held at the Late Leader's Residence
Pasadena, February 23, 1951
In line with the policy of Colonel Conger in placing before the membership in simple terms the facts concerning the TS, we wish to acquaint you with the following verbatim transcript of the Cabinet meeting held on February 23rd. We deeply regret the necessity to include this report with the announcement of the Leader's passing. The Cabinet feels, however, that the work and protection of the Society, which our late leader held foremost at all times regardless of sentiment and traditional lines, is its direct responsibility.
At 3:00 o'clock the Chairman of the Cabinet, Mrs. Lolita W. Hart, reconvened the open session of the Cabinet, with the following present:
Lolita W. Hart, Chairman
Kirby Van Mater
Grace Frances Knoche
A. Studley Hart
Marion O. French
James A. Long
Lawrence Merkel
Martha R. Conger
Hazel Minot — outside the room on duty
Mr. George Simpson, a member of the Council of Elders
The non-resident Cabinet members Colonel J. G. Crabbendam of Holland, Mrs. Harry Benjamin of England, and Mr. John L. Toomey of York, Pa., were absent.
Mrs. Hart: We are meeting to discuss the fact that Mr. Hartley wants to present a paper, and the Cabinet must decide on whether they will allow him to have a witness or witnesses, because it is the function of the Cabinet to do that. The meeting is now open for anyone to say whatever they like on the subject.
Mr. Hart: It would seem to me that the time to take a vote on that would be when Mr. Hartley has presented his request.
Mrs. Hart: That is something for the group to decide.
Mr. Van Mater: I am in favor myself of not allowing him to have a witness, knowing that there would be nothing contributed, and might very well contribute some conflicting factors which we don't wish to enter the case.
Colonel French: Before I venture an opinion I would very much appreciate seeing a copy of this document that he is to present. I understand there is one present. I would like to peruse it personally.
Mrs. Hart: I think we might do that.
[At this point, Mr. Long produced the copy of the document from his pocket, and handed it to Colonel French. The copy of this document is as follows]:
International Theosophical Headquarters
Covina, California
March 27, 1946
To Whom it May Concern:
I hereby appoint as my successor and Leader of The Theosophical Society to succeed me at my death: William Hartley.
(Signed) Arthur L. Conger
Signed in our presence.
Stanley Zurek
Hazel Pool
ALC/sz
Mr. Simpson: It seems to me that anybody coming with such a claim as Mr. Hartley does not need any witness, because there is this as an appointment of our late leader. So you don't feel that he would need to have to stand on anything else.
Miss Knoche: I move that we see Mr. Hartley alone.
Mr. Merkel: Second the motion.
Colonel French: I would like to hear what he has to say before casting my vote personally on the question as to whether he should have a witness or not. I would like to hear what he has to say.
Mr. Hart: I agree with Colonel French.
Mr. Van Mater: I move that the motion be dropped as it isn't unanimous.
Mr. Long: I would like to present this thought, that the Cabinet in no wise become involved as such until I have had an opportunity to fulfill my mission, with or without witnesses. But before this document is presented to the Cabinet by Mr. Hartley, I have certain responsibilities I must fulfill.
This document, Colonel French, in order to give you the background, was prepared in 1946. The original was given to Mr. Hartley to be put in his safe and kept under his jurisdiction until the Leader's death. A copy of it was given to Mrs. Franklin at that time to be kept until the Leader's death. On one of my trips to Covina when I flew out from Washington in 1946, the Leader told me exactly what he had done, and what it implied, and what the responsibilities of Mr. Hartley were, and what devolved on me. Since that time the document has been discussed by the Colonel with me, and I have certain instructions in regard thereto, so that the document is not the responsibility of the Cabinet until it is formally presented to the Cabinet. My responsibilities are prior to that.
I attempted to fulfill those responsibilities yesterday, and Mr. Hartley said in the presence of Studley that the document was not in his care. It was not even in his own safe deposit box at the bank. It was in the safe deposit box of someone else. Mr. Hartley agreed to get the document this morning, because the banks were closed yesterday (the 22nd), and bring it to the Cabinet in open session here. But I have certain responsibilities with regard to the document before it is officially handed to the Cabinet.
The first responsibility I can only define as verification with this. [Mr. Long then took out of his pocket the copy mentioned.] This is a true copy. No photostatic copy or certified copy can be presented to the Cabinet. It must be the original with the Colonel's signature on it. That is the first duty, and the only one I can speak of at the moment.
Mrs. Hart: Suppose he refused to give it to you? I could then refuse to accept it. Then the Cabinet should not have anything to do with it unless he is willing to give it to you.
Mr. Long: That is right.
Mr. Van Mater: I don't know much about these minutes, and what relation they are going to have to us, but there was a motion made there. I would like to see it handled.
Mr. Long: May I say a word in that connection? I don't make it as a motion. What Mr. Hartley has to say has no bearing whatever on the matter of witnesses. That is entirely the Cabinet's jurisdiction to decide on, not Mr. Hartley's. Mr. Hartley alone has the responsibility in connection with this document. Nobody else. Other people know about it, which should not have been the case. He alone has the responsibility and no one else: and he has told us that the thing was transferred from his safe, and again transferred from his so-called safe deposit box to another person's box, and thus out of his jurisdiction. The Leader knew all of that, was aware of the fact and told me so.
Colonel French: Then he did allow it to get out of his hands and allow other people to be responsible for it.
Mrs. Hart: Mr. Long really knows more about this matter, so he is the one who is handling it. In view of what Mr. Long has said, don't you think that we might agree that Mr. Hartley should not have witnesses? Do you agree to change that?
Mr. Long: I told Mr. Hartley that no one else has a responsibility in this. Mr. Hartley then said: "Someone else is interested in this." I said, "There may be several who have an interest in it, but you alone have the responsibility, as I myself have."
Mrs. Hart: Do you feel that Mr. Long should handle it in his own way? If Mr. Long is to handle it his own way as to whether Mr. Hartley appears with a witness or without a witness, and Mr. Long is willing to undertake that responsibility, either way is all right with me. But before voting on it, I would like to have either Mr. Long or Mr. Hartley himself personally request formally. Don't you think that the best thing is to have Mr. Hartley come in?
Mr. Long: I make that request.
Mrs. Hart: Shall we vote?
Colonel French: Let us wait on it. Mr. Long has been more closely connected with the circumstances than anybody else and, speaking from a personal point of view, I am inclined to accede to his suggestion since I am sure that he realizes the responsibility in making such a suggestion.
Mrs. Hart: Thank you, Colonel French. All in favor of not allowing a witness? [The members present all said: "Yes"] Those in disfavor? [Silence] That is carried unanimously. Now may we have Mr. Hartley come in?
[Mr. Van Mater rose and went into the Library where Mrs. Minot had been on duty with Mr. Hartley and his two witnesses, Mrs. LeRoy T. Steward and Philip A. Malpas.]
Mr. Van Mater [returning alone]: Mr. Hartley says he won't come in unless he has these two witnesses. He says: "There will be no meeting," that is, he says he refuses to come in alone.
Mrs. Hart: All right, what shall we do?
Mr. Long: Let them come in.
Mrs. Hart: Does everyone agree? [Unanimous consent]
[At 3:25 p.m. Mr. Hartley enters, followed by Mrs. Steward and Mr. Malpas. While coming down the two steps leading into the room where the Cabinet was in session, Mr. Hartley, holding close to him a large manila envelope, said before taking his seat: "Mme. Chairman, I am bringing two witnesses with me. They have to have your consent."]
Mrs. Hart: Yes, they have our consent.
[Mr. Hartley then came down the steps, followed by Mrs. Steward and Mr. Malpas.]
Mr. Hartley [standing]: Mme. Chairman, you are in charge on my behalf.
Mrs. Hart: Mr. Hartley, the Cabinet cannot do anything until Mr. Long verifies the document.
Mr. Hartley [still standing]: There is no Cabinet, you are just a working staff.
Mrs. Hart: Won't you sit down, Mr. Hartley?
Mr. Hartley [sitting down, looks over to Mr. Long]: I take nothing from Mr. Long until you show me your authority. Mr. Long made a deliberate insult this morning. He tried to hypnotize me.
Mr. Long: I hold in my hand my authority. You have shown me nothing. We have no argument. When you produce yours, I will produce mine.
Mrs. Hart: You say all you have to say, and Mr. Long will wait, and Mr. Long will say all he has to say. You say he must show you his authority. Well, Mr. Long says he wants to see yours. You see it is a mutual affair. He wants to verify the signature.
Mr. Hartley: I have the proof in that document with me.
Mr. Long: You produce the document. That was your injunction from the Leader.
