Theos-Talk Archives (November 1998 Message tt00099)

Frank:

[writing to Jerry Schueler]

>F.e. a few of the chelas of KT and GdeP which NOT
>supported the dark way of Long/Conger were:
>Elsie Benjamin, Helen Todd, Emmett Small, Carmen
>Small, Boris de Zirkoff, Gordon Plummer, Geoffrey
>A. Barborka, Iverson Harris and many others, all of
>them in high respect under KT or/and GdeP and very
>intimate with KT and GdeP.

I've known or met these eight students of G. de
Purucker. Most lived in Southern California, except
for Elsie Benjamin whom I met in 1972 on a visit to
Europe.

They did not go along with the direction that Conger
and Long took the T.S. They did not feel that the
leadership was capable, and felt unfairly forced out.

We cannot go back and change history. If there were
better ways things could have been done in the
1940's and 1950's -- so be it. What I think is important
is what we have now. We should look towards the future,
seeking cooperation and unified effort, not towards the
past reopening old wounds and seeking redress for past
wrongs.

Does it really matter, after the entire generation of
affected people have grown old and passed on, what they
did and said to each other? It should be more important
what we do and say to each other in the present day.

If it were 1945 or 1946 or 1947, perhaps we'd be
taking sides and trying to steer the direction of
the Point Loma T.S. this way or that way. But it's
1998, and what we have to work with are the theosophical
groups and workers of today.

>Would not any real ES exist, the whole theosophical
>movement would be nothing else than a great parody.
>Then it would be better to close all TS'ies.

I'd say that there are levels of participating in
the theosophical work, and we find our own place and
peers, regardless of the existence of formal theosophical
groups for us to belong to.

It's been about 50 years since the turmoil in the
Point Loma T.S. happened. Many of the key players
in that drama are dead. Lots of new people have
joined the T.S. and the independent Point Loma
theosophical groups since then, many not fully
informed of the history.

The personal karma incurred by the people of that
time cannot be escaped. That cannot be changed.
What we can change is our present and future karma,
as we make choices, do good work, and move forward
into the future. Remaining true to Theosophy means
keeping its message alive in modern thought. That
means that we cooperate with everyone and do the
best work that we can.

-- Eldon