A Quarterly Journal of Research
Volume XII, No.2 April 2006 ISSN 0951-497X A Quarterly Journal of Research Founded by Leslie Price, 1985 Volume XII, No. 2 April 2006 EDITOR displayed an affinity to modern Theosophy. The subscription rate for residents in the James A. Santucci U.S., Mexico, and Canada is $22.00 (one year) or $39.00 (two years). California res- California State University, Fullerton idents, please add $1.71 (7.75%) sales tax onto the $22 rate or $3.02 onto the $39 rate. For residents outside North America, the subscription rate is $26.00 (£15 ASSOCIATE EDITORS British Sterling) (one year) or $47.00 (£25) (two years).Air mail is $40.00 (£22) Robert Boyd for Europe and Asia and $36 for Pan American nations (one year) or $74.00 (£41) for Europe and Asia and $67 for Pan American nations (two years). Single issues are $8.00 (£4.50). Electronic (PDF) issues are $2.50 (£1.50) each or $10 (£5.50) for †John Cooper any four available issues and $17.00 (£9.50) for any eight available issues. University of Sydney Subscriptions may also be paid in British sterling.All inquiries should be sent to James Santucci, Department of Comparative Religion, California State University, P.O. Box 6868, John Patrick Deveney Fullerton, CA 92834-6868 (U.S.A.). Periodicals postage paid at Fullerton, California New York, NY 92631-9998. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Theosophical History (c/o James Santucci), Department of Comparative Religion, California State University, P.O. Box 6868, April Hejka-Ekins Fullerton, CA 92834-6868. California State University, Stanislaus The Editors assume no responsibility for the views expressed by authors in Theosophical History. Jerry Hejka-Ekins This periodical is indexed in the ATLA Religion Database, published by the Nautilus Books American Theological Library Association, 250 S. Wacker Dr., 16th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606, email: [email protected], world wide web: http://www.atla.com. Theosophical History Robert Ellwood assumes no responsibility for the views expressed by the contributors to the journal. Emeritus, University of Southern California * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Antoine Faivre Emeritus, École Pratique des Hautes Études, Paris GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION OF MANUSCRIPTS Joscelyn Godwin Colgate University The final copy of all manuscripts—article, communication, or review—must be submitted in Microsoft Word (any version) electronically, preferably by email attach- Jean-Pierre Laurant ment.The email address is [email protected]. Emeritus, École Pratique des Hautes Études, Paris Bibliographical entries and citations must be placed in endnote format.The cita- tions must contain complete bibliographical information. For books, the publisher’s J. Gordon Melton name and the place and date of the publication are required; for journal articles, the Institute for the Study of American Religion volume, number, and date must be included. There is no limitation on the length of University of California, Santa Barbara manuscripts. In general, articles of 30 pages or less will be published in full; articles in excess of 30 pages may be published serially in the journal or as a separate publica- Leslie Price tion in the Occasional Papers Series.. Former Editor, Theosophical History Brief communications, review articles, and book reviews are welcome. All correspondence, manuscripts, and subscriptions should be sent to: Gregory Tillett University of Western Sydney, Nepean Dr. James A. Santucci Department of Comparative Religion Karen-Claire Voss California State University, P.O. Box 6868 Fatih University – Istanbul Fullerton, CA 92834-6868 (U.S.A.) Email: [email protected] With the assistance of Julia Ho. Telephone:714-278-3727 Website: www.theohistory.org Theosophical History (ISSN 0951-497X) is published quarterly in January, April, July, and October by James A. Santucci (Department of Comparative Religion, California Copyright ©2006 by James A. Santucci State University, P.O. Box 6868, Fullerton, CA 92834-6868 U.S.A.) The journal consists Composition and Theosophical History logo by Eric Santucci of four issues per volume: one volume covering a period of one year.The journal’s pur- www.ericsantucci.com pose is to publish contributions specifically related to the modern Theosophical Movement, from the time of Madame Helena Blavatsky and others who were respon- sible in establishing the original Theosophical Society (1875), to all groups that derive their teachings—directly or indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly—from her or her immediate followers. In addition, the journal is also receptive to related movements (including pre-Blavatskyite Theosophy, Spiritualism, Rosicrucianism, and the philosophy of Emanuel Swedenborg to give but a few examples) that have had an influence on or Theosophical History Occasional Papers (ISBN 1-883279-00-3) Editor: James A. Santucci
VOLUME I Witness for the Prosecution:Annie Besant’s Testimony on Behalf of H.P. Blavatsky in the N.Y. Sun/Coues Law Case Introduction by Michael Gomes
VOLUME II Joan Grant:Winged Pharaoh By Jean Overton Fuller
VOLUME III Ammonius Saccas and His Eclectic Philosophy as Presented by Alexander Wilder By Dr. Jean-Louis Siémons
VOLUME IV W.T. Brown’s “Scenes in My Life” Introduction by Michael Gomes
VOLUME V Krishnamurti and the World Teacher Project: Some Theosophical Perceptions By Govert Schüller
VOLUME VI Astral Projection or Liberation of the Double and the Work of the Early Theosophical Society By John Patrick Deveney
VOLUME VII Cyril Scott and a Hidden School:Towards the Peeling of an Onion By Jean Overton Fuller
VOLUME VIII Franz Hartmann’s Some Fragments of the Secret History of the Theosophical Society Introduction by Robert Hütwohl
VOLUME IX The Unseen Worlds of Emma Hardinge Britten: Some Chapters in the History of Western Occultism By Robert Mathiesen
VOLUME X: The Coulomb Case By Michael Gomes STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION (Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685)
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16. Publication of Statement of Ownership: Publication required.Will be printed in the April 2006 (XII/2) issue of this publication. 17. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner
James A. Santucci, Editor-Owner October 2, 2005
I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that any- one who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information Contents
April 2006 Volume XII, Number 2
Editor’s Comments James Santucci ...... 1
Announcement Death of Grace Frances Knoche ...... 5
In Memory of Grace Frances Knoche ...... 7
Communication Grace F. Knoche:A Personal Reminiscence Will Thackara ...... 11
Obituary Robert Amadou Mark Stavish ...... 17
Analectic Essay Theosophy and the Theosophical Society Grace F. Knoche ...... 19
Article Genius, Fraud, or Phenomenon? The Unsolved Case of H.P.Blavatsky Kerri Barry ...... 23
On the Cover: Grace Francis Knoche (1909 – 2006). Reproduced with permission from The Theosophical Society (Pasadena). Editor’s Comments In this Issue
o event or exposé has damaged The Magazine for September 1884, prove that Theosophical Society or its chief the- Madame Blavatsky has been engaged in the oretician, H.P.Blavatsky, more than the production of a varied and long-continued Hodgson Report of 1885 and the “Coulomb series of fraudulent phenomena, in which N she has been assisted by the Coulombs. … Case” the previous year. Apropos the latter, In the second place, apart altogether from Mrs. Emma Coulomb claimed that Blavatsky either these letters or the statements of had produced fraudulent psychic phenomena the Coulombs, who themselves allege that and forged letters supposedly written by her they were confederates of Madame Masters or Mahatmas. Because of this charge, Blavatsky, it appears from my own inquiries Blavatsky was investigated by Richard Hodgson concerning the existence and the powers (1855 – 1905) at the behest of the Society for of the supposed Adepts or Mahatmas, and Psychical Research [SPR]. It was the outcome the marvelous phenomena alleged to have of Hodgson’s investigation that led to the well- occurred in connection with the known 1885 Hodgson Report. What the Theosophical Society, report concluded was that Mrs. Coulomb’s 1. That the primary witnesses to the exis- claims were true and, even more damaging, that tence of a Brotherhood with occult pow- ers,—viz., Madame Blavatsky, Mr. Damodar the existence of the Masters, Adepts, or K. Mavalankar, Mr. Bhavani Shankar, and Mr. Mahatmas was false. In the concluding state- Babajee D. Nath,—have in other matters ment of the Report, the following remarks deliberately made statements which they were made: must have known to be false, and that therefore their assertions cannot establish the existence of the Brotherhood in ques- In the first place, a large number of let- tion. ters produced by M. and Madame 2. That the comparison of handwritings fur- Coulomb, formerly Librarian and Assistant ther tends to show that Koot Hoomi Lal Corresponding Secretary respectively of Sing and Mahatma Morya are fictitious the Theosophical Society were, in the personages, and that most of the docu- opinion of the best experts in handwriting, ments purporting to have emanated from written by Madame Blavatsky. These let- these “personages,” and especially from ters, which extend over the years 1880- “K.H.” (Koot Hoomi Lal Sing), are in the 1883 inclusive, and some of which were disguised handstyle of the K. H. handwrit- published in the Madras Christian College ing; and that some of the K. H. writing is
