Theos-Talk Archives (March 2006 Message tt00159)

Let us analyse facts given in message 30270. 
Purucker wrote in 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".  

No such leader or Outer Head of ES emerged, which meant Pasadena TS 
failed, there was no ES after Purucker's death and so there was no 
Outer Head of ES in Pasadena TS. Despite these specific directions, 
in 1945, Conger claimed to be the Outer Head of the Esoteric School 
which had ceased to exist. He appointed William Hartley as 
successor, cabinate rejected him and appointed James Long as leader 
in 1951. James Long closed ES and told that Purucker had already 
stopped ES instructions in 1939. Does that mean Pasadena TS told 
lies during 1939 to 1951 under the name of Esoteric Instructions ?

AG

--- 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.
>