APPENDIX

REPORT OF
TO DISCUSS

MEETING CALLED BY COLONEL OLCOTT.

CERTAIN CHARGES AGAINST C.W. LEADBEATER

GROSVENOR HOTEL, Buckingham Palaee Road,

S.

W.,

LONDON
On Wednesday, May IMh,
(COPY).

1906, at 5 p.m.

Present
tative

Col.

H,

S. Qlcott,

Mr. Burnett as represen

of

of the

Executive Committee

tke

American

Section, Mr. P. E. Bernard as representative of the Execu tive Committee of the French Section, and the members of

the Executive

Committee

of

the British Section, namely,

Mr. Sinnett, Dr. Nunn, Mr. Mead, Mrs. Stead, Miss Ward, Miss Spink, Mrs. Hooper, Mr. Glass, Mr. Keightley and
Mr. Thomas.
attendance and present at the first part of the meeting. Col. Olcott took the chair and asked Mr. Glass to act as Secretary to the meeting.
in

Mr. Leadbeater was also

Col.

Okott

have called you together

matter before
us.

to act as
is

an
to

advisory board

in the

The matter

listen

to

charges

against

Mr.

Lead beater
is

of

having

systematically taught boys the practice of self -abuse.

You
The

have read the documents.

sion
of

Among them

a partial confes

Mr. Leadbeater, and rebutting evidence.

Executive Committee of the American Section would have

expelled the accused but he is not a member of their Section. They therefore appealed to the President Founder
to help

them and

sent a representative of the section.

The

accused being a member of the London Lodge of the British

Section,

and holding the

office

of Presidential

Delegate,

and the Appeal being made by the Executive Committee of a Section it acquires an importance which prevents me from leaving the matter in its ordinary course to a Lodge.
I

have therefore asked

Section
to

the Executive

Committee
1

of

the

French Congress Committee have cancelled Mr. Leadbeater s invitation to

British
assist

me.

The

act as
to

Vice-President of the Congress.

have asked them

send a delegate to be present.

the least appearance of

So that we may avoid unfair play I have asked Mr.

I will call

Leadbeater to attend the meeting.

upon the

American and French delegates to read their Mr. Burnett then read the following
:

credentials.

44

Extract from

Minutes of the Executive Committee,

S.

American Section, T.
44

held in N.

Y.

C.

on April

13,

1906."

Resolved that the Commissioner appointed by the Executive Committee of the American Section, T. S. in the C. W. Leadbeater case be and hereby is instructed,
authorised and
First.

empowered

as follows

he go to Europe forthwith, taking with him documents containing charges and evidence against
.That

C W.

President- Founder

Leadbeater and personally lay them before the and the Lodge or Lodges of the T. S.

Ill

of

which the
assistance

accused

is

a
;

member, and ask

said
to

that they be
all

acted upon immediately

the
in

Commissioner giving
bring the

his

power

matter to a

.speedy and

final issue.
:

Second

That he

shall also place in the

hands

of the

General Secretary of the British Section T. S. a copy of the said charges and evidence with accompanying docu

ments

for his information

asking his aid

and

that of the

President- Founder

in bringing the matter to an early

and

satisfactory conclusion

without

that the

good name and ment and of the T. S. may thereby

Third
:

unnecessary publicity, so well-being of the T. S. move

be safeguarded
shall report

as far as possible.

That the

said
letter

Commissioner

progress by cable and

from

time

to

time to the

General Secretary, and on the termination of his mission shall submit to the Executive Committee a full and final
report in writing of same.

understood and agreed that there is nothing the foregoing instructions to the Commissioner that will
It
is

in
in

with his using his best judgment when, any way after consultation with the President-Founder, a somewhat
interfere
different

method

of procedure should
(Sd.)

be decided

upon."

ALEXANDER FULLERTON,
Gen. Secy.

Col. Olcott translated the following Resolutions of the

Executive Committee of the French Section.

To Dr. Th. Pascal copy of the official report of the Meeting of the French Committee held in Paris on the
"

13th May.
(Sd.)

