Theosophical Society
From New Age Village
The Theosophical Society was founded in 1875 by Helena Petrvna Blavatsky and Henry Steele Olcott. They met in America in 1874 where Colonel Olcott was engaged in spiritualistic investigation at the house of the Eddy Brothers in Vermont. Madame Blavatsky was, of course, deeply read in everything pertaining to the occult and similarity of tastes very naturally drew them together. Scientific materialism was then engaging general attention and making no little progress, and since theosophy is the antithesis of materialism of any kind, it was decided that some society should be formed to combat this movement. In May, 1875, a Miracle Club was formed, but it was a failure. Later in the same year, in the month of September, a fresh attempt was however, agreed on and this was made in November with Col. Olcott as president and Madame Blavatsky as corresponding secretary, and a membership of twenty. This attempt seemed also to be doomed to failure, many members dropping off because no phenomena were manifested and indeed only Col. Olcott and Madame Blavatsky remained with two of the founders of the society and a few other members. Not discouraged by this, however, they decided to amalgamate with the Indian Society, but even this met with no more success, and it was not till by a happy inspiration of the society was moved to India, that it began to attract attention and make headway. From that time its success was assured and, whatever opinions may be held of the soundness of theosophical teaching, no doubt can be entertained of the extent and influence of the society during the turn of the century, with members in both India and America.
In accordance with the spirit of theosophy, no dogma is demanded of members save acceptance of the belief in the brotherhood of man, so that Christian and Mohammedan may meet on equal terms without any necessity of varying their religious beliefs. Its activities include study of everything germane to theosophy, religion, philosophy, laws of nature, whether patent to all mankind as in the domain of science, r hidden as yet from all but those with special knowledge, as in the domain of the occult.
After Blavatsky's death in 1891, the Society's leaders seemed at first to work together peacefully in her memory. This did not last long. Judge was accused by Olcott and Annie Besant of forging letters from the Mahatmas; he ended his association with Olcott and Besant in 1895 and took most of the Society's American Section with him. The faction led by Olcott and Besant is today based in India and known as the Theosophical Society - Adyar, while the faction led by Judge is today known simply as the Theosophical Society, but often with the clarifying statement, "international headquarters, Pasadena, California". A third organization, the United Lodge of Theosophists or ULT, in 1909 split off from the latter organization. While all three organizations trace their history back to the founding of the original Society, one might say that in some sense the original Society has ceased to exist after the 1895 schism.
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