Theosophical Society,
Miscellaneous
Letters (Part 1)
H P Blavatsky
THE
LETTERS OF
H.P.BLAVATSKY
to
A. P. SINNETT
and other
miscellaneous letters transcribed, compiled,
with an
introduction
By
A. Trevor
Barker
Section 4 Page 265 - 303
MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS 1
I.—Countess
Wachimeiste,
LETTERS
No. CXXI-CLIV. . . 265/303
A
Scandalous Statement. . . 267
Trials
and Difficulties . . . . 269
The
Sancharacharya and the T.S. . . . 271
A
Chela’s Thanks . . . 273
The
“ Russian Spy” Calumny. . . 275
Perfection
is to be found Nowhere. . . 277
Babaji’s Frenzy . . . 279
Criminal
Charges . . . 281
Babaji and Hatha Yog . . . 283
H.
P. B.’s Enemies . . . . 285
H.
P. B.’s Second Marriage . . . 287
Continuous
Persecutions . . . 289
Professor
Selin makes Mischief . . . 291
H.
P. B.’s Indiscretions . . . 293
H.
P. B. must not be left alone. . . . 295
Personal
Feelings must go . . . 297
The
Cause of Walter Gebhard’s Death. . . 299
Foolish
Credulity. . . 301
The
T.S. throwing off its Linga Sarira
. . . 303
—•—
265 I. —COUNTESS WACHTMEISTER
—•—
LETTER
No. CXXI
Private.
13th December.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
Yesterday
evening a loud rap was suddenly heard and Jual Kool was with us. He
signified
his intention of writing through my hand. I saw him close to me
indistinctly,
felt the influence, heard the few words he said to me, and wrote
the
following: --
Let
Mohini be saved at all costs, write to Sinnett this, a conspiracy is being
formed
to over-throw the Society and disgrace Mohini. No
delay, but act
promptly,
form your Committee quickly, get all possible evidence together, and
find
out all you can about Miss L.’s antecedents.
J.
K. told me that you have a very difficult task before youNow
I will tell you plainly what I think in this affair. I believe that Miss L. has
been a paid agent from the first to endeavour through
Mohini’s disgrace to harm the T.S. I believe that the
Doctor was taken to Madame De M. simply to psychologise
her, in which he succeeded, and that she is now unknowingly under his
influence.
If
a good Roman Catholic could offer Madame 25,000 fcs. down simply to omit the name of Christ in her S.D. believe
me they can do a great deal more. They are fighting for life, for the S.D. has
that which will give them their death blow,
they
may be a long time in expiring, but they surely will in time. The S.D.
contains
a translation of the Secret Book.
The
public at present will have but a faint idea of its real meaning, but as
years
roll by—it will penetrate deeper into the hearts of men and then the death
knell
will be sounded.
Will
you kindly try and get me a copy of Hargrave
Jennings’ Phallicism? I want
Madame
to see some passages in it. George Redway has it, but
he asks 30/-. It
was
published at £1. Do try and get it for me as cheaply as you can, and send it
as
soon
—•—
266 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS
—•—
as
possible. Will you beg Mohini to write out the
esoteric meaning of some of
Shakespeare’s
plays. Madame wants it for the S.D. and will put it in Mohini’s
name.
I am sorry to trouble you so much.
Yours truly,
C. W.
LETTER
No. CXXII
16th December.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
Madame
is so miserable at the thought of the enclosed slander that it will most
probably
shut India on her, that I have been thinking that as a slander it
should
be refuted for you see, indirectly it concerns us all. I give you the
following
my own idea and leave it to your own superior judgment to act on it or
not
as you think best. I think the Editor of Vanity Fair would at once insert
the
article if threatened with Law, for Editors are rather chary of inserting
libels;
Modern Society had to pay £1,000 -- for that little game not long ago.
Now
this is my idea, do with it what you please. Madame Blavatsky has read with astonishment
in Vanity Fair the following, “that carefully worded proclamations calling upon
the people in
“Madame
Blavatsky denies absolutely having in any way used her influence among the
People of India to induce them to rise and proclaim their political rights; she
denies absolutely having distributed any worded documents to that effect and she
also denies having meddled with Politics in any way whatsoever during her sojourn
in India. On her return to
I
feel that this step ought really to be taken. We are getting into such a
tangle
of troubles on all sides—that where we can protest with truth we should
do
so. And Madame swears the truth of what is written here. I am so sorry to
trouble
you again,
—•—
267 A
SCANDALOUS STATEMENT —•—
it
seems to me that I am always troubling you, but you are a man whereas I am
only
a helpless woman.
My
love to Mrs. Sinnett.
Much from Madame to you both.
Yours sincerely,
C.
WACHTMEISTER.
I
enclose the slip, but please return it and let me know in your next letter
whether
you will take this matter into your hands. Madame says that however much they
may slander her she has only contempt for the same, but that this is too serious
an affair to let pass, as it closes
Cutting
and Extract front the “Times of India.”
Vanity
Fair publishes the following cock and bull story, which will doubtless
amuse Mr. Hume, General Morgan, and other “amiable
enthusiasts” who dabble in Theosophy: -- Strange rumours
of Russian intrigue and political propaganda under the guise of religious
research reach me from
Esoteric
Buddhism, who left
There
is, I believe, no direct evidence of any communication between
LETTER
No. CXXIII
28th December.
MY
DEAR MR. SINNETT,
Madame
begs me to write and thank you for your kind letter which she was
delighted
to get and hopes you will kindly send her as many stamps as you
possibly
can. It is a real pleasure to her to receive them and is always most
eager
to know how many there are, she is as careful of them as if they were
precious
stones. In a letter to Miss A. I have told her all about Madame.
A
letter came yesterday from Lady Caithness, kind, warm
and loving, it did the
Old
Lady’s heart good and gave it a little cheerful spark of warmth for a few
minutes.
You will be amused to hear that Lady C. was enchanted with Mr.
Sinnett’s paper on “the higher life” particularly
as it was Marie Stuart who
inspired
him
—•—
268 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS
—•—
to
write it. Fancy Mr. Sinnett becoming a medium!!! I
heard in a round about way the other day (not through Theosophists) that Lady Caithness had been holding seances
in Nice, and that the King of Spain came to her and said that he was very happy
now, because where he now is there are no women; I wonder whether he was as
tormented with them as Mohini is. No news to give
you, the days glide away very smoothly and Madame says the S.D. goes on wheels.
Madame
would be very glad if Mr. Sinnett would kindly begin
to make enquiries
about
publication, etc., with prices, she would like the pamphlet to be about
the
size of the Platonist, different from ordinary magazines—there will be two
chapters
each month every chapter containing about 90 of her written sheets. She wishes
the type to be a large and distinct one. Madame hopes shortly to send the Preface
with 1st Chapter to Mr. Sinnett. I am very glad to be
here with Madame for I feel that I am a comfort and of use to her. I also
consider it a great
privilege
to be allowed to witness the marvellous way in which
this book is
being
written. Madame sends much love to you and Mr. Sinnett
and she hopes you will pardon her for not writing. May this New Year be a happy
and prosperous one to you both is the sincere wish of
Yrs.
very sincerely,
CONSTANCE WACHTMEISTER.
Do
not trouble to answer this letter but write instead to Madame for she loves
getting
nice letters though she cannot now answer them.
LETTER
No. CXXIV
Private.
29th Dec.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
I
feel that I have no right to offer you any advice, but as we all have at heart
the
welfare of the one and same cause I hope you will not think it interference
on my part, or mind my telling you a few thoughts
which have come to me since my stay here.
Watching
Madame as I do every day writing her S.D. and seeing how thoroughly absorbed
she is in her work, it seems to me a sad pity that anything should come to
disturb her and I have often asked myself whether it would not be advisable to
crush all these slanders against Madame with the supreme contempt of silence.
The
more one attempts to refute the lies the more fuel one throws on the flames
and
so the scandal is kept alive. I do in my heart believe that nothing would be
so
galling to Messrs. Hodgson and Co. as allowing the whole affair to pass
without
—•—
269 TRIALS AND
DIFFICULTIES —•—
taking
any notice of it. You see this very scandal gives them notoriety and
brings
them into Public notice, they are comparatively an obscure set and if you
treat
them as such and pay no attention to their accusations, well the thing
will
be just a nine days wonder and then blow over to make room for something
else.
You have been very good to Madame for you have been one of the few who have
stood forth in her defence, but you see you cannot
really make things clear for her, for the Occult laws are not yet known, and
therefore I think it is far
better
to keep silence. No quarrel or discussion can be kept up when there is
only
one side to do all the talking, it must die out, and we Theosophists have
borne
so much already I think we can bear this too. Very few people have left
the
Society on account of this scandal and those who remain are truer than ever.
In
Germany the whole S.P.R. is very much ridiculed. Madame is now in a
philosophical
state of mind and says she does not really care what they say of
her,
she was annoyed about the Spy article for she feared it would prevent her
returning
to India, but she sees the truth of what is contained in your letter,
and
she thinks the whole thing had better be allowed to die out of itself.
