It seems strange that the doctors who know these things, will say that it is more difficult to explain why man dies than it is to show that he should live forever.
One eminent author states:
“Wild boars and other mammals exceed the age of 200 years because they instinctively follow a natural diet. It is only man who eats everything indiscriminately. He arranges his meals by the clock (due to the artificial life he lives), and so his hunger is only a matter of habit and not natural hunger”—Cosmotherapy, P. 280.
“Compared with what we ought to be, we are only half awake. We are making use of only a small part of our mental and physical resources. Stating the thing broadly, the human individual thus lives usually far within his limits; he possesses powers of various sorts which he habitually fails to use.”—William James.
“When any object or purpose is clearly held in thought, its precipitation, in tangible and visible form, is merely a question of time. The vision always precedes and itself determines the realization.”—Lillian Whiting.
ANCIENT WISDOM
The fourth or highest plane in which man can function is called the mental world. This mental world is the mind body of the solar God. The (Ancient) Mystery Schools, by means of four initiations, teach man how to function consciously in the four worlds of Nature. In the fourth initiation, they teach him how to use the little area of consciousness, which he calls his mind, as a vehicle by which he can function consciously within the mental body of the Grand Man. In other words, he is taught how to wander around in the mind of God. This may seem a very peculiar idea, and yet, the system of accomplishing this has been taught by the Egyptians, Chinese, Hindus, Chaldeans, and early Christians for thousands of years.—Manly Hall, Super Faculties and their Culture, p. 28.
LESSON NO. 18—LONGEVITY
“There is a vast difference between the longevity of man and that of animals. If the length of a stag’s life were one year, a man should live for thousands of years. All these animals live for centuries, so, according to cosmic law, man should live for some thousands of years....If we fast two days a week, then eat only fruit and obey the other laws of life, we can approximate to the longevity of the biblical Patriarchs.”—Professor Edmond Szekely in his Comsotherapy.
In the preceding lesson we stated that it is possible for man to live 200 years along with those certain Arabs mentioned, while eating the damaging diet of civilization, provided the amount of food consumed be kept down to a minimum so the body has time to handle it; and provided further that man live in the same favorable environment and in the same manner in all other respects as these Arabs.
In our years of writing on these subjects, we have collected a large number of cases from many sources of people who have lived from a century to 370 years. Many of these not only consumed the damaging diet of civilization, but some of them breathed the same polluted air of civilization. That makes their advanced ages the more amazing when we learn how seriously polluted air damages the body.
Mehlis cites the case of a woman of 96 who was unable to eat for eight months except a little water because of the persistence of her illness. Her teeth grew again, her hair became darker and thicker, and she looked young again. She lived in good health for another 23 years.
We saw in Lesson 11 that the Hindu lady of 68, who had eaten nothing since she was 12, was “always gay and looks like a child despite her age.”
In the press of 1931 Robert Ripley stated in his “Believe It or Not” that J. D. Cameron, of Augusta, Maine, could shoulder a barrel of potatoes when he was 100 years old.
In his “Believe It or Not” published in 1933, Ripley stated that Harriet Breedlove of Tennessee cut a new set of teeth at the age of 102; that Thomas Gordon of Michigan had his hair turn its natural color at the age of 103; and that Daphne Travis of Georgia cut a third set of teeth at the age of 108.
The press of June 7th 1949, reported the death of John H. Gates at the age of 104. He was one of the three remaining Union Army veterans in Ohio.
The press of May 18th 1949, reported the death of Robert M. Rownd, age 104. He was Junior Vice Commander of the GAR of New York State.
The press of May 27th, 1949, carried a picture of Joseph Manning, who was celebrating his 104th birthday by dancing with a young woman.
Margaret Krasiowna, of Poland, died in 1763 at the age of 108. She married her third husband at the age of 94 and bore him two boys and a girl. The third husband died at the age of 119.
The press of February 6th 1919, reported that in September 1875, a couple named Ballat climbed to the top of the Column Vendome, the husband being 110 and the wife 106.
The press of September 6th 1947, stated that Jesus Andasole, of San Jose, California, 110 years old, believed he was starting life over again. His hair, grey for years, was turning black again, and he was cutting his third set of teeth.
