Theos-Talk Archives (December 1997 Message tt00044)

Born in South Africa. In early youth he travelled to Nepal, and after his
return was admitted to the Scottish bar, and later the English bar. His
father was the Chief -justice of Ceylon.
His first work A journey into Katmandu (1852). He also travelled in Russia.
He next became private secretary to the Governor -general of Canada, whom
he later accompanied on his special embassy to China.
In 1861, while acting as Charge d Affaires in Japan, he was severely
wounded by assassins, and consequently resigned his post. From 1865 to 1867
he sat in the English parliament.
Sometime in the 1860s this son of rich and titled parents bumped into
T.L.Harris. Oliphant nicely dressed looking every part the dandy was
confronted by Harris, who boasted "I could make a man of you!"
In 1867 he sacrificed his position, his prospects, politics, and every
personal possession to join the Harris community.
This Harris organisation was called "The Use", because you were required to
do anything it might have a use for.
He was put to work Gurdjieff style, doing Augean tasks, digging ditches,
dawn till dusk. He was made to peddle food on trains that stopped at the
local station.
Now Harris was in possession of some secret breathing exercises, which he
had promised to teach Laurence. Understandably, LO got quite sick of all
this humiliating hard work and pleaded with Harris to teach him. Harris
refused, and told him more hard work was required.
After a couple of years Harris relented and taught Oliphant the mysteries
of the breath, which had a profound effect on him. Oliphant asked why it
was that he had not been taught earlier, before all the manual labour.
Harris replied " They would have been of no use to you."
Now a prophet in his own right he finally settled at Haifa in Palestine.
Oliphant was personally acquainted with H.P.B. and Olcott.
He wrote two remarkable books Sympneumata and Scientific Religion, which
describe his revelations.
He was married to the granddaughter of Robert Owen (the social reformer and
spiritualist).
C.G. Harisson cites him as source, particularly in relation to H.P.B.'s
occult imprisonment.
T.L.Harris may have been a member of the H. B. of L. and consequently also
knew something about what was afoot.
Bruce