Chapter VIII.

WORK IN ENGLAND, 1887-1891.
The grave illness at Ostend, from which Madame Blavatsky so marvellously recovered, was followed by four years of strenuous work in London — work which formed the foundation for many of our well-established activities. The Secret Doctrine was gradually com- pleted and finally published ; it stands alone in our literature, head and shoulders above any other books we have, a veritable mine to which the student may return over and over again and always find something new and precious. Then H. P. B. translated the Voice of the Silence, a book which comes from early Buddhist days and which mellows the wisdom of its words by that atmosphere of compassion which is so charac- teristic of the Buddha's teaching. The Key to Theosophy was also written, and Lucifer, now known as the Theosophical Review, was started and edited by H. P. B. for nearly four years. Besides these literary activities, and owing to the stimulus of her presence, the whole of the movement in England, which had been confined almost entirely to London, grew and flourished ex- ceedingly.
This was a wonderful record of work to be done with such a worn-out body ; but in addition to it H. P. B. continued the perhaps still more important task of training pupils, so that the movement might be carried on when she left. The Blavatsky Lodge
57
was formed, and before long a wide circle of pupils and sympathisers gathered round her, amongst whom were some of the best of our English workers.
On first coming to London a house in Norwood was taken, but it was soon found too small and incon- venient, and a move was^made to Lansdowne Road, where a larger house was taken. Madame Blavatsky occupied rooms on the ground floor ; for twelve hours a day she would work at her desk, and in the evening would receive visitors — strangely varied visitors they were too ; well-known men of science, learned pro- fessors, literary men, agnostics and socialists, artists, all finding something of attraction in this wonderful Russian woman whose profound knowledge com- manded attention and respect. On Thursday evenings she would be present at the meeting of the Blavatsky Lodge and answer questions in elucidation of different points in her writings.
Among these visitors came Mrs. Besant, to whom the Secret Doctrine had been given for review. She wrote asking for an interview with Madame Blavatsky, and in due course presented herself at the door of 17, Lansdowne Road. Mrs. Besant writes " A pause, a " swift passing through hall and outer room and folding- " doors thrown back, a figure in a large chair before *' a table, a voice, vibrant, compelling: *My dear Mrs. " Besant, I have so long wished to see you,' and^ I " was standing with my hand in her firm grip, and *' looking for the first time in this life straight into the " eyes of ' H. P. Blavatsky.' I was conscious of a " sudden leaping forth of my heart — was it a recog- *' nition ? — and then, I am ashamed to say, a fierce
58
** rebellion, a fierce withdrawal, as of some wild animal *' when it feels a mastering hand. I sat down, after " some introductions that conveyed no ideas to me, *' and listened. She talked of travels, of various *' countries, easy brilliant talk, her eyes veiled, her ** exquisitely moulded fingers rolling cigarettes inces- ** santly. Nothing special to record, no word of *' occultism, nothing mysterious, a woman of the *' world chatting with her evening visitors. We rose "to go, and for a moment the veil lifted, and two ** brilliant, piercing eyes met mine, and with a yearning " throb in the voice : * Oh my dear Mrs. Besant, if '* you would only come among us ! ' I felt a well- " nigh uncontrollable desire to bend down and kiss " her, under the compulsion of that yearning voice, " those compelling eyes, but with a flash of the old " unbending pride and an inward jeer at my own folly, ** I said a commonplace polite good-bye, and turned ** away with some inanely courteous and evasive " remark. ' Child,' she said to me long afterwards, " *your pride is terrible; you are as proud as Lucifer " himself.' But truly I think I never showed it to her " again after that first evening, though it sprang up " wrathfully in her defence many and many a time, " until I learned the pettiness and the worthlessness " of all criticism, and knew that the blind were objects " of compassion, not of scorn."
Before long Lansdowne Road was outgrown and a move was made at Mrs. Besant's invitation to her house in Avenue Road. A lecture hall was built beside the house and No. 19, Avenue Road, became the head-quarters of the Society in London for a dozen
5^
years, until it was moved nearer the centre of London.
Avenue Road was the last home of the body known as Madame Blavatsky, for here, on May 8th, 1891, it was laid aside finally, but not until the movement in England had been placed on a firm footing and pupils had been found to carry on the work to which she had devoted her life. " Endurance and patience," says Mrs. Besant, " have certainly been the crowning qualities of H. P. B. as I have known her during the last years of her life. . . . The most salient of her characteristics was implied in these crowning qualities ; it was that of strength, steady strength, unyielding as a rock. I have seen weaklings dash themselves up against her and then whimper that she was hard ; but I have also seen her face to face with a woman who had been her cruel enemy, but who was in distress, and every feature was radiant with a divine compassion which only did not forgive because it would not admit that it had been outraged."
H. P. B. was in a very real sense the mother of the Theosophical Society ; the seeds of Spiritual Truth which she came to sow required tender care and pro- tection ere they could sprout and grow into healthy plants, and that fostering care she gave, taking upon herself all the storm and stress, so that within this shell there might be peace. Every spiritual movement seems to be mothered in this way by some great Soul who walls it round with shielding arms, in its early stages, and breathes into it the living warmth of Spiritual Life. As a mother gives her life to a child, so did H. P. B, identify her life with that of her child — the Society she founded — and we who belong to it,
6o
although we may not have seen H. P. B. in this life, should ever think of her in this way. H. P. B. is as much as ever a beneficent power in the Theosophical movement, and by keeping her memory green we shall be more likely to know her when she takes up her work again on the physical plane in years to come ; in the meantime we have all, even the youngest of us, work for Theosophy that we can do, whether by thought or by word or by action, and one of our motives for doing it loyally and as well as we can, might very well be that when H. P. B. does come back, the Theo- sophical movement may be strong and healthy and ready for the Leader.
