Blavatsky H.P. - Miscellaneous Notes (11)

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Miscellaneous Notes

by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky

H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writtings, vol. 3, page(s) 8-9

Publications: The Theosophist, Vol. II, No. 4, January, 1881, pp. 89, 92

Also at: KH

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MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Our long absence from Bombay has prevented our reviewing Mr. C. C. Massey’s excellent translation of Professor Zöllner’s great work, Transcendental Physics, in which are described his experiments with Dr. Slade, the American medium. Dr. Zöllner’s contribution to the science of spiritualistic phenomena is one of the most valuable that has ever appeared. Next month it will be properly noticed; as will also Dr. George Wyld’s smaller work on the higher aspects of Theosophy and Spiritualism.

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The conductor of this Magazine, returning to Bombay late in December, and after the first two forms had been printed off, finds with regret that a description of certain recent phenomena at Simla has been copied from The Pioneer. Apart from the questionable taste of reprinting complimentary personal notices into one’s own journal––a fault not conspicuously ours—we would have preferred omitting the present article since it has already been widely copied from The Pioneer and come back to us from almost the four quarters of the world, and in several different languages. In common with all who have made any study of Occult Science, we have the greatest repugnance to the fame of a worker of wonders or “miracles.” Since the discussion of the Simla occurrences began, some two months 9 ago, we have been flooded with all manner of absurd requests that we would find missing persons and property of sorts: as though no nobler use could be made of one’s time and occult knowledge than the turning of one’s self into an “occult retriever”––to use The Pioneer’s happy expression. Once, and for all, let it be understood that Madame Blavatsky pays no attention to such idle requests, and that she deserves no credit for the Simla phenomena, which—as a careful reading of The Pioneer letter will plainly show—were understood to have been done by quite a different person.

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[From H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. XI, Part I, p. 31]

[In the Sunday Mirror, in an issue merely identified as of “January, 1881,” Sir Richard Temple’s words are quoted: “They call themselves Brahmos or Adi-Brahmos, members of the Brahmo-Somaj, and quite recently they have sometimes adopted the name of Theosophists . . . ” To this the Editor of the paper says:

“The reference to the Theosophists is a mistake. . . ”

H.P.B. makes the following comment in blue pencil:]

It is, it is–– a “mistake”–– a wicked slur, moreover––upon the Theosophists; and which every one of them repudiates most indignantly.

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[From H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. XI, Part I, p.32]

[H.P.B.’s blue pencil annotation against articles of an hostile nature published in the New York Times and World of Jan. 4 and 8, 1881, respectively:]

Lies and in addition—a good Libel. Where is the prophet that finds honour in his own country?