An Introduction to a Reminiscence of W.Q. Judge by Laura C. Holloway-Langford
In the reminiscence that follows, reprinted from The Word, the psychic clairvoyant, Laura Holloway, gives us a peek into the years of Judge's life that followed Madame Blavatsky's and Colonel Olcott's move to India. Many have criticized Judge for this period of his life, implying that he achieved very little. In his defence it must be argued that not only did he have the duties of a husband and father, but his youth meant that those duties were more heavy on him than they would be later in his life. It must also be remembered that Olcott and Blavatsky had not conducted any weekly meeting of the Theosophical Society for two years before they left, both realizing that it would do no good to do so. The time for theosophy in America was not quite right. This would probably have worked well for Judge allowing him to mature and grow inwardly, despite whatever youthful impatience he would have for such a process.As Judge has also been accused of relying on mediums, the readers should take note of Judge's interactions with Laura Holloway and how she describes one clairvoyant episode while in the company of Madame Blavatsky. Judge and Holloway belonged to a small group involved in "philosophic and metaphysical studies." Although the description is brief, it appears Judge would work with Holloway asking her questions in an appropriate setting designed to elicit visions. Judge would record these visions and then they would get together with the group and "investigate" these "visions" to see what might be made of them. That these visions came by way of intuitive insight rather than mediumship is made clear in Holloway's interaction with HPB where she tells Madame Blavatsky in the middle of a conversation that she received the impression that Judge would return to America after his trip to India to see the Masters. This is not trance mediumship.
It should also be mentioned that if one is investigating the reliability of a psychic, it would be very important not to plant the seeds of doubt into that psychic's mind with respect to their abilities. It seems that the art of such investigation lies in leading the psychic to interpret correctly what they see by weeding out the deceptive aspects of their visions. For this reason I suspect that any psychic Judge worked with would come away from the session with the understanding that Judge had full confidence in everything they saw. This, of course, would not necessarily be true. That Laura Holloway was gifted and of possible use to the Society is clear in a letter from the Mahatmas to Sinnett where they scold him for his deleterious interference with her, making her unfit for their purposes. That she was not as yet a reliable tool is clear from the fact that Sinnett was able to undermine her value.
The reader is also asked to pay attention to Madame Blavatsky's response to Holloway concerning her vision. HPB's response was "Then is the Theosophical Society to suffer and for long." Did HPB understand that if Judge were to leave India and return to America that this would herald a bleak future for the Theosophical Society? Was this why in early letters to Judge after he left India, Madame Blavatsky seemed a little upset and disappointed with Judge? Was there a lot riding on Judge's trip, so much so that Judge's departure was a bitter pill to swallow? Yet both redoubled their efforts, perhaps in order to prepare those closest to them to be able to weather the coming storm and ensure that the Theosophical Society would make it through.
Another hint given by Laura Holloway is the renewed strength and resolve that Judge acquired after a weekend spent with his trusted friends, the Griscoms. The Griscoms lived in a quiet area outside New York City and Judge spent much time there gathering the strength needed to fight his illness and further the interests of the Theosophical Society. It seems probable that the Griscoms were also involved in this small metaphysical study group with Judge and Holloway. We are here being given a look at Judge's most trusted inner circle.
This reminiscence contains much for those willing to read between the lines. The distorted Judge presented by so many of his detractors is not the Judge who is experienced by his closest friends and associates who undoubtedly knew him best. There is a genuine love and respect for the man that is still felt many years after his death. Laura Holloway's story is not of a man plotting to become President of the Society, but of a man working selflessly to ensure that the world that he was born into is a little more theosophical after his death. When you think of all the people who were introduced to theosophy because of Judge, it is clear that he succeeded in his endeavors.