The morning call., 1892-02-22
WHY HE RESIGNED.
OIcOtt Leaves the TheOsOphiSts
With a Protest.
He Objects to New Iaolatry and Maxim g
Nine. Blavatsky a Saint, and Her
Isis Unveiled" Bible.

To the uninitiated throughout the world
the resignation of Colonel Henry 5. OlcOtt
from the presidency of the Theosophical
Society, announced early last week from
Madras. India, via London and New York.
will be surprise, and the reason assigned,
that of failing health, will be received in
good faith as ample.
But theOsOphists know his resignation
was due to other causes. which have been
accentuated by the ''queer sympathleS and
condolences" expressed over the death of
Nine. BIayatsky. OcOtt saw the society
drifting onto the rocks Of an idOatry and
he did not hesitate to say so, and when the
tendency became so pronounced that still
more vigorous protest was necessary, he re-
signed.
1t will be remembered that last October
Colonel OlcOtt arrived in San francisco en-
route TO India. with The ashes of Nine. Bla-
vatsby, who was. with him and William a.
Judge, the founder Of the society. The
ashes were being conveyed, according TO
her expressed desire, TO be buried in the
compound at the T. S. Headquarters at
AdyaT, India He went there and de livered
his trust over to the society at the sixteenth
annual convention, which was held during
the latte part Of last December
PROTESTS AGAINST IDOLATRY.
After stating that since the previous con-
VentOn lie had travelled IS, coo miles by land
and sea and visited hundreds of lodges. and
that he was best able to Judge the advance
made by theosophY. he said 1T Is, Of
course, more important 10 humanity as a
whole that theOsophy should be recognized
and practced in the Christian than within
the Hindoo. the buddhist or any other
church. Ideplore our intolerance,
counting myself q chief offender, and | do
1lrppialiV pTprpEf against and 1pnOlInpA
tendency which Is growing among us to lay
the foundation of a new idOlatry.
"As the cofounder Of the society, as one
who has had constant opportunities for
knowing the chosen policy and wishes Of
our masters, as one VINO has, under them
aud with their assent. borne our flag through
sixteen years OF battle, protest against the
first giving away TO the temptation TO elevate
either them, their agents or any other living
or dead parsonage TO The dlyiue status or
their teachings 10 that OF infaliiOle doctrine.
l have been taught TO lean upon my
self alone, TO look TO my Higher Sell as my
best teacher, best guide, best example and
only savior.
II was taught that no one could or ever
would attain to the perfect know ledge save
on those Ines and so long as you keep me
In office, L shall proclaim this as the basis,
the only basis and the palladium OF the So
ciety. / am led TO make the above remarks
by what have seen going on OF late"
EXPLoDEs A FICTION.
Then Colonel OlcOtt quietly goes to work
and eXplodes a nice little fiction about
Nine BalaVatsky'S death being no surprise TO
her. He said "Iu short. / do not believe
she meant 10 die OF knew she would die
when she did. Generally Of course she
knew that She was liable TO depart after
certain work had been finished. but crcum-
stances make me think she was surprised
10y physical crisis, and died before she ex-
pected she would.
IF she had lived, she would have I'M
doubteGly left her protest against her friend
making a saint Of her or bible out Of Ter
magnificent though not lnfalllbie writings
We need not lal! into idOlatry TO signify our
lasting reverence and love for her, the con-
temporary teacher, nor offend the literary
world by pretending she wrote with the
pen of inspiration. Nobody was q more
stanca and loyal friend Of hers than /, no
body will cherish her memory more low
ingy. | was true TO her 10 the end of her
life, and now / shall continue to be true to
her memory. But / never wOrshiped her,
never blinded my eyes TO her faults, never
dreamed that she was as perfect channel
for the transmission of occult teaching as
some others in history had been.
AGAINST a BLAVArsKY SCHOOL
AS her tried friend. then as one who has
worked most intimately with her and is
most anxious that she may be taken by
worker, as enc long ago accepted though
humble agent Of the masters, and finally rs
the official head Of the society and guardian
of the personal rights Of its fellows, | place
on record my protest against an effort to
create an H. Il. b." (Helena Z. BlaYatskyl
school. sect or cult, or 10 take her utter
anCes as in the least degree above criticism.
The importance of the subject must be my
excuse for tnus dwelling upon 1t at some
length. l single out no individuals, mean
to hurt nobOdy's feelings. ] am not sure
Of be, nE alive many years longer and what
duty demands | must say while / can"
At the same time Colonel Ocott was pro-
testing so vigorously in India there was
movement being made IN one Of the local
branches of the society TO make the require
ments for membership more eXactiDg.
Many saw the sectarlau tendency and the
clause was d0wned But the pendulum is
swinging toward the establishment Of a
creed and Il sect and the untheos0pheal
theO5Ophlsts are gathering strength 1t is
TO be seen whether Colonel OlcOtts resigna-
tiOn will stay the wheel of change.