THE FIFTIETH YEAR

"MIIY Those, Who lire the embodiment of Love Immortal. blea.

with Their Protection The Societ:t. ... te.bliahed to do Their will on Earth;
may Th.y ever guard it by Thll" Power, inapire it by Their Wisdom, and
encrgi~ it by Their Activity,"
-ANN I!: BUANT

1925

WITH this year The Theosophical Society arrived at its

Colden Jubilee. Fifty years of strenuous work lay behind. II
promising future lay ahead. In the interests of Theosophy
and The Society Mrs. Besant was stressing the .. WOrk of the
Hierarchy," of the great Elder Brethren. Politically, she was
immersed in the agitation for the support of the Common-
wealth of India Bill. and was urging Indians to work
for the Home Rule that meant their salvation, for it gave
strength, dignity and coherence to national aspirations. In
Calcutta, 16 January. she gave. to a great crowd, three
lectures (the newly·instituted Kamala Lectures) on the Value
of Indian Ideals in Education, Religion, Philosophy and Art.
She gave also the first lecture on the Commonwealth of India
Bill, and the packed audience received it enthusiastically.
She went to Delhi on the 23rd, to try to draw all parties
together, to bring together Hindu and Muslim and to outline
a scheme for Svaraj, for she was General Secretary to the
National Convention. It was an outline of what was con~
sidered necessary for the welfare and" amity of the British
and Indian Nations,-that India should be placed on an
equality with the self~governing Dominions . . ." It also
stated what India's Fundamental Rights should be,
468 A SHORT HISTORY OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

In March, Mr. Jinani.jadasa left for Australia, where he

presided over the Convention in Sydney. The audience
overflowed into another haH on the evening when the
Fiftieth Anniversary was commemorated. Bishop Lead·
beater pointed out how The Theosophical Society had
changed the current of public opinion towards occult ques-
tions and spiritual conceptions of life. Mr. Jinarajadasa
went on to lecture in New Zealand during April and
May.
At a Youth Conference held in London, 2 and 3
May, under the chairmanship of Dr. Arundale, it was
decided to interest young Theosophists throughout the
world in the active pursuit of Universal Brotherhood; to
secure the trealment of animals in accordance with the Law
of Brotherhood; and to work for Educational and Political
Reforms.
Mrs. Besant arrived in England 21 July, having with her
the Commonwealth of India Bill. She secured support for
its presentation to the Labour Government, then in power.
A reception was arranged for her to meet many ex·Cabinet
Ministers and members of Parliament, to hear her outline the
principles of the Bill. and explain the larger issues which
underlay the whole problem between India and Britain. She
presided over the Annual Convention of the German Sect-ion.
held in Hamburg \·9 August.
At the Star Camp, Ommell, 11 August, Dr. Besant
said that owing to the menace of war, the coming of a
great Teacher was to be hastened. She declared that by
the command of the Head of the Occult Hierarchy, she
announced that several well-known members of The
Society had been admitted into the higher grades of
Initiation. It was an entirely new departure to make such
announcements, and would call forth ridicule. But there was
a purpose in so doing. She referred to three of the activities
in which many members had been engaged for some years :
Education; the Liberal Catholic Church; Co.Freemasonry.
 THE FIFTIETH YEAR 469
She was, she said, further commanded by "the King"
and the "Lord Maitreya and His great Brothers" to
deliver a message: That as the Great One was about to use
the vehicle prepared for Him, He had chosen twelve people
to assist Him, H e Himself being their Chief. Of these she
was at liherty to mention only seven, apart from Mr, Krishna-
murti, whose role was that of offering h is prepared vehicle
for the lise of the Creat One. The others were, Dr, Besant
herself, Bishop Leadbeater, Mr. Jinarajadasa. Dr. Arundale,
Oscar Kollerstrom, Shrirnati Rukmini, Bishop J.1. Wedg~
wood.' Naturally, much interest was aroused by these
statements, also much opposition to them and disbelief in
authenticity.
For years Dr. Besant had been greatly concerned with
the social and political conditions of the world. and she was
convinced that Theosophy showed the way to their solution.
In September and October she gave a series of addresses at
Queen's Hall on" World Proble ms of Today," She survey·
ed the Problems of" Force, Colour, Nationality, Education,
Capital and Labour, and Government."
On 4 December a party of 73 members from Australia
and New Zealand arrived in Adyar, and on the 21st a large
party led by Mr, Gardner arrived from Europe, A very large
contingent came from the United States, and smaller numbers
Irom many other countries,
This International Convention, celebrating the Fiftieth
Year or Jubilee of The Society was the largest ever held. At
least 500 overseas delegates and nearly 2,500 Indian members
were present. Forty countries were represented, in 35 of
which there were National Societies. Many temporary
structures had to be raised to accommodate visitors, both for
residence and for meals, The great Hall was much used for
smaller meetings , while the banyan tree was" our Cathedral
for the public lectures," Loud speakers were used for the
first time in India. Dr. Besant and Mr, Jinan;,jadasa spoke
1 n~ Herald af the ,star, September, 192;.
470 A SHORT HISTORY OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

respectively on .. The Basic Truths of the World Religions ..

