Theos-Talk Archives (February 2006 Message tt00072)

Walter A. Carrithers, Jr. in his book OBITUARY, writes
as follows:

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It is safe to calculate that for every ten thousand persons who have
heard and believe that Richard Hodgson "exposed" H.P. Blavatsky as a
fraud and imposter, not more than one has read his "expose;" and,
that for every thousand of his readers, hardly one has ever seen
Emma Coulomb's pamphlet.  And yet, by logic and every rule of common
sense, the latter document takes precedence over all others in
standing at the very heart of the controversy raised by the
Coulombs, comprising as it does the firsthand unadulterated
testimony of the chief accusers, together with documentary "proofs"
adduced for their claims.  Yet, strange to say, practically no
attention was paid to THIS PRICELESS PAMPHLET - least of all by
indignant Theosophists who put no stock in what Mme. Coulomb might
have to say! -, not until, that is, the appearance in 1937 of Mrs.
Hastings' booklet, Defence of Madame Blavatsky (Volume II)
The "Coulomb Pamphlet".  Unfortunately, Mrs. Hastings did not live
to complete her promising study of the case. [Caps added.  DHC]

Particularly noteworthy is the fact that Dr. Hodgson himself seems
to have had very great reluctance to make, by quotation, any use
whatsoever of Mme. Coulomb's printed (prior) explanations.  The
reason for this odd behavior on his part, with respect to the
testimony of his chief witness, becomes readily apparent once we
examine the major charges brought against Mme. Blavatsky by Dr.
Hodgson, and now, for the first time, compare his allegations detail-
by-detail against original, earlier-published claims of Mme. Coulomb
herself."