[Page 1] FROM the very earliest times of which we have record, it would seem that Priesthoods, in one form or another have existed, and in fact in the far away twilight of history, it is the Priesthoods which do, above all other of their surroundings, stand out, and as it were, take definite shape and form, and so on, step by step, unto the present time. Turn where we will we find a Priesthood connected with the worship of every religion of which we can find record; a Priesthood, sometimes, as in Ancient Egypt, headed by initiated kings, the guardians of the most sacred wisdom, a Priesthood regarded by the people with the utmost veneration, actually and truly the rulers of the State, sometimes, as in the Mohamedan countries of the present day, where the Priesthood merely consists of "inmauns" leaders of public devotion, and "ulemas" religious teachers, without the slightest semblance of authority in the state, and by no means regarded by the people as in any degree sacred by reason of their office. Throughout the history of the world, we look in vain for a popular religion lacking a Priesthood.

Perhaps before proceeding further to discuss this matter of Priesthoods it will be well to see that we attach some definite meaning to the words Priest and Priesthood, as in our ordinary loose manner of using words in every day speech, we are apt to have a somewhat confused idea in our minds as to what we actually do mean by the words we make use of. The word "Priest" is derived from a Greek word which signifies merely an elder or expounder; but with this word Priest we are apt to, and in fact usually do, imply the added meaning of another Greek word (in its Latin equivalent “sacerdos"), which signifies the minister of sacred things, the performers of ritual and acts of sacrifice for and on behalf of the people. Now, in this distinction between the two ideas I think we have a clue which will help us to understand what should, and what should not, be a Priesthood. What was the Priesthood sanctioned by the Great Reformers of the Religions of the World — which word, I think, better than founders — expresses their actual aim. Taking Gautama Buddha and Jesus as the representatives of these reformers, what do we find; we find in the first place that they came in times when the religious life of those amongst whom they [Page 2] were born had become cold and crystallized, when the word Religion had come to mean dogma, ritual, and materialism; in a word, when Priestcraft reigned supreme: Priestcraft in the sense of sacerdotalism, a Priestcraft drugged with the opium fumes of idolatry, a Priestcraft relying on the letter, and caring nothing at all for the spirit. And what was the work of these Reformers ? Surely, above all else, it was the destruction of this idolatry, the uprooting of this materialistic poison plant, the casting down of this sacerdotalism of the Priesthood — the idea embodied in which is, that one man has a right to stand between the Deity and the individual spirit, indwelling in each man, to perform sacrificial and other acts, which that other man is incapable of performing for himself.

In place of all this sacerdotalism and idolatry these great world Reformers taught that there is one Supreme God, that each man must be a "Sacerdos" to himself, must in fact perform his own sacrifices, and that however poor, outcast, or ignorant, as the world counts ignorance, he has the power, by his own exertions, to become one with that Supreme Being in his nature, to be in harmony with God, or, in other words, "to enter the Kingdom of Heaven". That the strength to accomplish this lies within and not without the man, and that each individual stands in direct relation to the Supreme, and hence there remains no longer any place, either in the world or out of it, for the "Sacerdos" or "go-between". Besides this great central truth, the "corner stone" of the whole fabric, these teachers revealed to a chosen few, chosen we may surmise because the teacher saw in their minds a possibility of response to his, and a power to assimilate some portion at least, of the higher and more metaphysical truths, to which the ears of the people would be deaf and their minds dull. Why were these disciples selected and instructed by the teachers ? Surely it was, that they in their turn might go forth, as, indeed, it is recorded that both Gautama Buddha and Jesus distinctly commanded them to do, and when they found others who could also understand to instruct them, and so pass on from one to another some of the esoteric side of the teachings, and thus ensure that the light of the Divine illumination should at all times be accessible to the followers of the Teacher. This was all the command laid upon them, to teach and exhort, nothing more. No word at all do we find of ritual, no mention of Sacerdotalism under any shape or form, not even any suggestion for the followers to worship and pay Divine or other honours to the Reformers themselves. They were simply to endeavour to convince others of that which they held to be Truth. They were in fact ordained as "presbyters", and thus one element of a Priesthood, in what I conceive to be, its true signification was founded. [Page 3]

Such a presbytery as this seems to be eminently right and fit, in fact, if the teachings were to be preserved at all either exoterically or esoterically, absolutely necessary in earlier days, and most serviceable even in these later ones.

