Re October Strife
Oct 09, 2006 12:32 PM
by Mark Jaqua
Re October Strifes
Barbara writes:
<Can someone direct me to information
on the split between the Pasadena
and Point Loma schools?>
There is an appendix in the Point
Loma Publications edition of Ryan's
"H.P. Blavatsky and the Theosophical
Movement." (Its not in the TUP edition.)
I found a copy of this Appendix in the
Eclectic Theosophist and paste it below,
even tho it is long. I have many digital
files on this also, and would be glad to
send them along.
Dan writes in Oct 7 '06 post:
<I show that HPB in THE KEY cites two
quotes from Julia's July 1889 article
in THE PATH.>
Well, maybe you can post the
two quotes side-by-side here, HPB/Key
and ver Planck/Path, because in my
post from you via email Theos-talk,
there is no quotes given by you that
HPB quotes from ver Planck. The idea
involved is different also - but you
said QUOTES!
Ken writes (Oct 9, '06):
<Clearly KH is not talking about
making a literal image of a particular
‘Master’ in this note. If he meant
that he would have said ‘make an
image of KH or M or whoever’.>
Well, this is exactly what
people think!, I don't doubt usually....
And they take the image from the
'master's portraits" to meditate upon.
"We need an outside master":
which someone quoted. Well, yes,
but it is like one flame lighting
another, or perhaps activating higher
manas. Once the flame is lit, one
has the potential to be his own
teacher or guide.
"Potential dugpa" - there is no natually-
occuring "dugpa" in anyone. It takes work to
develope into one, unless obsessed. There is
also a potential "president," "adept," "nobel
prize winner," "prostitute," "fire-man," and
anything else, so what's the point? People
get scared by this stuff if a beginner, and think
some hobgoblin is going jump out of their
innards and take hold of them. The inside is
a friend, not an enemy.
- jake j.
----------------
LATER POINT LOMA HISTORY
In answer to many questions as to what has happened to the Point Loma Theosophical Society, the following was written and was added as one of several Appendixes to Charles J. Ryan's H.P. Blavatsky and the Theosophical Movement recently published by Point Loma Publications, Inc. The Editors feel that Eclectic readers may be interested in this account, which is faithful to fact and dispassionately presented, and will agree that, despite the space required in our small newsletter, it should for historical reasons be printed here.
A suggestion received from one who has already seen this addendum is that the very sensitive period of theosophical history it recounts should be heightened by more revealing detail, and that this should be on record. Such additional material need not be given public* dissemination, but only made available privately to students and researchers. This suggestion will receive careful consideration. - Eds.
Gottfried de Purucker died on September 27, 1942, while World War II was still raging . His death, sudden and unexpected, left the administration of affairs in the hands of the Cabinet of the T.S. (Point Loma), as detailed in a
Letter of Instruction dated January 25, 1935, addressed "To the Members of the Cabinet of the Theosophical Society, International Theosophical Headquarters, Point Loma, California." In this Dr. de Purucker wrote:
"I most earnestly beseech the Cabinet, forever to continue the same general policies that I have inaugurated since I took office. These policies are certainly well known and outlined and need not be here defined; but their principles involve utter fidelity to the Masters and to H.P.B. and to the Message she brought from them, and which I have spent my life in trying to disseminate in the world, on the basis of goodwill and brotherly love towards all, both friend and foe, and with malice towards none, whether friend or foe."
During Dr. de Purucker's thirteen-year tenure of office he poured out a wealth of Theosophical instruction which appeared in books and in monthly and quarterly issues of magazines. These should be mentioned here because of their importance for the whole Theosophical Movement: Theosophy and Modern Science, 1929 (revised as Man in Evolution, 1941); Questions We All Ask, 1930; Golden Precepts, 1931; Fundamentals of the Esoteric Philosophy, 1932; Occult Glossary, a Compendium of Oriental and Theosophical Terms, 1933; The Esoteric Tradition, 1935; and posthumously: Messages to Conventions and Other Writings on the Policies, Work and Purposes of the T.S., 1943; Wind of the Spirit (a Selection of Talks on Theosophy as related primarily to Human Life and Human Problems), 1944; Studies in Occult Philosophy (including Transactions of the Headquarters Lodge, composed of Studies in "The Secret ''Doctrine", Studies in "The Mahatma Letters," Questions and Answers), 1945;
H.P. Blavatsky: the Mystery, 1974. The magazines included The Theosophical Forum, and Lucifer, the Light-Bringer, both monthly, and The Theosophical Path, quarterly.
