DAWN
A Magazine Devoted to the Promotion of Universal Brotherhood
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Vol. 2 - No. 7 November 1, 1922 Price Ninepence
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- Official Organ of the T. S. Loyalty League
November Issue:
- "Occult Chemistry" - Plagiarism or Clairvoyance?
- See Special Article Entitled: "Occult v. Modern Science"
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Editorial Notes
A special appeal is being made to T. S. members to support The Theosophist. No doubt it is hoped by its means to consolidate the Leadbeater-Besant influence in the Society. The Adyar Bulletin, another of Mrs. Besant's magazines, puts it this way in its September issue: "We want your help, every help, to carry out a scheme which the Editor of The Theosophist has in view. The President and Editor wishes to bring all the National Societies into closer touch with each other through the medium of The Theosophist."
The Theosophist at one time was regarded as the official organ of the Theosophical Society. Members holding opinions different to those of "our great leaders" could give expression to them in its pages. All that is now changed, and The Theosophist is a magazine controlled by Mrs. Besant to support her own influence, her own views, and her own particular sectarian "isms." Only in its last issue Dawn published a short article refused by The Theosophist because it referred disapprovingly to one of these "isms." Members who agree with Mrs. Besant; are adherents of her "Order of the Star in the East," acknowledge her new priesthood, and accept her and her nominees as the earthly representatives of the Great White Lodge, such will have no difficulty in airing their views in The Theosophist. Others who believe the Theosophical Society has the definite work to do for which it was established, must knock in vain for admittance to the official pages. Dawn takes the opportunity of mentioning that there are other Theosophical magazines than The Theosophist, quite as well got up, which, under the circumstances are probably more worthy of support than Mrs. Besant's official mouthpiece.
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The President was evidently much concerned about the happenings in Australia when she visited this benighted country. She is still making references to them in the various publications which she controls. Mr. Martyn, too, continues to be her particular bete-noir -she cannot easily forget his annoying letter and the perplexing questions which it raised.
Mrs. Besant is, moreover, prepared to comment on numberless unimportant side issues, but as Dawn has already pointed out, she studiously avoids making any reference to the one outstanding problem of the origin of her occult information, and the reliability of her occult guidance. Dawn regrets having to be so persistent, but what it must continue to seek answers to, are the same old queries: "Why did Mrs. Besant decide to expel Mr. Wedgwood from the T.S. and her Inner School, and on what evidence?" "Why did Mrs. Besant declare to her Inner School that this gentleman brought over perverted sex tendencies from previous Atlantean incarnations?" "What was the source of this occult knowledge?" "Was it true or was it mistaken?" "If it was true, why is Mrs. Besant pretending that this man, whom she herself accused, has left the T.S. because of persecution by others?" If the occult knowledge was at fault, then of what value are Mrs. Besant's many other occult pronouncements? Of what value her statement that the Lord Maitreya is about to reincarnate once more, and to use the body of one of the "Leadbeater boys"? Of what value is her statement that the same high authority wished the Old Catholic Church established as a Theosophical Church? Of what value her assurance that she and Mr. Leadbeater are Arhats, and finally, that she herself is either the agent of the Hierarchy or a liar and a blasphemer? To the common understanding, all these statements are more or less interdependent, and if one is shown to be grotesquely wrong, all the others may be wrong, as they are all now known to have had their origin in the fertile brain of Mr. Leadbeater, and to have been communicated to Mrs. Besant by him. People who regard the same Mr. Leadbeater as either a deluded seer or a pretended and pretending one, have some right to demand a reason for the credence demanded by the President.
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As bearing on the ever more patent fact that Mr. Leadbeater is the "occultist," and Mrs. Besant his tool, and that this state of things goes back to earlier times, the evidence given in the "Alcyone" case is much to the point. On April 10th, 1910, Mr. Leadbeater, at Adyar, wrote to Mrs. Besant, who was at Benares. He gave her word for word a message which he said he had received from the "Master." This message was a direction that Mrs. Besant's two wards must be kept away from their father, and included an appreciation of certain help which had been rendered by a Mr. Clarke, Judge Subramania Iyer (the then Vice-President of the T.S.), and Mr. Wadia. Mr. Leadbeater reports in this letter that he has "told Clarke of this message to him." Then he remarks that he did not mention a certain portion of the message, and continues: "Nor have I given the messages to the Judge and Wadia, because I know how much more they will mean to both of them if you give them." (Italics ours-Eds.)
The father of the wards was giving a lot of trouble because he found that though Mrs. Besant had accepted their guardianship, she had handed the two boys over to Mr. Leadbeater, and the father and others had seen things which reminded them of the 1906 enquiry, and other Leadbeater scandals. Mr. Leadbeater's remedy (or is it a direction?) is interesting. In a letter dated December 24, 1909, he writes to Mrs. Besant: "I think it would be a blessing if the father could be kept away over the date of the ceremony, January 7, I think . . . could you not send him to inspect a branch in Kashmir or some other distant province?" (Italics ours - Eds.)
In a footnote the writer repeats, in a note to the same letter: "I hope he (the father) can be kept away . . . I think that a month's tour in the north would be very good for him and for us." (Italics ours - Eds.)
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As events proved, the ceremony that was to have taken place on the night of January 7 was hurried a bit, and the "initiation" of the wards was effected earlier. Commenting on it, Mr. Leadbeater writes to Mrs. Besant in January 3, 1910. He says the Lord Maitreya looked in, and "the Star once more gleamed over us at the critical moment." (The boys, it is explained, omitted to mention this in their account, as they did not see it - in other words, it was an afterthought. - Eds.) Then, Mr. Leadbeater continues that he has told four persons, - whose names he mentions (the whole four are now cold on the T.S. - Eds.), and then writes: "I do not know whether it would be well that the whole Sunday morning (group) should know, but if so, I think it would be better for you to tell them on your return." (Italics ours. - Eds.) Later on, all account of all this is given in The Link, by Mrs. Besant, as something that has happened. She gives it forth all on her own authority, not as a statement of Mr. Leadbeater's entirely unsupported. That - it seems to many today - is where Mrs. Besant has deceived them all along. That, too, is the real reason why she dare not admit the possibility that Mr. Leadbeater may be mistaken in any of his "occult" adventures, and finally that is the real reason for Mrs. Besant's silence on the subject of the asserted Wedgwood "initiation," and the reason why she repudiated her own assured knowledge that the man was what Farrer, his fellow priest, declares him to be, and attributes his resignation from the Theosophical Society to persecution by wicked members who are "jealous" or "envious" or influenced by Jesuits, and so on.
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As bearing on Mr. Leadbeater's bona-fides as a seer, a remarkable piece of evidence was put forward in the "Alcyone" case.
In January, 1909, Mr. Narayaniah and his family came to Adyar, and the former became assistant to the Corresponding Secretary of Mrs. Besant's Inner School (E.S.T.). Shortly afterwards, Mr. Leadbeater made the acquaintance of the two sons, Krishnamurti (then aged 13) and Nitya (about 10). Mr. Leadbeater took one of his violent fancies to the former, and asked to be allowed to teach him to swim. At this stage the youngster knew very little English. Soon after this, Mr. Leadbeater began to discover wonderful things on the inner planes about the boy, and by the end of the year he had the Theosophical Society agape with the idea that the vehicle of a coming Christ had been discovered. In December, 1910, Mrs. Besant announced the Krishnamurti had written a book, At the Feet of the Master. In The Theosophist for January, 1910, Mrs. Besant wrote:
"A notable little book appeared in the last month of the dying year entitled At the Feet of the Master. It contains the teachings on the 'Qualifications of Discipleship,' given by Master K.H. to his young pupil, Krishnamurthi (Alcyone), and reproduced by the latter, who wrote down, as nearly as he could remember, the very words used by the Master. The book is dedicated 'To Those who Knock,' and thousands will draw from it inspiration and renewed vigor. Very seldom do such teachings find their way into the outer world. The little volume will find its place on the bookshelf of the aspirant, with Light on the Path and The Voice of the Silence."
Soon after this, the asserted child author traveled to England with Mrs. Besant, and remained there surrounded by English speaking patrons. He would, no doubt, improve his English very rapidly amid these surroundings. Here is a letter, dated London, September 8, 1911, from the boy addressed to his father, and reproduced verbatim:
"My Dear Father,
We have been photographed today, and I hope they will be ready to bring them back. He took about fifteen of us. I hope they will be alright. We have just returned from
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Esher...Yesterday we went to Maidenhead; there she gave a lecture, also A.P. Sinnett spoke. We are not going to Genoa as there is a bad cholera. Love to Sada and Siva Ram. Love to all.
Yours, affectionately,
Krishna
The book, At the Feet of the Master, bears its own evidence of having been written by one thoroughly conversant with English and English grammar, contains many of the well-known Leadbeater phrases, and bears every evidence of having been written by that gentleman. When The Herald of the Star was published in January, 1912, it was announced as under the editorship of the Head of the Order, Mr. J. Krishnamurti; an absurdity which could have only the one result of misleading subscribers; also about this time, or a little later, the authorship of Education as Service was ascribed to the same lad by Mrs. Besant and Mr. Leadbeater. Here is a nut to crack for the faithful: How came it that a child could edit a magazine and write a book in excellent English when he could not compose in passable English a letter to his father?
In 1914, when the Australian boys were discovered, a similar anachronism occurred, and those who have back copies of Theosophy in New Zealand can find in the pages of that journal articles over the names of some of these childish authors when they could not put half a dozen words together grammatically. These articles were written out by the boys, and compiled by Mr. Leadbeater.
The doubters will naturally explain that it was part of the process of deception practiced to make the T.S. at large believe that these little victims were intellectual and spiritual swans, and were receiving the notice of the great Arhat because of these qualifications rather than because they served other purposes. Some day, when the full truth is realized, there will be a rising up in wrath of those who have been so persistently and cunningly hoodwinked merely to conceal a vicious necessity.
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Some years ago a book entitled Occult Chemistry was published under the joint authorship of Mr. Leadbeater and Mrs. Besant. The contents were declared to be the result of joint occult investigation, and, as the subject dealt with was essentially technical, the great body of T.S. members have been accustomed to regard this book as affording unanswerable proof of the possession by the writers of clairvoyant faculties. Strange to say, however, scientific people have never taken any notice of the asserted discoveries announced in the book, and no authority on the subject of chemistry seems to have made any reference to it. We refer our readers to an excellent article contributed by a highly qualified man of science which appears in the present issue of Dawn. In an article on Mrs. Besant's Esoteric School (Dawn, September 1, 1922) reference was made incidentally to the fact that a diagram of the atom appeared in a book some years before the asserted "occult" discovery of it. This reference, no doubt, accounts for the following comments by Mr. Leadbeater, which appear in the E.S.T. Bulletin (October last). This comment seems to rob us of the only little bit of evidence we thought we had that our Arhat was really and truly clairvoyant. Now, alas, there seems nothing for it but to return to the record of our past lives, investigated by the same "authority" for proof of his high occult gifts!
From the E.S.T. Bulletin, October, 1922 (by C.W. Leadbeater):
"Some of you may have seen a book, written by a certain Mr. Babbitt in America, called The Principles of Light and Colour. He is rather fantastic in many ways, but you will find a number of statements in the book which are true, and I am told that he received them all in some way (I don't know in what way exactly) through spiritualistic influence or teaching. For one thing, he was the first man, as far as we know, to depict a physical ultimate atom. You will find a drawing of it in his book which corresponds very closely to that which our Outer Head made some twenty years later. I think his book was published in 1875 or thereabouts, whereas our first attempt at occult chemistry was in 1895. You will see that his drawing of the atom is practically correct. There are a great many statements which he makes about it which we have not been able to verify so far . . ."
Dawn is not so unkind as to suggest that the Occult Chemistry atom was Dr. Babbitt's atom palmed off on an unsuspecting Outer Head; but the facts do rather provide food for the scoffer; and it seems a pity that Babbitt did not publish the diagram a score of years later than did Mrs. Besant, rather than twenty years earlier.
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Mr. Leadbeater hails "our great Outer Head on her seventy-fifth birthday" in the E.S.T. Bulletin (October, 1922), and tells his followers: "It is very good to have a touch with a person at that level."
The priest in Mr. Leadbeater is probably mainly responsible for much of the superstition in our ranks, which causes members to value objects "magnetized" by himself, which are said to be much in request, also for the belief that there radiates from his own sacred person and from that of his protector, Mrs. Besant, some subtle duality which causes rapid growth in the causal body of the devotee.
Why bother about studying such hard tack as the Secret Doctrine? Why trouble to cultivate the tender plant of man's divinity by hard striving when the same results can be obtained by basking in the pure aroma of an Arhat?
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A recent article in The Theosophist seeks to show a cyclic connection between the outbursts of protest against uncleanliness in the Theosophical Society, and a seven year period of recurrence is assumed. Actually, any assumed period would equally answer the facts because the trouble is perennial and has lasted continually for almost a score of years, with other scandals preceding it. Mr. Leadbeater in The E.S.T. Bulletin above quoted, claims a sort of eleven year - or sun spot - cycle though he explains that it is no less than four or five years out! He rather expects more trouble evidently, and as astrologers have declared that the conditions in 1928 will be favorable, it is hinted that the "Lord Himself" may come just about that time. The T.S. "leaders" have made such a mess of things apparently that they are now compelled to promise their followers an early appearance of a great spiritual being, Whose mission it will be to set things right again.
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One of the most amazing effects of the recent crises in the T.S. has been the revelation of the abiding and inherent vitality of the Theosophy of H.P. Blavatsky. Although more than three decades of years have passed since she laid aside the burden of an ailing body, and of her work, there are still those who were so inspired by personal contact with her while she yet lived that - although time and the policy of later leaders has pushed them outside the periphery of the present T.S. - they continue her work, each in his own way, with an energy that the years have not abated. To many of these the publishing of Dawn has been a trumpet call. Many - whom we had esteemed as long since departed, who played great roles when the movement was new, have reappeared, almost with the force of reincarnation, to help us in freeing the Theosophical movement from the deposits of psychic rubbish, the broken shards of pseudo-occultists and questionable morality, that at present conceal it so effectively.
