Theosophists

Holding with Shakespeare, Christian Scientists and prestidigitators that "nothing is but thinking makes it so," Mrs. Annie Besant, 'grand old lady of India" and moving spirit of the Order of the Star in the East (also called the Theosophical Society), wound up the celebration of that Order's 50th anniversary (TIME, Jan. 4) by exhorting a public gathering at Adyar (near Madras) to turn their thought toward the far Himalayan heights and beseech the world's Saviour (for her and her followers the Brahmin, Shri Krishna, of 500 B.C.) to hasten his reincarnation and the worlds salvation.

He also spoke whose mind and body and mortal affairs have been prepared for assumption by the Saviour in the near future--J. Krishnamurti, whom Mrs. Besant brought to England in 1908 to be educated at Oxford and nurtured in pious humility. This Messiah-designate is now 30 and before and after his transfiguration will tour the world with twelve 'apostles" chosen by and including Mrs Besant. A publicity corps will herald his comings, echo his goings. Last week, by way of preparing the world to receive him, he said:

"There is no such thing as proving it [my coming as the world teacher] : you must feel it, you must realize it. ... You may ask how you physically know that such a stupendous individuality, such a di vinity, will be among us. I ask, how do you know when you are in love when you are thrilled with affection? You do not give any explanation, for you feel you cannot give positive proofs. It is the same with me; because I believe in it intensely I am willing to throw up everything. With that belief in the background one can build a new civilization, a new society, a new spiritual aristocracy."