcery and witchcraft before mortal eyes, who
are
imitators of the real performers. The Gifts of the Spirit could
only
be practiced under the sanction of Sacred Authority, not for the
purpose
of satisfying the eyes of the curious, there were those who imitated
the
real but did not know the real. You will remember among the
Jewish
authorities there were brought forward these two lines, some of these
could
not practice as Adepts, only that which was taught, as in the case of
Aaron,
who was taught in the mysteries and rites that were revealed to the
people;
then there was that which was esoteric, was held sacred by Ramesis
who was the prototype, the original Moses, his gifts were those that
were
exercised under the domination of the spirit. While Moses
retired
to the mount and found there the tablets of stone and received the
message
from God, which is a Kabalistic statement of wonderful
inspiration;
Aaron practiced what would be understood by the people, gave rather
that
which had been taught by the priests to bestow upon the people.
The
real gfts of the Spirit were held separate and were sacred upon Horab
and
Sinai. The real tablets were those planispheres that gave token
of
the Inspiration of Truth. Under this form the claim of
Inspiration,
of which the ten commandments of the Decalogue was the result, was the
merest imitation. But we have not time to enter into a full history of
the sources of these occult mysteries as they would include the inner
history
of all nations; but it is sufficient to declare that they were in
existence,
have been preserved: the evidences of Spiritual Gifts and powers
practiced
under peculiar conditions and circumstances by those who were Initiates
and by the Adepts.
Now the difference between the Initiates and
Adepts
and those who practice Spiritual Gifts today is simply this: in that
time
to protect themselves from materialistic and spiritually ignorant
rulers
who were jealous of any exercising the Powers of the Spirit, there were
combinations, for the security of those whose daily surroundings and
daily
conditions of life must be free from interruption for the reception of
the knowledge of Spiritual Gifts, this is why mysterious orders were
formed.
Unquestionably there may be some in existence today, who for the most
part
have become scattered, the Spiritual Gifts have been distributed over
more
countries and more lands, there are those who believe in the Kabalistic
interpretation of things mysterious. There will be found to be no more
than twelve upon the face of the earth today, who really know the
meaning and the original basis of these occult truths, those who claim
to know them today, either derived them second hand from some who have
heard them recounted or have met them in the testimony of a religion
whose
external form they have come in contact with; while those who have the
Real Knowledge from the Source Divine clasp hands with India, with
Arabia,
with China, with Egypt, across the great belt of the years and ages
that
have intervened and know whereof they testify by the Light of the
Spirit.
Theosophy is an attempt to revive, in an
understandable
form, these mysteries of the past under a religious theory-- the
arrangement
of a basis which modern thought can comprehend. And, we believe
in
a measure it may have been successful; but that it forms anything more
than a thesis, or an aesthetic and ascetic pursuit for the
intellectual
mind cannot be declared in the light of spiritualism. Since all who
profess
the faith and understand it must be spiritualists, those who do not
understand
it cannot claim to have found the real meaning of that which they
advocate.
It is, in other words an attempt at making Buddhism comprehensible and
the Religions of the past, that have been excluded from modern thought,
more readily arranged and adjusted. It seems to be the desire of the
Theosophists
to include all the religions of the world in a general statement and
plan
adapted to the understanding of man. Thus far we do not consider
Theosophy is a distinct form or arrangement of esoteric thought or that
it is any other than a revival of the religious thought of teachers
like
Buddha for the purpose of making them understood by man. That it is a
wider
arrangement or scheme, or plan, does not appear, for we do not think
any
attempt at the revival of a past inspiration can be called a revival at
all in the presence of something that is alive and powerful today.
To us Spiritualism means all that is claimed
by
Occultism, all that is included in the word Theosophy and all that we
do not
find in the word Spiritual Science. By this we mean that the two
words Spiritual and Science to us are
incompatible.
Please pardon us while we explain: "Science" is a formulated
statement
of experimental facts arranged for the convenience of the earthly mind
and intended to convey an idea of earthly and material law. "Science"
is
simply formulated law and the statement of that which seems to be the
result
of human knowledge through arbitrary experiment. For instance: the
Science
of Astronomy is the pursuit of the study of the Heavenly Bodies is
under
the authenticated system of Copernicus by direct mathematics, if there
is anything more than this it is speculative and not in the nature of
Science.
The Science of Chemistry is the formulation of certain elements that
have
been discovered and considered Primal, and their action and reaction
upon
each other; the chemical proportion is a formulated experiment for the
purpose of revealing to others the formula for the purpose of
enlightening
the world upon certain chemical combinations found in things.
Now
"Spirit" and "Science" are to us, as opposite as day and night: that
which
is Spirit is Absolute, a priori; is attained by perception and
[also]
through intuition. And pardon us, it is a lessening of the power
of the human mind and Spirit to say, "Spiritual Science." Also it
seems to us that "Science" is so much less than the word "Spirit"
that you might as well use this little earth to qualify the Heavens
with.
To us there is no formula in the methods of the Spirit the
Spirit
is direct. It is revealed by the perception of Truth. That perception
is
absolute. That the primal basis in science, indeed is not so,
because
the primal basis of science must relate to things, while the
primal
basis of Spirit relates to that which is no-thing, but is the source
of
all things. Therefore we have told these who accept the term "Spiritual
Science" to explain any of the processes of the spirit that we would
rather
choose the word "Spirit" leaving it unqualified either by
adjective
or noun.
