Theos-Talk Archives (November 2006 Message tt00140)

In the 1923 edition of "The United Lodge of Theosophists: Its Mission 
and its Future" (published by the Theosophy Company, Los Angeles, 
California), the reader will find on page 7 the following 
statements:

"On the death of Mr. Judge in 1896, Mr. Crosbie did what was possible 
to induce those most prominent in the T.S.A. to heed the dying words 
of Judge - 'There should be calmness.  Hold fast; go slow.' But the 
same influences held sway as had produced all former wrong courses.  
Ambition and the desire to lead on the part of the few caused Mrs. 
Katherine Tingley to be heralded to the membership as the 'successor' 
of Mr. Judge, as Mrs. Besant had claimed to be the 'successor' of 
H.P.B.  As ninety-eight per cent of the members accepted the 
representations made, Mr. Crosbie could only go with the majority if 
he would not desert the work built up by the sacrifices of H.P.B. and 
Mr. Judge before him.

"Then ensued two painful years of rivalry - first between the T.S.A., 
under the leadership of Mrs. Tingley, and the Olcott-Besant society; 
then of violent dissentions between Mrs. Tingley and those who had 
been responsible for foisting her upon the confidence of the members 
of the T.S.A.  This latter war of clashing ambitions and pretensions 
to apostolic authority, culminated in the Chicago convention in 
February, 1898, where by the vote of more than ninety per cent of the 
delegates, the name of T.S.A. was changed to that of 'The Universal 
Brotherhood and Theosophical Society' and a new constitution adopted 
giving to Madame Tingley absolute autocratic control over all the 
activities of the society.  A handful of the delegates - those who 
had originally vouched for Madame Tingley - 'bolted' the 
Convention, and thereafter called themselves the T.S.A.

"Of all these events Mr. Crosbie was a witness and, as before, found 
no way open but to abide by the decision of the majority.  For the 
ensuing six years he worked to the fullest extent possible to keep 
alive the spirit of fraternity and theosophical propagandum.  By 1904 
the once strong membership had dwindled away under the lurid 
management of Mrs. Tingley until there remained but a few hundred out 
of thousands   Further efforts being useless, Mr. Crosbie left the 
Tingley society and removed to Los Angeles, California."

In my next posting I will give Dr. H.N. Stokes' comments on the above 
statements.  

Daniel
http://hpb.cc