PIERRE E, BERNARD,
Asst. Gen* Secy.

iv
f

(1)

Le

Conseil d

Ad ministration

estime que,

si

le

Div

Pascal, Secretaire Generale dela Section, recoit

Olcott

invitation

Section
1

francaise
C.
1

affaire

W.

L.

du Colonel officielle d envoyer un representant de la au comite forme envue d examiner il d envoyer ce delegue ya

(Adopte a
(2)

unanimite}.
les

Le ou
par

delegues envoyes auront carte, blancke.

Sur,
6,

(Adopte
abstanu).
(3)

5 voix

le

comt Courmes d etant

Sont designes

comme

delegues, conjointement

Le Dr.

Pascal, Secretaire Genl.

M. Pierre Bernard,
that the executive

Sec. r

Gi. Adjt. (Adopte a

Olcott:
is

L unanimite.)
power
to

Of course you know

in

vested

me.

You

are here to advise

me and

hear

what Mr. Leadbeater has to say, and to act according to your judgment after hearing him. A resolution should be passed calling upon me to do so, and I should follow
that
if

there

was nothing

in

my mind

against it
in the

(The charges having been already

hands

of the*

Committee were taken as read). Thomas Have the copies been compared with
:

the

originals

Burnett

Thomas
Olcott
:

They have. Have you the

official

documents
of

They

are

documents

the

American

and we have the representative of the Section here and he certifies that they are exact copies.
Section,

Burnett
I

The

originals are in the

American

Section.,

have seen

all

the original papers and certify

that

these

are exact copies.

(Mr. Leadbeater was then called upon

to

say

what

he wished.)

Lcadbeatcr

have already said that

should also add that
I
I

in

my

letter

to Mr. Fullerton.
letter as

regarded that
it

addressed to friends.

did not look upon

as a

defence against an attack. I took the trouble to give a detailed explanation because I thought I was giving it to
should also say that the original document four of the leading members contained a solemn signed by pledge that they would take the greatest care that this
friends.
I

would not become known and that they would not allow even a hint to escape. Remember that both I and ?.? rs. Besant answered under that confidence and we should not expect that our answers were going to be laid before a whole Section and before the whole world. So far as
I

am

concerned what
if I

said
I

is

exactly

all I

can say, except

opinion of the

that

were

to elaborate,
I

could bring more reasons for

that the

the action.
is

Of course

am aware

majority look on as worse, as

against that course,

They would regard things, much less objectionable. The only

I

point in

my mind
intent.

is

that
I

should

assure

you that there

solution of a

was no evil

was simply
not the

offering a

serious difficulty.

It is

my mind
is

it is

far better than the

common solution but to common solution, but I

do not expect
with that

that

that the Society wishes to clear

you should agree with me. The point itself from all connection
Society
is

view.

The

correct

in taking

that

ground
fore
I

if that is the opinion of its representatives. There took the course which was taken by other members.

placed my resignation in the hands of the PresidentFounder, not with any idea of confessing to evil intent but simply to relieve the Society from any supposed compli
city.

You may

hold any views of the course which

is

took,

but our one idea

to

prevent the Society from

being

VI

injured.

As

to

what comes
all

to

me, that

is

a minor matter

the Society means is the same in case and whether a member or not my own beliefs any will remain the same, only if my resignation be accepted

my own

adhesion to

that shuts

me

out

from a

certain

kind of

Theosophical

work.
Since this has
that
I

come forward

it

would be undesirable

should appear before the public. Therefore it seems I have to me that there is little more I can say. only at all of the documents ex now seen anything just
cept
that
first

letter.

There
other

have

been

other

sup
I

posed

rebuttals

and

documents

which

had

only seen to-day, and I should challenge

while there are a number of points as inaccurate, yet all those are
effect the great question.
It
is

minor

points

and do not

simply that there are points of so-called rebuttal untrue and others so distorted
the
facts of the case,

which are

that they

do not represent

but these do not affect the central

point. They could only be adduced to show I had not I the truth, which is not so. spoken cling to what I have said to Mr. Fullerton, I can discuss If wished all the
points.
Olcott
:

What do you
I

desire

Mead
Miss

think

it is

only

right

and proper that

Mr

Leadbeater should face

it.

