Show MORA CODE IS NOT FAVORED Views Vie s of Mrs Annie Besant Recently Elected President of Theosophist Society CONVENTION AT CHICAGO JOURNEY OF THE LEADER FROM ADYAR INDIA Chicago III ill I Sept Sept 13 Mrs Annie Be Besant Besant Besant sant of Adyar Adar India the recently elected word wor president of the theosophist society declares strongly against the adoption of or ofa orn ofa a n moral morl code coe a question that has agitated theosophists for some time past past The question queston was debated at some length but no definite notion action was taken wa Mrs Mr Besant declared declare In n the commence commencement COmmencement commencement ment of her address that all al the theosophists theosophists theosophists are one erie ole in their eagerness to raise the moral tone of the society Where the th members of or the society differ she said saidon is on the question queston Shall moral mora ideas Ides be enforced by penalty or not 1 Religions Do Otherwise None of the great religions said Mrs Besant has a penal peDal code enforcing its I commandments by exclusion from Its tb pale On the contrary contrary they regard it I as a a primary primary primary mary duty to try tr to Improve their evil evildoers evl evildoers doers do rs not to cast them out Some reli religions rel religions gions excommunicate on ceremonial grounds but we presume that the theosophical theosophical societies do not wish to copy their examples Religions leave to the tho civil power the punishment of offenses and anI strive to reform and purify purl rather than expel expel Shall the theosophical so society clety clet descend below the level common to religious need bodies and proclaim itself in Against Brotherhood Idea A penal code among ns us would be the denial of brotherhood Spirituality pro proclaim claim the unity uni of all al Just in proportion as We w are spiritual shall we feel fee our unity unit with saints and sinners alike aUke We Vo are all al eager to feel unity with wih the gods with the Christs with the saints but no such lopsided unity is possible Only those can be one with wih the highest who are one ono with the lowest by the one spirit that dwells in us all al our brothers sins are our our sins our brothers brothers shame our shame Rule Would Be Harmful If I we make a rule expelling from the society our undesirable we shall sink be below below low tho the level of all au l great religious bodies boies even below the level leve of ordinary scientific philosophical and literary societies For my part I shall steadily resist any pa attempt to impose a penal code upon the society I stand for the tho affirmation of lofty loft Ideals of morality and for strenuous ous efforts to live lve up to them I appeal to the unfolding dignity digity in man and not notto notto notto to the beggarly elements element of coercive laws I gladly affirm my with the lowest as I reverentially hope to be ac as accepted as brother by bythe the highest |