A Puzzle from Adyar
By H. P. Blavatsky
[After reading this article one should read “Why I do Not Return to Adyar”.]
(Lucifer Vol. 4, Aug. 1889, pp.506-509; also reprinted in BCW XI, pp.378-384)
WHEN the cat is abroad the mice dance in the house it seems. Since Colonel Olcott sailed for Japan, the Theosophist has never ceased to surprise its European readers, and especially the Fellows of our Society, with most unexpected capers. It is as if the Sphinx had emigrated from the Nile and was determined to continue offering her puzzles broadcast to the OEdipuses of the Society.
Now what may be the meaning of this extraordinary, and most tactless “sortie” of the esteemed acting editor of our Theosophist?1 Is he, owing to the relaxing climate of Southern India, ill, or like our (and his) editor-enemies across the Atlantic, also dreaming uncanny dreams and seeing lying visions—or what? And let me remind him at once that he must not feel offended by these remarks, as he has imperatively called them forth himself. LUCIFER, THE PATH and THE THEOSOPHIST are the only organs of communication with the Fellows of our Society, each in its respective country. Since the acting editor of the Theosophist has chosen to give a wide publicity in his organ to abnormal fancies, he has no right to expect a reply through any other channel than Lucifer. Moreover, if he fails to understand all the seriousness of his implied charges against me and several honourable men, he may realise them better, when he reads the present. Already his enigmatical letter to Light has done mischief enough. While its purport was evidently to fight some windmills of his own creation, an inimical spiritualist who signs “Colenso” has jumped at the good opportunity afforded him to misrepresent that letter. In his malicious philippic called “Koothoomi Dethroned” he seeks to show that Mr. Harte’s letter announces that the “Masters” are thrown overboard by the T. S. and “Mme. Blavatsky dethroned.” Is it this that “Richard Harte, acting editor of The Theosophist,” sought to convey to the Spiritualists in his letter in Light of July 6th?
Without further enquiry as to the real meaning of the Light letter, what does he try to insinuate by the following in the July number of The Theosophist?2