James A. Hard was born in Victor, New York, in 1841, enlisted in the 37th New York Voluntary Infantry at the age of 19, fought in the battles of Bull Run, Yorktown, West Point, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, South Mountain and Antietam, was discharged from the army June 29, 1863, and the press of August 26th, 1951, reported that “when he passed his 110th birthday a few weeks ago, he was smoking his cigar, eating all his meals, feeling quite chipper and ready to comment on local, national and world affairs.”
The press of August 19th, 1951, reported that Leonard Finch, of Panama City, Florida, “A spry oldster of 111 years,” didn’t get his first airplane ride today “because his son objected, believing the excitement might be too much for his father, who declared that he expects to live a long time yet.”
The press of July 10th, 1951, carried a picture of Henry L. Hall, negro, who had just passed the age of 112. He admitted that he was a bit slower on his feet than when he was 100.
The press of March 13th, 1937, reported the death of John Weeks, of New London, Connecticut, at the age of 114. When he was 106 his hair turned its natural color, new teeth appeared, and he married a girl of 16. His diet consisted mostly of baked beans and corn bread. Had he remained single or married a woman of 70 or 80, he might have lived longer.
The press of June 20th, 1938, reported the case of Sally Dollar, Cherokee Indian who had lived for 116 years on top of Lookout Mountain without ever coming down.
Lizzie Deevers of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, was reported in the press of June 10th 1945, as being 114 years old, had been married nine times, and was on “a manhunt for Mr. No. 10.”
The press of January 26th, 1944, stated that Kate Williams, of Ocala, Florida died at the age of 117, and added, “Until about seven years ago she often walked from her country home to town, a distance of 19 miles.”
Hufeland mentions an old man who lost all his teeth when he was 117, and then grew a new set. He mentions the case of a man who fasted for several months at the age of 60, grew his teeth again, recovered his youthfulness, and lived for another twenty years.
The press of April 1st, 1945, reported the death of Mrs. Ramirez Trujillo of Riverside, California, at the age of 118.
The press of February 19th 1945, reported that “Indian Ned Rasper” was 119 years old. He was born in Siskiyou County, California in 1826.
The press of March 9th, 1927, reported that Charles W. Ellis, of Ada, Oklahoma, had just celebrated his 119th birthday. His mind was alert and memory good. He said he owed his long life to frugal eating, drinking water only, and living in the open air.
The press of July 14th, 1922, reported that Elsie Guest, a negress of Muskogee, Oklahoma, had just celebrated her 120th birthday. She was well and vigorous and remembered the battle of New Orleans in 1812.
John White, of San Springs, Oklahoma, was born April 10th, 1816, in Georgia, spent 38 years in slavery, and in good health he celebrated his 121st birthday April 10th, 1936.
The press of March 5th, 1932, stated that Mrs. Bell Ryans the day before celebrated her 121st birthday. She was born March 4th, 1811.
Census records show that James W. Wi
lson, of Vidalia, Georgia, was born May 15th, 1825. His death at the age of 120 reported in the press of December 25th, 1945.
In his book in 1915 titled “Long Life In California,” Dr. Thrasher referred to the Case of Captain Diamond as follows:
“Captain Diamond, who published a book sixteen years ago, entitled ‘How To Live to be 100,’ lives at Crocker Old People’s Home in this city (San Francisco). The author has personally known him for 23 years. He was then 96 and today he looks no older.”
Captain Diamond died when he was 120. His father lived to be 104.
Senora Leandra Chairez, of Santa Ana, California, was 121 on September 26th, 1934. She had records showing she was born in 1813.
On August 27th, 1931, Mrs. David Valvero, of Sacramento, California, died at the age of 123. She married the last time when she was 120.
The press of July 20th, 1946, stated that Jasper C. Darrett, a negro living near Houston, Texas, died the day before at the age of 121.
Antonne and Jacques Desbordes, brothers, were book dealers in Holland, and publishers of Voltaire’s works. One died at 124 and the other at 125.
The press of June 13th, 1922, reported that Peter Nedall, of Bulgaria, had just celebrated his 124th birthday. He still worked in the field and walked erect. Beans, porridge and sour milk constituted his diet. He never used tobacco, drank some milk occasionally, and never visited a dentist.
