Theos-Talk Archives (July 2001 Message tt00230)

Leon wrote in part:

"I think Dallas has already made it clear that there is no 
hierarchical relationship between the independent local Lodges and 
associate run study groups, or any overriding dictatorial powers that 
can govern how each individual Lodge or student associate freely goes 
about their self determined business. For example, many years ago I 
set up a ULT study group in Florida, that -- had we sufficient 
members to justify a registration under state and federal laws as 
a "not for profit association" requiring our own premises and 
tax free status -- could have been chartered by the Parent ULT as an 
"independent Lodge." (At that time, incidentally, we were studying 
the occult teachings in the Vedas, Puranas and Upanishads with the 
help of a Hindu initiate.) At no time did the Parent ULT ever give 
us any restrictions or guidance, have any interest, or ask for any 
reports on what we were doing."

Okay, Leon. Let's take this a step or two further. Let's say that 
eventually your Florida ULT study group had been chartered by the 
Parent ULT as an "independent Lodge". And let's say the associates 
of your Florida lodge then decided they wanted to have a public study 
class in the lodge on THE MAHATMA LETTERS. Are you telling me that 
the Parent ULT would have no say so in the matter, in fact would have 
no concern whatsoever about this study class?

Or let us say that the associates of this Florida ULT wanted to start 
a public study class using as the class text the 15 volumes of HPB's 
COLLECTED WRITINGS. Or the ULT Florida Lodge decided to present a 
course of public lectures based on HPB's three esoteric 
instructions. Leon are you telling us that the Parent ULT would not 
try to stop these classes?

Or if the Forida independent Lodge decided to sell books, the lodge 
could sell books from publishers other than those published by the 
Theosophy Company of LA? For example, the lodge might decide to sell 
my new book on HPB: ESOTERIC WORLD OF MADAME BLAVATSKY.

I look forward to your comments on this particular subject. And I 
hope Dallas and other persons will give their answers too.

Daniel