Ward

Are

we

documents

before us

? It

not here to judge upon tke does not seem necessary to go

into anything further,

Thomas

The

rebuttal evidence has to

do with points
Mead,
I

in the original.

It is
:

important

it

should be dealt with

to Mr.

Mr. Leadbeater

With regard

have

come

across

no question regarding motive.

vn
*

Burnett

That
his

is

true,

Mr. Leadbeater has

is

made a
the

statement

that

resignation

in the

hands of

Presiden t- Founder.

Okott

That
:

is

so

have

it.

Burnett
tion
is

It

would seem

to
to

me

that

this,

that

we ought

have
is

the main ques Mr. Leadbeater s

resignation read before anything else

done.
resolved.

Miss

Ward

seconded and

this

was
:

The

following letter of resignation was read

;

London May
The, President- Founder
of the Theosophical Society.

16th, 1906.

Dear Colonel
In view

Olcott,

events, and in order to save the from any embarrassments, I beg to place in your Society hands my resignation of membership.

of recent

Yours as
(Sd.)

ever,

C.

W.

Leadbeater."

Burnett
is

would

like to ask,

Mr. President.

There

nothing in that resignation which shows the nature of the charges or the cause of resignation, and it is a question

which every member

ordinary

will ask.

Mr. Leadbeater

is

not an

member
of

of the T. S.

He

has toured the world in

to

the interests

Theosophy and we have

world,
the

meet the
our

questions

of

the

questions
If

of

own
into

members, as to why

this resignation.

we go

quibbling as to the exact wording of statements of fact we might go on without settling anything. If Mr. Leadbeater

admit the charges to be true that my mind.

Olcott
:

settles

the

matter

in

Mr. Leadbeater, you admit that

?

it

was your

practice to teach certain things

vm
Thomas
:

should like to

know

if

Mr.

Leadbeater
his

definitely admits
letter to

the accuracy of the

copy of

own
Mrs.

Mr.

Fullerton

and the

original

letter to

Besant.

Leadbcater
I

To

the best of

my knowledge and belief.

I

have somewhere the draft which

I

drew up
I

of the letter I

seat.

am

not in a position to certify but

believe

it

to

be a true copy.

Thomas

While

^vish

to

fall in

with the wishes of

the American representative there are one or two

most

important points in the rebuttal evidence and it is most important, that we should be made clear on the matter.
Leadbeaier
:

can deal with

it

man
with

put
it.

it

to the meeting that Mr.

I

(The Chair" shortly. Leadbeater should deal

8,

Agreed)

find

paper

No.

called a
I

rebuttal,

begins by

speaking of a counter charge.

"

did not

make

one
Of a

am

certain

simply speaking of certain facts, and they speak That statement in the first para is in
Z."

direct contradiction to

what the boy

told

me,

and seeing
detail
it

he

told

it

to

me

at

the time

with a wealth of

is

difficult to

say that he

think that thess boys have

having to press them more than was there.

was inventing. I am inclined to been catechised they speak of and my idea is that they have got
first

In the case of the

sentence, that
to

disagrees with the detailed

statement

made

me by

the

happen good young man. So that there he has misrepresented matters. The same thing applies to the fourth para, marked" 2nd." Of course, that is merely set
boy,

in

speaking to

me

of a

deal

that did

between himself and

this

ting statements of the

tell

you

that

if I

Fullerton was to

same boy against one another. I may had had any idea that my letter to Mr. go before other people I should not have

IX

mentioned
Para
speakiag

"

Z."

have

enough of the old

etc."

priestly idea

of

confession to keep back that.

"

3,

A
I

conversation,

That
<%

is

practically

quite true, I told the

more
I

to fear.

had

mother that she had nothing and the boy and promises from
Z"

thought the boy might help the young man. That but does not show my statement was untrue.

is

true

At the
Besanfs
that

bottom of the
"

page a
true,

quotation
etc."

from Mrs.
true that in
I

letter,

That
case
I

is

not

It is

particular

may

not have

done

so.

have no

recollection of this but -had

done
"

it

in

many

cases.