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From America, from England, from various places in Europe, from Canada, and from many Indian cities, come messages from those once well-known in the movement. From these who desire to labor anew in the reconstruction of the city not built with hands, whereof the foundations were laid and the first trenches cut by the Lion-hearted Messenger of the White Lodge. From the dust and the bitterness of the clashings and recent conflict there emerges the splendid figure of the original Founder. More than ever is there a demand for information concerning her; a clamor for her writings; many are seeking the direct inspiration to be found in her works. We are beset with students who wish to know more of The Secret Doctrine and The Key to Theosophy. And this brings us to the special point we would emphasize: the crux of her teaching was that Theosophy was a life to be lived and not a body of doctrine to be believed. It was works rather than faith. It was the practical application, the doing of the Supreme Will, whereby the truth of the Secret Doctrine would be known. It is here that we have so largely failed in the past. We have been content to allow ourselves to be drugged with Theosophic opiates, we have dreamed of the past and the future; have seen ourselves great in the dim years that are gone, and greater still in the years yet to be; we have been content to accept as an act of faith, a body of teaching that has been adulterated and diluted in its passage through the minds of lesser leaders.
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Now, there is a magnificent opportunity, a call to service, wherein we can so live that the inner illumination will shine through our lives and triumphantly vindicate Theosophy and those who practice it. A life to be lived. And in the living there must be no hatred or bitterness, nor even the semblance of these that can be utilized against us. Even though we are being constantly accused of hatred and bitterness we can show by our lives how utterly untrue such charges are; actually we know there is not any hatred or bitterness underlying our actions. We are acting in the cause of light and truth, of Theosophy, in a word; those who see in our actions a malignant cause observe only the reflections of their own feelings concerning us for having set up anew the true light. Where we have had occasion to attack personalities it is because they have proved false to the trust reposed in them, have set up false and shifting principles, have followed after strange gods in place of the God Within. Above all the present bitterness there is an ever-growing appreciation of the revealer of the Narrow Way, of H.P. Blavatsky, and of her work. Her name is becoming more and more a rallying cry against the forces of darkness and obscurantism, even though these be entrenched in high places. Surely it was of another such as herself - dead, yet speaking - that it was written -
"Seeing death has no part in him any more, no power
Upon his head;
He has bought his eternity with a little hour.
And is not dead."
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As we go to press, a copy reaches us of a pamphlet published by Mr. Johan Van Manen, entitled Our Present Trouble. The matter consists of an article written for The Theosophist, but declined by its
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Editor Mrs. Besant. A review will appear in our next issue, and the T.S. Loyalty League officers hope to secure copies of the pamphlet for circulation, for Mr. Van Manen is one of those who has been behind the scenes at Adyar for many years. He knows of that he speaks.
We regret that heavy pressure on our space necessitates the holding over till future issues of a number of important articles, including our regular features - the New Psychology page conducted by John Ploughman, and the Meditation articles by Jocelyn Underhill.
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The Leadbeater Police Enquiry
Such slanders can only have weight with people who, without any legal training, or any idea of what evidence means, arrogate to themselves the functions of judges.
This is what Mrs. Besant, with unconscious irony, tells her readers in The Theosophist (October, 1922) in referring to the result of the Police Enquiry recently held in Sydney. The jubilation, whether affected or real is premature, and the Editors of Dawn feel compelled to inform both Mrs. Besant and fellow members in the Theosophical Society that the evidence collected at this enquiry is of a very disquieting nature, and far from warrants the crow of triumph and the bitter onslaught on those who differ from her, which characterizes the misrepresentation of the President.
Early in September last, the statement was made by one of the Sydney newspapers that the Minister for Justice did not propose to institute criminal proceedings because the evidence collected by the police had been referred to the Crown Solicitor, who had stated that he was of opinion there was not enough evidence available here to obtain a conviction. That the police did not succeed in establishing the dates of alleged occurrences, and that corroborative evidence was lacking. (Italics ours - Eds.) In view of this statement, which could be interpreted either as favorable or unfavorable to Mr. Leadbeater, the following letter was addressed by the Sydney Lodge Executive through its Secretary to the Minister: -
THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY - SYDNEY LODGE,
69 Hunter Street, Sydney,
11th September, 1922
The Hon. T.J. Ley, Esq.,
Minister for Justice, Crown Law Office, Sydney,
Dear Sir, -
At the request of the Executive of the Sydney Lodge of the Theosophical Society, may I ask if the report published in the Daily Telegraph some little time ago re the Leadbeater Case, is the only official result of the Police enquiry referred to?
I may explain that it was my Executive which urged Mrs. Besant to hold an enquiry into the conduct of individuals prominent in the "Liberal Catholic" Church, and also in the Theosophical Society. I may say in this connection that her refusal to do so resulted in the demand for same in the Public Press.
What we would particularly ask of you now is this. Are we, as Officers in this society, warranted in advising parents to place their boys in Mr. Leadbeater's charge, or, on the other hand in dissuading them? We are, from time to time, called on to advise, and were hoping that the evidence collected by the Police Department, or their failure to secure evidence, would perhaps bring about finality on this important point.
If you do not see your way to express an opinion, would it be possible for my Executive to review the evidence collected by the Police, in order that we may arrive at a decision?
If this can he arranged, we should naturally accept any conditions imposed. My Executive gave material assistance to the Police making the enquiries, but we do not feel justified in asking them any questions.
The matter, with us, is a vital one, and we shall greatly appreciate any effort you may make to assist us.
Yours sincerely,
On behalf of the Executive,
J.E. GREIG, Hon. Secretary
The Minister replied as under: -
DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND OF JUSTICE,
Sydney, 13th September, 1922.
Dear Sir, - The Minister of Justice desires me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, respecting the case of Mr. C.W. Leadbeater, and to inform you that he does not desire to offer any advice to the Officers of your Society in the matter.
Mr. Ley is quite willing, however, to place at your disposal the reports received from the Police, and if you call at the Department these papers will be shown to you.
Yours Faithfully,
W.J. Kessell, Acting Under-Secretary of Justice
Accepting the invitation, a representative of the Executive and also of Dawn visited the Department of Justice and inspected the evidence. Now to what extent Dawn is at liberty to discuss this evidence we do not know, and we will therefore assume that it is better not discussed, at any rate, in public, but we should feel bereft of honor if we did not very emphatically state that Mrs. Besant is entirely unwarranted in the assertion that the enquiry was abortive; or that the accusations against Mr. Leadbeater were circulated by "utterly unscrupulous assailments by hints and innuendoes," and maliciously "shrieked" by The Daily Telegraph to the order of Mr. Martyn.
There is a great deal of evidence - of very damaging evidence, let us say, of evidence which leads a
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high official with every qualification and every opportunity to judge, to report: "There are good grounds for believing that he," the subject of the enquiry, "is a sex pervert."
Dawn can definitely assert that as a result of its acquaintance with the evidence furnished at the police enquiry, the Sydney Lodge Executive is unanimous in concluding that T.S. members should be definitely warned against placing their boys in Mr. Leadbeater's charge, and can only regard the action of a parent who does hand over a young boy to this influence prior to puberty with abhorrence.
Yet, Mrs. Besant - without knowledge and not desiring it - heaps anathemas on the heads of those who know; makes false charges against them; and, worst of all, imposes on the credulity of parents who implicitly trust her. Dawn refers Mrs. Besant to the Sydney Police if she wants to know the truth once and for all.
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Eternal Damnation
The Editor of Theosophy in Australia has apparently set out to discover the ultimate fate of those who are not at the moment worshipping the golden calf that the Neo-Theosophists have set up, so, having in mind the fact that his "great leaders" try to save their own occult skins by declaring that their critics are agents of the Black Brotherhood, he makes use of his Question and Answers column, and asks: "Is there any evidence of a `Dark Hierarchy' . . . with a spiritual King of Evil at its head. . . . What do the world's religions say of a dark Avatara? Will the Dark Brothers eventually be converted and enter the White Lodge?"
The Editor's reply quotes from "Man, Fragments of Forgotten History," which book declares, he says, "that today the black magicians are numerically stronger than the followers of light." After an adventurous career, "they embark on a nameless life of spiritual wickedness," and finally "they lose all they have gained and begin again at the lowest rung of the ladder; this is the eternal damnation of the wicked. . ." The Editor's own little summary of all this does not read like that of the kindly soul who presides over Theosophy in Australia, and suggests that the voice of Jacob is merely used to cover the hand of Esau; and Esau in this case wishes to warn all and sundry that unless they bow the knee to the Leadbeater-Besant combine, they are in for "eternal damnation." The last sentence reads like the comment of a devil incarnate in its callous reference to an erring brother. Fancy any member of the Theosophical Society declaring in a Theosophical magazine, "It is questionable whether compassion is wisely directed to such entities, or indeed, any regard whatever." But here is the complete paragraph as the Editor of "T. in A." is responsible for it:
"Any possibility of joining the White Lodge is unthinkable for those whose whole activities are entirely subversive of the White Lodge's aims, and it is questionable whether compassion is wisely directed to such entities, or indeed, any regard whatever."
To appreciate this comment it has only to be remembered that Mrs. Besant publicly proclaims herself the Agent of the White Lodge, and regards any who do not fully accord with her methods as "those whose activities are entirely subversive of the White Lodge's aims."
The Theosophical Society began its mission in the world with the declaration that compassion towards all beings was the Key that unlocked the gateway to Initiation into the White Lodge. That to "step out from sunlight into shade to make more room for others" was the preliminary mark of the candidate for spiritual growth. That the head of a national division of the Society should subscribe to this doctrine of hate certainly supports the contention we hear today that the forces of the Brother of Compassion are no longer working in the Theosophical Society.
What other forces are working through it, heaven only knows; but they do not apparently demand either physical and sexual cleanness, intellectual freedom, or spiritual and divine compassion.
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To Subscribers
The first volume of "Dawn" closed with the last (September) issue. Many subscriptions expired with that number, and should be renewed at once in order to ensure delivery of the magazine. Overseas subscribers please remit by international money order. Applications for back numbers should be made promptly as the heavy demand is quickly reducing local stocks.
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"Occult" v. Modern Science
A Criticism From an orthodox standpoint of various writings published under the title "Occult Chemistry."
By B.Sc
The Theosophist for September, 1922, containing an article by C. Jinarajadasa, in which it is made clear that he is responsible for the direction of Bishop Leadbeater's investigations into what is termed "Occult Chemistry," and which gives some account of recent researches and their relation to orthodox ideas on the subject.
It is the intention of the present writer, whose reading generally proceeds along more conventional lines, to try and outline the thoughts which have arisen in his mind resulting from a perusal of the above mentioned article. He has carefully weighed the evidence submitted to the best of his ability, and has come to the conclusion that it is right that the public should know something of the attitude which a critic can justifiably take towards the worse in question, and, as far as possible, the reasoning involved.
Occult Chemistry, it would appear, is far from convincing, even when so ably supported in The Theosophist. The danger that faces a lay reader lies in the fact that the findings of "occult" chemists are often presented as absolute fact, and not as the results of investigations carried on by people whom we believe are most certainly not infallible. Mr. Jinarajadasa's own textbook on "theosophy" presents such findings thus dogmatically, and the source of the information is not stated. One might almost infer that it is drawn from the same ancient scriptures from which are derived much of the fundamental Theosophical teachings. This is certainly not fair to a student who needs must study the authority for statements which come under his notice as thoroughly as the statements themselves. In reality, there are grave discrepancies between Bishop Leadbeater's writings and Facts, as demonstrated by modern scientific methods.
It has long been the custom for Theosophical writers to allude to Science as being "exact only in finding herself inexact every leap year." Such a statement may be excusable when made by it lay reader, but when used by Mr. Jinarajadasa it appears as an attempt to misinform the public as to what is the true scientific attitude. He, in common with at least one of the collaborators in Occult Chemistry, makes some claim to scientific training.
Let it be made clear that investigations in science proceed somewhat as follows: -
Firstly - All possible measurements which bear on the subject are made with the utmost accuracy attainable, and it is in this connection especially that the term "exact" science is used.
Secondly - From a consideration of the results of such measurements, hypotheses are framed to account for the phenomena.
Thirdly - Further measurements are carried out with a view to testing the working hypothesis. This, if not overthrown, comes to rank as a theory, and perhaps later as a "generally accepted theory." It will be discarded, however, the moment further discovery proves it to be at fault. In this connection scientists delight in argument and unrestricted mutual criticism. Occult Chemistry makes claims to be scientific, and thus is fairly open to such criticism.
Mr. Jinarajadasa in his article, says: -
"It seems to me that, on the whole, the very limited time at Bishop Leadbeater's disposal could best be utilized in laying a solid foundation for future generations to understand the actual building of the compounds, that in trying to bridge a gap between occult chemical facts, and modern theories of exact science."
One may, however, quite easily come to the conclusion that the gap lies between the interpretation placed by the occult observers on what they saw, and modern facts of exact science, which is accustomed to express ideas of atoms in terms of mass, length and time, measured with the utmost precision.
In support of this statement, it is the present intention to give a simple account of the conclusions derivable from the work of Thomson, Moseley, and Rutherford, names mentioned in passing by Mr. Jinarajadasa, and to compare these with some of the findings of occult research.
It must first be briefly explained that by "Element" in Chemistry we mean a substance which has never, even at the highest temperature, nor by any other legitimate chemical means, been resolved into simpler substances. Water, for example, can be broken down into two gaseous substances, oxygen and hydrogen; these are considered to be elements, for no treatment has succeeded in causing either to yield further more simple substances. Each element is considered to be built up of minute units, all similar in weight for the same element, such being called "atoms," all constantly in motion, and generally associated in groups called molecules. We picture hydrogen or oxygen as a countless number of molecules, each consisting of a pair of atoms, infinitely small beyond vision, and moving in space with inconceivable rapidity. Thus may it be understood how coal-gas from a leaky pipe is able to penetrate every corner of a room. The molecules move away from the pipe, colliding with, and being hindered by myriads of other molecules of nitrogen
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and oxygen which constitute the air, but making sure and steady progress.