The Theosophical Society,
OBJECTS.
To form a nucleus of the universal Brotherhood of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste, or colour.
To encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy, and science.
To investigate unexplained laws of nature and the powers latent in man.
Any person desiring information as to the Theosophical Society is invited to communicate with the General Secretary, Theosophical Society, London.
The Theosophical Society is composed of students, belonging to any religion in the world or to none, who are united by their approval of the above objects, by their wish to remove religious antagonisms and to draw together men of good-will whatsoever their religious opinions, and by their desire to study religious truths and to share the results of their studies with others. Their bond of union is not the profession of a common belief, but a common search and aspiration for Truth. They hold that Truth should be sought by study, by reflection, by purity of life, by devotion to high ideals, and they regard Truth as a prize to be striven for, not as a dogma to be imposed by authority. They consider that belief should be the result of individual study or intuition, and not its antecedent, and should rest on knowledge, not on assertion. They extend tolerance to all, even to the intolerant, not as a privilege they bestow, but as a duty they perform, and they seek to remove ignorance, not to punish it. They see every religion as an expression of the Divine Wisdom, and prefer its study to its condemnation, and its practice to proselytism. Peace is their watch-word, as Truth is their aim,
The Golden Chain,
CHILDREN'S GUILD OF KINDNESS,
I AM a link in a Golden Chain of Love that stretches round the world, and must keep my link bright and strong.
So I will try to be kind and gentle to every living thing I meet, and to protect and help all who are weaker than myself.
And I will try to think pure and beautiful thoughts, to speak pure and beautiful words, and to do pure and beautiful actions.
May every link in the Golden Chain become bright and strong.
Any child who wishes to join the Golden Chain has to promise to
repeat these sentences every morning. Further information may be obtained from the representative for England : —
Miss E. M. MALLET. 42, Craven Road, Paddington, London, W.
The Round Table.
The Round Table, which has been given a place by Mrs. Besant *n the Order of Service, is founded upon one of the noblest and most inspiring thoughts which have come to us from the elder days. The central figure is the king ; not any king of lands, but a king of men ; each companion chooses his own king, and is free to choose, provided the king is worthy and wears about his head the glory of the Perfect Man. The motive is service of the king in any one of the innumer- able ways.
The Round Table is open especially to younger companions. Boys and girls of thirteen to fifteen are admitted as associates ; from fifteen upwards as companions. At twenty-one and upwards the companion may become a knight if he or she can form his own Round Table with twelve companions.
Certain definite, but simple, rules and acts of remembrance are imposed, so that the Round Table, and above all the king, may become a living infiuence in the lives of its companions, and a continual incentive to true purity.
Any who desire further information should apply to Lancelot, c/o The Lotus Journal, 42, Craven Road, Paddington, London, W
The Lotus Journal,
AN ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE FOR
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE.
20 pages monthly. 3/6 per annum, post-free.
REGULAR FEATURES. Reports of Popular Lectures by Mrs. Besant. Special Articles by C. W. Leadbeater. Stories for Children. (Illustrated). Lotus Lessons. By Leaders of Lotus Circles. The Golden Chain. A League for Children. The Round Table. A League for Young People. Outlines of Theosophy for Children.
By Ethel M. Mallet. Lives of Great Men and Women, etc., etc. The Lotus Journal is the only Theosophical Magazine for Children and for Young People who are beginning to study Theosophy. It seeks to help them and interest them in every way it can by its contents, and by encouraging them to co-operate in some good work. It seeks also to serve as a link between the Lotus Circles in various parts of the world.
First Steps in Theosophy
By ETHEL M. MALLET.
Second Edition.
This book gives, in twelve chapters, a clear and easily written outline of Theosophy. It is penned for girls and boys who are brought into touch with Theosophical Teach- ings, but who find the more advanced books too difficult, and it is well adapted for use in Lotus Circles, where a simple outHne of the Wisdom- Religion is required. A set of questions is added at the end of each chapter.
Five Full-page Coloured Plates, reprinted from Man Visible and Invisible, are included.
Price 2». net, post-free.
Lotus Song Book,
WORDS AND MUSIC OF SONGS FOR LOTUS CIRCLES.
Contains 63 Songs, carefully arranged with pianoforte accompaniment, or in four parts. Besides many old favourites, without which no collection would be com- plete, this book includes a number of songs which have been specially written or adapted tor Lotus Circles ; also some action songs for little children.
Price, well bonnd In cloth, 2/6 net, post-free 2/9. LOTUS SONG BOOK, with words only, price 6d., post-free 7id.
A Golden Afternoon
AND OTHER STORIES.
With 12 Illustrations.
Contents: — A Golden Afternoon, The Maid of the
Cherry Tree, Thyrza's Adventures in Fairyland,
Bilberry, The Weaver of the Web, The Story of
THE Silver Fairies.
"Written with much sympathy and understanding of the child's mind." — Theosophical Review.
Price 2/6 net, post-free.
{Handsomely bound in blue or green and gold).
A very Attractive Volume of Children's Stories. Any of the foregoing may he ordered from —
"THE LOTUS JOURNAL.-
42, Craven Road, Paddington, London, W. : or
Theosophical Publishing Society, 161, New Bond Street, W. ; or
Theosophical Book Concern, 26, Van Buren Street, Chicago,
111.. U.S.A.
Printed by Percy Lund, Humphries & Co., Ltd., Bradford and London. 2078J.