Mr. Hartley: I have sufficient here to prove it. It is not going out of my hands. I will read it to you.
Mr. Long: You may read it, but it must be verified first; and then you may read it.
[Mr. Hartley then begins to withdraw from the large manila envelope a photostat; but Mr. Long, noticing immediately that it was a photostat, says: "No, that is not the document," and rises hurriedly from his chair, confronts Mr. Hartley, reaching for the document to show it to the full Cabinet, when Mr. Hartley very excitedly crumpled the envelope and document in an attempt to get them out of Mr. Long's reach and put them into his pocket. Mr. Long did not hesitate to attempt to get his hands on the purported document in order to be certain that those members of the Cabinet not in a position to see the photostat, could be witness to the fact that it was a photostat and not an original document. This, however, aroused extreme excitement in Mr. Hartley and Mr. Long. Mr. Hartley then took hold of Mr. Long and pushed him several feet into his seat. The moment Mr. Hartley laid hands on Mr. Long, Mr. Merkel rose to defend him, and then attempted to quiet Mr. Hartley who had rushed to the steps, intensely angry. Mr. Van Mater also rose from his seat. During this, Mr. Malpas had arisen and had begun to shout at Mr. Long.
The above happened in a few split seconds, when Studley Hart commanded: "The Cabinet is adjourned." Colonel French then dissipated the tenseness by chortling very merrily. Studley Hart rose and told Mr. Malpas to "return to his seat, as witnesses had no part in the proceedings."
Everyone resumed their seats, except Mr. Hartley, who made some further remarks, but he was too agitated to speak coherently, so that the Cabinet members were unable to understand him. Mr. Hartley finally sat down.]
Mr. Hartley: Until I see Colonel Conger's signature [looking at Mr. Long], I will not produce anything.
[Mr. Long then produces his document, folding it, and shows Colonel Conger's signature to Mr. Hartley.]
Mr. Hartley: I have the original under my control. This is a photostatic copy made this morning. If he had snatched it away . . . the original can be produced.
Mr. Long: This matter is between you and the Colonel and myself at this moment, Mr. Hartley, and you have got to produce the original.
Mr. Hartley: I have the original. This is sufficient to show that it is legal.
Mr. Long: It is not sufficient.
Mrs. Hart: It seems to me, Mr. Hartley, that we have to ask you to show something. Mr. Long has produced his authority.
Mr. Long: I have no responsibility, Mme. Chairman, until the original document is presented to the Cabinet. My first responsibility is to verify it with the copy that Colonel Conger had made exactly at the same time, and had placed in his personal safe to be kept until his passing. That is all I have to say in my regard, and unless the original document is placed before this meeting, which has the full responsibility to keep the link unbroken, I cannot honor, personally, as an FTS or as a member of the Cabinet, anything other than that. If there be his successor here, he must prove his claim and be recognized as such. And in the case of Mr. Hartley and his expression just now by bringing a photostatic copy, this is not even legal, nor recognized by the law. We all know that.
If Mr. Hartley comes with whatever document he has, to the true link that exists at the moment until the successor takes over, has it verified in line with what the teacher and Master indicated, then from then on we can discuss the matter. But until that is done, this Cabinet has a sacred responsibility to fulfill its mission as the link with the Lodge, until such successor takes over. That is plain. That is constitutional. There is no exception.
Mrs. Hart: I think we all know that. Mr. Hartley, where did you get the information that it was legal to bring a photostatic copy?
[Mr. Hartley began to fumble with the paper, when Miss Knoche reached for a book behind her and started reading the following from GdeP:
"How would you expect a Teacher to come? With a blare of trumpets and a brass band, flourishing documents authenticated by notaries public, sealed by red, and blue or black seals with flaunting ribbons; or would he come stealing into your heart, capturing your minds, through love, through wisdom? Let your hearts answer this themselves.
"Laugh at the folly of those who think that the succession of Teachers in our Holy Order is authenticated by papers or by written documents. It is a matter solely of merit and of spiritual standing of one called forth by the heart-cry of those who are hungry for truth and spiritual leadership. Mark our words, Companions! The insignia of leadership are in the Leader himself and in his work; and his testimonials are his head and his heart. Remember this, Companions!"]
Mrs. Hart: Is there anything more to be said? Mr. Hartley, you have nothing further, have you?
Mr. Hartley: I have nothing to say.
Mr. Long: When do you propose to bring the original document?
Mr. Hartley [rising and walking up the stairs]: I take no orders from Mr. Long. If Mr. Long wants any information, he has got to come to my office and find out, and take his instructions from me.
[Mr. Hartley then opened the door followed by Mrs. Steward and Mr. Malpas]
After the departure of Mr. Hartley and the two witnesses, the Cabinet unanimously agreed that Mr. Hartley's effort to take possession of the office of Leader was invalid. The Cabinet further unanimously agreed that the one course to pursue would be to continue the work of the TS in hand, in complete unity of spirit and thought, and that any further claims of Mr. Hartley were of no concern to the Cabinet.
Respectfully submitted,
Lolita W. Hart, Chairman
Hazel S. Minot
Martha R. Conger
Lawrence Merkel
A. Studley Hart
Kirby Van Mater
Marion O. French
James A. Long
Grace Frances Knoche, Acting Secretary
To All FTS
February 27, 1951
At the call of the Chairman, Mrs. L. W. Hart, the meeting of the Cabinet was opened at 3:40, in the late Leader's home in Pasadena. All resident Cabinet members present with the exception of Colonel M. O. French.
Mrs. Hart: As you see, there is a tremendous stock of mail, some of it is Martha's which she felt belonged to the Cabinet. Martha's all came in answer to the passing as sympathetic letters. Mine are interesting in a way because they are from people at Headquarters.
I think this letter situation ought to be settled a little more definitely. I feel that I have a great deal to catch up on, and I have made a list of all that have come in and tried to segregate them. I want to get acquainted with these names. I feel it is our duty, and I believe that everything that has to do with the TS, leaving nothing out, is the business of the Cabinet. I feel that I would be absolutely shirking my duty if I did not know what is going on and did not see the mail. I am putting my neck out and getting into something very deep.
In the beginning here I would like to see what comes in, and not have it in the hands of one person to judge whether we should consider it Cabinet matter, whether it is important or not. That is just to get the feel of it, to gather us together. If you will bear with me just a minute, I would like to mention something that was read by Martha: it was loyalty to loyalty. In our case I think it is to this body. The idea was that each person had to be loyal to the body to which it belonged. I think this is such an important body that we belong to. Of course what is really in my mind is that our loyalty belongs to Those who are behind us, and we must make this body just as clear as we can, so that They will work through us, and not leave us.
Kirby Van Mater: For myself, when I receive mail, you are at perfect liberty — any one is — to read the letters with me; in fact every member of the Cabinet has access to all of my mail. It is just merely that I happen to be in the position or office where I receive mail. It is a matter for the Cabinet to decide.
Mrs. Hart: That's all right. I remember the long, long letters you used to receive. I think we all should know what comes in; and so all that I have here I am going to put on that table. I think the Cabinet should be free to see it, and of course there is nothing now that needs to be hidden and cannot be put out on that table. You see I thought we should do this for the benefit of the Cabinet, make a list of those who got in contact with us as Cabinet members.
Then I made a list of all those to Martha. I would like to keep this and get acquainted with the names. Another point about this also is that I feel we should have heard all of Mr. Estcourt's letter. I was not at ease thinking it over, even if the whole Cabinet had not wanted to hear it. I felt that some of it was important. Grace was quite willing to read it. I felt it should not have been left to any one person. Now, if someone else wants to look at the mail with Kirby and me —
Lawrence Merkel: May I say something, Mme. Chairman? I agree with you perfectly in principle: the only exception that I would like to suggest is a very simple one, and that is that any mail that comes in henceforth addressed to Colonel A. L. Conger I think should go to a small committee composed of Martha and of Jim who is the executor of the Colonel's estate; any other mail I certainly think should be handled according to the principle that you have enunciated.
Mrs. Hart: I took this letter that was handed in, addressed to the Colonel, to Martha, but she said she would like to have me open it, and I will open it now.
[Mrs. Hart then opened an airletter from Helsinki, Finland, and read a short greeting to the Leader from the Finnish members, in gratitude to the Leader, at a meeting at which the Scandinavian President, Peter Flach, had been present.]
Mrs. Hart: Apparently that is a theosophical letter. That is what I mean. This belongs to the Cabinet.
Mr. Merkel: One would naturally suppose that matters like that would come to the Cabinet. What I am referring to are letters of a personal nature that Martha and Jim are in line to handle.
