Translation from German by Robert Hutwohl[1]
The reason for the current noise and discord among the “theosophical societies” is that these societies are theosophical only in name, not in reality. “Theosophy” is knowledge of God, and knowledge of God is divine (selfless) love. Therefore, the basis of every true theosophical society is not know-it-alls, quarreling, dogmatism or gossip, but unity, brotherhood, harmony and that knowledge which knows no distinction between “friend” and “enemy” but embraces all creatures with equal love. What holds a house together is not the decorations, but the cohesion of the parts connected by walls and beams. What holds a state together is not the chatterers, braggarts, lawyers and shopkeepers, but the national feeling strengthened by the consciousness of unity. Likewise, in a theosophical society the foundation of the building must be the agreement of the feeling of unity and togetherness, in other words, the harmony of souls in the spiritual knowledge of truth.
In a society that calls itself “theosophical,” the main concern should not be whether one person’s opinion or another’s is the right one, but rather that everyone carries the truth in their heart and loves it more than the satisfaction of their own personal vanity. Individual members should not take the standpoint of “I am better than you,” but rather everyone should strive to find the good in others, and help those who are afflicted with “evil” or evil to overcome it. Theosophy is the knowledge of divine love. Anyone who does not want to know anything about this all-encompassing love is not a theosophist.
Dr. Franz Hartmann.
Note:
[1] Theosophical Correspondence. Theosophical Quarrels. Dr. Franz Hartmann. Sphinx 20, no. 3 (May 1895), 333-34 [Theosophische Streitigkeiten] Translation from the German by Robert Hutwohl ©2025. The original text was set using the German fraktur or blackletter.