W.Q. Judge’s Visit to Canada
Fohat Magazine (Summer 2007 - by Ernest Pelletier)
[Periodically, in the course of one’s research, one comes across rare gems that have no practical use for the project athand. The articlewhich follows is one of these rare gems thatwewould like to share withthe readers. Not only is ita unique bit of Canadiana,it also illustratesthe amountof effort put into the seeding of theosophy on the North American continent by one of its least recognized Founders. - ed.]
In early 1894 William Q. Judge invited Ernest T. Hargrove to come to America to represent the European Section of the Theosophical Society at the San Francisco Religious Parliament in April. Historical evidence indicates that Judge had more than one reason to want Hargrove on that lecture tour, including wanting to introduce Hargrove to all Branch members across the country and tutor him for more lecture tours on his behalf. Unfortunately, when they reached Seattle Hargrove was called back to London on account of illness there (unnecessarily in the end). Judge apparently was not pleased with Hargrove’s decision to return home.
Despite being ill himself, and with the developing accusation brought against him by President Olcott and Annie Besant, Judge persevered and continued the tour which brought him to Canada on May 4, 1894. As General Secretary of the Theosophical Society in America Judge was determined to make contact with every newly-formed Branch. Seattle T.S. No. 1 had been chartered on August 7, 1890. An interesting fact to remember is that the State of Washington only became part of the Union on November 11, 1889. Until that time the whole Northwestern United States was still a Territory — a frontier.