Atoms of the different elements vary in weight, hydrogen being the lightest known, and adopted as the unit with which all others are compared when drawing up what is known as a list of relative atomic weights. Thus oxygen atom is 15.879 (times as heavy as the hydrogen atom); mercury, 200.6, etc. Such a list was known to Mendelejeff in 1869, who, in an endeavor to solve the mystery of the actual structure of matter, arranged the elements in a peculiar order, and after formulating a certain hypothesis, definitely predicted the discovery of new elements, with clearly defined properties, to fill gaps which existed in the list of known atomic weights. His predictions were in great part verified, for properly directed research brought some of those hitherto undiscovered elements to the light of knowledge. Occult Chemistry was published in 1906, and contained accounts of the atomic structure of what purport to be eight new elements, and at the time, it must have appeared highly improbable that scientists would ever be in a position to dispute their existence. We come now to the work of Moseley. By studying the effect of X-Rays in connection with each element separately, this great investigator was able to solve in part the underlying connection between the structures of the various atoms. His observations reduced to figures, elucidated many previously unaccountable anomalies which existed in the table of atomic weights; but what now concerns us chiefly may be given in the words of a standard school textbook as follows: There are blank numbers in the table of elements which indicate that only six elements remain to be discovered. Moseley's results [1914] are facts of measurement, and the above statement is not likely to he overthrown. It remains only to be recorded in this connection that not one of Mr. Leadbeater's eight new elements was found to fill any gap recorded by Moseley. Be it quite clear this is not absolute proof that the new elements of this "occultist" have no existence in fact. It can only be said that known facts seem utterly against such a probability, and certainly the alleged new elements can never be accepted as existing until verified by other independent investigators. Moseley was killed at the war in 1914, but his researches carried further by Rutherford and Thomson, have led to other far-reaching and most positive conclusions as to the structure of matter.
Passing to Rutherford's work, we here find grounds in which it can be asserted that the "occult' diagrams of the more well-known atoms are also probably not correct.
Rutherford, by use of electric discharge, has succeeded in disintegrating atoms of many elements, with the result that from a number of them hydrogen atoms emerge, whilst from others this is not the case. One would, therefore, expect that the structures of the former group of atoms would have something in common, since they contain, as it were, a common constituent. Examination of the Leadbeater diagrams of the atoms in question fail to reveal any sign of a structure which might serve to explain these experimental results. Indeed, they are noticeably dissimilar just where one world expect common features, and one can therefore only infer that the subjects of Mr. Leadbeater's observations certainly were not atoms.
Another argument in support of this assertion runs as follows: - All results of orthodox experiments tend to make it certain that atoms consist of nuclei positively charged with electricity, in which most of the mass of the atom is centered, and that around these nuclei move minute negatively charged particles, known as electrons. The Leadbeaterian diagram in consonance with this idea, which has held sway perhaps since 1900, show arrangements of such moving particles built up, on lines suggestive of the five Platonic perfect solids, in three dimensions. The application of mathematical physics to such equilibrium systems of positive and negative centers of attraction, however, has shown that atoms must of necessity have a structure such that the orbits of the electrons round the central nucleus must be all in one plane, a solar system in miniature. Please notice, in passing, the agreement with the occult law, "As above, so below."
Much of the foregoing argument has been made possible by the work of Prof. J.J. Thomson. There is, however, another branch of his work known as positive ray analysis, from which Mr. Leadbeater's ideas might have derived some slight fragment of support had not Mr. Jinarajadasa, in The Theosophist, written as follows of the work of modern physicists:
"Their results are very largely alchemical in their nature, because, though they are producing new elements, and also may combinations, by utilizing states of matter higher than the gas, these products are not natural results, such as come about in the slow processes of Nature."
In the present writer's opinion one should hesitate before making a statement of this kind, and since, if we can assume that Thomson's new elements are "natural" ones, the position becomes more favorable to the "occult" chemist, we will for a moment ignore Mr. Jinarajadasa's opinion. It does indeed happen that Thomson's work has produced results which lead us to think that "isotopes'' of elements do exist; that is to say, forms of elements slightly different in constitution from those generally known, and therefore of slightly different atomic weights, but of chemical properties which render them indistinguishable from elements already well known. Many of our known elements, in other words, may be mixtures of isotopes, and it also
--- 11
happens that isotopes of the most rare cases present in air, namely, Argon and Neon, correspond in atomic weight with two of the "new" elements described in Occult Chemistry.
Granting this, however, the question arises, if Mr. Leadbeater was so successful in observing isotopes of some most rare gases, how did he come to overlook others known in our laboratories as isotopes of very common cases, which most certainly came under his observation? That such an oversight prove possible, is most damaging to the claim made
----------------------------
[[illustration here - dig. ed.]]
Dr. Babbitt's Atom, discovered and published prior to 1878.
--------------------------------
on behalf of clairvoyance that it offers a reliable means of investigation.
One cannot conclude without a few words of comment on Occult Chemistry, quite apart from its corroboration or otherwise by modern science. The first point of comment arises out of the work of E.D. Babbitt, M.D., LL.D., who, in 1878, published the diagram which is fundamental in all the diagrams in "Occult Chemistry," and which is here reproduced. Babbitt, however, made small claim to occult powers, his concept of the atom being in the nature of an intellectual hypothesis worked out in detail to explain the properties and behavior of substances exposed to light and magnetic influences. He writes:
"Years of investigation of what the general form and constitution of the atoms must be to harmonize with the facts discovered by the scientific world, have lead me to a very positive conclusion that the figure given is the general outline of an ordinary atom, especially of one by which all the colors can be made manifest. Passing round the atom and becoming smaller and finer, the spirals form the channels for the electrical colors by passing into the vortex and through the axis; thermal being converted into blue green, red into blue, red orange into indigo blue, orange into indigo, yellow orange into violet indigo, yellow into violet, yellow green into dark violet."
Though Babbitt never abandoned his theories, they gradually came to appear untenable in the
-----------------------------------
[[illustration here - dig. ed.]]
The Besant-Leadbeater Atom, "discovered" and published about 1895.
------------------------------------
light of current orthodox discovery. Mr. Leadbeater's system of chemistry embodies the same idea so modified as to bring it into consonance with the scientific ideas of 1900. Babbitt's hypothesis thus is presented according to the "occult" viewpoint as a brilliant piece of reasoning, only slightly wide of the mark. Surely, then, it deserves more notice than that afforded by the following rather patronizing allusion to be found in the appendix to Occult Chemistry, 1st Edition:
"A fairly accurate drawing (of the ultimate atom) is given in Babbitt's 'Principles of Light and Color," page 102, ... If the stovepipe run through the centre of the single atom be removed, the picture may be taken as correct. .... Force rushes through every spiral and spiralla, and the changing shades of color that flash out from the rapidly revolving and vibrating atom depend on the several activities of the spirals."
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One can only say, after comparing the two, that the coincidence of the results of Babbitt's guesswork and the Bishop's "occult" observations is little short of marvelous, and that such an hypothesis as that of Babbitts' proved so brilliantly correct, according to orthodox standards, he would have received even more recognition than that afforded him by the generous "occultist."
In conclusion, we are informed that further "occult" work in course of preparation is designed to enlighten us as to how atoms combine (the previous diagrams illustrated individual atoms). According to Mr. Jinarajadasa's account, this is more difficult than the isolation and description of single atom. We must accept his statement, though as it is well known that molecules of common gases generally contain at least two atoms modified by their union with one another, one is greatly puzzled to imagine how this may be. Sure it is that before molecules of elements were proved generally to consist of two or more atoms, many good orthodox men were led astray in their ideas; but it is now a fact that orthodox science knows far more about molecules than about the existence of individual atoms, and one rather longs for the clairvoyant vision that makes the latter question so simple.
Let us then look forward with real interest to the promised publications from the pen of the distinguished investigator (it is to be noticed that Mr. Jinarajadasa does not mention Dr. Besant's name in this connection), and also, if it is permissible, one might respectfully suggest that pictures of oxygen and ozone molecules would be especially welcome. Furthermore, it would certainly be a help in our consideration of the eight new elements if we could be informed of the circumstances of their isolation, and observation, for the details at present afforded are so meager as to make the task of the orthodox investigator in search of confirmatory evidence, one of extreme difficulty.
Note - Since correcting the proofs of the above article, the writer has read the statement circulated by Bishop Leadbeater and printed elsewhere in this issue, concerning "Mr." Babbitt's work (the Bishop appears not to be a stickler for titles - where other people are concerned).
One would certainly be of the opinion, after careful perusal of "Light and Color," that Dr. Babbit framed an hypothesis rather than saw a vision. Nevertheless, the Bishop asserts, and we must be believe, that Babbitt was taught by spirit influence.
It now remains to reconcile modern knowledge with two separate "Occult" chemical systems, which are entirely at variance except as regards the fundamental diagram reproduced herewith. Dr. Babbitt recognized this as a picture of the Actual Physical Atom, many of which were tightly bound together in his concept of matter. He even works out in detail how the bonds operate as a result of the spiral currents. The atoms of the different elements to him differed only in the slope of the spirals. On the other hand, Mrs. Besant (the Bishop now throws the prime responsibility on her shoulders) saw in it the "ultimate atom," of which over a thousand in rapid relative motion are said to be present in the structure of the physical atom of some of the denser elements! The physical atoms of the various elements on this plan differ in the number of ultimate atoms they contain. We fail to see how these two accounts may be reconciled, quite apart from their relation to modern science. Something surely must be wrong with the "Clairvoyant" method. Something very fantastic, indeed.
--------------------------------
Loneliness
Very great is the grass
Where the swift wind races -
Very clean is the air
Of the open spaces,
And oh! my heart holds dreams of the wild flowers' graces.
Very sad is the town
With its toil and scheming -
Very tired is my heart
Of dreaming, dreaming.
Oh! for the distant hills and the blue skies gleaming.
Very kind are the hills
And the soft breeze sighing -
Very kind are the flowers
And the swift birds flying
Oh! for a glimpse to keep my dreams from dying - dying.
- Irene Stiles in the "Premier Magazine"
---------------------
--- 13
HUMORESQUE
It was the sacred month of Yam, in the year 24,872, after the engulfing of Atlantis in the time of this, our fifth sub-race of the great fifth root-race. On the bosom of the ocean darkness lay like a sable mantle, for it was midnight and the moon was in the shadow. Near the month of a mystic river, unsullied by the gaze of earth's profane, a ship rode at anchor, her sails set, and stirring in the summer breeze. At just the hour of twelve a bell, low, vibrant, rang out across the water, and instantly a little boat, in which were three shrouded figures, pushed out from shore. No one saw, save a solitary watcher standing motionless at the prow of the anchored vessel.
"'Tis well, they come." he murmured. The little boat drew near. Without a word the three figures instantly mounted the ship's ladder and joined the silent watcher.
This was no ordinary group of individuals, and this was no commonplace meeting, for each person, though of an entirely different type, seemed to vibrate with the fire of one intense purpose. They were none other than the Sacred Quadrangle, Keepers of the Eseehe Ittegaps.
Trebmemac, the Silent Watcher, agile, sensitive, alert, raised his hand in greeting.
"Hail. Ztnarkredeil! faithful server of the Eggbeaters; and thou, Trofeuqcor; and thou, Regrubmil; Sisters of the Eseehe Ittegaps; hail! hail!"
"Hail, Trebmemac! Brother of the Sacred Quadrangle. All honor to thy August Benigness," replied the three. Trofeuqcor, the taller and more stately of the two women, spoke. "The Lords of Amrak have decreed that once again the Sacred hour shall be called together to protect and provide for their eternal charges, the faithful band of Eggbeaters. Speak, Trebmemac, for the Lords of Amrak have made thee their messenger."
"Yea, proceed, Brother Trebmemac," said Ztnarkredeil in deep, low tones.
"Thou knowest," began Trebmemac, "that we, the keepers of the Eseehe Ittegaps, have not been called to earth since the year 179,463 B.C., at the time of the inundation of Pous Naeb, of the continent of Tuarkruas From the innermost recesses of Devachan we have been brought, for the Lords of the Eeaf Krad have sent forth their hosts, and we must indeed make sure that our charges shall be provided with safe passage to other planes; otherwise they perish with earth's profane."
"Ugh," shuddered Regrubmil, the slight, dark woman of the four, "mention not the pariah. It gives me feels."
"You know that this tie which we endure with these our younger brothers, the Eggbeaters," continued Trebmemac, "was made on the planet Venus, when we were all amoeba in the paleozoic ooze. Some splashing dipthoogerm with hulking tread, stepped heavily upon us, stamping us into the underlying mud. To this day our mortal remains lie petrified in the footprint of the monster. Until that form is destroyed and our shells released, we shall be bound to the Eggbeaters, ever responsible for their safety.
"Thou speakest truly, Brother," said Ztnarkredeil, "so let us execute the will of the Lords of Amrak. "
Turning to Trofeuqcor, Trebmemac said solemnly, "The hour has come. Produce the Ancient Bones.'' Whereupon Trofeuqcor, drawing a shining metal case from her bosom, took from it three round bones; the bones of the left hind foot of the faithful mastodon that had borne the Reverend Fudgewood across the frontiers of Atlantis on his ministerial journeyings. A breath of satisfaction escaped from the lips of all. Instantly the sails filled to bursting, the anchor raised itself and slipped noiselessly upon the deck. Quicker than thought the vessel sped over the waves, coming to rest in the limpid waters of a southern sea.
Ztnarkredeil spoke. "Proceed, Brother Trebmemac," he said. Trebmemac then produced a small tin-can fastened to a long string. This he cast overboard, filled it with water, and raised it again to the deck. With great reverence he offered it to Trofeuqcor, who immediately dipped her right forefinger into it.
"The water, Sister, is it wet?" asked Trebmemac.
"It is, August One," answered Trofeuqcor.
"And salt?"'
"To the last drop, Benign One."
"Enough! Thou hast reasoned well. This is the sacred spot!"
"Hush," said Regrubmil, "for I feel." The Quadrangle remained motionless, waiting, and watching intently Regrubmil's arms, for the flesh was quivering. "It is well," she murmured at last, "we are now directly over the Sunken City of Pous Naeb. Let us summon the silent watchers below, our Brothers of the Order of the Rats in the Yeast."
Almost instantly there rose out of the watery deluges, the High Priests of the Sunken City. Surrounded they were by a glowing vapor so that the moisture of the sea affected them not at all. Quickly they came toward the Sacred Four, but Ztnarkredeil, with imperious gesture, cried, "Hold, Brothers of the Order of the Rats in the Yeast, there is the smell of fish on you."
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"Just a school of blues, oh, August One,''' assured Srekcare Tun, the eldest Brother of the Order, "A school of blues which we passed through as we rose on the wings of the ether. Fear not; our vows are inviolate. We taste no flesh."