On
in

top of the next page.

s letter to

The

interview mentioned

Mr. Leadbeater

Mr. Fullerton as taking place

"Z"

at Convention time
strictly
private."

between Mr. Leadbeater and

it

was

can only reassert that I did mention the matter to Mr. Fullerton. Mr. Fullerton
was.
t

Of course

may have

forgotten.

It

may be

that all that

meant was
prevent
quite

not fully understood

because

the

conventions
I

people speaking freely on such matters.

clearly having said
to

remember
be
all

him

4<

think

it

will

right."

The young man afterwards turned

worthy
in

out to
I

be not very
to

youngman The third paragraph speaks

of another boy.
It

other ways besides this. at Mr. Fullerton s request.

had spoken

the

of the

proposed adoption

proposed the adop It was discussed at the Convention of 1904 and had tion. been mentioned to me before by Mr. Fullerton. I think

was not

who had

Mrs.

Denis will corroborate

this.

spoke to

"

"

and
pro

asked

him various

questions.

He

mises as to what he would do.

I

It is

gave a mistake
the

me

various

to say that
in train
it

thing proposed the adoption, but finding was no business of mine to set myself against it.

At the bottom of the page the boy

last

is
I

made

to say,

"at

you know
this
;

why
I

hate him so.

signs
of

do not know any

thing of

saw no
letter

anything

more than

indifference.

The

was the

first

intimation to

me

of

the hatred.

Then you come

the letter which
I

to the third

boy.

There

is

part of

advice

given

is

wrote to him, and you will see that the along the lines I have been telling you.
the reason
1

and

that should be evidence that

is

gave

for

speaking
course,

the correct one.

I

It is

a matter of curiosity of

but

obtained as
Burnett

it

was going to ask how that document was was torn up and thrown away.
It

was found

intact

in

a discarded

gar

mentin

the pocket.
:

Leadbeater

The

interlineation in

statement by the mother as to interval original interval was a week, and then it
to ten days,

writing giving a untrue. The is

was lengthened
"

Mead
letter.
"

then a fortnight, and so on. What does the word still

"

mean

in

that

Still,

there

may be

this

much

reason in what he

says, that while you are not quite well we should spend no force that can be avoided." Is he to begin again when he is well?

^Leadbeater
relieve.

If

he finds any accumulation he should

to

Mead
evidence.

Return

In paragraph
"

the beginning of the rebuttal No. 2, with reference to the

"

youngman
son
;

".

The boy
try to

says
this
I

Well,

this

was the rea

he talked

he did not

do

same

thing, but

about these matters

ship

in a

way
to

did not like and his friend

became

distasteful

me."

Can you throw anj

further light on that sentence

XI

Leadbeater

account given to me.

fcere.

have already said what that was in the It went much further than it is said
"

Mead
case pf
"

What
that
:

does

do"

mean

You

suggest in the

Z"

it

was sodomy. do not do

that.

Leadbeater

Mead

The boy
it

did not do this same thing. In your

case he states that

was dne.
think

Miss

Ward

we need

not here go into these

further details.
Olcott
:

We

frank disclosure.
advise

should not keep in anything, but have You are not sitting judicially, but to

me what
:

to do.

Thomas
It

Mr-

Mead s

question

is

a most important one-

involves whether Mr. Leadbeater simply gave advice or

something different.
Leadbeater
in the sense of
:

It

was not

in

any way something

different

Mr. Mead.
I
:

Thomas

don
I

mean
t

that.

Leadbeater

don

quite

know what you mean-

When boys practice selfon themselves- This sentence suggests That is the meaning of the something done by you words. I ask for an explanation of this, or if you simply
Mead
:

It is

quite clear.

abuse tkey do

it

deny.
Leadbeater I deny anything in the way that is apparently suggested but certainly not that that suggestion was made- I am not denying that in the least.
:

Mrs- Stead

women

wish to say that though there are present that ought to be no restraint to the free
:

discussion.

Xll

Olcott

am

extremely

repugnant to have

thi:

discussion, but

we must
I

treat this

thing as a physiologic*

question.

Thomas

am

not quite satisfied with the answer.

definitely

should like to

know

whether

it

was simply

in the

nature of advice or whether there was any action.