All this literary outpouring constituted a stream of psycho-intellectual-spiritual force greatly needed, especially in some branches of the Theosophical Movement which had neglected basic theosophical teaching and the original program - H.P. Blavatsky's The Secret Doctrine was virtually unknown to their membership - and had reached the very nadir of their fortunes since the founding of the Theosophical Society fifty years before.* The slow but steady upward climb began in the 1930's; and to state that these writings of Dr. de Purucker have been in great measure responsible for this revitalization, if not the actual preservation of the Movement, will, in the light of history perhaps be seen to be no exaggeration but a simple statement of fact.
----------
* It is well to state here that the Point Loma T.S. through all the thirty-three years of Katherine Tingley's administration had loyally preserved and promulgated the teachings of Theosophy as expounded by H.P. Blavatsky. Its prodigious literary output alone supports this statement and indicates that the flag of Theosophy was held high and an intensive effort made to relate the theosophical tenets in a practical manner to the current problems of everyday life. In addition, Theosophy was shown as the great catalyst in solving problems brought to light by discoveries in the fields of anthropology, biology, medicine, archeology, and astronomy. It was also shown to provide invaluable background by which commentary on music and the arts and literature were enriched.
Point Loma was particularly fortunate in its literary group of international representation. Among these were Henry T. Edge, Herbert A.W. Coryn, William A. Dunn, Reginald Machell and Fred J. Dick - all former pupils of H.P. Blavatsky. Among other valued contributors were William E. Gates, founder of the Maya Society and pioneer researcher in the culture, language and history of the Mayas; Professor Osvald Siren, for many years Curator of the Swedish National Museum at Stockholm; W.Y. Evans-Wentz, author of The Tibetan Book of the Dead, The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation, etc.; Daniel de Lange, Founder-Director of the Amsterdam Conservatory of Music; Kenneth Morris, Welsh poet and historian, author of The Book of the Three Dragons, The Secret Mountain. The Fates of the Princes of Dyffed; Fritz Darrow, Ph.D. (Harvard), P.A. Malpas, Oluf Tyberg, Marjorie M. Tyberg, Grace Knoche, Leoline L. Wright, Per Femholm, Gertrude W. van Pelt, M.D., and Lydia Ross, M.D.
It was in the administration of Katherine Tingley in the early 1920's that Boris de Zirkoff began his untiring work in the Collected Writings of H.P. Blavatsky. For several years in Dr. de Purucker's regime a committee aided him and by 1936 four volumes, covering the years 1874-83, had been published by Rider & Company, of London, listing as Editor, A. Trevor Barker, the Compiler and Editor of The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett, and President of The English Section of the Theosophical Society (Point Loma). The original plates of these were destroyed in the blitz bombing during World War II. During the intervening years Mr. de Zirkoff has pursued this monumental task and to date eleven volumes have appeared, including a new edition of H.P. Blavatsky's Isis Unveiled. The program still continues.
Also in Katherine Tingley's Point Loma administration Geoffrey A. Barborka, a matriculant of Theosophical University, set up on the monotype for publication H.P. Blavatsky's Isis Unveiled, The Secret Doctrine, The Key to Theosophy, and The Voice of the Silence. His own later contributions to theosophical literature include a commentary on The Secret Doctrine under the title The Divine Plan; H.P. Blavatsky, Tibet and Tulku; The Mahatmas and Their Letters, and The Peopling of the Earth. Other graduates of Theosophical University are well known throughout the theosophical world for their literary contributions.
