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The Author of "Isis Unveiled" Defends the Validity of her Masonic Patent
We are gratified to be able to present to the readers of the Register this week, the following highly-characteristic letter, prepared expressly for our Paper by Madame M. P. Blavatsky, the authoress of Isis Unveiled. In this letter the lady defends the validity of her diploma as a Mason reference to which was had in our issue of January 18th. The immediate cause of the letter from Madame B. was the multiplication of attacks upon her claim to that distinguished honour both before and since the publication mentioned.
The field is open for a rejoinder; and we trust that a champion will appear, to defend that which she so vigorously and bravely assails.
That the subject-matter in controversy may be seen at a glance by those who may not be regular readers of our paper, we again print the text of her diploma:
“To the glory of th Sublime Architet of th Universe:
Ancient and Primitive Rite of Masonry, derived through the Charter of the Sovereign Sanctuary of America, from the Grand Council of the Grand Lodge of France.
To all Illustrious and Enlightened Masons throughout the world–union, prosperity, friendship, fraternity.
We, the Thrice-Illustrious Sovereign Grand Master General, and we, the Sovereign Grand Conservators, 33d and last degree of the Sovereign Senctuary for England, Wales, etc., decorated with the grand Star of Sirius, etc., etc., Grand Commanders of the Three Legions of the Knights of Masonry, by virtue of the high authority with which we are invested, have declared and proclaimed, and by these presents do declare and proclaim our illustrious and enlightened Brother. H. P. Blavatsky to be an Apprentice, Companion, Perfect Mistress, Sublime Elect Scoth Lady, Grand Elect, Cheveliere de Rose Croix, Adonaite Mistress, Perfect Venerable Mistress, and a Crowned Princess of the Rite of Adoption.
Given under our hands and the seals of the Sovereign Sanctuary for England and Wales, sitting in the Valley of London, this 24th day of November, 1877, year of true light 000,000,000.
John Yarker, 33d Degree, Sovereign Grand Master. M. Caspari, 33d Degree, Grand Chancellor.
A. D. Loewenstark, 33d Degree, Grand Secretary.
To the Editor of The Franklin Register. –
Dear Sir: – I am obliged to correct certain errors in your highly complimentary editorial in The Register of January 18th. You say that I have taken “the regular degrees in Masonic Lodges” and attained high dignity in the order, and further add: “Upon Madame B. has recently been conferred the diploma of the thirty-third Masonic Degree, from the oldest Masonic body in the world.”
If you will kindly refer to my Isis Unveiled (Vol. II, p. 394), you will find me saying: “We are under neither promise, obligation, nor oath, and therefore violate no confidence”—reference being made to Western masonry, to the criticism of which the chapter is devoted; and full assurance is given that I have never taken “the regular degrees” in any Western masonic lodge. Of course, therefore, having taken no such degree, I am not a thirty-third degree Mason. In a private note, also in your most recent editorial, you state that you find yourself taken to task by various Masons, among them one who has taken thirty-three degrees—which include the “Ineffable”—for what you said about me. My Masonic experience—if you will so term membership in several Eastern masonic frater-<... continues on page 4-175 >
Editor's notes
- ↑ Leadership by Stevens, E. Wincherster
- ↑ image by unknown author
- ↑ The Author of "Isis Unveiled" Defends the Validity of her Masonic Patent by Blavatsky H.P., Franklin Register, Friday, February 8, 1878. Text copied from katinkahesselink.net; proofread needed
This is pub. in "A Modern Panarion," p. 128, as H. P. Blavatsky's Masonic Patent". – Archivist