A PROGRAM FOR CELEBRATING FOUNDERS DAY

Transcription

1 A PROGRAM FOR CELEBRATING FOUNDERS DAY NOVEMBER 17 CHARACTERS FOR REENACTMENT: First Narrator Second Narrator Colonel Olcott Madame Blavatsky Guest at Eddy Farm Guest at Madame Blavatsky s Rooms (Note: One member may take the parts of both guests.) Those taking part in the program are seated in front. All remain seated until it is their time to speak. They stand, speak, and sit down immediately afterward. Introduction by Chairman: (Optional) Tonight in narrative form, some of our members will try to recall something of the life and work of the two Founders of our Society whom we meet to honor on this occasion, Col. Н. S. Olcott and Madame H. P. Blavatsky. This narrative has been compiled from the following works: Music A Short History of the World by H. G. Wells Old Diary Leaves by Col. Н. S. Olcott Incidents in the Life of Madame Blavatsky by А. P. Sinnett Personal Memoirs of Н. P. Blavatsky by Mary K. Neff Modern Theosophy by Hugh Shearman The Inaugural Address of Col. Н. S. Olcott The Theosophist Olcott Centenary Number The Theosophist Н. P. В. Centenary Number And from other sources in our theosophical literature. First Narrator: The Theosophical Society was founded in 1875 in New York by two people whom we remember especially today Madame Н. P. Blavatsky and Col. H. S. Olcott. To understand fully the importance of that historic event in the world, let us consider the situation that existed at that time, so we can realize more fully what a tremendous thing Theosophy meant to the world when it was reintroduced from its neo platonic heritage in a newly revised expression the last quarter of the 19 th century. Second Narrator: It was about that time that the theories of Charles Darwin were stirring the Western world. In 1859 he published his "Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection" and in 1871 he completed the outline of his work with the Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial

2 "Descent of Man". The Darwinian movement took formal Christianity unawares and suddenly it was confronted with a clearly demonstrable error to her theological statements. The Christian theologians were neither wise enough nor mentally nimble enough to modify their formulae, which were still deeply rooted in the world view of fear, superstition, and ignorance born of the medieval era. Foolish attempts were made to suppress Darwinian literature. This new controversy touched everyone who read a book or heard intelligent conversation. The immediate effect upon the ideas and methods of people in the prosperous and influential classes throughout the westernized world was very profound. The new biological science had yet to displace the old moral stand-bys and there was a broadening conflict of ideology after The true god was in many cases thrown away with the worn-out theological purse that had contained it for so long. Powerful and influential people at the close of the nineteenth century believed that they prevailed by virtue of the Struggle for Existence: the strong survive and the weak perish. The Darwinian crises continued to spread, thereby eroding the fundamental ideals of brotherhood and humanity held in stewardship by the clergy of the church. The consequent rift between Christen thought and Darwinism deepened. This came at a time when humanity's need for pacifying and unifying ideas was greater than it had ever been. This was a time when people of different races, languages, and political ideas were being brought closer together by the technological innovation of the telegraph and the speed of travel which the railroads and steamships provided. These innovations brought about the faster communication of ideas which then became the impetus of social change undreamt of before. The authority of long held doctrines kept safe by geographical isolation was challenged by new ideas being communicated rapidly over great distances. This increased dissemination of ideas served to break down the barriers of tribal and local limitations,. This was a time when the different social classes became increasingly divided by fierce economic antagonism which was exacerbated by the Darwinian pseudo-scientific concept of the survival of the fittest. This notion of survival displaced the fundamental teaching of brotherhood and people became more self-seeking and oppressive. It was into this state of affairs evolving in the Western world that the Theosophical Society was born. First Narrator: Let us look now at the early life of our two Founders. Born at Ekatorinoslow. Russia, in the year 1831, Нelena von Hahn who later became Madame Blavatsky was from her early childhood a most unusual person, and from her earliest youth attracted the attention of all with whom she came in contact. She was still a baby when her mother died, but before she passed away she spoke these prophetic words, Ah well perhaps it is best that I am dying, so at least I shall be spared seeing what befalls Helena. Of one thing I am certain, her life will not be as that of other women and she will have much to suffer. How right she was we all know.

