A Letter From Dr. F. Hartmann to W. Q. Judge.
Robert Hütwohl’s note: Dr. Hartmann congratulates W. Q. Judge on his election as president of the Theosophical Society (T.S.). Judge clarifies that he is not yet president, as the decision is pending approval from different regions. He acknowledges the importance of finding the true self but emphasizes that the T.S. is an exoteric organization focused on spreading ideas and fostering brotherhood.
The following is a copy of an original letter from Dr. Franz Hartmann to W. Q. Judge written in Dr. Hartmann’s handwriting. At the foot of this letter written diagonally in Mr. Judge’s handwriting is: “Ansd May 24|92.” Mr. Judge’s reply, which follows, is taken from a typewritten copy on which written diagonally across the page, in Mr. Judge’s handwriting, is the following: “The Reply sent May 24|92.”
Both letters have been copied verbatim et literatim,
Vienna, May. 13th, 92.
Grand Hotel à Vienne, Kärnthner-Ring 9.
My dear W. Q. Judge,
I have just been informed of Your election to the presidency of the T. S. as successor to Col. Olcott, and I wish to congratulate You. I shall be very glad if I see You succeed in carrying out the program of the T. S. on the broad principles upon which that Society was originally established, and I wish that all the members of the T. S. would fully realize, that “Theosophy”does not mean merely the promulgation of a new set of theories for the gratification of scientific curiosity; but the the most important factor therein is the finding of the true Self within that illusion which is called “self”; but which is only a shadow, which will disappear in the light of that divine wisdom, which in India is called “Iswara,” but in Christian countries, “the Christ”.
Yours very faithfully
F. Hartmann
I am returning to Hallein.
Mr. Judge’s Reply
144 Madison Ave. N. Y. May 24|92
Dear Doctor Hartmann:
Thanks for your congratulatory letter. But — I am not yet Prest. of the T. S. H. S. O. has offered his resignation and the Society has practically declared me as successor, but the U. S. has asked him to revoke, India asks him to remain in action as Prest with me as Actg. P., and Europe is to be asked in July what it has to say. However it remains suspended.
For myself I would never wish this office as it is very troublesome and thankless, but H. P. B.— in whom I never lost faith — asked me to take it if O. went out or died. It is bound to cause me to get letters such as yours for instance which contains an inference that it has not come up to your ideal of it. Very true perhaps, but it is a purely exoteric body and will never be up to your or my ideal. I quite agree with you that the most important thing in life is the finding of the true self. But an organization like the T. S. is outwardly to spread ideas and to try to get a nucleus of Brotherhood; and inwardly there may be some who will find the true self. But the self chooses whom it will and can never be the subject of an organization at all. So I should be glad to see you take this view of the matter and kindly overlook the defects of such a purely human organization as the T. q S., for so long as either you or I demanded that an outer Society should claim to find Divine Wisdom we would be always likely to clash with it.
Referring to another matter, what shall I do with the old box of Surgical tools of yours that I still have?
Hoping you are well, I am,
Sincerely,
William Q. Judge
Note:
[1] A Letter From Dr. F. Hartmann to W. Q. Judge. Mr. Judge’s Reply (to F. Hartmann) Theosophical Forum (New Series) 4, no. 5 (January 1933), 131-132. [This article was reformatted from the original, by Robert Hutwohl, ©2026]