"Then 'tis well." said Trebmemac, "we can proceed immediately to business. We have come together once again, in keeping with our ancient custom, and in obedience to the Lords of Amrak, for the welfare of our younger brothers, the Eggbeaters is endangered. You who have sworn to be faithful to the Eseehe Ittegaps have had entrusted to you the futures of these brothers. We have come to hear thy report. But first must we summon them into the presence of this mighty company, for thereby their evolution will be greatly hastened. Trofeuqcor, the call!"
Whereupon the statuesque Trofeuqcor sent forth over the waters a note that sounded like the humming of bees on the wheat fields of Venus. "Hark, they come," said Trebmemac. And silently, one by one, they came wrapped in deepest slumber, and stood at the feet of the Sacred Four.
When they were all assembled there was a flourish without, and lo, in their very midst there materialized the awesome form of Zincwhacker, greatest of seers, carrying his faithful telescope for reading the Ashcana, and followed by his Sin Twister, the Mystic Einna. After saluting reverently the Sacred Four, they greeted lovingly their Brother Rats in the Yeast. With imperious mein, Einna then turned to the Eggbeaters, "Awake, oh ye that slumber!" she cried in trumpet tones.
A general stampede followed, but order was quickly regained as they appeared to be easily controlled. Then Ztnarkredeil, stepping forward, addressed them thus:
"You have been privileged to appear in this eminent assembly because of the tie that exists between you and the Sacred Quadrangle. Know that at one time we were all amoeba in the mud of Venus. In some way, by fair means or foul, we got the drop on you and won the first heat. Thus you have been given into our charge, so that in the days of terror that are to come upon the earth you may he spared the fate that awaits the rest of humanity. You will be conveyed to other spheres by the Brothers of the Order of the Rats in the Yeast. You will now bear the fates that await you."
Intense silence followed, Srekcare Tun, High Priest of the Order, solemnly approached the Eggbeaters. In his hands he held a tablet of pure gold, from which he read as follows:
"C. A. Jinrickey, faithful server of the simple-minded we have secured for you a commission to organize group-souls for the nut trees at Shanty Bunkshooter, the Headquarters of the Order or the Rats in the Yeast, and we have so arranged with the Lords of Amrak that these trees shall individualize into lush, vigorous Rats in the Yeast in their next incarnations."
"Unsurpassable," murmured the Quadrangle. while C.A. Jinrickey was nearly overcome.
"Solace Heavens Daily," announced the High Priest, "For you is building a hall where you may speak without interruption for a thousand years. At the end of this period you will have suficient time - and ouija boards - to complete your great works, 'Shooting the Shoots to Adeptship,' and 'Who's Who on Jupiter, or How to Get On the Inside Track.'"
Roarington the Silent was the next addressed. The tense throbbing pause that followed was broken by the voice of Trebmemac, uttering these unwhispered secrets:
"They'll give him an island in the sea
Where he shall reign eternally;
With Merrie Hoots for his queen bee
There'll be a busy hive for the X.Y.Z."
"Hodge-podgers, martyred one," said the High Priest tenderly, "there is a book concern and lecture hall complete, being prepared for you on Saturn, with a rule inviolate that it costs one dollar to get in, and two to get out. No questions will be allowed after the lecture. This will give you plenty of time to sell your books and count the collection. Unlike your colleagues, who seem to be inclined to lecture in petticoats, you will appear in running pants. This will facilitate your passing back and forth from book table to collection box." Here the voice of Trebmemac was once more heard chanting:
"They thrice did offer him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse."
"What, refused?'' came in anguished unison from the Eggbeaters. "Brothers," replied Trebmemac, reassuringly. "When darkness and silence reign o'er all, and the august backs are turned - he'll grab it!"
"Resume, Srekcare Tun," ordered Ztnarkredeil.
"Stooper, thou of the chameleon ancestry, the Lords of Amrak decree that in return for thy ceaseless yearning to be of service, thou shall be installed as a most powerful reflector to light the long, dark night on Venus. Thou art particularly fitted to fill this office because of certain special characteristics of thy noble dome, it having proved itself adamantine in quality and at the same time capable of unlimited extension."
"To Irondale," continued a younger Rat in the Yeast, "we have given complete charge of the twenty-seven expert stenographers who wait on the immortals words or Zincwhacker, the Mighty Seer. This is a most difficult position, as great care has to he exercised in deciding just which of his teachings are fit to he shared with those of our younger brothers
--- 15
who are still under the malignant influence of the intellect." At the word "intellect" a shuddering gasp of horror broke from the Eggbeaters, but the young priest continued solemnly:
"The last of our brothers to receive the decree of the Order of the Rats in the Yeast is Potson. But as he has a peculiar bit of Karma to pay first, we will reserve this reading until the next manvantara. He is, as you all do know, the manufacturer of canned nut foods, and we find that one day his foot will slip and he will get canned by mistake. At just this time the continent of America will be inundated, so he will stay canned for many aeons."
"Noble brothers," said Ztnarkredeil, thinking that the priests had completed their report, "your judgment is without flaw. But there is one thing more. What of our remaining brother Eggbeaters, those who have not stood out from the mass by some supreme act of service as have these of whom you have spoken, but who have served us without flinching through many lives? What of them?"
"Ah, thou remindest me well," answered Srekcare Tun. "Be assured, our faithful brothers, the Eggbeaters are well provided for. They were but reserved for the last. For them awaits au especially serene future. They will pass into the Hall of Oblivion of the Intelligence, and here they will rest, undisturbed until the early rounds of a new planet. Thus will they be spared the humiliation of developing the mental body." So saying, the noble priest stepped back, rejoining the group.
"One little matter, by your permission," said a voice from the crowd. "I wish to make an important announcement. Mr. Gloster Failey, who is now at liberty, has procured a paper mill, a printing press, and a branch post office. Anyone wishing to pamphleteer the Eggbeaters can now benefit by the services of this efficiency expert."
By this time it was noticed that the fumes of the magic punk, burning throughout the ship, were becoming too strong for some of the younger souls. Zincwhacker stepped forward impessively, and brought all back to attention. He was about to reveal to them a most arcane secret, when a messenger appeared, announcing that there had arrived of board a disciple named Nartim with an appeal to Einna. The Mystic eyed him suspiciously. But, as the gaze of the Eggbeaters was upon her, she said - after a pause - "Admit him." The messenger withdrew, reappearing immediately, followed by Nartim. With dignity the disciple advanced, saluted his leader, dropped upon one knee, unrolled a scroll and read as follows:
"Most Excellent Einna: For many years we have been your trusted servants. We have never failed you. In silence we have done your bidding. It has been enough that you have condescended to bid. But now, certain extenuating circumstances make it necessary that we should speak and tell you that which we and many of the assembled Eggbeaters do know. There is an evil that demands your immediate attention. It is common knowledge that Zincwhacker for some time has been leading a double life. While demanding from us the strictest vegetarianism, he has repeatedly been seen by us and by members of our families indulging in pigs' feet and hotdogs. This is indeed discouraging for those of us who for years have striven to use Potson's nut foods as stepping stones to perfection, and we protest - "
With a commanding gesture, Einna stopped him. "Little brother, speak no more. Your breath is wasted." Turning to the Eggbeaters, she said: "Friends, you know me well. In all these years you have never caught me in it falsehood. This story that you have just heard is the same old yarn spun by our enemies, the Lords of the Eeaf Krad, who have pursued us through fourteen planetary chains. Our younger brother, Nartim, has fallen into their trap. Judge him not harshly, for he is not yet quite ready for this unique work for which we have been chosen. So Nartim, my brother, for your own good it will be necessary for me to relieve you of the work with which I entrusted you, and drop you from the evolution of this planet. Zincwhacker, it pains me much that you should be once again subjected to this humiliation. I hereby appoint you Governor-General of the Eggbeaters."
Zincwhacker, rising immediately to the occasion, saluted his Sin Twister reverently, and addressed his subjects thus:
"It seems fitting that I should take this opportunity to reveal to you the special arrangement we have made for you with the Lords of Amrak. We are allowed, before you return to your beds and bodies, to give you a short instruction in some of our deeper teachings."
"Soft, soft! My brother," exclaimed Einna, stepping forward. "Remember you must first ask their permission, as we never seek to influence our followers in any way."
"Ah, Sister, your words are verily words of wisdom. But it is meet that you should ask them." So Einna turned to the Eggbeaters and said simply, "Choose as you will. Refuse if you dare." Eagerly they rushed forward and strove to touch the hem of her garment. "It is well," she murmured. Then, raising her voice, she again addressed her followers: "The book which will be used in this class is 'A study in Unconsciousness,' which may be secured from Hodge-Podgers for the nominal sum of fifteen dollars a copy." No limbs were broken in the rush that followed, owing partly to Hodge-Podgers' experience in swaying simple-minded assemblies. So
--- 16
Einna continued: "And for teacher, who more fitting than Dr. Swallow, the Hook from Hollownoise"'
Loud exclamations of joy were uttered from the Eggbeaters, who, books in hand, were already arranging themselves on the floor in the outline of a dollar bill, except the few unfortunate ones who, less limber from repeated incarnations in the West, had to have chairs.
The class was about to begin, when a loud scuffle and a piercing cry came from the cabin. Out rushed Mrs. Howell, dragging a lustily wailing infant. "Henry, behave!" she screamed, seating herself in the outline with the baby in her lap. Turning to Dr. Swallow the Hook, she remarked apologetically. "The Colonel is so restless."
When order was resumed, the Hollownoise Doctor began: "The chapter in 'A Study in Unconsciousness,' which I will expound tonight, relates to the transmitting properties of the Ashcana in regard to the caloritie bovinity of the caustic bottom." Already the Eggbeaters were deeply impressed, and Dr. Swallow the Hook, passing over some minor details, came to the great occult axiom:
"THOUGHT TRAVELS FOUR TIMES FASTER."
The Eggbeaters were by now breathless with expectation. The Doctor, wishing to make sure that they would bring it through to their waking consciousness, repeated impressively, "Thought travels four times faster." He was about to proceed when a timid voice came from the disciples asking, "Four times faster than what?" Amazement held the group. The Doctor looked at the questioner a moment in utter blank astonishment, then said, "I am sure I misunderstood you. Will you please repeat your question?" The disciple, undaunted, asked again, "What is it that thought travels four times faster than?" The Doctor's brow darkened. "That is not for you to enquire," he replied, "it is sufficient for you to know that thought travels four times faster." "But," persisted the disciple, "the statement as it stands is meaningless. I think - " But at the word "think" a terrible cry arose from the group. "He thinks! he thinks! the scoundrel! throw him overboard! tell Einna on him!" came in outraged exclamations from the faithful Eggbeaters, while they rushed upon and surrounded the struggling man. Trembling in every limb, pleading for mercy, utterly cowed in mind and spirit, the unfortunate thinker was dragged before the august Tribunal.
Ztnarkredeil, priest of the Eseehe Ittegaps, came forware. "What means this riot?" he thundered.
"He thinks, he thinks, he dares to think!" piped a soprano-voiced little man in the front row. "Thinks?" exclaimed Ztnarkredeil, incredulously, "with what? I did not know that there was the remotest part of an atom of brain left in the whole host of the Eggbeaters. "Well," he demanded. "what if he does think?"
"Why, your August Benigness, can't you see?" screamed the little man, who was now beside himself with righteous indignation, "as long as this man lives, he will be a constant menace to our beloved teachers." The shrieks of "Villain! Blackguard! Devil! Fiend!" rose higher, and Einna herself, seeing that the mob was getting beyond the control of Ztnarkredeil, swept majestically forward and took the deck. Intense silence immediately followed. With utmost compassion she stooped over the prostrate form, raising the disciple to his feet. "What has he done that you would destroy him?" she said in gentle tones. "Remember that he is our younger brother, and ours is the privilege to serve and uplift him by giving him only love and forgiveness in exchange for his hatred and malice. What has he done?" she repeated.
In awed accents one of the more daring Eggbeaters ventured to speak the hateful word in the high presence of the Mystic Einna. "He thinks." said the Eggbeater.
With a mighty cry of horror Einna thrust the culprit from her. "The one unpardonable sin," she exclaimed. "Overboard with him!"
A splash, a cry, a gurgle, and all was over. Sadly Einna approached the rail. With utmost tenderness she looked into the black abyss and whispered. "Alas, my brother, how gladly would I have served you, had you but allowed me."
"Silence all," suddenly ordered Zincwhacker, "let us meditate of Justice, for I see scales." Quiet fell upon the group, and in ecstasy the Eggbeaters concentrated until they became cross-eyed. "Ah, it has passed," sighed Zincwhacker, "it was my little brother, the haddock."
"Oh, he is so psychic," murmured Stooper sympathetically, "and what is more," he added, lowering his voice, "he is fast approaching Godhood. I know this, for I once spent a whole afternoon in his company, and as I am probably the only person in the world who has this knowledge, I feel it my duty to inform you of it." With these words he turned to C.A. Jinrickey. "Have you completed the placecards?" he asked, "that our dear Teacher requested you to paint for our coming convention?" Whereupon C.A. Jinrickey, manifesting great pride,
--- 17
produced four signs, brilliantly lettered in black and gold. They read as follows:
- First Aid to Clairvoyant Research
- We Carry a Full Stock of Dime Novels
- Reputations Vulcanized While You Wait
- Guaranteed to Stand Up Under Heavy Pressure
- Bishops Frocked on Order
- Unfrocked Clergymen Reinstated at Moderate Rates
- (Payments on Installment Plan if Desired)
- Why Evolve?
- Let Zincwhacker Do It For You
They all turned reverently to Zincwhacker, who was hastily patting on a rubber glove that he might he prepared for the handshaking. Suddenly a scream from Einna was heard, "Oh, get a block, quick! Get a block for Zincwhacker to stand on. He is not up to my level." When this serious matter was attended to, order was once again regained, as it was seen to the satisfaction of all that the great Seer was thoroughly blocked on both ends,
"Pardon, your Reverence," said C.A. Jinrickey, "but have you forgotten that the hour is at hand for the unveiling of your statue in the holy of holies of the supreme temple on Mars? You and Einna are the special guests of honor and are expected to be present."
"What, another statue? Ah, yes, of course," said the Seer. "It is indeed the auspicious hour, Einna, assemble the faithful, that they may take the dust of our feet ere we depart."
