ons may be partially answered.
The negative character of the replies draws a sufficiently strong line
of demarcation between the views of the Adepts and those of Western
science to afford some useful hints at least.

Question 1.--Do the Adepts deny the Nebular Theory?

Answer:--No; they do not deny its general propositions, nor the
approximative truths of the scientific hypotheses. They only deny the
completeness of the present, as well as the entire error of the many
so-called "exploded" old theories, which, during the last century, have
followed each other in such rapid succession. For instance: while
denying, with Laplace, Herschel and others, that the variable patches of
light perceived on the nebulous background of the galaxy ever belonged
to remote worlds in the process of formation; and agreeing with modern
science that they proceed from no aggregation of formless matter, but
belong simply to clusters of "stars" already formed; they yet add that
many of such clusters, that pass in the opinion of the astro-physicists
for stars and worlds already evoluted, are in fact but collections of
the various materials made ready for future worlds. Like bricks already
baked, of various qualities, shapes and colour, that are no longer
formless clay but have become fit units of a future wall, each of them
having a fixed and distinctly assigned space to occupy in some
forthcoming building, are these seemingly adult worlds. The astronomer
has no means of recognizing their relative adolescence, except perhaps
by making a distinction between the star clusters with the usual orbital
motion and mutual gravitation, and those termed, we believe, irregular
star-clusters of very capricious and changeful appearances. Thrown
together as though at random, and seemingly in utter violation of the
law of symmetry, they defy observation: such, for instance, are 5 M.
Lyrae, 5 2 M. Cephei, Dumb-Bell, and some others. Before an emphatic
contradiction of what precedes is attempted, and ridicule offered
perchance, it would not be amiss to ascertain the nature and character
of those other so-called "temporary" stars, whose periodicity, though
never actually proven, is yet allowed to pass unquestioned. What are
these stars which, appearing suddenly in matchless magnificence and
splendour, disappear as mysteriously as unexpectedly, without leaving a
single trace behind? Whence do they appear? Whither are they engulfed?
In the great cosmic