Theos-Talk Archives (November 2006 Message tt00712)

I have seen no evidence nor have I ever read a serious claim that
Leadbeater was a member of the OTO. Nor have I seen any evidence linking
Oscar Kollerstrom with the OTO. "The Elder Brother" does not claim that
either was a member. What I did was speculate (note the word: speculate!)
on the origins of Leadbeater's occult sexual practices. James Wedgwood was
a member of the OTO, having been admitted by Reuss at Yarker's request.

I refer to a previous posting of mine:

"Whether Leadbeater was ever a member of the OTO (presumably not under
Crowley, given Crowley?s opinion of him) I do not know. That Leadbeater
employed what might be described as ?tantric? or sex magic practices seems
to me quite clear. Although in ?The Elder Brother? I only speculate in
passing on this, in my doctoral thesis I explore the subject in much more
detail, using documentary sources I did not possess while writing the book
? e.g. privately printed pamphlets and correspondence from the eminent
English Theosophist, E.L. Gardner and his correspondence with Boris de
Zirkhoff, and some material collected by an eccentric Theosophist who
lived at the English TS centre, Tekels Park, where Wedgwood spent his
final years, Rex Dutta. Gardner had concluded that Leadbeater was involved
in magical experiments using ?the semen of man?. Dutta, who inherited
Gardner?s papers, commented, in a private circular, on ?The Elder
Brother?: ?Mr Tillett (pages 283-5) when he guesses at Tantrika Sexual
Black Magic, doesn?t realize the half of it.? For my thesis, I also made
use of a ?Private Supplement? produced by F. T. Brooks for his
?Neo-Theosophy Exposed? (1914) in which he explored the origins of what he
claimed to have been Leadbeater?s use of ?amatory sensuality, or erethism?
and ?deliberate seed-projection?."

Gardner's pamphlets, which were intended fo a strictly limited private
circulation, do not seem to have been referred to anywhere else.

Dr Gregory Tillett