The press of March 4th, 1923, reported the death of William Kennedy at the age of 126. He was born in Ireland and migrated to Canada when he was 105.
The press of January 25th, 1923, reported the death of Eveline Booth, a negress of Atlanta, Georgia, at the age of 126. H. H. Glenn, register of births and deaths, reported the date of her birth as March 13th, 1797.
Kiziah Hotato was an Indian girl of 15 and rode a poney over the historical “trail of Tears” in 1823, when the U. S. Government moved the Creek, Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole Indians from their developed homes in Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi to the wild region termed the Indian Nation, which became the State of Oklahoma in 1908. She died December 21st, 1934, at the age of 126.
Mrs. Martina De La Rosa, of Delki, California, celebrated her 129th birthday November 12th, 1934.
The press of April 13th, 1949, stated that “when the civil war ended Jose Garcia, of Victoria, Texas, was 45. He had taken an active part in Mexico’s war with Texas in 1835. When World War I ended in 1918 he was 98, but still full of pep. Ten years ago he received wide publicity when he registered under the alien registration act, giving his age as 119. But he will witness no more wars, as he died yesterday at the age of 129.”
Pierre Defoumel, of Marjac Vivirias, died in 1809 at the age of 129. He married his third wife when he was 120 and she was 19.
In 1913 Anton Turitsch, of Heregovia, was living at the age of 131. He walked to church every Sunday, eight miles each way, and remembered the important events of the world’s history for 125 years.
The press of August 20th, 1946, stated that James E. Monroe, of Jacksonville, Florida, a son of the 5th president of the U. S. A., was born July 4th, 1815, on the outskirts of Richmond, Virginia and was 131 years old. He said that his advanced age was due to the fact that he had formed the habit of sleeping 15 hours at a stretch on the ocean beach. He was not afraid of that bad, damp, night air which the doctors urge people to avoid.
The press of June 30th, 1922, reported the case of Jan Krasanski, a Pole, the only survivor of Napoleon’s armies. He fought in the battle of Borodino at the age of 22, which made him 132 in June 1922. The report stated that he looked like a sturdy octogenarian.
In 1943 Sayed Mahrem of Chicago celebrated his 132nd birthday. He was born in Egypt in 1811.
The press of March 18th, 1943, stated that Santiago Surviate, an Indian, died March 16th, 1943 at the age of 134. The records showed he was born in Arizona in 1808.
Ripley stated in his “Believe it or Not” in the press of February 6th, 1937, that Joseph Crele, born in 1726 near Detroit, was accidentally killed in 1866 at the age of 140. His hair turned black and he grew new teeth.
Calcas, of Peru, died in 1761 at the age of 140. Hilario Pari, also of Peru, was 143 years old when seen by Humboldt. Up to his 130th year he walked 10 to 12 miles each day for exercise.
In 1927 Domingo Jacinto, Chief of a tribe of Digger Indians in California, was living at the age of 144.
The press of February 25th, 1927, stated that in carrying out the 1927 census in Russia, census officials found nearly 150 persons who were more than 100 years old. The oldest was Ivan Shapkovsky, whose birth certificate showed he was born in 1728, making him 145. Among the oldest women was Martiana Maliarevtch, who had passed her 131st birthday. She walked 20 miles in the snow to the census office to be sure she was registered.
Drakenberg, a Dane, buried in the cathedral at Aarhus, Denmark, lived 146 years, and was more often drunk than sober. At the age of 111 he married a woman of 60. Drunkards may reach a ripe old age, but gluttons never.
Ripley stated in his “Believe it or Not” that John Haynes, a private under General Washington died at the age of 132; and that Kebenah Giveywence, a Minnesota Indian, died at the age of 151.
Ripley, in his “Believe it or Not,” in the press of January 9th, 1932, reported the case of Martina Gomes, as “The most ancient woman of the Western Hemisphere,” having then just died at the age of 153.
Dr. Marion Thrasher, in his book “Long Life in California,” stated that the Indians of southern California and Mexico, who subsisted on a simple diet of fruits, corn, acorns and vegetables, lived 120 to 150 years. He cited the case of “Old Gabriel,” who died of pneumonia in 1890 at the age of 150.