Mrs. A. L. Conger: It is very likely that there are not going to be many who would not know of Colonel's passing in his own circle — very few that would come in a personal way to Colonel Conger now, I should think. If the Cabinet wishes, and they would like to have me open anything coming that way, I could then pass it on. If it is personal, I or Jim would know it.
Mrs. Hart: Do you all agree that we must try to make this body as compact and unchanging as possible? We all know what is coming into the TS because the Cabinet is representing the leader, and it is to do all the functions of the leader during its regime, whether it is a day, two days, three days. That is what the Constitution says, and if any one person does not feel close enough as a member of the Cabinet to do that, well then that is not working as a body according to my way of thinking, in complete loyalty.
Mrs. Conger: I can understand how it is well for the Cabinet, for the Secretary General, to get the feel of these people, whether you know them or whether you don't. It is for everyone, and I have kept all the letters there because I wanted them to be available. Many of them I have read to different ones, but not as a public body. But I can see the advantage of the Cabinet getting the feel, and what it is that goes with the name that is signed to even a note of sympathy. I can see that.
Mrs. Hart: I have a confession to make because I want to be as square as I want everyone else to be, and that is, in writing the letters to the three absent Cabinet members, and leaving off in one case "write to me either as a member of the Cabinet or as a personal friend" — well, at 4: 00 this morning it suddenly occurred to me that it had been left in, and I assure you it was an error, and I am sorry that it was mailed that way, because it isn't what I intended, and there might be repercussions. So it is an error and I think we all have to be patient with one another's errors.
James A. Long: Since these matters have come up, Madame Chairman, may I have the floor for about two minutes to fulfill a little more of the responsibility I was given? In the first place, I think the Cabinet is operating under a misapprehension. The new leader took possession of that office when he prevented the Cabinet from considering Mr. Hartley's claims. The Leader was further instructed to invite the present Cabinet members to continue as members of the new Cabinet with the change in chairmanship from Mrs. Lolita W. Hart to Mr. A. Studley Hart; and, that the position — or the person, rather — filling the position of leader would consider himself not, according to GdeP's statement, as "first among equals," but as one among equals, and would share the responsibilities of the office with every FTS.
He was instructed to replace himself as a member of the Cabinet with — I may smile just a little — the Scotch burr of Mr. George Simpson. He was also instructed to say that the Cabinet members in question may accept the invitation to continue to serve at once, or consider it for 24 hours; and also that he is open to suggestions as to when the announcement would be made public.
Mrs. Hart: That is not clear to me. Who is he?
Mr. Long: I am speaking of myself.
Mr. Merkel: May I say something?
Hazel Minot: I would like to say that I for one am grateful for this clarification of our relationship here together, because it seems to me that with the best intentions on the part of all of us to carry on the work to the best of our ability that we have been groping, and I can only say for myself that with the mission to the different sections just completed, and Colonel's own injunction to Jim just before passing that the work thus inaugurated was to be completed, my own heart rejoices.
Mrs. Hart: Do I understand you to say that Studley, you consider, is the chairman of the Cabinet?
Mr. Long: That was my instruction.
Mrs. Hart: From whom? It is impossible, of course, for me to accept what you say.
Mr. Long: That is perfectly all right. I don't ask anyone to.
Mrs. Hart: Your attitude or actions that day just made you utterly out of the pale as the leader.
Mr. Long: That is entirely for each individual to say. I raised the same objection and was told: So long as three members remain loyal to the original programme, I have nothing to fear.
Mrs. Hart: You are asking us absolutely to believe you on your word?
Mr. Merkel: As far as the Cabinet is concerned — at least this is my understanding of it — as far as the Cabinet is concerned, according to the Constitution it has absolutely no job as to the selection of a leader. All its function is to be in office until the leader takes possession of that office.
Mrs. Hart: If a majority see it —
Mr. Long: It is purely an individual matter.
Mrs. Hart: Of course we know how you feel, Larry, and Grace, and how Hazel feels. I want to know how Studley feels.
Mr. Long: That is for each individual to say, not as a member of the Cabinet, but as individual cabinet members.
Studley Hart: Well, if it will help for me to speak: it has taken me a few days, but I have known all along that Jim was the one. I have to be frank and say it was not easy in one sense. I have known that he was, and yet it is the personality that I had to get used to, I suppose because I have been so used to dealing with personalities. But I know that the Cabinet to me was dead, and I know it was not so when GdeP passed. So that I knew that the Leader was present.
Mrs. Hart: Well, that makes how many?
Mr. Long: If it would help the members for me to retire, I will be glad to do so.
Mrs. Hart: It is not necessary. You know I am such a very frank person. I can't see it.
Mr. Long: I want to make this simple honest statement that the shock to me was far greater than it was to any of you at the moment.
Mrs. Hart: Well, Kirby, how do you feel?
Mr. Long: It is for each one to decide.
Mrs. Hart: Studley considers that the Cabinet has been dead. It has had a good deal to push against. Martha, do you have anything to say? What about you, Kirby?
Mr. Van Mater: Well, I must confess that I am like Studley. I have many things to adjust myself to. I will have to be given time to consider that matter. I do consider, if Jim had such things in mind to say, that he would follow more in the line of the statement read by Grace at the meeting where Mr. Hartley was present. I don't quite understand one of Studley's remarks, and that is that if the Cabinet were dead, the leader were present, because if the leader were present, anything he was present at would not be a dead body.
Mrs. Hart: I don't have to have 24 hours to think it over. I will pack just as soon as I can if that is the way the Cabinet feels. Of course we have Colonel French, he has some rights. I simply cannot see you [turning to Mr. Long], and I am very sorry, and I am sure I never will. You will have to excuse me.
Mr. Long: May I ask this favor, Lolita?
Mrs. Hart : There is nothing to talk about, Mr. Long; not in a thousand years, I am sorry.
Mr. Long: I wish you would sleep over it. I will need just what you can offer.
Mrs. Hart: Mr. Long, I have stayed longer than I wanted to. GdeP told me to stay, and he told me twice to stay. Martha [handing the papers to her], John has things there, and I will turn them over to you, or to Studley as he is the new Leader's Chairman.
Mr. Long: Take all the time you care to, if you insist upon leaving.
Mrs. Hart: Of course I have to leave. There is nothing else for me to do.
Mr. Long: I am willing to attempt to answer any questions that anyone cares to ask if it is within my province to answer.
Mr. Van Mater: You spoke of instructions, Jim. Are you referring to instructions that Larry conveyed to you, or came through Larry?
Mr. Long: Larry does not enter into the picture at all in so far as my instructions are concerned.
Mrs. Hart: You are in direct touch with the Masters?
Mr. Long: I did not say that.
Mrs. Hart: Then we have to just take your word.
Mr. Long: That is perfectly correct — my unsupported word.
Mrs. Hart: You don't have to tell us, we just have to accept it.
Mr. Long: It is not my personality. I will try to do the best I can with that. I know it is a problem, and I apologized for it before, and I apologize for it at this moment because it needs polishing up, I agree; but I will do the best I can with it.
Mrs. Minot: Mr. Chairman [turning to Studley Hart], could I ask a question, please? Or rather, it is something I would like to say. I feel that any questions we might ask would of course inevitably at this time come from the brain-mind part of us, and would not be worth the time that that would take. This is a question for the heart of each of us, and —
Mrs. Hart [leaving the room]: If you will excuse me.
Mrs. Minot [continuing]: If we don't feel it at the present moment, it is going to be in the quiet moments of our own looking into ourselves that the answer will come. And I think that is the only way that the answer can come.
Mr. Long: I believe there is a quorum here still. Studley, will you discuss the rest of the business and see what the recommendations are that the Cabinet continue in session if they accept the appointment. I don't want to force it, if every individual here would rather sleep on it. But we can't delay. I am sorry to irritate Mrs. Hart. One of my instructions I did not mention was absolutely not to delay, and not to have any period of Cabinet administration.
Mr. Hart: That is the only question I wanted to ask, if you as our leader want me to continue the meeting as Chairman, I will. I don't consider it necessary to continue now.
Mr. Long: I want to satisfy the minds of everyone here, and if you, Kirby, would like to have time as to whether you wish to retain —
Mr. Van Mater: I certainly do wish a little time. It is not a matter of retaining anything, Jim. It is a matter of thinking the situation over, as I am in very much the same position that Studley mentioned that he was in. And I want to be very frank and very honest.
Mr. Long: Don't be anything else, please.
Mr. Van Mater: And I would like to have, if possible, the Cabinet make no action on the matter until tomorrow. For a Cabinet to make an action of it, it then leaves me in the position of —
Mr. Long: There is no action of the Cabinet. The old Cabinet is dissolved. The problem is the matter of each one satisfying his own self.
