Theos-Talk Archives (January 1999 Message tt00102)

In a message dated 1/10/99 7:19:20 PM, Alan wrote:

<<As an aside, I read somewhere that HPB became a member of the Golden Dawn.

And that A.C. wrote an extensive commentary to the Voice of Silence. If so,

as anyone got a copy they could point me to?>>

I'm afraid you have it backwards, my friend.  It was refugees from HPB's
Esoteric Section that joined the Golden Dawn, like W.B. Yeats.  The Golden
Dawn was formed well *after* the Theosophical Society, and I truly suspect
most of The Dawn's best stuff was "appropriated" from HPB -- without credit
given, of course.

Aleister Crowley indeed wrote a Commentary on The Voice of the Silence.  But I
know a much better commentary -- HPB's own writings.  If anyone knew what she
wrote and what she wanted to say, she did.  Try The Key to Theosophy by HPB
and The Ocean of Theosophy by William Q. Judge.  They are great places to
start getting a handle on the concepts and terms of The Voice of the Silence.

Never forget that Crowley was doing "his own thing."  He did not claim to be
part of the Theosophical movement, and I strongly doubt the Theosophists would
have had him.  The first object of the Theosophical Society was to form a
nucleus of Universal Brotherhood, not a school of magic.  (Refer to the Maha-
Chohan's letter chastizing Sinnett and others)  Crowley, however, talked much
of brotherhood, but was *really* interested in a school of magic.

I would be interested to hear what humanitarian works Crowley performed,
OUTSIDE of a "ritual magic" setting.  HPB was known for such things as trading
in her first-class ticket so that a stranded woman could ride on a ship to
America, while HPB rode third-class in the boiler room.  Has Crowley similarly
LIVED THE LIFE?

Rich