The
L. affair is very provoking coming just now, try and put an end to it as
quickly
as possible and say to the Secret Committee that you are commissioned by Madame
to say to them that if Miss L. has any REAL PROOF that Madame has wrongly slandered
her, even though what she said was said privately in a private and confidential
letter, still Madame would make her every apology—but the Committee must be
fully assured of her (Miss L.’s) innocence first.
You
see Madame must have peace of mind to enable her to write this book and it is
only by ignoring or crushing scandals that this can be done. Madame sends you much love, she always speaks of you so gratefully
and kindly, and she said to me the other evening that you had been a true
friend to her and that she had a warm affection for you and Mrs. Sinnett—she said that you, the Gebhards
and D. Hubbe are her best European friends. Madame
entirely approves of all I have written for I have told her its contents, she
is in a calm and peaceful frame of mind and is perfectly happy writing the S.D.
May this New Year bring you and yours many blessings and may we at the end of
it be able to say that we have been staunch and true and have loved the Cause
better than ourselves.
Yrs. very sincerely,
C.
WACHTMEISTER.
P.S.
Madame supposes that there will be about 100 printed pages every month in the
S.D.
—•—
270 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS
—•—
LETTER
No. CXXV
1st January.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
Professor
Selin brought Madame yesterday evening a nice New
Year’s gift in the
shape
of the S.P.R. book. You may imagine what a lively time we had of it.
Palpitations
of the heart, digitalis, etc. I did not bless him for coming and
undoing
my work of the last few weeks. He took it very philosophically and said
it
was only right that Madame should know what it said against her. Madame
wanted
to write off letters of protest right and left, but I have prevented her
doing
so. I have told her that the only thing she could do would be to have
Hodgson
taken up for slander and libel. That in the first place this would cost
money
which she has not got. In the second place as all the jury would be
prejudiced against her, she would probably be
pronounced guilty which would make things a thousand times worse than they are
now. That if you undertake her defence that you will
only draw down more accusations and the game of battledore and shuttlecock will
go on until the whole thing becomes universally known. The only safe course to
pursue is this I think, that you and Dr. Hubbe
denounce the whole thing as slanders and lies, that the papers should be signed
by every Theosophist and copies sent to all the members of the S.P.R. Ridicule
and supreme contempt are our only weapons. The whole thing seems to me to be
based on Mr. H.’s evidence and his very sagacious
conclusions. How is it that he is infallible!
Ever yr. sincerely,
C. W.
LETTER
No. CXXVI
Private
and Confidential.
1st January.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
My
note written to you this morning and sent to Franz Gebhard
to forward to you, you will probably receive at the same time as this. We have
had a terrible day and the Old Lady wanted to start off to
what
I said this morning, ridicule and contempt are our only weapons for the
scandal
must be crushed if possible and at any rate we must not feed the fire.
If
all Theosophists sign a protest treating the whole thing with contempt, in
the
first place, there can be no reprisal if the document is properly worded and
in
the second it has the good object of uniting us all more closely together
—•—
271 THE SANCHARACHARYA AND
THE T. S. —•—
in
this time of trouble which is what we need. If we all keep true and firm
nothing
can really hurt us. The enclosed will show you the immense importance of keeping
cool and quiet and crushing the scandal if possible. I need not comment upon
the result of such a Presidentship in
As
this news was sent from
Think
of the magnitude and the vast proportions and importance the Society will
in
a few years have all over the world. Don’t get downhearted and rest assured
that
you have the sympathy of all your friends.
Yrs. very
sincerely,
C. WACHTMEISTER.
LETTER
No. CXXVI
6,
LUDVIG
STRASSE, WURZBURG,
4th January.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
Many
thanks for your letter of the 30th received this morning.
Madame
is delighted with your proposition about the S.D. She thinks it is a most
favourable and satisfactory arrangement for
herself, but she says the journal
must
come out every month or if you think it better every three months, for if
she
lives she believes so much will, be given to her that it will last 3 years
or
more. The size of the Journal you can arrange as you think best. There will
be
no regular preface, only about 6 or 7 pages addressed to the Reader to give
them
an idea of what the book will contain, for otherwise they would be plunging
wholesale
into matter entirely unknown to them. Madame will send you shortly the Title
pages, and in a week or so the address to the Reader with first two
chapters.
From this you will be able to judge of the general purpose of the
whole
work. I wish myself that some clever theologian could be found who would read
and criticise before the book is put into print. Do
you know anyone whom you can trust. It would have to
be a man deeply read in all these particular
subjects.
Thank
you very much for sending Phallicism. As soon as I
—•—
272 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS
—•—
know
the amount of my debt to Miss Arundale I will send a cheque for the amount.
Madame
is much interested to find that “Phallicism” contains
a few of the things
which
she has already written out in the S.D., only given in a Jesuitical point
of
view, and she intends to cut them up finely; it was in reading her
manuscripts
that I saw the resemblance in some points and so was anxious that
she
should see the book. Again another curious fact. Madame had written many
pages
on the signification of numbers, and that the words Jehovah and Cain are
simply algebraical numbers,
when she receives by post a book from Arthur Gebhard which
he has found in
interesting,
it corroborates and confirms all that she has previously written,
only
from a mathematical point of view. The book is by Skinner. 3,000 rupees
have
been as yet subscribed in India for the S.D. I write to Col. O. this mail
to
let us know exactly the amount. I suppose many will have subscribed now
during
the Anniversary. I will also ask how many the different branches will
require.
The O.L. says you may do anything you please with her memoirs, she
leaves
all entirely in your hands. She is terribly upset to-day, has received a
brutal
letter from Selin telling her he resigns because he
looks upon her and
the
whole Society as a fraud, that he does not believe in the Masters and that
he
thinks that “Isis” has been plagiarised from other
books.
We
are having a horrible time of it here. I thought Madame would have had an
apoplectic
fit—but fortunately a violent attack of diarrhea saved her, but I do
weary
of it all so much. I think sometimes my own strength will fail me,
physical
not moral. It is a mystery to me how all this dirt and filth seems to
surround
and oppress us. When all this has blown over if you go to America will
you
kindly let me know just before you start for I shall have something I should
then
like to say to you which will interest you much. My love to Mrs. Sinnett
and
much to you both from Madame.
Yrs.
very
sincerely,
C. WACHTMEISTER.
Madame
was delighted with the card and cried over it like a child, she also
thanks
for the stamps.
LETTER
No. CXXVIII
11th January.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
I
hope you will approve of the accompanying paper, and that you will read it
aloud
at the next meeting of the L.L. If you could get many testimonies similar
to
mine, it seems to
—•—
273 A
CHELA’S THANKS —•—
me
that you could make considerable use of them in refuting the charges brought
by
the S.P.R. At any rate they would help considerably to restore the shaken
confidence
of many in the existence of the Mahatmas, and tend to prove that
Madame
has not been carrying on a systematic course of cheating for the last ten years
as alleged by Messrs. Hodgson & Co.
I
will add one more incident to my story which I know will interest you, but
this
you must if you please keep private. While writing I came to the second
chela who visited us at
Elberfeld, and this you must know was the chela who
had to do with the Kiddle affair. I was on the point
of writing his name when the
thought
struck me that it possibly [would] be unpleasant to him to be brought
again
before the public notice. I suppressed his name, as I did this I heard
plainly
the words “thank you” behind me, and on looking saw the chela
once more.
I
had not seen him since those days at Elberfeld. Do not mention this for I
should
be sorry to bring him into trouble again, but I feel sure the incident
will
interest you. I intend also writing to Petersburg to Madame Jelihovsky
I
to
add my entreaties to yours that she should send you all possible details
about
Madame’s youth; the more interesting the book can be made, the more the
public
will like it.
Not
a word has been added to the S.D. since the 31st Dec., but if we can only
get
a few days of calm and quiet I hope Madame will be able to begin writing
again.
My
love to Mrs. Sinnett,
Ever yours sincerely,
C.
WACHTMEISTER.
LETTER
No. CXXIX
15th January.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
I
send you the Russian pamphlet from Madame B. She says you may take anything out
of it that you please and that if Mohini would go to
Madam Novikoff she would translate it. It would be
better to find someone else if possible, however, you
will settle that to your own satisfaction. At last Madame has settled down
again to the S.D.; a whole fortnight lost.
What
did you think of my paper with the idea of collecting the experiences of
those
who have had phenomena independently of Madame. In the Scottish Branch I believe
there are some, also Mlle. de Glinker,
a few curious facts. I do not mean when she and Solovioff
saw the Masters—but other phenomena quite
independent
of Madame B. Here the most curious phenomena
I see LETTER No. CXXX.—ED.
—•—
274 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS
—•—
take place every day when Madame is fast asleep, but
as I do not care to mix any phenomena of a physical nature with the sacred name
of the Mahatmas or even their chelas, I do not speak of them, besides they are
not independent of
Madame,
as she is in the apartment. I only tell this to yourself; not to be
repeated.Madame B. thinks all your
arrangement about her memoirs a very good one and thanks you much; having taken
again to the S.D. she cannot now tear herself from it again to write to you.
The German T.S. is still alive, though entre nous very shaky, but certainly if this squall does not kill
us nothing ever will.
