Old Diary Leaves 1893–6
The Only Authentic History of the Theosophical Society

Henry Steel Olcott relates the conflicts and tensions within the Theosophical Society that led to its split in 1895.

Henry Steel Olcott (Author)

9781108072922, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 19 May 2011

556 pages, 5 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 3.1 cm, 0.7 kg

Henry Steel Olcott (1832–1907), co-founder of the Theosophical Society, was a versatile man. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of American agricultural education and also served in the U.S. War Department. Later Olcott was admitted to the New York Bar and became interested in psychology and spiritualism, travelling to India and Sri Lanka with Madame Blavatsky to explore eastern spiritual traditions, especially Buddhism. In this polemical volume (first published in 1932), Olcott describes his view of the history of the Society between 1893 and 1896: conflicts and long-standing tensions had led to a split in 1895, precipitated by a clash between Olcott and William Judge, Vice-President of the Society in America. After the split Olcott carried on travelling widely and lecturing, having established a study centre in Chennai, India, for the movement now known as the Theosophical Society – Adyar.

1. Buddha Gaya and Sarnath
2. Extraordinary case of psychopathic healing
3. The parliament of religions
4. Max Müller on esotericism
5. Welcoming Mrs. Besant
6. Mrs. Besant's first Indian tour
7. The convention of 1893
8. Mrs. Besant's tour in Bengal
9. Mrs. Besant's tour in the United Provinces
10. Mrs. Besant's tour in Punjab
11. Impressions of Mrs. Besant's tour
12. The Judge affair
13. The Judge affair continued
14. The fourth European Convention
15. After the Convention
16. The Buddhist Boycotting Bill
17. Australasian section formed
18. W. T. Stead on H. P. B.
19. Mr. Judge denounces Mrs. Besant
20. Convention lectures inaugurated
21. Report of the Convention
22. The Society at twenty
23. The American section secedes
24. Spain, London, and Holland
25. Changing the constitution
26. More details of the secession
27. Mrs. Mitchell and hypnotic experiments
28. First visit to Berlin
29. Psychometry and ?k?shic readings
30. Vivek?nanda, Bombay, Panchamas
31. On Zoroastrianism
32. American visitors and the Convention
33. The Maha-Bodhi
34. The healing pentagon
35. International jugglery
36. Mr. Judge's death
37. A Rajput wedding
Index.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX]