The History of the Esoteric School 1904–1914, Volume One

GA 264 — Berlin

The “Leadbeater Affair” I

that initiated the separation from the Esoteric School of Theosophy.

To the members of the German Section of the Theosophical Society [Berlin, early July 1906] Dear Friends! The President-Founder of the Theosophical Society sent the following executive note to me as the General Secretary of the German Section and requests me to communicate its contents to the members. Serious accusations¹ which have been raised by the Executive Committee of the American Section of the Theosophical Society against Mr. C. W. Leadbeater, have caused the President-Founder to call a meeting for May 16 in London, at which were present the entire Executive Committee of the British Section and delegates from the American and French Sections. It was to be discussed with the President what measures should be taken. After careful consideration of the charges, and after hearing Mr. Leadbeater's verbal explanation, the following resolution was adopted: Having considered the charges preferred against Mr. C. W. Leadbeater and having heard his defense, the committee unanimously recommends to the President the acceptance of Leadbeater's resignation, which he had already tendered prior to any action of the committee. Mr. Leadbeater's membership of the Theosophical Society thus ceases, as does his mandate as a presidential delegate. H. S. Olcott P.T.S.

Dear Friends!

The above document contains an important message in a somewhat brief form for the members of the Theosophical Society. Mr. Leadbeater is not only a member of the Society; he is one of the most outstanding propagators of the Theosophical worldview. His books have become a guide to Theosophy and a guide within it for many. He has numerous disciples who follow his direction. He has just completed a long lecture tour, during which he achieved something significant for the Theosophical movement in America and Australia. And immediately afterwards, “serious accusations” were made by the American section, the section within which he had just been working so energetically.

In view of these circumstances, I must concede to the members of the German section the right to demand an explanation from me as General Secretary. It is indeed repeatedly emphasized from many sides that the Theosophical Society in its aims and tasks should not be confused with the achievements of some of its members. On the other hand, however, it cannot be denied that the Society's overall activity is composed of the work of its individual members, and that it cannot be unimportant if trust in outstanding work must suffer a severe shock due to facts of the kind communicated in the President's circular. For with this trust in the workers, surely that in their achievements also falls away. And these achievements form the true living content of the Society. They are the means by which the Society is to fulfill a great task, from which its members want to draw spiritual nourishment. The Society certainly cannot live by the ever-recurring enumeration of the “three basic goals,” which are supposed to stand higher than any achievement of individuals.

But there are reasons for not talking in a circular about the things about which some of our American members have made serious accusations against Mr. Leadbeater, and because of which the members of the Executive Committee of the British Section and some delegates of the French and American Sections felt obliged to give their consent to the acceptance of Mr. Leadbeater's resignation.

I myself can now speak all the more impartially about this case of Leadbeater's, because from the standpoint of occultism, which I have to represent, I have always had to reject the methods by which Mr. Leadbeater comes to his occult realizations and which he also recommends as useful methods for others. I am not saying anything for or against the correctness of what Leadbeater presents as occult truths in his books. It is the case in occultism that someone can come to some correct insights, even though the methods he uses are dangerous and can easily lead astray. I must therefore trace the case of Leadbeater back to much deeper underlying causes. At the same time, however, I must explain that there is almost no one for whom there is no guarantee of falling into a disastrous error if he applies the methods on which Leadbeater's work is based. Because of my point of view, the case of Leadbeater was no surprise to me. But I do not think that anyone who agrees with the methodological basis of Leadbeater's occult research has any reason to condemn him now. Either the circular sent to the members should have clearly stated that the accusations concern matters that have nothing at all to do with occultism, or else Leadbeater's entire occult system falls with him. I am quite clear about the latter; that is why I have explained my point of view to the members of the German Section here, instead of making an official statement that is not included in the executive note.

As for the assessment of Mr. Leadbeater as a person, which might be important to some, it may be stated that he always emphasized the good intention he had in all of this, of which he is accused. And no one has any reasonable grounds for casting doubt on this assertion of Leadbeater's. It should also be considered in this matter that a large number of American members of the Theosophical Society have just sent out a circular letter in which they vigorously protest against the action taken against Mr. Leadbeater and in which they strongly demand his reinstatement in all his rights. From this it could also be concluded that one can have a different opinion about the charges against Leadbeater than the American Executive Committee has, and than those who simply make the opinion of this committee theirs.

I ask the esteemed members of the German Section not to be shaken in their commitment to the Theosophical cause, whatever the consequences of the Leadbeater case may be; and with that I send all friends

heartfelt Theosophical greetings

Dr. Rudolf Steiner
General Secretary of the German Section

I am happy to provide any member with further oral clarification of the matter should the opportunity arise.