The Eggbeaters were soon gathered at the feet of their leaders, though not without some few delays when Potson was caught furtively hiding a shank of beef under his coat, and Marry Gunnysack Hootchner had lost the jeweled dog-collar givens her by Pharaoh, while the several gentlemen in black became entangled in their petticoats and sprawled promiscuously about the deck.
"It will be a manvantara before we meet again," announced Einna, "until then, farewell."
"And where shall that meeting be?" enquired one of the Eggbeaters.
"On Tarantula," was the answer.
"Tarantula?" queried the Eggbeater, wonderingly.
"Yes, a new planet not yet formed. But if thou lookest close thou wilt see where it is to be. There you will once again be kings and queens, for your exile will end with earth. Concentrate!"
All turned their gaze upward toward the spot in the sky indicated by their leader. "Oh!" screamed Merrie Hoots, who had just caught sight of Roarington, "He is there, my soul mate, my lord, my master!" and she fell swooning into the arms of Marry Gunnysack Hootchner, who, hastily scanning the beauty columns of the "Evening Post," exclaimed, "Yes, but I saw him first."
"Ye Gods," rejoined Solace Heavens Daily, "it is not thus on Sirius. Let us don our asbestos shirts and hie us thence."
"Yes, we must away," said Trebmemac, "may the Sacred Bean Vines ever thrive."
"And the Cheese Tree ever be fruitful." responded Regrubmil. "Farewell!"
"Farewell, Farewell," came from all.
Ztnarkredeil, towering above them, said impressively, "Be silent, ere we part, and let us feel." And so they felt, and as they were wrapped in holy feels, a tall dark-bearded man, wearing a Persian hat, appeared from the hold of the ship. Fire flashed from his eye, but before he had a chance to open his mouth, Zincwhacker, sensing his presence, cried out, "Einna, my beloved Sin Twister, have a care! This insect is once more casting his shadow across our path. Dost thou not remember when in the royal palace on the moon, this creature disturbed our rest and peace, and how night after night we shook the royal sheets, and how at last we squashed him with the royal seal? Dost thou not remember, my Sister?"
"No-o-o, my brother," said Einna, doubtfully, "but it must be so, for whatever you say, I endorse." She turned to rally the Eggbeaters, but found that the Rats in the Yeast were dancing madly around a young neophyte to protect him from the adverse vibrations.
At this moment a Machiavellian laugh rang out over the black waters, followed by a blinding flash of lightning and frightful peals of thunder. The winds whistled like the hissing of fiends, the ship careened madly, unholy sounnds came from the masthead. Strange, weird lights blazed in the sky. The Eggbeaters, stricken to the heart with terror, gathered at the feet of Zincwhacker, who raised his hand above them in protection.
"Doctor Pokes of the Cricket!" exclaimed Einna, striding forward. Then out of the darkness and the terror her voice resounded, rallying the hosts of the scrambling Eggbeaters. "Lo, I am with you, my children; fear not; I shall desert you never. Think you it was for naught that I led the hosts of Lemuria against the foe? Strike with me and let us annihilate this agent of the Lords of the Eeaf Krad. Quit ye like Eggbeaters, be strong!"
With majestic sweep she turned to her followers, but to late! At the sound of the unholy doctor's name, they had all fallen overboard.
Peace be to all Fishes!
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An Open Letter
To Mr. J.L. Davidge, of Adelaide, Concerning the Psychism of Mr. C.W. Leadbeater.
My Dear Davidge, - We are old friends, you and I, so we can - or l hope we can - speak to each other with plainness and without offence. If I do violence to any conviction or any convention in what I am about to write, if my angle of vision seems distorted or warped, let us agree beforehand that it is due to the fact that the wine of friendship - a heady vintage at all times - is less matured than we had thought. I shall do my best to be careful, truthful, and courteous, as I know you yourself ever are, placing only Theosophy higher than the friendship of which S. Paul said that it was the greatest of the three virtues which remained. My reason in so writing is to give you an opportunity to justify the faith that is in you, as you have recently published an article in The Theosophist in which you profess astonishment that I saw fit at the Convention of the Australian Section of the Theosophical Society to express myself "with great force and volubility" dissatisfied with the clairvoyance of "Bishop" Leadbeater. I appreciate the fact that you were good enough to leave me anonymous - it suggests the qualities I credit you as possessing above; but it is like me to refuse to allow it so to remain. Your astonishment rings true; I suppose you have never thought of it as otherwise than necessary to accept the clairvoyance of "the Bishop" as we accept the Secret Doctrine and the Law of Gravity; yet had you asked us to explain in detail, instead of rushing into print and so provoking me to this letter, I should have explained simply and frankly why I do not accept the truth of the vision and the psychic leadership of one who, for a season, we both accepted, though in far different degrees. I should have told you my reasons. As I know that the columns of The Theosophist are as closed to me as are the portal of that Initiation over which "the Bishop" presides in these days, closed indeed to all criticism of that gentleman. I am accepting the cool, if less spacious, hospitality of Dawn, to tell you why I am not at one with you on this matter, and I venture to say that if you care to come to the defense of your "venerated leader," the same hospitality in all reason will be at your disposal.
You commit yourself heedlessly and whole-heartedly to your support of "the Bishop." You ask of all if there are any others than his peers who could pronounce an opinion on so vexed a point; you imply what he has so carefully - through a long period of industry, whereof the reward is the devotion of such as yourself - cultivated the idea that he has no peers. In some respects, I am inclined to agree, though hardly in the way you would like. But let us ask ourselves, are there no other criterions whereby we may, nay, must judge? Are we always to be at the mercy of those specialists whose words must be accepted gratefully and without comment? Must there be no discussion other than that which accepts, no reference to the Bar of Logic, to the just judgment of consistency and truth, to those canons, for instance, whereby the value of so much in literature can be rigidly determined? Is there no internal evidence whereby we may test the claims of even those who stand on the threshold of divinity? Who miss no opportunity of asserting that they are the Agents of the Hierarchy? Who do not hesitate to tell us that they are the future leaders and teachers of Humanity? I think there is . I know, moreover, that when I first started on the slow road of Occultism I was taught that the first qualification I must develop was Discrimination, and that I was to accept nothing on the ipse dixit of any individual, even though he had stepped across that threshold of divinity, and not paused this side. It is because I have endeavored to cultivate this quality as I was directed, that I find myself where I do.
I am going to propose some questions and to make some suggestions to you, although I know beforehand that it is a hopeless business. To admit that I am right would mean the decay of a faith to which you are clinging with both hands. For I know that you are of those who are so fully committed to the truth of Mr. Leadbeater's genius that you will never, in this incarnation, admit that you are or might have been wrong. Verily, Mr. Leadbeater has grappled you to him with hoops of steel, and you do not wish to dissever the tie. However, I submit some of the reasons which have so completely destroyed my faith in "the Bishop"; you can take or leave them as you choose.
I propose to ask you if there is any evidence that "the Bishop's" clairvoyance has ever added one new, original or vital fact to the sum of the world's knowledge? If there is, I confess that I have no knowledge of it - and I have heard many lectures, read all his published writings save his last volume, which bested me, and seen most of his typewritten notes for E.S. groups. I mean any fact that can be subjected to proof of any kind. Can respond to any form of critical examination. In all his writings on life after death, for instance, is there one fact that was not already in evidence, wholly or in
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part, in the writings of spiritualists? I freely concede that Mr. Leadbeater has a logical mind, an amazing memory, and a consistency of expression. Thus he has gathered from many fields and garnered into one storehouse all that is known from several sources. But there is nothing new: one is tempted to quote the old French criticism that what it has that is true is not new, and what is new is not true. He has run counter on some grounds, but there is usually some predilection that is personal in all this - as, for instance, in his objection to the teaching of twin souls, which some spiritualists accept. To me the Christian teaching is sufficient (Mark 12:25), but in the case of "the Bishop" one is tempted to see in it further evidence of lamentable teachings in other directions. Of more importance is the fact that he runs so very often counter to the Secret Doctrine. I have not the time or the inclination to point out these, and if you want them, I suggest you follow my example and go to the writings of H.P.B. direct; it will be a good excuse for studying them if you need one. And it will be time well spent. His general writings on life after death have brought help and comfort to many people - so have the writings of spiritualists from Sir Oliver Lodge to the columns of The Harbinger of Light. But as far as "the Bishop" is concerned, you will find nothing not found elsewhere, save perhaps his clarity of style.
Mr. Leadbeater's psychic progress can be roughly divided into four periods. Of necessity, these overlap, and none are clearly marked as to beginning and end, yet to study his progress it is necessary to examine each period separately. They are:
The "Invisible Helper" period.
The "Round Table" period.
The "World Teacher" period.
The "Ceremonial" period.
In the first, everything was subordinated to the idea of work on the Astral Plane. It was sufficient to bring many boys under his direct control; the ideas filled his writings, and to a lesser degree his lectures. He interested in this work all who touched his orbit as he moved round the globe. Many people, with that keen sympathy which desires to bear other people's burdens with a minimum of physical discomfort, did not hesitate to accept this idea - often to the detriment of their work-a-day world duties. They roamed the astral plane at night on errands of mercy, having created the necessary mental "complex" by dwelling on the project. Many actually created in the thought world the ideal conditions wherein they labored. A noted psychologist discussed this with me in London in 1918, and told me of the damage that was done to many people by this creation of complexes. He was a Theosophist, too. Yet where are all those who were trained by "the Bishop" - directly trained I mean." Even "Cyril" of "Invisible Helpers" has fallen away, and now has nothing to say to his old teacher. He has abandoned the erstwhile trainer in his maturity. It is perhaps the outstanding feature that of all those whom he has "trained" there is not one to whom he can give his "imprimatur," although this seems wise during his own lifetime. Even a Bishop requires only successors, and not possible rivals. It is interesting to recall that in 1914 I asked Mr. Leadbeater - as he undoubtedly was then - why it was that when he and Mrs. Besant were in Germany some years earlier they had not invited Dr. Steiner to share their researches and so arrive at unanimity, and I was brusquely - with that brusqueness that was so characteristic of Mr. Leadbeater at that period - informed that there was no one, with the possible exception of "Alcyone," who saw as "high" as Mrs. Besant and himself, so that it was quite impossible to ask anyone else to share the work they were engaged in. All the same, in 1922 I heard "'Alcyone" say, in response to an account of something "seen," that he "saw" nothing at all. So the merry jest goes on! Surely, my friend, there is food for thought in all this?
The four periods set out above blend considerably. The "Round Table" period reached its apotheosis in Sydney when Mr. Leadbeater settled himself comfortably there, and collected a bodyguard of boys, ALL of whom he identified with members of the famous but quite mythical table at Camelot. The incongruity of the whole table incarnating to so provide his bodyguard did not strike at his sense of humor; and "his lordship" (as he was soon to become) never thought that other cities might have need of one of the flaming examples of ancient chivalry to enlighten their darkness and lack of manners. And the funny part of the whole thing is that when the fourth period was fully on him, "the Bishop" metamorphosed the whole table in almost equally mythical Christian saints, with a few realities, such as S. Francis, of Assisi (erstwhile King Arthur), S. Anthony, of Padua, and S. Bernard, of Clairvaux. Davidge, when we, in our simplicity, have prayed to S. Anthony to return us some lost and valued property, we have been addressing the empty Empyrean, for at that identical moment S. Anthony was conducting the Bishop to his bath! I am relieved to find that my patron saint of a rapidly vanishing boyhood memory - S. Stanislaus Kosta - is still in the Heaven World, and not in Sydney - though why and for how long only "the Bishop" knows.
The "World Teacher" period is an exceptionally interesting one. It includes the minor cycle of the "Rents in the Veil of Time," and hints at the coming epoch of the 6th Root Race, and covers the complete subjugation of Mrs. Besant. In 1908 I recall
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that Mrs. Besant dramatically sprung upon us the fact that she was getting old, and that a new Disciple greater than herself was likely to reappear to take charge of the movement. At this period many pointed references, which included the unveiling of a portrait in Benares, at a White Lotus meeting, were made to Damodar K. Mavalankar. It was generally supposed that he was the person to whom such cryptic reference had been made. Space does not allow me to tell you the story of Damodar in full; you can find it in the early files of The Theosophist and in Old Diary Leaves. Damodar has, however, failed to materialize; he seems to prefer this ascetic atmosphere of the far side of the Himalayas to the present heated air of the Theosophical Society, and it is not for you and me to criticize him for doing so. Yet when this seeming reluctance to put in an appearance was fully appreciated by Mr. Leadbeater, now well and comfortably housed - not to say "dug in" - at Adyar, a still more brilliant proposition suggested itself. Why not the appearance of a brand-new Avatar, vouched for and heralded by himself? He truly realized that his own tarnished reputation made it impossible for him, to be the Avatar in person, but he saw the possibilities of a rehabilitation in the reflected glory of another, who would appear under his sole management so to say. His first choice fell on "Orion" van Hook, who, alas! proved unwilling in some respect or other, and who has since abandoned him utterly. Then came "Alcyone" - and a blaze of magic which was only eclipsed by an unfortunate appearance in the Madras Law Courts, and a final departure from India to find a fixed abode in Australian. To support the great superstructure which he proposed to erect, a wide foundation was necessary. His clairvoyance was quite equal to the call and "Rents in the Veil of Time" appeared, I have not heard that either of us are included, so we can discuss without any personal feeling all that they represent. It is an epitome of the world's progress; the "Rents" make it plain that the present obscure group of people who make up the Theosophical Society today are the pioneers of the world's many advances. The great scientists, the first-fruits of genius, the philosophers later than Pythagoras and Lao-Tse, are not included; but at least one member of every household in Australia that gave Mr. Leadbeater hospitality and entertainment figures therein. And many mistakes as well! Let me tell you of one. There was one household wherein there were two sons, the younger of which attracted Mr. Leadbeater's notice - this was in 1904 - and he prophesied many things for him. He was given every opportunity to justify his Theosophic existence, and his brother was more or less obscured by the brilliant future prophesied by Mr. Leadbeater. When, however, private copies as to the present names of the characters in the "Rents" started to circulate, it was found that it was the older boy and not the younger who was named therein! Mr. Leadbeater had mistaken the names! Yet, notwithstanding this confusion and the accompanying results, neither of the brothers took the slightest notice of Theosophy on arriving at manhood. With "Cyril" and "Orion" and many another who refused to subjugate his will to Mr. Leadbeater, they both vanish into the outer darkness of those upon whom he smiles no longer.