-----------
This Theosophical teaching was, indeed, what Dr. de Purucker regarded as his main work, his duty, his dharma, not only in instruction to his own Point Loma Society but to the whole world. In administrative and executive work his labors were equally successful. Despite the burden of Depression years when he took office, and an inheritance of nearly a million dollars debt, before his death the Society was solvent - its future financial foundation was secured, and the membership had increased by great leaps. National Sections had been established and were flourishing in the United States and Canada, England, Wales, Ireland, Holland, Germany, Sweden, Egypt, Australia, Dutch East Indies, and South Africa. In the United States alone 65 lodges were active, and an almost equal number in other countries. Lecture tours had made Dr. de Purucker known to his own membership which had become fired with his resolution to preserve the true teachings of Theosophy, "to diffuse among men
a knowledge of the laws inherent in the Universe," and to demonstrate in their own individual lives the essential qualities of this message. Dr. de Purucker was busy and active in this work until the hour of his death, which, as said, came very suddenly as he took his brief before-breakfast walk on a Sunday morning. A few months before that, because of conditions imposed by the War and dangers affecting particularly the Pacific Coast, he had removed the Headquarters from Point Loma to some thirty miles inland from Los Angeles, near Covina.
These points are necessary to emphasize in order to show that, contrary to statements by critical or misinformed writers - the Point Loma T.S. under G. de Purucker's leadership thrived, expanded in influence and membership, and at the time of his passing was in every way facing a future that augured splendid years ahead. What happened later cannot be attributed, therefore, to that regime or the earlier years under Katherine Tingley's guidance, but to forces that, unfortunately, were soon to enter in and disturb and alter the blueprint of the program so carefully planned and so seemingly wisely inherited. But that is history, and history has its own demands: a recording as far as humanly possibly of the facts that build it.
Our picture would be incomplete if we failed to mention at this point G. de Purucker's deep interest in esoteric aspects of Theosophy, the hidden heart of its teaching. This was early shown by the publication of the volume already mentioned, Fundamentals of the Esoteric Philosophy, which were lectures given by him to the Esoteric Section during the years 1924-27 under Katherine Tingley's auspices. During his leadership he continued to give to esoteric students teachings which treat of the profounder aspects of the nature and structure of the universe and of man, all of which should be clearly stated, students have found to be in strict accord with the teachings given by H.P. Blavatsky. Perhaps more than anything else the strength and the healthy climate of his whole Society at the time of his death can be ascribed to this single fact of esoteric instruction, not only to a few, but to students throughout the world.
A word should be said here about efforts made to dissipate old antagonisms and to encourage a feeling of sympathetic understanding as among the different branches of the Movement. Since the "split" of 1894-95 the various Theosophical Societies - and for what may then have seemed excellent and persuasive reasons - had on the whole remained adamantly uncommunicative and even unfriendly. But this was to change. In a General Letter, dated February 17, 1930, Dr. de Purucker announced the inauguration of what later was to become known as "the Theosophical Fraternization Movement." "The time has now come," he wrote,
"when every true and devoted Theosophist should work towards a unification of the various, more or less scattered, and, in some cases, alas, antagonistic, Societies of the general Theosophical Movement .... I call upon you all to realize the imperative need of union as contrasted with disunion, of Theosophical good fellowship and good feeling as contrasted with differing and, alas, sometimes antagonistic, personal views and opinions."
What G. de Purucker envisioned was a Spiritual Brotherhood
"held together by no bonds of merely political affiliation or inter-organizational policies as such, but by bonds of union derived from mutual understanding, brotherly love, and the desire for, and the feeling of, mutual co-operation; and as these qualities are instinctual in the human heart and tally with the natural movements of the human intellect, the character of such a Brotherhood is immediately seen to be wholly spiritual and therefore enduring ..."
It would be too lengthy to chronicle all the incidents bearing on this effort toward unification. They will be found reported in some detail in the pages of The Theosophical Forum, particularly during the years 1930-40, wherein the reasons for lack of official rapprochement will be seen to be stated, though at first there was memorable worldwide favorable response. Especially in 1931, commemorating the centennial of the birth of H.P. Blavatsky, historic meetings were held at which both Adyar and Point Loma, and sometimes U.L.T., members participated in friendly accord; and during succeeding years similar co-operative gatherings were held in different parts of the world. But on the whole the years seem to have borne out the fact that more time would be required not only to soften the asperities and animosities rising out of past differences, but, more particularly, to reawaken throughout the whole Movement the need of a program adhering to Theosophical teaching in
harmony with what was first given by H.P. Blavatsky. Theosophy, not well-meaning dreams and sentiment or psychic vagaries, must be recognized as the real bond that unites. And as Theosophy - its deeper technical aspects, its scientific and philosophic and religious content - becomes more whole-heartedly studied and embraced, so will that unity envisioned by Dr. de Purucker, and so heartily longed for by many open-minded Theosophists, become a natural reality. Meanwhile it should be recorded that the trend toward this goal is notable by the cordial and understanding relations that have grown during the past decades as among all branches of the Theosophical Movement. Though these have their own various administrative officers and to some degree their own policies and methods of work, there is evident a growing feeling of accord and a genuine appreciation of each other's effort. Much of this, it would be accurate to state, can be attributed to the inaugural
fraternization effort dating as far back as 1930.