The analogy of the oft recurred to "Sevenfold Constitution of Man" will, I think, help us to understand the nature of the various elements comprised in the whole body of the Priesthood. Taking the four lower principles, the "lower quarternary", as representing ordinary humanity, meaning by "ordinary" those not in any way connected with any of the several orders of the Priesthood to which I am about to refer; to this "ordinary" humanity I consider that the Priesthood is related, as are the three Higher Principles to the lower quarternary in man's sevenfold constitution. Let us work it out, and see how this analogy can be made good, To begin at the highest principle: To Atma, I think we [Page 4] may not irreverently liken the Divine Initiates, in the highest sense of the term; the Planetary Spirits, those mysterious and wonderful Beings who preside over the whole evolution of this world of ours, who are the source from whence all Divine Wisdom flows towards us; of whose nature and offices, so far transcending all that our minds can form any conception of, we can know next to nothing, and about which it is idle for us to speculate. These are the true High Priests.

Next in order come that glorious brotherhood of Initiates, who have from all times tended and guarded the sacred flame of divine wisdom, thus preventing its entire extinction even to these latest days — a glorious Brotherhood indeed ! Great religious Reformers, Prophets, Seers, all are included in this goodly confraternity. This great division of the Priesthood may be compared to the Buddhic principle in Man, for they indeed act as the "bridge'' uniting us to the "Unseen".

Finally we come to the Manasic Principle with its twofold aspect. As to the Higher Manas, to it I would liken all the order of the Presbyters, of whom I have already made mention, who, without being of necessity Initiates, are nevertheless devoting their lives to the study of the "Wisdom of God" and who have, so to speak, at least entered the path. These come into closer contact with humanity at large, and act as expounders and moral and ethical teachers. Lastly, as to the Lower Manasic Principle: related to it is all the higher intellectual and scientific side of mankind. The Presbytery and the intellectual leaders ever striving with the Lower Quarternary, and thereby ever little by little raising them upward and onward.

Taking then this definition of the whole body of the Priesthood, the question arises, "How do we find this ideal of a Priesthood actually working at the present time ? With regard to the Highest Element of the Priesthood, the Atmic element, and the next in order, which I have likened to the Buddhic element, we do not expect to find the representatives of these two great divisions of the Priesthood clothed in human form, working in our midst today. Of some of the highest of these, it may be said that, like glorious comets, they are revealed to mortal eyes, only at long intervals; like comets they are made visible to mankind, coming out from the darkness and again being received into its mysterious depths, but unlike comets, which leave behind them no sign in the heavens showing the path traversed by them, these, greatest of mankind leave behind for those that have eyes to see, that path shining with a clear and steady radiance, ever serving as a beacon light to guide humanity towards the goal of truth and wisdom. Amongst their number are those Initiates who "serve within [Page 5] the Temple veil". We at least, who are members of the Theosophical Society, have reason to know that these Great Souls still work for and help the race, still preserve the sacred wisdom for the benefit of mankind, and poor humanity may still turn to them, and never turn in vain, for help and guidance in treading the upward path. They are ever ready to assist others to reach the heights where they now stand, — these elder brothers of our race. Creeds rise and fall, dogma and ritual have their day, but all this strife and stress, which to us, situated as we are in the midst of it, seems so vital and at times all important, seen from their lofty vantage ground is reduced to its real and diminutive proportions, leaving their calm souls absolutely unruffled by its petty storms and their foothold unshaken and unmoved. It is around the third and lowest great division of the Priesthood that these storms arise; that division or order of the Priesthood which I have likened to the Manasic element in man's constitution. It is this order of the Priesthood, which, in looking round about us in this 19th century, we may legitimately expect to find working steadfastly and patiently among us; ever carrying abroad amongst the masses of mankind, in this the darkest hour of their trial, lamps, lighted by them at the sacred flame burning within the veil of the temple, to serve as beacons for their guidance, endeavouring from their lamps to kindle in each man some flame, however flickering — above all leading lives of perfect self-denial and self-sacrifice; and by their unselfishness and gentleness of life helping to wean mankind from its animal and brutal instincts, scattering broadcast the seed of truth so that all at least may hear.

