A LAPSUS CALAMI

[Journal of The Theosophical Society, Madras, Vol. I, No. 2,
February, 1884, p. 28]

Says the Editor of the Indian Churchman, in his issue of January 5, under the head “Résumé of the year 1883”:—

. . . Theosophy, the cult of the followers of Colonel Olcott and Madame Blavatsky, is another movement which is creating some [?] interest in India; in our opinion it seems a reaction against extreme Materialism in favour of pure Spiritualism. The Bishop of Madras has directed his attention to it, and has issued a not ill-timed caution against its subtleties.

A “caution” to whom? To the Hindus—who care little for the dicta of all the Christian Bishops the world over, or to the followers of the orthodox Church-going Christians, who—unless they are prepared to give up their one-sided prejudices and bigotry––could never be accepted in our Society? We are afraid, our esteemed contemporary has used an ill-fitting adverb before his noun. No caution is necessary against that wherein lurks no danger. In the case of the Bishop of Madras, it was simply a bit of vain boasting, a display of would-be authority, harmless as to Hindus, and useless in the case of Christians—since the best ally of the Bishop is Article VI of our Rules. Evidently our “subtleties” are not very formidable, since there are highly educated, sincere and in every way honourable Christians who would have gladly joined our Society had they not been warned of the danger, and prevented from doing so by the uncompromising honesty of Col. Olcott himself, our President.

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