Theos-Talk Archives (February 2005 Message tt00187)

Jerry,
Thanks for your comments they are a value to all here and we can all learn 
new things from them. I have not direct experience to speak from with Lodges 
so my consideration is almost always pinned to Blavatsky in the beginning in 
New York. Some where I have a copy of that Charter. It is interesting that some 
were Chartered to special activities, I was not aware of that but I am now 
thanks to your mention that is informative. BTW, a Member on another forum I 
mainly read, the "ORME Spirit Forum" just this morning posted mention of Alan Leo 
and Astrology in Theosophy, but he seemed to have also been one that began 
with CWL and continued to Alice Bailey in New York UN reading Center, he 
displayed no affection for CWL. .

Just my own induction about the premise of activity that I generated when 
first reading about Madame Blavatsky and the original formers of the New York 
Lodge that much interested me was the gathering together of many individuals 
all having varied sincere interests in many area's to mutually sift, discuss, 
test, exchange POV, publish, lecture, teach and instruct with freedom and 
mutual respect. The receiving of all the possible contents of the contributions 
Madame Blavatsky wrote about in her works. The "sources" she mentions and lists 
in her able surveys. I think she expected people would incline to look into 
themselves, and arrive to a adapted view however varied it might be, it is still 
growth and expansion comparative to before inquiry and change then has 
occurred to some degree unique to each and expresses the beauty of beings and the 
source that ultimately expresses through them all.

It seems also to me that the seven-fold economy of each person, though a 
general motif ,is a particularized differentiation in each person expressing 
through the conditioned state in unlimited variations uniquely, a strict 
homogeneity cannot be found that can satisfy those who desire limiting communication 
of subject or topic confined to any rigid agenda. My view is Madame Blavatsky 
seemd to advocate a broad interpretation under the Three Objects that was 
pretty holistic perhaps with the exception of Magic and Ritual as a practice 
itself. I, long ago, 1999, stated my personal opinions that she pointed to the 
Eastern Noble Spiritual Teaching as the dominent thrust and purpose of her 
writtings, as well as her severe warning against the dangers of Psychical and Astral 
Complexes that individuals may tend to generate a detoured path as their 
primary interest or goal instead. So, baseline it strikes me as she wanted the 
Lodges to be a place of Philosophical Renewal for the Western Culture 
specifically. However, I have seen Photographs of Madame Blavatsky, CWL. Annie Besant 
individually dressed wearing their emblatures of office and certification in 
Masonic Lodge, and notwithstanding the fact that Madame Blavatsky spoke of the 
three invisible ancient Masonic Lodges of the World I often wonder how the two 
disimilar practices can have maintained seperation without interleaving of 
activities. Masonry utilizes Ritual and has teaching variant from what I read as 
Theosophy. While Theosophy has over many decades now been the bully pulpit of 
it's many adversaries where is the co-responsibility of the Masonic Lodge 
exampled, in particular as regards CWL? Surely they must have also made a Committee 
of Inquiry for the same actions Theosophy has been bloodied over all these 
years due to CWL et al, but I have read no published articles that deal with this 
type of matter. Suffrage is a concept Madame Blavatsky also encouraged 
members to have. I always was remarkably impressed when I was able to see the old 
photographs of the Theosophical Members assembled in different places all over 
the world. Looking at all the different Fakirs, Yogins, Priests, Brahamins, 
Dervishes, Sufi's, Christians, all sitting together was quite radical to the 
norm I had read of in non Theosophical sources.

Being a complete organizational outsider as I am I apoligize for any 
indescresion I might have committed in this reply and do not mean to offend or 
devalue any one.

John


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