1 Editor’s Comments the handiwork of Mr.Damodar in imitation Hodgson himself (Michael Gomes, Theosophy in of the writing developed by Madame the Nineteenth Century (NY and London: Blavatsky. Garland Publishing, Inc., 1994, no. 1856 – 1862). 3. That in no single phenomenon which came Among the many spirited defenses of Blavatsky within the scope of my investigation in was the 1963 publication of Walter A. India, was the evidence such as would enti- Carrithers’ (under the nom de plume Adlai E. tle it to be regarded as genuine, the wit- nesses for the most part being exceeding- Waterman] Obituary: The “Hodgson Report” on ly inaccurate in observation or memory, Madame Blavatsky (available online at and having neglected to exercise due care http://www.blavatskyfoundation.org/obituary.htm), for the exclusion of fraud; while in the case certainly the most effective defense in vindicat- of some of the witnesses there has been ing Blavatsky. In the book, Carrithers’ response much conscious exaggeration and culpable to Hodgson’s charges that the Mahatmas K.H. misstatement. and M. were fictions and that their letters were 4. That not only was the evidence insufficient obviously fraudulent was that “no professional to establish the genuineness of the alleged handwriting expert has ever publicly pro- marvels, but that evidence furnished partly claimed the Mahatma letters—or any speci- by my own inspection, and partly by a large number of witnesses, most of them men thereof—to be forgeries or in “feigned Theosophists, concerning the structure, handwriting” (p. 48), a statement originating position, and environment of the Shrine, sixteen years earlier in his The Truth About concerning “Mahatma” communications Madame Blavatsky (Covina, CA: Theosophical received independently of the Shrine, and University Press, 1947), 21. concerning various other incidents, includ- This deficiency was corrected with the ing many of the phenomena mentioned in publication of Vernon Harrison’s “J’ACCUSE “The Occult World,” besides the numer- An Examination of the Hodson Report of ous additional suspicious circumstances 1885” (JSPR, vol. 53, no. 803, April 1986): which I have noted in the course of dealing 286–310, since republished with additional in detail with the cases considered, ren- ders the conclusion unavoidable that the material by the Theosophical University Press phenomena in question were actually due in 1997 under the title, H.P. Blavatsky and the to fraudulent arrangement. [Proceedings of SPR. Mr.Harrison’s conclusion in the 1986 arti- the Society for Psychical Research, vol. III: cle was that the evidence “against Madame H.P. 1885 (London: Trübner and Co., Ludgate Blavatsky is not proven” (p. 309). The letters Hill, 1885), 312–13] were not written by her, and indeed he wrote, “I do not know who wrote the Mahatma One should not be surprised to find a Letters, but I do not find it plausible to assume number of editorials both critical and support- that Madame Blavatsky wrote them—the great ive of the Report, including many from bulk of them at any rate” (308). This is a justi-
2 Editor’s Comments fiable statement given the state of the evidence Harrison’s own methodology and considera- at that time. However, in his evaluation eleven tion of this subject. Her approach is cautious years later, a more confident and sympathetic and critical, the latter to be taken in the sense conclusion is given (Harrison, 1997: 67): of an intellectual, rational discussion of the topic. What is sometimes missing in discus- 4) Having read the Mahatma Letters sions of particularly controversial topics is a in the holographs, I am left with the strong dispassionate discussion and suspension of impression that the writers KH and M judgment. The position in Ms Barry’s paper is were real and distinct human beings. They not so much Blavatsky’s deliberately forging the had their fair share of prejudice and were letters, but whether these letters were either influenced by the viewpoint of their time. the product of an altered state of conscious- 5) Who KH was I do not know, but ness or the product, by occult means, of sepa- I am of the opinion that all letters in the rate individual entities. Nonetheless, the ques- British Library initialed KH originated tion of forgery cannot be discounted. One from him. The basic characteristics of his question raised by Hodgson was the role of handwriting are present from first to last, Damodar in two KH letters, designated (Y) and but in the earliest letters in particular (Z), discussed in the SPR Report (293–97, 312) there are variations in and distortions of and specimens appearing in Plates I and II. some of the characters. These variations Hodgson was certain that Damodar had a hand do not bear the hallmark of the apprentice in producing these letters. If so, it is curious forger. that Mr. Harrison did not investigate Mr. Harrison’s opinions and conclusions Damodar’s handwriting, even though he quotes do not end here, including the possibility that the relevant passage in the SPR Report on “[i]f any of the KH and M scripts came through pages 15–16. The reason for the inclusion of the hand of Madame Blavatsky while she was in the SPR quote by Mr. Harrison has nothing to a state of trance, sleep, or other altered states do with handwriting analysis but rather the of consciousness known to psychologists and apparent unprofessional attempt on Hodgson’s psychiatrists, KH and M might be considered part to change the handwriting expert F.G. sub-personalities of Helena Blavatsky” Netherclift’s opinion of Damodar’s non- (Harrison, 1997, 68). involvement in the production of the Mahatma Although Mr. Harrison’s conclusions letters. What we are left with, therefore, is have been accepted without question by many uncertainty about this whole issue. If H. P. Theosophists, Kerri Barry, the author of Blavatsky did not write the letters, this does “Genius, Fraud or Phenomenon? The Unsolved not prove the existence or authenticity of the Case of H.P. Blavatsky” raises the issue of Mr. Masters and the Mahatma letters. Conclusive proof of their existence and authenticity will
3 Editor’s Comments most likely never be advanced at this late stage. unnoticed. Antoine Faivre describes him as “a I therefore caution the reader regarding Mr. historian of the first rank for Western esoteri- Harrison’s work: it only increases additional cicm” (Access to Western Esotericism [Albany: doubt regarding the veracity of the Mahatma SUNY Press, 1994], 98) authoring such works Letters. as L’Occultisme: Esquisse d’un monde vivant (Paris: Julliard, 1950 and Paris: Chanteloup, ______1987), one of the first studies on Western Esotericism; Trésor martiniste (Paris: Villain et The passing of the Leader of the Belhomme, 1969), a major work on Illuminism; Theosophical Society is a significant event, so it an edited work, Aspects de l’Illuminisme au is appropriate to include not only the notice of XVIIIème siècle (Paris: H. Roudil); numerous Grace F. Knoche’s passing on February 18, but works on Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin and also a sample of her writings (“Theosophy and dozens of other works on various topics in the Theosophical Society”), the Memorial Western Esotericism. Service held on February 26, and a personal reminiscence of Will Thackara, the manager of * * * * * the Theosophical University Press. On the few occasions I have discussed Theosophical and other topics with Ms Knoche, she has consis- tently been encouraging and supportive. My observation of her was of a intelligent, gener- ous, wise, and somewhat self-effacing individual with a great deal of common sense, a perfect combination of all these qualities, it would seem, for the position of Leader of this illustri- ous organization. As would be expected, the Memorial Service produced many touching observations about Ms Knoche revealing the impact she had on the lives of those who knew her. She certainly will be missed by all who have had the privilege of meeting and commu- nicating with her.
