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The Theosophy Company statement about Robert Crosbie & William Judge

May 05, 2005 00:12 AM
by Daniel H. Caldwell


In the 1923 edition of "The United Lodge
of Theosophists: Its Mission and its Future",
the Theosophy Company officials wrote:

"During all the troublous period 1893-6 Mr. Crosbie
SHARED to an extent UNKNOWN and UNDREAMT OF by others
in the burdens and the CONFIDENCE of Mr. Judge." p. 6.
caps added.

If one accepts the above statement at face value, what
are the IMPLICATIONS of the statement?

It would appear that the writer of the above statement
wants the reader to believe that Mr. Crosbie was in a
somewhat unique position. Crosbie shared the
confidence of Judge to an extent unknown and UNDREAMT
OF by others. 

OBTW, who are the "others"? Judge's other close
associates and friends???

But if indeed Crosbie shared the confidence of Judge
as described above, then wasn't Crosbie as Judge's
"confidant" in A GOOD POSITION to know about the true
relationship between Judge and Tingley?

Here is what Judge's "confidant" (Robert Crosbie)
publicly proclaimed on two separate occasions:

". . . Katherine Tingley . . . was appointed by
William Q. Judge as his successor." 

"We feel that he [William Q. Judge] knows of the
self-sacrificing efforts made by the faithful ones,
and that those efforts have been called forth by his
chosen successor [Mrs. Tingley], of whom he said, 'she
is true as steel, as clear as diamond, and as lasting
as time.' " 

In this second statement by Crosbie, he quotes Judge
as saying of Mrs. Tingley:

"she is true as steel, as clear as diamond, and as
lasting as time." 

Where did Crosbie obtain this Judge quote about
Tingley?

Possibly Crosbie either took it from the E.S.T.
Circular of April 3, 1896 [see
http://blavatskyarchives.com/stokesestapril96.htm#This
]or from one of Judge's diaries.

Did Crosbie ever see one of Judge's diaries?

In 1932, Cyrus Field Willard wrote:

". . . Robert Crosbie assured me that he [Judge] had
[designated Katherine Tingely as his successor] and
[Crosbie] also told me he had seen Judge's occult
diary in which it was so stated. . . . ." 

". . . Later Crosbie came to me after he had left
Point Loma [in 1904] and said that she never had been
appointed by Judge. I recalled to him that he
[Crosbie] had said after Judge's death when he
returned to Boston that he [Judge] had and he denied
it, and I told him either he was lying then or had
been lying in Boston. . . . " 

If Crosbie was really Judge's "confidant", is it so
unreasonable to suppose that Crosbie had also seen
Judge's diary as Willard claims? 

Crosbie's estimation of Tingley as found in the above
statements is corroborated by ANOTHER "confidant" and
close friend of Judge's --- Jasper Niemand.

Jasper Niemand wrote:

". . . the present Outer Head [Mrs. Tingley] has for
two years past assisted Mr. Judge in the inner work of
the School as his associate and equal. Some of these
Councillors were doing important work under her
directions, and by the order of Mr. Judge, for some
time before he passed away. . . . For myself, I may
say that as early as June, 1894, Mr. Judge told me of
the standing of the present Outer Head in the school,
and spoke of her work at that time and for the future.
I am one among several to whom he so spoke himself. 
. . . ."

Jasper Niemand was the compiler of the two volumes of
W.Q. Judge's "Letters That Have Helped Me." 

Notice what Jasper wrote:

"I am one among several to whom he [Judge] so spoke
himself."

In other words, Jasper also SHARED the CONFIDENCE of Mr.
Judge. 

If Crosbie ALSO shared the confidence of Mr. Judge as
the Theosophy Company publication asserts then is it
unreasonable to assume that Crosbie also knew what
Niemand knew about the relationship between Mr. Judge
and Mrs. Tingley? Compare Crosbie's statements above
about Mrs. Tingley with those of Niemand.

Some food for thought.

The sources of the quotes found in this email can be
found at:

http://blavatskyarchives.com/stokeswqjktcon.htm

Daniel 


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



 

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