Theos-Talk Archives (November 2006 Message tt00329)

Daniel,
In this rule are three sections:

1.	No member of this Section shall belong to any other body,
            association, or organization for the purpose of mystic 
study or
            occult training, except Masonry and the Odd Fellows, if 
they so
            desire. 
2.	But they must be as careful to guard the secrecy of this
            Section from Masons as they are to preserve the secrets 
of Masonry
            from Theosophists. 
3.	The reason for this rule is so self-evident as to
            need no explanation.

On this rule, I have the following comments, which declare my view 
on this rule (the numbers below are corresponding with those above): 

1.	This part is saying that there are no conflicts between 
being a pledges Theosophist and being a Mason and/or Odd Fellow.
2.	There are some Masonic groups, which have as one of their 
purposes, and in some case its only purpose, to investigate and 
study other esoteric organizations and secret bodies, and their 
teachings, rituals, grips, signs and password etc. Examples on 
organizations which were active then (1880's and 1890's) and worked 
after this was the OTO under Kellner/Reuss/Hartmann, Asiatic 
Brethren, SRIA, Academia Masonica and The Illuminati of Bavaria 
(under Theodore Reuss) etc. So to make clear fore those members of 
these Masonic organizations (ex. Dr. Franz Hartmann and Dr. W.W. 
Westcott) which join the ES don't was/are allowed to bring the 
secrets of ES to these organizations, this rule was written. And 
also that the ES respect the pledge's of the Masonic Orders.
3.	That the ES as an Esoteric Body stands over all Masonic 
groups, hence its esoteric knowledge is far deeper, and is working 
under the direct directions of the Masters.  

This may be right or wrong, but this how I see it.

Carl

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "danielhcaldwell" 
<danielhcaldwell@...> wrote:
>
> One of my correspondents just wrote me the following observation 
with 
> a question.
> 
> I give most of the communication below:
> 
> --------------------------------------------------
> . . . I would like to bring to your attention something 
> intriguing . . . which I am sure you are aware of.
> 
> The original ES Rule no. 18 declares:
> 
> "No member of this Section shall belong to any other body, 
> association, or organization for the purpose of mystic study or 
> occult training, except Masonry and the Odd Fellows, if they so 
> desire. But they must be as careful to guard the secrecy of this 
> Section from Masons as they are to preserve the secrets of Masonry 
> from Theosophists. The reason for this rule is so self-evident as 
to 
> need no explanation."
> 
> One wonders why HPB would have instituted such a Rule? . . . . 
> ---------------------------------------------------
> 
> Daniel
> http://hpb.cc
>