I pass rapidly by the promised reward to those who remain faithful unto the end that Mrs., Besant and Mr. Leadbeater have in store in the 6th Root Race Colony, with its elaborate, if futile, ceremonies, and its everlasting pink blanc-manage. I can echo with heartiness the remark of a brilliant Theosophist whom I knew in London, who said to me with unmistakable fervor: "Thank God I shall not be there!" It is unfortunate that many of those who in times past have been assured by the Bishop that they were of the elect, have since abandoned him to his final period, and have gone off to do the work of THEOSOPHY in the world. How he accounted for their defection I know not, neither do I care. For there is work enough for us all, and while the "Bishop" sings mass at St. Alban's, some of us are trying to do it.
Then comes the meteoric appearance - and disappearance! - of Mr., Wedgwood. It would be a betrayal of confidence to tell you all I know of his first meetings with Mr. Leadbeater, of the latter's openly expressed hostility, and of his final winning over to the new church.
One could write much, my friend; but I gaze with consternation on the pages of my MSS. already written. Let us recognize, however, that Mr., Leadbeater, after leaving Christianity as a confirmed Buddhist: when he denied all that he had previously accepted, went through a period of Theosophical agnosticism in regard to the Christian faith, as is so clearly set out in the book called The Christian Creed, and finally surrendered himself to the full claims, sacerdotal and other, of the Catholic Church. His psychism immediately produced a string of startling revelations. Although through the ages there had been inspired mystics whose vision had pierced to the very Godhead - a Dante, a Saint Juan of the Cross, a Swedenborg - none had ever seen "the angel of the mass." The bubbles and the clotted and complicated nonsense, with all its dependence on millinery and trimmings that is revealed in "The Science of the Sacraments." No artist was ever inspired to paint, no sculptor to design, no poet to sing of these extraordinary happenings, until the psychism of "the Bishop" gave a new terror to Christianity. Yet it has been immediately swallowed by his adoring worshippers, I personally went to St. Alban's for three successive Sundays in February, 1921, to
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receive, if possible, some spiritual reaction. Open-hearted and open-minded, its far as one can ever be, with many memories of my lost-past Catholic childhood. The only result was a weariness and a distaste that the ritual was so badly performed, from the presiding Bishop, whose failing memory made a typewritten slip held before him by a barefooted acolyte necessary, to the smaller boy who knocked over the incense container, and after scooping up what he could, kicked the remainder out of the sanctuary with his bare feet.
It is a minor point that the "Bishop" has, since this period started, been won over to Masonry, which he derided, and to Astrology, which he sneered at, in replying to my questions in regard to Besant in 1914. It is a minor point that he has committed himself to the Baconian authorship of the Shakespearean plays, which no scholar of any distinction accepts. While most admit that the man Shakespeare couldn't have written them, they say also that Bacon didn't. In any case, the actual life of Bacon does not appear to have been such as to make him a great occultist - certainly he had a thirst for knowledge and a mind far in advance of his age, as any reputable "Life" will show; but he had sinister qualities of heart and mind that are not what we usually associate with the Masters of Wisdom and Compassion. That he was a sycophant is shown in his letters asking for preferment and addressed to his uncle, that his moral character was deficient is shown in the circumstances that led to his downfall. I would suggest that you get the two shilling edition of the "Life of Bacon" published in Macmillan’s "English Men of Letters" series and study it. So also with Sir Thomas More and Thomas Vaughan - both of whom he has elevated to the Hierarchy - Mr. Leadbeater seems to have been equally unfortunate. The first-named had few of the virtues and little of the strength of mind of his predecessor Wolsey, as witness the fact that no person was burnt at the stake for heresy in the reign of Henry VIII, until after More became Chancellor, and was unable to withstand the pressure that Wolsey had disregarded. Vaughan was unfrocked from his cure and from the church for his drunken habits, and while his was a true type of mysticism, it is possible that Mr., Leadbeater has confused Thomas Vaughan with his brother Henry. In these psychic regions anything is likely to happen. The one consistent thing seems to be "the Bishop's" misfortunes in handling them. This is a matter we might discuss it length, but I fear I weary you already. And, indeed, I grow weary myself of enumerating all these things which should be so apparent of themselves.
It is, however, in regard to Mr. Leadbeater's utter failure to add to our scientific knowledge that I feel most deeply. With all his boasted ability to see back to the Moon Chain and on into the future, he has done nothing to help us in any way. Neither did he say, hint at, or do anything in regard to the late war. Now, in the light of after events, he has much knowledge to bring forth, and his dislike of anyone born of other than English parents has surely assumed vast proportions, although one member at least of his entourage was actually born in Germany. But then he either didn't know or was afraid to speak. So with the discoveries going on around us in the domain of psychology. Did he hint at repression, or wish-fulfillments in his book on "Dreams"? Has he helped in any way the work that Freud, Jung and Coriot - to mention three only - are doing, to relieve the psychopathological conditions that do so much harm? With all his powers of vision I see no evidence that he has added one new fact to the knowledge of psychology. In regard to the understanding of those instincts which we share in common with the animals, he has said nothing; the pack and the herd instincts are meaningless to him as far as helping us to understand them is concerned. He can describe the angel in St. Alban's, but he has never told us anything of complexes that distress and hinder us. There remains then Occult Chemistry. It has already been shown in Dawn that the pictured atom was in existence years - two decades of years - before he reproduced it. A physicist suggested in America that a great deal more notice would be taken of Mr. Leadbeater's researches if he would undergo a simple test of allowing a chemist to place a few of the chemical elements in a phial and than clairvoyantly inform him what they were. He would then justify his right to write on the constitution of the elements. Or let him give us some new knowledge of the bridge that unites the organic with the non-organic, and we shall be glad to accord him a place on the roll of physicists.
Or let him turn his attention to Literature. There are many gaps to be filled. He has given us a clairvoyant rendering of the original of the Apostles' Creed - why not give us also the lost two or three pages of Euripides' Bacchae, the loss of which leaves a world's masterpiece incomplete. I know that Mr. Leadbeater has ever burked all suggestions of a test of any kind - but you might suggest that there is nothing more implied here than he has already done in the case of the Apostles' Creed.
No, my friend, I have no special reason to believe in the clairvoyant faculties of Mr. Leadbeater. He may be quite honest and believe in all that he says he sees, I have no reason to doubt it. But neither have I any reason to doubt that the psychic to whom I pay my humble two and sixpence sees also what she tells me in my aura or concerns my past life of my past incarnations. They are on the same plane, as far as I am con-
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cerned; it is only because he has so carefully and so well cultivated the belief that there is something so infinitely superior in his "trained" clairvoyance, as against the untrained variety, that he has the position he has. After all, is it not a question of very effective self-advertisement?
So, my friend, I leave the matter with you while I go off to the "movies." If you have any real basis for your support, I am willing to bear with your expression of it. If you can show me that I am wrong I shall willingly admit my error. If you can convince me that C.W. Leadbeater is a great man and a great teacher, I shall gladly sit at his feet. I shall be glad to have a reply, and shall await with interest any observations you may see fit to address to me.
Meanwhile, I remain, as ever,
Your sincere friend and co-worker,
J.M. PRENTICE
Hobart, Tasmania
October 7th, 1922
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What One Hears
That Mrs. Besant has both written and cabled to "ex-Bishop" Wedgwood inviting him to return to the Theosophical Society.
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That Lord Robert Cecil says: "It is better to have a second class brain than a second class character." He refers to the outer world, of course not to the T.S.
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That the President of one of the English T.S. Lodge Federations has circularized all Lodges with a resolution asking for a thorough investigation into the conditions surrounding the charges against Leadbeater and Wedgwood.
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That "Bishop" Leadbeater is now "Presiding Bishop" of the Liberal Catholic Church until such time - so he professes - as his late revered chief, "Bishop" Wedgwood, can be persuaded to withdraw his resignation, caused by Farrer's confession, and again resume the function of facing the world as an alabaster pillar of his church.
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That the President, writing for New India (her own paper), says, referring to her visit to Sydney, "There was a little storm in a puddle stirred up as a newspaper scoop by a journal under Mr. Martyn's influence." No question about the storm, nor indeed about the puddle - the water was very dirty indeed - but why repeat that falsehood about Mr. Martyn?
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That at the Annual Convention of the American Section, held in September, the inevitable Vote of Confidence in "our great leaders, Mrs. Besant and 'Bishop' Leadbeater," was staged. The result of the voting must have come as a shock to the L.C.C. wirepullers. While 74 delegates voted in favor of the motion no less than 27 voted against it. A very substantial proportion. It looks as if the minority is steadily growing, which is encouraging. It now remains for the "Bishop" to write to the E.S. Bulletin and explain that of the 27 American citizens who voted against him no less than a hundred or so were either Germans or Austrians, and his clairvoyant powers will be once more vindicated!
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That the "Blavatsky Lodge News" in its first issue declares: "One of our members makes and sells Jam in the Lodge, giving the proceeds to Lodge funds; quite a good method of serving." Jam making in a T.S. Lodge is quite a new activity.
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That the Editor of The Herald of the Star, the official organ of the Order of the Star in the East, joins the Theosophical Society in the bonds of unholy matrimony with that Order in the Editorial Notes of the July issue. At one time Mrs. Besant declared there was no official connection between the two bodies.
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That Dr. Van Hook, of Chicago, recently visited New York and invited a number of T.S. members to meet him. He told them:
"The reason I came today was because H.P.B. asked me to do so - pestered me till I came. In fact, she (or he) urged me insistently for several days, although it was difficult for me to leave my duties and get away. I am pleased to do what H.P.B. asked me to do, and we all feel that way, I think."
A very vigorous "H.P.B." on the other side has for some months past been giving messages to several of the more "sensitive" members of the T.S. Loyalty League, encouraging them to carry on the fight for truth and purity in the T.S. But the Doctor, like all who endeavor to gains kudos, by a claim to inner inspirations, made a great mistake once when he told the Americans he was inspired by a Master direct. What stood for the Master's inspiration was just a little note from A.B. Is he again mistaken?
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That as the following extract shows, H.P.B. believed that Theosophists must think, "to the mentally lazy or obtuse Theosophy must remain a riddle; for in the world mental as in the world spiritual each man must progress by his own efforts. The writer cannot do the reader's thinking for him, nor would the latter be any the better off if such vicarious thought were possible." - The Key to Theosophy
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That "it is here on this earth, which H.P.B. says is the only hell that we shall ever know, that man has to learn to control his earthly desires. We are told that after the rest of Devachan, when he returns to take up the fight once more, he finds his skandhic awaiting hint on the threshold of birth, and he is born with the tendencies, good and bad, and the powers and weaknesses that were parts of his last personality." - (Canadian Theosophist)
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That Mrs. Besant still devotes practically all her time and energy to Indian politics, her heart being bound up in the welfare of the people of India. Unfortunately, her frequent changes of position, all made with perfect honesty, have lost for her the support and confidence of one party after another, until today she seems to carry little weight. It was unfortunate that she had to break with Ghandi, India's "Martyr and Saint." and "one of those marked out for the high service of becoming Saviors and Helpers of Humanity," as she herself described him. The Hindus' confidence in this remarkable man is unique.
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That when "James our Bishop" resigned from the L.C.C., "Bishop" Cooper, head of that church in America, stopped praying for him. "Just when he needed it most," remarks our informant.
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That a local Blavatsky Lodge circular, calling for T.S. workers, concludes: "Much has already been accomplished, but we are only on the fringe of this great work for the upliftment of humanity. When we realize that in a few short years there will blaze into our horizon the Advent Star of Our Lord, the question arises - dare we work in haphazard and partial modes if we would avoid the self-reproach of incompetence and failure." This is one of many illustrations of the way outside movements are mixed up with the supposed neutral Theosophical Society by present day members of the latter, who are ignorant of the original impulses so stressed by H.P.B.
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That a lady looked in the other day and told one of Dawn's editorial staff that in a clairvoyant vision she beheld a certain "Bishop" balancing himself on a number of huge rubber balls, the continual movement of which made his foothold pathetically precarious. As one ball became insecure he jumped nimbly to another, and going remarkably well.
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That, according to advises from America, Mr. Jinarajadasa, on arriving in Australia early in the year, asked for helpers from the States, using as an inducement that he would give them the entre to the innermost ring of the C.W.L. circle.
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Mr. Jinarajadasa and the "Great Plan"
Our vice-president is never happier than when explaining how the Supreme intends things to run through the agency of himself and others. The following is from The Disciple, and is a record of an address to members of Mrs. Besant's E.S.T. (Secret School). That still "other subsidiary activities will be originated," sounds ominous for the unhappy victims of C.J.'s "Great Plan."
"Under the aegis of the T.S., several subsidiary movements are to grow as a part of the Great Plan; three of them, Co-M., the L.C.C., and Theosophical Schools, are already at work. Other subsidiary activities will be originated as necessity arises . . . One word to you who are in Australia who see little of the O.H. (Mrs. Besant. - Ed.) You are, naturally, many of you, nearer in your affections to Bishop Leadbeater, whom you see, than to the O.H. whom you do not see. In England, whither the O.H. goes oftener, members are devoted to her, but many of them know little of Bishop Leadbeater. But never forget that the two leaders stand at one level and work hand in hand. They are bound by Occult ties to a common work, and we, who work under one of the two as our leader, must see to it that we are loyal to the other also. You cannot for long take up the attitude that some do about one or other of the two leaders, that you believe in one thoroughly as your leader while you will remain undecided for the time about the other's role in your work. That kind of attitude handicaps your usefulness, even though you think you cannot help it. But do not make a virtue of your misfortune. If you are determined to enroll yourself under the banner of one leader, sooner or later you will have to enroll yourself under the other's banner also.
"Try to see if you cannot enroll yourself under the banners of both leaders now, instead of waiting for another life. It is certain that the two leaders mean to work together in eternity; or that they are decided, you, too, must make your decision sooner or later. You will be more useful if you can do it now.
"A very heavy task has been allotted to you all in Australia, and especially to those of you who live in Sydney. Sydney is and will be the chief centre through which the Masters forces will be distributed; you must arrange it to be a strong centre, varied in its activities but one-pointed in its aim, which is to carry out that part of the plan of the hierarchy that is given to Australians to do. On the success of your work in Sydney depends the welfare of the movement in other lands also."
