Theos-Talk Archives (June 1998 Message tt00629)

June 26th

Dear Jerry:

Now you have me guessing.  I do not know the source of the "Oath
of the Abyss."  It sounds interesting and significant.  Robert
Crosbie was a very interesting man, a close friend of Mr. Judge.
They met in Boston in 1888 or so, and Judge recognized Crosbie as
a friend and an associate and he was eventually entrusted with
the supervision of theosophical work and effort in the New
England states, as that work grew and grew.  If you are
interested I have bio-notes on both Crosbie and Judge which can
be made available, either direct (as they are long) or over
Internet.

It would be very valuable for interested students of Theosophy to
become acquainted with the work and writings of Mr. Judge and Mr.
Crosbie as that is a chapter in the history of the Theosophical
movement that many are still unfamiliar with.

However I would observe that in my study and experience I have
found that Theosophy usually has something to say about most
schools of thought, both ancient and modern.  HPB declared in
several places that it was "history."  So I am not surprised to
find that there is frequent corroboration of that which emerges.

Crosbie never wrote any books, but some of his letups and steno.
reports of some of his talks were gathered together and after his
death THE FRIENDLY PHILOSOPHER  was issued by his friends and
associates in the ULT.  (pp. 415,  $ 7.00)  There is much of a
practical nature that is covered, as well as the reason for the
establishing of the ULT (United Lodge of Theosophists).

Additionally, he placed great importance on the study of HPB's
KEY TO THEOSOPHY, and Judge's THE OCEAN OF THEOSOPHY.  Some of
the answers that he made at the regular study classes her at ULT
where the OCEAN was studied have been gathered together and named
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS on the OCEAN OF THEOSOPHY.  The answers are
grouped in the same order as are the chapters in the OCEAN. (pp.
248,  $ 6.00)

During the last years of his life, from 1912 to 1919 Crosbie
edited the magazine THEOSOPHY, still published  by the ULT every
month.  In those pages he reprinted most of the original articles
and answers to questions which HPB and Judge has printed
originally in THEOSOPHIST, LUCIFER, and PATH magazines.  ( Those
had gone "out-of-print" by then, and most Theosophists of that
period, 15 to 20 years after the death of those two) did not know
HPB or Judge at first hand, nor was the theosophical world still
familiar with their writings.  Those articles have been made into
books as accurate verbatim reprints of the originals, and are
made available by ULT.

Best wishes,        Dallas

> Date: Thursday, June 25, 1998 4:08 PM
> From: "Jerry Schueler" <gschueler@netgsi.com>
> Subject: Re:

>> Dallas offers:  Some words from Robert Crosbie
>>
>> "How shall we apply Theosophy in daily life ?  ...etc
>
>Dallas, Crosbie's words (I have never read him) are a
>modern version of the magical Oath of the Abyss. This
>is like a Theosophical version of the Oath. Both are
>powerful techniques. Thanks for the post as I was unaware
>of this technique being available in Theosophy.
>
>Jerry S.
>
>
>
>