We consider "Spirit," "Soul," is the
basis
of whatever fact is found in the Universe, this is expressing its own
power.
When people claim to give enlightenment on "Spiritual science" (here
again
we beg pardon) we consider that it is simply an attempt which may serve
to open the way through the external mind to receive that which already
exists in the Absolute. We cannot teach Spirit to any one, we cannot
teach
the existence of "Spiritual science," knowledge of Spirit must be a
perception
or it is not, and we might teach forever that which would be considered
an aid to the unfoldment of what comes from within, but if that
which comes from within is not proportionately unfolded to meet the
material
instruction there is no science that can declare it. Spirit is the
perception
of Truth, the methods of its ministration are the methods that are in
existence.
If we speak to you today, it is to your spirits that we speak, they are
aware of the life from within your Souls, you either recognize the
truth
of what we say or you refuse it, though the intellect were convinced a
thousand times, though the reason should approve even still if the
Spirit
rejects it there would be no instruction. Deceived by the reason
of the intellect, by the glamour of the senses one might call that
"Truth"
which is not "Truth" while rejecting the Truth until there were perfect
growth.
We consider the acceptance and presence of
spiritual
phenomena in the world today, those that have their origin in Spiritual
sources are evidence of a larger growth, an added atmosphere; that the
world is prepared and that is the reason that there is no need of the
seclusion
of life practiced formerly. So also the next life is more true and full
of its own consciousness, its convictions, as this great mental and
moral
atmosphere is in the world those who are the chosen instruments of
Spirit
Power are sustained thereby.
Then we would go one degree farther, and say
that
there are certain messengers in the world, certain ones who have
Spiritual
Enlightenment: who have endowments, who are able to give the Truths
that
were confined to caves, mountain fastnesses and secret rites and
ceremonials
of past time; because the altar fires have been kindled over all the
earth,
because the Gifts of the Spirit have been poured out in multitudinous
times
and places, because that which required especial conditions in past
time
can now be done in more general conditions under the open light of day,
not being surrounded by the difficulties and circumstances of old.
Humility
itself, the Earth itself becomes more Spiritual as the life in man
unfolds.
We believe the words which have been offered
for
our subject are included in Spiritualism of the present hour, from the
outward manifestations to the highest teaching: that whatever fact has
appeared in connection with Modern Spiritualism is a fact that formerly
would have been called Occult; is a fact that in Theosophy would be
considered
Occult; is a fact that does not need to be called by the name of
"Spiritual science," but merely by the name of "expression of Spirit
power",
and that today from the teachings that you receive, with the phenomena
that accompany them, you have all the power, all the illustration of
that
which formally was held in the secret caves and altars of olden
time.
Nay! you have more than this: for the Sun itself pours out its splendor
upon an enlightened age. You have more than this, for the
inspired
fountains well up in human life daily. Whenever a little child
speaks
the message of the skies, or an adult gives you words of wisdom from
the
world above, that is an expression that in ancient time would have been
recorded as Occult.
The years have unfolded, the time is ripe,
the
hour is full of these Divine Mysteries, under whatever name they may
appear
we would not ignore them, but we will not ignore that name which has
been
given for the present Spiritual Sunshine, that name which the Spirit
World
has declared for its external manifestation today. Those who choose may
accept the other words, there is no limit to human freedom; but for us
we take a name as broad as the Solar System, as the Heavens and as
inclusive
as the Universe, that not only includes the Spirit of man and the
spirits
of all souls, the Angels in Heaven, the Archangels in their Highest
Sphere,
but the power of that God, who in the Highest Angels, and Ministering
Spirits
and highly endowed mortals has given, in this age all that was given in
the past ages, and a thousand fold more; has made these shrines and
altars
and these various places of worship your own hearts; by its
Sacred
Communions you unlock the mysteries of this Divine Kingdom.
Remember you are as yet only on the
threshold,
you may have entered the vestibule possibly, of that Divine Temple of
Spiritual
Truth. See to it that the name which has been given you, the word that
is enshrined in your heart, the Truth that it implies shall not become
polluted by anything less, that it shall never be narrowed down by
creed,
nor dogma, nor ritual, that it shall not be limited in its scope, in
its
truth, but shall include whatever shall come within the Spiritual needs
of man.
But should there come a time when the name
of
Spiritualism like the name of Christ, like the name of Buddha, like the
name of Brahma, like the names of the Spiritual Wonder-workers of the
East,
shall have degenerated into materialism and dogmatism, that its purity
of life and precepts shall be forgotten, that the unfoldment you may
receive
shall be limited by your narrow comprehension and prejudices, then
whatever
shall be the name of that hour, whatever the Wings of Light and God's
Love
shall trace upon the world with the Wonders of the Spirit we will
accept
that Name; but until then for all things Occult, for all things
Theosophical,
for all things pertaining to the Soul of man, we chose the one all
inclusive,
all-pervading term "Spiritualism."
BENEDICTION
May such blessed Light as Angels and Ministering Spirits can bring
be
yours; and
may the Light of the Spirit from within the Soul so illumine
your understandings,
so fill your minds and pervade your hearts that the Truth Divine
shall be more your possession in time and in eternity. Amen.
