The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 19, 1896, Page 21

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 1896. o = 1 IMBER AND THE CABBALA The Mystic Professor Under- takes to Explain What It Is. HIS “JEWISH MARSEILLAISE.” He Seeks to Prove by the “Children of the Ghstto” that He Is Not Melchitzedek Pinchas. Naphtaly Herz Imber, national poet of Israel, mystic, expounder of the Cabbala, takes exception, as it was presumed he would, to the coupling of his name with | that of Melchitzedek Pinchas of the | “Children of the Ghetto.” He says such confusion misrepresents him as well as the teaching of the Cabbala and plays into the handsof his enemies—enemies through vrejudice or lack of knowledge. “The prejudiced,” he says, “‘expect me to present something trimmed with flow- ery language, arrayed in shallow words, | and they are disappointed to find in my | prescn‘auon the naked truth in her sim- ple, pie, primitive conditions.” Again he refers to the mention of him- selt by name in the ‘‘Children of the Ghetto,” by Melchitzedek Pinchas, the fictitious character and poet. To a little party of seekers after the truth as it is ex- pounded by Professor Imber, and who were gathered in his room on Bush street yesterday, he read what he calls his **Jew- ish Marseillaise,” as it appears translated | from the Hebrew in the eighteenth chapter | of the “Children of the Ghetto.” ‘‘Pin- chas, the poet, is speaking,” says Professor Imber, and he reads: Into the exile we took with us, of all our | glories, only a spark of the fire by which our temple, the abode of our great one, was en- girdled, and this little spark kept us alive | while the towers of our enemies crumbled into dust, and this spark leaped into celestial flame | and shed light upon the faces of the heroes of our race and inspired them to endure the hor- Tors of the dance of death and the tortures. of | > sutos-da-fe. Let us fan the spark again | leap up and,become a pillar of flame, | | ophy is experiencing the same, as it is words and off-hand. It must be given in small pellets at first. If I give you an ac- count of my spiritual life with an outline of the Cabbala you must be able to deter- mine whether I present the truth or not. I will write it. I will explain about the thirty-six masters, and how they differ from those imaginary things, the mahat- mas, and why I was chosen to expound the Cabbala.” ; And, as before, talking all the while, the professor wrote the following, heading it: THE CABBALA And My Advent in San Francisco. In spite of the irritations of human mind in seeking the truth, which 'is yet to be found, still all agree that the truth exists. Now, if so, there must also exist ways and means by which we can obtain it too. That the Cabbala answers the truth is plain and clear for various reasons; first, that occultism refers to it; second, that the learned ones of all the ages and de- | nominations have striven to study it. The Popes in Rome were students of the Cabbala as the Jews in Jerusalem. But the best seal of truth is impressed upon its letter by the science itself. For every re- ligion, from the lowest fetish faith up to the highest cults of Buddha, Moses and of Christ, has a division divided in itself. Even science, in all its branches, has not yet established a unit. In every religious cult there is always a split in the shape of “sects,” and in every branch of science we witness the same spectacle, “‘that the doctors disagree.”” Even theos- vided in Oriental and Occidental theoso- phy. This disagreeable agreement is proof enough that they have not yet found the truth. The Cabbala is the only science of truth which has in all its branches estab- lished a unit, and the laws which govern that science are still in force as in the by- gone days of Melchisedek, who was Abra- nam’s mentor in the Cabbala. The reason for that phenomenon is, first, its teach- ings are not an outcqme of heated brains of speculative thinkers; they are laws | brought into existence through the com- bination of certain circumstances and sur- roundings; hence whenever those circum- stances come into a combination those laws are treated as consequences. They are as the laws of nature; as those of days and nights they come and go. In plainer words, if a cabbalist goes through the road outlined by the Cabbala he reaches at last that _milestone which is marked “Wisdom.” Has such a person at- tained the highest degree, then he sees the world with celestial eyes by the inner light of the spiritual optic nerve, not by the crystallized fleshly one. The second reason is, as they are natural laws, consequences of & certain combination of circumstances, THE POET APPEALS TO T HE THIRTY.SIX MASTERS. going before us and showing us the way to Jernsalem, the city of our sires. And if gold will not bring back our land