Theos-Talk Archives (January 1998 Message tt00034)

ramadoss@eden.com wrote:
>
> John:
>
> Your msg made my day. It is very rare that someone growing up in the
> conditions that existed in 1950s in Chattanooga to have been touched by
> TS and joining it. You like many others should be congratulated in what
> you all did. Many like you can see the foresight of the Founders to have
> started a movement such as TS with an idea which is totally not commonly
> accepted around the world. Discrimination and thus lack of right human
> relationships were rampant all over the world and may be there is a very
> slight improvement in the cosmetics today. We have to go a long way.
>
> Go back to the early days - late 1870s and the Founders have again and
> again told many of the members of that day that "The Chief wants a
> Universal Brotherhood of Humanity" and TS was *not* a school of
> philosophy or a school for Chelas. I believe I posted a msg on this some
> time ago. This msg which is over 100 years old is good even today, even
> though it is likely many may have forgotten.
>
> >From what I have seen so far, even in the TS in the USA today, the
> membership of colored people of all shades - black, brown, yellow,
> green, red etc. etc. is very miniscule and very little attention is
> being placed on the need to reach this segment of the population. In the
> last decade, I have only seen one elected official of TSA ever
> mentioning this issue during his statement at the time of election and
> have not seen much about it afterwards.
>
> Many of us are in our own way do spread the message of practical
> theosophy -- dealing with other human beings in a most open and loving
> manner and that is what counts. The formalities we exhibit may vary from
> time to time and place to place.
>
> mkr

Thank you, Ramadoss, for your supporting remarks.  I think I came into
this incarnation already Theosophist.  I always searched for deeper
books than the novels of the day as I grew up.  I had just turned 17
when I graduated from HS.  I was in college when I turned 18 and was
immediately drafted.  It was in the library of Schoffield Barracks, HI,
I discovered a book that explained an idea i had thought was my own.
There, published was my thoughts.  Looking at copyright date, it was the
same as my birth year.  The emblem on the frontpiece was the TS logo.  A
few days later, I saw a lodge notice (with the logo) in the local
newspaper.  "visitors welcome"  My CO gave me a pass that I could go
into Honolulu to attend the meeting.  The love and warmth of that group
was overwhelming and I knew I had come home.  When I arrived in
Chattanooga after discharge, I checked out Secret Doctrine and ISIS
Unveiled.  After a few years, I wrote to Hqs. asking if there was a
Lodge in Chattanooga, if not why not.  My response from Hqs was that
Mrs. Nedra Ruder was in our town making arrangements for a series of
lectures in hopes of forming a local Branch.  The day I sent my letter
to Hqs was the day Nedra was making the arrangements.  Proof I was on
the "path" for me.  We formed a Branch from that lecture tour.

We are few in number, but a devoted bunch.

Again, Thanks for your support.

In Love, Light, and Peace

John