Theos-Talk Archives (May 2006 Message tt00794)

Bruce,

You write in part:

===================================================
Privately, he [Olcott] could state whatever he likes.  
Certainly, Judge appears to have been aware of Olcott's 
opinions concerning HPB and was willing to work with 
him despite these opinions.  It is only after Olcott 
made them public that they became a problem for the 
integrity of the Theosophical Society.
==================================================

Then later you write:

==================================================
I really don't care a tinker's damn what anyone then 
or now thinks about HPB's integrity in private.  
I am only interested in the Public Record as the 
Theosophical Society is a public institution and 
what members say publically concerning that institution 
is important for us all....
=================================================

Bruce, I must admit that I am really puzzled by what
you write above.  I guess your argument goes right
over my head.  Maybe I'm tired tonite and my brain is just
not working....

To my way of thinking, I am glad Olcott gave his opinion ---
whether in public or in private.  If it was his REAL, honest opinion, 
then why shouldn't he give it publicly?  Why hide it?

I really could care less about this distinction between
public and private opinions.  

Since Judge brought up the Prayag letter in public, what
was Olcott suppose to do if he felt strongly about the letter?
Refrain from giving his real honest assessment of the letter in
public?  Hide his opinion????

Are you suggesting (I hope not!) that Judge might have had one opinion
for public consumption but actually thought something else in 
private???

I also fail to understand what Olcott's opinion of HPB 
has to do with the "integrity of the Theosophical Society"
or how Olcott's opinion is really relevant to the Society as
an "institution".

As a student of Theosophy and Blavatsky as well of the history of the 
Theosophical Movement, I want to know what the key actors REALLY 
believed whether they only expressed it in a "private letter" or 
whether they wrote their opinion in a public article or book.

I really fail to understand why you make this distinction between
private and public.

Daniel
http://hpb.cc