The powers of the Mahatmas are not to be put
to the test in London. Colonel Desmond has Veen informed, on behalf of his spiritual superiors, that his acceptance of Mr. Stuart Cumberland's challenge cannot be allowed, and has accordingly withdrawn his offer to stake £1,000. The withdrawal does not, of course, prove anything, as any religious teacher would refuse to produce sample miracles, or to allow faith in his claims to be affected by the result of a bet. As, however, the very existence of Mahatmas is questioned, it would seem ex- pedient for one of those highly venerated persons of his own accord to prove it in some unmistakable way. Otherwise, the discredit falling on his disciples for bringing no evidence of so cardinal a fact must be reflected also on his creed, which cannot on any theory be his desire. The credulity of the Theosophists is amazing, but brings on them an obloquy which they do not quite deserve, for, after all, it is less absurd to be- lieve in the spiritual greatness of an invisible teacher than in the spiritual greatness of a visible man like Harris. The readiness to believe in anything, visible or invisible, provided only it be not Christianity, is a curious sign of the times. A clergyman of the Church of England, we see, has just professed himself a Mahommedan in Liverpool.
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