Echoes From the Orient

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. Were such doctrines held only in India, it would be natural to pass the subject by with this brief men tion. But when it is found that a large body of peo ple in America and Europe hold the same beliefs, it is interesting to note such an un-western develop ment of thought. The Theosophical Society was founded in New York in 1875 with the avowed ob ject of forming a nucleus - Io} a Universal Brother hood, and its founders state that they believe the Indian Mahatmas directed them to establish such a society. Since its foundation it has gained members in all countries, including people of wealth as well as those in moderate circumstances, and the highly cultured also. Within its ranks there flourish beliefs in the Mahatmas of India and in Reincarnation and' its twin doctrine, Karma. This last holds that no power, human or divine, can save one from the con sequences of acts performed, and that in this life we are experiencing the results due to us for all acts and thoughts which were ours in the preceding incarna tion.