This then is the Presbytery and this their office, and linked with this Presbytery we should hope to find the leaders of scientific and intellectual thought working together for the betterment of the general condition of the race. Both drawing their inspiration from the same source, and both in their several lines pressing forward towards the same goal; standing related to humanity at large, as Manas in its two-fold aspect is to the four lower principles in man's constitution. Such a Priesthood, I say we may legitimately expect to find, but alas, it is far otherwise. What do we find here in the West ? In the first place we find the two great sub-divisions of the third order of the Priesthood, the religious and philosophical branch and the scientific and intellectual branch at deadly feud and enmity, and again each of these branches severally split up into numberless groups all ready to fly at each other's throats, the mass of humanity seeing such a condition of affairs, following the example of their leaders. We find the clergy at large in a great measure given up to questions of dogma and ritual as to things of the utmost and most vital importance. This is true not only of the clergy of the West, it is also to the [Page 6] same extent true of the Priesthoods of the East. The real living fundamental truths of their religions, even in their most exoteric sense seem well nigh lost, stifled, or only just gasping for breath, asphyxia by the sulphurous clouds of dogma. We find a so-called Priesthood striving for worldly power and authority, and assuming titles of worldly pomp. The higher in rank the Priest the more richly endowed with wealth, exacting obedience, nay even sometimes cursing those who differ, from them, and in days not long past, disposing of their opponents by the argument of the "faggot and the stake". One and all bribing humanity at large by rewards promised, and punishment threatened, accentuating thereby the innate selfishness of men, which, in all conscience little needs to be so carefully fostered, selfishness being, alas, a weed which thrives under even the most unpropitious conditions of soil and climate. All this the exact opposite of what the Teacher, whose followers they profess to be and by whose name they call themselves, ordained. As a part of the true Priesthood they exist no longer, that division of the Priesthood, as regards them, is dead and buried, nothing but dry bones remain. Though the so-called Priesthood no longer as a body is connected with the true Priesthood, yet many of the individuals who are comprised within its ranks still do much true work on the lower plane for poor humanity — let us rejoice thereat — oftimes with much self sacrifice and great unselfishness of purpose. I suppose we have all of us known some such; but wisdom is lacking, and so the work is at best not fully productive.

Contrasting the representatives of this Third Division of the Priesthood in India and in England, what do we find ?

In India we find the Priesthood, taken as a whole, simply a mere shell of its former self, its mind occupied with innumerable and interminable rituals, without any real influence with the people except by means of superstition, unable to help them forward a hand's breadth on the road towards the goal of Truth. Taking the letter for the spirit, the outer for the inner, the spirit has indeed left them, and of the former true body of the Priesthood, nothing but the Kama Rupa remains. And now, turning to so-called Christian lands, what do we see there ? We see a Priesthood, not altogether of the same nature as the former, endowed with greater physical vitality perhaps, but bearing no greater resemblance to its original self, than is the case amongst the Hindoos and Brahmins.

In the East the Priesthood has died of starvation, in the West it has died also, but from another cause, namely, over-feeding. Of starvation in the East, brought about by indolence and ignorance; of gluttony in the West, from gorging itself on the "good things” of the world. In this is well shown the difference between the races, each has lost the true [Page 7] light from the same radical evil, selfishness, which has sapped life-blood of each Priesthood; the disease has been common to both, but the symptoms have varied according to the different temperaments of the races.

That is why in the East today we find the Priesthood, for the most part poor, simple of life, and above all, indolent; and in the West we find them, comparatively speaking, rich, arrogant, and of great physical vitality.

With regard to this question of decay in Priesthoods as connected with any form of religion, of' which we have record, the fact that a decay seems to set in almost from the birth of any particular Priesthood is very marked, a gradual falling away from the original type. Type has succeeded type, and decay and dissolution have set their seal on all. What has been in the past, we must needs argue will, by analogy, be true of types to come, and were we unable to trace some general law working steadily and undeviatingly towards some final higher state of evolution, we might well be excused if, folding our hands, we resigned ourselves to apathy and despair, unable to see the possibility of any appreciable and permanent advance being made by the race at large through the agency of any species of Priesthood. In endeavouring to pierce the gloom which shrouds the future from our anxious gaze, all we should discern would be an endless succession of types, being born, living for a space, decaying and dying, leading humanity no-whither. Bach in turn leaving the race as helpless and hopeless as it found it.

But, thanks to the teachings of the Esoteric philosophy, we have just sufficient outline given to us as will serve to give us heart and forbid us to despair. By this philosophy we are taught that we of the fifth sub-race of the fifth root-race of mankind on this planet, have as humanity already passed the very lowest point in the arc of the whole life-cycle, and that humanity has, even now, began to start forward once again on its upward path, and so, while we must still realise that all permanent growth and evolution will of necessity be slow and gradual, yet when we feel assured that the course to be traversed, in its general tendency, lies upward, and not downward, we can look forward to future types and systems with the full hope that, as type succeeds type, the decay will be more gradual, the dissolution less complete.

With regard to this question of decay in the Priesthoods, it will, I think, be instructive to quote a passage from Samuel Johnson's " Oriental Religions" in which he refers to the manner in which he conceives the Brahminical or Priestly Caste in India arose. He, says: —