The death of Robert Amadou cannot go
4 Editor’s Comments Announcement Death of Grace Frances Knoche
Editor of Sunrise — emphasized theosophy as a race Frances Knoche, for 35 years practical and compassionate way of living, Leader of the Theosophical Society believing that “mankind is a living brotherhood with international headquarters at of human souls, and how and what any one Pasadena,G California, died peacefully February person thinks or does has its inevitable effect 18, 2006, at her home in Altadena, California. on the totality of world thought.” She encour- The Society was founded in 1875 in New York aged mutual respect and cooperation among City to promote universal brotherhood, the the members of various theosophical organiza- study of philosophy, religion, and science, and tions, while recognizing the value of each to investigate the powers innate in nature and organization as an independent entity. She put man. special emphasis on the publications program, Born February 15, 1909, at Society’s in print and online, making the full text of vir- headquarters, then at Point Loma, California, tually all the Society’s press publications freely Miss Knoche was educated at its schools which available on the internet. Besides scores of pioneered a rounded curriculum including art, articles in theosophical magazines, especially music, and drama, completing her education at Sunrise, she wrote three books: To Light a Theosophical University (PhD 1944). In the Thousand Lamps, The Mystery Schools, and the 1930s and ‘40s she worked at the headquarters forthcoming Theosophy in the Qabbalah. The in several capacities including the secretarial word retirement was not in the vocabulary of and editorial staffs. At various times from 1933 Miss Knoche, who worked daily for the better- to 1946 she also taught violin, Greek, Hebrew, ment of humanity until her passing at age 97. Sanskrit, Bible translation, and Qabbalah at She will be missed by all whose lives she Theosophical University, as well as sculpture touched for her wisdom, sparkling sense of and painting at the Lomaland School. After humor, and her spiritual and literary contribu- Colonel Arthur L. Conger became Leader of tion to the world. the Society in 1945, Miss Knoche became his private secretary and subeditor of The * * * * * Theosophical Forum. On Conger’s death in 1951, she continued as private secretary to the next Leader, James A. Long, and was subeditor of Sunrise magazine until his death in 1971. Since 1971 Miss Knoche — as Leader of the Theosophical Society, Director and Editor- in-Chief of Theosophical University Press, and
5 Announcement Death of Grace Frances Knoche In Memory of Grace Frances Knoche February 15, 1909 – February 18, 2006 [Memorial Program, February 26, 2006]
Conger’s death in 1951, she became private eader of the Theosophical Society with secretary to the next Leader, James A. Long, international headquarters at Pasadena, and subeditor of Sunrise magazine until his California. Grace was born February 15, death in 1971. 1909L at the Society’s headquarters then locat- At that time Grace became Leader of ed at Point Loma, California, where her father, the Theosophical Society, Director and Editor- J Frank Knoche, was general and business man- in-Chief of Theosophical University Press, and ager. Her mother, Dr. Grace Green Knoche, Editor of Sunrise. During her administration, was a writer, teacher, and international super- she emphasized theosophy as a practical and intendent of the of the children’s work of the compassionate way of living. She encouraged Society. mutual respect and cooperation among the Educated at the Raja Yoga School and members of various theosophical organiza- Academy at Point Loma, Grace completed her tions, while recognizing the value of each education at Theosophical University with a organization as an independent entity. She put BA (1929), MA (1935), and PhD (1944). She special emphasis on the publications program, joined the Theosophical Society in 1929,short- in print and online, making the full text of vir- ly before the death of Katherine Tingley. Under tually all the Society’s press publications freely G. de Purucker, she worked at Theosophical available on the internet. Besides scores of arti- University Press as a compositor, in the cles in theosophical magazines, especially Secretary General’s office, and on the Leader’s Sunrise, she wrote three books: To Light a secretarial and editorial staffs.At various times Thousand Lamps, The Mystery Schools, and the from 1933 to 1946 she taught violin, Greek, forthcoming Theosophy in the Qabbalah. Hebrew, Sanskrit, Bible translation and The word retirement was not in Grace’s Qabbalah at Theosophical University, as well as vocabulary, as she worked daily for the better- primary and junior high school classes in sculp- ment of humanity until her passing at age 97. ture and painting at the Lomaland School. She She will be missed by all whose lives she also participated actively in theosophical lec- touched – for her wisdom, sparkling sense of tures, field work, and study groups. humor, and her spiritual and literary contribu- From 1942-5, Grace was private secre- tion to the world. tary to the Chairman of the TS Cabinet and, after Colonel Arthur L. Conger became Leader in 1945, she was his private secretary and subeditor of The Theosophical Forum. Upon
7 In Memory of Grace Frances Knoche In Memory of Grace
Theosophical Library Center February 26, 2006
When Grace wrote to friends and fellow students, she often closed her letters “faithfully and affectionately” — appealing to the noblest part of us, the true self which each of us is striv- ing to realize. Speaking to her in person, we sensed that she dropped all formalities, enabling her to make an intimate and caring connection with us. In the same way, Grace wanted her memo- rial to be informal and spontaneous — that we could come together in a joyful spirit to share what is truly important, just as she always did with trust and affection.
Violin Sonata, 2nd Movement Beethoven
Tributes and reminiscences
Nocturne, Op. 9, No. 2 in E-flat Chopin
______
You are cordially invited to a Buffet luncheon at the Deodars at 12:30 pm
643 E. Mariposa Street (3 blocks west of Lake Ave. Please park on Mariposa or Santa Rosa)
8 In Memory of Grace Frances Knoche The clock indicates the moment — but what does eternity indicate? We have thus far exhausted trillions of winters and summers; There are trillions ahead, and trillions ahead of them. Births have brought us richness and variety, And other births will bring us richness and variety. I do not call one greater and one smaller; That which fills its period and place is equal to any.
Dazzling and tremendous, how quick the sun-rise would kill me, If I could not now and always send sun-rise out of me. We also ascend, dazzling and tremendous as the sun; We found our own, O my Soul, in the calm and cool of the daybreak.
I know I am deathless; I know this orbit of mine cannot be swept by the carpenter’s compass; I know I shall not pass like a child’s carlacue cut with a burnt stick at night.
This day before dawn I ascended a hill, and look’d at the crowded heaven, And I said to my Spirit,When we become the enfolders of those orbs, and the pleasure and knowledge of everything in them, shall we be fill’d and satisfied then? And my Spirit said, No, we but level that lift, to pass and continue beyond.
- Walt Whitman, Song of Myself
* * * * *
9 In Memory of Grace Frances Knoche Communication Grace F. Knoche: A Personal Reminiscence By Will Thackara1
Then there was the violin. Every young e called her Grace and she was the child at Point Loma was given a musical instru- truest of friends. I first met her in ment and enrolled in the schools’ music pro- November 1968. I had been intro- gram. As a teenager, Grace was invited to play ducedW to theosophy some months before by 4th violin in the principal orchestra (Walter my next door neighbor, Doug Russell, and in Damrosch, director of the New York the natural unfolding of karma was invited to Symphony Orchestra, had earlier conducted it meet with James A. Long, the Theosophical and praised its musicianship). She eventually Society’s leader at that time. Grace was Jim’s became 1st violin and soloist — one of the personal secretary, and on that first visit she most thrilling experiences of her life. I never sat unobtrusively nearby, a stenographer’s pad heard her play, but she said that early in her in hand and her pencil quietly racing line by line adult life she relinquished any thought of a down the pages as we spoke. I later learned musical career: “There are plenty of violinists from Doug that Jim’s conversations sometimes in the world, but not so many people working elicited material or topics useful for publication for theosophy.” Even so, as she once related to in Sunrise magazine and for discussion groups. one of our TS staff,G. de Purucker had advised Grace’s job was to record and transcribe such her not to give up her music entirely: that meetings — skills she had learned as a student there were many ways — none mutually exclu- at the Point Loma theosophical headquarters sive — in which an individual could serve where she was born (her parents, Grace theosophy. She came to realize that if a person Green and J. Frank Knoche, were staff mem- is a musician, then to deny that part of them- bers). I was particularly impressed when Doug selves, however noble the reason, is to “deny a mentioned her 100-word-a-minute typing abil- vital part of their own soul.” ity and, as a 22-year-old new to theosophical When Grace became leader in 1971, it ideas, I thought how amazing was the karma was as natural as the changing seasons. I had which provided Jim with such an accomplished earlier asked Jim Long about his successor and secretary! In the course of the next few years, his reply was simple and straightforward. He I learned that Grace had also worked in vari- said he didn’t know who it would be, and ous secretarial and editorial capacities with wouldn’t know until the moment he died; if he Jim’s predecessors, Gottfried de Purucker and did, he would unconsciously try to prepare that Arthur L. Conger, not to mention her student individual, which would be exactly the wrong contribution during Katherine Tingley’s time. thing to do. Life will train that individual and
