Theos-Talk Archives (February 1998 Message tt00099)

Dear  John:

Thanks for the additional comments.  In regard to the decline in membership
due to "despotic proposals," I found that back in 1919 - 1921 in the
American Section T S a similar attempt was made and resisted.  Mr. B.P.Wadia
of the T S Council, India was here.  He was deeply concerned with the effort
to abridge the democratic nature of the administration of the T S.  He
actively spearheaded resistance to that proposal.

He had become a member of the American Section TS and so had the right to
respond on behalf of free speech.  The President of the American Section
complained to A. Besant in Adyar of this "interference."  Her response was
that Mr. Wadia probably had good reason for his actions and had her
confidence.

As to why Mr. Wadia was in America.  He had been asked by a Committee of the
British Parliament to come to London and give testimony at hearings
concerning the Labor conditions in India (he was President of the Madras
Labor Union - the first labor union organized in India).  At the time of
this work he had been a member of the T S in India since his teems and had
worked closely with Col. Olcott the President Founder and Mrs.. Besant who
succeeded him and had done work for Theosophy under both of them of a very
responsible nature.  He was basically a student of HPB's SECRET DOCTRINE,
and based his talks and actions on what she taught there.  He was, working
with Mrs. Annie Besant in various capacities, and was the Manager of the TPH
in Adyar and sub-editor of Young India, also a member of the T S Council.

In any case when he came to Los Angeles and stayed at Krotona ( then in
Hollywood ) he discovered the United Lodge of Theosophists by seeing an ad.
placed for one of their lectures in the L.A.Times.  He attended and found
that those at the "ULT" were studying straight HPB Theosophy out of the
"Secret Doctrine."  And, also, he came in contact with the writings of
W.Q.Judge.  He soon realized that the membership of the T S had been kept
away from familiarity with Judge's writings owing to the rift of 1895 -- a
whole chapter in
T S history.  But -- that is another story -- as Kipling would say.

To cut a long story short he returned to India and spoke a number of times
with A B, and tried to persuade her to make public that which she said in
private to him (and others) namely, that W.Q.Judge had been misjudged and
wronged.  He was not able to get her to change her public posture in regard
to that matter, so after a couple of years he resigned and became a simple
associate of the ULT -- and that is, thereafter, becomes the subject of
several more chapters in T S history.  I spent most of my youth in the same
house where he lived and am quite familiar with the early history of the
Movement and the TS and ULT.

When I wrote of a "natural cyclic action" what I meant was a phenomenon that
is noticeable world-wide.  If and when brotherhood is not practiced how can
support "behind the scenes" be continued ?  I was thinking of this wider
cycle rather than that which is visible here.

The hope for the future is that HPB's writings are published and many "out
there" are independently studying and acquiring ideas from them.  To realize
the actual power of Theosophical wisdom and knowledge one need only watch
the impact of theosophical ideas on our world in matters of benevolence and
care for the infirm, the aged, and those who are far weaker than we are.
Concern for GAEA, the living earth,. and its more helpless portions is heart
warming.  The practice of knowledge is what Theosophy has universally
encouraged.

At least, these are my own ideas and thanks for noticing.            Dallas