Mr. Hart: I fully appreciate Kirby's point of view. Perhaps if he talked it over with Mr. Long, and not in a body here, that would be much easier. Let us adjourn the meeting until you call another one.
Mr. Long: I would like only to say that I will need, and you all know how much I will need, each one of you. The Colonel did not pull us all together as figureheads. I do need every one more than anyone ever needed anything.
The meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
A. Studley Hart, Chairman
Lawrence Merkel
Kirby Van Mater
Hazel S. Minot
Martha R. Conger
Grace Frances Knoche, Secretary
held at the Leader's Residence
Pasadena, February 28, 1951
At the call of the Chairman, Mr. A. Studley Hart, the Cabinet of The Theosophical Society convened at 75 North Grand Avenue, Pasadena, at 10:15 Wednesday morning, February 28, 1951.
Present were:
A. Studley Hart, Chairman
Lawrence Merkel
Kirby Van Mater
Martha R. Conger
Hazel S. Minot
Marion O. French
George Simpson
Grace Frances Knoche
Also present was Mr. James A. Long, Leader
Mr. Hart: I call to order the meeting of the Cabinet of the Theosophical Society as appointed by the Leader yesterday. I take it as prima facie evidence that all who are here present have accepted the appointment. The old business which may have carried over from yesterday may be presented. The reading of the minutes of yesterday's meeting can now be heard, unless someone wishes to waive the reading of them.
Mrs. Minot: I would like to waive notice as I think we are all familiar with those minutes.
Colonel French: Not having been here, I would like to read them again.
[The Secretary then handed Colonel French a copy of the minutes of the Cabinet meeting of February 27, 1951 for his perusal.
After discussion of various points, a committee of three, consisting of the Chairman, Mr. Merkel, and Mr. Van Mater, was appointed to go carefully over the minutes of yesterday's meeting in order to make any grammatical corrections necessary, doing nothing, however, to destroy their veracity by altering the spirit and atmosphere of the meeting.]
Colonel French: Thank you [returning the minutes to the Secretary].
Mr. Hart: I make a suggestion that as the importance of these minutes is unquestioned, would it not be more binding and valuable for the future to have them passed by each one of us reading and accepting individually the minutes when they are written up in their final form?
Colonel French: I think that is excellent.
Mr. Hart: Then we could consider the minutes as accepted by the Cabinet, and binding when they are so signed.
Mr. Long: I want everyone to be satisfied in every way. It is too vital.
[The Cabinet members signified they were satisfied.]
Mr. Hart: Is there any old business? Before calling for new business, may I ask the Leader if he has anything to say?
Mr. Long: The first thing I would like to say is to express my deep appreciation for the help I have received from each one, and also my appreciation of your accepting the invitation to continue to serve as members of the Cabinet. I would like to repeat that this task, as I see it, is not just a one-man job, but must be, if our work is to succeed in the future, actually a partnership in which every FTS is a partner.
We have in words for a long time talked about and discussed the relationship of the TS and the work of the Movement as a whole with the international situation and the progress of humanity, and to many of us it has become like the rituals in a church. But at this point in the century and in the cycle of the Movement, there is no doubt that we must take our beliefs seriously and translate our words into actions, both outward and inward.
If we believe that there is a Great White Lodge composed of the protectors and guardians of humanity; if we believe that they are behind the Theosophical Movement and the Theosophical Society; and if we believe that the Theosophical Society that has kept the link unbroken is the only formal outer organization through which they work, then certainly every individual member of that organization has a very serious responsibility in the matter of giving to that spiritual effort what assistance he can.
We all know and believe that they have indicated that a spiritual force created by the devotion and loyalty and efforts toward the help of our fellowmen carries with it, when it finally reaches the outer plane, a much higher and stronger effect than we would think. If at this time we can by a united effort in the TS make of ourselves better examples of what a theosophist should be, doing our "one-pointed duty as men and theosophists," it is my sincere belief that we will add to that reservoir of spiritual strength which is the only thing the Masters can use to aid humanity. That is our responsibility. To me, that is the original programme of the TS, to work for the progress of the human race as They have said themselves.
It is essential that we make every effort to remove any barrier, and to prevent the creation of any barrier, that stands between the individual FTS and the heart of the work. And by that I am not referring to any individual who may be for a time the head of the organization. I mean, literally, the heart of the work. I think if we can in all our efforts help every FTS with whom we come in contact realize more fully the deep significance and responsibility that rests upon the shoulders of each member so that wherever the members may be their influence will be felt, there will result a united strong feeling and effort to aid those who are aiding and guarding humanity. We need have no fears then that we have not done our job.
I would like to repeat again that this is the greatest partnership that has ever been in existence. And I say in the most humble spirit I can feel that I need the help not alone of the Cabinet members, but of every FTS, and I will do my best, with what poor implements I have, to do the job that lies before us. That is all.
Mr. Hart: Thank you. I think that is a banner that every FTS should feel privileged and proud to follow. Has anyone anything else to say?
Mrs. Minot: I would like to say this, Mr. Chairman, that when and to whomsoever the minutes of yesterday's meeting are sent, I would like to see these words accompany them as the message to every FTS.
Mr. Hart: I think we all assume that if it should be decided to send those minutes out, then these would be included as a matter of course.
Colonel French: May I ask a question?
Mr. Hart: Certainly, Colonel French.
Colonel French: Is there any question as to whether they would be published or not? The previous publication appeared to me to be such that the question naturally arises in the mind of every FTS — "what happens next?"
Mr. Long: May I answer Colonel French's question with a statement that I made informally? If this is going to be a partnership, then we must make it a partnership, and I have always felt myself, and I know that Colonel Conger has always felt by his general statement that "you either tell all the facts or none," that each member of the TS is entitled to know everything that goes on. If we have to operate this organization behind closed doors in meetings to which we could not honestly invite any individual or FTS who is a sincere member, then I think we had better close up shop right away. I myself feel that everything this Cabinet does should be open to inspection by the whole world.
Mr. Simpson: I am behind that.
Mr. Hart: Shall we say that it is unanimous? Or are there any objections? It is unanimous.
Mr. Merkel: Mr. Chairman, just a rather practical matter: before we tackle this printing job I would like to say that we have to get out the Forum first, because of postal regulations. So I would very strongly recommend that our first job is to get the Forum out and then make this our next job.
Mr. Van Mater: Could I make a suggestion, Mr. Chairman? I don't see why it is not possible to have the other thing go forward at the same time. When you get the Forum printed, then these minutes could already be set up, etc.
Mr. Long: I would suggest that we go forward with the work of preparing the printing, even if we have to lose our second class permit. We are going to have to obtain a new one anyway when we move our Press to Pasadena. I suggest we delay not one moment in getting every fact before the world, and that means before every FTS.
Mrs. Minot: I would like to ask if it is the Leader's wish that the publication of these minutes and his words this morning be the first intimation to the membership that he has taken office? I am thinking primarily of those absent Cabinet members.
Mr. Merkel: May I make a suggestion, Mr. Chairman, and that is that after these minutes have been corrected and satisfactorily looked over by every member who was here yesterday, that copies be immediately sent to the absent members of the Cabinet? In addition to that, would it not be in order to send to our national presidents a telegram signed by the chairman of the Cabinet regarding the assumption of office of the new leader, and saying that a letter would follow? Just as we seemed to have done, perhaps unconsciously, in the case when Colonel Conger's passing was cabled, and the letter that followed was the printed document signed by every member of the Cabinet. I don't know whether that makes any sense or not.
Mr. Hart: It is good sense to me. I do think, though, in line with what has been said, we really should go right ahead with this as fast as we can, and not worry about anything that may be standing in the way.
Mr. Simpson: Mr. Chairman, they are hammering at the doors now. They want to know.
Mr. Long: I agree, certainly; and I might add that this thought came very strongly to mind that we follow up the cooperative spirit of the Pasadena Star-News, and if they are interested in who has taken the place of Colonel Conger, we can give them a story and let the press have it, because it is my feeling that we have only one weapon to use against any opposition to true progress, only one, and it has proven infallible in the centuries past, and that is truth. And the quicker we tell the truth to the whole world, the quicker will we be protected in our efforts. This is not a time for compromise or appeasement in any form whatever. Our enemies, or enemy — make that singular please — our enemy is not this or that or the other individual or group of individuals. Our enemy is the opposite of truth.
Mr. Merkel: Mr. Chairman, I certainly think that at the same time that telegrams are sent to our national presidents that a notice be given to the folks at Covina just as quickly as possible. I think that would be very much in line with what Mr. Simpson mentioned.
Mr. Simpson: The quicker the better.
Mr. Hart: I could announce that the minutes of the Cabinet are in process of printing.