Leadbeater:
incidents.
I
I

want

to call

scarcely

recollect.

there

might be a certain That might be possible.

up quite clearly the exact There was advice bul amount of indicative action

Mead:
case of
"

The boy

suggests

that the difference

Z"

between
of

he spoke

way and you was that in the these things, and in your case
"Z"

in the

most

distinct

something was done

Leadbeater
:

to him.
t

-Nothing was done to^im. You can be suggesting what seems to be the obvious suggestion.

Mead

You
:

say the boy

lies ?

Leadbeater He has misrepresented. I don t like to accuse people of lies, but a construction has been put upon it which is not right.

Thomas
whether was
in

Your

reply as to scarcely recollecting sug

cases.
I

gests that there

were so many
I

would

like to

know
there

any case

am

not suggesting sodomy

touch
?

definite action.

Leadbeater

You mean

That might have

:

taken place.
"

Mead The third page in the letter to Mrs Besant With great reluctance he admitted the facts of Mr.
: :

Leadbeater s immoral conduct, and in reply to the question when did it happen? he said the very first night I visited him when we slept together." Why is it that on so many

Xlll

>>ccasions

when boys go
?
:

to Mr.

Leadbeater they

sleep

with him

Leadbeater That depends on the accommodation. Bernard -That does not explain sharing baths.
:

Okolt
;here

I was told by a lady in a recent case that were two rooms prepared but both of them slept in
:

one bed.
Leadbeater
question
;pose
?
:

What was
I

the point of

Mr.

Bernard
I

We
I

have sometimes shared the bath. have never thought of

sup-

you understand that

this sort

of thing.

never thought of suspicion.

2,

Thomas: One paragraph of the rebuttal evidence page paragraph 2. You did not deal with the case of th e two M boys to be left in the care of Z and in connection with
"

that although

you do not admit the accuracy

of the

boy

statement you admit that some serious things had

place.

taken

Leadbeater

have not direct evidence.

inferred you believed
it.

Thomas

You
:

do not say I believe it, but what the boy said to me seemed undersirable. As to leaving the was greatly interested in boys and boys in charge.
Leadbeater
I
"

Z"

the question

was could I turn over the care of them to any other -person ? This was one suggestion. I had had a talk with him and he had given me certain promises which were broken afterwards but I had no reason to think this.
statement you say the boy told What with youjof sexual matters, he had entered into

Thomas:

In your

own

"Z".

do you mean

?
:

Leadbeater

Do you want me
?

to

tell

you exactly

what the boy

said

XIV

Thomas
Thomas
with

You have mentioned

:

it

to

Mr. Fullerton.

Leadbeaier
;

did not go into detail. Despite this, did you think he was a
I

man

whom boys might be safely left Leadbeaier Yes, when he had

:

made

promises.

Thomas
treme

Surely as a

difficulty of

man you would know the ex keeping promises when temptation was
know
could.
it is

placed in his way. Leadbeaier

:

difficult,

but Mr.

Fullerton

and

did what
:

we

Thomas
fession.

But Mr. Fullerton would not know the con

spoke generally to Mr. Fullerton.

Leadbeaier
:

No,

Olcoii -Then you were really recommending that the boy should be confided to a man of this sort ?

Leadbeaier
the air

never recommended.
to Chicago.
of
it ?

found that

in

when
:

came

Thomas

You approved
:

Leadbeaier

This

is

a different

not in evidence.
desirable

His conditions at

matter. The boy is home were very un

and

his

mother was willing that he should

be

adopted by someone. Mrs. Dennis had written to me and I think also to Mr. Fullerton before the Convention. I

would have been was impossible.

at

willing to adopt the

I

think the care of

"

Z"

boy myself but that who was fond of

life

him would -have been

home. Thomas

better than the

he was leading

You admit
?
:

giving the advice to

more

than

the

two boys

Leadbeaier

You are

to take

it

that the

same
?

advice

was given
Olcoii

to several.
:

How many ?

Twenty

altogether

XV
Leadbeater
:

No, not so many.

letter

Thomas

According to the

of Mrs. Besant

you

say three or four times. Burnett Never mind

:

that.

You

are

introducing

something not
Sinnett
:

in the charges.

