Dealing With Small Interpersonal
Challenges: an 1886 Letter to Blavatsky
William Q. Judge
Helena
P. Blavatsky and William Q. Judge
A 2011 Note from the Editor:
As we collect and present in chronological order most of the letters
between Blavatsky and Judge, it is at this point that we must reproduce an extra
fragment of the correspondence.
It is part of a letter from Blavatsky, written in 24 March 1886 and
quoted by W. Q. Judge in his text entitled “About the Secret Doctrine” [1].
In its opening paragraphs, Judge writes:
“When the plan for The Secret Doctrine had taken definite shape
in outline in her mind, H.P.B. wrote me several letters on the subject, one of
which I will quote from.”
He then reproduces these sentences of the letter:
“Wurzburg, March 24, 1886.
Dear W.Q.J. I wish only you could spare
two or three months and come to me at Ostende where I am emigrating again, to
be nearer to - - - and friends. I have some money now and could easily pay your
fare out and back. There’s a dear, good fellow, do consent to it. You will be
working for the Society, for I want you badly for the arrangement of Secret
Doctrine. Such facts, such facts, Judge, as Masters are giving out will rejoice
your old heart. Oh, how I do want you. The thing is becoming enormous, a wealth
of facts. I need you for calculations and to write with me. I can assure you, you will not lose time by
coming. Do think about it, dear old boy. Yours sincerely and affectionately, H.P.B.”
And Judge says:
“This pressing invitation I could not accept because of certain
circumstances, but on looking back I am sorry that it was let slip by. Other
letters going into the matter of what was to be done and referring to old
beginnings need not be quoted.”
“Letters Between Blavatsky and Judge - 04” is a letter from Judge dated
May 22, 1886. We reproduce it from “Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P.
Sinnett”[2].
Laura C. Holloway, who is mentioned in the text, was a North-American
student. She was for some time a pupil of one of the Masters. Laura collaborated with
Mohini Chatterji in writing the volume “Man: Fragments of Forgotten History”,
published in London in 1887. In “Letters From the Masters of the Wisdom”, first
series, TPH, India, 1973, C. Jinarajadasa included a series of significant
letters from Mahatmas to her and on her. Information on Laura Holloway can also
be obtained in the volume “Damodar”, by Sven Eek [3].
Mr. A. T. Barker, the editor of the HPB Letters to Sinnett, reports that
in the following text the passages in bold
type are comments in H. P. Blavatsky’s handwriting. The passages in bold
type italics in Judge’s handwriting have been underlined by her.
(Carlos Cardoso Aveline)
NOTES:
[1] The text is
included in the book “Reminiscences of H. P. Blavatsky and ‘The Secret
Doctrine’ ”, by Constance Wachtmeister, first edition, London, 1893. General
Books edition, Memphis, Tennessee, USA, 2010, 74 pp., see p. 45.
[2] “Letters of H. P.
Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett”, Theosophical University Press, Pasadena, CA, 1973,
404 pp., Section II, Miscellaneous Letters, Letter CLX, pp. 314-315.
[3] “Damodar”, by Sven Eek, T.P.H., India, 720 pp.,
published in 1965 and 1978, see pages 626-628.
Letters Between Blavatsky and Judge - 04
William Q. Judge
[New York] May 22, 1886.
Dear H.P.B.,
I called on Bouton [1] the
other day and arranged that henceforth he should send you the money in regular
drafts on London, easy to cash.
The explanation of the Holloway matter is, that you
in 1884, appointed her your attorney and agent in writing to attend to Bouton.
When she came back she employed a lawyer, and thus so far as that is concerned
you are bound by your own acts. I thoroughly agree with what you say about her.
I understand that she is writing a book on the theosophical
movement, to be embellished with pictures. She is great on catching the passing
emotions of the people, for a sale.
Now will you do me the favour of sending me an authoritative letter
stating that you do not send ambiguous telegrams to W. Q. J., and that any such
message to have any effect on W. Q. J. will contain a sign he will understand.
For some person has been sending me telegrams from various parts of U.S. signed “H. P. B.” with ridiculous
orders in them. The last was the other day from Baltimore reading “Your enemy
is a woman; now as then she has betrayed you. Now you know why the Master did
not cure you in India. H. P. B.” (!!) I cannot place it. I do not connect L.
C. Holloway with it. Can you give me any light.
(I don’t know!)
I shall certainly expect from you an article for my Magazine, “The Path”. It is going to
create a buzz here, and if H. P. B. redivivus appeared there, great benefit
would result to the Cause. This journal will help the Theosophist and
all theosophical literature. So look kindly on it and take higher advice.
The “Oregon” sunk off this coast the other day and I think had
some letters of mine on board.
I will write again soon regarding Bouton and duly inform you.
Your Secret Doctrine ought to be protected here. As you are an American
citizen that can be done. Have Sinnett attend to that from his side.
If you do not he may neglect it.
The Mohini affair is not good. I do not know the facts and refrain from
any judgment. Is he at fault?
Can’t understand Babajee unless in carrying out orders
to suppress phenomena he has erred in his method. I notice he does NOT say you
are in with Dugpas. But that accusation about money is the most
reprehensible part of it.
Well I stick to what I do know and let the rest slide.
As ever yours, William Q.
Persecutions and trials are now beginning in America. Poor Judge and
poor Coues. May Masters help them!
H. P. B.
Send me back both those letters.
NOTE:
[1] J. W. Bouton, the
New York editor of “Isis Unveiled”. (CCA)
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On the role of the esoteric
movement in the ethical awakening of mankind during the 21st
century, see the book “The Fire
and Light of Theosophical Literature”, by Carlos Cardoso Aveline.
Published in 2013 by The Aquarian
Theosophist, the volume has 255 pages and can be obtained through Amazon
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