Theos-Talk Archives (February 2005 Message tt00233)

John,
You write:

> 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.
I've seen photos of AB and CWL in masonic clothing, but not HPB. 
However, there is a "Masonic Diploma," issued to HPB and signed by John 
Yarker, I believe. But Yarker represented a radical branch of Masonry 
and the diploma was completely honorary. Olcott was indeed a Mason 
before and after he helped to found the TS. In the early days his 
organization of the TS, the use of Masonic devices i.e. secret 
handshakes; passwords etc. suggests that Olcott was clearly influenced 
by the Masons. 
It was around 1912, during Besant's Presidency that the co-Masonic 
organization was brought into the TS. Actually, the ES documents of 
that period show that this was supposed to have been under the orders of 
the Masters. 
Hope this helps a little.

--j




samblo@cs.com wrote:

> 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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