The Letters of Helen Dennis (5)

A letter to Miss Joan Amice Bottrell-Gosse in England.

This significant letter, transcribed from the original, shows the great sadness and despair that the CWL Affair in 1906 had upon not just the members of the T.S. in America, but also in the E.S. of the day. In copying it to this medium, I have been overwhelmed by the misery which rises from the pages of 90 years ago. I have been asked (sarcastically by some) if posting this material makes me happy. The answer is that it makes me very sad. Very sad indeed. Read on ... A.B.

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Esoteric School of Theosophy

American Division.

Corresponding Secretary

Mrs. Helen I. Dennis

218 East 60th St.

Chicago

Assistant Secretary

Mrs. Elizabeth M. Chidester, M.D.

2321 Madison Square

Philadelphia

November 25th '06

Dear Friend,

I have been half ill and postponed writing from many causes. As to the E.S. - only sadness is there to write about. The seven highest officials - Dr. C, the five Secy of D and I have resigned our offices because of Mrs. Besant's attitude and record. How can the School be truly occult? As a means of mutual study and mutual improvement of great use to all - but as an Esoteric or Occult body - truly where are we? I cannot go into details - it is all to dreadful to us all. The School in America is suspended awaiting her appointment of my successor and our members are nonplussed by the uncovering of the crimes of X - supported as an Initiate and direct Messenger of the White Lodge for years. One does not need to pry into a man's past history to see that he has a dirty face - as it would seem that those claiming occult leadership should have seen such an aura without clairvoyantly prying into a man's life. Our members are natural wondering, confused and losing confidence. The Inner Circle in the opinion of all who have resigned has no excuse for being - we regard it just as you do & cannot give our moral support to such building up of a purely personal following in an Occult body supposed to have a true basis of spiritual realities. Altogether it is impossible! Never was I so sure of the truths of theosophy & I have learned much in the past year's suffering. I do not believe that Masters work with certain methods & I do believe they are & always willuse certain other methods. The latter I shall try to follow by aid of my own conscience & intuition, The T.S. can use all the time and energy I can give and I shall do what I can in that. And dark days are ahead of us in that with Mr. L. claiming that he is an instrument of the Masters - and not a few in this country believe it and are defending him and his theories by claiming that we have grossly misrepresented his teachings. Well we are fast becoming a house divided against itself. Have you a similar party in the T.S. in England?

Do you see "Jack London's" serial story - "Before Adam"? I am sending the first installment and will send the others if you care to see them. Perhaps it is also coming out in England also [sic]. It is widely read here.

Just now a play a comedy is on the stage called "The Road to Yesterday" dealing with "Reincarnation" - the first scene is 1903 in London - the second and third back to 1603 & the fourth and last return to 1903 again. The characters of 1603 in old England are the same as those in 1903 - reborn in 1903 & the karma between them is quite skillfully worked out. - Has it appeared in London? We are having Walls of Jericho Leah Heschua [?] & that one with the twins in too - in America. Well this world is full of interest and there is so much to do. I will write more at length later. There are many social and family duties just now that seem to have been suddenly let loose upon me. I am always so glad to hear from you and the necklace I wear often. My love to Mrs. Betts - Ever your friend

Helen I Dennis.

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[There follows a further sheet with a postscript. This in on another sheet of headed notepaper which gives, on the top right, the following information:

"Secretaries of Discipline

"Christian Gnostic, John H. Knapp, Room 1031 State Mutual Bldg. Boston, Mass.

"Philosophic, Walter G. Greenleaf, 49 East Kinzie Street, Chicago.

"Pythagorean, William K. James, 805 Faraon Street, St. Joseph, Mo.

"Raja Yoga, Mrs. Grace Shaw Duff, 87 Riverside Drive, New York City.

"General, Mrs. Mary Shibley Cole, M.D. Richmond, Ill."]

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[The postscript follows]:

P.S. I forgot to reply to you about the Inner School in connection with CWL. - There is no connection whatever. - The printed letter reached England before Mrs. Besant had the slightest inkling of the facts about Mr. L - in fact the summer I was in England I knew that the new Inner School was to be formed but I knew nothing of the nature of it. She was considering the matter then spoke of it to a few - as to what would be the conditions of it etc. These facts I know and there was not the least possible connection between the formation of it & CWL's acts. Needless to say none of us Americans ever heard or thought of a remote hint of X's doings when I was in London that summer. Never had I heard the faintest rumor until after my return - when I learned that they had been rife here under the surface for several years, having come from Ceylon. No I have not read Hitchen's new book - will try to later when I am rested enough to read and all E.S. official duties are ended - I know of Stanley Hall's ideas - have heard him here of course. I am glad you enjoy the book for notes - I found these invaluable for E.S. records too. My love to Mrs. Betts - and may the coming year be a happier one theosophically than the last one has been, Yes I should of course be interested in your study scheme - I gave your letter to F.T.S. here.

As ever

H.D.

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[A note on the reverse of the letter, written after it had been folded]:

"Yes I have been told that English people & Americans addressed their letters differently - but I did not realize about it - glad you called my attention to it. - Would Miss Ward for instance object to being written as Miss Edith Ward?"

[Editorial note. In places it is difficult to tell from Mrs. Dennis' handwriting whether a full stop/period is intended or a dash. I have tried to render these according to the sense of the letter. - A.B.]

Transcribed and uploaded by Alan Bain, 30th June 1996.