My
kind regards to you all,
Ever yours sincerely,
C. WACHTMEISTER.
P.S.
I have written both to Madame Fadeyeff and to Madame Jelihovsky and have told them how necessary it is for them
to clear Madame B. from all charges
brought
against her by giving all possible details about her youth.
LETTER
No. CXXX
To
C. W.
ST. PETERSBURG,
15/27 Jan., 1886.
DEAR
MADAM,
Forgive
me the long delay of my answer. My daughter’s illness as well as my
proper
disease of health and mind—are my only excuses.
I
am obliged to tell you, and ask you to kindly forward, or repeat this, my
answer
to Mr. Sinnett—that I am not able to add anything to
what I have already
written,
about all I know of my sister’s doings or movements.
As
for her childhood, I remember it but very little, being several years younger
and therefore having been bred apart from her and
our youngest aunt Miss Nadejda Fadeyeff,
who can indeed be a great deal more useful, in this matter, to your researches.
Likewise in my sister’s lifelong travels about land and sea, her
only
almost regular—mind the reticence—correspondent was this aunt and best
friend
of hers.
For
my part, I only am aware that all her life was a continual migration between
Africa,
America and Asia—which certainly is known to her a great deal better
than
Europe. In the far East, I suppose, were spent most of the ten years, from
1850
till 1860 -- that we rarely had any news from her. I, for instance, for
several
years thought her dead and duly buried.
—•—
275 THE “ RUSSIAN
SPY “ CALUMNY —•—
Now,
all that I have seen of phenomena, while Hellen lived
with me near Pskoff
(from
her return to Russia in the winter of ‘59) in my country house and lately
in
‘84 in Paris I have described minutely, and have nothing more to say: so I
pray
Mr. Sinnett if he is willing and able “to fill up” as
he says “the
deficiencies”
of my writings, to do it in his name, not in mine.
That
would not do, you see, as well for his sake, as for mine and Hellen’s.
English
is well known and much read in Russia. My name and writings are also
known
well enough. All addition to them shall be obvious and produce a bad
impression.
As
to her being a spy of the Russian Government—it’s such a gross imposture, and nonsense,
that not one sensible man in the world will pay attention to it, I am
sure.
Her opponents must surely well know that this sort of trouble is well paid
for.
If she had been in the service, she would not be obliged now, in her old
age
and illness, to labour for bread’s sake. It is a
monstrous calumny, and Mr.
Sinnett may well throw it in the face of her
stupid enemies.
I
beg you, Madam, to agree my most sincere regard and thanks for the friendship you
feel for my poor sister. May God help her in her troubles.
VERA
ZELIHOVSKY.
P.S.
Give the enclosed note to my sister if you please.
Letter
No. CXXXI
18th January.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
As
Madame has sent her letter to you herself, I just add these few words.
I am not at all so sure whether it would
be advisable to publish in
Madame’s
memoirs our different testimonies of having had communications from the Mahatmas
(mine alone would be perfectly useless as people would only say that I was
either a “Medium” or “psychologised”) whether in fact
it would be advisable to bring their names into print at all. Sufficient
desecration has already been thrown at them by the public. Is
it well to give the public the opportunity of throwing more abuse at them.
It is just like throwing out a red rag to an enraged bull and will only bring
down fresh slanders and calumnies. It was right to gather these testimonies to
restore the quavering faith of many Theosophists, but pray ponder well before
you bring the Mahatmas names again before the public in connection with
phenomena. Please read out to the Council these few words and see what they
will say. Better have many opinions on such a subject than only
—•—
276 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS
—•—
a
few, because if it does bring fresh trouble all will have to suffer. My own
feeling is that we should keep the Mahatmas
names sacred within our own Society and never breathe them beyond it.
Yrs. sincerely,
C. W.
LETTER
No. CXXXII
18th January.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
Madame
is very much delighted, because having just been told to open her Russian paper
which otherwise she never thinks of unfastening until she is in bed at night, she finds a long article about herself and her
childhood which you can
insert
in the Memoirs, saying by whom they are written and that they are
extracted
from accompanying paper giving date etc. Nobody then can doubt their veracity.
I am glad you like my Appeal; before reading it out please add
following
words which are underlined, they will make my meaning clearer. Mme.
Gebhard writes that she has sent you her
testimony, also a letter from Professor
Coues saying that he can make the Astral bell ring—I
have forwarded your letter
to
Mme. Jelihovsky.
When
I saw Dr. Hartmann in Munich he told me that you had never answered a
letter
of his. I think this is a pity for though an eccentric man he is a very
earnest
Theosophist and devoted to H. P. B. A few words from you would I think please
him greatly and at such a crisis every effort should be made to keep
friends,
they become such inveterate foes when turned against us. I am so glad
the
O. L. is regaining her equilibrium of mind. Yesterday she was able to do
some
good work.
Ever yr.
sincerely,
C. WACHTMEISTER.
Do
you know what has become of Signor Damiani.
LETTER
No. CXXXIII
MY
DEAR MR. SINNETT,
Will
you be very kind and execute some commissions for Madame Blavatsky? Will you
purchase for her four bottles of No. 3 medicine at Mr. Wallace’s, Oxford Mansions,
Oxford Circus, and send the bottles here by post. Please do not tell the
Wallace’s that the medicine is for Madame B. or mention my name in
connection
with it. He has a most violent antipathy to her and has written to me
several
serious letters warning me against her, so I have been careful not to
let
him know that I am here or that Madame B. is taking his medicines with
decided
benefit
—•—
277 PERFECTION IS
TO BE FOUND
NOWHERE —•—
to
herself. Since last writing I have had a private talk with the Doctor, and he
says
that her general health is better than it was last autumn, but that she has
such
an accumulation of diseases within her that any day she may die suddenly.
Madame
is terribly nervous about herself and once when I ventured to ask her if
she
had made her will and if all her papers were in order, she got very angry
with me.Madame asks also
if you will kindly get for her from Redway the
“Vishnu Purana,” price 10/-. She cannot afford the
other volumes, she begs that you will kindly deduct
her debt to you from the money which is coming from
The
Duchess gives a sad account of the French Branch. Are Christians less
Christians
because there was once a Judas Iscariot and a Magdalene!! Immoral
Popes
and Priests! Perfection is to be found nowhere.
Yours very
sincerely,
C. W.
LETTER
NO. CXXXIV
22nd January.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
A
telegram brought me here yesterday as our kind friends were anxious to consult me
on Theosophical matters.
Being
here I have talked to Madame Gebhard about my appeal.
We have both come to the conclusion that it would be most unwise to put into
print that appeal I sent you, namely my experiences, therefore we both withdraw
our sanction to its being printed, but give you full authority to read it at
the meeting of the 27th and show it to any Theosophists you please—but to no
outsiders. I do not wish to give the name of my Master. M. Gebhard
was with me when the scene I described took place, she says I had my eyes shut
and she does not remember how long it took, we used to sit together every
evening.
I
return to Madame in two days.
In haste,
Yr. truly,
C. W.
LETTER
No. CXXXV I
WURZBURG,
Jan. 26th.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
My
note written from Elberfeld will have surprised you, and now that I am back
again
here and am able to assemble my thoughts
I
This letter appears to be a copy in Mrs. Sinnett’s
handwriting
of
a letter from Countess W.—ED.
—•—
278 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS
—•—
which
have been turning in a whirlpool, I think it is only right that as you are
President
of the L.L. that I should make you acquainted with the truth for your
future
guidance. The only person to whom you may show this letter is Mohini, but before doing so he must promise you on his word
of honour, that he will keep the contents secret; so much harm has come already
of gossiping that I am obliged to take this precaution. When I came here in the
beginning of December I found Babaji perfectly
miserable, he said he was contemplating running away or committing suicide. I
could see that he was wounded and jealous that Mohini
was doing so much work in
—•—
279 BABAJI’S FRENZY
—•—
knocked
about the furniture to that extent that Mr. G. who was in the drawing
room below said he thought the chandelier would come
down and every piece of furniture was being smashed upstairs; the upshot of all
this row was his intense hatred to Mme. B. He said he would draw her life’s
blood out of her, he wd. kick her out of the Society, that he wd. tear her to
pieces, that he wd. write
articles
against her, that he wd. send to the public papers in London, that he
wd.
destroy the T.S. and wd. form out of its remnants a Society for himself
where
he wd. preach only ethics. On asking why he was possessed of such a
violent
feeling against Mme. B. he said firstly because she had desecrated the
Masters
by connecting them with phenomena, and 2nd because she had insulted
himself
several times, (and I say wounded his vanity). I thought at last that
the
exhibition was sufficient, told him I was tired and then left him. We met
again
at the drawing room tea table. B. was then quiet. I asked him to state the
charges
he brought against Mme. B. and which he wd. publish, they are as
follows:
-- that Mme. B. had written to some Indian that Col. O. had never
really
seen the Masters, that she had herself pyschologised
him to see them and
that
later on when the Col. was shown this letter, for 3 days he was on the
verge
of suicide; that Mme. B. and the Col. wanting money they had written a
letter
in the Master’s name to some Indian, asking for money and promising that
if
he gave it his sick child shd. recover—the child
died, and the Indian was
furious;
-- that Mme. B. wrote you a letter about Mohini and
women in which
there
were a few words from the Master M. and that naturally such a thing was
desecration.
