Theos-Talk Archives (February 2008 Message tt00139)

Years ago when I was visiting Adyar, I attended one of the rituals in the
LCC. My impression has been that there was scant following from Indians and
the participants were mainly those from outside India.

Outside of the Adyar campus, I have not seen a single branch in any of the
major South Indian
cities. Probably the Indians did not care to abandon their Hindu faith
and join the LCC.
I am wondering what was the long term objective when LCC was originally
formed and leading TS members joined it.

Also no one has still answered how one reconciles the First Object and the
fact none of the Bishops (or Popes) were females. For a newbie theosophists,
it would be very difficult to explain the inconsistency.

mkr

On 2/15/08, nhcareyta <nhcareyta@yahoo.com.au> wrote:
>
> Dear All
>
> For those may be unaware the Liberal Catholic
> church was founded in 1916 by Bishop James
> Wedgwood who thereby became its first Presiding
> Bishop or international head. Bishop C W
> Leadbeater became its second Presiding Bishop.
>
> It is an alternative Christian church in some
> respects although its mindset is perhaps summed
> up by the following Christmas message on one of
> its websites."
>
> "MOST dear and holy Lord, we praise Thee, we
> bless Thee, with all our hearts do we thank
> and glorify Thee for this Thy wondrous Feast
> of Christmas, praying Thee that as Thou wast
> born on earth as at this time for us, so mayest
> Thou be born and reign forevermore within the
> hearts of men, who with the Father and the Holy
> Spirit art one God throughout all ages of ages.
> Amen."
>
> It is a religious organisation based in hierarchy
> where a privileged few men are considered worthy
> to receive God's grace and blessing through the
> eucharist ceremony and to thereby disperse this
> to others.
>
> In this ceremony, God's grace and
> blessing can only be given by men.
>
> The following passage from Bishop Leadbeater
> alludes to the process:
>
> "With the words "Deo Gratias," a great wave of
> thankfulness goes up to the Angels, who, as a
> parting gift, send back a fine stream in response.
> This is caught by the celebrant and poured out
> during the final benediction, along with the
> power and material of which the whole Eucharistic
> Edifice was constructed, which... dissolves into
> great streams of rushing force... spreading
> benediction wherever they go." -Rt. Rev. CW
> Leadbeater, Late Presiding Bishop of The Liberal
> Catholic Church, The Science of the Sacraments.
>
> In answer to Pablo's question, "On what grounds
> do you say that "It was Besant who (with
> Leadbeater's input) turned Theosophy into a
> religious organization through the LCC"?
>
> Morten has amply demonstrated that the second
> International President of the Adyar Theosophical
> Society, Dr Besant fully supported and approved
> the establishment and continuance of this church .
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theos-talk/message/42858
>
> This support continues to this day in most
> theosophical branches of the Adyar Society
> with the church's members' influence often being
> obvious and apparent.
>
> Regards
> Nigel
>
> 
>


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