Gabriel had lived on fruits, nuts and com. He could thread a needle without glasses two years before his death. His hair held much of its natural color to the last. An autopsy showed his organs were in good shape. Had polluted air not killed him, he might have lived another century.
Neils Paulsen, of Uppsala, Sweden, died in 1907 at the age of 160, leaving two sons, one 103 and the other 9 years old.
Zora Agha was born in Turkey in 1774, and died in 1936 at the age of 162. He married 11 times and at the age of 96 became the father of his 36th child. He buried ten wives and 27 children.
In the press of 1931 Ripley stated in his “Believe it or Not” that Christian Mentzelius grew a complete set of new teeth when he was 120. The case became famous in dental circles, and is known as the Menel case. It was attested to by Dr. Schengren, who was well acquainted with the circumstances.
In 1922 Djouro Chemdine, of Turkey, was trying for work in a dime museum, his qualifications being that he was 164 years old.
The press of March 21st, 1942, stated that a “grey-haired colored man, docketed on a minor charge, calmly told the desk sergeant at Memphis that his age was 169. He said, “I was born in slavery and was over 90 when Lincoln was killed. He was born in 1773 and was three years older than the United States Declaration of Independence.
Henry Jenkins appeared in court as a witness in a matter that occurred 140 years before. Two sons were with him one 100 and the other 102. He was born May 17th, 1500, in Yorkshire, and died in 1670 at the age of 170. He never ate cooked food and never ate in the morning. He lunched at noon on milk or butter and fruit. In the evening he had only milk and fruit.
Janos Roven and his wife, Sarah, were married 147 years. They died in 1925, almost on the same day. He was 172 and she 164 They left a son 116. They subsisted on a frugal diet and ate practically no flesh.
According to Voltaire and Francis Bacon, there appeared in Court in the reign of Henry IV and Louis XIII a knight with every appearance of physical and mental perfection, who looked like a man of 40. His name was the Count of St. Germain, and he remembered all the events of history covering a period of 150 years before Of him Bacon wrote, “Whenever he was invited out to suppers and dinners, he touched nothing but fruits and only a very little of them and he sometimes fasted completely for several w
eeks.”
Joseph Surrington died near Bergen in 1797 at the age of 160 His eldest son was 103 and his youngest only 9.
The press of February 27th, 1938, reported the case of Yogi Tapsi Bishan Das Udasi, who was then 172 and appeared to be not over 40
Louise Truxo, a negress, died in 1780 at the age of 175.
The Countess Desmond Catherine lived to the age of 145. She ate practically nothing but fruit.
In 1878 Miguel Solis, half-blood Indian, of Bogota, San Salvador, was found by Dr. Louis Hernandez working in his garden. Solis said he was 180, but his neighbors said he was much older. Hernandez was assured that when one of “the oldest inhabitants” was a child, Solis was recognized as a centenarian. He ate once a day, in the afternoon, and his food consisted of fruit and milk. He fasted the first and 15th of every month and was never ill.
The press of July 24th, 1921, stated that Jose Calvario died at Tuxpan, Mexico, at the age of 185. Church records showed he was born in 1727. He was active up to the time of his death.
On his mission in Arabia, Dr. Weber noticed an old woman who ate but once a day and then consumed only a few dates. She was a strong woman and Weber thought she was about 40. He was extremely surprised to learn that she was 198, “despite her miserable diet.” She told him that when she was 156 her teeth were renewed for the third time, and that all her symptoms of regeneration always appeared after a prolonged fast.
Kentigem founded the Cathedral in Glasgow and died at the age of 185. Pierre Zortay of Hungary died at the same age.
Don Juan Saveris de Lima died in 1730 at the age of 198. A Russian soldier died in 1825 at the age of 202.
According to the records of St. Leonhard’s Church, London, Thomas Carn was born January 25th, 1588, and died in 1795 at the age of 207. Like Jenkins, he ate sparingly, and never ate cooked food. His diet consisted of milk, butter and fruit. The appearance of Carn when he was 150 was that of a vigorous man of 50 or 60. He survived 12 kings of England.
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