Mr. Van Mater: Do you think that is very wise? We might fire our shots at the wrong time because in one sense Covina is closest to us as the headquarters family, but should some of them after receiving the notice prove antagonistic, they might start preying upon members outside who have not yet received notification. In other words, we have to think of the member outside who will hear all kinds of things before he has any direct information.
Mr. Long: It is a good point, Kirby.
Mr. Merkel: Let me just suggest this as a possibility, that if we could get these minutes in order I see no reason why we could not print them right tonight, and get them out by first thing in the morning.
Mr. Van Mater: That sounds better to me.
Miss Knoche: May I suggest the following. I think Kirby has a very strong point. My feeling is that we should follow the same procedure we did with the first minutes. When they are printed, have Studley take them around personally to each individual at the Headquarters. Then in the privacy of their own apartments, each member can read the bulletins and make up his own heart individually. At the same time, we can send out cables, night letters, this evening to our national heads and key figures; and also as was suggested we could have tomorrow's paper give the interview regarding the new leader. Then we would not have shot our fire before we are ready, as I see it.
Mr. Hart: That seems the best plan.
Mr. Merkel: I think we can safely leave the matter in the hands of karma and Studley.
Mr. Van Mater: Are the minutes of this meeting going to be published too?
Mr. Hart: I presume so.
Mr. Merkel: Mr. Chairman, I move that we adjourn.
[The motion for adjournment was seconded and unanimously carried, the meeting adjourning at 11:00 a.m.]
Respectfully submitted,
A. Studley Hart, Chairman
Lawrence Merkel
Kirby Van Mater
George Simpson
Hazel S. Minot
Martha R. Conger
Marion O. French
Grace Frances Knoche, Secretary
To all FTS
March 6, 1951
Dear Comrades:
The overwhelming response to the impulse for the new order of the ages, initiated by my predecessor, Colonel Arthur L. Conger, is indicative of the strength of heart of our membership throughout the world. The many messages received to date include the support and good wishes of the officials of every national section as well as innumerable FTS.
On the other hand, there have been two resignations; also, indications that a few members have, under the protective wing of their membership, chosen a pathway of obstruction and diversion. For this we feel a deep regret, but our duty lies clearly before us. We can no longer temporize. We must protect the lifestream that has ever flowed through our TS and not allow its force to be used for anything but those unselfish objectives which we all know so well.
Few of us realize fully the true significance of our times, and how far beyond the organizational limits of our Society our responsibility extends. The influence of our efforts at this time carries a weight and force commensurate with the indications of those converging cycles which represent the time-clock of universal things. As an example, it was my privilege while in England to hear the King on Christmas Day give his Message to the peoples of the British Empire. The highlight of his thoughts was contained in these words: we stand at the half-century mark, and are faced with a choice of two pathways: one creative, the other destructive. It is up to each individual to make his choice. I learned later that Queen Juliana in Holland had made a similar expression. So you see how closely linked is the progress of civilization with the heart of our work.
I regret that I cannot give the full measure of my appreciation to each individual who has recognized the importance of theosophy at this time. The active partnership which was inaugurated when I assumed office has been in the making for a long time, and this not by any leader or Society officials, but by the hearts and sincerity of those members who put the welfare of their fellowmen above everything else. Only they could call it forth, and only they can make it a success.
There have been many indications during the past decade that there has been taking place a marshaling of forces — those forces which have ever been periodically aligned face to face in combat. One can realize at such times the great turmoil in the heart of Arjuna. But thank the gods Arjuna had his Krishna — and so do we, however deeply he may be hidden within our consciousness. This is not a matter, nor has it ever been, of who supports whom, but has always been: who supports truth. Also, it has been made obvious, just as it was by Krishna, that there can be no compromise or appeasement with that force which would tear truth asunder and blot out the light of the sun.
We in this partnership must prepare the way for l975. The next quarter century is singled out with the opportunity that no other century in the history of mankind has had. And those whose hands uphold that to which they gave birth in 1875 have made it clear time and again, in their letters as well as in their instructions to my predecessors, that we have a one-pointed duty as men and theosophists to get our house in order and be prepared to carry out the original program they established: the salvation of the human race.
The Law could not be fulfilled if our progress were to be made over a bed of roses. There must of necessity be obstacles to overcome that the power of our individual spirits may be strengthened. We cannot, however much we should like to do so at times, push into the background the truth of the axiom: In proportion to our aspirations will be our difficulties. Let us together welcome these difficulties as opportunities — opportunities to dedicate anew our lives to those whose task we share.
Thank you again.
Faithfully yours,
James A. Long
To all FTS
March 9, 1951
Dear Comrades:
To be able to sit down and talk with you like this adds a warmth to our task that nothing else could replace. At this moment my eyes fall upon the opening paragraph of Katherine Tingley's Private Circular published in the current issue of the Forum, and these words stand out like a flaming banner:
"It is the time to act and bind all earnest members closer to the real heart of the Lodge."
I do not like to repeat myself, but it is impossible for me to write you without telling you again that the messages continue to pour in from every country, indicating a beautiful spirit of unanimity in support of the new effort which we find coming to birth.
Truly the force of Narada is actively sweeping through every corner of the globe, and the dark recesses so long hidden in the shadows of our lower selves are coming to light. This is as it should be.
We can no longer speak and write beautiful words and high-sounding doctrines to the public, while exemplifying conflicting ambitions within our TS. This is pure hypocrisy. Word has already come to us of the efforts of this, that, or the other individual taking active steps to influence the thoughts of the members and to rob them of their inherent right to think for themselves. Some of our earnest members have expressed alarm. I should like right here to say to those members: do not be troubled. We have nothing to fear if we do our full duty. If there be those on our rolls who choose to follow this, that, or the other individual, even to the extent of forming one, two, or a dozen new societies, we shall in no wise create a barrier for them. I say this in the spirit of true freedom: that each individual has the inalienable right to choose his own pathway and the relationships to which he feels his karma attracts him. However, it must be said also that any member choosing to be concerned with and to follow the diversionary efforts of others should not expect to continue his membership in this Society. He should be honest enough to resign at once, and not, like the vampire, live on the lifeblood of another entity. The Constitution of the TS when it was written, supervised as it was by the Masters themselves, made it clear that a member could not belong to more than one lodge at the same time. This principle has its parallel with regard to two theosophical societies. In the words of the Master Jesus: "either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other." One-pointedness is the key-word for the future, and only one-pointedness will bring us successfully to our goal.
If we consider the teachings given us, especially the innumerable hints by GdeP, we will recognize the responsibility involved in making the turn from the downward arc to the upward arc in the century's cycle. Chief of these responsibilities is the need to translate that which has been given us during the involution phase into action in our daily lives. We will thus exemplify our aspirations, and by a self-conscious effort in this evolutionary phase develop a spiritual self-reliance that will withstand the tests of centuries to come.
Through the years since 1875 there have always been those members who became so attached to the person and methods of the respective leaders that upon their passing they were faced with a self-created maya that proved impenetrable. As a result they complained that "HPB did this," or "Mr. Judge didn't do that," "KT would have done thus and so," and again "GdeP would never have done that," and so forth, missing completely the truth of the matter: that the effort of the Lodge through each administration represents the sum total of all previous impulses. The lack of recognition of this fact is at the root of the failures in past ages to carry the spiritual force from one century to another.
During Colonel Conger's administration we had the first indications that the esoteric was becoming exoteric. It should be obvious to those worthy members who have experienced two, three, and four transition periods, that this is so. Never in the past has the membership as a whole been given the opportunity of receiving at first hand the behind-the-scenes picture of the transition. This is not without purpose. In the past, relatively few were permitted to know the facts, and the membership generally received at best second- and third-hand information, and were thus influenced by the thoughts of others and denied the opportunity to exercise their own intuitive powers. In making the facts recently presented available to each member, we realized the danger involved: the temptation to use reason instead of intuition, sentimentality instead of judgment. But if this is to be a partnership, then each FTS must be given the opportunity to arrive at his conclusion uninfluenced by the secondhand thoughts of others. The results of our decision have proved its great value, and the response, even from those very new in the work, has revealed that the spirit of the hour has reached the hearts of all.
A brief word to those of you who are young in years as well as young in theosophic experience: the expressions you have made are a clear indication that you have been in this work before, and have once more found your home. A wide and noble future lies ahead.
To those older and pledged members I need say very little, because you have shown by word and deed that you understand. On the other hand, to you who have asked so little, it must be said that the staunchness and the solidity of your inner support has been and will continue to be the real guard at the bastion gate. Please know how much it has meant to each leader under whom you have worked.
Thank you again, young and old. All that is done to benefit others will live on. What is done for our own satisfaction will fade out.
