Thank you Mr. Delahunt
May 01, 2011 06:32 AM
by Duane Carpenter
Thank you Mr. Delahunt for a greater over view of the problem and some rationale
for this attempted seizure of the Orlando Lodge assets and removal of the
charter. Orlando cannot receive full support from its fellow Theosophist unless
the facts are better known and more widely shared.
A key statement in your last email posted here at theos-talk about the Orlando
Lodge jogged something in my memory:
"Thus, this action by the International President has damaged the
American Section's possibility of recouping legal expenses already incurred,
as well as losing the possibility for the use of lodge assets for viable
Theosophical work in the lodge's area" (Italics mine).
What was done in the Boston situation was they pulled the charter from the
original lodge and chartered another group who was made up of those members who
were clearly affiliated with National at Wheaten. (viable Theosophical work in
the lodge's area) being the key phrase.
This is how National got Âits justification to pull the charter from the free
thinking theosophist of the original Boston Lodge and no doubt equally applies
to the Orlando Lodge. Seizing Âtheir assists National Âthen set up another
chapter made up of those who will clearly follow the party line.
After the Boston lodge saved its assets from the first law suit by National a
second one starting forming. It was at this junction I resigned as president and
took a teaching position out in CA. Eventually I was told that the Boston Lodges
assets were equally divided between the original group (which had now lost its
charter) and a new theosophical group which was compatible Âand in harmony with
National.
Just prior to resigning as president I contacted Fernando --- whose last name
evades me and who was clearly a member of that alternative theosophical group
opposed to the original Lodge and asked Âhim Âthat if I resigned I would make
every effort to make him interim President as the lodge went through this
transition period of electing a new president. Without even hesitating he flatly
rejected the idea.Â
What this told me was this alternative theosophical group forming was not
interested in simply reforming the so called radical renegade Boston lodge but
clearly had its mind set on doing its own thing completely independent. The only
way it could do this was by securing the original lodges assets which it
partially Âdid when the Boston Lodge had its assets equally divided. ÂAn
original lodge that had been one of the earliest formed in the US and was active
for some 75 years.
I have written a number of letters to this forum outlining Âwhat I see is the
many and varied problems of the Theosophical society and will not repeat them
here.
But I will say this. All organizations either slowly disintegrate when the
original founder or founders depart or they have new and inspired Âleadership
that will carry the torch forward. The Theosophical teachings have flowered
around the world inspiring millions of people while the many theosophical
organization have Âoften become crippled with bureaucratic and political
infighting. Many theosophists at the National level here in the US think with
all good intentions they are just furthering the aims of Theosophy all the while
underlying is basic founding principles.
There is a key term in the Alice Bailey material that applies here and can help
us understand the behavior of certain theosophists and theosophical groups. It
is called the 6th ray of devotion. It summarizes the fanatical adherence of Âa
certain type of student that is very narrow and dogmatic and leaves little room
for any original though. You just blindly follow the existing hierarchy of power
or party line. Their philosophy is simple. "You are either with us or against
us."
As much as many theosophists may not understand this 6th ray fanaticism it is
like so many orthodox religious and spiritual groups similar to the Catholic
Church in their blind obedience. This 6th ray appears to the devotional type of
theosophists and rarely approaches the scholarly and deeper esoteric teachings
of HPB. I am not inferring that all theosophists have to understand all of HPB's
deeper work Âto find value and insights into the many facets of the ocean of
theosophical thought. But basing ones theosophical affiliations primarily Âon
the works of Charles Leadbeater or Annie Besant narrows Theosophy down in my
opinion to a rather superficial Âunderstanding of its great depth and
profundity.
Blessings Duane
________________________________
From: t_s_theosophist <THEOSOPHIST@9ssVNllcaEPGDk-IO9cYCIu6lyjIxyppm_iBk35RBhpNspZoJ6cFcYlkREEIDIBP9hgn2EJk-EHLD89awwQ.yahoo.invalid>
To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Fri, April 29, 2011 11:24:53 PM
Subject: theos-talk FIAT LUX "LET THERE BE LIGHT"
Â
FIAT LUX "LET THERE BE LIGHT"
The recent article in the April 11, 2011 issue of The Messenger by Jerome Michel
concerning Orlando Lodge is another attempt to obfuscate and confuse issues.
There has never been any "long history of difficulties with the operations of
Orlando Lodge " as Jerome Michel states in The Messenger article.