The Gebhards had agreed that in consideration of
these charges,
with
Hodgson’s report etc. they had determined to destroy the Society unless
Mme.
B. made a solemn promise to never mix up the Masters’ names again with
phenomena, women, or common worldly matters, that,
that must be done or either she must be turned out of the Society or the
Society cease to exist. I said I
thought
we had kept silent long enough, and that it was our silence and
screening
what we believed to be wrong last year which had brought on all the
trouble.
I then wrote the letter which you will find enclosed—also a paper to
Colonel
O. abolishing the permanent fund etc. which we all agree should not
exist;
to this paper the German Branch will add different reforms which they
think
necessary and then the paper will be forwarded to you. Well I left
Elberfeld,
but before leaving told B. that I had been brought to Elberfeld
through
a lie, that I had never been so insulted in my life before, and that he
had
done me a great injury—namely, that looking upon him as a chela
who had been many years with the Masters, that I thought at least that he would
have learnt to be truthful and
—•—
280 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS
—•—
honest,
but that now to see a chela preaching such a high
code of morals and
ethics
while in heart he was filled with duplicity, deceit and base passions was
to
me dreadful.
The
Franz Gs. worship him and they tell me I must not believe his words. I must
not
look at appearances for when he says one thing he means another, but that
you know will not do in
if
people do not obey him, he will burst the whole Society and then run back to
India.
Now you see the danger, and my advice is—do not have him in London; but at the
same time act very cautiously for he has a large correspondence and could really
if he chose do what he says, because being a chela,
people have the
highest
respect for his word. B. was furious at my returning here to Wurzburg.
He
told F. G. that Mme. could if she chose psychologise
me to the extent of
committing
forgery. B. told me that he wd. never return to Mme. B.—that he would prevent
M. from doing so and that he had written to a 100 Hindus about Mme. B. and that
he had written expressly to prevent any chela from
coming here to replace me when I am gone; that he wished she wd. go to Russia
and throw the S.D. to the dogs and then he could preach his philosophy in
peace.
LETTER
No. CXXXVI
WURZBURG,
28th January.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
Many
thanks for your kind letter. I quite agree with you that anything that can
be
done to substantiate the veracity of past phenomena should be done to clear
H.
P. B., but you see my testimony brings forth new phenomena and so naturally a new
element for the Enemy to pull to pieces—besides which it seems to me that it is
time now to hang a veil before the Mahatmas. I grant you that I think it was quite
necessary that Their names and that phenomena should
be brought before the Public, it was the only way of drawing their attention
towards the Theosophical Movement. I acknowledge that many foolish and
ridiculous acts were committed, but when I think of the enormous undertaking
and its development by two foreigners without money I feel that I have no right
to blame, for placed in the same difficult position I might perhaps have done
worse. We are all of us in a most critical position and it is only by our
united efforts that we can possibly pull through. I am perfectly willing to
contribute my mite and am working heart and soul for the Cause. Let us wait
—•—
281 CRIMINAL CHARGES
—•—
a
month and see what development of existing difficulties takes place. If at the
end
of that time you have sufficient testimonies gathered from other people that
you
think it could benefit H. P. B. and the Cause to put them into the Memoirs
do so—only don’t put me en evidence but one
amongst the number—for else I know quite well that I shall be seized on for
dissection, called a Medium and
psychologised by Madame, an idea now
implanted in peoples’ minds by Babajee. At the end of
Febry.,
write and tell me what you think of doing and then if necessary I will get Mme.
Gebhard’s consent.
One
thing may interest you. Mme. G. recalled to my mind that last year ‘84 --
the
chela had said that a chela
would come to Elberfeld in winter ‘85. We
thought
then that he meant in astral form.
I
wrote to you so hurriedly the other day that I forgot to tell you what I
decided
to do about Babajee’s grave charge that the Colonel
and Mme. had
obtained
money on false pretences in India from Prince Hurrysingee.
This charge is doubly serious as coming from a chela,
and so I determined that though I have often shut my eyes to little
irregularities or at least what seemed to me as such, I have reconciled it to
my conscience by thinking that as I understood so little about the Occult laws,
I must not judge by appearances and that perhaps some day I should understand
the real meaning; but Babajee’s charge is quite different,
it is a criminal charge and can be punished by law (Fletcher’s case). Other
supposed frauds were innocent and hurt nobody, but here a man is robbed and
injured and so I have written most seriously to-day to Col. Olcott and have told
him that his and Mme. B.’s word go for nothing in
such a case—he must send me a paper exonerating them entirely from this base
charge signed by the Prince and several other people; that if he cannot send me
a declaration of innocence I leave the T.S. for I cannot remain in a Society
where the Founders lie under the imputation of criminal fraud. I must see my
way clearly and honestly before me and not blush to be called a Theosophist.
I
do not myself believe Babajee’s odious charge, but he
may repeat it to others
who
will. Well, if such a fraud has been perpetrated, better that the Society
should
be dead and buried; if Babajee’s charge is a false
accusation, this will
be
a lesson never to be forgotten that in a Society of Universal Brotherhood, no
member
has the right to calumniate his brother or sister with impunity.
You
as an honest man will I feel sure consider that I have acted rightly though
boldly.
Why even Hodgson exonerates them from such crimes—and then a chela is to come and accuse them of the vilest act that can
be imagined.
—•—
282 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS
—•—
My
only excuse for Babajee is that he was really a
lunatic during my visit to
Elberfeld,
even before, as his insulting and impertinent letters to Madame
prove.
His old grandmother, a Sorceress, must have thrown a spell on him, but
when
these fits come on he should be locked up for his words are dangerous.
Coming
from a chela and one who preaches to others such high
morals and ethics they act with double force.
If
you have Babajee in
useful as he has given out some very good papers,
which when Mohini has cut them into shape will serve
for lectures. The contents of his Tamil books are most interesting and if he
would only leave off intriguing and attend to his work he would be of real use.
As
he wants to make reforms and refute some of the existing theories which have been
given to us, I copy for you a letter written by Madame to Mrs. Gebhard. Read it to Mohini for it
will interest him.
I
thank you much for your warning about H. I will remember it, he must have felt
sympathy
for me in Munich, for I am perpetually getting letters from him.
The
S.D. has again been put on one side, no work for a fortnight. Babajee’s
doing—it
is too bad. I wonder what will come next.
Ever
yours
sincerely,
C. WACHTMEISTER.
LETTER
No. CXXXVII I
The
other day Mme. B. sent a box containing all Babajee’s
clothes etc. to him;
before
doing so she looked over his possessions to see what there was amongst
them
belonging to herself—there she found a book where she is in the habit of
having
the important letters that she writes copied; amongst those which Babajee
copied
for her are several from Babajee to his own friends,
and being copied
into
her book she considered that she had a right to read them, as were they
private
he would not have copied them into her book. He speaks of the great
privilege
it is for him to be allowed to live with her and that he shall never
leave
her until either he or she dies 2 --
then he describes phenomena as
coming
through her and his intense delight when it referred to him or when
I This statement is in Countess W.’s handwriting.—ED.
2 It is interesting to compare this with Babajee’s own letters to H. P. B.—see
Letter
No. 172 et seq.—ED.
—•—
283 BABAJI AND
HATHA YOG —•—
he
could get any communication from the Master through her, (he evidently did
not
think there were elementals then). In every word he writes, breathes
affection,
devotion and great respect and admiration for Mme. B. he says that
for another century such a marvellously
cultured and admirable woman could not be found and he expresses again and
again his gratitude and thankfulness in
being
permitted to live with her. I Then comes the most extraordinary experience
in
one of his letters—he describes the working of it during seven days and
nights—and
could only Mr. Stevenson read it, he would see at once that his story of Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is founded on fact.
Mme.
B. tells me as Babajee also told me when here, that
he has had a great deal
to
do with Hatha Yog, that he
has lived several years among different Hatha Yog
Yogis
in the forests.
Mme.
B. also found amongst her books and papers of which he had the care a
manuscript on black magic written in an unknown
handwriting—not his, containing most precisely all the formulas and the
different mantras to be used. This she has confiscated as being too dangerous
to be left in his hands.
Mme.
B. says that Babajee’s Ethics come out of his Tamil books, some of them are good but others entirely false and
in opposition to the Masters’ teachings; as
long
as he gives these out to a few devoted Members the harm is not great, but
such
a book published uncorrected might create great mischief. Mohini’s
“Man” is very incorrect and misleading in many ways—and it is stupid to bring
out books which will only have to be contradicted and corrected later on, therefore
it seems advisable in the interests of the Society, that all manuscripts should
first
be sent to Subba Row for inspection and correction.
I I would like Miss
A. to see this and then give her opinion—How has the great
change
come? Why has it come so suddenly and unexpectedly? I have all the above
in
his own handwriting.—H. P. B.