we must try steel. As the National Poet of Israel, Naphtall Herz Imber, has so nobly sung (here ne broke into the Hebrew “Wacht Am Rhein,” of which an English version would run thus): T “Like the crash of the thunder, Which splitteth asunder, The flame of the cloud, On our ears ever falling A voice is heard calling From Zion alovd: Let your spirit’s desires For the land of your sires Eternally burn. From the foe to deliver Our own holy rive To Jordan retur Where the soft-flowing stream Murmurs low as a dream, There set we our watch, Our watchword, ‘The sword Of our land aud ‘our Lord’— By the jordan there set we our watch. IL “Rest in peace, loved land, For we rest not, but stand, Off-shaken vur sloth. When the bolts of war rattle To shirk not the battle, We make thee our oath. As we hope for a heaven Thy claims shali be riven, Thine ensign unfurled. And in pride of our race We will fearlessly face The might of the world. When our trumpet Is blown, And our standard s flown Then set we our watch. Our watchword. ‘ The sword Of our 1and and our Lord’'— By Jordan there set we our watch, AL «“Yen, as long as there be Birds In the alr, fish in the sea, And blood in our veins; And the lions in mighs, Leaping down from the height, Shake, roaring, thelr man: Ana the dew nightly laves The forgotten old graves Where Judah's sires sleep— We swear, who are living, To rest not in striving, To pause Dot Lo weep. Let the trumpet he_ blow: Let the standard be flow: Now set we our watel Our watchword, ‘The sword Of our land aud our. Lord'— 1n Jordan Now sét we our watch.” He sank upon the rude, wooden bench ex-; hausted, his eyes glitteriug, his raven hair disheveled by the wildness of his gestures. He had said. ‘For the restof the evening he neither moved nor spoke. Professor Imber, his own raven hair dis- heveled by the wilduness of his gestures, closed the book and looked from one to the other of the little partv. “How can any one say that 1 am Pinchas, or intended to be Pinchas, when Pinchas uses my own nane and calls me the National Poet of Israel?'” he said. *It is this song of mine that has awak- ened the envy of Pinchas that is now heard on the lips of the lovers of Zion in Palestine.” said the professor. “But about your teaching,” was sug- gested—*'this new cult that you ure to es- tablish ?” - “] can only give you a hint,” he said. “Very many have asked the same ques- tion.” But it is impossible to explain the deep mysteries of life and of ime ina lew] : very easy to fool the Gentiles, as none of hence they are above and be{ond any dis- pute, as revealed facts make silent the strongest imagination of fiction. No mat- ter how high a cabbalist climbs upon the ladder of wisdom he can give only that which iz given ‘to him, and cabbalistic wisdom does not come trom books, only by seeing facts in the light of truth. ITS LITERATURE. The Cabbala was never translated into any living tongue, and its books are writ- ten in a Chaldaic jargon with the exception of the book ““Sefer Jezira’’ (book of cre- ation), which is written in pure Hebrew, the authorship of which is attributed to the patriarch Abraham. “The Sohlar” (the light) is the second book in rank. It was written by a sage of the famous Tal- mud Rabbi Simon Bar Yochaii nearly 2000 years ago. The book *The Tree of ’ from Vital, and the books of the disciples of Israel Bal Shem Tow (the man of good name). The Cabbala has two parts. The one teaches about the Cosmos and life’s mys- teries, and that teaching can be taught in the presence of many; the other about the creation, and it can only be taught to sin- zle persuns in verbal or oral traditions. Should the Cabbala be translated and known, even a Herbert Spencer will bow his venerable head before 1ts wisdom. ITS BENEFIT. Not only to the individual alone will the Cabbala be of benefit, as it will bring into his heart comfort and self-satisfaction, even to humanity at large. Ior the Cab- vala is a wonderful mirror, wherein everv one sees that which he wishes tosee. As1 wrote in my open letter to the religious congress (published in Chicago) the Caboala is the only medium through which we can establish a universal brother- bood on earth, as the Fatherhood is already established in heaven—as in the Cabbala the Jew sees his single powerful Jehovah as well as the Christian sees his Trinity; the Parsee sees his dual deity as the great Spinoza sees in it his cosmo- political divine providence. THE MAHATMAS. Like most of the theosophical doctrines and dogmas which were presented to'the world as genuine by Mme. Blavatsky the mahatma business is one of them. Itis them are able to read the Cabbala. The original idea of the mahatma originates with the Cabbala, but Mme. - Blavatsky NEW TO-DAY—DRY GOODS. GIGANTIC VALUES FOR THIS WEEK'S TRADE! LADIES' WAISTS! At 50 Cents. LADIES’ WHITE LAWN WAISTS, made in the latest style, full sleeves, finished with sailor collar, edged with embroid- ery, will be offered at 50c each. At $1.00. 