Theos-Talk Archives (November 2006 Message tt01208)

John,

Let us take the following paragraphs from one of Carlos Aveline's 
recent contributions to Theos-Talk and see if we can shed some light 
on what he writes:

===================================================================
Joy Mills and Daniel Caldwell were among the members of John 
Algeo's "Editorial Committee". As to Joy, she probably just put her 
name in it as a way of showing a broad support; but Daniel Caldweel 
seem to have been very active in it.

Nicholas Week, another member of the Committee, had warned Algeo 
about the issue with no success. Such a warning most likely made on 
behalf of his wife Dara Eklund, also a member of the Committee. Dara 
corresponded with me on this issue and I admire and respect her 
honesty and good will.
================================================================

John, for those who may not have the "Letters of H.P. Blavatsky 
Volume I, I will repeat the information that Jake gave us some time 
ago on Theos-Talk:

==============================================================
On the title page the book is edited by John Algeo and assisted by
his wife Adele S. Algeo. The "editorial committee" is given as Daniel
H. Caldwell, Dara Eklund, Robert Ellwood, Joy Mills, and Nicholas
Weeks.
==============================================================

I also pointed out earlier that more than a dozen other people helped 
in one way or the other with the letters project.

Now back to Carlos' wonderful observations.

Concerning Joy Mills' participation, Carlos writes:

"she PROBABLY just put her name in it as a way...." caps added.

As far as I can tell this is just sheer speculation on Carlos' part. 

Joy may have sent reams of comments  to Dr. Algeo.  

Who knows?  I don't.  Does Carlos KNOW????

I was on the committee but I don't exactly know what each member 
contributed.  How would I know that? 

Now since I personally know Dara and Nicholas I have some better idea
of what they sometimes contributed because they would tell me about 
some item or something in an email or on the phone.  

But again I can't say that I know exactly what or how much they
contributed to the project.  

It's not like the committee met physically in the same room and had 
long discussions and did our work together.  

We didn't have conference calls on the phone either.  

My understanding was that individual members contributed
comments, etc. plus if they had any expertise or knowledge on a 
particular subject I assume they gave it.  But they gave the input, 
material to Dr. Algeo/TPH Wheaton.

Now another observation by dear Carlos.  He writes:

"Daniel Caldweel seem to have been very active in it."

Again how does Carlos know what I did or how active I was "in it" as 
compared to some other committee member?

At the beginning of the project I did devote alot of hours to going 
over bibliographic items and recommending various reference books 
that would be good to use, as well as critiquing various items, etc. 
etc.  

But how many hours did the other committee members devote to what 
they were contributing??  

I have no way of knowing THEREFORE I find it hard to believe that Mr. 
Aveline knows any thing more substantial and I would conclude that he 
is just (as usual!!) talking off the top of his head.  

"blah..blah..blah...blah"  I can hear him already!  :)

Again Mr. Aveline writes: 

"Nicholas Week, another member of the Committee, had warned Algeo 
about the issue with no success."

What issue?  It is not clear to me what Mr. Aveline is exactly 
referring to?  Is he saying that Nicholas was warning 
against "stealing" material from John Cooper? 

Is Aveline saying Nicholas knew about this supposed "stealing"?  

??????????

Again Mr. Aveline comments:

"Dara corresponded with me on this issue and I admire and respect her 
honesty and good will."

What issue?  

And yes I too respect Dara's honesty and good will.

But remember Dara too was a member of the editorial committee and was 
an active participant as far as I can judge.

Oh but I forgot Mr. Aveline knows better and more!  :)

Yet although Aveline says he respects her honesty and good will, at 
the same time Mr. Aveline is more than ready to repeat time and time 
again the "puppet committee" comment which of course would apply to 
Dara as much as anyone else on the committee!  

How much does he really respect her or anyone else on the committee 
when he brings up repeatedly this "puppet" slur?

Moving on.  

Mr. Aveline also writes recently:

===========================================================
If you are an honest people, Daniel, which I can accept, why helping 
Algeo in the theft? Or did you not help him? Will you clarify this to 
us all ?

I don't believe D. Caldwell "knows nothing about it". I hope he will 
share some of his sincere views with us, even if the "gets in 
political trouble" in some pseudo-theosophical circles.
============================================================

Well, if "theft" there was, why assume I had something to do with 
it.  

How exactly would I have participated in the "theft"?

And why not point the finger at all the other members of the 
editorial committee including Dara??

Weren't they also actively participating?

Or does Aveline know something the rest of us don't know?

Let me be clear.  I was not aware of any "theft" and I don't believe 
that anyone else on the committee was aware of it.  

In talking to Nicholas and Dara, they never brought up THIS issue at 
least not to me.  

As to what Joy Mills or Robert Ellwood may have known, I have no way 
of knowing since I have never regularly corresponded with them and 
have never talked to them on the phone about the letters project.

******* Yet Mr. Aveline in his great "Mahatmic" wisdom apparently 
knows more than any of us on the committee and makes all sorts of 
serious accusations and unfounded statements.

If this is how Mr. Aveline researches and writes about Theosophical 
History, readers of his commentaries are in big trouble!!

I would suggest to readers who are interested in this subject thread, 
to go to the PREFACE of the infamous Vol. I of HPB's Letters and 
actually READ and see how many people were involved in the project at 
various stages and their contributions.

This information will be found in the sub-section titled "HISTORY OF 
THE PROJECT".  See especially page xvi where Dr. Algeo
mentions the committee members and also starting toward the end of 
page xvi and going on to page xiv.

I was not aware until I read all of this as to how many people 
actually contributed to the project.  For example, I was not aware 
that Dr. Algeo was getting input from David Reigle.  But that 
certainly makes sense since David knows a great deal on various 
relevant subjects.

In response to what I just wrote, Mr. Aveline may make the comment 
that therefore I was merely a "puppet" ..  but that again is 
apparently his cynical way of viewing things.  

I contributed what I could and thought I was being helpful and it is 
somewhat disappointing to think that certain individuals choose to 
view that contribution in such a negative and cynical way.

I also think that it is important to remember that at every step in 
the project from the time Boris de Zirkoff was involved in collecting 
and transcribing letters to the time when John Cooper was the editor 
until the later phase when Dr. Algeo was the editor, that alot of 
hardworking individuals contributed to the project giving freely of 
their time and knowledge.

And yet there is this campaign out there to cast as much blame and 
negativity on the volume as possible.

As to the validity of what Dr. Tillett alleges, as I said in a 
previous email, I was not privy to most of that material, etc. that 
is mentioned and therefore can only view it as an outsider who would 
simply want to hear both sides and all sides before making some 
conclusion.

I have said about all that I want to on this complicated subject.  

No doubt, Mr. Aveline will simply ignore what I have written and will 
continue making more insinuations, etc. based on his 
extensive "knowledge"!  :)

Daniel