Theos-Talk Archives (September 2006 Message tt00307)

H.P. Blavatsky allowed members of her Esoteric School to have copies 
of Masters' portraits.

Concerning this, William Judge writes in a letter to Countess 
Wachtmeister in 1890:

"As to the photos of Masters I consider the whole thing a scandal. In
one breath they are sacred and then they are sold for money. It does
not excuse to say that they cost that, for if they are to go to
certain proper persons then they should be free and if that can't be
afforded then they should not be at all. . . ."

The Countess showed Judge's letter to HPB and HPB wrote the 
following blunt letter back to Judge:

"As to the Masters' photos. . . . Why speak of selling the
photos? . . . Does paying for the bare cost of producing them come
under the head of selling? In other words the privilege to the
members [of the Esoteric Section] is simply that of taking copies of 
the photos at their own expense."

". . . I do not understand why the pictures of the Masters should
become less 'sacred' because the photographer who reproduces them has
to be paid?"

"Will W.Q.J. please explain?"

I have also a E.S. letter signed by H.P.B. in which she states that 
members can have said copies of the Masters' portraits if they 
desire to have them.

Questions:  

Why did H.P. Blavatsky [the Outer Head of the E.S.] therefore allow 
ES members to have personal copies of the Masters' portraits?  

What purpose did these personal copies serve????

Did H.P.B. consider the portraits "sacred"?

And why would the Master who was the "Inner Head" of the Esoteric 
Section approve of this reproduction of the portraits for individual 
members?

Daniel
http://hpb.cc