Letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury and Its Connection to The Theosophical Society
Fohat Magazine (Fall 2004) - by Ernest Pelletier
In the December 1887 issue of Lucifer magazine the Editors published “'Lucifer' To The Archbishop of Canterbury, Greeting!” This Open Letter was published as the lead editorial in the fourth issue of the first volume. Lucifer wanted to make “a brief statement of the position which Theosophy occupied in regards to Christianity” and to clarify “that Theosophy was not a religion but a philosophy at once religious and scientific.” The editorial stated that
[T]he chief work, so far, of the Theosophical Society has been to revive in each religion its own animating spirit, by encouraging and helping enquiry into the true significance of its doctrines and observances. Theosophists know that the deeper one penetrates into the meaning of the dogmas and ceremonies of all religions, the greater becomes their apparent underlying similarity, until finally a perception of their fundamental unity is reached. This common ground is no other than Theosophy — the Secret Doctrine of the ages; which, diluted and disguised to suit the capacity of the multitude, and the requirements of the time, has formed the living kernel of all religions.
It also stated:
Theosophists . . . are respecters of all religions, and for the religious ethics of Jesus they have profound admiration.
The Letter goes on to describe how the Church of England with its inherent ecclesiastical organization from the Church of Rome, like its parent, is unable to fulfil the true spiritual function of a religion.