3 The psychic powers of H. P. B., which later caused such a stir in the world, manifested in childhood. All through her life she produced phenomena of the most varied kind and had many unusual experiences. There were many interesting years in her life about which little is known when she was traveling many lands, including most of the Orient, searching for antiquities at the base of the Pyramids, witnessing the mysteries of Hindu temples, pushing with an armed escort far into the interior of Africa, and penetrating the fastnesses of Tibet to learn from her Master. The adventures she encountered, the strange people she saw, the perils by land and sea through which she passed, would make a most thrilling and romantic story if we knew it all and if time permitted us to tell of it. Second Narrator: Now let us think of the early life of Col. Olcott. Born in Orange, New Jersey, on August 2,1832, Henry Steel Olcott came of an old English Puritan colonial family. He pursued university studies in New York, but his father s business having failed, he had to seek his fortune for himself and therefore turned to farming. By the time he was twenty-three years of age, he had achieved world-wide fame as an agricultural expert. At twenty-five he published a treatise on sugar cane which was a best seller, and he also took part in founding an agricultural school which became the pioneer institution of modern agricultural education in the United States. Through agriculture he entered journalism, becoming agricultural editor to the New York Tribune and also American representative for a British agricultural journal. At the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, H. S. Olcott enlisted in the northern army. Later in life he spoke of having been present on five battlefields, but his combatant career was short for he was invalided out of active service. He was then put to administrative work and given the task of detecting and ending graft, fraud and peculation in connection with military and later with navel supplies. He won very high commendation from the government for this work from which he retired with the rank of Colonel in During the agricultural phase of his career, he seems to have studied law; for in 1868 he was called to the bar and rapidly became the foremost authority in the United States on the law relating to insurance. When two such brilliant personalities as Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott met to form the Society, what an amazing combination they made. First Narrator: Let us see if we can reconstruct in our imagination the scene of their meeting from what has been written. Madame Blavatsky had come to the United States in 1874 by the orders of her Master. During the same year Colonel Olcott felt suddenly inspired to resume an early interest which he had had in spiritualism. Their meeting took place in the township of Chittenden in Vermont where remarkable spiritualistic phenomena had been taking place Col. Olcott had

4 gone there to investigate for the New York Sun and later for the New York Daily Graphic, He stayed for 12 weeks in the house of mystery having daily experiences of a most extraordinary character. It is noon and the Eddys are at dinner, several guests being present. One of the guests speaks to Colonel Olcott. Guest: Well last night s ghost was the best yet. Tell me Colonel Olcott are you going to write about him in your next article? Col. Olcott: I certainly am. I am writing for the New York Daily Graphic and I have Mr. Kappes here, who is an artist, to do sketching to illustrate my articles. The articles are appearing twice a week and I learn they are creating such a demand for the paper that copies are selling at a dollar apiece. Guest: And you have no doubt, Colonel, that the phenomena are genuine? Col. Olcott: No doubt whatever, in fact I believe them to be the most important facts in modern science, (pause) Good gracious! Who s that specimen who has just arrived, the one with the thick blonde mop of hair? Guest: Madame Blavatsky I believe she is called. Col. Olcott: Here she comes now, I must make her acquaintance. First Narrator: Madame Blavatsky goes outside and rolls a cigarette, followed by Col. Olcott. He approaches her and speaks. Col. Olcott: Permit me, Madame to light your cigarette! First Narrator: And with those simple words commenced an acquaintance, which began in smoke, by which stirred up a great and permanent fire. Second Narrator: Time passed, during which, the way was prepared for the organization of The Theosophical Society by the active discussion first of Spiritualism and afterwards of some portions of Eastern spiritualistic ideas, following Col. Olcott reports in the New York Sun and the Daily Graphic on the Eddy s and the use of the press by both founders for the exposition of their heterodox views. Her piquant published letters, the stories that were afloat about her magical powers and both their affirmations of the existence of non-human races of spiritual beings, drew into their acquaintanceship numbers of bright, clever people of occult leanings. Among these were scientific men, philologists, authors, antiquarians, broad-minded clergymen, lawyers and doctors, some very well-known Spiritualists and one or two gentlemen journalists attached to metropolitan newspapers, only too eager to make good copy of the business. It was an audacious thing certainly to stand defiant of public prejudice and assert the scientific legitimacy of ancient magic in that age of scientific skepticism. Its very boldness compelled public attention and the inevitable result was that, in

