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THEOSOPHY AND SPIRITUALISM

[The Theosophist, Vol. III, No. 11, August, 1882, p. 272]

A Calcutta correspondent asks:

(a) Is Occultism a science akin to Spiritualism?
(b) What are the principal points in which the Theosophists and the
Spiritualists differ?
(c) Can a Spiritualist call himself a Theosophist without altering his faith? And vice versa?
(d) I understand you do not believe in Spiritualism—then how is it that a Spiritualist has been elected President for the Bengal Branch of the Theosophical Society?

To which we answer:

(a) That Theosophy is a very ancient science, while Spiritualism is a very modern manifestation of psychical phenomena. It has not yet passed the stage of experimental research.
(b) The difference is in our theories to account for the phenomena. We say they are mainly, though not always, due to the action of other influences than that of the disembodied conscious spirits of the dead. The Spiritualists affirm the contrary.
(c) Yes; many excellent persons are both, and none need alter his faith.
(d) We do believe in the phenomena, but not as to their cause—as above remarked. There being no religious or other test other than that of good moral character and

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sympathy with the objects of our Society, applied by us to those who seek for admission, the election of the venerable Babu Peary Chund Mitra, as President of our Bengal Branch, was not only most proper, but very desirable. He is certainly the most spiritual Theosophist and most theosophic Spiritualist we have ever met.

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