and" The Fellowship of Religion"; Mr. Krishnamurti and'
Dr. Arundale on The World University; Bishop Leadbeater '"
and Bishop Wedgwood on the Revival of the Mysteries.
Dr. Besant concluded the speeches, speaking on .. The
Activities of the Coming Half-Century."
Three activities were announced in 'Which it was hoped
members would engage-I. The World Religion; 2. The
World University; 3. The World Govemment, by the restora-
tion of the Mysteries . i.e., .. by the recognition of their place
as the World Government, as they were recognised in ancient
days, lI. place they have ever continued to occupy, although
even the very fact of their existence has long faded out of the
minds of men." I
With regard to the first, the General Council passed a
statement on .. The Basic Truths of Religion": There being
but the World Religion, the Divine Wisdom or Theosophy,
then all special religions are integral parts of that Religion.
Certain basic Truths are found in the World Religion, and
religions specialise in one or other of these Truths-to teach
and proclaim them The Theosophical Society was founded
and exists. Members are free to admit any or none of these
Truths, since all belong to the Universal Brotherhood of
Humanity:
Some days even before Convention began, all met in the
great Hall and repeated brief prayers selected from the great
Faiths of the world, and. ended with the repetition of the
President's words: "0 Hidden Life, vibrant in every
atom" etc:
On 28 December, when Mr. Krishnamurti was speaking
under the banyan tree, he was declaring that the Great
Teacher comes to those who long for Him. who suffer and
are unhappy. Then suddenly he cried; .. I come to those
who want sympathy, who want happiness, who are longing
I The The~ophlJt, February. 1926, pp. 551_2.
'0 JbM., March, 1926, p. 754. 1 See artie p . 460.
 THE FIFTIETH YEAR 47 1
to be released. who are longing to lind happiness in all
things. I come to reform, not to tear down; not to destroy,
but to build."
A special feature of the Convention was "A Message
to the Members of the The Theosophical Society from an
Elder Brother." The past was reviewed and thanks
rendered to the great leaders of The Society, and the future
forecast in terms of a World Brotherhood, to which all should
subscribe by making Theosophy a significant and living force
in each person's life.
In her survey of the year. the President referred to
the splendid services rendered by lecturers. chief among
them Mr. jinarajadasa. Dr. Arundale and Mr. Wood. In
most countries The Society had moved steadily forward .
Members in Madrid established a central oUice to draw to~
gether Spanish-speaking Theosophists in both hemispheres.
The Russian Lodges had organised themselves into a Section
(Ju/3ide Russia. Charters had been granted to Puerto Rico,
Roumania. Yugoslavia, and Uruguay. In the adverse balance
was the defection of the General Secretary of Czechoslovakia,
who carried with him a large proportion of the members, for
the reason that they wished to sever all connection with
Adyar on account of the pronouncements as to the" Coming
of the Lord." With the President's consent. the charter was
taken over by a minority, who saw" no reason to separate
from the Mother Society." In China. Miss D. Arnold had
applied practical Theosophy through the medium of education.
The Brahmavidyashrama. had attracted students from many
National Societies. Dr. Cousins laid special emphasis on
synthesis-in Religion. Philosophy, £ducation, Art. Science,
etc. Mr. Krishnamurti inaugurated the Hindu services of the
Bharata Samaja. Mr. jinarajadasa had started the building of
the Buddhist Shrine, suggested in 1883 by the Master K. H.
The Parsis, the jews, the Mahommedans and the Christians all
had plans for their shrines. The Parsi T empie, the Mosque
and the Church have been completed, only the Synagogue
472 A SHORT HISTORY OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

awaits construction. Founders· Avenue was planted with

mahogany trees.
The Young Theosophist Lodges in India were recognised
as part of the Indian National Society; they had previously
been attached direct to Headquarte rs at A dyar. The""lnterna-
tional Fellowship of Arts and Crafts, under Mr. Jinaraiadasa's
direction, had given its special contribution to the Movement.
Miss Mary K. Neff came to work at the Archives, to put
them in order. Her researches have been embodied in
several useful books and articles. Bishop Leadbeater
issued The Mallen and the Path, which has had great
influence ; it was based on teachings given by the Master
K. H. to a group of pupils about 1897.
 NEW ASPECTS OF BROTHERHOOD

,. Th" Unity of TheOllophi!ts is in their attitude to their idea ls, not

in their methods of reaching them ."

"T(> .. degree not poss ibl" to have foreseen Theosophical ide,,~ have
gai ned currency throughout the world. The thought,seeds which we have
scattered broadcast have taken root in many a country. in thousands of
sympalheli<: mind. . ..
- H . S. OLCOTT

1926

MRS. BESANT went to Bombay to lecture o n .. The Coming

of a World Teacher," and on "A World Religion."
This title she presently changed to "Fellowship of Faiths,"
as she found the fanner led to the idea that a totally new
religion was to be founded. In every place she spoke on the
Commonwealth of India Bill. and proposed a line of action
should the Bill be rejected.
At Juhu she laid the Foundation-stone of the Masonic
Hall. built amid the colony of Theosophists who have made
Juhu so charming a community. ' In Hyderabad, 11 February,
she spoke publicly on .. A \Vorld Religion," and to students
on "The Coming of a World Teacher." In Karachi, 13-15th
she was given a municipal reception and address, and spoke
to an audience of about 3.000 on the Bill. At Multan, 16th,
she was received with extraordinary enthusias m at the station
and taken in procession through the bazaar. She laid the
Lodge foundation-stone, and h eld meetings almost ~very
1 Juhu i. abo .. t IS miles north of Bombay. and OW" . its " .. ;stene"
iarg" ly to the exertions o f M.vji Govindji S"lh. a c!"voted Bombay Th"o_
soph iat.