5 time, those whom the discussion had drawn together in sympathy should group themselves together as a society for occult research. First Narrator: Let us now imagine the scene in H. P. B. s rooms at 46 Irving Place, New York, on the evening of September 7th, Madame Blavatsky, Col. Olcott, Mr. W. Q. Judge and a gathering of friends have just listened to an address by Mr. George Henry Felt entitled The Lost Canon of Proportion of the Egyptians. Guest: I would like to propose a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Felt for his highly interesting lecture. He has evidently made quite a deep study of the subject and we are all very appreciative. Col. Olcott: Friends, tonight the idea occurred to me that it would be a good thing to form a society to pursue and promote such occult research as our speaker has addressed us upon tonight, and after turning it over in my mind I wrote on a scrap of paper the following: Could it not be a good thing to form a society for this kind of study? and gave it to Mr. Judge to pass over to Madame Blavatsky. She has nodded assent to me across the room, so now I rise to ask if those present are interested in this idea. You well know the present condition of the Spiritualistic movement, the attitude of its antagonists, the materialists; the irrepressible conflict between science and the religious sectaries; the philosophical character of the ancient theosophists and their insufficiency to reconcile all existing antagonisms, and the apparently sublime achievement of Mr. Felt tonight in extracting the key to the architecture of Nature from the scanty fragments of ancient lore left us by the devastating hands of the Moslem and Christian fanatics of the early centuries. I therefore propose that we form a nucleus around which might gather the enlightened and brave souls who are willing to work together for the collection and diffusion of knowledge. My plan is that we organize a society of occultists and begin at once to collect a library and diffuse information concerning those secret laws of nature which were so familiar to the Chaldeans and Egyptians but which are totally unknown by our modern world of science. Guest: I personally would like to endorse the suggestion and I am sure others will agree with me. Col. Olcott: Well, to put the matter in order, I formally move that a Society be formed for the study and elucidation of occultism, the Cabbala, etc. Guest: Madame Blavatsky, what do you say? Madame Blavatsky: Yes, I am agreeable to help form a body for the collection and diffusion of knowledge for occult research and the study and dissemination of ancient and philosophical and theosophical ideas.

6 Col. Olcott: I am sure we will not regret this step to form a society. However I notice it is getting late, so perhaps it would be as well if we adjourn this meeting until tomorrow night when formal action can be taken. Also any present here tonight may have friends who are sympathizers and would like to join the proposed society, which I trust will be organized in the interest of religion, science and good morals to aid each according to its need. First Narrator: And so the tiny seed of what was to be a world-covering banyan tree was planted in fertile soil and germinated. Col. Olcott delivered his inaugural address on November 17, 1875, in which, among other things, he said. Col. Olcott: In future times, when the impartial historian shall write an account of the progress of religious ideas in the present century, the formation of this Theosophical Society, whose first meeting under its formal declaration of principles we are now attending will not pass unnoticed. The present small number of its members is not to be considered at all in judging of its probable career. It is not a question of numbers how great an effect this Society will have upon religious thought. I will go further, and say, upon the science and philosophy of the age, I feel that behind us, behind our little band, behind our feeble, new-born organization, there gathers a mighty power that nothing can withstand the power of truth. Because I feel that we are enlisted in a holy cause, and that truth, now as always, is mighty and will prevail. But if this Society were to dissolve within one year, it should not have lived in vein. In the economy of nature, an impulse, however slight, once given to matter, is eternal, and an act once performed, its consequences, be they great or small, must be worked out sooner or later. Second Narrator: From those early days the Society grew rapidly and spread into many lands until today it has members in more than fifty countries of the world. Col. Olcott provided the form, the organization of the Society, but it was Madame Blavatsky who was the light bringer, through whom the life flowed into this form. As we all know, she wrote books which are treasures of knowledge and wisdom, the far greatest of which was The Secret Doctrine. Another, which was written in the early days, is entitled Isis Unveiled and it is interesting to learn something of how it came about. First Narrator: Let us imagine a scene in the summer of H. P. B. and Col. Olcott are together talking. Col. Olcott: What are all those sheets of manuscript you have in your hand? Мme. Blavatsky: Oh, I wrote this last night by order, but what the deuce (devil) it is to be I don t know. Perhaps it is for a newspaper article, perhaps for a book, perhaps for nothing; anyway, I did as I was ordered.

