As regards your first letter Dj. K. has been instructed to attend to it. In such delicate matters I am still less competent to give advice than to satisfy aspiring "chelas" of the "L.C.H." sort. I am afraid the "poor, dear Mrs. Holloway" is showing her white teeth and would hardly be found now "a charming companion." Under instructions Olcott wrote a letter to Finch — which gives the key to the little problem. It is Fern, Moorad Ali, Bishen Lal and other wrecks, over again. Why will "would-be" chelas with such intense self personalities, force themselves within the enchanted and dangerous circle of probation! Pardoning my short letter, I am very busy just now with the coming new year.
K. H.
Letter No. 129 (ML-60) Rec. September 1884
No stamp or postmark appears on the original envelope of this letter. It bears only the address, "A.P. Sinnett, Esq." in blue pencil in the K.H. script. The Mahatma appears to be trying to reason with Sinnett and perhaps even to comfort him a bit.
Sinnett had of late been fighting doubts, in part brought about by his conviction that the Mahatma had indeed taken possession of Laura Holloway and spoken through her and the Mahatma' s denial that this had ever taken place.
The letter also speaks of the portrait by Herr Schmiechen. Col. Olcott had with him a profile portrait of the Mahatma M. which had been done for him some time earlier by one who, he said, was not an occultist, and while the likeness was unquestionable, it did not show what the Colonel called "the soul-splendour that lights up an adept' s countenance." He wished very much to get a better portrait. He approached several artists in London, and while he characterized the results as "instructive" none of the portraits was, on the whole, better than the one he already had. To his great delight, Herr Schmiechen agreed to have an inspirational test tried with him.
The photograph was handed him with no suggestion as to how the subject should be treated. He began work on the 19th of June and finished on 9th July. Meanwhile I visited his studio four times alone and once with H.P.B., and was enchanted with the gradual development or the mental image which had been vividly impressed upon his brain, and which resulted in as perfect a portrait of my Guru as he could have painted from life. Unlike the others, who all copied the profile idea, Schmiechen gave the face in full front view, and poured into the eyes such a flood of life and sense of the indwelling soul as to fairly startle the spectator. It was as clear a work of genius and proof of the fact of thought-transference as I can imagine. (ODL III, p. 156)
Herr Schmiechen also painted a portrait of the Mahatma K.H., two of H.P.B. Undoubtedly Sinnett had received one of the copies of the portrait of the Mahatma K.H.
My good friend — Shakespeare said truly that "our doubts are traitors." Why should you doubt or create in your mind ever growing monsters? A little more knowledge in occult laws would have set your mind at rest long ago, avoided many a tear to your gentle lady and pang to yourself. Know, then, that even the chelas of the same guru are often made to separate and keep apart for long months while the process of development is going on — simply on account of the two contrary magnetisms that, attracting each other, prevent mutual and INDIVIDUALIZED development in some one direction. There is no offence meant or even possible. This ignorance has caused of late immense suffering on all sides. When shall you trust implicitly, in my heart if not in my wisdom for which I claim no recognition on your part? It is extremely painful to see you wandering about in a dark labyrinth created by your own doubts every issue of which, moreover, you close with your own hands. I believe you are now satisfied with my portrait made by Herr Schmiechen and as dissatisfied with the one you have? Yet all are like in their way. Only while the others are the productions of chelas, the last one was painted with M.'s hand on the artist's head, and often on his arm.
K. H.
Pray remain for the Wednesday meeting — if you feel you are not to leave the INNER CIRCLE. Otherwise — go, remembering my friendship had WARNED YOU. Only avoid, if you do, hurting the feelings of those who sin thro' an excess, and lack of devotion.
Letter No. 130242 (ML-55) Rec. October 1884
The original of this letter is rather curious. It is written on four small folded sheets of L.C. Holloway note paper. The envelope is addressed to A.P. Sinnett, Esq. c/o L.C.H. This is not really explained, but one may perhaps speculate that the Mahatma had decided to try Mrs. Holloway as an intermediary.
The Sinnetts were traveling in Europe at this time (the "flight from London" mentioned by the Mahatma). While in Switzerland, they received a telegram from Mrs. Gebhard inviting them to come to Elberfeld, where H.P.B. and others had been visiting. Mrs. Holloway was one of this group. This may explain the use of her note paper in producing this letter, as it seems likely that Sinnett received it after he reached there.
This letter refers to H.P.B.'s resignation as Corresponding Secretary of the Theosophical Society so as to dissociate herself from the Society. This was a direct result of the Coulomb conspiracy.
And now, friend, you have completed one of your minor cycles; have suffered, struggled, triumphed. Tempted, you have not failed, weak you have gained strength, and the hard nature of the lot and ordeal of every aspirant after occult knowledge is now better comprehended by you, no doubt. Your flight from London and from yourself was necessary; as was also your choice of the localities where you could best shake off the bad influences of your social "season" and of your own house. It was not best that you should have come to Elberfeld sooner; it is best that you should have come now. For you are better able now to bear the strain of the present situation. The air is full of the pestilence of treachery; unmerited opprobrium is showering upon the Society, and falsehood and forgery have been used to overthrow it. Ecclesiastical England and official Anglo-India have secretly joined hands to have their worst suspicions verified if possible, and at the first plausible pretext to crush the movement.
Every infamous device is to be employed in the future as it has in the present to discredit us as its promoters, and yourselves as its supporters. For the opposition represents enormous vested interests, and they have enthusiastic help from the Dugpas — in Bhootan and the Vatican!
Among the "shining marks" at which the conspirators aim, you stand. Tenfold greater pains than heretofore will be taken to cover you with ridicule for your credulity, your belief in me — especially, and to refute your arguments in support of the esoteric teaching. They may try to shake still more than they already have your confidence with pretended letters alleged to have come from H.P.B.'s laboratory, and others, or with forged documents showing and confessing fraud and planning to repeat it. It has ever been thus. Those who have watched mankind through the centuries of this cycle, have constantly seen the details of this death-struggle between Truth and Error repeating themselves. Some of you Theosophists are now only wounded in your "honour" or your purses, but those who held the lamp in preceding generations paid the penalty of their lives for their knowledge.