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THE THEOSOPHIST.

FROM THE EDITOR.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, July 27, 1908.

Really at the antipodes at last, Greenwich exactly under our feet, and India a quarter of the world away, a half-way house to England. But Theosophy is as well loved here as in other lands, and has warm hearts to welcome it, and strong brains to defend it. It is cold, but the country is emerald green after two months of rain, and to-day the sun is shining brightly, and white fleecy clouds, flung across the sky, remind one of an English day in spring.

We left Brisbane on July 20th, reaching Sydney on the 21stdid I say so in the last letter ?—and on the evening of the 21st I lectured in the Trades' Hall to the delegates of the Trades' Unions, on "What Theosophy has to say to the Workers." It was a strong-headed attentive audience, interested and critical, sympathetic on some points and dubious on others-as might be expected. Much to my surprise, after the lecture, they gave me a very pretty illuminated address.

On the 22nd July, we set foot on the steamer Wimmara, which was to take us to New Zealand, and steamed out of the magnificent Sydney harbor, large enough, one would think, to shelter the navies of the world. It is one of the world's sights, that splendid harbor, with its rolling hills, and little bays and inlets, with the road out, narrow, between high cliffs. Out we went, and peace was at an end. We came into a mass of great rollers, and the vessel, lying low in the water, became their prey. They charged the deck, and the passengers rolled over into the scuppers, a confused heap, and then fled, drenched, to take refuge within. They shivered into pieces the door of a deck-cabin, covering the unfortunate occupant with water and

broken wood, and leaving desolation behind. Then they had their way, and the deck was left free to them as play-ground. The ship was very crowded, and four of us, Theosophists all, were packed into one small cabin, with washing apparatus for one and one campstool; we were happy in that we all loved baths and did not love brandy, but still it was not what could be called comfortable. There was no place to sit in, as the saloon was turned into berths, and the only place was the dining-room, redolent of roast and fried meats, porter and other drinks, and used also as a sleeping-room for men for whom no cabins could be found. One felt that it was hardly fair to be charged first-class fare for the fourth part of a tiny cabin, the quarter of a bason and of a camp-stool, and no place to rest our sick bodies in outside. Our stewardess, with over forty sea-sick women to attend to, was beyond praise in her kindness, but she had a cruelly hard time. The four days came to an end at 2 P.M. on the 26th, and we landed on the wharf at Auckland, to be surrounded with cordial greetings. A few hours' quiet, and then a members' meeting, as opening of the New Zealand work.

WELLINGTON, August 3rd.

Auckland yielded two very large meetings for the public lectures, and between 250 and 300 persons attended the meeting for questions, and seemed to be thoroughly interested. The members' meetings were very bright, and, altogether, Auckland promises well. The venerable General Secretary, Dr. Sanders, keeps wonderful health, and holds the work well together, being beloved by everyone. On the afternoon of the 30th, we took steamer from Onehanga, seven miles from Auckland, on the western side of the Island, and, after a little tumbling about crossing the bar, steamed over a peaceful sea to New Plymouth, where we arrived on the following morning early. The train was on the wharf soon afterwards, and we hied awaysouthwards across pretty scenery, and over rivers like the Indian ones with big stretches of waterless land or pebbles, in the dry season. -to Wellington, the capital of the Dominion. A crowd of members awaited us on the platform, and we were among them by half past seven in the evening, receiving their hearty greetings. The next day saw the perennial interviews, a members' meeting, and a large

gathering in the Town Hall for the evening lecture. The meeting was attentive, and finally enthusiastic, but I should think that Theosophy is, at present, but little known in Wellington; it does not yet seem to be" in the air. "

On Sunday we began with an E.S. meeting, and, later, a members' meeting; in the evening I lectured in the Opera House to an audience which packed every corner of the great building. It was interesting to notice the changes which passed over it, from curiosity to interest, from interest to eager attention, from eager attention to enthusiasm. Re-incarnation is a teaching that vindicates itself when explained, and on every side it is making its way. Monday had three more meetings, and in the evening we took steamer once more, to cross over to Christchurch.

DUNEDIN, August 10th.

