THEOSOPHICAL LEADERSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19032, 1 June 1925, Page 7

THEOSOPHICAL LEADERSHIP.

Sir, —In reply to your report of a' statement made by Canon Jiuries in 1 Saturday's Herald, may I bo permitted to emphatically protest Againbt his assembly of improved allegations against) Bishop "Leadbeater being design tted as "fact." Divested of all exaggeration and bigotry, tins caso against Bishop Leadbeater is reduced to. one of maintaining " an unorthodox opinion with respect to certain sex matters." The so-called "heinous charges" against him aro an exploded fallacy, and are 'the, concoction of a band or bands of bigoted adherents of anti-Theosophical propagandists in America and India. In both countries these- foul aspersions have _ been resurrected again and again iand ftirled at tho leaders of the Theosophical Society, who have been persecuted with fiendish malignity. Ir. ,100 mapy casgs : It >ould seem that "the wish is'father to tho thought," and the trad ueers of iho society exhibit chagrin when their allegations aro • disproved. Canon James' citation of the American " 'Philosophic Voice," a bigoted anti-ThegsophiVi magazine, is unfortunate. The " cipher letter" was a fraudulent document,- 'undated and unsigned. It was aa n result pi tho cabling of the contents of this an i other documents to Mrs. Resant . .[tt-.cn in India) that she wrote khttoric letter. To her credit be it saiit that.; immediately the true facts were rilvcalea to her, she took her'stand by jher colleague and has. defended him nobly and valiantly ever since. As was stated by tho eminent counsel for tho plaintiff, at tho conclusion of the Madras Court case, " The Theo'sopHical Society emerged from the case as clean as a new sovereign." As quoted by your correspondent, Mr. Justice Bakewell stated: " The evidence was not sufficient to establish that, certain grave charges were committed,." That statement should bo sufficient to establish Mr. Leadbeater's innocence until proved otherwise to all lovers of British justice, but it has been left to Canon James to insinuate, by quoting certain statements out of their context, that the decision of Judge Bakewell was a. miscarriage of justice. It might have; occurred, to Canon James that the fact of Bishop Leadbeater's traducers having, during all these 20 years, failed to lodge him in the penitentiary would, at (least (fount for something in his favour, to say nothing of the unanimous testimony of all those who are still living in close association with him in his self-sacrificing labour for humanity. I submit that my personal knowledge of him, extending, over a period of 20 years, is worthy of consideration, added to which is the written testimony of Lady Emily LutyeDs and of Mr. C. jinarajadasa, M.A-. Cantab, an author and lecturer of world-wide fame. Is it likely that persons of this calibre would lend their support to such a man a? Canon James woold have i:s believe Bishop Leadbeater to bo ? In the absence of Mr. Krishnamurti, whom I also have the privilege of knowing intimately, ™ay i. repudiate with scorn and' contempt tho ignominy which Canon James seeks: tenmposo on the shoulders of a young exceptional beauty and nobihtj j acter ? Young though he be, as men voir<? his life writings, to say presence, give uiu ignorant , Lodgo, Thrasonical