With our full trust in the Law and our hearts linked to the future, we go forward with our eyes to the front.
Faithfully yours,
James A. Long
Transcript of the Meeting, called by the Leader, Mr. James A. Long, at Covina, Thursday morning, 9:00 o'clock, March 15, 1951
Mr. A. Studley Hart: Companions, I have been asked to call this meeting to give everybody here on the Hill a chance to hear the Leader who has some things he would like to say to all of us. I now introduce Mr. Long.
JAL: Thank you, Studley. This is no formal lecture or talk, or anything like that. The truth of the matter is that there are so many things I would like to say I don't know where to begin.
In the first place, I would like to express my deepest appreciation, our deepest appreciation, for the overwhelming response and support by the folks at headquarters of the new cycle of work that we are facing. I regret that I was not able to get out here before this time and express this to the best of my ability. You have no idea what it has meant to everyone; and it is typical of the overwhelming response that has come in from the whole Theosophical Society, not only in the United States, but from every national section abroad. There have been what someone called "tomatoes," but we must expect that at a time like this. But I have found that the staff and the Cabinet associated with me love tomatoes!
I think I should like to express a word or two about this new cycle as it was inaugurated by Colonel Conger when he sent me on the trip around the world. That was not a pleasure trip, as you all know. The basic purpose of my mission was to give each national section the message from the Colonel that the time had come for them to get their houses in order for the future. All during his administration there were here and there a few to whom he gave an unusual amount of time to recognize — not him as leader, for he did not care whether anyone recognized him or not — but to recognize the fact that the Theosophical Society was working for theosophy and the benefit of mankind. But those few, here and there, all during his administration who chose to put their personal ideas, their ambitions, and their thoughts as to what should be done ahead of the work of the Society — they were the ones he was concerned with, and in fact to such a degree that he communicated with them in the fullness of his heart more than once, giving them the opportunity to see the light, not his light necessarily, but the light of the work.
Now, it is obvious that whenever there is a change, there seem to develop some preconceived opinions of what should or should not be done. I do not propose to go into the ramifications of the hearts and minds of every individual at a time like that. But I do want — and since this is a partnership, this partnership begins right here at headquarters — I do want to talk with you a few minutes along the line of the present situation and the immediate future. To do that I will attempt to give you the highlights of my mission for the Colonel around the world.
I think everyone in this room has supported Colonel Conger as firmly as it is possible to support anyone. He had great wisdom, great understanding. In going around the national sections in the different countries, it became my duty to contact all of the officials, all the key members that it was possible to contact, and give to them that message which the Colonel first gave in the lobby of the administration building about a year and a half or so ago, when he initiated the series of lectures by Miss Knoche. Those of you who were there at the time remember that he spoke for about 40 minutes as an introduction to that series. And the highlight of his comments are paraphrased in these words: In the past, the dangers to the work of the Theosophical Society have arisen from without; but in the future, the dangers to the work of the Society will be from within. It was that message, and that fact, that I had to give to the Section officials and key members.
I was also asked to outline briefly in the respective sections those dangers, what they were, and to stress in each section the particular danger that existed, and help them to recognize what was necessary to correct it.
These dangers, briefly stated, are: crystallization — I don't think we need to define that. We all know what it is; but as an example, I went into one lodge that was still attempting to conduct their work for theosophy on exactly the same basis KT did in her day. The spirit was there, no question about that; but the method was outmoded, and actually the feeling one got was that they were sitting there just waiting for KT to walk in and tell them what to do. That is one example of crystallization.
Another danger in certain places was the inclination on the part of members to be timid and afraid to talk frankly and honestly about the three main theosophical societies. When an inquirer came and said: "Well, what about this, why did the split occur, etc.?" — instead of facing the facts, they would withdraw within themselves and begin to hope for fraternization, not as a constructive thing but as a palliative, with the result that there have been some very serious dilutions — not many, thank goodness — but very serious dilutions of the main stream of work as it flows through our Society.
Another danger is what we all know as guru-itis. I don't think we need dwell on that, but where one individual, starting in the work sincerely, attracts to himself a group of people and ultimately begins to think that it was he who made the attraction instead of the theosophy that was working through him — as a result it becomes a personal thing and loses its value. Then when something happens to upset his personal plans, he is "agin" it, as the saying goes. An offshoot of that which has cropped up here and there is the terrific reaction that individuals who have ambitions feel when such ambitions are frustrated; the terrific reaction that ensues and causes all kinds of trouble, backbiting, slander, gossip, lies.
There is no use of our kidding ourselves. Colonel Conger made that clear to each one who was associated with him. We have got to face the facts. We cannot carry on in a meek and mild manner only, without being realistic. The work of the Theosophical Society must go on, and there is a bright and happy future ahead of it. This partnership is not mere words on paper, or from my lips. I have been asked to make it a real partnership, and it begins right here at headquarters. And as I said in the first instance, I cannot express the full appreciation we all feel at the grand support we have had, not of me, that is secondary, but of the spirit of the time.
There is no harm in difference of opinion. There is not a true theosophist in the world who does not welcome it. And we all know that saying of Voltaire: "I may not agree with what you say, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it." That is really a motto for us.
At this particular time at the pit of the century, as well as during this change in the cycle of work, and because we are beginning to go up the arc of the century, we find the circumstances quite different from what they have been at other changes of administration. In the downward arc of the cycle we started with HPB. She had her particular work to do. Came Mr. Judge, who did his particular job added to what HPB did. KT had something else to do. I don't need to enumerate all of this. After KT came GdeP; after GdeP came Colonel Conger. And how often, how often, has he referred to his administration as a transition administration. Transition to what?
As a result we find ourselves today called upon — not me, but all of us, this whole partnership — called upon to put into effect during the upward arc of this cycle everything from every leader in the past, and to put it to work. Not just GdeP's, not just Colonel Conger's, not just KT's, but we have to put into our work in the future the fire of HPB in breaking the molds of mind. We have got to see — Colonel Conger began the operation — that the molds of minds of theosophists are broken. Colonel started it. We have got to continue it. We have got to utilize practical occultism initiated by Mr. Judge; and the insight into the real interpretation of the teachings given by HPB simplified and applied more to our daily lives. We have got to carry on a crusade as KT did, not on a soapbox nor from the housetops, but by our examples again, in all walks of daily life.
Theosophy in the future will be in the highways and byways, as one good member from up north wrote the other day. Aside from his teachings or great commentary on The Secret Doctrine, we have to follow the principle of GdeP's which I can only epitomize in these few words: to guard ourselves against attempting to eliminate hate by hate. Hate only ceases by love and the right attitude and compassion. Thus inculcating into our daily efforts that which represented Colonel Conger, and which to me at least was the ultimate we have experienced up to this time in real practical occultism — practical altruism. We have a big job ahead of us, and I for one am not the least bit doubtful that we will do it and do it well. But we must all work together to do it.
There are so many things I would like to say, but I am not going to keep you here.
I am happy to report this morning that we now have possession of all the properties in the Pasadena area that we purchased. I know it has been difficult for you folks here to go on from day to day, seeing these changes, and not being able to dip your activities into the stream of them. It has been very difficult, and I want you to know we realize it, but we must face the circumstances. We cannot roll the sun around any faster, and we are doing everything that we can to make it possible for you to get into your new home just as soon as it can be. So that you can see firsthand in a general way at least what the set-up in Pasadena is going to be like, we have arranged this morning — and if you have any local duties, let us forget about them — to take everyone who wants to go into Pasadena through the new house which will be yours, to take you through the residence on Grand Avenue also. We will take through the Press building likewise any who care to go, but at least we can give all of you a picture of it, and then we will bring you back.
We will feel disappointed if you don't take advantage of this. Aside from that, it is my hope at the very earliest moment to see and talk to each one of you individually, but with the pressure of work that is now on us and the overwhelming correspondence that has to be answered at this time, this may have to wait a little. But I cannot neglect one, and if one expression, one thought, is missed and not recognized, this is not right, for the individual making the contact must be met and maintained.
Our great difficulty in the past, because of these various ramifications that arose through conflicting personalities, has been that the contact directly with headquarters has not been possible to be maintained under the circumstances. But now we must make it a closer-knit, welded unit of operation in the world, because what we do in the Theosophical Society is what the world will do in the outer plane. Whether we believe it or not, we are responsible. Actually, we are our brother's keeper.
I can only say this in closing. Most of you have been really warriors in this work for years. You have gone through many worse storms than this — all of you, especially some of you from far back. I want you to know we love you for it. How much, how very much, depends upon you — not what you do physically, not what you say or write, but what you are in here, in your hearts, and we continue to give reverence to that.
