Re: Theos-World Is Pasadena TS legitimate or not ?
Mar 02, 2006 10:01 AM
by Jerry Hejka-Ekins
Dear Anand,
Welcome to the world of Theosophical politics.
Best
Jerry
Anand Gholap wrote:
If the information given below is correct, it raises many important
questions about legitimacy of Pasadena TS.
--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, gregory@... wrote:
In response to Damian's request for information on the Pt
Loma/Pasadena ES I am
sending a summary of a section from a paper I gave at a
Thosophical history
conference in California many years ago. It comes from a study of
secret
societies and esoteric groups within the Theosophical movement. I
hope to
complete the work for publication one day.
Dr Gregory Tillett
De Purucker died suddenly and unexpectedly on September 27, 1942.
He had left
specific instructions regarding his successor: the successor was
to "emerge"
within three years after de Purucker's death, and would be
recognized by "the
proper proofs of spiritual leadership". During those three years,
the Society
was to be ruled by a Cabinet. If no Head emerged, then the
Cabinet was to
elect a leader.
No successor emerged, and the Cabinet elected Colonel Conger. The
ES continued
without an OH. De Purucker had made no provision for a successor
to be
appointed, but, at ES meetings he had given directions on the
matter, and these
had been published in a confidential ES circular: if within three
months after
de Purucker's death or disappearance no-one could give "the proper
proofs of
spiritual leadership", "then you will know that you have failed".
The ES was
meanwhile administered by a Council.
Conger began to make claims to this position. At a meeting of the
ES on
December 21, 1945, Conger claimed to be the OH of the ES. The
Cabinet divided
between those who accepted this claim (including John van Mater
and Grace
Knoche) and those who rejected it (including Henry Edge and Emmett
Small).
On December 25, ten leading members of the ES (including Small,
Harrison and
Edge) presented Conger with a statement of protest against his
claim. They
challenged Conger to demonstrate knowledge of an inner degree of
the ES. Conger
declined to do so.
A controversy developed between Conger and his supporters, and
those who denied
his claims. In March, 1946, Conger demanded the resignation of
the dissidents.
It seems probable that the majority of members of the ES within
the Point Loma
Society rejected Conger's claim.
At a meeting on Paris 4, 1946, Conger announced the closure of the
ES "by the
Master's direction", and declared that esoteric activities were
now "forbidden
by the Master". However, in October, 1946, a circular was sent
out announcing
that ES activities were to be resumed, and those wishing to take
part must sign
and return a pledge, whereupon they would receive de Purucker's ES
instructions.
Conger died on February 22, 1951, and left a witnessed document
appointing
William Hartley as his successor. However, the Cabinet
unanimously refused to
recognize Hartley and James Long was appointed as leader.
Long claimed that de Purucker had stopped giving out teachings
about 1939, and
that there had been no instruction after that year even in the
ES. Long
finally closed the ES, saying, enigmatically, "the esoteric has
now become
exoteric, and the exoteric esoteric".
Following Long's death on July 19, 1971, he was succeeded by Grace
Knoche.
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