IF Mr Michel and others in TSA administration had evidence of any alleged
difficulties, WHY
has no National Director or Agent ever come personally to Orlando Lodge to
discuss issues with the membership or Officers, and attempt to resolve them???
And WHY have they ignored our repeated requests for substantiating information
about their supposed "investigation?"
WHY did the Directors conduct an "Investigation" in absentia without ever
meeting or talking directly to the Officers or membership of Orlando Lodge???
WHY such stealth and innuendo???
Remember, there was Never nor is there now ANY internal dissension among our
membership, which would have given cause for external intervention.
The TSA Directors have NEVER cited ANY particular Theosophical rule or
regulation which we are supposed to be in violation of.
Neither Jerome Michel, nor ANY current TSA Director has ever been to Orlando
Lodge, and they do NOT know any of our members.
A review of the history of our Lodge programs and our Lodge Newsletter will
reveal that we have consistently maintained quality programs which are
Classically Theosophical in the best sense. Those who have attended our programs
can attest to this fact. And ANYONE has always been welcome to attend.
There have been many many opportunities over the years for any Director or
National Officer to personally visit Orlando Lodge and discuss concerns, yet
NONE have ever done so.
Another opportunity arose when I
and another delegate from Orlando Lodge personally attended the 2008 National
Convention at Wheaton. Yet no discussion of any anomalies occurred. There were
smiles and handshakes, which now, in retrospect I realize were hollow and
meaningless as they had already had their plot mapped out. Betty Bland, Tim
Boyd, Jerome Michel, Ed Abdil, Jeffrey Forth, and the other Directors were all
there, yet no one mentioned any anomalies about Orlando Lodge.
This same delegate and I also attended the Spring 2009 Florida Federation
Meeting at Deerfield Beach, again Jerome Michel and the Officers of The Florida
Federation were all there, and NO mention of any anomalies of
Orlando Lodge occurred.
What did happen:
In June of 2008 just before the election for the International President Mrs.
Bland circulated a letter to the members of the TSA urging them to vote for her
mentor John Algeo. In the letter Mrs. Bland makes some very inaccurate
statements stating that Radha Burnier is no longer fit either mentally or
physically to hold the office of President. This in itself is a breach of
Theosophical etiquette, as we have never politicized our elections or denigrated
other candidates. What Mrs. Bland did Not share in her letter was the fact that
3, Three, highly respected physicians gave written statements that Mrs Burnier
WAS indeed fit to carry out the duties.
At that same time Mrs.Bland and the General Secretaries of the New Zealand,
South African
and French sections of the T.S. were covertly planning ( This was ultra secret)
to introduce a measure in the General Council revoking the rights of the world
wide membership to vote for the International President, and arrogating that
privilege to themselves only, thus making the International President a puppet
of the General Council.
If John Algeo had been elected, their plan was to eventually close Adyar and
move the International Headquarters to Wheaton, Illinois.
A group of independent minded Theosophists of which we were a part discovered
their covert plan ( we had an inside informer) and broadcast it over the
internet, exposing their intentions to the membership worldwide. They were
foiled in their political ambitions by the good sense and integrity of the
general membership.
Since that time, because we were very vocal in supporting Radha Burnier, we have
been the target of a political vendetta. We represent in Mrs. Bland and her
allies' opinion a continued threat for their political ambition.
Make no mistake, there is a small select group of politicans at Wheaton and
around the world
that seek to control the dissemination of Theosophy. They attempt to crush
diversity of
communication through subtle intimidation tactics. Part of the "control issue"
is tied to
"who gets to run " the Kern Foundation money.
When we have a good number of autonomous Lodges each teaching Theosophy in their
own unique and diverse ways, it makes it more difficult for a centralized
bureaucrat to promote a single "authorized version."
They, the Bland/Algeo group would prefer to be the only genuine voice for the
communication of Theosophy. They have subtly implemented a long range plan to
achieve this hegemony.
A look over the spectrum of past few years will reveal how many established
Lodges they have closed or attempted to close for the flimsiest of reasons. They
have set up an adversarial mindset between National Headquarters and the
autonomous Lodges.
Mrs. Bland has many political allies in Florida, and she attempted to enlist
them in her attempt to close us.
We have repeatedly asked for an explanation of their allegations and an
opportunity to defend ourselves from their libel, but have been consistently
ignored.
The International Rules of the Theosophical Society give Lodges the right to
petition the International President to quash the action of any Section and
demit the Lodge directly to Adyar. We invoked this clause and the International
President granted our request.
