The herald., 1896-06-08
Allan GriffithS' Statements are
Said to Be Biased
ALTOGETHER MISLEADING
The Cult Knows Neither Race Nor Greed
and Is Without Boundary
N. p. do Clifford, Fellow Of the Theosophicai
Society flakes Answer to Q Recently
Published communication
(To the Editor of The Herald.)

CTo the Editor of The Herald)
At the risk of being tedious I ask
the indulgence of your readers in order
that the unduly biased statements or
Mr.. Allan Gritfiths regarding the Theo-
Sophical society, contained in yeSter-
| days issue of your valuable paper, may
not go unchallenged.
The communication referred to covers
such wide range of ground that 1t Is
impossible to deal with each misstate-
ment in detail. In it's entirety 1t is, am
sincerely sorry to say, altogether mis-
leading and in many essential partic-
ulars, at direct variance with the facts.
In referring to the charges preferred
against Mr.. Judge 1t is asserted that
Ibis fellow-citizens knew them to be
false" So far removed is this from
the truth that even at the present time
are very many theOSophiSts in the
United States who have not only not
read the charges but have the haziest
idea regarding their seriousness. Nor
is 1t necessary to go outside Los Angeles
to find that this is so. Only today two
members of the seeding faction of the
society expressed their surprise at the
nature of the causes which had led up
to the secession movement, and stated
that only at a late date had they be-
come cogniZant of them.
The name. "the Theosophical society
of America" which Mr. Griffiths claims
for the reorganized American section,
is in reality a contradiction in term.
The Theosophical society embraces the
world. 1t knows no social distinction in
membership, both black and white, red
and yellow; all are bound together by
the recognized bond of brotherhood in
the search for truth, and the uplifting
of humanity. For convenience, the So
ciety is divided into sections, they alto
gether forming the grand unit. So,
whatever may be thought regarding the
good taste displayed by the secession
lists in retaining the name of the organ
iZatiOn from which they cut themselves
off. the charters of the seeding branch
es having been declared forfeited by the
president of the society. the addition of
the words "of America" while distinct
i've enough, is a misnomer. Theosophy
knows neither race or creed and is with
out bound or limit.
That the members of the secessioniSt
society vastly outnumber the members
of all other countries" is simply a wild
hallucination of the mind on the part of
Mr.. Griffiths. Great Britain, India and
the Australian colonies far more than
outnumber the entire American men,
bership, not to mention at all the scat
tered branches in European and other
countries.
But conceding it to be true that nu-
merically the membership of the seced-
ers is stronger than all the rest of the
world, 1t may prove of Importance in
proclaiming an act of secession, but not
necessarily in passing upon the guilt or
innocence of Mr.. Judge of the charges
of fraud and forgery preferred against
him, refusal to meet which charges
was the direct stimulus to the secession
movement.
1.-The truth against the world!" and
Mr.. Griffiths will not need me to remind
him that in the history of every country
hor l. AL 49, I. s-,k1
ests of the nation when right and truth
and justice have been with the minor
ity. But though temporarily in eclipse,
truth prevailed, and in the unhappy diff
ference that has divided the American
section of the Theosophical society the
truth must and will prevail.
That the secessionist movement did
obtain great headway is willingly con-
ceded, but at what a price. When Col.
H. S. Olcott president of the society,
Mrs. Annie Besant and the Countess
Wachtmeister met several years ago, at
Adyar, India, and discussed the charges
that had been made against Mr.. Judge,
the prima-facie case was so strong that
each one wrote letter to him imploring
him to disprove the statements made if
he could, and If not to resign his position
when the charges would have been nec-
essarily dropped. Mr. Judge replied that
he did not intend to take any notice of
matters drifted along with the extraord-
mary result as outlined in the pamphlet
entitled The Case Against w. q. Judge.
This document is, for the most part,
mere statement of the charges preferred
against Mr.. Judge, and every theoso-
phist ought to have one in his or her pos
session. Unfortunately, however, there
are many earnest seekers after truth in
this country who are quite unacquaint-
ed with the differences that led up to
the secession of the Judge faction.
How this was brought about is inter-
esting. The late vice president, after
receiving the letters referred to above
from India, sent circular letter to the
various branches, appealing more par
ticularly to the members of theEsOteric
school, formed within the Theosophical
society, for support. 1t was intimated
that troubles were about to Overwhelm
the society and the unwavering support
of all members was asked. Is it any
wonder that the various branches should
respond by promising undertaking sup
port? Mr.. Judge was one who had
labored long in the cause, had been the
friend of Nine. Blavatsky and was the
trusted confrere of Col Olcott and Mrs.
Having thus made his foothold
sure the act of secession was
proclaimed at Boston without a
tithe of the members of the
society knowing what their delegates
We're actually voting upon, or what ac-
tual use was being made of the numer-
Gus proxies forwarded by branches hav-
Ing no delegates
By the act Of secession a ratification
was given to the stand taken by Mr..
Judge-largely in ignorance, 1t is true.