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Even the 'invocation' of spiritual beings, if the modern practice of Seance-holding can be so called, which affords conditions for spiritual manifestations—is quite in conformity with the rituals and ceremonials of the ancient Indian system; as, for instance, the Sama Veda says, "Come, Father, along with the spirits of our Fathers."*[1] If this practice was observed, and formed an integral part of religious worship,—and if this was done under the ægis of the Church itself in far back ages; surely with our increase of knowledge, and, we may hope, with improved morals, we may now safely engage in it with safety to both sides, provided the motives are pure and worthy. Are there not any adept "Brothers" of British or European extraction in sufficient sympathy with the efforts of their own countrymen to open up a direct correspondence with those who are striving to attain to a higher order of Life?†[2]
[A full reply is left over for a future article.]
A PERSONAL AND AN IMPERSONAL GOD.
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Attacks are made on those who deny the existence of a personal God, and we are told that such persons, even the believing in an Impersonal God, are in reality Atheists.
- ↑ * We invite our brother's attention, in reference to this quotation, to what Manu says (IV. 123, &c.,) of this practice. The Sama Veda dealing with the Spirits of the dead, he says that "even the sound of it (the Sama Veda) is impure."—T. S. R.
- ↑ † This seems hardly a fair question. Our correspondent first assumes that our adepts are of an inferior order, and neither living nor capable of showing a way to "a higher order of life," and then despairingly asks if there are no adepts to teach him. What talented beings there may be in the "Solar" and "Planetary" orders—we cannot say, our experience having been confined to human adepts. But among these, we should certainly say that on the terms stated there is not one among our Brothers, whether of British or Asiatic extraction, who would volunteer fnr the service.—T. S. R.
