The Letters of Helen Dennis (2)
This is from a carbon copy of a transcript of an original letter from Helen
I. Dennis. Punctuation and variations between British and American English usage
are as in the copy before me. - A.B., 1996
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New York, N.Y., April 9th. 1906.
My Dear Mrs. Besant:-
Your letter of Feby. 26th. 1906 in reply to my letter of Jan. 25th.,
preferring charges against Mr. Leadbeater, of teaching secret practices to boys,
has been received. I at once came to New York to consult with Mr. Fullerton and
other E.S. and T.S. Officials, before framing my inevitable reply.
It is with deepest regret that I must write to you that your answer is most
unsatisfactory to me and to the other signatories of the letter of Jany. 25th.
Perhaps you can imagine the inner conflict I have endured before writing the
following letter, which stands for my conscience of right.
Your belief that Mr. L. teaches these theories only "in rare cases" to boys
in trouble, is proved incorrect by the letter to Mr. Fullerton, in which Mr. L.
himself explains making "One experiment" on a thirteen year old child, at that
time immature even for his years and who did not reach puberty until three years
later.
Up to the present time, it is known that four boys under the age of fourteen
have been taught and one has been committed to a sanitarium for treatment of
epilepsy which his physician claims to have been the result of self abuse.
Your claim that Mr. L. had agreed to discontinue these practices is tacitly
refuted by his complete silence on this point in his letter to Mr. Fullerton,
and by his own attitude of defence of the merits of his theory.
My argument and protest to you is therefore based on the ground of Mr. L's
defence of the theory. I must protest that Theosophy is diametrically opposed to
such a theory and that its ethics cannot tolerate the deception, hypocrisy and
treachery practiced on the parents of these boys.
In common honesty, he should have made known his theory to the parents,
instead of inculcating ideas of concealment from them. A fourth boy when
questioned, replied that he must get permission from Mr. L. before he could
answer. He stated that he had been told by Mr. L. that he must not attempt to
explain it to his parents as he would not be able to make them understand the
theory. At present writing his mother can learn nothing further.
Equally in common honesty, those who follow Mr. L. as an occult leader,
should know what he advocates, that all may decide for themselves, whether or
not they will elect to follow and lend him their moral support.
That the crime of which Mr. L. stands self confessed can sanely be argued
upon from the basis of "good motive" seems incredible. Such sex practices
proposed as a substitute for and an improvement upon the marriage relation,
strike at the very root of the physical welfare of the human race and inevitably
result in mental and moral degradation.
We who appeal to you as the head of the E.S.T. can but stand appalled at what
seems to be your attitude of condoning this offence, by your public support,
even though you disclaim approval of it.
It is an offence which would be recognized as a moral cancer in any worldly
organization, and which would render one guilty of it, an outcast and an exile
even in the secular professions or in any educational institution in America,
and we hope and believe, anywhere in the civilized world.
When we learn that he has been licensed to stand before the world for twelve
or fifteen years, with these persistent rumors stalking at his side, in Ceylon,
in India, and in Europe, what can we understand?
When for all these years, he has allowed you to believe these rumors false
and permitted you to hold him up before the world as a worthy exponent of
Theosophical teachings of purity; when in the face of the facts that within the
past few months, in answer to a petition, from India, that you depose him his
place at your side, he even allowed your name to be used as a shield in an
article in the February 1906 Theosophist, signed by Colonel Olcott, to the
effect that these rumors were slanders and the vile imaginings of "Hysteriacs;"
when this deliberate deception has been carried on for years; when finally
actual proof reaches you from America, that these slanders are living,
breathing, corrupting facts, and you reply to me that you "know that his motives
are good and pure," what can we think? What are good motives?
In the words of our beloved and honoured General Secretary, Mr. Fullerton,
"we could weep tears of blood."
But should we as officials deal with the motives or the facts? Is the point
at issue one of personal friendship or one of official honor and support? Should
not the E.S. and the T.S. be, like Caesar's wife, above reproach and especially
on the sex question?
By the code of even common worldly ethics, we had the right to confidently
expect, that without an instant's delay, you would retire him into complete
obscurity, thus taking the first step towards purging the Theosophical Society
from within.
If such action would result from a purely worldly standpoint of ethics how
much more should we rightly expect this evidence of purity in the Head of an
Occult School?
A body which does not purge itself from within cannot live. It must
ultimately decay or be shattered by attacks from without.
I can only repeat that I protest and protest again that on this matter of
honor and purity, I can accept no compromise, nor can I lend myself to the
deception of E.S. and T.S. members that my standing silent would imply.
I have therefore laid the matter before Mr. Fullerton, the General Secretary,
and the Executive Committee of the American Section, so that, that phase of the
case has passed out of my hands.
The chaotic condition of mind, of an ever increasing number of members and
officers of the E.S., as this knowledge is rapidly spreading, makes an organised
unity of the School ever more and more remote, and in order to avoid the sham
and pretense on my part it is necessary to do otherwise, I am therefore
temporarily suspending certain activities of the School, such as admission of
members, the issuance of documents, etc. It is also my intention to suspend
certain group activities wherever in my judgment it becomes necessary because of
the development of circumstances and pending receipt of further instructions
from you.
Deeply as I regret having to write such a letter as this, far more deeply do
I deplore the circumstances that have made its writing necessary in the name of
common honesty and purity.
(Signed) Helen I. Dennis.
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First transcribed and uploaded by Alan Bain, June 1996