Your "wild scheme" with Darjeeling, good friend, as its objective point, is not wild, but simply impracticable. The time has not yet come. But the drift of your energies is carrying you slowly yet steadily in the direction of personal intercourse. I will not say that I desire it as much as you do, for seeing you nearly every day of my life I care very little for objective intercourse; but for your sake I would if I could, precipitate that interview. However — ? Meanwhile, be happy in knowing that you have done more real good to your kind within the two past years than in many previous years. And — to yourself also.
I am quite sure that you do not sympathize with the selfish feeling that prompts the London Branch to wish to withhold even their small proportion of pecuniary support — amounting to a few guineas a year — from the Parent Society. Who of the members would ever think of refusing, or trying to avoid payment of fees to any other Society, Club, or Scientific Association he may happen to belong to? It is this indifference and selfishness that have permitted them to stand by idle and calm from the first, and see the two in India giving their last rupee (and the Upasika actually selling her jewellery — for the honour of the Society) — though many of the British members are far better able to afford the necessary sacrifices than they. Mr. Olcott's sister is actually starving in America, and the poor man, loving her dearly as he does, would not nevertheless spare Rs. 100 from the Society's, or rather the Theosophist's fund to relieve her with six small children had not H.P.B. insisted upon, and M. given a small sum for it.
However, I have told Mr. Olcott to send you the necessary official authority to compound the fees or make any other business agreement at London that you may think best. But remember, my very valued brother, that if poor Hindu clerks on Rs. 20 or 30 salaries are expected to help pay the Society's expenses with that fee, it is sheer injustice to totally exempt the far richer London members. Do justice, "though the heavens fall." Yet, if concessions are required to local prejudices, you are certainly better qualified than we, to see, and hence to negotiate according to the fitness of things. By all means put "the money relations on a better footing" than at present, if the financial wind has to be tempered for the shorn Peling-lamb. I have faith in your wisdom my friend, though you would have a certain right to be fast losing yours in mine, considering how tight the negotiations for the Phoenix-capital prove. You must have understood that I am still, and notwithstanding the Chohan's approval of my "Lay-Chela" — under last year's restrictions, and cannot bring to bear on the parties concerned all the psychic powers that I otherwise could. Besides, our laws and restrictions with regard to money or any financial operations whether within or outside our Association, are extremely severe — inexorable on some points. We have to proceed very cautiously; hence — the delay. But I do hope that you yourself think that something has already been done in that direction.
Yes; "K. H. did" mean that the review of "Mr. Isaacs should appear in the Theosophist," and "By the Author of the Occult World," so do send it before you go. And, for the sake of old "Sam Ward" I would like to see it noticed in the "Pioneer." But that does not matter much, now that you leave it.
Thereupon — Salam, and best wishes. I am extremely busy with preparations of initiation. Several of my chelas — Djual-khool among others — are striving to reach "the other shore."
Yours faithfully,
K. H.
Letter No. 105 (ML-80) Rec. late February 1883
This short letter concerns continuing efforts to subscribe capital among the Indian business community for the new venture, The Phoenix. Col. Olcott had gone to Calcutta shortly after the middle of February to enlist support for the project. He had been an enthusiastic supporter of the venture from the first, but in spite of his zeal and enthusiasm, he was not the most adroit or tactful person in the world.
Olcott was frequently spoken of as the Mahatma M.'s "son" and, sometimes, affectionately, as "Morya Junior."
M.'s "son's" impression convexing lens being not yet ground to a perfect surface, he puts the matter in a somewhat crooked shape. M. did not want him to say there was anything like a possibility of failure, but just the usual possibility of delay in every business transaction left with our countrymen alone: plus, the malevolent (or if you prefer eccentric) meddling of the Rothney Swedenborg and other artists in calamity. From all I know of the situation — and I claim to watch it as closely as I am permitted to — the chances are that the money will be raised, by the end of March; but Chance being a squinting jade, according to report the time of collection is not yet written in the memorandum book of Fate. Much depends upon contingencies but still more upon the Simla Yogi leaving us for awhile alone. 3 lakhs of rupees have been just as good as lost, owing to a letter written by him to an editor at Calcutta with a delineation of our true character (Jesuits, sorcerers, a deceitful, selfish set, etc.) and by that editor shown to a rajah, hitherto well disposed and ready to do the bidding of the "Mahatma Brothers" — of patriotism in this transaction there will be very little if any. I will send you in a day or two, facts which will show to you persons in their true light.