Section 7

Conclusion.
Such is an outline of the great Law of Karma and of its workings, by a knowledge of which a man may accelerate his evolution, by the utilization of which a
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man may free himself from bondage, and become long ere his race has trodden its course, one of the Helpers and Saviors of the World. A deep and steady con- viction of the truth of this Law gives to life an im- movable serenity and a perfect fearlessness: nothing can touch us that we have not wrought, nothing can injure us that we have not merited. And as every- thing that we have sown must ripen into harvest in due season, and must be reaped, it is idle to lament over the reaping when it is painful; it may as well be done now as at any future time, since it cannot be evaded, and, once done, it cannot return to trouble us again. Painful Karma may thereafter well be faced with a joyful heart, as a thing to be gladly worked through and done with ; it is better to have it behind us than before us, and every debt paid leaves us with less to pay. Would that the world knew and could feel the strength that comes from this resting on the Law. Unfortunately to most in the Western world it is a mere chimaera, and even among Theoso- phists belief in Karma is more an intellectual assent than a living and fruitful conviction in the light of which the life is lived. The strength of a belief, says Professor Bain, is measured by its influence on con- duct, and belief in Karma ought to make the life pure, strong, serene and glad. Only our own deeds can hinder us ; only our own will can fetter us. Once let men recognize this truth, and the hour of their liber- ation has struck. Nature cannot enslave the Soul that by Wisdom has gained Power, and uses both in Love.
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THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.
The Theosophical Society is an international body which was founded at New York, on the 17th of November, 1875, Its objects are:
First. — To for the nucllus of a universal brotherhood of humanity without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or color.
Second. — To promote the study of Aryan and other Eastern literatures, religious, iihUosophies and sciences, and demonstrate the importance of that study.
Third. — To investigate unexplained laws of nature and the psychic powers latent in man.
Of these three objects the first is the only one which is bind- ing on all members, the two others being meant to subserve the first. The carrying out of the second, revealing the East to the West, tends to break down the barriers of race and creed, and there is no service the East can do to the West comparable to the unveiling of her hidden treasures of spiritual knowledge. The third object also tends to brotherhood, in that it leads man to understand himself and his environment, and finally demonstrates to him the underlying spiritual unity of all beings. But both these objects require for their prosecution special capacities and special opportunities; they are not, therefore, binding on members, but are voluntarily taken up by those who are attracted by them and who are able to pursvie them. Still, a person entirely indifferent to them, if he believes in human brotherhood and is willing to work for it, has full wel- come and standing in the Theosophical Society.
The members of the Society are connected by an ethical rather than by an intellectual bond, and their unity rests on a sublime ideal, not on a formulated creed. The Society has no dogmas, insists on no beliefs, endorses no church, supports no party, takes no sides in the endless quarrels that rend society, and embitter national, social and personal life. It seeks to draw no man away from his own religion, but rather
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impels him to seek in the depths of his own religion for the spiritual nourishment he needs. The Aryan teachings men- tioned in its second object it presents as subjects for study, not as dogmas to be blindly accepted. That each should show to the religion of others the respect that he claims for his own, is understood as an honorable obligation in the Society, and perfect mutual courtesy on these matters is expected from members. More and more this leads to co-operation in the search for truth, to softening prejudices, to liberalizing of minds, and to the growth of a gracious friendliness and will- ingness to learn. Thus the Society is a wall of protection against the twin-foes of man, superstition and materialism, and should spread wherever it goes a gentle and refining in- fluence of peace and goodwill, forming one of the forces that make for good amid the conflicts of modern civilization.
Membership.
Membership in the Society may be obtained either by being elected by a Lodge, or by being admitted by the General Secretary, in the case of those who wish to be unattached. And the fact of such election on the one hand or of admission on the other constitutes the person a member of the Theo- sophical Society. All applications for memhership must be made on the printed form supplied for the purpose by the General Secretary or the Secretary of a Lodge.
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