Because of the strong and persistent desire of the
co-workers of H. P. Blavatsky to establish a society for the study of esoteric teaching, of all religions and philosophies,
with the idea of introducing them to those who were ready, the Mahatma K. H. gave his consent to direct this society. And
so, with the assistance of H. P. Blavatsky, Col. H. S. Olcott, W. Q. Judge, and several others, this work was started, and
in the course of time it took the form of what is now known as the Theosophical Movement. One can read about the history of
this movement in The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnet, and in the volume of Letters of H. P. Blavatsky herself to the
same A. P. Sinnett. LHRI.
You ask whether it is possible to trust the writings
of Olcott. Indeed, much more than many others. His first works are the best, for by accepting the authority of H. P. Blavatsky
he came under the Ray of the Great Teachers. You know about the immutable law of Hierarchy. Only through H. P. Blavatsky was
it possible to approach the White Brotherhood. LHRI.
Colonel Olcott is doubtless "out of time with the feelings
of English people" of both classes; but nevertheless more in time with us than either. Him we can trust under all circumstances,
and his faithful service is pledged to us come well, come ill. My dear Brother, my voice is the echo of impartial justice.
Where can we find an equal devotion? He is one who never questions, but obeys; who may make innumerable mistakes out of excessive
zeal but never is unwilling to repair his fault even at the cost of the greatest self-humiliation; who esteems the sacrifice
of comfort and even life something to be cheerfully risked whenever necessary; who will eat any food, or even go without;
sleep on any bed, work in any place, fraternise with any outcast, endure any privation for the cause. KH Letters to AP Sinnet.
Blavatasky, Helena Petrovna, September 8, 1875, founded
The Theosophical Society, together with Col. Olcott, William Q. Judge, and others. AY Gloss.
..The Theosophical Society and its two founders--Colonel
Olcott and the author of these letters. Caves and Jungles. HP Blavatsky.
H. S. Olcott, President and Founder of the Theosophical
Society. Key.
Olcott, Colonel Henry Steele – American lawyer
and journalist. Received his title in the Civil War. Co-founder, with H.P. Blavatsky and Wm. Q. Judge, of the Theosophical
Movement which began in the last quarter of the Nineteenth Century. President-Founder of the Theosophical Society, which office
he held from 1875 to his death in 1907. Author of People from the Other World, Old Diary Leaves, and A Buddhist Catechism.
AY Gloss.
When I started to write that which developed later
into Isis Unveiled, I had no more idea than the man in the moon what would come of it. I had no plan; did not know whether
it would be an essay, a pamphlet, a book, or an article. I knew that I had to write it, that was all. I began the work before
I knew Colonel Olcott well, and some months before the formation of the Theosophical Society...
It is to him that I am
indebted for the English in Isis. It is he again who suggested that the work should be divided into chapters, and the first
volume devoted to SCIENCE and the second to THEOLOGY. IU2 49.
Moreover, a considerable part of the philosophy expounded
by Mr. Sinnett was taught in America, even before Isis Unveiled was published, to two Europeans and to my colleague, Colonel
H. S. Olcott. Of the three teachers the latter gentleman has had, the first was a Hungarian Initiate, the second an Egyptian,
the third a Hindu. As permitted, Colonel Olcott has given out some of this teaching in various ways; if the other two have
not, it has been simply because they were not allowed: their time for public work having not yet come. But for others it has,
and the appearance of Mr. Sinnett's several interesting books is a visible proof of the fact. It is above everything important
to keep in mind that no theosophical book acquires the least additional value from pretended authority. SDI xix Intro. HPB.
At last I found the brochure written by H.S. Olcott
in which he discusses the means that were used by the representatives of the Church for choosing and affirming the canonical
Gospels While analyzing the legendary character of the biographies of all the great Teachers and Reformers, Olcott proves
that all these biographies were built according to one most ancient pattern. LHRII.
Take care lest we should some day take you at your
thought and put you in Olcott's place, after taking him to our own, as he has longed to have us do these several years. Martyrdom
is pleasant to look at and criticise, but harder to suffer. There never was a woman more unjustly abused than H.B. See the
infamous insulting letters she was sent from England for publication against herself and us and the Society. You may find
them undignified perhaps. But the "Answers to Correspondents" in Supplement are written by myself. So do not blame her. I'm
curious to know your frank opinion on them. Perchance you might think she might have done herself better.
Morya. Letters
to AP Sinnet.
Mr. Richard Prater, an old associate of W.Q. Judge
and a pupil of H.P.Blavatsky came to my class one day and the next week turned his entire Secret Doctrine class over to me.I
mention this for the benefit of United Lodge of Theosophists and for those who claim that the true Theosophical lineage descends
from H.P.B. via W.Q. Judge. All the Theosophy that I knew had been taught me by personal friends and pupils of H.P.B. and
this Mr. Prater recognized. Later he gave me the esoteric section instructions as given to him by H.P.B. They are identical
with those I had seen when in the E.S. but they were given to me with no strings attached to them at all and I have been at
liberty to use them at any time and have used them. When he died many years ago his theosophical library came into our hands
with all the old Lucifers and all the old editions of the Theosophical magazine, plus other esoteric papers which he had received
from H.P.B.
Among the papers which he gave me was one in which
H.P.B. expressed her wish that the esoteric section should be called the Arcane School. It never was and I made up my mind
that the old lady should have her wish and that was how the school came to get its name. I regarded it as a great privilege
and happiness to know Mr. Prater. Another old pupil of Madame Blavatsky and Col.Olcott, Miss Sarah Jacobs, gave me the photographic
plates of the Masters' pictures which were given to her by Col. Olcott so that I have more than a happy feeling that the personal
pupils and friends of H.P.Blavatsky approved of what I was setting out to do.
I had their endorsement and their help until they passed
over to the other side. They were, naturally, all old people when I first met them. The attitude of the current Theosophical
leaders and membership has always amused me. They have never approved of what I taught and yet what I taught came direct from
personally trained pupils of H.P.B. and is more likely to be correct than that which has come from those who have not known
her. I mention this because for the sake of the work I would like to have its sources recognized. UA 191.
JPC.
January 2005.
