The History of the German Section of the Theosophical Society 1902-1913

GA 250 — 2 June 1906, Paris

26. The Leadbeater Affair

Oral message from Rudolf Steiner for the German-speaking participants at the Theosophical Congress

On June 2, 1906, at half past ten in the morning, Dr. Steiner gathered the German attendees to make a business announcement.

It was the devastating news that Leadbeater had been asked to resign from the Society. Dr. Steiner did not want us to enter the congress without knowing this. What he was able to tell us about this sad case was as follows. Severe accusations had been received from America about Leadbeater, which led Olcott to appoint a committee consisting of French and English members and Mr. Leadbeater. He had to answer to this forum. The conclusion was that he was induced to declare his resignation, which he did willingly. Since this is a very important matter for our Society, Dr. Steiner invited us to come on June 7th to talk about this matter again after the congress, which then also happened in an extensive manner. At first the question arose: If Leadbeater has fallen, what are we to make of his writings, which have been our guide so far? — First of all, it should be borne in mind that we should not regard what is given to us in the writings of occultists as revelations, as dogma, but as a narrative of self-experience.

The question is not yet ripe for dealing with the case. When examining it, it is important to separate the work from the man and not to condemn both together.

The fact of exclusion is established. It happened in London on May 16, 1906. Formally, according to the statutes of the Society, nothing can be done to Olcott.

The principle of the Society is that the private life of the individual is not the business of the Society. The question therefore arises as to whether his private actions are related to his public work, whether he has publicly caused a scandal. With this case, the Society has created a situation in which people can say: You are representing the teachings of someone whom you yourselves have expelled. There is nothing untrue in his books. Given the facts of the case, the question is: What should be done?

The Society has created a difficult situation for itself.