Theos-Talk Archives (May 2003 Message tt00103)

Gregory Tillett wrote:

"Within the ULT a separate ES, claiming continuity with that of HPB, 
was established in 1909 with the title 'Dzyan Esoteric School'. . . .
The first DES group was established in Los Angeles by Robert Crosbie 
in November 1909, and extended to San Francisco in 1911, by which 
time it had only 11 members. By 1923, however, the DES had extended 
to other major cities in the USA. The DES teaching documents are, 
essentially, those of HPB as used by WQJ, with an 
additional 'Preliminary Memorandum' written by Crosbie, and its own 
book of rules. The DES issues the Probationeršs Pledge, the 
Preliminary Memorandum, the Book of Rules, and Instructions I to VI, 
together with Suggestions and Aids I to IX."

Since H.P. Blavatsky had died in 1891 and W.Q. Judge had passed away 
in 1896, who authorized Robert Crosbie in 1909 to reissue HPB's ES 
Instructions and allow NEW people access to these private documents?

Robert Crosbie had signed the original pledge folder in HPB's 
lifetime.

The E.S.T.S. Pledge Folder was issued in late 1888 by H.P. Blavatsky 
to all applicants seeking admission to the newly formed Esoteric 
Section of the Theosophical Society.

See Clause 7 of the Pledge on preserving "inviolable secresy" as 
regards "all confidential documents":

http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/espage3.htm

Who gave Crosbie in 1909 the authority to ignore the pledge 
of "inviolable secresy" as regards "all confidential documents" and 
disseminate to new people the esoteric documents of HPB?

I quote from another relevant document on the WWW:

-----------------------------------------------------------

"Did Mr Crosbie Break the Seventh Clause of His Solemn E.S Pledge?"

In my previous essay titled "Dzyan Esoteric School---Blavatsky's 
Esoteric Instructions Issued on Whose Authority?", I wrote-----

"Robert Crosbie was an esoteric member during the lifetimes of 
Blavatsky and Judge. Mr Crosbie had taken the same pledge not to 
reveal any of these esoteric papers." 

"After Mr Judge's death at the formation of the ULT's DES, by whose 
authority were the instructions reissued with a new pledge of 
secrecy? Did Mr Crosbie violate his own original pledge by allowing 
the reissue of Blavatsky's esoteric instructions under a new pledge 
of secrecy?" 

"It is clear Blavatsky & Judge issued the instructions at the 
direction of the Masters. Who gave Mr Crosbie the authority or right 
to violate his original pledge & reissue the instructions to new 
students under an oath of silence and secrecy? Did Mr Crosbie believe 
that he was following in the esoteric footsteps of Blavatsky and 
Judge?"

Since the above was posted, I've received six emails from infuriated 
ULT associates asking me how I could dare impugn the motivations and 
integrity of Mr. Robert Crosbie. I still urge that the questions 
asked are relevant questions to consider. I'd like to point out to my 
ULT correspondents that Mr John Garrigues et al in one of the ULT 
histories of Modern Theosophy did not hesitate to attack Mrs Annie 
Besant on the very same issue. Read Mr Garrigues' words----- 

"In Mrs. Besant's 'Third Volume' [of The Secret Doctrine, 1897] are 
incorporated the private papers originally issued by H.P.B. to the 
E.S., and in reprinting these Mrs. Besant . . . broke the seventh 
clause of her solemn pledge as a member of the Esoteric 
School. . . ." The Theosophical Movement 1875-1925, pages 571-572.  

. . . . If Mrs Besant was guilty of what Mr Garrigues accused her, 
then is it not equally fair to at least pose the question-----

Did not Mr Robert Crosbie violate his original "solemn" E.S. pledge 
by reissuing (through the DES) Blavatsky's esoteric instructions to 
new students under an oath of secrecy? 

If Mrs Besant was guilty of breaking her pledge, why not also Mr 
Crosbie?

Quoted from:
http://members.tripod.com/davidgreen_2/breakpledge.htm
-----------------------------------------------------

Daniel H. Caldwell
BLAVATSKY STUDY CENTER/BLAVATSKY ARCHIVES
http://blavatskyarchives.com