11 Communication Grace F. Knoche:A Personal Reminiscence By Will Thackara life will select him or her. It really wasn’t a mat- Grace, Doug simply said — and still maintains ter of choice. Given Grace’s integrity, it is clear — that she had “the executive ability to run that she would never have accepted that any corporation.” As I reflect on her life today, responsibility unless she were unmistakably her 97 years of service was unconditional, certain it was hers (see her article,“Publication entirely without strings or personal ambition. of the K.T.M.G. Papers,” The Theosophical She lived the advice of ancient sages:“to be as Forum, February 1948, pp. 68-74). nothing in the eyes of the world.” Grace was then 62 years old. Her lifelong Compassion, intelligence, generosity, wis- study of theosophy and its history was as com- dom, humility, strength, patience, and sparkling plete as anyone’s. She had worked closely with humor: Grace exemplified these qualities and three leaders, had taught Hebrew, Greek, much more in her leadership, which continues Sanskrit, violin, sculpture, and painting in the now through her writings, our shared memo- Point Loma schools, lectured for the TS, writ- ries of her, and through her impress on the ten many theosophical articles, helped edit thought atmosphere of the world. Yet Grace Sunrise magazine, and had traveled extensively was so very accessible and human in her visiting members worldwide — a lengthy approach, recognizing that however imperfect apprenticeship by any standard. Which brings we might be, we are all at some level striving to to mind another conversation with Doug be better human beings. She encouraged self- Russell. It was early 1974 and we were driving initiative in taking responsibility for the duties to the mountains we both loved. I had been that are ours, reminding us that we are part of thinking of Grace and, knowing that Doug’s an eternal fellowship that embraces the cos- work as a management consultant had brought mos, and that no great task is ever accom- him in contact with many business executives plished single-handedly. and other leaders (he was an officer in the Her greatest help often came in small Young Presidents Organization), I asked him packages, such as a card or letter which some- what essential quality characterized the best of how gave a key to handling difficult situations, them. He replied instantly that in his experi- or just made you feel good about yourself. ence genuine leadership is born from service Years ago, she wrote on a slip of paper, now and learning to be a good follower. This has tattered with age, the words of Benjamin nothing to do with servitude, but in order to Disraeli, English Prime Minister to Queen be effective in leadership, one must first know Victoria:“The secret of success is constancy to how to serve others. He didn’t know any real purpose.” One secret of Grace’s success — leader who hadn’t been seasoned by a rigorous actually no secret as she mentioned it to oth- career of service and its accompanying compo- ers — was that she always tried to work with nent of duty. And the best leaders had served the best in a person, leaving them to handle those who were themselves servers. As for their own shortcomings. More often than not,
12 Communication Grace F. Knoche:A Personal Reminiscence By Will Thackara a few encouraging words became a lifelong through Theosophical University Press, focus- protective talisman.“When you’re at the end of ing on the modern classics of theosophy. your rope,” she once said, “hang on!” Then During her tenure, The Secret Doctrine by H. P. take one step at a time, focus on the task or Blavatsky was reprinted five times, none of duty to hand and give it your best effort. Life them short runs, and full text versions of vir- will never shoulder us with a burden beyond tually all TUP titles were made freely available our capacity, however painful or difficult. And if on the Society’s website (www.theosociety.org). we do our part, we will be helped. Such is Grace’s own books and articles are a testa- nature’s economy. ment to the practicality of theosophy as a guid- One of the penalties of leadership is to be ing wisdom that one can truly live by. To Light a lightning rod for criticism. Grace’s basic a Thousand Lamps: A Theosophic Vision will approach was fairly simple: she said the front undoubtedly remain one of the best introduc- door was always open to frank and candid dis- tory works, and I’ve heard several long-time cussion, but she counseled us to ignore gossip theosophists — thinking they were beyond the and erroneous hearsay, as reaction to these basics — express astonishment and apprecia- depletes resources and diverts attention from tion as to how powerfully the book spoke our creative work for brotherhood. There directly to their need. Then there is Sunrise were of course notable exceptions, as for magazine with which Grace was closely associ- instance Peter Washington’s prejudiced and ated since its founding by James Long in 1951. misinformed account of H. P. Blavatsky and Through her gifted editing, Grace not only other theosophical leaders which called for a encouraged us to write, but she taught us how published reply (Notes on Madame Blavatsky’s to write — at least better than we did. Sunrise Baboon); also Vernon Harrison’s rebuttal of the continues as a contemporary outreach to the 1885 Hodgson Report in H. P.Blavatsky and the general public, offering theosophic perspec- SPR. On the other hand, Grace was always tives on scientific, religious, and philosophic generous with visiting researchers and schol- themes and their application to daily living. ars, giving them access to library and archival Aside from literary and administrative material, even helping them with their manu- work, public meetings, study groups, personal scripts, knowing well that a strictly academic conversations, and an immense written corre- approach would not likely provide insight into spondence, Grace fostered cordial relations the inner purposes of theosophy or its history. between various theosophical organizations, About which she would sometimes comment recognizing that while philosophical teachings with the words of Seneca: “Time discovers and approaches may differ, we share the com- truth.” mon goals of universal brotherhood and the A large portion of Grace’s time was amelioration of the causes of suffering. devoted to expanding the Society’s publishing Perhaps the most visible highlight of coopera-
13 Communication Grace F. Knoche:A Personal Reminiscence By Will Thackara tive work was the theosophical presentation at Two nights later, I left my house in a driv- the 1993 Parliament of the World’s Religions in ing rain storm on the way to a public meeting, Chicago, jointly organized by TS Adyar, the a Friday Evening Discussion at our headquar- United Lodge of Theosophists, and TS ters Library Center. The subject was reincar- Pasadena. Grace fondly remembered that nation. Just as I stepped out, there was a light- everyone came together not as members of ning flash followed by long rolling thunder. I separate organizations, but as theosophists and thought to myself, Grace was born at Point friends. It worked — and it continues to work. Loma in a driving rain storm — it would be just Over the last decade or so, Grace like her to leave in one. And so it was, a little increasingly delegated responsibilities to the more than seven hours afterwards. younger staff, knowing that her time to leave A week later, an overflowing roomful of would inevitably come.“I wouldn’t wish anyone members and friends gathered at the Library to live to 100!” she often said. But she knew Center to celebrate Grace’s life. Librarian Jim that departure dates were in the hands of Belderis opened the meeting announcing that karma, and she would do her job until then. there would be no prepared speeches or eulo- One of her lasts tasks was to complete final gies, but invited all of us to share memories and corrections of her forthcoming book, tributes. These he would supplement by read- Theosophy in the Qabbålåh. On her 97th birth- ing emails from those near and abroad who day, about a week after falling ill, we learned could not attend. that Grace was dying. It so happened that on The stories were many and diverse, mov- the same day the book’s cover designer,Patrice ing and humorous, touching and profound. In Hughes, who was quite unaware of Grace’s ill- all of them we recognized the Grace that each ness, brought over a proposed design (she was of us knew. One of the first people to speak, attending a theosophical study group that an artist, recalled Grace telling her to “bloom evening). About 9:30 pm I took it over to where you are planted.” An aerospace engi- Grace’s house and asked if she were up to one neer began,“I was first introduced to Grace in more item of Press business. Of course she 1972 through the pages of Sunrise . . .“ and then was. There on her bed, she looked approving- emotion overwhelmed him — though every- ly at the design, but pointed to a line of small one heard his untold story. A health care exec- type, asking what it said (she didn’t have her utive said she’d known Grace all her life, but glasses on). “That’s your name, Grace, except had been asleep for 52 years until she read for a minor typo. It reads: Grace M. Knoche.” Grace’s book, To Light a Thousand Lamps, which She replied, “Well, you be sure to fix it.” She woke her up. A guest lecturer at the Friday thanked me, and I know she was grateful to Evening Discussions said how he looked for- Patrice. That was our last conversation; good- ward to these meetings because Grace’s byes were unnecessary. impromptu comments would somehow round
14 Communication Grace F. Knoche:A Personal Reminiscence By Will Thackara out and clarify what he himself had been unable to express. Grace’s hairdresser of the last 30 years spoke of her warm and endearing friend- ship. And a Mormon friend told us of how Grace had read the Book of Mormon with her. An International Red Cross worker related how Grace had encouraged him to follow his own life path as an independent theosophist, noting that some time later she’d seen him on TV helping with disaster relief. She’d phoned afterwards, saying how pleased she was to see him “doing his karma.” One recurring theme in the stories and emails was how Grace instilled trust: trust in ourselves, in the future of the TS, and in the inherent goodness of humanity despite our problems. Grace often used the metaphor of an Oriental rug to illustrate how we might handle our human imperfections. When a mistake was made, the weaver would not remove it, but work it into the pattern. I believe the metaphor has another application as well. Since Grace’s passing, many have expressed how much they will miss her, and it’s only nat- ural to feel sorrow when a such a true friend and mentor leaves us outwardly. Yet the truth is that Grace has woven a portion of herself into the fabric of our lives, and that will remain with us always.
* * * * *
1 Will Thackara joined the headquarters staff of The Theosophical Society, Pasadena, in 1972. He is man- ager of Theosophical University Press and a con- tributing writer for Sunrise:Theosophic Perspectives.
