Theosophy - A New Year's Greeting - by Constance Wachtmeister
A
New Year’s Greeting
by Constance Wachtmeister
reprinted
from “Theosophical Siftings” Volume - 3 -
[The Theosophical Publishing Services are not responsible
for the contents of signed articles.]
[Page 3] THE new year, 1891, has now commenced, and as it
is likely to prove an eventful one in the history of the
Theosophical Society, I should like to begin by sending a
few words of greeting and grateful thanks to all who have
helped me by their sympathy to carry out my share of the
work.
When I first went
to Würsburg in 1885 to visit Madame
Blavatsky, I little realized the vast importance and magnitude
of the work in which we are now engaged; and though I firmly
believed in the mission which H. P. B. was trying to accomplish,
and had full faith in her honesty of purpose, it seemed to
me an utter impossibility that Theosophy could ever reach
the hearts of the people, and so become a living power in
the world for good. I looked around me and saw that what
most interested the public was phenomena; the sublime and
divine truths contained in Theosophy were ignored, or assimilated
only by the very few; and when that cowardly and abominable
attack was made on Madame Blavatsky by the Psychical Research
Society, I feared that it would either kill the Theosophical
Society or alienate those who were attracted only by curiosity
and desire for the marvellous. At first it seemed as if the
Society had received its death blow; day after day came in
resignations from those who had hitherto been looked upon
as shining lights in the Society, or else insulting letters
from men and women who until then had worn the mask of friendship.
The remainder of the members of the T.S. were more or less
paralyzed, and all they wanted to do was to keep quiet and
out of sight, so that no mud should be thrown at them.
But a few bright stars shone through the darkness, jewels
of friends who kept staunch and true through all, and it
was really their expressions of sympathy and love which kept
H. P. B. alive.
When I think of that long, dreary winter, when we two lived
together in that quiet German town, where we had not a single
friend; when I think of how my heart used to sink every morning,
when the postman's ring was heard, at the thought of fresh
insults which the letters would surely contain, I consider
it a sacred duty to tell all members of the T.S. how deeply
H. P. B. has suffered for the noble cause to which she has
dedicated her life. Day after day she sat at her desk from
early morn till night, writing the Secret Doctrine, which
was destined to teach and help so many seekers after truth,
we little knowing the work and future which lay before us.
As I think of those days there always lies deep down in my
heart one eternal regret, viz: that my intuition should
have been so obtuse [Page 4] that I did not realize the enormous
importance of this grand philosophy, and that I did not give
every moment of my time to its study. But it seemed so far
beyond me in those days, as if the understanding of such
sublime truths could never be reached by me in this lifetime,
and so I let the valuable hours slip away. And now when experience
and study have given me the hope that I could comprehend
what before appeared so difficult, my work lies in another
direction, practical work for the spreading of Theosophy,
which brings me little leisure for quiet reading and reflection.
Karma, I suppose.
The winter of
1886-87 I spent alone with H. P. B. in Ostend. Notwithstanding
my forebodings, the Society had not collapsed under
the P. R. S.'s treacherous blow, and a few straggling members
came to life again and rallied round Madame Blavatsky. Visitors
appeared one after the other on the scene; confidence in
H. P. B. began to revive; and serious thoughts for the future
were entertained as to the further development of the T.
S. These culminated in the plan of her coming to London.
Arriving there in May, H. P. B. settled in Lansdowne Road,
Notting Hill, in September, 1887, in company with a few devoted
friends. Since that time the work and influence of the Society
have steadily increased, notwithstanding the defalcation
of a few members whose personal vanity was hurt because they
did not receive the homage to which they felt they were entitled.
The T. S. continued to widen out, friends rallied round in
greater numbers, and after three years of steady work the
Society was placed on a firm basis. It became apparent that
a larger house was necessary, and a move was made to our
present Headquarters, during the summer of the past year; and
now in 1891, after all these years of persecution and suffering,
Madame Blavatsky is surrounded by a strong and faithful
band of tried men and women, who are true to the death,
and who will bear the brunt of any new attack or insult
which the future may have in store for her. Not only has
she formed from among these an efficient staff of workers,
but she has the happiness of knowing that she has about her
those who love and revere her, who value her teachings, and
who would willingly give their lives to save her a single
pang. There is now every hope that the remaining years of
her life may be passed in that peace which is essential to
the achievement of her great work; no attack from without
will be allowed to fall upon her, and no besmearing of her
reputation will have the slightest effect upon those who
have known and put her to the test, and who now appreciate
her as she deserves. On the contrary, any such attack will
be sure to rebound on those who may attempt to blacken her
name, to disturb her peace, or to depreciate her mission.