Theos-Talk Archives (November 1998 Message tt00063)

Dear Dallas,
thank you for sharing my arguments. Yes, it is true that not alone the ULT
but some other individuals felled over-ruled by Katherine Tingley, successor
of Judge and main founder of the Point Loma school and University, f.e. the
Temple of the People of Franz Hartmann.
OTOH is is also true that the most pupils (and chelas) at Point Loma (around
1,000 or so) were glad to learn under her. If you read the "Dialogues" of
Prof. de Purucker, a condensed version of his oral teachings in the Temple
of Peace to his Katherine Tingley-Memorial-Group, or if you read his
"Studies" how much and why many of them including GdeP hold a very high
opinion of her, an unbiased reader who did not knew KT personally comes to
the conclusion that she must be a remarkable person. Even Robert Crosbie,
who was the main founder of the independent ULT with him as leader (or not -
as thou willst) attested her rare abilities to teach the true theosophy and
accepted (and had votes for her) her spiritual leadership as Outer Head and
they esoteric method of successorship (so much different of modern
democratic fashions) when he said:

"It should be noted that the Leaders of the Theosophical Movement did not
become so by virtue of an election by vote - nor were they self-appointed.
Mme. Blavatsky was the first leader, by the force of her wisdom and power of
leadership, all the true students of Theosophy accepted her as such. And
when she appointed William Q. Judge as her successor, his leadership was
accepted for the same reason - and so, too, with Katherine Tingley, who was
appointed by William Q. Judge as his successor. And when she dies she will
appoint her successor who will be followed by his faithful members -- And
thus is preserved the line of teachers and the continuity of the Movement."
(Quoted from The Eclectic Theosophist, no. 37, p. 3.)

Note that KT in 1929 before her last travel has forbidden her secretary Elsi
Benjamin to join her. KT gave her occult ring, the one and only HPB wore,
and which KT every time wore as well, to EB, saying: Take care of it. That
moment EB knew what will happen - and KT never returned. She died by a car
accident.

Iverson L. Harris comments the quotation above as follows:
"A later change of attitude which led Mr. Crosbie to found the United Lodge
of Theosophists, cannot alter the historic facts on which he based his
judgement consistently and continuously for at least five years following
Mr. Judge's death... But what of the succession of spiritual leaders in the
Point Loma Theosophical Society, so positively proclaimed by Robert Crosbie?
When Katherine Tingley died in 1929, her office as "Leader and Official
Head" and Esoteric Teacher was assumed by Dr. G. de Purucker, not through
any written appointment but by the "divine right" of intellectual and
spiritual qualification - recognized and tested by his predecessor through
long years of discipline and confidence. In *his* (italics by I. Harris)
case, in superlative degree can one apply the infallible rule given by
Jesus: "By their fruits shall ye known them."
For a more detailed - though, for one who knows the facts, notably
restrained - account of what happened to the Theosophical Society following
the death of Dr. de Purucker on September 27, 1942, see Charles J. Ryan's
"H. P. Blavatsky and the Theosophical Movement", Appendix IV, to the new
special edition by Point Loma Publications, Inc. in 1975. This Appendix was
reprinted in The Eclectic Theosophist Newsletter No. 29, July 15, 1975."
(Quoted from The Eclectic Theosophist, no. 37, p. 2-3.)

IMHO the Ryan book is beneath Anita Atkins bio the best in depth description
of Theosophical History.

Frank


___________________________

>Dear Frank:
>
>Your comments and the narration of your experiences show how much
>"history" can be twisted and also how the average person can be
>to submit to conditions that are unfavorable.  And I might add
>that the formation in 1909 of the ULT was the result of
>discussions among several students of Theosophy who felt that the
>atmosphere of a "Society" presented too restrictive an
>environment, by saddling members with by-laws and officers, that
>had nothing to do with the study and practice of Theosophy.
>Theosophy is free of any organism.  It is statement of "Facts in
>Nature," and as "history" it offers a statement of the
>development of their study and practice down the ages.
>Theosophy, from one point of view, is a statement of the Laws
>operating though out Nature - from the most remote past up to our
>present and proceeding out into the foreseeable future..
>


[SNIP]