We reach now the fateful year of 1945, when, following written instructions, as indicated earlier, the Cabinet was to elect a new Leader. Meanwhile, during the 1942-45 interval, the Cabinet, with Iverson L. Harris as its Chairman, had fulfilled the functions outlined for it. Despite limitations of the war years the membership grew, publications continued to come off the presses, and harmony prevailed. It was now time to elect a Leader "from among the members of the Theosophical Society, which might include one from among the members of the Cabinet or from the members of the Theosophical Society in general." Of the various distinguished heads of National Sections of the T.S., Colonel Arthur L. Conger was, perhaps because living in the U.S.A., best known. A Theosophist since early manhood, he had retired from the U.S. Army and become President of the American Section T.S. His able discharge of these duties and his lifelong membership evidently overweighed
considerations of ill-health from which he was severely suffering, and on October 20, 1945, by a vote of 10-2, he was elected to the office of Leader by the Cabinet.
It should be recorded here that in the Letter to the Cabinet regarding successorship above referred to no word was said about the Esoteric School, which had played such a vital role in the administrations of Katherine Tingley and G. de Purucker. The position that Colonel Conger was elected to fill, it should be emphasized, was one of purely exoteric and administrative authority. An E.S. Council at the time was directing the activities of the Esoteric Section. As said, it is important to give considerable weight to this, because the problem now facing the membership was at its heart basically similar to that which brought about the 'crisis' of 1894-95, pointed to by Professor Ryan, and its consequences were to be equally disastrous. Within three months of his election Col. Conger assumed headship of the E.S., declaring he held the same status as H.P.B. did. Within the next few months he had summarily dismissed from office all who did not immediately acknowledge him in
this capacity, even though they had conscientiously asked for more time to give it careful and full consideration. Those so uncharitably and swiftly deprived of former duties and responsibilities included, among others, the Chairman and the Secretary w the Cabinet; the Recording Secretary of the Esoteric Section; and the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary, the Director of Studies, and the Registrar of Theosophical University. Though for nearly all of them the T.S. Headquarters had been home since childhood, they were forced to leave, all except the President and Vice-President of the University, who were very elderly. The President, Dr. Henry T. Edge, died on September 19th of that year 1946. His name alone is here mentioned since he was a personal pupil of H.P. Blavatsky. Giving up his position as Demonstrator in Practical Physics at the Royal College of Science, South Kensington, London, he had come to Point Loma in 1900, and
thereafter devoted his long life to volunteer teaching and to writing for the Point Loma publications. He was also representative of the quality and dedication of those others, now dismissed, who had givern their all to Theosophy and formed part of the hegira from Headquarters. (It would seem inappropriate and not of interest to a general public to weight these pages with these other names, though the details of their forced departure are of record. It is enough to say that they stood strong for Theosophical principle, for which they were willing to stake their all.)
Little more need be said of the years of Colonel Conger's administration. He died February 22, 1951, leaving written appointment (duly attested by two witnesses) of William Hartley, an English T.S. member who had been at Headquarters since the mid-1920's to succeed him in office; but James A. Long, an assistant to Col. Conger in the days when the latter was the American Section President, declared he was the rightful leader, seized office, and persuaded the then Cabinet to accept him as such.* Mr. Hartley, unable to combat this situation, left Headquarters. He was in failing health and died in 1955, leaving a Cabinet in charge, who elected Mr. D.J.P. Kok, of The Hague as their Leader. That Society has headquarters at The Hague, Holland, and affiliated with it is the International Study-Center for Independent Search for Truth.
--------
* See Official Report (February 1951) issued by the Cabinet of the T.S.