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At 25 Cents a Pair. 150 dozen CHILDREN’S FINE RIBBED MACO COTTON HOSE, double knee, heel, sole and 1oe, black and assorted tan shades, size 5 to 9 inches, regular value 35¢ and 40c. At 25 Cents a Pair. 175 dozen LADIES’ REAL MACO COT- TON HOSE, high spliced heel, sole and toe, black and assorted tan shades. Special price 25c. At 50 Cents. 75 dozen LADIES’ RICHELIEU RIBBED SWISS LISLE-THREAD VESTS, low neck and sleeveless, white, ecru, black, sky and pink. Special at 50c each. At 75 Cents. 50 dozen LADIES’ JERSEY RIBBED EGYPTIAN COTTON UNION SUITS, high neck, long sleeves, regular vrice Nurphy Building, Harket and Jones Stregts. Murphy Bullding, Market and Jones Strests. Murphy Building, Market and Jones Streets. Murphy Building, Market and Jomes Streets. | Murphy Building, Market and Jones Strests. called last'year by the theosophical famil quarrel, when Mme. Besant, the higl riestess, charged the late high priest, Mr. udge, that he foreed the communications of the Mahatmas (whén two servant-girls are fighting the landlady gets out the truth). In my “Uriel” I showed by the light of that guarrel that the Mahatma business is a fraud. First, if Mme. Be- sant said that Judge was a forger, she ought to know what she is talking about, and if Mr. Judge declared the contrary, he, of course, knew, too, what he is about, and we outsiders knew, too, what the mat- ter was with both. The Mahatma business is only a misrepresented idea of the Cab- bala, as I am going to show by the histori- cal light of truth. THE THIRTY-SIX MASTERS. The thirty-six Mastersof the Cabbala are not like the mahatmas of the Theosophists, sitting in idleness on the top of Thibet’s rocky mountains meditating like fools, why has God created bad boys? The thirty-six Masters of the Cabbala are scat- tered all over the world, and they occupy positions in all the stations -of life, from thelowest beggar to the high-living banker. ‘While occupying their positions they do good in ali directions, to help those who are in need of it without being detected or known. They are known each to the other, and to the few students of the Cab- | bala. They have no regulations or signs, as they do not form an order, for each one has' his own way, and divided as they stand, harmonious they work. They are | the guardians of the sacred science of the Cabbala, and they communicate each with the other either by telapathy or Ly self-appearance. Never do they write. If one of them becomes known to out- siders, he either leaves the place or he must pass off and another is replaced to fill out the number thirty-six. The masters are recruited from theranks of cabbalistic students and they must be of 40 years of age. I never dared to pub- lish about the Cabbale, and in my lon literary pursuit in Jewish literature avoided to touch the button of tbat sci- ence. Two years ago 1 was offered in Bos- ton by Rabbi Shinder and Mr. Ayers, presi- | dent of the Theosophical Society, to fur- | nish_me $2000 to translate the ‘“‘Sohar” and I refused. But I published the Uriel in the city when I was ordered by the mas- ters. The reasons of giving now to the world the light of the Cabbala, the masters say that bumanity has the dyspepsia from digesting unripe fruits of knowledge (alluaing to the false teachings), now the ne:(f]e will know to value the healthy fo - of truth. WHY I WAS CHOSEN. People have asked me the above ques- tion, and not for my sake only, for the sake of truth, that at the same time they may take out of it as a lesson of the hour to understand better spiritual life. Why I was chosen? I do not know, but sur- mise. As a matter of fact I am not an educated man, and I never was in any school. My personality as well as my pocket-book are veid of earthly attractions. From my early childhood I began to study myself, which is only a miniature edition of the big cosmos, and Xou know that he who seeks will find. t the age of 14 a master revealed himself 10 me, instructing me with the keynote of the Cabbala, handing me over regulations to live up to them. 1 When I left my native country I joined | the Oliphants, going with them to Pales. | tine as a member of the family. There I | lived, so to say, a high life. yet working in the spiritual one, too. There I wrote, together with the noble Alice Oliphant, the book “Supneumata,” which I regara as the heralder of the science of truth. ‘When I got a mission to go to Egypt I left the pleasures of life in order to enjoy a better pleasure in my spiritual work. was again recalled, and after a short stay T left again. Then, after wandering around the world, I came to this country and was hailed as poet, scientist