A History and a Survey
John Garrigues
John Garrigues (1868-1944) and Helena Blavatsky (1831-1891)
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A 2018 Editorial Note:
Although the
book “The Theosophical Movement,
1875-1925” was
published anonymously in 1925, there
is no doubt
about its authorship. The fact that J. Garrigues
wrote it is
accepted by all who study the History of the esoteric
movement. It is probably
the best and best documented
study in the
first and critical five decades of the movement.
While the book
was a success, its editors had to face a few
challenges.
Jerome Wheeler wrote that the Adyar Theosophical
Society threatened
to sue the publisher of the volume. Garrigues
then “wrote to
the editor E.P. Dutton guaranteeing that the book
was true and
that he had data to back up every page on it. The
Adyar Society
did not go on with the law suit.” [1]
(Carlos Cardoso
Aveline)
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The Theosophical Movement, 1875-1925
John Garrigues
Chapter I
Channels of the Theosophical Movement
In its larger
aspect the Theosophical Movement is the path of progress, individually and
collectively. Wherever thought has struggled to be free, wherever spiritual
ideas, as opposed to forms and dogmatism, have been promulgated, there the
great Movement is to be discerned. Organized religions, systems of thought,
governments, parties, sects - all have their origins in efforts for the better
co-operation of men, for conserving energy and putting it to use. They all in
time become corrupted and must change, as the times change, as human defects
come out, and as the great underlying Spiritual and Intellectual evolution
compels such alterations.
Luther’s Reformation must be counted as a part of the
Theosophical Movement. Masonry has played a great and important part in it, and
still does to some extent, for however restricted in application, however its
great symbolism may have been forgotten or obscured, Masonry none the less
stands for tolerance, for religious and intellectual liberty, for charity. The
formation of the American Republic with its noble Declaration of Independence,
its equality of all men before the law, its ideals of brotherhood and freedom
from sectarian religious partialities must be accounted a great forward step in
the Theosophical Movement. And with the abolition of human slavery in all the
great Western nations during the course of the nineteenth century, another
great step in the emancipation of the race must be acclaimed.
NOTE:
[1] Jerome Wheeler, quoted in
the article “Life and Writings of John Garrigues”.
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The book “The Theosophical Movement, 1875-1925”
was published in our associated websites on 10 November 2018.
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Click to see the article
“Life and Writings of John Garrigues”. Other texts by this author are available here. John
Garrigues (1868-1944) was born on the 12th of September.
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On 14 September 2016, a group of students
decided to found the Independent Lodge
of Theosophists. Two of the priorities adopted by the ILT are learning from the past and building a better
future.
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