-------
Mr. Long changed the name of his Society to The Theosophical Society - International. His administration was marked by the closing of Theosophical University, rapid decrease in world membership, the abolishing of National Sections (including the sale of the historic Visingso T.S. property in Sweden), the closing of all Lodges, and centralizing of activities, mainly printing and publishing, at Pasadena and Altadena, California. All this reflected an almost complete paralysis of hitherto worldwide activity. He ceased publication of The Theosophical Forum and issued a monthly magazine called Sunrise. Mr. Long died in July, 1971, and was succeeded in office by Miss Grace F. Knoche.
A strange phenomenon should be marked here. In England, Holland, Germany, and the U.S.A. the work of the original Point Loma T.S. in certain sectors never ceased, but because of the breakup at the central headquarters it was found best quietly to continue as separate groups in their respective countries. In England, Corresponding Fellows Lodge of Theosophists, of which Harry Benjamin was President and Mrs. Elsie Benjamin, Secretary at its founding, has been active for over thirty years and now has members in many countries. Mrs. Margaret Duncan-Miller is its President, and Mrs. Benjamin, former Secretary to Dr. de Purucker, continues as its Secretary, Editor of its influential monthly The C.F.L. Bulletin, and (since its inception) director of its Correspondence Courses.
In Germany, in Unterlengenhardt, the Schwarzwald, Miss Mary Linne and Miss Emmi Haerter pursue the work of their Lodge under the name Theosophischer Arbeitskreis and issue a bi-monthly magazine Der Theosophische Pfad. They have during the years translated into German the main Theosophical classics.
In Holland there are now several groups derivative from Point Loma: The Theosophical Society - H.P.B., of which Mr. Arien Smit is President. Its monthly magazine is Levende Gedachten. Mr. Jan H. Venema, a T.S. member since the early days of this century, founded and directs the School for the Study and Promulgation of the Esoteric Philosophy. Its Secretariat is at The Hague, with a center in Arnhem and representatives in other cities in Holland. The Hague, Holland, is also the International Headquarters of the Theosophical Society heretofore mentioned, of which Mr. D.J.P. Kok is President.
All these representative 'Point Loma' affiliations carry on faithfully the spirit and work in the tradition of H.P. Blavatsky, and of Point Loma, as a study of their programs d their publications will show.
On January 22, 1971, Point Loma Publications, Inc. was chartered by the Secretary of State of California as a nonprofit religious and educational corporation, with Mr. Iverson L. Harris as President and Chairman of the Board of Directors. Its main purposes, as expressed in its Articles of Incorporation, are:
"....to publish and disseminate literature of a philosophical, scientific, religious, historical and cultural character, faithful to the traditions and high standards maintained by the Theosophical Society with International Headquarters formerly at Point Loma, California, under the leadership bf Katherine Tingley from 1900 to 1929, and of Gottfried de Purucker, from 1929 to 1942: to pursue and perpetuate the aims of the original T.S., founded in New York City by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Col. H.S. Olcott, Wm. Q. Judge and others, as enunciated by them on October 30, 1875: 'to collect and diffuse a knowledge of the laws which govem the Universe;' and to consider publication of the writings of current authors in the fields of Theosophy in particular and of philosophy, science, history, religion and cosmopolitan culture in general."
Another clause of the Articles of Incorporation runs:
"In the interests of economy, efficiency of operation, and in furtherance of brotherhood, understanding and peace, it shall be the basic policy of the corporation to co-operate and affiliate with, and to welcome co-operation and affiliation from, individuals, groups, corporations and other organizations with similar purposes and ideals, the extent of such affiliation and co-operation to be determined and limited only by the wishes and policies of the parties concerned."
Point Loma Publications publishes a bi-monthly magazine The Eclectic Theosophist (Editors, W. Emmett Small and Helen Todd). Its object is to share with members and friends of the Theosophical Movement the best in theosophical literature, past and present, explaining and forwarding the esoteric philosophy, and to share with its readers the outstanding current events in the various Theosophical Societies.
Thus, like the Masonic Movement generally, the work of the Point Loma Theosophical Society carries on worldwide; through independent lodges or centers, each administratively autonomous but united by bonds of the spirit of Theosophy. To be true to that Highest, to be faithful carriers of the Esoteric Philosophy as taught in all the ancient Schools of Wisdom and as brought to the western world by H.P. Blavatsky, is their dedicated aim and purpose.
- Eclectic Theosophist, July 15, 1975
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