and common- sense thinker. Had I been a_hypocrite couid have gained some position in_life, but I throw the gauntlet to the Pharisees, fighting those who make love to God and are wooing the devil. Imade my living in writing for the religious Jewish papers, and there was not much of it, as you know that there is no geod pasture in a churebyard. Two years ago I came to Boston, where a young lady, child of Mr. Thayer, heard my lecture andfell in love with me. She, as gentile woman, under- stood me better than my whole race. ‘When our love was at the highest pitch, and she came to me to study, I told her that it was a crime to deceive her parents. She refused to do so, for she thought 1t will cause an uproar. I could have mar- ried her without the knowledge of her parents, as I nad her in my power, yet spiritual light did not allow me_to break moral obligations, and I do as 1 preach. I forced her to tell, and her father wrote me the meanest letters Uncle Sam ever carried in his letter-bag. Yet, beyond conception of human cal- culation, I succeeded in publishing the **Uriel,” which required a couple of hun- dred dollars. I was then ordered to Wash- ington, to Syracuse and to San Francisco. Reader, there is my lifein a nutshell. Find for yourself why I was chosen. A CHEAP HOUSE. It Is IN THE DESERT AND CoOST SEVENTY-FIVE CENTs. Frank Haven,a young man from Bos- ton, thinks that he has the cheapest house in this country, and from the appearance of the edifice most people wonld agree with him. His dwelling lacks nearly all of the so-called modern conveniences, but it is well ventilated and gets plenty of sun- | shine. In fact it issituated in that land of sunshine—the Colorado desert. Mr. Haven 1s one of the army of Eastern feup]eAwho annually come to California or their health and he found the vicinity of Indio to agree with bim better than any other locality. He arrived last No- vember and for a while lived in a cottage, but thought the life did not produce ail the beneficial results to be derived from the climate. He then bought a tent and moved a few hundred yardsout on the desert. This scheme worked satisfactorily until a sandstorm came up and the tent started on an excursion toward Death Valley. After living in a cottage again for a couple of weeks, he hit upon an idea that has filled all requirements. The only in- convenience was that he had to go over two miles from the railroad station to tind a group of giant cacti that were necessary to his purpose. It took him about a week to construct was 75 cents for some heavy muslin. The only tool he used was an ax to chop down the cacti that were where he did not want them. Intheend he had four large all he had to do was to tack his muslin from one to the other. A few poles across the top enabled him to put up a roof of the same material. still standing on three sides to act as wind breaks. Since then several severe sandstorms have prevailed, but Mr. Havew's 75-cent house was never disturbed. Such an abode would not be practical in this part of the country, even if it were possible, but in the desert, where it is warm, and never rains, it is all that is necessary to bodily comfort. Mr. Haven camps out and says that he gets all the fresh air possible and is rapidly being re- stored to perfect health. The first few nights wild beasts made him nervous, but healways keeps a good fire of deaa cacti- wood in front of his abode and they never disturb him. OLD-TIME HOUSEHOLDS. Domestic Arrangements in The Four- teenth Century. Carpets were unknown luxuries, but the fashion of strewing the apartments with rushes was being gradually abandoned. Rushes were still used in the retainers’ hall, but for the better rooms sweet- scented herbs and fragrant twigs were usually employed. ; In the fourteenth century windews were apertures filled with glass so as to admit light, but to exclude wind. The walls also were frequently hung with cloth or tapes- try to protect the inmates of the room from the many currents of air that pene- trated £he strong but badly built walls. We learn from various ancient docu- ments that it was the duty of the servin men and pages to sweep out the principal apartments, but as the use of wateris rarely mentioned damp and fragment leaves and twigs must have aided not only in collecting the dust, but also toward re- freshing the atmosphere in such con- stantly closed rooms, fresh air being only admitted through the doors opening on to the battlements or balconies. From old inventories at Thurleigh and elsewhere we ascertain how secantily fur- nished were these ancient mansions, al- though they seem to have been abundantly suppliea with flagons and drinking cups in gold, silver and finely engraved pewter, besides an infinite number of black jacks his house and all the money it cost him or cups made of leather.