I want you all to know I am your servant; and at any time for anything that is on your mind, the door is wide open to come and talk it over. I want to talk to each of you as I said, because I am your servant truly, and want to be; and if you think I am not at any time doing the right thing, tell me about it, and I will try to do something about it.
In the greatest humility I say again, I need the help of every single member in this partnership, not because we are in a negative position, but because we have a grand job to do, and we are going to do it. We owe it to every predecessor that worked for theosophy. We owe it to the predecessors of the predecessors of theosophy.
I think that is all I have to say this morning. I will reserve anything further for a future time. Please, each one of you, do not hesitate to keep in touch with me. I will do everything that I can to help this work along, and get it rolling. That is all.
Thank you very much.
"The Deodars"
Sunday, April 1, 1951, 3:00 pm
JAL: Thank you. I have just asked for one of the postcards that were sent to all of you, and I see that I am to speak on the future of the work in the Los Angeles area, but as I notice a great many people here who reach a little farther than Los Angeles, perhaps I had better talk first about the work in general, and the position, theosophically speaking, in which we find ourselves today. I do not like always to refer to my recent trip around the world, but as it acts as a focal point or point of radiation of so many thoughts in connection with the future, it seems necessary to do so.
In sending me around to the different national sections, Colonel Conger gave me certain responsibilities to fulfill that would make stronger the foundation for the work of the future. That posed this problem. We knew pretty well from our own experience over the years what the trouble was in the different sections. Not serious troubles, but weak points in so far as attitudes and methods of conducting the work were concerned, weak points in that they could in time represent dangerous stumbling blocks for the future.
Now there were two ways of trying to correct the situations in the several national sections. One was by utilizing the authority that was vested in the office of Leader, and directing the section officials what to do to get their houses in order. If they did not do it, then do something about it. On the face of it, one might think that a soldier, an experienced soldier like Colonel Conger, who knew what authority was and how to use it, might follow that method. He never did. Very, very rarely in my association with him, and with the information and knowledge I have gained of his experience prior to my association with him, have I heard of his using the authority that was placed in his hands to accomplish the right end. By not using it, and with other guidance of a theosophic nature, he was able to accomplish much more.
That brings us to the second alternative in correcting these weaknesses in the various national sections, and that was to allow each section to make the corrections. Not by telling them to do it, not by criticizing them or shaming them, but simply by "thinking out loud" with them, putting the cards on the table honestly and frankly, face up, and saying: "Now, what do you think you ought to do about it? These are the dangers. They are not causing you any great difficulty now, but they will in the future. What do you think you might do to correct them?" And in every case they did the job themselves, and are doing it beautifully. For instance, in one of the countries I visited, there had been a difference of opinion as the result of personality clashes that had existed for over 10 years. But by getting the members together, without animus, letting them see their responsibility from the theosophic point of view, they got together and are doing a grand job of it.
When I returned to this country, I was supposed to carry on here, go over matters of the American Section with its officials. The plan was to follow the same course of action. This was interrupted momentarily by Colonel Conger's passing.
I might say here for the benefit of those who may not know it, that one of the other parts of my mission for the Colonel was to close down the Esoteric Section in every country as I proceeded around the world. That also was done. That was done in this country after I returned, before the Colonel passed on.
After his passing, when I received the responsibility to carry on the job until it was completed, I talked with your Section President stating the situation, then wrote to him as you all know, and asked him what he would like to do about it. You all received the letters, and truly, what the American Section has done in this instance will, I know, go down in the annals of TS history as one of the most outstanding examples of true theosophic progress that we have ever seen. It may look just like a paper job to people who view the work in America from the standpoint of by-laws and charters — pieces of paper. But that is not theosophy. Theosophy is an active working on the part of each individual FTS toward a universal brotherhood. What constitutes universal brotherhood? Practical unity in diversity. We never will get and develop unity in diversity merely by having national section charters, national by-laws, rules and regulations, constitutions, lodge by-laws, lodge charters, branch charters. The piece of paper is merely a symbol. I realize as do you all that we must have the symbols, but let us not allow the symbols and our attachment to them to interfere with the real work that lies before us. Where the charter really rests is in the heart of every FTS. That is the real charter: his work for theosophy.
The Theosophical Society is still a very, very young institution, in spite of its 75 years. It is a mere infant, but thank the gods it has gone over one century, and it bids well to go into another century with much greater force, and over into another century and another century.
We never have been strong in numbers, and may not be, except sporadically, for a couple of centuries. But what of that? Let us be realistic. We all know that a spiritual force, a true spiritual force put into operation carries much more effect on the outer plane when it breaks through than its equivalent in physical force. So that the quality of our thoughts and actions is the thing that we have got to work with.
What I wish to say with regard to the Los Angeles area of work applies, at least in principal, in every area, every lodge or branch, and in every study group, where two or three come together. As we go through the Archives we find that from the first time a group of theosophists attempted to work together, not only on the west coast in the Los Angeles area, but in other areas, there has been an occasional flare-up of difficulty, all of which centered around individuals. Many times caused by minorities, sometimes majorities, but usually minorities either disgruntled or dissatisfied or disappointed because their way was not followed, because they thought things should have been done another way. I hope you do not take this expression as being a criticism. I do not feel it that way. On the contrary, I recognize the problems that have existed in Los Angeles through the years as a challenge and an opportunity.
If we are going to try to be theosophists, then it seems to me that we have set this goal of brotherhood, of brotherly feeling, too far in front of us, instead of carrying it really close to us. It isn't hard actually to work together. There must be diversity of opinion. I myself would not give two cents for any group who work together who did not have a good clash once in a while. But fight for the ideas, not for your own benefit. We can always tell when an individual is working for himself, and not for the Work. In carrying the Work forward, if one person has an idea, listen to it, discuss it, tear it to pieces if need be. If it is right, it will win out. I don't care if it is 90 to 1, it will win out in time if the spirit approaching the solution to the problem is right.
To work on the basis of by-laws alone has been a failure in theosophic work. There is no question about that. No one can point out where it has been a success, because there is no body or no thing which rules in theosophy except the truth of any situation. And when we say the majority rules, they do so only for the mere moment that they win that opportunity, that battle, and then it is over, with too often theosophy paying the price.
Have your discussions, have your arguments, as much as you want, but I would like you to try the same experiment I tried in one of our national sections, which is working today beautifully, and that is: don't make a move in the work for theosophy unless it is a unanimous decision. If it takes a year, or ten years — it won't take that long — go into the situation honestly, put theosophy above everything else, with the hope and the motive in your heart to do that which is best for theosophy, and you will never fail to come out with the right answer, and unanimously so.
Now, that is a large order to try all of a sudden. But I am satisfied that it will work. I think all of us, not once but many times, have impromptu, without plan, sat down together, two or three, or four, and talked about theosophy, in theosophy's name, where you felt such a strong upsurge, such a powerful insurge of spiritual force from the atmosphere of the "two or three gathered together in the name of theosophy," that you could not put it actually into the right kind of words. This is exactly what the Master Jesus said: "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." The occult laws pertaining to everything are inviolable; and where two or three are gathered together to talk theosophy in the right spirit, there is the Lodge force also, and nothing can hold it back — nothing. It matters little who the individuals, the personalities, are. If they meet in the right spirit, they will attract the force of the Lodge.
With regard to the work in Los Angeles, I have no proposition, but I do have a thought to express for you to think about, sleep over, discuss, and then we will talk it over again together. I should like to try this experiment: for the groups in the Los Angeles area to continue as study groups in their own respective areas, in their own way, just as they have been doing, working for theosophy to the best of their ability, without a charter. Then when you feel you can consider it, and after you have talked it over again, I would like every study group in that area, every member of it, unanimously to apply for a charter for a branch, one branch, in Los Angeles.
Maybe I am dreaming. I don't know, but I don't think so. If after you think it over, and want to do it, we shall do everything from headquarters here to make it a success — not just for the sake of having one branch in Los Angeles, with a lot of diverse personalities working together. That is something, and would be fine, and I am sure it can be done. But I am thinking first and last of theosophy and the public, of getting theosophy into the highways and byways of Los Angeles, and Los Angeles County, and not holding it to ourselves, saying: "This is ours. This is the way we do it, and you can't have it." That is not theosophy. This is not said critically. I am sincere in my wish to see this hotbed of pseudo-occultism touched by a real spark of divine theosophy, of real theosophy. And we can do it. But there is only one way we can do it successfully, and that is unitedly.
