Theos-Talk Archives (May 2011 Message tt00001)

The main difference between the environment of today and that during the
problems with Boston lodge is the presence of Internet.

During the Boston litigation, members were in the dark about the real or
purported reasons for the decision of National Board and that worked to the
advantage of the leadership.

Today, we have the Internet and we have this mail list where anyone can post
messages without interference from anyone. In regard to the Orlando Lodge,
as we read more and more of the shifting and vague official justifications,
the credibility of the leadership is at stake. Due to lack of specific facts
supporting the violation of any of the objects or rules of the American
Section or the International rules, the whole reasoning raises more doubts
about the real reason for the action, especially when the International
President decided to attach the lodge to Adyar rather than rubber stamp the
decision of the American Section.

If the American Section has a very strong case supported by facts and
evidence showing that the lodge violated the three Objects or the rules of
the American Section or the International rules, then all the facts and
evidence supporting the decision to cancel the charter should be disclosed
to the members. If their hands are clean in this matter, what is it that the
leadership is afraid of?

I applaud the Orlando lodge in appealing the decision of the American
Section and also we all should appreciate and support the decision of the
International President.

The ball is in the court of the American Section. If the Section keeps
silent, the matter is not going to go away, especially in todayâs Internet
environment.

If a mistake was made by the American Section, all one has to do is to
acknowledge the error and offer a public apology to the members and the
Orlando Lodge. Shutting down a lodge is not the way to move theosophy
forward.


MKR


On Sun, May 1, 2011 at 8:32 AM, Duane Carpenter <monad_monad_monad@QVWVnLmJIDRZqyjhcgFGbIyIpuIrBsspOvNZ5EPjGGRt91vK_-L_8iOuzkTnOXRBcowy6nHVZdEY6ZdGkueLIO-fhrdK.yahoo.invalidm
> wrote:

>
>
> 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  its 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  their assists National  then 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  and 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  him  that 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.
>
> 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  did when the Boston Lodge had its assets equally divided.  An
> 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  what 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
>  leadership
> that will carry the torch forward. The Theosophical teachings have flowered
>
> around the world inspiring millions of people while the many theosophical
> organization have  often 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
>  a
> 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  to find value and insights into the many facets of the ocean
> of
> theosophical thought. But basing ones theosophical affiliations primarily
>  on
> the works of Charles Leadbeater or Annie Besant narrows Theosophy down in
> my
> opinion to a rather superficial  understanding of its great depth and
> profundity.
> Blessings Duane
>
> ________________________________
> From: t_s_theosophist <THEOSOPHIST@gMbwOuN4QMM5_VEqHZZuQYBXvrP4HDvLyKFOibF1H9iTeiguqjX9kg_EgVCBjb5-RHSyzDj4SBOE1ssJs2ii.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"
>
>
>
> 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?"   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@jHKEd11k6ihD_nK05anPdl09s6Lr6-E2ZIsuV7Qmp4JtdqJd895bKDM3u69YDfYECidSMEqPdo0Wkgo.yahoo.invalid
> http://www.tso-orlando.org
>
> ========================
>
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>
>  
>


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