Theos-Talk Archives (February 2005 Message tt00776)

In 1913 another violent crisis convulsed this miserable 
travesty of a Society that one stood for the highest principles and 
ideals... As before, the crisis centred round the shocking perverter 
of morals who has obtained complete ascendancy over Mrs. Besant. A 
book Entitled "Mrs. Besant and the Present Crisis in the Theosophical 
Society" was published in 1913 by M.Eugène Lévy, "with a Prefatory 
Letter by M. Edouard Schuré,", the well-known author of "The Great 
Initiates" and other works... M. Schuré states that he 
feels "compelled to retire officially from the T.S." and that it is 
his `duty' to give "reasons satrightfowardly"
He says: 
"... The primary cause of this deviation lies on the close alliance 
of Mrs. Besant with Mr. Leadbeater, a learned occultist, but of an 
unsettled disposition and doubtfull morality. After Mr. Leadbeater 
HAD BEEN FOUND GUILTY BY AN ADVISORY COMMITEE OF THE T.S. Mrs. Besant 
publicy announced her reprobation of the educational methods with 
which he was charged... By an inconceivable change of front she soon 
afterwards declared her intention of bringing Mr. Leadbeater into the 
T.S again. The excuses she gave for this recantation were charity and 
pardon. THE REAL REASON WAS THAT THE PRESIDENT NEEDED Mr. LEADBEATER 
FOR HER OCCULT INVESTIGATIONS, AND THAT THIS COLLABORATION APPEARED 
TO HER NECESSARY TO HER PRESTIGE.. To those who have followed her 
acts and words from that time onwards, it is clearly manifest that 
Mrs. Besant has fallen under the formidable suggestive power of her 
dangerous collaborator, and acts under his control. The personality 
henceforward speaking through her is the questionable visionary, 
skilfull master of suggestion who no longer dares to show himself in 
London, Paris or America, but in the obscurity of a summer-house at 
Adyar governs the T.S. through its President.
"... if a real Indian initiate, a Brahmin or otherwise, of 
ripe age, had come to Europe on his own responsability or in the name 
of his Masters to teach his docrtines, nothing would have been more 
natural... But it was not in this form that we beheld the new apostle 
from Adyar. A young Indian, aged thirteen, initiated by Mr. 
Leadbeater.. is proclaimed and presented to the European public as 
the future teacher of the new era. Krishnamurti, now called Alcyone, 
has no other credentials than his master's injunctions and Mrs. 
Besant patronage. His 32 previous incarnations are related at lenght, 
the early ones going back to the Atlantean period. These narrations, 
given as the result of Mr. Leadbeater's and Mrs. Besant's visions, 
are for the most part grotesquely puerile, and could convince no 
serious occultist. They are ostensibly designed to prove that for 
twenty thousand years the principal personages in the T.S. have been 
preparing for the "Great Work" which soon is to be accomplished. In 
the course of their incarnations, which remind one of a newspaper 
novel, these personages are decorated with the grat names of Greek 
mythology, and the most brilliant stars in the firmament.... 
Krishanmurti received honours like a divine being during a meeting at 
Benares, many persons present falling at his feet. He does not, 
however, utter a word, but only makes a gesture of benediction, 
prompted by Mrs. Besant. In reporting this scene Mr. Leadbeater 
likens it to the descent of the Holy Ghost.
"For this dumb prophet is founded the Order of the Star in 
the East, which the whole world is invited to join, and of which he 
is proclaimed to be the head... this passive young prodigy, who has 
not yet given the world the least proof of having any misson at all 
[this is as true in 1922 as it was in 1913 – A.L.C], becomes the 
centre and cyhnosure of the T.S, the symbol and sacred ark of the 
orthodox faith at Adyar... Mrs. Besant allows the English public to 
believe that he is identical with the Christ of the Gospels, whereas 
to her intimates she states that the Christ of the Gospels never 
existed...
"... this facts are saddening for all who believed in the 
future of the T.S. In my eyes, one can no longer be an actual member 
of the T.S. whithout implicitly approving the deeds and words of the 
President, which flagrantly contradict the essential principle of the 
Society – I mean scrupulous and absolute respect for the Truth, For 
these reasons I regret that I must send you my resignation as a 
member of the T.S."
M. Schuré also emphasises an important and vital point which 
Mr. Kingsland seems to have felt equally deeply, viz – That 
Mrs.BESANT HAS NO USE FOR ANY BUT THOSE WHO ACCEPT EVERYTHING SHE 
SAYS AND DOES WITH THE BLIND SUBSERVIENCE, even when in the eyes of 
such men as M. Schuré, Mr. Mead, Mr. Kingsland and others, it merits 
strong condemnation as `untrue' and `misleading'.