LETTER
No. CXXXVIII
1st February.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
Your
pamphlet is admirable, written with both verve and spirit, and I think will
scatter
confusion in the enemy’s camp, for ridicule and sarcasm are so easily
blended with reproof that I think Hodgson’s
vanity will be wounded to the quick.Madame is truly
grateful and has sung your praises ever since, she thanks you heartily and will
write another day. She has settled down on the first day of
the
month to the S.D. All
—•—
284 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS
—•—
January
has been lost, next to nothing done, first Selin,
then Babajee.
Enclosed
is a card from Babajee. You see he writes in a humble
spirit, and is
repentant,
whether sincere or not I do not know. In his last letter he told
Madame
that the reason he had accused her of trying to obtain money under false pretences,
was because she had written to him to sacrifice her and save the
Society!!!!
I really think he must be mad. Madame says that you must tell the
Arundales all, because if they have him to stay
with them they should know the
truth
so as to be on their guard against any further duplicity and also that
they
should not foster to his vanity too much. I wanted to spare him this
humiliation
but Madame says it must be. At any rate the Arundales
need not tell
him
they know. Enclosed is a letter from Madame Jelihovsky,
not of much use as you see. Solovioff has told her
that he has left the Society because it is
anti-Christian,
so Madame J. writes to Madame B. that no wonder she is
tormented,
it is all the devil, she entreats her to give up the T.S., and says
she
will get her a good income if she will only write articles for Russia.
Yours sincerely,
C. W.
LETTER
No. CXXXIX
6, LUDWIG
STRASSE, WURZBURG,
2nd
February.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
Your
very sensible letter of the 31st. has just reached Madame. We both of us
entirely
agree with all you say. There is only one sentence which puzzles me,
that
“Mohini will have to be forbearing with Madame for a
while when he joins
her”—why
so—what has she done? She will be forbearing to him I know for she is very fond
of him, though she thinks that he has acted foolishly. My intention was to
remain with the O.L. to the beginning of March, about the 10th or 12th, but if
you think it advisable for Mohini to come sooner,
send him for I am ready to leave any day. The O.L. is weary to death with ennui
and no wonder, for life is monotonous here, but I tell her that she will have
to bear it, for as
—•—
285 H. P. B. ‘S ENEMIES
—•—
him.
In a Universal Brotherhood, one should have charity with each other’s
faults
and failings, and I really believe he must have had a fit of madness. The
lesson
he has had has been a rude one and I think he will be quiet for the
future.
Certainly the theosophical path is strewn with thorns. Now please act
just
as you think right. If you think Mohini should leave
London at once send
him
here. I am willing to do whatever you advise.
Ever yours sincerely,
C.
WACHTMEISTER.
P.S.
Madame says keep silent on double chelaship as that
is the only hold we
have
on Babajee.
LETTER
No. CXL
Private
and Confidential.
7th Febuary.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
Many
thanks for your kind letter of the 4th.
I
must write to you another day about the “Eumonia.” We
are having terrible
squalls
here these days and at present Madame is strongly against having her
Memoirs
published during her lifetime. All her family are against it and they
worry
the very life out of her; they fear so much that her enemies may revive
old
family scandals and quarrels and that they will have to suffer for it. I
tell
Madame that you can at any rate write these Memoirs and let her see and
correct
them, then not publish them until an opportune moment comes either
before
or after her death; to this she turns a very willing ear but adds “poor
Sinnett he would be losing all his time for
nothing.” Now what say you to this?
Your
pamphlet was such an excellent one that perhaps it would be as well to rest
on
that and if possible let the Hodgson affair die out quietly, saying always
that
you are writing the Memoirs—that they are only delayed etc. etc. During the
short time I have been here attacks have been
showered down on Madame from all sides.
It
seems to me incredible how one person can have so many bitter enemies, I suppose it is in a great measure because she lets
her tongue run wild wounding
people’s
susceptibilities without meaning it or thinking of the consequences.
Certain
it is that her Master told her that if she consented to live she would
have
bitter trials to go through and all would turn against her, but seeing what
I
see and knowing what I know, I believe there would be positive danger in
bringing
out her Memoirs this year. I will remain here until the 12th March and
then
I go to Elberfeld for a
—•—
286 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS
—•—
few
days and then on to Sweden. I return home earlier this year so as to be
present
at my son’s coming of age, he is at the University now.
I
wrote a letter to Miss Arundale the other day which I
begged her to show you.
Do
use your best influence to make Babajee sign that
paper, it is the least he
can
do after his cruel accusation of fraud against the Founders. It would be a
safeguard
in the future in case another fit of insanity came on. Tell him that
if
he signs that paper I forgive him freely his conduct to me and will do my
best
to make matters smooth for him everywhere. I only long for peace and
quietness
but his conduct at Elberfeld was such that I was compelled to act for
there
was danger to the Society, but I think that he will not easily forget the
lesson
and will remain subdued and quiet and attend to his own work where
certainly
he has got a sphere of usefulness before him.
Don’t
trouble any more about the two D.N.’s—there are two—but there is also a Mystery. Unfortunately my
tongue is tied. Probably if all were known Babajee
would
go mad or commit suicide. D. N. is his mystery name as I suppose it might also be
the name of 20 more—that has nothing to do with it. I hate mysteries as much as
you do, but I must have patience and you must have patience. Some day you will
know all for Madame has told me that at her death all that
she has ever received from the Mahatma K. H. will be given to you, so you must
please have patience, till then. Babajee is a chela, though not the high one he pretends to be. All
chelas have terrible trials to go through and so we must have more patience
with them than with common every day people. When you see all the transactions
and all the papers, much will be made clear to you and you will realise that it is no easy thing to be a chela. I have learnt much in this short space of time in
Ever yr. sincerely,
C. WACHTMEISTER.
P.S.
Madame has just given me her letter to you to read. Smooth down things
between
her and Mohini if possible. I suppose he sent her
letter to Paris in
self
defence, it was foolish, but try and avoid more rows.
Don’t be alarmed at
her
letter, all will go well in the end I hope. I do my best to keep the peace.
—•—
287 H. P. B. ‘S SECOND
MARRIAGE —•—
LETTER
No. CXLI
11th February.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
I
have today received the enclosed testimony from Lady Caithness.
If you publish it Madame begs that you will suppress the “tears.” I wonder if
you have received many testimonies from different people. The more you get the
better.
Mr.
Gebhard writes to me that he has shown his letter
from the Master K. H. with a letter of H. P. B.’s of
8 pages, to a sworn expert in
in
the most absolute way that it is not possible that the two could be written
by
the same person.
Madame
says that she can give you no more information about the steamer than
what
she told you. The idea of old Blavatsky being alive terrifies her on
account of the phantom marriage in
unfortunate
American episode. They might end by bringing up a charge of bigamy against her.
Mme. de M. declares that Solovioff has got his hands
full of proofs and charges against Madame, this may be false or true as the
case may be.
At
any rate weigh the consequences well in your mind before you publish the
Memoirs. I have been obliged to write to Mme. de M. twice lately in this sense
“that she is irritated against Madame because she believes her to be trying to
screen Mohini knowing him to be guilty.” I tell her
that she is absolutely wrong in her conclusions that having seen the
correspondence on both sides both Madame and myself believe him to be innocent
of both intention and act, and that Madame cannot sign a paper of apology to
Miss----- which would incriminate Mohini—because that
would be bringing a false accusation on her part against Mohini
whom she believes to be innocent—and so a lie. That I know from the tone of
Mme. de M.’s letters that she believes Mohini to be
guilty. To believe a man guilty, one must have proofs and facts of his guilt,
these of course Mdme. de M. has,
and so instead of writing letters filled with innuendoes and accusations she
would kindly clearly state and in
I See Post Letter No. CLXXXIII.—ED.
—•—
288 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS
—•—
detail—the
proofs and facts given to her which have made her believe Mohini
guilty—if these statements overwhelm the proofs
that we have of his innocence, I promise on my word of honour Madame will sign
an apology to Miss L. for all she has said against her. I hope I have done
right. I believe myself so strongly in
Mohini’s innocence, he may have been weak in not
putting an end to a
correspondence as soon as it assumed a
compromising and tender character, but that is all. I hope you will approve of
what I have done but the fact is Madame would have started there and then for
affair
from going into a Court of Law and saving trouble to many persons. If you can
word such a paper, send it to me by return of post and I will get it signed and
will send it to Mme. de M. Consult Mohini on the
subject and tell him what I have done.
No
more news to give you. There is only one thing I would ask of you and Mrs.
Sinnett, that is, that if you see my sister and
nieces this spring, to say as
little
to them about me as possible. Turn the subject to other things. I keep
them
myself in the dark as much as I possibly can knowing that in their hearts
they
are dead against my work.
You
see we have all our own particular trials.
Ever
yrs.
sincerely,
C. WACHTMIEISTER.
LETTER
No. CXLII
17th February.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
I
must add a few lines to Mme. Blavatsky’s letter which I have read, to tell you
that
I fully agree with her that her position is a horrible one. Do you know
that
ever since the 1st January, my first thought on waking in the morning has
been
“what impertinence or annoyance will the post bring to-day,” and a feeling
of
thankfulness on going to bed if there has been nothing, which is very rare.
