Re: Theos-World Did Pasadena TS tell lies under sweet name of Esoteric Instructions ?
Mar 06, 2006 08:17 PM
by Jerry Hejka-Ekins
Dear Anand, Friends,
Let's put it this way: in 1895, those who felt lied to, sided with
either Besant or Judge, depending upon who they believed was telling the
truth. Accordingly, those who felt lied in in 1945-46, sided with
either Conger, or with the dissenting Board members, depending upon who
they believed was telling the truth. In 1951, those who felt lied to
sided with either Long or with Hartley, depending upon...well, you know....
By 1931 there were dozens of "Theosophical" organizations populated by
Theosophists who believed that they have been lied to. Who is going to
cut through the Gordian knot and tell us who are the liars and who are
the truth tellers?
I have met the leaders of all these factions and others too. They all
strike me as sincere and dedicated people trying to promulgate Theosophy
to the best of their ability. Isn't that good enough?
Perhaps the Theosophical Movement is better off with its multitude of
expressions coming from many organizations. Now, students of Theosophy
have different schools to compare. They can choose the one (on ones)
which best meet their temperament.
I submit that the most constructive thing a member of a Theosophical
organization can do is to keep an eye on their own organization and make
sure that those in charge are being honest. Let the members of other
organizations keep watch on their own leaders.
Best
Jerry
Anand Gholap wrote:
Let us analyse facts given in message 30270.
Purucker wrote in ES circular
if within three months after
de Purucker's death or disappearance no-one could give "the proper
proofs of
spiritual leadership", "then you will know that you have failed".
No such leader or Outer Head of ES emerged, which meant Pasadena TS
failed, there was no ES after Purucker's death and so there was no
Outer Head of ES in Pasadena TS. Despite these specific directions,
in 1945, Conger claimed to be the Outer Head of the Esoteric School
which had ceased to exist. He appointed William Hartley as
successor, cabinate rejected him and appointed James Long as leader
in 1951. James Long closed ES and told that Purucker had already
stopped ES instructions in 1939. Does that mean Pasadena TS told
lies during 1939 to 1951 under the name of Esoteric Instructions ?
AG
--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, gregory@... wrote:
In response to Damian's request for information on the Pt
Loma/Pasadena ES I am
sending a summary of a section from a paper I gave at a
Thosophical history
conference in California many years ago. It comes from a study of
secret
societies and esoteric groups within the Theosophical movement. I
hope to
complete the work for publication one day.
Dr Gregory Tillett
De Purucker died suddenly and unexpectedly on September 27, 1942.
He had left
specific instructions regarding his successor: the successor was
to "emerge"
within three years after de Purucker's death, and would be
recognized by "the
proper proofs of spiritual leadership". During those three years,
the Society
was to be ruled by a Cabinet. If no Head emerged, then the
Cabinet was to
elect a leader.
No successor emerged, and the Cabinet elected Colonel Conger. The
ES continued
without an OH. De Purucker had made no provision for a successor
to be
appointed, but, at ES meetings he had given directions on the
matter, and these
had been published in a confidential ES circular: if within three
months after
de Purucker's death or disappearance no-one could give "the proper
proofs of
spiritual leadership", "then you will know that you have failed".
The ES was
meanwhile administered by a Council.
Conger began to make claims to this position. At a meeting of the
ES on
December 21, 1945, Conger claimed to be the OH of the ES. The
Cabinet divided
between those who accepted this claim (including John van Mater
and Grace
Knoche) and those who rejected it (including Henry Edge and Emmett
Small).
On December 25, ten leading members of the ES (including Small,
Harrison and
Edge) presented Conger with a statement of protest against his
claim. They
challenged Conger to demonstrate knowledge of an inner degree of
the ES. Conger
declined to do so.
A controversy developed between Conger and his supporters, and
those who denied
his claims. In March, 1946, Conger demanded the resignation of
the dissidents.
It seems probable that the majority of members of the ES within
the Point Loma
Society rejected Conger's claim.
At a meeting on Paris 4, 1946, Conger announced the closure of the
ES "by the
Master's direction", and declared that esoteric activities were
now "forbidden
by the Master". However, in October, 1946, a circular was sent
out announcing
that ES activities were to be resumed, and those wishing to take
part must sign
and return a pledge, whereupon they would receive de Purucker's ES
instructions.
Conger died on February 22, 1951, and left a witnessed document
appointing
William Hartley as his successor. However, the Cabinet
unanimously refused to
recognize Hartley and James Long was appointed as leader.
Long claimed that de Purucker had stopped giving out teachings
about 1939, and
that there had been no instruction after that year even in the
ES. Long
finally closed the ES, saying, enigmatically, "the esoteric has
now become
exoteric, and the exoteric esoteric".
Following Long's death on July 19, 1971, he was succeeded by Grace
Knoche.
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