Theosophical Society,
H P Blavatsky
H
P Blavatsky
By
Colonel
Olcott
Extract from the Foreword to 'Old Diary Leaves,' by H.S.Olcott,
1895.
"This
wonderful organisation, [the Theosophical Society] which grew out of
a
commonplace parlour gathering in a
already
made for itself such a record that it must be included in any
veracious
history of our times. Its development having gone on by virtue of an inherent
force, rather than as the result of astute foresight and management; and having
been so closely - for some years almost exclusively, connected with the
personal efforts of its two founders, Madame Bavatsky and myself, it will
perhaps help the future historian if the survivor sets down truthfully and
succinctly the necessary facts.
The
series of chapters which now compose this book was begun nearly three
years
ago in the 'Theosophist' magazine, and a second series, devoted to
the
history of the Society after the transfer to
"The
controlling impulse to prepare these papers was a desire to combat a
growing
tendency within the Society to deify Mme. Blavatsky, and to give
her
commonest literary productions a quasi-inspirational character. Her
transparent
faults were being blindly ignored, and the pinchbeck screen of
pretended
authority drawn between her actions and legitimate criticism.
Those
who had least of her actual confidence, and hence knew least of her
private
character, were the greatest offenders in this direction. It was but too
evident that unless I spoke out what I alone knew, the true history of our
movement could never be written, nor the actual merit of my wonderful colleague
become known. In these pages I have, therefore, told the truth about her and
about the beginnings of the Society - truth which nobody can gainsay.
"Placing as little value upon the praise
as upon the blame of third parties, and having all my life been accustomed to
act according to what I have regarded as duty, I have not shrunk from facing
the witless pleasantries of those who regard me as a dupe, a liar, or a
traitor. The absolute unimportance of others' opinions as a factor in promoting
individual development is so plain to my mind, that I have pursued my present
task to its completion, despite the fact that some of my most influential
colleagues have, from what I consider mistaken loyalty to
"H.P.B.,"
secretly tried to destroy my influence, ruin my reputation, reduce the
circulation of my magazine, and prevent the publication of my book.
Confidential warnings have been circulated against me, and the current numbers
of the 'Theosophist' have been removed from Branch reading-room tables. This is
child's play: the truth never yet harmed a good cause, nor has moral cowardice
ever helped a bad one.
"Mrs.
Oliphant in her 'Literary History of England,' (iii., 263,) says of
Bentham
just what may be said of H.P.B: "It is evident that he had an
instinct
like that of the Ancient Mariner, for the men who were born to
hear
and understand him, and great readiness in adopting into his
affections
every new notability whom he approved of, . . . he received an
amount
of service and devotion, which few of the greatest of mankind have
gained
from their fellow-creatures."
"Where
was there a human being of such a mixture as this mysterious, this
fascinating,
this light-bringing H.P.B.? Where can we find a personality
so
remarkable and so dramatic; one which so clearly presented at its
opposite
sides the divine and the human? Karma forbid that I should do her
a
feather-weight of injustice, but if there ever existed a person in history who
was a greater conglomeration of good and bad, light and shadow, wisdom and
indiscretion, spiritual insight and lack of common sense, I cannot recall the
name, the circumstances or the epoch.
To
have known her was a liberal education, to have worked with her and enjoyed her
intimacy, an experience of the most precious kind. She was too great an
occultist for us to measure her moral stature. She compelled us to love
her,
however much we might know her faults; to forgive her, however much
she
might have broken her promises and destroyed our first belief in her
infallibility.
And the secret of this potent spell was her undeniable spiritual powers, her
evident devotion to the Masters whom she depicted as almost supernatural
personages, and her zeal for the spiritual uplifting of humanity by the power
of the Eastern Wisdom.
Shall
we ever see her like again?
Shall
we see herself again within our time under some other guise?
Time
will show.
H. S. OLCOTT.
"GULISTAN."
Ootacamund,
1895.
Theosophical Society,