Received at Madras, March, 1883.
My dear "Ward,"
We will not, if you please, deal at present with the situation concerning "stars" and obscurations — for reasons very plainly told to you this morning by H.P.B. My task becomes with every letter more dangerous. It becomes exceedingly difficult to teach you and hold at the same time strictly to the original programme: "so far shall we go and no further." Yet — hold to it we must and will.
You have entirely mistaken my meaning in the telegram. The words, "more at Adyar" related to the true explanation of your vision, not by any means to a promise of some further psychological experiments made in that direction by myself. The vision was due to an attempt by D.K. who is extremely interested in your progress. While he succeeded in getting you out of your body, he failed entirely in his effort to open your inner vision, for reasons correctly surmised at the time by yourself. I took no personal active part in the attempt. Hence my answer, "surmises correct — more at Adyar." I am in a very false position just now, and have — in order not to jeopardise the possibilities of the future — to be doubly cautious.
The probable date of your departure? Well — on or about April 7th. If your impatience disagrees with this desire of mine you are free to do as you like. Yet, I would look upon it as a personal favour. I am profoundly disgusted with the apathy of my countrymen in general. More than ever I trust but in the few staunch workers of the luckless and hapless T.S. The Viceroy's letter would be of the greatest help if it could be but judiciously used. But in such matters, I see I am no judge, as I now augur from the impression left on your mind by R. Srinivasa Rao and others.
The incident of February the 7th being explained, your question relating to "earlier restrictions" is already covered.
May I beg of you two more personal and important favours? First — to ever bear in mind that whenever and whatever is possible will be always done for you unurged; hence never to either ask for, or suggest it, yourself — since it will amount to simply avoiding to me the supremely disagreeable task of having to refuse a friend's request without, moreover, being in a position to explain the reason why; and second — to remember that though personally and for your own sake I may be prepared to do a great deal I have in no way bound myself to do anything of the sort for the Fellows of the British T.S. I have pledged my word to you to teach them through your kind agency our philosophy, and whether they accept it or not. But I have never undertaken to convince any of them of the extent of our powers nor even of our personal existence. Their belief or disbelief in the latter is a matter of very trifling importance to us indeed. If they are ever to be benefitted by our promise, it must be through you alone, and your own personal efforts. Nor you can ever see me (in flesh), — not even in a clearly defined vision — unless you are prepared to pledge your honour never to reveal the fact to anyone, so long as you live, (save you receive permission to that effect). That the consequence of such a pledge will be a never satisfied as an ever recurring doubt in the minds of your British Fellows — is just what we want for the present. Too much, or too little was said and proved of us as M.A. (Oxon) justly remarked. We are ordered to set ourselves to work to sweep away the few vestiges — for which fresh policy you are indebted to the incessant underground intrigues of our ex-friend Mr. Hume — (now entirely in the hands of the Brothers of the Shadow) — and the more our actual existence be doubted — the better. As to tests and convincing proofs to the Sadducees of Europe generally and those of England especially — this is something to be left entirely out of our future programme. Unless allowed to use our own judgment and means — the course of future events will by no means run smooth. Thus you should never use such phrases as "for the sake of strength with friends at home" as they would be sure to do no good and would simply irritate the more the other "powers that be" — to use the ridiculous phrase. It is not always flattering, good friend, to be placed even by those one likes the best — on the same level with shells and mediums — for the purpose of tests. I thought you had luckily outgrown that stage. Let us hold at present to the simply intellectual aspect of our intercourse and busy ourselves but with philosophy and your future paper, and leave the rest to time and its unforeseen developments.
It is precisely because I follow and perceive the dual working of your mind in making such requests that I sign myself invariably.
Your affectionate friend,
K. H.
Letter No. 109 (ML-119) Undated
The person to whom this letter (or, rather, two short notes and a news clipping) is addressed is not indicated, although it may have been H.P.B., Damodar, or Olcott, since the Mahatma seems occasionally to have sent messages through all these persons. The two notes are for the purpose of transmitting a newspaper clipping and suggesting that it be given to Sinnett.
Sir John Lubbock, mentioned in the clipping, lived 1834-1913. He was an English banker and naturalist. He was the first to use the terms Paleolithic and Neolithic Age. Procyon is a bright star in the constellation Canis (the Lesser Dog) east of Orion, near Gemini. Algoe (Algol) is a bright variable star in Perseus. It loses most of its brightness when eclipsed by its dark companion. In Greek mythology, Medusa was one of the three Gorgons slain by Perseus.
Give Mr. Sinnett my salams — and ask him to comment upon the slip enclosed. He may know what I mean him to write upon the subject editorially. Tell him also that time is short and precious and ought not to be wasted.
K. H.
The following may lead later on to a curious confirmation of our "obscuration" doctrine which so puzzles my friend — the Editor of the "Phoenix."
Will you kindly and likewise, comment upon it and oblige thereby,
Yours,
K. H.
NEWSPAPER CUTTING
Sir John Lubbock's opinion confirms or endorses the conclusion long since put forth by some of the most eminent astronomers, namely, that there are now in the solar system, or firmament, many dark bodies — that is, bodies which now emit no light, or comparatively little. He points out, for example, that in the case of Procyon the existence of an invisible body is demonstrated by the movement of the visible stars. Another illustration which he cites relates to the notable phenomena presented by Algoe, the bright star in the Head of Medusa. This star shines without change for two days and thirteen hours: then, in three hours and a half, dwindles from a star of the second to one of the fourth magnitude; and then, in another three and a half hours, resumes its original brilliancy. According to the view entertained by Professor Lubbock, these changes must be regarded as indicating the presence of an opaque body, which intercepts at regular intervals a part of the light emitted by Algoe.
Letter No. 110 (ML-67) Rec. June 1883
This letter is addressed to Col. Olcott and received by him when he arrived at Adyar on May 26, 1883 after a long tour on which he had performed many healings. The Sinnetts had, according to plan, sailed for England on March 30, and it is probable that he received this letter about the middle of June. So it can be seen that quite a time had elapsed since he had last heard from the Mahatma K.H.