Now I know that certain personalities do not get along with each other. That is not unnatural, and no one wishes to compel two personalities "to get along." I would not care if there were two to six study groups in the same block, if once a month, or once in two months, or whatever may be decided, all could get together at a central point and really work for theosophy for the public, and have a public meeting, not as an Association of Lodges, not as chartered study groups, but as one unified branch. Make haste slowly, but do it solidly, and you will find that it works. We will give help only long enough to help you to stand on your own feet, because we don't want to do the job for anyone. The idea is to get it started, and get the unity for the one thing that counts: the dissemination of theosophy. When the diverse personalities are all working together naturally, and not by manufactured example, then the real brotherhood we preach will become a fact. When that unity exists in one center, it will spread, because it won't be a negative thing, but a positive force, and real results will follow.
I am not asking you to do it. I am asking you to think about it, sleep over it. If the idea appeals to you, then we will talk over the details. If you don't like it, if the idea does not appeal to you, come and talk it over also, and we will try and find another solution. But I don't think I am expecting too much in believing we can see the future stand unified in the Los Angeles area.
It is my desire to be as practical and as simple as it is possible to be in this work for theosophy. That is the way it really gets across everywhere. That is what the Colonel has been working on, trying to debunk all of these crystallized ideas that people have had for years, that you cannot get theosophy unless it is wrapped up in a nice package with a blue ribbon. Theosophy comes the hard way, but when we get it that way, then we start living it. We get tests one after the other. We get pledge fever, we go into tailspins, we get blinded. Colonel Conger was a very, very wise man. He knew what he was doing. Right now at this time — a very important time — we are going through a period where every FTS is being forced by the natural karma at this point of theosophic history to break down the molds of his thinking in order to crash through the brain-mind to get to the heart of things, to get the intuition working.
What is the chief objective of our individual efforts in our study of theosophy? Just what is it? We are in the fifth root-race. We are going into the sixth. Yet the average human being has very little of the fifth principle incarnated even at death. Because of our state of evolution we find it exceedingly difficult to think with our hearts. It is not our fault in a sense. It is a mass thing because we have yet to break the molds of thought, manas crystallized, before we begin to develop and use the next principle in our daily lives. That principle, the sixth, is intuition. That is the reason theosophists have such a very difficult time when they are really sincere and working hard, because then the intuition forces hard also, trying to break through the mind of the aspirant. You remember the story of Peer Gynt: he went out to seek happiness, but could not find it anywhere, and was on his way home when he passed through the forest. Somebody attacked him, but he could not see his assailant, yet the assailant could always see him. It is that type of battle that is going on inside a truly aspiring theosophist almost all the time. His intuition says one thing, his brain is saying another — which is correct, which is true? It is a hard job, and we all make mistakes, every one of us. But where the big problem lies with the real theosophist is not his theosophy, but what he does about it when he makes a mistake. The thing to do is to recognize it frankly, and admit it honestly. That is the hard thing to do, but once it is done, then the inflow of spiritual force comes in to strengthen us for the next trial. We may fail repeatedly, but it is never a failure if we keep going. That is the point where we in this movement, where every FTS by the wisdom of the gods, and of the Colonel, has been put on his own, where his heart must think for him more than his mind. It is difficult, and some will make mistakes for a while. But they will recognize them, and then they will come along and be the stronger for it.
It is the work that is important, and if we keep the work — I mean the real work of the Masters which is the protection and advancement of humanity as a whole — as the chief objective, then this unity in the diversity of our thoughts and problems will see us really accomplishing wonders. I know we will do it. I am not saying mere words. The force and power of 97 percent of the membership in this Society is flowing over my desk, and is so dynamic and forceful that I defy anyone to sit there for two hours without being so affected that he will sense in a new way the strength and power of this work. He will realize that he never has had an experience like this before.
Thank you all for coming. Those of you who have not seen the new headquarters are welcome to make yourselves at home and look over the buildings and the grounds. It is my sincere hope that we may all come again and have future occasions together here at The Deodars.
The Cabinet members of the Theosophical Society met at the Leader’s residence, 75 North Grand Avenue, Pasadena, on Tuesday evening at 7:30 o’clock, April 3, 1951. The following members were present:
A. Studley Hart
Martha R. Conger
Lawrence Merkel
Marion O. French
Kirby Van Mater
Grace Frances Knoche
Hazel S. Minot
Also present was the Leader of the TS, Mr. James A. Long.
JAL: I have asked the Cabinet to meet this evening to discuss the work, and Studley has a letter to this effect which will offer the basis for the discussion. Would you read it, Studley?
Mr. A. Studley Hart: Thank you. I received the following this afternoon:
April 3, 1951
To the Members of the Cabinet of the Theosophical Society:
I should appreciate a meeting of the Cabinet at the earliest possible moment in order to discuss several matters pertaining to the work of the Society and its future progress.
Chief of these is the advisability of calling a General Congress of the TS at an early date.
Faithfully yours,
JAMES A. LONG
I should like to ask Mr. Long if he would amplify his ideas as expressed here to the membership of the Cabinet.
JAL: I called the meeting of the Cabinet in order that it may function in accordance with Section V of Article VII of the Constitution, which says:
“The duty of the Cabinet shall be to aid the Leader in promulgating and establishing the measures and policies emanating from the Leader’s Office.”
As a result of the observations made on the trip around the world for Colonel Conger, and as a result of the tremendous response that has come in since his passing, and the strong pull and requests that have come from the membership throughout the world, I have called upon the Cabinet to discuss this matter with me.
We, who are jointly responsible for the welfare of the TS at this time, should attempt to take the tide while it is running high, and give to the world in general the benefit of what theosophy really means to the world. The original program as we all know is to help the progress of the human race; and without sounding or meaning it at all egotistically we know, as theosophists, what that responsibility is.
As I went through each one of the national sections I was very deeply impressed with the seriousness with which the membership has taken that responsibility, and feels it. And at this time in the existing circumstances in the world it is my feeling that we owe it to our membership, especially since we have proclaimed it a partnership, to give them every assistance we can. Therefore I feel we should not delay in calling a Congress of the Theosophical Society, under the authority of Article X of the Constitution.
The presidents of the national sections are General Officers of the Society, and in calling such a General Congress a report of my findings in all of the national sections which I visited before Colonel Conger’s passing could be given, as well as a complete and full report of what has taken place since, giving a report of our stewardship in this brief but important time. Thus we will be enabled to sit together, and with the guidance of what strength we can attract make a real major effort for the benefit of mankind in an objective way from the standpoint of what we as members of the TS can do about it.
I would like to have the support of the Cabinet in the form of a formal motion asking for such a Congress with me, so that I feel that the partnership which was inaugurated starts right here, and stems out through every phase and aspect of the Theosophical Society. I would like to see that Congress held very soon. I would like to see it held in Holland for the very practical reason that it would be easy to get the delegates, presidents of sections, from the other European sections with the least expense and the least inconvenience to themselves. And if we can select a date, I would like to suggest the earliest possible date, within ten days or so from now, say the 14th and 15th of April.
Under the Constitution, we are given the power, and precedent has given us the power, to name delegates, and it is obvious from the Constitution also that the General Officers are the responsible individuals: (1) because they were the selection of the membership in the respective countries; and (2) because their selection has been approved in the proper manner under the Constitution. We cannot select better representatives to discuss a matter of this kind. It will mean a great deal in the years ahead, to the work of the TS, its solidification, and its true place in the world. I think that gives you the picture of what is in my mind. So, Mr. Chairman, it is up to you.
Mr. Hart: Does anyone on the Cabinet have anything to say before we come to making a Resolution?
Mr. Lawrence Merkel: I for one think it is a really momentous occasion and opportunity.
Mr. Kirby Van Mater: I believe that we should follow out this plan in the spirit of the request and as closely as possible to the date that was set by the Leader. I wish that someone who has the phraseology could make the motion.
Mr. Hart: We might discuss it a little before we try to formulate it.
Colonel French: If I may make a request that my observations with regard to the matter be off the record save for agreement with the objective, I will express my personal opinion of the matter.
Mr. Hart: They will be off the record, Madame Secretary.
[Colonel French then made some interesting remarks, in full corroboration of the idea.]
Mr. Hart: Would someone like to make a motion regarding the Leader’s proposal?
Mr. Merkel: I move that the following Resolution be adopted:
RESOLVED that a General Congress of the Theosophical Society be held on April 14-15 in Holland for the purpose of furthering the work of the Society, and its future progress;RESOLVED FURTHER, that the delegates to the General Congress be the National Presidents, or their appointees, or proxies; and further, that the Secretary General be authorized to effect the organization of the General Congress.
Mr. Van Mater: I second the motion.
Mr. Hart: The Resolution is open for discussion now.
Mrs. Minot: I heartily endorse it.
[The Chairman then called for the vote, which was unanimous in favor of the Resolution.]