Theos-Talk Archives (July 1997 Message tt00050)

Bart:

> Eldon has explained to me that Point Loma Publications is NOT the
> same as the Point Loma Theosophical group

This needs to be clarified a bit.  In 1942 the Point Loma
property was sold and the head of the T.S., de Purucker, died.
The society first moved its headquarters to Covina, California,
then to Pasadena, where it currently resides.

Between 1942 and 1951 there was a major split, with a majority of
the members quitting.  These members formed independent groups
and study classes, but never organized another society of their
own.  They are referred to by "Point Loma" since they were in
accord with the society through its Point Loma days.  The current
society is referred to as the T.S.  Pasadena because that is
where its headquarters is, much like the other T.S.  is referred
to as the T.S.  Adyar, having headquarters at Adyar, India.

Some of ex-members founded Point Loma Publications.  This is a
publisher of theosophical books and an networking activity, but
not a membership organization.  They would, I think, like to be
thought of as the people that carry on the Point Loma Tradition
(e.g.  being the Point Loma Theosophical Group), as
distinguished from the Pasadena T.S.

The main distinction between the two groups is organizational.
The T.S.  Pasadena is akin to a theocratic organization, with a
President said to be the current successor of Blavatsky in a
lineage of representatives of the Masters.  The President
appoints a Cabinet and may rule the T.S.  by decree, if she so
chooses.  The followers of the Point Loma Tradition are the
opposite, in not belonging to any organization and being
completely autonomous.

As the years go by, there are fewer students around wounded by
the traumatic split in the T.S.  Going into the next century, I
expect to see greater cooperation among theosophical groups
across all party lines.