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Organizer’s Notes
It is becoming more and more evident that the T.S. Loyalty League has not only come to stay, but that it is rapidly extending its influence throughout the whole Theosophical movement. Every mail brings evidence of the unqualified support we are gaining sometimes from the most unexpected places. Last year our principal difficulty was to get Dawn past the barriers created by Mrs. Besant's administration to the ever-increasing number of Theosophists who, like ourselves, have been heartily disgusted by the bare-faced claims perpetuated by that administration; but who, because of the unscrupulous suppression of information, had been unaware that a determined and organized effort to bring the T.S. back to its original aims was in progress. This difficulty, we are happy to say, is now overcome, and Dawn is now read as extensively as any of the "official" publications.
We are now corresponding with nearly all of the early members of the T.S. who are still on the physical plane, including some of H.P.B.'s original pupils, who were, on her recommendation, accepted as lay-chelas by the Masters, and these pupils have given us information and advice that a literally invaluable. From documents in their possession, we are now in a position to throw fresh light on some of the leading T.S. personalities that has resulted in a considerable changing of values.
H.P.B. looms larger than ever, standing out as the only official and accredited representative of the Masters, and she towers above all the petty intrigues and jealousies of her contemporaries.
It has been stated to us that Mr. Leadbeater was not even a pupil of H.P.B., and his influence in the early T.S. days was nil, until Mrs. Besant, having ruthlessly driven Judge out and cast Chakravarti on one side, and being at a loss for a psychic to interpret "the wishes of the Masters," hailed him as her salvation.
That the E.S., under his guidance, has degenerated into a credulous instrument of an even more credulous administration, should need no proofs.
The extracts taken from recent E.S. publications appearing in Dawn should be sufficient to show this; but if any reader imagines that tile present E.S. is the legitimate successor of H.P.B.'s School, he should read Dr. Van hook's recent address to the E.S. in New York, summarized in the "Critic" of 6-18-22, under the title "Esoteric Poison."
I have seen the verbatim report of this lecture, and can vouch for the accuracy of Dr. Stokes' summary, which contains the essential points of this amazing and inspired defense of sexual perversion when practiced by "initiates."
While on this subject, it is pleasant to hear that arrangements are being made at the request of ex-E.S. students to revive the H.P.B. School of Occultism on the lines laid down by H.P.B. for the original E.S.
Beyond the bare announcement of this fact, Dawn cannot go, but it is delightful to know that such a link will be established with the Masters without reference to the degrading influence of these self-styled and self-appointed "initiates."
Dawn continues its work of exposing the dark ways of these occult perverts of Theosophy with much success, and having cleaned up its original birthplace (the Sydney Lodge), is now extending its help to all Sections and Lodges who still commit the "original (Theosophical) sin" of thinking for themselves. If you have a grievance and cannot obtain satisfaction from your local paper, write to us and state your trouble forcibly but briefly. The mission of Dawn is to clean the T.S. of sectarianism and black magic, and we do not mind treading on anybody's corns, so long as we are the vehicle of truth.
The next numbers of Dawn will contain startling and original information concerning many matters of interest, and your subscription should be sent at once if you can stand a shock!
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Reviews
The Curtiss Publications
We have received copies of the latest productions by the Founders of the Order of Christian Mystics, entitled respectively, "The Voice of Isis" and The Message of Aquaria."
"The Voice of Isis" is a comprehensive textbook of Christian Mysticism, Esoteric Bible Interpretation and Occult Philosophy in plain language, and applied to daily life. Essentially Christian in its outlook and application, it is, nevertheless, nonsectarian, and its universality should appeal to readers of Dawn.
"The Message of Aquaria" is an extremely fine production, giving advanced instruction concerning the new Aquarian Age that will be of infinite value to astrological students.
Also contains some invaluable instructions regarding the Second Advent, as the Christians would call it, and explains how all may recognize the Coming of the Lord without reference to the "Order of the Star its the East." A refreshing change from the pabulum of the past few years.
Both books may be obtained front the Sydney Lodge Book Depot.
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Blavatsky's Philosophy
We have received from the authoress, Mrs. M.C. Pennifold, of this city, her book with the above title, and have no hesitation in recommending it to our readers.
It is always a pleasure to read the efforts of local students, and in this instance Mrs. Pennifold has very happily combined a short history of H.P.B., with a review of her teachings, couched in language likely to appeal to inquirers.
The book is attractively printed and bound, and is just the thing to give your friends. To be obtained from the Book Depot, Sydney Lodge, T.S., 69 Hunter Street, Sydney.
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HUMORESQUE. Humoresque Publishing House, 181 Girard Avenue, Hartford, Conn., U.S.A., 21 pages, price not quoted. It is not often that the gray monotony of our official life is lightened by such a laughter-compelling and delightful piece of fun as is found on looking into this amusing skit on the vagaries of some Theosophists, glamoured by the psychism that has taken - to so large an extent - the place of true philosophic thought and strenuous endeavor after Truth.
Modeled on the investigations that were later given to the world under the portentous query, "Man: Whence, How, and Whither!" it is a fragment of present-day Theosophical history, and introduces under quaintly disguised names many of the leading personages of the present Theosophic crises. "Zincwhacker" is perhaps the easiest to identify, but if the spelling of companion's name of Einna is reversed another well-known character is revealed - and the method may with advantage be applied to many more of the exalted ones referred to. Trebmemac, Trofeuqcor, and Regrubmil, who are amongst the keepers of the Eseche Ittegaps, after consideration have a startlingly familiar flavor; Fudgwood
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seems to suggest a name once well-known and now undergoing mysterious eclipse. It is, in dealing with characters such as these, that the booklet (reprinted in this issue) becomes a wonderful exposition of the results of the higher or "trained" clairvoyance. Yet, on applying our own higher vision to corroborate the revelations, we detected one small error; surely the name of the erring Nartim should be Nartym - this will, of course, be subsequently corrected now that attention has been drawn to it. In all research such as this the utmost care is necessary, hence our own researches are always checked by few others.
This, then, is the thrilling record of the temporary triumph of the Eggbeaters, the devoted followers of Zincwhacker and Einna, and their inevitable downfall. With the Eggbeaters were associated the members of the mystical Rats in the Yeast, but even the presence of these was not sufficient to avert the final disaster.
If space permitted we would quote much. Many of the expressions of Theosophical notabilities are cleverly worked into the dialogue; all of the events so happily parodied are very thinly disguised. But the booklet requires to be taken whole that its tonic properties may be fully appreciated. And like many another tonic it leaves a temporary taste of bitterness behind to recognize that persons into whose lands the leadership of the Theosophical movement - so grandly conceived and now so unhappily placed today - has devolved should give to the world, under the guise of high philosophy, psychic rubbish that lends itself so easily and so well to the biting jeers and the blistering sarcasm of the profane.
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A NEW PAMPHLET
"What the Theosophical Society Stands For " is the title of a fine pamphlet by A.M. Stephen for use in the Canadian Section. The author succeeds in giving prominence to the essentials and assessing at its proper value the nonessential. "The Divinity of plan, the Oneness of all Life, and the fact that each and every individual is the maker of his own destiny, were regarded as axioms, and intellectual and spiritual freedom were insisted upon as essentials of human progress," says the author, when the first Theosophical Society, three hundred years before Christ, sounded the note. Mr. Stephen tells his readers to "use the same common sense and good judgment in regard to the statements of Theosophical clairvoyants as they would towards the findings or claims of any other psychics."
Would that they would! But the whole of this pamphlet is virile and well founded, and it is hoped that it will find a wide circulation outside Canada.
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A CALL TO SERVICE
An excellent appeal over the signatures of Mr. and Mrs. Bailey and Mr. E.S. Suffern (New York) entitled "A Call to Service," reaches us. A few copies are available through the Secretary, T.S. Loyalty League. We cannot refrain from reproducing this gem from H.P.B., which, with much other interesting matter, distinguishes this appeal:
"How much happier that man, who, while strictly performing on the temporary objective plane the duties of daily life, carrying out each and every law of his country, and rendering, in short, to Caesar what is Caesar's, leads in reality a spiritual and permanent existence - he will soon stand beyond all pain, beyond all misery, and beyond all the wear and tear of change, which is the chief originator of pain. Such a man will be physically of Matter, he will move surrounded by Matter, and yet he will live beyond and outside of it - All this may be achieved by the development of unselfish universal love of Humanity, and the suppression of personality, or selfishness, which is the Cause of all sin and consequently of all Human sorrow." (S.D. III. 453)
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News from Canada
In view of the recent significant developments within the Canadian Section, it may, perhaps, be of interest to review briefly and in general terms the present situation in Canada. Generally speaking, up to the time of the last Executive election, held in June of this year, the opposing camps, which may be described for convenience as the Pseudo-Theosophists and the Loyalists, had not come into open conflict. Immediately prior to the June Executive election, however, a secret but strenuous election campaign was started by the Pseudos with the object of securing control of the Executive Committee. This accomplished, it would have been an easy matter to eject Mr. A.E.S. Smythe from the editorship of the Canadian Theosophist, and to reduce that journal in the usual and approved manner to a state of utter and abject subjection to Besant-Leadbeaterism, using it for the suppression of Theosophy and independent thought, as is the case with all other sectional magazines with which we are acquainted.
As soon as this campaign came to the notice of a few Theosophists scattered through the Section, a counter-movement was organized to work for the election to the Executive Committee of Theosophists only, i.e., persons who were known to have in apprehension of Theosophical principles and could be counted upon to apply them. This movement was successful to the extent that four out of the seven members of the Executive may be described as pledged to the cause of Theosophy, while three would probably describe themselves as pledged to the cause of Mrs. Besant and Mr. Leadbeater and anything they may order. So that, happily, the services of Mr. Smythe are retained as Editor of the Canadian Theosophist, a post which he continues to fulfill not only with great literary skill but also with the impartiality and the application of principles which one would expect from a Theosophist. Under these circumstances it goes without saying that his conduct of the magazine is considered as highly objectionable by the Pseudo-Theosophists.
After this first set-back in the Executive election, the Pseudos, by their champion, Mr. F.E. Titus, one of the three above mentioned members of the Executive, published broadcast over the Section certain of the transactions of the Ontario members of the Executive, containing a resolution moved by him that the Sectional magazine should be cut down to a bulletin sheet to cost fifty cents per annum per number. Mr. Titus is a lawyer, and he presented in his manifesto the delightfully naive, legal argument that because the cost of fifty cents was set aside out of the annual dues of each member for the magazine subscription, that, therefore, the Executive were compelled to spend exactly fifty cents per member per annum on the magazine! Mr. Titus was evidently of the opinion that it would be better to suppress the magazine than to run the risk of freedom of expression. For our fifty cents per annum Mr. Titus would limit us entirely to a diet of "news from the Lodges" - chatty little articles, one supposes, containing emasculated and sterilized accounts of L.C. Church bazaars, "Star" teas, and other typical Lodge activities. This manifesto of Mr. Titus evoked a shower of pamphlets, resolutions and counter-resolutions from all over the Section, and so far as one can judge the exchange of broadsides is, to date, decidedly to the advantage of the Loyalists. It seems probable that Mr. Titus will fail in his object of overthrowing the Constitution of the Section by stampeding the membership through the decision and action of the Executive. One feels entitled to hope that he did not find the wide support he expected.
The formation of the T.S. Loyalty League in Canada has been followed by a most gratifying response. A large number of the Lodges are entirely Loyalist, and the number of individual members grows daily. We believe that with the
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exception of Australia there is more hope for the T.S. in this little Canadian Section than anywhere else. Although our numbers are very small there appears to be a greater average volume of sanity per head, so to speak, than is discernible in the other Sections mentioned. Which, taken in conjection with the actual amount of kinetic sanity displayed by the said other Sections is, after all, a very modest statement.
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Correspondence
348 Foul Bay Road,
Victoria, B.C.,
September 2, 1922
The Editor, Dawn, Sir, - The May issue of Dawn is far and away the best Theosophical publication we have had. One hopes the T.S. Loyalty League may become a worldwide movement to purify Theosophy - or rather so-called Theosophy and give us the real thing. . .
I have had the good Karma of being directly associated for many years with one of H.P.B.'s Inner Group of 12 (the heart of the E.S.) Mrs. A.O.L. Cleather, whose faithful adherence to her Teacher and deep insight have given me, as her pupil, a training which, now that I am working amongst T.S. people, enables me to see the more clearly how far - how very far, the Society has strayed from the ethics enjoined by the Masters. Ever since H.P.B.'s death it has been run from motives of ambition, vanity, and egotism. This was seen at once in the prosecution of Judge, and ran on to Mrs. Besant's acceptance of Chakravarti as an Initiate, and his little daughter Bulbul as a reincarnation of H.P.B. - all merely the precursor of the scandals and delusions of our day.
Dawn is so virile in throwing off poisonous stuff, and so helpful to many misinformed present-day Theosophists, that one wishes its vision into the heart of things had been deeper than to permit reprinting from "The Beacon" that part of Olcott's address to the Adyar Convention of 1891 in which he says of H.P.B. that he deprecates "pretending that she wrote with the pen of inspiration," and much more on the same line, which, if accepted, knocks the "Secret Doctrine" endways, since it is a virtual denial that H.P.B., alone in the history of occultism of our time, was specially prepared by Masters (writing in 1883, H.P.B. says in an article published in "Light," that she has lived for more than seven years in Tibet) for the transmission, with full understanding, and not as a medium, of the whole body of occult truth, which could be given out few a century.
Olcott had no such knowledge or powers given to him, his mission was purely ex-oteric (see "Letters of the Masters of the Wisdom," p. 53) and his effort to belittle H.P.B. after her death, in order that he might be considered her equal - to which he added the pretence that his odious patronage was fidelity and appreciation - this petty bit of egotism is called by Dawn "wholesome"!
Compare (if you want to consider the Great Lodge's estimate of success) Olcott's attitude with that of Damodar - the one and only "success" in Chelaship (and H.P.B. said that only three had not utterly failed). Damodar's reverence for H.P.B., his attention to every word and wish of hers, must logically, in accordance with Olcott's views, have been very limited and narrow!