Just
imagine what a life to lead, particularly for one who is in bad health,
constantly
suffering and has to write the “Secret Doctrine.” I tell you the book
does
not progress and cannot progress with such constant persecutions. Also what is
to become of Mme. B. when I am gone. When she left
—•—
289 CONTINUOUS PERSECUTIONS
—•—
Babajee’s earnest entreaties that he might come to
Europe. The January
Theosophist
will shew you what his professions of devotion etc.
were. Now he has turned traitor to the Cause, throws stones at the Founders
accusing them of
fraud,
and so naturally leaves undone the duty which he took upon himself and
promised
to do. Mme. B. thought that Mohini would come to her
after my departure as his letters have always professed the warmest attachment
to her, but being now under Babajee’s influence, his
latter epistle has quite a different tone to any of his former letters and he
also begins to throw stones at her. If this is
the
stuff of which Chelas are made I hope no more specimens may be sent to
Europe.
I
wrote to Mme. Blavatsky’s Aunt yesterday to tell her of the cruel position in
which
she is placed and to beg of her to think of some solution to the
difficulty—for
if she is left alone I verily believe some misfortune will
happen.
Do
not think that Mme. B.’s letter is written to you in
a passion for it is not,
but
she is so tired and disgusted with all these slanders and accusations freely
launched
at her from all sides, that I believe she will finish by doing
something
desperate. Her affection and trust in you is unbounded, and it seems
to
me that here in Europe you are almost the only true friend she has. Just try
for
one moment and place yourself in her position; after so many years labour
for
the Society which she created to find all the Theosophists either tearing
herself
or themselves to pieces—then wanting to write this book, which is to
benefit
the world by giving out truths hitherto unknown—and to find herself
literally
unable to do it through all the wounds and contusions she receives
from
all these stones so liberally shied at her from all sides, but the hardest
from
those whom she has loved so dearly.
I
shall soon leave this and be out of all these rows in my quiet home in Sweden,
but
I think it right to tell you plainly how the position stands. All your
interests are bound up in the Cause, and so you
must unravel the mystery and put a stop to these persecutions.
Yrs. sincerely,
C. W.
LETTER
No. CXLIII
18th Febry.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
This
morning’s post took you some nasty letters as usual, but Heaven be blessed at
last I can send you a real good one which did the old Lady’s heart good, after
all the dirt and stones which have been recently thrown at her. Mr. Judge has
had ten
—•—
290 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS
—•—
years
experience of her phenomena and yet he does not cry out FRAUD like
Babajee. Mme. B. wants you to read this letter
to him and Mohini.
I
have been thinking that perhaps Mr. Judge can give you some testimonies to be
mingled
with mine, Mrs. Gebhard, Lady C----- and others for
the Memoirs, try and get as many as you can—do write to him!
Will
you kindly find out what is the English name of Piazzi
Smyth’s book—called in French “La grande pyramide pharaonique de nom humanitaire de fait, ses merveilles, ses mysteres et son enseignement.” Perhaps Mrs. Sinnett would
kindly write to Madame about it for you have so much to do.
What
do you say to Madame going to America, there, she would I think find
friends—and
nobody would trouble her about the Hodgson report—and she would be free of all
this web of entanglements, the M.L. affair, Paris persecutors and Babajee; she would I think be far happier there than
here—the only trouble is about the S.D. there would be such delay in sending
backwards and forwards.
Write
if you think the idea a good one.
Yours
sincerely,
C. W.
LETTER
No. CXLIV
23rd February.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
Will
you kindly speak very seriously to Mohini—and ask him
if he intends coming here or not. Madame says she would not for the world force
him to come against his will—but you see we must know how matters
stand. Of course his life here would be a very great contrast to the
pleasant comfortable life he is leading with the Arundales,
but it is of course for himself to decide, he knows
best what is his own duty.
If
Mohini does not come, among all the Theosophists do
not you know some lady in
Do
not refer to this when you write please, as I have said nothing about it to
Madame.
I feel so sorry for her—and cannot imagine what she will do without me here,
all alone without a creature to speak to, and though her servant is most
good-natured, she has no head or
memory and I have constantly to remind her what she is to do. Could Madame go
out and get
—•—
291 PROFESSOR SELIN
MAKES MISCHIEF —•—
about
like other people it would be different but to be shut up in perfect
solitude
in these three rooms is enough to drive her mad with her excitable
disposition.
I pity her with all my heart.
I
do hope you will be able to get rid of your lease. You must long to be away
from
London with all these worries and troubles around you, but you see we all
share
alike. Selin has now written to Von Bergen and is
doing all the mischief
he
possibly can. I hear he is going to London at Easter to try and break up the
L.L.
so you had better warn all the members against him—for forewarned is
forearmed.
Col.
O. is very happy over his Naeligranthan and the end
of troubles, and a
little
taste out of the bitter cup here would soon make him change his tone. One
comfort
is everything must come to an end, so this strained situation cannot
last
for ever. I hope we shall soon have tided over it.
I
think Col. Olcott’s idea of bringing out two books a
year instead of monthly
not
a bad one, because then people cannot purchase a monthly No. just to
criticise they will think twice if they have to
buy a large book.
Ever
yrs. sincerely,
C. WACHTMEISTER.
LETTER
No. CXLV
Private,
LUDWIG STRASSE,
8th March.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
We
have just received Redway’s “Catalogue” and are
surprised, indignant if you
please,
to see that he advertises Mme. Coulomb’s book! As he has undertaken to be the
Publisher for the Theosophical Society it seems to me very strange that
we
should sell the works of our enemies. I find myself in close quarters, do you
not
think that the book and name could be suppressed entirely in the next
catalogue.
I should also like to make an observation about my little book. It
was
published at 6d. I was told that was too expensive. I then reduced it to
4d.,
the publisher, Redway, gets it at 2 1/2d. I believe,
and I see he sells it
at
2s., rather unfair I think because by that people will naturally think I want
to
make money, whereas if the whole were sold at the price I have named, it
would
not cover the publishing expenses.
As
the chelas have agreed that Mme. Blavatsky is to be deserted and abandoned in her
helpless condition when I leave her, I have determined to try and defer that
painful
moment as long as I can, and so have given up my visit to Elberfeld and
—•—
292 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS
—•—
other
friends on my way to Sweden, and stay here until the 28th of this month.
In
this way I just arrive in time for my son’s birthday.
I
shall be curious to see in the Memoirs how you have inserted our different
evidences.
You will be amused to hear that you have been flourishing in the
Swedish
papers. A long article has suddenly appeared from an unknown
individual—giving
a flourishing account and the whole history of the T.S. All
the
Notabilities are mentioned, and you shine conspicuous among the number. This article
has aroused great interest on the subject, and Von Bergen has received invitations
from all sides to lecture on Theosophy. This is of course very delightful and
charming, but I suppose the “Revers de la medaille” will soon show itself.
I
have heard news lately which is annoying, viz., that Mrs. Going, her maid and
Mrs.
Kingsford have lately been possessed by bad influences. They attribute
these
persecutions to the fact that they have had some contact with Madame B.
and
the Mahatmas. They say that Madame De Steiger was
tormented in the same way before going to the East, and in consequence of all
this I have been advised
very
seriously to withdraw myself from the dangerous and unholy influence. I
have
thought very seriously over this and have come to this conclusion. In
working for the T.S. we place ourselves under
the protection of the Masters, and all goes well as long as we believe in them,
but from the day when insidious
doubts
creep into our minds (as happens to so many) the protection of the
Masters
is withdrawn, and thus the evil consequences just related occur, and
more
particularly so with those who have attended many seances.
What remedy
would
you suggest against this growing evil?
Yours sincerely,
C. W.
LETTER
No. CXLVI
Private.
9th March.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
You
know by this time that I have decided to stay here until the 28th so all is
safe
until then. The Old Lady has her apartment until the 15th April. After that
my
advice is that she should not stay here on this account. A Sanskrit Professor
here
has received unfavourable intelligence from some
Indians concerning her;
this
Professor is a friend of Selin’s and together they
might play her some
dirty
trick were she left alone. For a short time nobody will know that I am
gone
as I will keep my departure secret. My proposal to Madame is, that she
should
come to
—•—
293 H.P.B.’S INDISCRETIONS —•—
Sweden
on the 15th April and stay with me for two months; by that time you will
have
let your house probably and then your scheme can come into play. Madame’s objections
to my plan are these—the cold and the fear that she will get me into trouble with
my relations. My reply is -- (1) double windows and Swedish stoves would keep
her rooms as warm as they are here—and with heated railway carriages and
steamers the journey could be got over in tolerable comfort -- (2) Until the 15th
June I shall be quite alone as my son remains at the University and then has to
serve his military fortnight before he comes home.
Madame’s
mind however seems to be set on
though
since I have been here she has written much that I would have given
anything
to throw behind the fire—I have saved her again and again from these
indiscretions.
Only yesterday she wanted to write to “Redway” and
give him a
piece of her mind about the “Coulomb pamphlet”—you
see the danger—and so now knowing exactly how the position stands make the best
of it. In her heart she prefers the
think
she craves for a little change both of scene and society. Do not tell the
chelas
or Miss A. all this please, keep it to yourself.