7 First Narrator: She put the manuscript away in a drawer and nothing more was said about it for some time. But in the month of September she went on a visit to some friends and the work went on. When she returned, the writing of Isis continued without a break or interruption until its completion in Second Narrator: She worked on no fixed plan, but ideas came streaming through her mind like a perennial spring which is ever overflowing its brim. Higgeldy, piggeldy, it came in a ceaseless stream, each paragraph complete in itself and capable of being excised without detriment to its predecessor or successor. Even as it stands now even after all its numerous recasting an examination of this wondrous book will show this to be the case. Ceaselessly she worked as a channel through which a tide of fresh vital essence was being poured into the stagnant pool of spiritual thought. Let us hear her own words about the authorship of that work taken from letters which she wrote to her family. Mme. Blavatsky: You cannot imagine in what a charmed world of visions and pictures I live. I am writing Isis, not writing, rather copying out and drawing what she personally shows to me. Upon my word, sometimes it seems to me that the ancient Goddess of Beauty in person leads me through all the countries of past centuries which I have to describe. I sit with my eyes open and to all appearances see and hear everything real and actual around me and yet at the same time I see and hear that which I write. I feel short of breath; I am afraid to make the slightest movement, for fear the spell might be broken. Slowly, century after century, image after image, float out of the distance and pass before me as if in magic panorama; end meanwhile I put them together in my mind fitting in epochs and dates, and know for sure there can be no mistake. Races end, nations, countries and cities, which have for long disappeared in the darkness of prehistoric past emerge and then vanish, giving place to others, and then I am told the consecutive dates. Hoary antiquity makes way for historical periods, myths are explained to me with events and people who have really existed; and every event which is at all remarkable, every newly-turned page of this many colored book of life, impresses itself on my brain with photographic exactitude. Assuredly it is not I who do it at all, but my ego, the highest principle which lives in mе. And even this with the help of my Guru and Teacher who helps me in everything. If I happen to forget something, I have just to address him, or another of the same kind in my thoughts, and what I have forgotten rises once more before my eyes sometimes whole tables of numbers passing before me, long inventories of events. They remember everything. They know everything. Without them from whence could I gather my knowledge? First Narrator: In the year 1891 on the 8th of May, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky laid aside her worn out tired body after an eventful life of service and sacrifice. It is not claimed that the few references to her life made tonight in any way show

8 her true character or the worth of the work done by her. Her boundless energy, her contempt for and rebellion against social conventions, her sacrifices in the cause of the work, the slander which she suffered fearlessly to bring new light to the world, her turbulent but faithful nature and last but not least the great treasures of truth which she left behind in her literature cannot be conveyed in mere words. To the Masters, the Inner Founders of the Society, she was loyalty and devotion personified and ready to dare and suffer all for the sake of the cause. Gifted beyond all other persons of her generation with innate psychic powers and fired with an inexhaustible enthusiasm, she supplied the element of fixity of purpose which conjoined with a phenomenal degree of bodily endurance made her a most powerful agent. Second Narrator: Col. Olcott carried on as President-Founder until February 17, Time does net permit us to dwell on the enormous work which he did in many fields of activity in healing the sick, for Buddhism in Ceylon, for the Harijans in India, for the scholars of oriental literature through the Adyar Library which he founded and for the branches of the Theosophical Society in so many parts of the world which he inspired and inaugurated during his extensive travels. We can but now repeat the message which he wrote with his own hand shortly before he passed away: Col. Olcott: To my beloved brothers in the physical body: I bid you all farewell. In memory of me, carry on the grand work of proclaiming and living the Brotherhood of Religions. To my beloved Brothers in the higher planes: I greet and come to you, and implore you to help me to impress all men on earth that there is no religion higher than Truth, and that in the Brotherhood of Religions lies the peace and progress of humanity. First Narrator: The Theosophical Society today carries on the work that these two persons founded, inspired by the Inner Founders, the Masters who stood behind them and the Society, and today we honor them. We cannot do better then to repeat the words of Col. Olcott s great successor in office, Dr. Annie Вesant, who summed up so vividly in a few words the great debt we owe to them: H. P. B. gave to the world Theosophy, Н. S. Olcott gave to the world The Theosophical Society, each was chosen by the Masters; which brought the greater gift? Closing Remarks by Chairman: (It is suggested that the remarks might be ended with a quotation from C. Jinarajadasa s last Presidential address delivered in December 1952, as follows) From the beginning of the Society we owe most to two, Henry Steel Olcott and Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, the noble and brave pioneers who led what was called by the Adept Koot Hoomi, a Forlorn Hope. But they succeeded; and if we are succeeding, we are marching along the road marked out by them.

9 I now ask you to rise. To these to pioneers, and to the Great Ones who inspired them and guided their work, let us express our gratitude, with the determination that we will be true to the trust given us, and will work till our last breath to make the Universal Brotherhood of Humanity a reality in the lives of men. Music Refreshments