15 Communication Grace F. Knoche:A Personal Reminiscence By Will Thackara Obituary: Robert Amadou
Mark Stavish
lar, as well as Freemasonry and related move- n Tuesday, March 22, 2006 Robert ments. Amadou died. He was 82 years old. Amadou was survived by his wife Born on February 16, 1924 in Bois- Catherine. On March 22 a Requiem Mass was ColombesO he attended the Paris VII University celebrated at the Syrian Orthodox Church of where he earned his doctorate in Ethnology. Montfermeil, and his earthly remains were Specializing in the study of esotericism buried at Lachaise Cemetery. Amadou wrote numerous articles and books focusing primarily on 18th Century esoteric * * * * * movements and initiates. In 1955 he founded La Tour Saint-Jacques, a magazine specializing in occult studies and was a well-known lecturer, attracting both his share of admirers and detractors. A man of immense erudition as well as humor, he was generous in sharing what he knew, as well as what he had in terms of rare documents and other matters pertaining to research. While a part of academic circles Amadou saw himself as outside the limits of academia when it came to esotericism, being actively involved in Martinist, Rosicrucian, Gnostic, and traditionalist Freemasonic groups as well as being an ordained Syrian Orthodox priest. In a world held under the spell of Theosophy and the New Age spawn it created, Amadou turned his attention to the West and considered himself a Christian esotericist. He rejected the idea that wisdom could only be found in the East, and believed that within the teachings of the Orthodox Church could be found the truths that had been lost by the Western Christian churches, Rome in particu-
17 Obituary: Robert Amadou By Mark Stavish Analectic Essay Theosophy & The Theosophical Society By Grace F. Knoche (compiled from her writings)
insight, understanding, with its body of rich here is a wisdom-tradition that once philosophical doctrines, depends upon our- was universally known by every people selves. Blavatsky made clear at the outset in on the face of the globe, a common her first periodical, The Theosophist, that “The treasuryT of inspiration and truth from which very root idea of the Society is free and fear- the saviors and benefactors of mankind draw. less investigation.” This is why those who join Known variously in different eras as the peren- a theosophical organization are not obligated nial philosophy, the gnosis of Greek and early to believe any of the doctrines; they are there Christian thought, the esoteric tradition, or the for the taking or leaving. The only primal req- Mystery-teachings of the sanctuary — it is this uisite is an acceptance of the principle of uni- god-wisdom that Jesus shared with the fisher- versal brotherhood and a willingness to try to folk of Galilee; that Gautama imparted to fer- think, speak, and act humanely in every circum- ryman and prince; and that Plato immortalized stance. in letters and dialogues, in fable and myth. The idea of brotherhood as a living, Today the modern presentation of this wisdom workable philosophy has surfaced time and is called theosophy. again. All illuminati of the spirit emphasize it as What is this theosophy which has been their chief objective. Teachers and saviors have passed on from sage to sage through untold come among us and imparted the same chal- ages — from Vivasvat, the sun, who told it to lenging truth: that we cannot eradicate the self- Manu, who in turn handed it down to rishis and ishness and greed that are choking the soul of seers until “the mighty art was lost”? mankind unless we each root them out in our (Bhagavad-Gita 4:1-3). It is the core inspiration own character. The lives of the great teachers of sacred scripture, and the wisdom that we are an exemplification of this ideal. Way back distill from daily experience. Theosophy has no in time Prince Siddhartha broke through the creed, no dogma, no set of beliefs that must be bigotry of the Brahmans and talked openly of accepted, because truth is not something these truths with the people. To him there was beyond or outside us, but in fact is within. no greater rule than to love and to understand Nonetheless, it comprises a coherent body of the brethren, and to him the whole of human- teachings about man and nature that have been ity was the brethren. expressed in various ways in the sacred tradi- Of course, acceptance of the principle of tions of the world. universal brotherhood is relatively simple com- Whether theosophy will bring vision, pared to living it. Clearly this is not readily
19 Analectic Essay Theosophy and the Theosophical Society By Grace F. Knoche done, but just the fact that it may take an entire sage of hope: that within every one of us is the lifetime or many lives to achieve, is no reason light of divinity, “the true Light, which lighteth not to begin. All of us have difficulty at times every man that cometh into the world” irre- living harmoniously with ourselves, let alone spective of ideology or theology, or materialist with others. Perhaps a first step would be to bias. Theosophy tells of our divine ancestry accept ourselves, to be friends with the whole going back many millions of years — far longer of our nature, recognizing that when we do so if we reckon beyond this universe to previous we are accepting our lower tendencies along universes; that we are not pawns of any god or with our higher potentialities. In this accept- devil, nor do we have need for anyone to inter- ance we automatically are accepting others, cede for us between our Father within and the their frailties as well as their grandeur. This is Father without, because we are all sparks from brotherhood in action, for it dispels those sub- the celestial fire at the heart of Being, brothers tle blockages that bar us from feeling we all are and companions of the stars and of the gods. units of one human life-wave. Most wondrous of all, theosophy illumines Today it is as though the longing of the what Plato spoke of, that the Soul — using the countless millions of human souls, who have term for the spiritual self here — “is immortal, ever yearned in past lives for a universal con- having been born many times, and having seen cord of peoples, is demanding that this time we all things that exist . . . has knowledge of them make it work. “I and Thou are One” has been all,” so it really oughtn’t to be difficult to recap- sung by Hindu sage, Sufi poet, and the bards of ture “out of a single recollection all the rest,” if every age. Now we must invest this truth with a person throws his heart and soul into it and meaning; it must become a turning point in our does not give up — for, as he put it,“all enquiry aspirations. Our challenge is dual: on the one and learning is but recollection,” remembering hand, we have steadfastly to be true to the (Meno, §81). mandates of our inmost self; on the other, we The student is absolutely free to search have so to widen our sympathies and the hori- and inquire and come to his or her own per- zons of our understanding that Love wells ception of values. The general tendency is to forth without hindrance, to eradicate sepa- look for answers outside ourselves; we forget ratism and distrust. Then, and only then, will that no system of philosophical truths or of we know this oneness, this Homonoia, this religious insights — including theosophy — is union of hearts and minds — not as an intel- intended to provide specific prescriptions for lectual or social accommodation, but as a living, every mental, psychological, or other symptom, breathing inflow-outflow of life-consciousness, but rather to reawaken us to the broad ethical enfolding suns and stones as it does every one and moral ideals on which the universe and of us. every part of that universe is built. This is the message of theosophy, a mes- Theosophists are the friends of all move-
20 Analectic Essay Theosophy and the Theosophical Society By Grace F. Knoche ments that work toward the amelioration of degree, but we have a grand ideal of constant- the human condition, and therefore are sup- ly endeavoring to make our lives truly altruis- portive of every enlightened effort. However, tic. This is a goal that cannot be attained in a we must be realistic. Much as we would like to, single lifetime, but it is a goal that we must it is impossible for us to send people into dif- never give up. It must be the predominating ferent countries to do this type of saving work. and overruling influence in our lives and, if we Some theosophists are involved in one or can aspire toward this, then we can have confi- another benevolent activity, but as a Society, as dence that at least a larger expression of H. P.Blavatsky well said, ours is a more difficult unselfishness than of its opposite will flow — even a more important — task: to work to forth from us. uproot the causes of the difficulties (H. P. Every altruistic thought and aspiration Blavatsky to the American Conventions: 1888- sends its influence into the thought atmos- 1891, 8). It is to the causes of human misery phere of our world, and every individual — and illness and poverty that we would address whether known to us or not — who is in sym- ourselves most earnestly. It is on just this point pathetic vibration with that quality of aspira- where we have to question and reexamine tion responds in kind, and his life is ennobled ourselves, because quite unconsciously one and his surroundings irradiated. could hide behind that façade and become self- Many today have a deep pessimism con- ish and even hardhearted, feeling “our work is cerning our world; they see so many expres- not among the people, but simply in the realm sions of unbrotherliness, cruelty, and dishon- of ideas.” esty being almost accepted as the norm. In Our work is among ideas, but our work, fact, pessimism has eroded much of the confi- to remain alive, has to be a continuous dedica- dence of our civilization. Part of our task is to tion of ourselves to seeing that only positive replace that pessimistic outlook with its oppo- and constructive energies go into the thought site — not a Pollyanna type of optimism, but world, into the sharing of these ideas. If this is with a confidence in the capacity of the human truly an all-absorbing quality of the nature, we soul to open itself to the influx of its innate will find ourselves actually helping to relieve strength and light and purity. those very conditions in an inner way and, pos- It should be understood that neither sibly without our knowledge, inspire others to theosophy nor the Theosophical Society as work in an outward way. such prescribes specific remedies for this or If in truth the universe groans under the that malady (mental, psychological, physical, or burden of selfish acts and thoughts, we are other). However, the rich philosophical teach- responsible insofar as we have individually con- ings and broad ethical ideals of theosophy, tributed to that weight. Every one of us is when understood even in part, do have power human, every one of us has mixed motives to a to cast light on practically every problem we