How
thankful I shall be when a better time comes to us—but out of evil good
always
comes—and this winter has taught us patience and perhaps also a truer
knowledge
of self.
My
love to Mrs. Sinnett.
Ever yours sincerely,
C. WACHTMEISTER.
LETTER
No. CXLVII
6, LUDWIG
STRASSE,
WURZBURG,
12th March.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
Madame
Blavatsky has begged me to answer your letter, as writing takes up so
much
of her time. She is all eager to get away from here and most willing to go
to
England if you think it prudent for her to do so. As Madame never goes out,
the
place selected is immaterial to her; you and Mrs. Sinnett
must therefore
consult
your own convenience on that point. If I may be permitted to make an
observation it seems to me that Ventnor is very far
away from
—•—
294 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS
—•—
three
miles from Margate, a quiet little place with detached villas everywhere.
The
express goes there in less than an hour. Madame B. would give her directions at
“Redways” and nobody need know that she was in
Do
not tell the Chelas for they worry her terribly. And for the present at any
rate
it would be far better for her to have no communication with them.
If
Mrs. Sinnett will really stay with Madame, I believe
this will be the best
plan,
and then your short visits will relieve the monotony and prevent the old
lady
from feeling as bored as she does here. You see she has been accustomed to society
all her life and this quiet inactive life with nothing going on around
her
is dreadful to her. The apartment is paid for here until the 15th of April
and
though Madame would like to pack up her things and be off at once I tell her it
would be very foolish to throw away money recklessly like that—and that she had
much better stay here until the 15th of April. If you decide on this plan
will
you take a little cottage for Madame B.—she had better have her own
servants
and avoid having anything to do with a landlady—that class of people
are
always “gossips.” As soon as you have taken the house I will pack up the
furniture
and books here, for as they will have to go by luggage train they will
be
about a month on the road.
Please
send me back the letters written to me by Madame B. when I was at
Elberfeld;
also the copy of the one written to the Gebhard
family.
What
do you think of the following idea. In reading the first chapter I got so
confused over the “Stanzas” and the
“Commentaries” that I could make nothing of them. Madame then wrote the former
in red ink, the latter in black ink, and now they are far easier to comprehend
as confusion of ideas is avoided; this has
suggested
the following idea, that in the S.D. the Stanza should be printed red
and
all foreign words of a separate colour, Tibetan
yellow, Chinese blue, Greek
violet,
and so on. It would be original, and prevent confusion.
Ever yours
sincerely,
C. W.
LETTER
No. CXLVIII
Private.
13th March.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
The
English cottage scheme has been knocked on the head this morning by the
lawyer’s
letter. It would be impossible to keep Madame’s residence in England
secret,
for feeling dull
—•—
295 H.P.B. MUST
NOT BE LEFT
ALONE —•—
she
would write right and left and everybody would know, then these lawyers
would
send her insulting letters, if they did nothing worse, and she would be
quite capable of going up to
and bear our own trials, and so must she.Considering all things,
You
see it is her character and she is too old now to alter it. Just burn this
letter please and act as you think best. I at any rate have told you the
dangers of the position as I see them.
Ever yrs. sincerely,
C. WACHTMEISTER.
LETTER
No. CXLIX
WURZBURG,
19th March.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
The
news I am about to give you will I hope relieve your mind of a slight
portion
of its burden. I stay on with the “Old Lady.” My son writes to me that
the
Sound is frozen and so much snow in the country that he fears that “Mary
Hill”
will be too cold for me as the house has not been heated—during the
winter.
He, therefore, advises me not to come to Sweden, particularly as he is
now
very busy with an examination, so much so, that he will not have time for
any
rejoicings on his coming of age, as he is studying from morning to night.
This
being the case I have decided on deferring my return to Sweden until the
month of May, therefore between this and then much
may happen and things may be looking brighter than they are now. Perhaps
—•—
296 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS
—•—
your
house will be let and then it will be less difficult for Mrs. Sinnett to
leave
London.
At
any rate let us look on the bright side of things because that is our only
way to keep up our courage and you know we are
determined in our own minds that the Theosophical Society shall survive these
troubles at any cost, it is the
only
way to prove to our enemies that we are sure of our ground and have not
been
taken in and are no fools as they delight in calling us, but that we have a
steady
purpose in life and that no persecutions or trials will swerve us from
our
course. It is the only way in which we can show our gratitude to our revered
Masters
for all they have taught us. One of the first lessons taught to us when
we became theosophists was, that if we became
workers in the Cause we must go through severe trials. Well! here they are! and
let us be bold and face them,
let
us all will that we will surmount and vanquish them and we shall surely do
so.
Could not you get all the working theosophists together and talk to them
very
seriously, and say to them that now is our hour of trial, and ask each in
turn
whether he really feels true to the “Masters,” and if they all answer
“yes”!
ask them why it is then that they do not all work together in unity and
concord.
Speak to them really very solemnly, appeal to their higher natures, and
ask
them whether they will not then and there take a vow to drop all personal
feelings
and work with one will to the restoration of amity and peace in the
Society;
then lay all the difficulties plainly before them, make one and each of
them
give their views on the subject and then amongst you all try and decide
what
is best to be done and tell them that if they only overcome within
themselves
the very natural feelings of apathy and despondency, that then half
the
battle is won already. I quite agree with you that lectures at the present
moment
are useless, it is better to try and get hold of people privately, but do
not
let the workers drop their work or you will find a great difficulty in
making
them take to it again.
There
is something so inexpressibly comforting in the thought that the Masters
are
watching over us, and as your Master has said to me that every individual
act
to help the cause is noted and recorded, so you may feel sure that every
effort
on your part meets with His approval and that you will surely some day
get
your reward.
I
quite agree with you in wishing that the chelas were back in India, but until
the
poor old lady dies and Miss Arundale is free to march
off with her three
chelas
in her rear, I fear we shall not get rid of them and all the troubles
they
have brought on us. The only plan is to see if there is not some way of
diminishing
the evils. In the first place tell me honestly please, is there no
possibility
for Madame to make a private apology to Miss L. and so
—•—
297 PERSONAL FEELINGS
MUST GO —•—
induce
her to desist in her persecutions, which will go on indefinitely unless
something
is done.
Had
Madame B. at that time known that M. had written her nearly a hundred
letters
in six months filled with idealistic sentiment she would never have
written
as she did to Madame M. You see Miss A., Babajee, and
Mohini himself had given such very different colouring to the whole affair, that
only judging from appearances she wrote what she thought was true, and Babajee entirely approved of it. I had only just arrived
here at the time and looked upon the whole thing in a very different light to
what I do now—I have seen the letter which Mohini wrote
to her after the disgusting scene in the wood, and that is sufficient to show
that at any rate it did not disgust him.
Think
it all over in your own mind and see if no compromise could possibly be
made.
I would willingly go to Paris and try and bring Madame de Morsier
to her
senses.
I would even go to Miss L. if I thought any good to the Cause and
Society
could come of it. Letters are dangerous and compromising but a personal interview
might perhaps bring about satisfactory results. I have been told in a round
about way, that she says she would be satisfied if Mohini
returned to
Let
us decide that all our personal feelings shall go to the wall if only we can
put
an end to all this gossip and these persecutions.
Madame
Blavatsky sends you her love, she seems pleased to keep me here, and we must
make the best of our monotonous life here and hope that the future will
bring
us happier and more peaceful times.
Ever yours sincerely,
C. WACHTMEISTER.
P.S.
Apathy is like the measles very catching! Motion and energy are the only
really
vivifying forces.
You
want to see the “Master’s hand.” I can see it in the unexpected
circumstances
which have enabled me to remain here where I was so sorely needed.
It
was the same force which brought me here to Wurzburg. Though I had made other and
pleasanter projects I felt this invisible force draw me here and I told Mme. Gebhard that I knew I must come, and with tears in my eyes
told her I also felt and foresaw all the troubles and trials which were coming
down so thickly on me.
I
felt them like a heavy dark cloud overshadowing me. This same invisible force
—•—
298 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS
—•—
drew
me to London in ‘84 -- where I met Mme. Blavatsky for the first time. I
left
Sweden most unexpectedly, at one day’s notice, the opportunity arrived in
an
unforeseen manner. I knew then, as I know now that it was the Master’s hand, though
it was only three months later that I knew why I was brought to London. I have
perfect confidence in my Master and I know that when ever He wants my services
the way will be cleared for me.
Mme.
B. wants me to go to London for a few days, she is afraid that the chelas
will
split up the L.L. into two factions, I think myself that my presence would
only
make matters worse. What say you? tell the truth!
P.S.
Do not tell the Chela party that I stay on here, they
have deserted Madame
in
her hour of need, and so they may remain in ignorance.
LETTER
No. CL
Private.
28th March.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
Many
thanks for your long and admirable letter which I am very glad you wrote as it
gives such a clear rendering of the whole position.
I
had fancied that there were many earnest workers in the L.L. but as you say
there
are but few—the present passivity cannot paralyse the
working energies
that
do not exist. You have not been idle at any rate and literature certainly
arouses
the public interest in these Occult subjects more than anything else.