Their (the TSA Board ) actions against us began to unfold just after the last
International Presidental elections. We strongly supported Radha Burnier, and
were part of a group that
exposed the mis-information being propagated by Mrs. Bland and others in favor
of John Algeo, and the ultra secret plot to deprive the worldwide membership of
the right to vote.
Neither Mrs. Bland nor Mr. Michel mention in any of their replies that Orlando
Lodge filed for
and received a temporary injunction from the Orange County Circuit Court to
prevent them (the TSA Directors) from seizing our assets and property. We were
to have a court hearing on this matter to obtain a permanent injunction on
January 11, 2011, however in the meantime the TSA attorneys petitioned our
attorney for an abatement of the case because Mrs.Burniers
action in our behalf attaching us directly to Adyar, took the case out of their
jurisdiction .
You may check the truth of this by Google, Look up: Circuit Court of the Ninth
Judicial Circuit in and for Orange County Florida. Case Number: 2010-CA-4077
Number 32
Judge Thomas B. Smith
And just what do Mrs. Bland and Jerome Michel mean referring to us as a
"renegade internet flamer?" Â They, with the assets of the TSA behind them and
the Quest magazine and The Messenger newsletter as a forum make defamatory
statements about us and we as a small Lodge with very little assets are not
supposed to defend ourselves from their libel?
No, that is not fair play.
One thing that their statements do indicate is the virulent nature of their
animosity against us. We represent in their eyes a continued political threat
for ambitions of their political friends and agenda.
Mr. Michel states that : "The situation was complicated by the defunct Orlando
Lodge successfully petitioning the International President of the Theosophical
Society to recognize the Orlando Lodge as a Theosophical Lodge directly attached
to the International organization."
The "SITUATION WAS COMPLICATED???" Mr. Michel really means that their political
agenda was upset and an impartial and fair minded International President was
willing to give Orlando Lodge the DUE PROCESS that it deserved.
Mr. Michel further states: " This decision creates an "island" of a renegade
lodge functioning within our midst, falsely representing the Society and its
principles.
The situation is particularly troubling as it has major implications for all
Sections now facing
the possibility of the International President countermanding their disciplinary
decisions."
A "RENEGADE LODGE???" "FALSELY REPRESENTING THE SOCIETY AND ITS
PRINCIPLES???"
Anyone who has ever been to Orlando Lodge and has seen our Newsletter could
hardly concur with Jerome Michels statement. We have ALWAYS been Classically
Theosophical and congruent with the principles of The Society.
What Jerome Michel is really saying is that there is no room in the Society for
diversity of opinion and thought, and integrity of conscience will not be
tolerated if it differs from the "Official Party line" of thought.
Colonel Olcott intentionally structured the Society so that AUTONOMY of the
Branches would protect them from the political ambitions of the so called
"Leaders" and politicians in our midst.
For Mr. Michels information, the International President has always had broad
discretionary powers to intervene in the affairs of the Society, although rarely
and wisely used.
Fiat Lux: "Let There Be Light"
There comes a time in card games when the players are required to show their
hands or drop out of the game. Enough is Enough...
it is that time for the TSA Directors to come clean with the TSA Membership and
to disclose and be transparent about this issue.
Only cowards throw stones from behind a fence and then attempt to run away. Why
are the TSA Directors acting in such a cowardly manner???
Orlando Lodge has NOTHING to hide or be ashamed of, and we will defend this
position in any court of law, and in the court of Public Opinion.
We also notice that the VERY Same Directors have had their allies re-nominate
them for re-election. ( Where was the call for open nominations?)
Before any vote is cast, we invite and encourage the TSA Membership to Demand
that these persons explain themselves and their actions in Full disclosure.
Barring their cooperation they should have the integrity to recuse themselves
from the elections.
There is only ONE way for TRUST and INTEGRITY to be restored to the TSA.
It is reprehensible and very unfortunate that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is
unwittingly participating in the TSA Program and unknowingly giving credibility
to this cowardice and deceit.
Fiat Lux: Let There Be Light;
William Delahunt, ( Lucifer)
Secretary;
Theosophical Society In Orlando
Theosophist@Cddu9ngA_ezjwO7GWkdIpTYeQoTwmoWAmJ8wbis94ahLnfhg-0AoouvKCFPVrq62lGU3kyIxOjxZx28ciTqw.yahoo.invalid
http://www.tso-orlando.org
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