21 Analectic Essay Theosophy and the Theosophical Society By Grace F. Knoche humans face — although in the final analysis through their private gethsemanes, and are each person must apply them to his own situ- better able to help them find their own ation. All growth and advancement must be strength. self-earned, and the overriding purpose of the As coming events cast their shadows modern theosophic effort is to encourage before them, we draw encouragement from reliance on one’s own inner perception and the fact that in the midst of unprecedented strength. It is well to dispense with crutches as turbulence in domestic and international affairs soon as possible and stand on our own feet; theosophic ideas are catching on. If given wel- dependency of any kind, chemical, emotional, come, they may indeed become openers of spiritual, is debilitating and in the end self- heart and mind to nature’s mystic secrets: defeating. At the same time, we must give aid truths that have been patiently recorded, veri- and comfort wherever we can, for compassion fied, and guarded for humanity’s benefit by is the very heart of theosophy as it is of every those who had the stamina and compassion to genuine religious system. undergo lives of preparation for this sacred What, then, does theosophy offer? charge. Vision, perspective, confidence in ourselves and in the majesty and ultimate justice of the * * * * * cosmic ecosystem in which we, together with every atomic life in space, are evolving through the cycles into ever grander expressions of the Divine. As divinities working through our human phase we are bound to make manifold errors as we struggle to break our self-made chains of material desire. This is where nature’s habit of recurring cycles of birth and death, governed by karma or the law that effect equals cause, provides unlimited opportunity for learning and enlargement of experience. Even a little understanding of theosophy helps us to see our karmic lot from a broader and less personal viewpoint — not as an unjust fate but as an opportunity for growth, or for clearing the slate, as it were, before greater responsibilities can be assumed. In the crucible of experience we gain a deepening sympathy for those passing through the shadows,
22 Analectic Essay Theosophy and the Theosophical Society By Grace F. Knoche Article Genius, Fraud, or Phenomenon? The Unsolved Case Of H.P. Blavatsky By Kerri Barry
The question of the existence of evered as a towering genius and reviled Blavatsky’s masters, or “Mahatmas,” became as an accomplished impostor, H.P. the subject of bitter dispute, for upon the Blavatsky’s life and works are a fascinat- shoulders of these Mahatmas rode both ing study in metaphysics, subterfuge and unmit- Blavatsky’s personal authority and the authori- R 1 igated human drama. The enormous quantity ty of her movement. At the height of the new of writings, published books and letters she movement’s public acclaim, the SPR’s Hodgson produced, coupled with her claimed manifesta- Report of 1885 pronounced sentence on tions of psychic phenomena, have been the Blavatsky, using the broad brush of fraud to tar subjects of repeated – and heated – investiga- her in no uncertain terms.5 The Hodgson tion. Even Blavatsky’s handwriting has been Report was but the opening salvo of a fervid intensely scrutinized, for she claimed most her clash of supporters and detractors, who have letters were the precipitated writings of other ranged from passionate conviction to disdain beings. Yet the most advanced scientific tech- concerning Blavatsky’s supposed manifesta- niques in handwriting analysis to date have tions of psychic phenomena as well as her rela- failed to dispel the mystery surrounding tionship to her alleged Mahatmas. Blavatsky and her work. Astonishingly, Blavatsky’s epic writings continue Blavatsky held that “real” Theosophists to foment upheaval well over a century after are distinguished by their pursuit of esoteric they were written. studies of Theosophy under the tutelage of The most recent skirmish in the super-evolved adepts or masters who instruct Theosophical Wars culminated in Vernon their pupils on the ancient secrets of alchemy Harrison’s 1997 critique of Hodgson, entitled 2 and other esoteric wisdom. Such tutelage is H.P. Blavatsky and the SPR: An Examination of the necessary because the key to these mysteries Hodgson Report of 1885. Harrison’s repudia- has been lost to the Western mind for cen- tion of Hodgson is largely confined to method- turies.3 Further, Blavatsky warned that a lone ology, particularly with regard to analysis of the student of these subjects is in grave danger; handwriting contained within certain letters indeed, “he who has not an Initiate for a mas- attributed to the masters Koot Hoomi (“KH”) ter had better leave the dangerous study and Morya (“M”), or the “Mahatma Letters.”6 alone.”4 Like Hodgson, Harrison disregards the asser-
23 Article Genius, Fraud, or Phenomenon? The Unsolved Case of H.P. Blavatsky By Kerri Barry tions contained within Mahatma Letters them- ceeding. However, the SPR was no criminal selves, neglecting textual analysis in favor of court of law; to the contrary, it had been methodology critique. Harrison faults founded in hopes of uncovering evidence of a Hodgson for failing to conduct a scientific scientific nature supporting otherworldly study, and further decries the lack of a full judi- beliefs, and it originally contained Spiritualist cial proceeding on behalf of the SPR concern- members who were “frankly propagandist.”10 ing Blavatsky’s claims, complete with a counsel As such, the SPR had not commissioned for the defense, cross-examination, and judicial Richard Hodgson to subject his investigation to summing up.7 He then seeks to remedy this the rigors of criminal justice; rather, Hodgson’s procedural lack rather than to analyze purpose was simply to “investigate phenomena Blavatsky’s case in toto, posing the nature of the connected with the Theosophical Society.”11 debate as one of legal contention rather than Criminal courts of law, on the other hand, one of scientific inquiry.8 As such, Harrison’s prosecute cases against alleged wrongdoers, examination is less a critical analysis than it is a imposing a burden of proof that requires guilt spirited Blavatskian defense. Harrison states be established beyond a reasonable doubt.12 quite forthrightly that: Harrison might well argue that Hodgson did not meet this burden; however, Hodgson was I make no attempt in this paper to prove not required to prove his case beyond a rea- that Madame Blavatsky was guiltless of sonable doubt. Furthermore, although charges preferred against her. At this dis- Harrison holds Hodgson to a much higher tance of time, when all witnesses are dead standard than that for which Hodgson was and much of the evidence has been lost or commissioned, it is significant that Harrison is destroyed, this would be difficult if not impossible. Nor do I attempt to establish unable to obtain a judgment of “not guilty” as the authorship or appraise the content of defined by the criminal court system, and the Mahatma Letters. To do so would be a instead is forced to resort to that oddity of fascinating but formidably difficult task. My Scottish criminal justice: “not proven.”13 Such present objective is a more limited one: to a rendering hardly acquits Blavatsky of demonstrate that the case against Madame Hodgson’s charges, for “not proven” simply Blavatsky in the Hodgson Report is NOT means not conclusively guilty. 9 PROVEN – in the Scots sense. Pursuing the legal analysis initiated by Harrison, it must first be recognized that the In reviewing Harrison’s ostensible verdict, primary outcome of Harrison’s study is cen- elucidation as to his context and terminology sure of the Hodgson Report. In Harrison’s is in order. It is important to recognize that words, “the main issue is that the Hodgson Harrison chooses to couch his inquiry within Report is a BAD report that should never have the stringent terms of a criminal court pro-
