25. The Occult World, 'Conclusion'.

26. 'Return to Mme Blavatsky's teaching' is the slogan for various dissident Theosophist organizations, among which the American United Lodge of Theosophists deserves special mention. This organization was directed by W.P. Wadia, who was one of the most visible members of the Theosophical Society, and seemingly one of those most expected to follow in the line of presidential succession after Mrs Besant. It was distinguished by not being a society properly so called, for it had 'neither a constitution, nor statutes, nor officials.' It declared itself 'faithful to the great founders of the Theosophical movement,' and accused the successors of having altered the teachings. The accusation of 'disloyalty toward Theosophy' was expressly formulated by Wadia in his July 18, 1922 letter of resignation, from which we offer the following extracts. What is this sand bed of thought on which the Theosophical Society has been erected? It is a program of spiritual progress which has become a creed, with its savior-initiates, its eternal hell for those who will have missed the opportunity, its devils under the guise of Jesuit black magicians, and the Garden of Eden which in 750 years will flourish in Southern California for the faithful who, like soldiers of a fanatic army, obey and follow zealously if not wisely. . . . In the Theosophical Society we find on the one hand unverifiable assertions, and on the other a fantastic credulity; a sort of 'apostolic succession' has even become an article of faith in the society, thanks especially to the private and secret organization of the E.S., that is, the 'esoteric section' or 'Eastern School' (the initials can stand for both). Regarding the future 'Garden of Eden' in Southern California, it will be the cradle of the sixth race, and the 'apostolic succession' concerns the episcopacy of the 'Liberal Catholic church', to which we will allude in greater detail further on. What is the cause of this ruination if not the psychic assertions (that is, the assertions of imparted to the Society. ^[27] Finally, certain American Theosophists raised indignant protests and created a 'Theosophical Reformation the 'clairvoyants'), the materialization of spiritual facts, the creation of demi-gods who drive away the Gods?... Now, there exists an 'apostolic Church' with all its 'pernicious ecclesiasticism' (Mme Blavatsky's expression), including the 'apostolic succession' conferred by the Masters! Today, the places of worship with their priests and those officiating, their ritual and their ceremony, are encouraged as being Theosophical. The sacred names of the Masters are used on every occasion and at every instant. One cannot belong to 'Their School' if one participates politically in the non-violence and noncooperation movements of the great Indian leader M.K. Gandhi. 'No one can attack the L.C.C. (Liberal Catholic church) and remain in the E.S.'; members must choose between the E.S. and the League of Loyalty (founded in Australia to promote a return to the spirit of the founders), for they cannot remain in both.' To be part of the E.S., all must believe in the next coming of an 'World Teacher', and must actively participate in certain movements because they have been declared blessed by the Bodhisattva or the Christ. Messages, orders, and instructions coming from the 'Masters and Devas' are broadcast, and these indicate not only the subsidiary activities that a 'loyal' member should join, but also concern the rules of the game, the manner in which quarrelsome young people should comport themselves, how they should dress, and what should be sung during the Co-Masonic rites, and a dozen other subjects of the kind. These orders show an absence of all lack of proportion, of all enlightened intelligence, and of all good sense. Obey and follow, follow and obey, such is the slogan given to those who are infected with the virus of psychic folly which is dignified with the name of Theosophy' - However there were those who eventually wearied of 'obeying and following'; in addition to Wadia's, there were also quite a number of other less sensational resignations at about the same time. In October of 1922, Georges Chevrier, Corresponding Secretary for the E.S. in Australia, left along with six hundred other members of the Sydney Lodge of which he had been president, and he soon set it up as an independent organization. Other entire branches also left or threatened to leave, like the Nottingham Lodge in England, the Midland Federation of British Lodges, and in France, the Angi branch of Nice, followed by the Vajra branch of Roanne, and part of the branch of Havre (whose president, Louis Revel, published an open letter to the members of the Theosophical Society on February 18, 1923, confirming Wadia's statements completely). From various sides the then current directors were accused of falsifying Mme Blavatsky's works in the new editions prepared under their auspices, and according to certain dissident American reviews, The Secret Doctrine contained no fewer than two thousand two hundred suppressions, additions, and various alterations. Stokes expressly designated as principal author of these alterations the all too famous G.N. Chakravarti, who, as we saw above (pp152-53), was for a long time Mrs Besant's principal 'inspirer'. - At present, the 'return to Blavatsky', as partisans familiarly term it, seems to be expanding anew: independent Theosophical groups who propose 'to recapture the true directives published by the first foundress and to rehabilitate the name of Theosophy,' have just been founded-in Paris at 14, rue de l'Abbé-de l'Epée, under the direction of Louis Revel, in Brussels under A. Pletinckx, and in Amsterdam, under Kleefstra and Van der Velde. 27. El Liberal of Madrid, November 18, 1913. League' which counted among its principal members the aforesaid Dr Buck. In the manifesto of this League, whose mouthpiece was the Chicago review Divine Life and which published a series of very edifying brochures on the Madras trial, we find the following lines: We propose to organize in the United States a body of Theosophists meant to bring about a reform of the present conditions of the Theosophical Society, whose President Annie Besant, in association with Charles W. Leadbeater, has, during the entire duration of her mandate, caused the most deplorable demoralization of the aim and the ideal of this Society. . . . Contrary to the most fundamental principles of Theosophy, ^[28] a new personal cult is being exploited by the President of the Society, and a particular religion is developing under her patronage. Here again Mrs Besant's behavior constitutes a characteristic malfeasance, and her continuous collaboration with Leadbeater is of a nature to throw discredit on the Society.