To the Editor of Lucifer.[1]
Hallein, Austria, Dec. 9th, 1894.
Dear Sir,—Many thanks for sending me[2] the little book of Edmund Garrett, entitled, Isis very much Unveiled, or the Story of the great Mahātmā Hoax, which I found very amusing and entertaining, and also in some way instructive, and consider it a valuable contribution to Theosophical literature, worthy to be translated into different languages; for whether the contents are true or erroneous, or, as I find them, a mixture of truth and error, they go to show to members, as well as to non-members of the T. S. what Theosophy is not and what a Theosophical Society ought not to be. To me it appears that the author is a clever and sharp reasoner, but without a great deal of intuition, or to express it in “theosophical language,” one in whom Kāma-Manas has been excessively developed at the expense of Buddhi-Manas, as is generally the case among the higher classes of educated Englishmen, whose principal characteristic is superficiality of thought with a great knowledge of insignificant details—but absence of profundity of intelligence. Mr. Garrett seems to think that Theosophy consists in believing what this or that person says, and that we must therefore be exceedingly careful to examine into the credibility of such a person, so as not to fall into the error of believing in the words of the wrong person; but always take good care to believe only what a person says in whose veracity we have good reason to trust. This is, however, just what Theosophy does not teach; for it teaches that we should seek our refuge in nothing else but in the light of eternal truth. We ought to cling for the attainment of self-knowledge neither to the turban of a Mahātmā, nor to the coat-tail of Mr. Judge, nor to H. P. Blavatsky’s or Mrs. Besant’s apronstrings; but stand upon our own legs and grow spiritually strong enough so as not to require any crutches whatever. In so far as Mr. Garrett’s pamphlet teaches this lesson, it will be quite an aid to those who seek for that higher self-knowledge, which is called “Theosophy.”
The rule is to seek for the truth wherever we can find it. If we can find a pearl in a dunghill, this renders the pearl none the less valuable. The fact that Socrates has been executed as a criminal does not depreciate the value of the truth which he taught, namely, that man should know himself. If members of the T.S. have put their faith into letters which they received, be they bogus or genuine, their faith has been on a weak foundation, and they deserve to be disillusioned and to be taught a lesson.
Mr. Garrett’s pamphlet, however, appears in quite another aspect, if we regard it as an attack upon the T.S. as a whole. To answer the charges therein made against certain members of the T.S. must be left with those members themselves and those who are acquainted with the circumstances. If all these charges were true, it would only go to indicate that these members are no Theosophists, and do not come to the standard required of a member of the T.S. It would also leave room for the wish that as the material of which the T.S. is at present composed is not such as might be desired, some better material ought to take its place. The T.S. itself is not to be judged by certain of its present representatives, it ought to be judged only by its principles, such as are laid down in its constitution.
It seems that of late efforts have been made by certain members of the T.S. to centralize the Theosophical movement, and thus to make it sectarian; but self-knowledge (Theosophy) is not to be monopolized by any sect, and requires no infallible pope; it is for all, without any distinction of creed. Mr. Garrett’s pamphlet may have done something to ward off this danger from the T.S., and in so far we may, while ignoring his misstatements, express him our thanks.—Yours truly,
F. Hartmann.
Notes:
[1] Correspondence to the Editor, Lucifer magazine, by Franz Hartmann, regarding “the clash of opinions.” Lucifer 15 (January 1895), 427-28. {This article was reformatted from the original, but with the content unchanged other than fixing minor typos, by Robert Hutwohl, ©2025}
[2] Dr. Hartmann is mistaken; I have sent no one a copy of Mr. Garrett’s book. It appears that a copy has been sent by the publishers to the Secretary of every Lodge and Centre.—G.R.S.M.]