The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-25
WILL NOT LET HIM RESIGN
American Theosophists Want Colonel
0lcott Continued as High Priest
If the Successor of Blavatsky Insists on Re-
firing, W. Q Judge Is TO b. Made President
Meeting at Which q Jurist Presided.
epec,.l TO the Ind,su.urus .J~eurn,,.

Special 10 the Indisuspons Journal.
CHICAGO. April 24-The American sec-
ton of the international Society OF the
Theosophists. ut ITS annual convention. at
the Palmer House. to-day, declined to ac-
eept the resignation of Colonel 0lcott az
presIdent of the organization, and init
mated Its desire that he continue in that
position for life. The convention was par
ticipated In by over q hundred delegates.
including many women. Proxies for about
fifty more were presented, while the spirits
of the departed theosophists were supposed
to be hoverine aroundand exerting a benign
influence upon the deliberations. The cities
directly represented included Now York,
Boston. Cincinnati. PHILADELPHIA. Mime
apolis. Omaha. Cleveland. Washington.
New Orleans and numerous smaller places
In California. Indiana. Iowa. Michigan and
Nebraska. Judge X. w. Mcbride. of the
Indiana Supreme Court. was chosen presi-
dent; >. r.. S. Mead was received as a dele
gate rom the European section. and q
cablegram of greeting was presented from
Annie Besant. of London, with letters
breathing good will from India. Dublin.
Barcelona and Amsterdam.
Colonel OlcOtts letter of resignation was
dated from Ootamacund. India. In 10 he
said, among other things: IL have no in
tention of leaving India nor any desire of
living elsewhere. This Is my home. and |
wish to die among my own heart-brother-.
the Aslatics. | have fully earned rest from
active work in the field, while i shall
always be ready to give all needful help to
my successor. In parting with my col
leagues / beg them to regard me not as =
person worthy OF honor, but as a sinful
man. erring often, but always trying TO
work his way upward and to help his fell
lOw-men."
The letter was supplemented by q report
from a special committee that a canvass OF
the branches for q successor 10 Colonel Oh
colt had resulted In fifty-four votes for W.
@. Judge. of New York. 1t was also recon-
mended that each member of the society
should make as liberal Q contribution as
possible toward q fund that should place
Colonel Olcott beyond the reach of want
for the future. IL was also stated that IN u
few weeks he would retire TO a little house.
of three rooms near Ootamacund, there To
rest for the remainder of his days.
The convention adopted lengthy resolu-
tions requesting Colonel Olcott 10 recon
slider his resignation on the ground that
the time for his retirement had not
arriy ed; indorsinG w. q. Judge az
preeident for life in the event of Colonel
Olc0tts refusal TO longer serve. and re.
e~iecting Judge general secretary. 1t was
also decided that when Colonel Olcott
finally retiree he be offered q life residence
at the headquarters at Adar. The reports
presented showed that there are now sixty
branches of the Philosophical Society in
this country. Eleven branches have been
organized during tho past year in New
York, Salt Lake. ST. Paul. San Francisco,
| Providence and other cities. Resolutions
of respect for the late Madame B~lsvatsky
were adopted, and numerous papers relat-
ing to the doctrines were read and dis
cussed.
The resignation of Colonel Olcott Is
looked upon by theosophists az being next
in importance to the death of Madame
Blavatsky. He was an American soldier.
journalist and litterateur. and was q spir-
itualist until he met Madame Blavatsy.
and with her and Mr.. Judge founded the
Theosophisical Society in New York in
1915. He went with Madame Blavatsky 10
Madras, and at one of its suburbs estab-
lished the still existing headquarters. lie
is said to be his present intention TO seek o
retreat in that vicinity and devote his life
to theOsOphical writings.