It is with great regret that I learn from recent London advices that
the Managers of the Society there think that the Tract, "Epitome of
Theosophy," which appeared in _The Path_, is "too advanced to be
reprinted now, and that what is needed is 'a stepping-stone from
fiction to philosophy.'"
Permit me to say that I cannot agree with this opinion, nor with the
policy which is outlined by it. The opinion is erroneous, and the
policy is weak as well as being out of accord with that of the Masters.
Those Masters have approved the project of the new Society and are
watching the unfolding of its policy.
If I had made up that Epitome wholly myself I might have some
hesitation in speaking in this way, but I did not. The general idea of
such a series of tracts was given to me some two years ago, and this
one was prepared by several students who know what the people need.
It is at once comprehensive and fundamental. It covers most of the
ground, and if any sincere reader grasps it he will have food for his
reflection of the sort needed.
If, however, we are to proceed by a mollified passage from folly (which
is fiction) to philosophy, then we at once diverge from the path
marked out for us by the Masters; and for this statement I can refer
to letters from Them in my hands. I need only draw your attention to
the fact that when those Masters began to cause Their servants to give
out matter in India, They did not begin with fiction, but with stern
facts such as are to be found in the _Fragments of Occult Truth_, which
afterwards became Mr. Sinnett's _Esoteric Buddhism_. We are not seeking
to cater to a lot of fiction readers and curiosity hunters, but to the
pressing needs of earnest minds. Fiction readers never influenced a
nation's progress. And these earnest minds do not desire, and ought not
to be treated to a gruel which the sentence just quoted would seem to
indicate as their fate.
Then again, I beg to remind my English brothers in this enterprise that
they should remember that the United States contain more theosophists
and possible subscribers and readers than the whole of Europe. They
do not want fiction. They want no padding in their search for truth.
They are perfectly able to grasp that which you call "too advanced."
The Master some years ago said that the U. S. needed the help of the
English body of theosophists. That they did not get, and now do not
require it so much, and their ideas and needs must be considered by us.
We have twenty-one Branches to your three in Great Britain, and each
month, nearly, sees a new Branch. Several have written me that they
understand the T.P.S. is to give them _good_ and _valuable_ reprints
and not weak matters of fiction.
I therefore respectfully urge upon you that the weak and erroneous
policy to which I have referred shall not be followed, but that strong
lines of action be taken, and that we leave fiction to the writers who
profit by it or who think that thus people's minds can be turned to the
Truth. If a contrary line be adopted then we will not only disappoint
the Master (if that be possible) but we will in a very large sense be
guilty of making false representations to a growing body of subscribers
here as well as elsewhere.
I am, Fraternally Yours,
WILLIAM Q. JUDGE.