—Good Words. THE HOUSE OF CACTI ON THE From a sketch by DESERT THAT COST 78 CENTS. att Call” artist.) trees at_the corners of a square space and | Plenty of the cacti were | FOND OF - PIGEONS. | Boe SPEAR AND His STRANGE Fancy FOR FEATHERED PETS. Bob Spear says he is a poor man, very poor in fact. and his looks do not belie his words. His clothes are little more than rags, and yet he is a pigeon fancier. Bob has his home at the foot of San- some street, not far from the base of Tele- graph Hill, and a most picturesque place it is. In years gone by it was used asa Bob Spear Feeding His Pets. [From a sketch.) saloon, and the sign of the former keeper is still over the door. Thke building is rapidly falling to ruin, but Bob is doing what he can to hold it together, all of | which adds to the general appearance of | dilapidation. There are about eight rooms in the | house, but Bob uses only one for himself; | the rest are given to bis pigeons. And | such a lot of them he has! They are every- where, and of all breeds known to orni- thology. In fact, Bob don’t care much | about the breeds of his birds so long as they are pigeons, and some of them are of the most outlandish mixtures. He has blowers, fantails, homers, tumblers and just common pigeons. All live in the same place and seem to get along together without trouble. Bob devotes his life to his pigeons’ com- fort. Atalmost every hour of the day he can be seen doing something for them. Early in the morning he appears with a | large bag of feed, which he throws to them | in handfuls. The birds are not afraid of bim and will fly all around, often perch- ing on his shoulder. Later in the day Bob will examine the nests and make any repairs that may be needed. As his flock increases he buiids new boxes and fastens them to the outside of the house. He has done this so many times it 1s difficult to see where he is going to nail any more, as the whole outside of his resi- dence is literally covered with pigeon boxes. In addition to his pigeons Bob has several ts and a dog that he thinks are very valuable. He makes great pets of them and guards them as he would a | .| treasure. Peo;ge in the neighborhood do not be- lieve Bob's story of poverty. They say that he sells the pigeons he pretends to love so much and has lots of gold con- cealed in the old house where he makes his home. —————— How She Supported Him. One of the Eastern members of the She is a widow and applied for a pension In the course of her letter she stated that from the time her husband had come home from the war until his death she had “'supported him on the point of her needie.”—Washington Post. ——————— A MYSTERIOUS BENEFAO TOR. Who Has Sent Checks Aggregating 811,000 to Dr. Gaiteras. During the past week, says the Phila- delphia Ledger, Dr. John Guiteras re- ceived a letter dated ‘“Europe, March 19, 1896,” from an unknown Cuban sympa- thizer, who inclosed a check for $4000 in aid of the Cuban cause, and a second check for $1000 to be given to the widow of a Cuban journalist who had acted as secre- tary to the Cuban delegate, Senor Estrada Palma. This makes the third letter which Dr. Guiteras has received from his unknown correspondent, who sings himself Ignacio Agramonte. The first, which came two months ago, inclosed a check for $2000 in aid of the Cuban patriots’ cause. The second, received about a month later, contained a check for $4000. The letters are written mn excellent Spanish, but the handwriting is in an upright style, each letter being distinctly formed, and more in the manner of print- ing than writing, and is undouotedly dis- guised. The letter which came last week was as follows: “Dr. John Guiteras, my distinguished compatriot, I take up the pen once more to thank you for the service rendered in turning over to the proper parties the last $4000 I sent you. 1 again trouble you to- day for ths same object, believing that you will attend to it with pleasure on account of the purpose in view. 1 inclose herewith check for $4000, the receipt of which you will acknowledge in the usual way in the newspaper Patria. I inclose also another check for $1000, that you will do me the kindness to place in the hands of the widow of Manuel de la Cruz asa hnlg to her in her present distress. Again thanking you for your kindnes I am yours truly, ~IGNACIO AGRAMONTE.” According to late statistics there are in the United States 40,000 deaf mutes. — ey smart Broadway, New York, druggist has N | this sign hanging outside his store; it marks the new era of drug selling, Is it any wonder that he has to enlarge his quar- ters, that his clerks are busy, and that his store is one of the most popular along the leading thor- oughfare? ou can afford to trade with a druggist that has House received an amusing letter from one of his. constituents some time ago. such a motto as that.