24 Article Genius, Fraud, or Phenomenon? The Unsolved Case of H.P. Blavatsky By Kerri Barry been published, whatever its subject may have assuming arguendo that he is correct in his been. . ..” 14 His assertion is based primarily on assertion that Blavatsky did not deliberately the results of handwriting analysis of the produce fraudulent letters. As Harrison’s Mahatma Letters, and his principal contention expert opinion is presented on Blavatsky’s in support of his conclusion is that, while behalf, the opportunity for rebuttal expert tes- Blavatsky may have indeed written these let- timony would ordinarily follow before settling ters, she did not write them in a deliberate dis- the question as to deliberate disguise. guise of her ordinary writing.15 Harrison sec- Undoubtedly certain aspects of Harrison’s ondarily attempts to address the credibility of opinion would immediately be challenged in eyewitness accounts concerning Blavatsky’s rebuttal, and the question of Blavatsky’s inten- demonstrations of psychic powers. However,it tional fraudulence is not settled. must be recognized that psychic phenomena For instance, Harrison had absolutely no are not relied upon as uncontroverted fact in opportunity to examine the handwriting con- judicial proceedings. No scientific corrobora- tained within the “crucial” Blavatsky-Coulomb tion of Blavatsky’s psychic phenomena exists, letters, as they are missing and, he presumes, and contradictory eyewitness accounts of destroyed.19 Yet the Blavatsky-Coulomb let- Blavatsky’s psychic authenticity—as well as her ters are the crux of the matter—they are the duplicity—abound.16 Blavatsky herself was not letters that Hodgson was commissioned to always forthcoming, as Daniel Conway records investigate.20 Harrison himself concedes the concerning his encounter with her. According significance of these evidentiary items, for he to Conway, after he inquired as to the authen- declares that they “are of prime importance ticity of the phenomena so he could report since, if they are genuine and if they can be back to London, Blavatsky replied, “’you ought taken at their face value, they prove that HPB to know the truth; it is all glamour—people was engaged in fraudulent activities; and we think they see what they do not see—that is need go no further.”21 Harrison construes the the whole of it.’”17 And so even Harrison ulti- absence of these documents as circumstantial mately resolves that he is “unable to express an evidence of their fraudulence.22 This construc- opinion” as to the authenticity of this phenom- tion would be hotly contested in court, for the ena.18 letters did not vanish until after Hodgson had Harrison’s professional background is in completed his investigation, and any post-pro- the field of examination of questioned docu- ceeding chain of custody of evidence is tenu- ments; therefore, his testimony concerning ous at best. Furthermore, while Harrison Blavatsky’s handwriting is most significant, and attacks the 19th century methodologies might be considered expert testimony. This employed by Hodgson’s handwriting expert testimony is far from conclusive, however, even F.G. Netherclift, it cannot be denied that
25 Article Genius, Fraud, or Phenomenon? The Unsolved Case of H.P. Blavatsky By Kerri Barry Netherclift’s expert authentication via analysis Harrison’s indictment states that, “Richard of the actual script and paper content would Hodgson was either ignorant or contemptu- be strongly considered in a court of law. ous of the basic principles of English Justice. Unable to examine the Blavatsky- No court would accept his testimony.”28 Coulomb letters, Harrison resorts to a minute Unfortunately, the judgment Harrison reaches inspection of the surviving collection of in accusing Hodgson rests upon the very Mahatma Letters. Unfortunately, as Harrison methodology Harrison criticizes. Harrison himself points out, he was forced to conduct was unable to review the fundamental basis for most of his handwriting analysis of the collec- Hodgson’s testimony. Hodgson’s own eyewit- tion from slides. The actual letter collection is ness experience is dismissed out of hand; the at the British Museum, an institution that pro- Blavatsky-Coulomb letters are also dismissed hibited him from much of the normal proce- because they have vanished. Harrison indicts dure used in handwriting analysis, including Hodgson despite a paucity of the extant physi- non-destructive laboratory work such as test- cal evidence upon which Hodgson relied. ing for chemical residue.23 Indeed, Harrison Applying Harrison’s standards, the case against was not allowed the use of drawing instru- Richard Hodgson in the Harrison examination ments or photography during his examination is not proven – in the Scots sense. of the actual bound letters in the British Though not dispositive, Harrison’s find- Museum.24 He explains that side-by-side com- ings are provocative. Supposing that she did parison of the bound letters was almost impos- not deliberately disguise her writing, could sible, and he was “armed only with a pocket Blavatsky have still authored the letters in microscope” in his examination of the actual question? The answer is surprising. Within collection.25 psychiatry today altered states of conscious- The results of Harrison’s investigation are ness including trancelike conditions are well- less than conclusive. He asserts that the writ- documented and have been offered into evi- ings may have been produced by separate indi- dence in courts of law.29 That Blavatsky experi- viduals. He also explicitly acknowledges enced altered states of consciousness may be Blavatsky herself may have written the letters, stipulated; the descriptions of many eyewit- suggesting such possibilities as automatic writ- nesses including Olcott are clear in this regard. ing, writing in trance, or sleep writing.26 Certainly this fact might well be submitted as Harrison does not rule out Blavatsky as uncontroverted evidence in a judicial proceed- author; his exclusion applies strictly to the ing. The field of psychiatry is arriving at a deep- deliberate disguise of her ordinary writing.27 er understanding of altered states, and the In the end, Harrison’s conclusions serve physiological basis for such conditions is com- only one purpose: to indict Richard Hodgson. ing into focus. Dietrich hypothesizes such states may be affected by a common neural
26 Article Genius, Fraud, or Phenomenon? The Unsolved Case of H.P. Blavatsky By Kerri Barry mechanism: a “transient decrease in prefrontal might be considered sub-personalities of cortex activity,” in which specific prefrontal cir- Helena Blavatsky.”32 K. Paul Johnson seconds cuits are targeted by various induction meth- Harrison’s suggestion of writing while in an ods, removing them from consciousness during altered state, calling it the most plausible of the process.30 alternatives.33 The theory is not new; in 1927 These altered states may be linked to William Kingsland condemned the SPR com- alterations in handwriting. Indeed, Leonard mittee for its hasty conclusions as to outright Speckin, a forensic document analyst, describes fraud, derisively noting it missed, at the very a medical malpractice suit in which he was least, that Blavatsky “presented a psychological called to testify concerning handwriting varia- problem of the greatest possible interest: a tions within a single plaintiff’s diaries: problem of double personality if of nothing else.”34 My role was to examine diaries authored It is interesting to note that Blavatsky by the plaintiff from 1986–1991 and deter- appeared to undergo her most dramatic per- mine if evidence existed of different writ- sonality changes during episodes of severe ill- ers . . .The results were startling. . . . In ness or trauma. In approximately 1863 she fell these diary entries, which appeared under different names, were four distinct hand- very ill while staying at Ozoorgetty with a mys- writing styles.They presented not only pic- terious “nervous” disease, during the course of torial differences, but the writing systems which she began to tell her friends she was themselves were different. These differ- leading a double life. She describes her condi- ences were far outside the natural varia- tion: tion we all notice in our handwriting.These styles repeated over time and were identi- Whenever I was called by name, I opened fiable with themselves but not with the my eyes upon hearing it, and was myself, others. This evidences four different neu- my own personality in every particular. As rologic contributions.31 soon as I was left alone,however,I relapsed into my usual, half-dreamy condi- Clearly, the handwriting phenomenon at tion, and became somebody else. . .When issue is not unique to Blavatsky, and this lends awake, and myself, I remembered well who credence to the theory that Blavatsky may I was in my second capacity, and what I had have indeed authored the Mahatma Letters in been and was doing. When somebody question, despite their distinct differences in else, i.e., the personage I had become,I know I had no idea of who was H.P. handwriting. In accordance with this line of 35 reasoning, Harrison suggests that, in the event Blavatsky! any of the Mahatma Letters were produced by This pattern continued throughout her Blavatsky while in an altered state,“KH and M life. Col. Olcott describes consulting with
27 Article Genius, Fraud, or Phenomenon? The Unsolved Case of H.P. Blavatsky By Kerri Barry Blavatsky concerning wounds she had received fainting, to the great dismay of Bates and Wim. at the battle of Mentana and the reopening of Used the greatest will-power to put the body a scar from an earlier injury. Reflecting on the on its legs.”41 Olcott goes on to relate a con- traumas, Olcott mused that,“I have sometimes versation with Blavatsky and dinner guests in been even tempted to suspect that none of us, which she explained “the duality of her per- her colleagues, ever knew the normal H.P.B. at sonality and the law which it illustrated. She all; but that we just dealt with an artificially ani- admitted without qualification that it was a fact mated body, a sort of perpetual psychic mys- that she was one person at one moment and tery . . .”36 The most dramatic of these trans- another the next.”42 While Olcott ascribes the formations appeared to occur in Philadelphia in duality to the phenomenological occurrence of 1875, in which Blavatsky was gravely ill from a avesa or possession, the psychological explana- gangrenous leg. It was during her near-miracu- tion of dissociation is equally viable. lous recovery from this illness that Blavatsky Indeed, considering Blavatsky’s descrip- wrote,“just about this time I have begun to feel tion of the manner in which these letters were a very strange duality. Several times a day I feel manifested, even an irrefutable attribution of that beside me there is someone else, quite the script as her own ordinary writing would separable from me, present in my body.”37 be inconclusive. In 1887 she described the Furthermore, connections have been estab- process to the Theosophist-Sanskritist Charles lished between physical injury or illness and Johnston, first noting that the Master may not psychological function. For instance, in 2004 speak or write English, and as such may have a the American Journal of Psychiatry published a message in his mind, but not the English to ren- report concerning the “psychopathological der it: consequences” of surviving severe injury, con- cluding that psychopathology, including anxiety, he has first to impress that thought on my depressive and substance use disorders, is a brain, or on the brain of someone else “frequent and persistent occurrence” following who knows English, and then to take the traumatic injury.38 word forms that rise up in that other brain to answer the thought.Then he must form H.S. Olcott documents certain passages a clear mind picture of the words in writ- in his diary which he asserts were written by ing, also drawing on my brain, or the brain Blavatsky. These passages could be sympto- of whoever it is, for the shapes.43 matic of dissociation.39 Within the entry of November 9, 1878 is written: “Body sick and Therefore, Blavatsky explains, the writing no hot water to bathe it. Nice caboose.”40 “would naturally show some traces of my Even more unusual is the November 12th expressions, and even of my writing.”44 If entry:“H.P.B.played a trick on me by suddenly Blavatsky herself contends that her handwrit-
