Theos-Talk Archives (February 2005 Message tt00188)

Hello Pedro,

I appreciate your view that each of the Theosophical Organizations have 
contributed to the TM. It is a view that I also share. If I understand 
the writings of the Masters correctly, they were, and I suspect, still 
are, supportive of any organization or individual effort that helps to 
bring about any advancement of human solidarity. I further suspect that 
they would also cease to support any organization that no longer 
advances their work. It is a very sad irony for me when you wrote:


>The critical views of the Adyar TS did not prevent the different groups coming together on some occasions, like for example, the Inter-Theosophical Dialogue: The Theosophical Movement--Past and Future, held at Krotona, Ojai, in 1994, of which you, Jerry, were a participant if my memory serves me well.
>
Indeed I did participate in the 1994 Inter-Theosophical Dialogue. But 
the circumstances behind how I was allowed to participate and what went 
on there belies a very different agenda from what the conference was 
billed to be accomplishing. Actually, the 1994 Conference was 
supposibly organized as a ten year anniversary of the 1984 Conference 
which my wife and myself, Roger and Elaine Gemme had organized. It was 
Roger who first suggested the wording of the conference's theme: "The 
Theosophical Movement: Networking for Unity." The 1984 conference was 
historically quite a notable happening.. It was a two day event held at 
Krotona, with about 150 people participating. We had James Perkins, past 
National President of the Adyar TS, Henry Geiger of ULT, Kirby van Mater 
(Pasadena TS), Emmett Small (Point Loma Publications) and Ted Davy (the 
Editor of the Canadian Theosophist). We also had John Algeo (who was 
then new to California, and looked to us very promising for the future 
of the Adyar TS) address the conference. We also invited Elton Hall of 
the Santa Barbara ULT, but he had to cancel because of illness.

The 1984 conference was indeed a healing moment when deep feelings often 
turned to tears of healing. Indeed, a lot of healing went on there. 
People came to that conference who had for many years distanced 
themselves from the Theosophical Organizations because of their 
infighting. Notably was Dr. Gina Cerminara (author of Many Mansions, 
Many Live Many Loves etc.), who had originally been with the old Point 
Loma Society. Victor Endersby, who had been pushed out of ULT 
thirty-five years earlier, met with Henry Geiger, then, the main person 
at ULT. Victor and Henry found a quiet place, talked together, and 
remarkable resolved a fifty year old dispute between them, and renewed 
their friendship. 

A few months later, Richard Robb of Wizard's bookshelf held an 
inter-Theosophical Secret Doctrine Seminar. Rick Nurrie (Adyar TS), Ken 
Small (PLP), Dara Eklund (worked with Boris de Zirkoff), Eldon Tucker 
(who we can thank for this bulletin Board) and myself met and organized 
a Theosophical Networking Newsletter. Rick and Eldon worked together, 
managing that newsletter for several years. Thousands of copies were 
printed and mailed all over the world. Several other inter-Theosophical 
newsletters were also initiated at that time. The New York ULT began 
one called Theosophical Sparks. Another inter-Theosophical newsletter 
was started by a Pasadena TS group in Maryland. Most memorable and 
longest lasting InterTheosophical publication was the High Country 
Theosophist, which also began as an inter-Theosophical Newsletter from 
the Denver TS (adyar). It was Dick Slusser who edited that magazine, 
and by doing so, became interested in Purucker. He subsequently 
introduced the writings of G. de Purucker to his Adyar Lodge in Denver. 
Needless to say, by doing so, he made enemies in the Adyar TS. At the 
Pasadena Theosophical Society, Grace Knoche sent out her annual letter 
to their membership, praising the conference. For the first time since 
G. de Purucker (who died in 1942), the TS (Pasadena) re-commenced their 
own networking efforts with the other Theosophical organizations.

Shortly after the Networking conference, I began to get notices from 
difference countries around the world and groups in the US, who also 
decided to organize their own inter-Theosophical conferences. Also, the 
Pasadena TS organized an inter-Theosophical conference. They invited 
members from different Theosophical Organizations (including myself) to 
participate in this conference's organization. We all met at the 
Pasadena TS headquarters, rotated chairmanship and all had equal input. 
In 1991, Gene Meyer, of ULT, organized an InterTheosophical conference 
in Culver city, which was also planned in the same manner as the 
Theosophical Society (Pasadena). 

Dora Kunz was then National President of the TS (Adyar) was very 
supportive of what we were doing. She offered to reprint the Talks from 
the 1984 Conference in the American Theosophist. But, when it came to 
publishing James Perkins' very conciliatory and positive talk, they 
instead substituted it with an entirely different talk which he never 
delivered at the conference. Worse, they represented it as the talk he 
gave. I was very unhappy about the deception. So, when Dora wanted to 
publish the talks as a separate pamphlet once they were all published in 
the AT, I was very apprehensive. I asked Dora if I would have any 
editorial input in the pamphlet. She said no. Consequently, I refused 
to continue to furnish copies of the talks to the AT. My reason was 
because I was not willing to support the deception.

When the 1994 net-working conference was being organized, I was not 
notified. It was Roger Gemme, who happened to have been living at Ojai 
at the time, who learned about the plans and mentioned it to me. I told 
him that I knew nothing about it. Roger, surprised, then went to the 
organizing committee and advised them that it would look odd that they 
would have a ten year re-union of a conference and not invite the 
original organizers. They agreed with Roger's logic, and for the sake 
of appearances, they invited me to speak for ten minutes. I talked 
about how important it is for the TS to be sensitive to the changing 
times and that they need to concentrate upon communicating Theosophy in 
a way that is relevant to the current generation. John Kern was 
present, and was very excited about my talk. He asked me to write an 
article about it in the American Theosophist. I frankly told him that 
it was he who had the influence to make these changes, and could bring 
them about, if he only had the will to do so. Needless to say, he didn't. 