We arrived at Christchurch early on the morning of August 4th, and the day was spent in holding two meetings and a public lecture, with interviews sandwiched in, as time permitted. The usual keen interest was shown in re-incarnation, the subject of the public lecture, and here, as everywhere, one noticed the ready acceptance of the rationality of the view presented. The next day saw three meetings and a lecture; the evening was stormy, and for the first time in the tour, the audience was not large. At 8 A.M. on the following morning, August 6th, we were in the train, and bitterly cold it was. We were to travel until 5-13 in the afternoon, and I had to lecture that night, and one could not but wish that the train were more comfortable, and that more than one small foot warmer might be granted to three shivering people. The steamers for the coasting service are commodious and well-served, and it is not their fault that the seas are stormy and the memories of them sad. But the train-service is very antiquated, and the rolling stock the worst that I have encountered in my journeys over the world. The first class carriages give bare sitting-space, three being packed side-by-side in a corridor carriage on a narrow gauge, and if you carry a tea-basket, so as to avoid the rough and tumble for food at a station, you must buy two tickets in order to have a place to put it on. The first-class large cars are

seated like the top of a London tramway car, except that one seat holds two and its fellow only one, and wedged into these the unhappy traveller is expected to travel for twelve hours at a stretch. Among all the reform movements of New Zealand, a corner might surely be found for a reform in railway accommodation.

**

Dunedin is quite a Scotch city, and one hears the pretty Scotch accent on every side. The three public lectures were very well attended, and the questions at the public conversation were very good. Six members' and E.S. meetings, and half an hour to the Lotus circle, filled the days to overflowing, and soon after 8 A.M. on August 10th, we took train to the Bluff, and went on board the steamer that was to carry us away from New Zealand, after a fortnight of strenuous work. On the way, a number of the members met us at Invercargill, our southernmost Lodge, and gave us Godspeed.

**

P. & O. S. S. MACEDONIA, August 23rd, AUSTRALIAN BIGHT.

Less than three days brought us to Hobart, Tasmania, across one of the stormiest seas in the world. But Varuņa was kind to us on this occasion and we suffered little, despite the bitter cold. Hobart is a quiet little town with a small Branch, but we had a fairly large gathering at the public lecture, and the members' and E.S. meetings were earnest, and had the promise of more energy in the future. We left on the evening of August 15th, and travelled through the night to Launceston, where two meetings and a public lecture occupied the 16th. The 17th was equally well filled, and after a final members' meeting on the morning of the 18th, we boarded the steamer for Melbourne. A few hours at Melbourne, and then the train westwards to Adelaide, where another few hours were spent, and then warm farewell to friends, and the great steamer throbbed her way outwards.

SOUTHERN INDIAN OCEAN, August 25th.

Yesterday we touched Australian land for the last time at Fremantle, and there Fremantle and Perth Lodges had gathered for

a last hand shake. Fremantle has started a Lodge Room since I left, a bright pleasant room in the city's main street; it is open every afternoon for use as a reading-room, and the Branch has a nice little library. In a few hours I rejoined the steamer, and, as we slowly edged away from the wharf, many a kindly look and waving hand gave good wishes, and a shower of telegrams from the Australian Lodges added their messages of love. The Australian tour was over, and the steamer's prow pointed homewards, towards India.

Much gratitude remains in my heart for all the overflowing love and kindness which have been poured out on me so richly during the tour. Not to me, as a person, was it given, I joy to know, but to the President of the Theosophical Society, the messenger of the Blessed Masters, the witness-bearer to Their watchful care and to the outpouring of Their power. Australia and New Zealand ring true and loyal right through, from their General Secretaries to the youngest new comer into our ranks. They are loyal to the chosen of the Masters and the elected of the Society, because they know that without such loyalty little can be done, and that liberty can only be joined with effectiveness where the chosen and elected officer is followed and strengthened, not continually harassed and thwarted. Apart from public thanks, my private gratitude must be given for the personal kindness which has surrounded me and made light the burden of work; and most of all to Mrs. John, the wife of the General Secretary, who met me at Fremantle and travelled with me throughout, bidding me farewell only on board the steamer which is bearing me homewards; I cannot speak in words my loving thanks to her for the sisterly kindness which took all the physical burdens, looked after every detail, thought always for my comfortnever for her own-had ever a gay word for disagreeables, a smile for fatigue, and, rarest and most valuable of gifts, silence for quiet hours. That the heavy Australian tour has left me strong and bright is largely due to Mrs. John. If I do not name others for special thanks, it is because all I have met have been loving and kind.

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