28 Article Genius, Fraud, or Phenomenon? The Unsolved Case of H.P. Blavatsky By Kerri Barry ing may be recognizable in a message from a applied to her actual work, and a change in the Mahatma, then the relevance of any handwrit- terms of the debate is due – one incorporating ing analysis of the Mahatma Letters is ques- Stack’s honest suspension of judgment.47 For tionable at best. In fact, her contention ren- instance, Price decries the lack of a scholarly ders the issue of deliberate disguise frankly journal devoted to The Secret Doctrine, calling moot, for it would be unremarkable if the let- Blavatsky “largely unexplored.”48 Kingsland ters were rife with instances of her ordinary apprehended this lack years ago and demanded handwriting. Keenly aware of this irony, Olcott of the cynics that,“you still have to account for grumbles in his diary that, “every tyro in spiri- the greatest of all the phenomena . . . the pro- tualistic research knows that, whether a psy- duction by a broken-down worn-out woman, chic message is written on a closed slate, or who ought physically to have died years previ- precipitated on a paper or card laid on the ously, of that great work The Secret Doctrine.” 49 floor, or anywhere else at a distance from the Whether genius, fraud or phenomenon, histo- medium, the writing will usually resemble that ry has yet to account for H.P.Blavatsky. of the medium. ..”45 Whether the Mahatma Letters were the result of fraud, a psychopathological condition such as dissociative syndrome, or the outright product of occult precipitation is a question unlikely to be solved by the plain science of handwriting analysis. The emergence of new factual evidence, such as the unearthing of the missing Blavatsky-Coulomb letters or actual forensic examination of the British Museum’s Mahatma Letters, may serve to invigorate the debate. Until then, the determination of oth- erworldly inspiration for the Mahatma Letters rests with the faith of the reader rather than scientific proof, and the scientific standard will not serve. Leslie Price, himself a member of the SPR, warns that,“caution is needed by both believers and sceptics about the case because of the complexity of the data and the incon- clusive nature of much of the evidence.” 46 It is indeed ironic that Blavatsky’s handwriting has undergone scrutiny of a magnitude beyond that
29 Article Genius, Fraud, or Phenomenon? The Unsolved Case of H.P. Blavatsky By Kerri Barry ENDNOTES key to those has been lost for ages in the West,how can a man learn the correct meaning of what he is 1 Society for Psychical Research, “Report on the reading and studying?” Committee Appointed to Investigate Phenomena Connected with the Theosophical Society,” The SPR 4 Blavatsky, Key to Theosophy, 21. Report on the Theosophical Society, James Webb, ed. (New York : Arno Press, 1976), 207, in which 5 Society for Psychical Research, “Report,” The SPR Richard Hodgson called Blavatsky “one of the most Report on the Theosophical Society, James Webb., ed., accomplished, ingenious, and interesting imposters 207. in history,” and Gottfried de Purucker in collabora- tion with Katherine Tingley, “H. P. Blavatsky: The 6 Vernon Harrison, H.P. Blavatsky and the SPR: An Mystery,” first appearing in The Theosophical Path, Examination of the Hodgson Report of 1885 1929. Accessed 6 November 2005 (
30 Article Genius, Fraud, or Phenomenon? The Unsolved Case of H.P. Blavatsky By Kerri Barry Society, James Webb, ed., 2-3. Hume wrote to a Mr. Knight concerning this mat- ter: 11 Society for Psychical Research,“Report,” The SPR Report on the Theosophical Society, James Webb., ed. , The whole thing is not false — don’t fancy that; 201. but there is so much that is false in Madame Blavatsky’s work that two years ago I withdrew 12 from the Council — from the Presidentship of ALM Properties, Inc., “Burden of Proof,” The the Eclectic, and have ever since remained “Law.com” Dictionary (2005) (
14 Vernon Harrison, H.P. Blavatsky and the SPR, 63. 20 Society for Psychical Research,“Report,” The SPR Report on the Theosophical Society, James Webb., ed., 15 Vernon Harrison, H.P. Blavatsky and the SPR, 68. 203.
21 16 Once a devotee of Blavatsky, Allan Octavian Vernon Harrison, H.P. Blavatsky and the SPR,6.
31 Article Genius, Fraud, or Phenomenon? The Unsolved Case of H.P. Blavatsky By Kerri Barry 22 Vernon Harrison, H.P. Blavatsky and the SPR,8. > : 249.
23 Vernon Harrison, H.P.Blavatsky and the SPR, 32, 44. 31 Leonard Speckin, “Evidence of Multiple Personality Disorder in Handwriting,” Michigan Bar 24 Vernon Harrison, H.P. Blavatsky and the SPR, 32, Journal, October 2002: 46. 44. 32 Vernon Harrison, H.P. Blavatsky and the SPR, 68. 25 Vernon Harrison, H.P. Blavatsky and the SPR, 32. 33 “Excerpts from an Interview with K. Paul 26 Vernon Harrison, H.P. Blavatsky and the SPR, 61– Johnson,” (edited by K. Paul Johnson) published by 62. According to Harrison, “writing received auto- Katinka Hesselink.Net 32 Article Genius, Fraud, or Phenomenon? The Unsolved Case of H.P. Blavatsky By Kerri Barry 38 O’Donnell et al.,“Psychiatric Morbidity Following H.P.Blavatsky and the SPR,” Journal of the Society for Injury,” Am J Psychiatry, vol. 161, no. 3 (Mar 2004): Psychical Research,Vol. 63 (January 1999): 125-27. 507–14. 47 J. Herbert Stack, early member of the SPR writ- 39 According to the National Alliance for the ing concerning his review of the draft of the pre- Mentally Ill (“NAMI”), “Dissociative disorders are liminary report of the committee: so-called because they are marked by a dissociation from or interruption of a person’s fundamental . . .I know from my researches into alleged aspects of waking consciousness (such as one’s per- Spiritualist miracles that you are constantly sonal identity, one’s personal history, etc.). confronted with cases where you honestly sus- Dissociative disorders come in many forms, the pend your judgment: you neither accept the tales or impute fraud. most famous of which is dissociative identity disor- der (formerly known as multiple personality disor- Letter dated 17 Oct 1884, “The Stack der).” “Dissociative Disorders,” NAMI Website, Memorandum,” Theosophical History,vol.1,no.1 < http://www.nami.org/Content/ January 1985): 12. 42 Olcott, Old Diary Leaves,2:7. 49 William Kingsland, “Was She a Charlatan?” The SPR Report on the Theosophical Society, 9 43 Daniel H. Caldwell, ed., “Case 56, Charles ______Johnston, Spring 1887, London,” A Casebook of Encounters with the Theosophical Mahatmas BIBLIOGRAPHY: WORKS CITED (Blavatsky Study Center, Online Edition, 2004) 33 Article Genius, Fraud, or Phenomenon? The Unsolved Case of H.P. Blavatsky By Kerri Barry Items relating to the Life of Charles Bradlaugh (1833-1891), Gomes, Michael. The Coulomb Case. Fullerton: James reprinted from Archives of the National Secular Society Santucci, 2005. [Theosophical History Occasional Papers, (London). Online edition 2004. ______. The Key to Theosophy. 2002 scanned Johnson, K.P. and Brigitte Muehlegger. “Interview with reproduction of First Ed., London, England: 1889, by The Leslie Price.” Published by Katinka Hesselink.Net. Theosophy Company, Los Angeles, California, 1987. Conway, Moncure D. “Adyar, Mme. Blavatsky and Her Kingsland,William.“Was She a Charlatan?” The SPR Report Confession.” Reprinted from Moncure Daniel Conway’s on the Theosophical Society, James Webb, ed. New York : book My Pilgrimage to the Wise Men of the East, 1906, Arno Press, 1976. Chapter X, 195–214. Dietrich,Arne. Functional Neuroanatomy of Altered States of O’Donnell et al. “Psychiatric Morbidity Following Injury.” Consciousness: The Transient Hypofrontality Hypothesis. American Journal of Psychiatry, vol.161, no. 3 (March 2004): Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience 507–14. Laboratory, Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville, GA. 1 April 2002. 34 Article Genius, Fraud, or Phenomenon? The Unsolved Case of H.P. Blavatsky By Kerri Barry Society for Psychical Research. “Report on the Committee Appointed to Investigate Phenomena Connected with the Theosophical Society.” The SPR Report on the Theosophical Society. James Webb, ed. New York: Arno Press, 1976. Speckin, Leonard. “Evidence of Multiple Personality Disorder in Handwriting.” Michigan Bar Journal (October 2002): 46 (Online edition: Spiegel, David. “Introduction,“ Dissociation, Culture, Mind, and Body.” David Spiegel, ed.,Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Press, 1994. Stack, J. Herbert. Letter dated 17 Oct 1884, “The Stack Memorandum.” Theosophical History, Volume 1, no.1 (January 1985): 12. < http://www.theohistory.org/ thcovers/th101scan.html#Anchor-MEMORANDUM- 8620> accessed 12 Nov 2005. Webb, James. “Introduction.” The SPR Report On the Theosophical Society. James Webb, ed. New York : Arno Press, 1976. * * * * * 35 Article Genius, Fraud, or Phenomenon? The Unsolved Case of H.P. Blavatsky By Kerri Barry