Although Damodar's zeal to uphold her real integrity, and defend her front foul slander, led but into technical falsehood, which, on strict Karmic lines, made a bar of a year or two of intense suffering before it could be worked off; yet he, of all others, was destined to be removed from the sight of men, and to be fully accepted by the Lodge. That is, perhaps, the most perfect comment upon what, in Their sight, constitutes fidelity. In that same period of trial (the S.P.R. attack), Olcott refused to stand by H.P.B., and tried to bluff it off by the assertion of his superior worldly wisdom in so doing.
In the August issue, "Canadian Theosophist" Mr. Chalk shows very sanely and usefully that the mental attitude of careful examination of the strange and new theories given out by H.P.B. - in order to develop understanding of them - is a very different matter to starting out with a self-assurance which considers itself fully equipped to weigh her - to sound her depths, and decide where she stood occultly.
In the present healthy rejection of cant, sentimentality, and scandalous pretension, there is, I think, a tendency to swing over too far and throw reverence to the winds also. We of the West are peculiarly susceptible to this snag, because of our suspicion of the very name of mystery.
Mr. Wadia, who has certainly been able to meet sympathetically every shade of thought, from the metaphysical to the socialistic, shows in his pamphlet, published on leaving the T.S., the underlying faith which has, at long last, guided him to see through error and pretension, and hold fast to the only realities of Theosophy. I think his simple statements may be a finger-post to nit Theosophists, in or out of the Society, to point the way of intuition, which is the antithesis of credulity... - Believe me, yours fraternally, H. Henderson
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THE LEADBEATER CASE.
An English correspondent writes under date August 5, 1922: -
To the Editor Dawn,
Sir, - The June number of Theosophy in Australia has just come into my hands, containing Mrs. Besant's letter to T.S. Lodges, Australia.
Unless they are well acquainted with the actual facts of the case, this letter will completely mislead a number of your members, and will place the following facts before you in case they have not yet come to your notice.
The case of Mr. Leadbeater was examined in 1906 by a representative council of Theosophists. Mr. Leadbeater was found guilty of the charges made against him, and the question arose as to whether he should be expelled from the Society, or whether, in the interests of the Society, his resignation should be accepted. The council, on voting, was divided, six on each side, but finally it was decided to accept the resignation. Mrs. Besant states in her letter that in 1908 "the whole matter was reopened . . . the General Council of the Society, after careful investigation, acquitted him." "Into the 1906 investigation I will not go again, having gone through it in 1908, and the General Council having gone into it and cleared him." Yet in The Theosophist of January, 1909, l find the following statement from the Editor, Mrs. Besant: Enclosure A. (As the original article can be referred to, we do not reprint the enclosure. - Ed.) This shows that no such investigation as referred to by Mrs. Besant ever took place in 1908, and thus her statement is incorrect.
As too Mrs. Besant's reference to Germans, and her unwarrantable insinuation that the trouble in the T.S. is a movement of nation against nation, the same argument was used by her to oust Dr. Steiner from the Theosophical Society, and perhaps you are not aware of a book that was issued, exposing this statement of hers and the whole Steiner case, by Eugene Levy. The book was originally written in French, but has been translated into English....
Mrs. Besant's remarks as to the charge of Mr. Narayaniah against Mr. Leadbeater having been disproved, are farfetched and not accurate. The judge said that the evidence again at Mr. Leadbeater in the Krishnamurti case was not sufficient, and proceeded to say that: "Mr. Leadbeater admitted in his evidence that he has held, and even now holds,
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opinions which I need only describe as certainly immoral, and such as to unfit him to be the tutor of boys, and, taken in conjunction with his professed power to detect the approach of impure thoughts, render him a highly dangerous associate for children. It is true that both he and defendant declared that he has promised not to express or practice these opinions, but no father should be obliged to depend upon a promise of this kind."
Mrs. Besant boasts of her success in the law courts, especially in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council never went into the question of the evidence, and decided the case at its first sitting on a question of law regarding the position of the wards, who were attaining majority. Between the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and Justice Bakewell's judgment, the matter of facts was discussed by two judges of the Madras High Court, Sir Arnold White and Mr. Oldfield. I have not the decision by me, but if you look it up, you will find that very strong statements in reference to Mrs. Besant were made.
Please make use of the facts given in this letter as you think best. Hoping that they may help towards a true understanding of the situation.
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A VOICE FROM INDIA
Almost every mail from distant parts of the world brings letters addressed to Dawn in increasing numbers and ever increasing interest. These are not for the most part sent for publication, but primarily to express appreciation of the work which Dawn is doing in exposing falsehood and wrong in the Theosophical Society, and striving to re-establish the original impulses for which H.P. Blavatsky, its founder, lived and died. The following extracts are of more than usual interest; the letter reaches us from India, where the writer resides. It is hoped that a supply of the pamphlets referred to will be available shortly. - Ed.
"I have just received from America the extremely interesting 'Circular Letter' sent out by Mr. J.M. Prentice, of Hobart, Tasmania - together with a letter from Mr. A.B. Piddington, of Sydney. I feed I should like to tell you how thankful I am to see such signs of a public movement against all this tomfoolery (excuse me) which goes by the name of Theosophy . . . You all seem to cling to the idea that Annie Besant can be `saved.' If you knew her as well as I do - or rather did - you could cherish no such fallacious hopes. It is, I fear, too late - it always was 'too late' after H.P.B. left us." (The writer, referring to some articles offered for publication in Dawn, continues.) "I do not claim to speak with any 'authority' whatsoever. This 'authority' business has been the ruin of the T.S. (and E.S.). No one could speak with authority save only H.P.B. - even Col. Olcott never understood her - and was several times reprimanded by the Masters for his attitude. I often saw them (H.P.B. and Col. O.) together, and his flippant and unceremonious behavior sometimes upset me so much I had great difficulty in holding my tongue. He was horribly jealous of her, and unable to conceal it.
"I feel so much in sympathy with your brave efforts to 'stem the tide' that I am perhaps a little 'forward,'" (Not at all, dear Correspondent - whether we agree with all your views or not we appreciate your sincerity. - Ed.) "but you will excuse it because of my love for H.P.B., and my boundless gratitude to her; and when I see such a movement as yours in progress, l hail it as the first really concerted effort to return to the pure teachings of the Great Lodge. I am one of the older generation; and I feel I can be happier (if not happy) could I see this monstrous upas tree, which has stifled nearly everything pure and good for so many years, uprooted.
"It may interest you to know that Mrs. Laura Langford and I are bringing out a volume of our `Reminiscences' of H.P.B. - mostly personal - probably in October. The book will be published in America - Mrs. Langford is in America. She was better known in old days as (Mrs.) 'Laura Holloway,' one of the two 'chelas' who wrote Man: Fragments of Forgotten History. (The other 'Chela' was Mohini Chatterji.) She also compiled Five Years of Theosophy under H.P.B.'s correction, and gave the manuscript of both to her. On H.P.B.'s death, they must have been among the papers 'taken over' by Mrs. Besant and others. No one had the common decency to communicate with Mrs. Langford about them . . . I don't believe you can, any of you, have the slightest idea of the sort of things --- has done and is capable of doing. But in my pamphlet, I give `chapter and verse,` both from the evidence of others, and matters which are known to me - as a member of the Inner Group and E.S. Council, bringing forward documentary evidence. I wonder if any of you ever knew . . . and that Leadbeater was no more a pupil of H.P.B.'s than - say, Gladstone was! He was never at headquarters, and was never even alluded to in the most casual manner. That whole story is a tissue of lies from beginning to end - but wait till see the pamphlet! . . . Sincerely yours, "Alice Leighton Cleather"
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Answers to Correspondents
A.L.G. (Adelaide): Thanks for renewal. Tansley's "New Psychology" can be obtained through Sydney Lodge Book Depot. - -Mrs. C. (Almora, India): Contributions much appreciated. Writing -- Miss C. (Perth, W.A.): "The O.E. Library Critic" can be obtained at 1,207 Q Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., U.S.A. Annual subscription, 2/' -- P.A.W. (Auckland, N.Z.): The question was fully dealt with in July issue. Mrs. Besant's lie reappears in `New India." -- Miss S. (Wingham, N.S.W.): Back numbers being posted. -- A.B.R. (Dunedin, N.Z.): Thanks for subscriptions. Dawn will be issued monthly as soon as funds permit. -- Miss G.H. (Capetown, South Africa): Glad you like the Meditation articles. Write Jocelyn Underhill, c/o Ed., Dawn -- K.T. (London): Sorry if we offend, and all that; but why worry us? The gentleman runs a nursery: we don't. -- A.J.G. (Jo'burg): Writing. A very nice letter, under the circumstances. -- R.A. (-Minneapolis): Loud cheers. Do it again. -- D.A.L. (Florida): Have looked up your town on the records, and find you are under Atlantean influence; that, of course, accounts for a lot. -- A.H.M. (Vancouver): Your General Secretary should be able to supply all the information you need. We wish he belonged to us. Any chance of trading ours? -- A.P.V. (Seattle): It's wonderful what a little education does, even for the L.C.C. -- Miss Y. (Auckland): Sorry, but the jurisdiction of the Sydney Lodge does not extend past N.S.W. However, you can clear out of the E.S., as Mr. Martyn will probably be able to accept you in the new Occult School. Write him. -- H. A.B.: Glad to hear you are convinced. You would be surprised at the increasing number who are with you. -- A.A. (San Fran.): See answer to P.A.W. If the lady thinks that the mere repetition of a lie is sufficient to make it truth - well, her standards are not ours. Still, it must be nice to be able to believe what you want to believe! -- C.A.M.: Send it along. -- C.B.B.: Take your coat off and go ahead. You'll find there are plenty with you. -- L.G. (Edinburgh): 'Forwarding letter. Thanks for information. The L.C.C. is suffering from "'arrested development" in Sydney. -- D.H. (Auckland): Your practical help much appreciated. Writing. -- E.V.R. (Winnipeg): Write T.S. Loyalty League in Canada, Box 1133, Vancouver, B.C. -- H.H. (Victoria, D.C.): Glad to insert your covering letter, but unable to find space for enclosure, so omitted the references to it.
---------------------------[[Below is the inside front cover in all the first two volumes:]]
The T. S. Loyalty League
What It Is and What It Stands For
Foreword - The T.S. Loyalty League had its birth in Sydney, Australia, August, 1921, and between one hundred and two hundred members of the Sydney Lodge attached themselves to it within a few days of the adoption of its platform.
The Theosophical Society appeals to those who join it because of its international ideals; because it aims at making Universal Brotherhood possible; because it seeks to plant itself in every corner of the world and form amongst all sorts and conditions of people centers which represent its objects; because no other existing organization offers any real promise of universality; because supreme and confident faith in the inherent Divinity of man and the Fatherhood of God inspires service to such a cause.
The Founders of the Society realized that to enable it to succeed a new habit of studied neutrality towards all other organizations must be formed in its ranks. They realized clearly that the one rock on which the Society as a Universal movement was most likely to be wrecked was the tendency towards sectarianism inherent in those who joined. Madam Blavatsky left on record her fears on this head in "The Key to Theosophy," and the last chapter in that book on "The Future of the Theosophical Society" is a very telling introduction to the T.S. Loyalty League.
Though intended in the first instance to help the work of the Sydney Lodge, many enquiries have come in from places at a distance, and the League may well become a rallying ground for members of the Theosophical Society in other parts of the world, who still regard its first object as of paramount importance.
If, indeed, wide co-operation at the present time makes possible greater interchange of fraternal interest; if it should provide a bond of sympathy and mutual regard all through the world, it may help the Society to achieve where hitherto it has failed; for we sadly lack a mutual knowledge of one another, and our various sections lose something of the wider spirit by comparative isolation. With a view to meeting this need, the T.S. Loyalty League provides an Hon. Organizer, hoping with his cooperation to keep in touch with sympathizers in other parts of the world.
The League is not a separatist movement, but an expression of the desire of all true Theosophists to preserve individual liberty and to prevent any member from enforcing the acceptance of his or her personal opinions on the Society as a whole.
The League adopts the broadest principles of democracy, believing these to be necessary to Universalism. It has no President, and its policy is guided by a Council elected by its members annually.
There are no fees of any kind, but voluntary donations will, at all times, be gratefully received.
The Headquarters of the League are in Sydney, and members of the T.S. resident elsewhere who desire to form branches are invited to communicate - with the Honorary Organizer or Honorary Secretary.
OBJECTS OF THE LEAGUE :
1. Loyalty to the established Objects of the Theosophical Society.
2. Loyalty to the maintenance of an absolutely non-sectarian platform, and resistance to any action or movement likely to endanger the neutrality of the Society even in appearance.
3. Loyalty to the good name of the Society, and the investigation of the bonafides of individuals or institutions claiming recognition from it.
The League proposes to encourage greater attention to methods for establishing and maintaining a nucleus of the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity; to the study of the early literature of the Society, and of modern science.
It is believed that it is important to encourage in our members faith in their own inherent Divinity so emphasized in the writings of the Founders: and to seek in that the Laws of right thinking, right feeling, and right conduct.
It is believed that the present condition of the Society calls for organization on the part of those of its members who have been attracted to it by its splendid universality, its avoidance of sectarian restrictions, and its encouragement of all shades of thought and opinion.
It is believed that all these great principles have, during late years, become endangered.
Membership of the League is restricted to those F.T.S. who are prepared to subscribe IN WRITING to its Objects, and whose applications are accepted by the council of the League.
OFFICERS
Hon. Secretary: Mr. J. E. Greig.
Hon. Organizer: Mr. L. Ingamells
Hon. Treasurer: Mr. E. Eberle
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Postal Address: Box 1489, G.P.O., Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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[[Back cover - member and subscription forms]]
The T.S. Loyalty League
- APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP.
I have read the Objects of the T.S. Loyalty League, as printed on page 2, and, being in full accord with them, I hereby apply to become a member: -
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(Tear Oft Here)
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The Editor, "DAWN,"
Box 1439, G.P.O., Sydney, N.S.W.,
or The Hon. Secretary, T.S. Loyalty League
Please enroll me as a subscriber to "DAWN." I enclose ----------- being subscription for one year of six issues, post free, and ---------- as a donation to the League.
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"DAWN" is published on alternate months.
Annual subscription, postage paid, Australia, 3/9; outside Australia, 4/3; single copy 9d.