Theos-Talk Archives (December 2006 Message tt00446)

Based on that he was a fellow of a Royal Arch Chapter in 1860, and 
to join a Chapter one must be a Master Mason (from initiation (First 
Degree) to become a Master Mason takes no shorter then two years) 
and officer in a blue lodge (one have to be a Master Mason at least 
one year before one can become a officer normally). In those 
districts in the US were they was following English Masonic 
Tradition, the MM had to be a Mark Master Mason (MMM) before (or 
more correct, its recommended) he can entered the Royal Arch 
Chapter, but I do not know if Olcott was in American (where the 
Mason tacks the Chapter before the Mark) or English (where Mark is 
before Chapter). In the English case, it will then be plus one year. 
Olcott was Senior Warden 1861, in a Blue Lodge. So then we have to 
count. From initiation to Master Mason, 2 years, minimum 2 years as 
a junior offices (Tyler, Outer Guard etc), 1 years as Secretary (or 
Treasurer), Junior Warder 1 year and finally Senior Warden. That 
gives minimums six a' seven years. (The document I'm basing these 
calculations on are mentioned in HPB Speaks vol. I p. 27).
So Olcott was initiated 1855 or before. 

Olcott was a lodge member in New York in till 1878. I can give with 
references on this, if some one serious (nota bene!) is interested.

Masons from Madras attended his funeral in Adyar 1907, which proofs 
that he had Masonic connections in til his final moments. 

We also have to have it clear that when Olcott (in 1876), by order 
from HPB, organised the early TS, he did it as a "copy" of Masonry, 
with rituals (which was deeply inspired by the Masonic rituals), 
secret signs, words and handshakes. Which degrees organised in 
groups (based on the principal 3x3, with is very typical Western 
Masonic).

Carl

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "M K Ramadoss" <mkr777@...> wrote:
>
> Olcott was a mason long before he heard about HPB and his masonic 
membership
> saved his life when went to cover the hanging in the south. I do 
not know
> whether he was active in masonry after the TS was launched. May be 
some one
> with historial info can enlighten us on this.
> 
> mkr
> 
> On 12/11/06, Carl Ek <carl.ek@...> wrote:
> >
> >   Carlos,
> > You are very funny! Didn't you before denied that Judge was a 
Mason?
> > Now you can't do that any more.
> >
> > I don't think it will be too hard to find proof that Crosbie was 
a
> > Mason also.
> >
> > I have a good idea for you; study the history of TS, and 
especially
> > the early days in Philadelphia and New York.
> >
> > I have also a question to you. Do you, Carlos, know 
the "authentic
> > version" of Theosophical Movement better then the Founders?
> >
> > And please don't mix in Leadbeater in this his, hence he have
> > nothing to do with this matter.
> >
> > Carl
> >
> > --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com <theos-talk%40yahoogroups.com>,
> > "carlosaveline"
> > <carlosaveline@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Friends,
> > >
> > > Besides W. Q. Judge, also H. S. Olcott was a mason. None of 
them
> > created any confusion between Masonry and Theosophical Movement.
> > >
> > > In its authentic version, the movement clearly does not work 
with
> > rituals.
> > >
> > > Such a confusion was created only after H.S. Olcott's death in
> > February 1907. C. W. Leadbeater, the very man Olcott correctly
> > expelled from the Adyar TS, came back and invented 
the "theosophical
> > masonry", among other rituals.
> > >
> > > Along with it, he brought he whole set of phallicism, scandals,
> > messianism e clairvoyant fancies.
> > >
> > >
> > > Carlos.
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> >
> >  
> >
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>