[The following was published simultaneously in French in Le Lotus Bleu, October, 1890, titled “Ce qui se passe dans le monde Théosophique” and in English in Lucifer, October, 1890. The editorial is related to the controversy and libels of Elliot Coues, e.g. see “Mme. Blavatsky Appeals to the Law”. The Daily Tribune is cited for September 10th; see also the same for September 3rd, 1890.]
In the New York Daily Tribune of September 10th, we read the following paragraph:
“The Aryan Theosophical Society Determines to Defend its Reputation in the Courts.
“The second fall meeting of the Aryan Theosophical Society, at No. 8 Union Square, last evening, was full of interest not only to the large number of members present, but also to the visitors, who listened with rapt attention to the discussions. W. Q. Judge, president of the New York branch of the Society, acted as chairman. After the secretary had read the minutes of the last meeting, and Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Griscom had been elected members, Mr. Judge announced that a new branch of the society had been established in Jamestown, N.Y. This increased the number of branch societies in the United States, he said, to forty-three.
“Mr. Judge then called for the resolutions in reference to the publication in the New York Sun on July 20th.1 They were submitted for the consideration of the society at their last meeting. The resolutions were first amended, and were then passed unanimously without discussion. They read as follows:
“‘Whereas, A most gross and false aspersion upon the moral character of the members of the Aryan Theosophical Society was made by the New York Sun of July 20th, in an article purporting to be an interview with Dr. Elliott C. Coues, of Washington; and,
“‘Whereas, The vindication of the good name of the society demands either a voluntary formal retraction of these charges by the Sun, or else compulsory damages through process in the courts of law; therefore,
“‘Resolved, That it is the conviction of the members of the Aryan Theosophical Society that the society, as such, should seek its vindication.
“‘That it is the sense of the society that all necessary legal measures should be taken upon the said libel in the Sun against the Aryan Theosophical Society, and also such as shall lead to retractions; and that the trustees should take action to that end, as shall be advised as proper by competent legal advisers.
“‘That the trustees are hereby directed to draw from the reserve fund $500 to be applied to the expenses of the legal proceeding already begun by W. Q. Judge on said libellous matter, or those to be instituted under these resolutions.
“‘That the Aryan Theosophical Society takes this occasion to renew the expression of its unabated confidence in the founders of the Theosophical Society, Colonel H. S. Olcott and Madame H. P. Blavatsky, as well as in its own president, William Q. Judge, and gratefully attributes no small part of the growth of the society and the edification of its members to their devotion, sincerity and blamelessness of life.’
“After listening to the reading of a chapter from the new edition of the ‘Bhagavad’, which will be published in a short time in New York, the members devoted the latter part of the evening to the discussion of ‘Evolution’. The leaders in the discussion were Mr. Judge and Mr. Pryse, both of whom read papers. The president of the society explained the meaning of Evolution from a theosophical point of view and showed the relation between the theories of Herbert Spencer and those of the philosophers of India. The discussion of the same subject will be continued at the meeting on next Tuesday. After the adjournment of the meeting the new library of the society was opened to the members.”
To All the Members of the Theosophical Society in France
In view of the above quoted paragraph, the undersigned takes this occasion for addressing all the members of the Theosophical Society in France, who are serious and honourable Theosophists, men and women who endeavor to adapt their lives to their professed beliefs, in order to give them a few details which may be of service to them.
In London, as well, another suit of the same nature will shortly come up for trial. This has been brought by one of the members at Headquarters against a certain individual, who, once a member of the society but now for a long time without the slightest reason an enemy, has become an amateur adherent of the same band of conspirators, all expelled members, who are bound together to attack, without truce or cessation, the honor of our society and its founders. It would appear that for nearly eighteen months back, some ex-members in America and at London have actively corresponded together with this object in view, and with the intention of endeavoring to ruin the Theosophical Society by dishonoring its founders and foundress, by incessant calumnies and infamous lies, which they spread in an underhand manner amongst the public. They are assisted in this, to our great shame, by one of our most active members in France, who has once or twice crossed the Channel for this honorable purpose, bringing with him others (ex-members also) whom he has introduced to our enemies in London. Vain efforts! For Karma does not seem propitious to them. A suit, which was brought against me in July 1889, on some pretext or other, by one of these unhappy persons, with noisy preparations, from which great hopes were entertained, has ended, some three months ago, in a deplorable fiasco! On the very day of the trial, before the assembled court, witnesses and public, the counsel for the plaintiff, having read a certain letter written by his client, which was once in my possession, refused point blank to proceed further and withdrew the suit just as the case was about to begin!
But everything, even theosophical patience, has an end. For the six years during which this state of affairs has lasted—the first halloo of this shameful and unmerited reputation-hunt being shouted by the London Society for Psychical Research in 1885—I have never sought to obtain redress through the courts of law.
In fact, the objects pursued by the members of the Theosophical Society, and the methods of the law do not agree well together. I have kept silence in every case of defamation (save in one single instance), refusing to answer such cowardly attacks save by a contemptuous silence.
But this is no longer possible, seeing that this very silence seems to have lent new strength to my enemies. But now that I have just accepted the responsible office of President of the entire European Section of the Theosophical Society, and the President-Founder has transferred in my favor all his rights over the members of our Society in Europe, it is my first duty to protect the reputation of her who is at the head of the Theosophists; to prove that the shameful calumnies spread about her by certain ambitious members and revengeful ex-members of our Society cannot stand the light of day and truth before a jury; and finally to remove these members and separate them for ever from the Society, by requesting them to send in their resignations, or else, in case of refusal, expelling them publicly.
As I have a quiet conscience, I fear no one. It is evident that if Colonel Olcott and myself have not been afraid to expel publicly from the Theosophical Society a scholar of note, and a man as wealthy and of as great a scientific and intellectual reputation as Dr. Coues, for intrigues and calumnies, we should not hesitate a moment to do the same with every other member who deserved such treatment. In fact, a member who, forgetting the most simple duties of an honorable man, and the first of the three fundamental rules of our Statutes, spends his time in intriguing against his brothers in Theosophy, and in endeavoring to befoul the reputation and honor of the leaders of this Society, by his tittle-tattle and by lies unworthy of a gentleman, can claim no place in a fraternity composed of honorable men and women.
I conclude by announcing that, as I have in my possession all the documents which prove that we have in our midst Judases who do not blush to put on paper and over their full signatures the most shocking calumnies against myself, I advise them to withdraw from our ranks quietly. Otherwise I should have the disagreeable duty of announcing their expulsion publicly, and then summoning them before the tribunals of France, to prove, if they can, the accusations which they have allowed themselves to bring for now almost two years against the undersigned.
H. P. Blavatsky,
President of the European Section of the Theosophical Society.
London, Sept. 23rd, 1890.
1. A scandalous article by Dr. E. Coues (a member expelled by the General Council for open and secret intrigues, chicanery and calumnies against the founders of the Society and Mr. Judge), who thus thought to revenge himself on his judges. Two separate suits have already been brought in the courts of New York and Washington, by two of the persons mentioned, each claiming 50,000 dollars. The Aryan Theosophical Society is now bringing a third suit.