As
you were unable to obtain other testimonies concerning the existence of the
Masters,
you did quite right not to publish Madame Gebhard’s
and my own
experiences
in Madame’s Memoirs—because it would simply be bringing phenomena again before
the public in a new form, giving them fresh incentives for attacking us all round
and new victims on whom they may hurl their anathemas. Madame’s life is
published as a vindication of her own conduct and when once it is out I think
the wisest plan will be to let “phenomena” and all discussion on that point die
away entirely as far as the outside world is concerned. I know for my part I
shall never mention it except to those who have much knowledge and experience
on these subjects. The Secret Wisdom Religion and the philosophy, is all that
can be given to the public.
We
have all of us had a very hard winter but you have worked indefatigably and
certainly
without you the L.L. would have melted into thin air. You are the soul
and
life of it, and we must live and hope for better times.
—•—
299 THE CAUSE
OF WALTER GEBHARD’S
DEATH —•—
I
hope that the exchange of letters will be effected, it would be a mercy to
have
the business settled. Do not refer to this letter when you write.
Yours sincerely,
C. W.
I
hope Madame will live to write the S.D. The doctor here does not seem very
hopeful
of her case. She is very nervous about herself and her health now is her
great
preoccupation.
LETTER
No. CLI
13th April.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
The
sad news from the Gebhards has reached us today. I
feel so much for them all in their trouble that I cannot turn my thoughts to
other things and so can only
just
thank you for your kind letter and tell you that H. P. B. is occupying
herself
with her Memoirs. If they are to be published now I certainly agree with
you
that they should be made as complete as possible and am using all my
influence
with Madame to make her write as much as she can. I have an ally here
in
Dr. Hartmann who is also of the same opinion. It seems that he also had had
an
idea of once writing H. P. B.’s life, and has
collected some material which
he
will if you please send to you. We both think Mme. Jelihovsky’s
account is
wonderfully
dry reading—and that it should be interspersed with a little flowing
language.
Something in the style of Ghostland, a book so
interesting that when
you
take it up it is with difficulty that you put it down again, or even Lord
Bulwer’s life, thrilling incidents told in a
thrilling way. You see there is a
halo
of romance round Mme. Blavatsky and if her life is put before the public in
a
matter of fact way, the ideal Mme. B. will be forever lost.
If
you want to run after the scientists you are running after a shadow. But if
you want to create an enthusiasm in the minds of
your readers concerning her and the system of thought advocated by Theosophy,
the book should be written in a style touching not only the intellect but also
the heart, offering at the same
time
nutriment to the imagination—but I am letting my pen run away with me.
The
enclosed is a copy of a letter sent to Babajee—Madame
attributed Walter’s
death
to him—it is too horrible!!
Dr.
Hartmann says if he can help you in any way with the Memoirs he will be very pleased
to do so. He is now very much occupied with his books which are all to be
published at
—•—
300 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS
—•—
Redways. I find that he has great occult
knowledge and he is a man replete with
common
sense.
Madame
sends you her love,
Ever yours
sincerely,
C. WACHTMEISTER.
LETTER
No. CLII I
I
Transcribed from a copy in the handwriting of Countess W.—ED.
To
Babajee.
ON
Saturday—April the 10th, Walter Gebhard was found
dead in his bed, having shot himself without any
reason and no cause, his things packed up and ready to start home. The fiends
of rage, of vindictiveness, malice, and hatred let loose by you in their home
have fastened on the poor boy you boasted to influence so forcibly, and have
done their work. It is not his twin brother who committed suicide five years
ago who influenced him. Herman’s astral form is in Deva
Chan, sleeping to the day his natural death would have summoned him. It is a
host of the Pisachas of murder and post mortem
criminal impulses who, copying from the record in the astral light around him
of his brother’s kind of death, led him to shoot himself during a state of somnambulic unconsciousness and irresponsibility. He is the
first victim of your wicked father’s son, and your
grandmother’s
worthy grand-son.
A
letter from Masters would have warned them to keep Walter away from his home without
saying any reason for it—and the Gebhards would have
obeyed the advice, bad they not been made to believe, by one whom they regarded
and revered as a chela of Mahatma K. H. who lived ten
years with him—as I found out too late about them—that “no Mahatma would bother
Himself about the sons of Theosophists, caring little whether they lived or
died,” etc.; and that, with hardly any exception—all the notes and letters
received by them from the Masters were the productions of elementals—at best—H.
P. B.’s fraud occasionally.
To
this you will reply that you have not killed Walter consciously. No! But he
is
killed nevertheless through you. The conditions that surrounded him
psychically—his
twin nature with his brother, who committed suicide under the
very
same conditions; his great sensitiveness and receptivity made and helped
the
internal fiends evoked by your savage outbursts of rage and hatred to fasten
upon
him—the first one. May your karma bear fruit.
Mr.
Sinnett writes in despair: “Mohini
used to attract all
—•—
301 FOOLISH CREDULITY
—•—
the
theosophists [to] Elgin Crescent—and now they have nearly all dropped off
from
doing this; . . . I think he and Babajee together are
ruining the
Theosophic movement here.” He says he is helpless
and the L.L. is going to pot.
The
German Society died owing to what you said to Hubbe Schleiden about the two notes received by him. The Society
being ready to die, two or three months
longer
of agony will not save it. The fools who listen to a chela
of Mahatma K.
H.,
and were made to believe that the Master had turned away from me—will reap the
fruits of their credulity or—made to choose between yourself and me. They will
shake us off both—most likely when they learn the whole truth. However, they
may open their eyes and see it in the light of the proofs I have. I will play my
last card if you please—you were offered friendship and alliance, you preferred
reigning alone—it is your own choice and since you are against Mr. Sinnett there’s an end of it. I will be in London before
you expect me.
H. P. B.
DEAR
GOVERNOR,
I
am very much astonished to see from some accounts that have reached me of
late,
that you have become quite cranky. Ask Miss A. to get some very hot water and
have yourself baptised when I come to London, and I will stand your
Godfather.
Yours truly,
F.
HARTMANN.
P.S.
If anyone asks anything about me, you may tell them, that if I ever had any
doubts
about H. P. B. and the Masters, they have all been cleared up forever by
something
that happened this morning to me.
Yours, H.
I
remain a few days with H. P. B. and the Countess, we often remember you and
wonder
about the result of your Ethics.
LETTER
No. CLIII
6, LUDWIG STRASSE,
20th April.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
Madame
Blavatsky has received this morning your letter of the 18th, also the £50
and
thanks you much for the trouble you have had in getting it for her.
Babajee’s conduct is very annoying, and certainly
if something
—•—
302 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS
—•—
is
not done he will carry out the threat made to me, that he would destroy the
London
Lodge by breaking it up into factions. Madame Blavatsky says the best
remedy
to this evil would be if Colonel Olcott were to write and tell Babajee
that
he must either leave the T.S. or else work in unity with yourself and the
Doctrines;
she hopes that you have written to Colonel Olcott to this effect.
Madame
says that she is quite willing to come to London and use all her
influence
with Babajee and Mohini to
try and bring them round to a better state
of
mind. Madame Blavatsky would leave this about the 8th and arrive in London
about
the 10th or 11th, but should she come there it would be quite necessary
for
her to take a lodging on the ground floor, as she can no longer mount
stairs.
She would bring her maid with her and would also travel with Miss
Kislingbury who has just come here on a visit to her
and would return to London
at
that time. Madame B. only fears that her visit to London may bring her into
trouble
either with the lawyer or with Miss L., for though she would of course
keep
it secret, still directly Babajee knew that she was
there, he would tell
everybody
in the hopes of driving her away.
Will
you kindly think over this plan and write and say what you would advise.
If
it is advisable for Madame B. to go to London, the opportunity of having a
travelling companion would be a boon to her, but
pray write and tell us how the
M.L.
affair stands at present, if there has been any new development in the case
since
last you wrote.
The
second part of the Memoirs is far more interesting than the first, Madame
Jelihovsky’s narrative being simply
a bundle of dry facts.
Have
you asked Dr. Hartmann to send you his manuscript? On small points, he is very
sensitive.
Ever yours sincerely,
C.
WACHTMEISTER.
LETTER
No. CLIV
26th April.
DEAR
MR. SINNETT,
The
enclosed disgusting “burlesque” I have been careful not to show to Madame B.
Her
plans at present stand thus: that she leaves this on the 8th May and travels
slowly
to Ostend. You I hope will be able to run over and
see her there, and
then
together you can settle what is best to be done, talking is so much
—•—
303 THE T.S.
THROWING OFF ITS
LINGA SARIRA —•—
better
than writing when it is so easy to misunderstand each other. The Master
says
that the Society is throwing off its linga sarira and it depends upon
whether
the whole body has the strength to get rid of it. Whatever comes or
whatever
may happen I remain true.
Wishing
you every success to your novel and begging you will not take up your
valuable
time in answering this letter.
In haste,
Yrs. truly,
C.
W.
Cardiff Blavatsky Archive
Theosophical Society, Cardiff Lodge, 206 Newport Road,
Cardiff CF24 – 1DL