John Algeo, who we had speak at the 1984 conference, gave the key note 
address at the 94 Conference. He spoke for about forty minutes--and here 
is the sad irony to what you wrote above. John's talk was not about 
inter-Theosophical unity. Rather, at the high point of his speech, he 
cited the Letter from the Maha-Chohan as proof that the Adyar TS was the 
only true TS. In other words, he completely deconstructed the entire 
purpose of the conference. Diana Dunningham happened to be sitting next 
to me at the time. I heard her gasp in disbelief that John would do 
this. I asked several Adyar members about what they heard John say, and 
irony upon irony, the Adyar members I asked, never grasped the 
significance of John's statement. When I talked to non-Adyar 
Theosophists who were present, they, of course, heard perfectly and 
understoood what John was telling them--that the Theosophical Society 
(Adyar) is the only true Theosophical Society.

Soon after that, I completely withdrew from participating in any 
activities controlled by the Adyar TS, though I still retain my life 
membership in that organization, and will support any work which I 
believe to be a genuine good for humanity. Roger Gemme also withdrew a 
few years after I did, and became active in an entirely different 
organization where his efforts were truly appreciated. Sadly, Roger 
passed away on the thirteenth of January--about three weeks ago. Last 
weekend, we drove to Grass Valley and attended his memorial service. My 
wife, April, and I (and of course Elaine) were the only ones present 
who knew and worked with Roger during his Theosophical days. Everyone 
else present have only known Roger since he left the TS. From their 
testimonies, it was very clear to me that all of these new friends, 
dearly loved and appreciated him for the truly beautiful and giving 
person that he was. He deeply touched all of their lives. It leaves me 
to wonder how a person who gave over twenty years to the TS, could have 
been so badly treated in that organization, yet so accepted, deeply 
appreciated, and loved in the other. 

You also write:

>The fact that from time to time some radical views are expressed, 
>like the one regarding the Theosophical Society with Headquarters at 
>Adyar as a corpse (see editorial of "Fohat" magazine, Fall 2004) 
>does not seem to indicate that such expressions represent an 
>institutional or corporate view by the organizations following the 
>Blavatksy/Judge/Point Loma tradition. But I admit that I may be 
>wrong.


Perhaps, the editorial in Fohat Magazine is more understandable (though 
still as sad commentary) if you consider that Edmonton Lodge (the 
publisher of Fohat) was originally part of the Canadian Section of the 
Adyar Theosophical Society, until Radha Burnier expelled that Section in 
1992. Needless to say, there are still a lot of bitter feelings about 
Radha's action. The Edmonton Lodge now continues as an independent 
entity, not connected to any Theosophical organization, other than 
itself. How this expulsion came about is another long and sad story, 
which I will have to save for another time.

--j




prmoliveira wrote:

>--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, Jerry Hejka-Ekins <jjhe@c...> 
>wrote:
>
>>Why can't they both be "true" Theosophical Societies, each doing their 
>> 
>>
>>own work?
>> 
>>
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>>Anand Gholap wrote:
>>
>> 
>>
>>>After splitting of the TS, in 1890s, some people were and still are 
>>> 
>>>
>>>confused about which society is actually Masters' Society. Judge died 
>>> 
>>>
>>>in 1896 after appointing Katherin Tingley as his successor. 
>>>In 1900 Master K.H. wrote letter to Annie Besant who was the head of 
>>> 
>>>
>>>ES-Adyar with following words " The greatest of your trials is yet to 
>>> 
>>>
>>>come. We watch over you but you must put forth all your strength- 
>>>K.H." 
>>>It is clear from words of Master that Annie Besant was Their true 
>>>agent in Esoteric matters and Adyar TS as only true Theosophical 
>>>Society. 
>>> 
>>>
>
>
>Dear Jerry:
>
>Anand Gholap personal interpreattion of K.H.'s letter does not, IMO, 
>represent the view of the majority of Adyar TS members on the 
>subject. It is certainly not my view. The expression in the 1900 
>letter, "We are watching over you but you must put forth all your 
>strength", does not necessarily make Besant "Their true agent in 
>Esoteric matters and Adyar TS as only true Theosophical Society." 
>
>That different Theosophical Societies exist is a historical fact and 
>the contribution of the Blavatsky/Judge/Point Loma tradition to the 
>dissemination of the teachings of Theosophy is a very important one, 
>focusing as it does on the original teachings.
>
>The critical views of the Adyar TS did not prevent the different 
>groups coming together on some occasions, like for example, the 
>Inter-Theosophical Dialogue: The Theosophical Movement--Past and 
>Future, held at Krotona, Ojai, in 1994, of which you, Jerry, were a 
>participant if my memory serves me well. There was also the meeting 
>at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, in 1993.
>
>The fact that from time to time some radical views are expressed, 
>like the one regarding the Theosophical Society with Headquarters at 
>Adyar as a corpse (see editorial of "Fohat" magazine, Fall 2004) 
>does not seem to indicate that such expressions represent an 
>institutional or corporate view by the organizations following the 
>Blavatksy/Judge/Point Loma tradition. But I admit that I may be 
>wrong.
>
>
>Pedro 
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>Yahoo! Groups Links
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