(a) Richard Sullivan Fay, born in July, 1871.
  (b) Catherine Fay, born in September, 1872.
  (c) Edward Henry Fay, born in 1876.

VIII.  Franklin Pierce Abbott, born May 6, 1842.

IX.  Arthur St. Loe Livermore Abbott, born November 6, 1853; died March 28, 1863.

X. Grafton, born November 14, 1856.

XI.  Holker Welch Abbott, born February 28, 1858.

Editor.]

* * * * *

Esoteric Buddhism.—­A Review.

By Lucius H. Buckingham, Ph.D.

Those who have read Sinnett’s Esoteric Buddhism will probably agree on one point, namely:  that, whether the statements of the book be true or false, the book, as a whole, is a great stimulant of thought.  The European world has looked upon Indian philosophy as mere dreams, idle speculations, built only on a foundation of metaphysical subtleties.  Here comes a book which, going down to the root of the whole matter, claims that, instead of resting on mere imaginations, this whole structure of Buddhistic philosophy has, as its cornerstone, certain facts which have been preserved from the wrecks of a time earlier than that which our grandfathers ascribe to the creation of the world, and handed down without interruption from eras of civilization of which the earth at present does not retain even the ruins.  Such a claim of antiquity rouses an interest in our minds, were it only for its stupendous contempt of common belief.

There is one direction in which the book so harmonizes with one’s speculations that it makes upon us a very peculiar impression.  It carries out the theory of human development, physical and metaphysical.  Darwin’s idea of the origin of the human animal, in connection with the doctrine of the survival of the fittest, might, if one had the time to make it all out, be shown to be the sufficient basis for a belief in, and a logical ground for anticipating, the progress of man toward moral and spiritual perfection.  A healthy man is an optimist.  Pessimism is the product of dyspepsia; and all the intermediate phases of philosophy come from some want of normal brain-action.  Following out the Darwinian theory,—­supported as it seems to be by the facts,—­one must believe that the human race as a whole is improving in bodily development; that the results of what we call civilization are, increase of symmetry in the growth of the human body, diminution of disease, greater perfection in the power of the senses, in short, a gradual progress toward a healthy body.  Now, a healthy body brings with it a healthy mind.  The two cannot be separated.  Whatever brings the one will bring the other; whatever impairs the one will impair the other.  A sound mind must bring, in time, a sound moral nature; and all, together, will tend toward the perfection of humanity in the development of his spiritual affinities.  Such has been, roughly sketched, my belief regarding the progress of man.