You

should have some proposal to discuss.

reads
"

Mead
this

The second charge

That he does

with deliberate intent and under the guise of occult training or with the promise of the increase of physical
manhood"

The evidence
him
for help.

of these boys says nothing

I

about

applying to

want

to ask

whether this advice

was given on appeal or not. Leadbeater Sometimes without, sometimes

:

with.

advised
Miss

it

at times as a Prophylactic.
:

Ward

suppose

from what

you saw on the

arise.

other planes ? Leadbeater

Olcott
:

From what
is

saw would

That
:

not within our discussion.

to

Burnett

It

seems

me what we may
is

infer

from

Mr. Leadbeater

answers that he

casting a reflection on

the veracity of the boys and on their breaking faith with him I would like to say that the boys did not break faith
.

with him until they were caughtMrI should like Keightley

:

Leadbeater

to tell us

whether

in

following

this

course he did so with Mrs.

Besanf s knowledge and consent before these charges were He states in his letter that he has no secrets sent to India,

from Mrs. Besant and he has been

with her.
I

in

intimate relations

should like him to

tell

us at

what date Mrs.

Besant was

made aware and whether

:

at that time she did

noi express disapproval.

Leadbeater

Is this a right

question

XVI

Miss

Ward

do not think

that this question

is

right-

We ate asked
we
the

our opinion on certain charges and have Mr. Leadbeater s reply- The representative of
to give

American Section asks us

this matter.

to expel

him or whether we

are going on with

Keightley
:

appeal to the President to rule formally

on the matter.
Okott

and we
to

Mrs- Besant has been brought into the case, have a letter from her to Mrs. Dennis- It seems
:

me

that

it is

a matter of serious consideration whether

Mr. Lead beater did these things with a good motive and has as he says no secrets from Mrs- Besant and this might

have some weight

(Miss

in

dealing with the matter-

Ward
:

quoted

Mrs-

Besant

statement

of

disapproval.)

Keightley

am

asking the

date of

Mrs-

Besant
is

knowledge,

think a straight answer to

my

question

the

only possible reply.

Thomas
been put
I

do not think it should be put but having thing Mr. Lead beater, might well answer it.
.

Leadbeater

If

the President thinks this

is

right.

(Miss Spink and Mr- Sinnett did not think the question should be put-)

Sinnet

think

that

Mrs- Besant

should not kave

been brought into the matterbody should have heard of it.

yiead
:

No
Mr-

one but the governing

Sinnet but
the otker

agree

with

procedure has been adopted. I do not think that that Miss Spink
:

is

a question of

motive-

Mead
but
it is

agree with Mr. Keightley s point of view It does affect tfee a question I should not press:

XVII

question of motive, because if the motive was good there would not have been concealment.

OlcoU

of Mr. Leadbeater,

Since Mrs. Besant has repudiated the theory would it not be presumed that she had
it ?

not been made acquainted with can judge for ourselves ?

(Several

Is it

not a matter

we

tell

members expressed approval of this). Burnett The inference remains that he does not all of his methods to Mrs Besant.
:

Since he did not want the boys to tell their mothers he would, I should think, shrink from telling Mrs.
Otcott
:

Besant.

Burnett

would
is

like to ask

Mr. Leadbeater

in

view

of the fact that he

compos mentis

why he did not inform

the fathers, before he took any of these boys, what his practices were, that the father might have had the oppor
tunity of consulting with the
to

mother.

It

has been

said

me by
if

that

every mother, and mothers not in these charges, they had known he had taught these practices he
.

would never have had the boys Leadbeater I don t understand

:

all this talk

I

about

concealment.

If

asked about the thing

talk

should not have

hesitated in speaking.

Burnett
it

The

is

because

all

the world

condemns
is

but Mr. Leadbeater, so far as

my

knowledge

con

cerned.

Leadbeater

Burnett:
supports
if

:~ Your knowledge does not go very far. There is no treatise on! physiology which
I

this.

he had ever seen

asked your friend Dr. ... in Chicago, it advised. He had never advised it and
it

had never known

to

be advised.

You

are flying in the

2

XV111

face of the whole

world, and

why

then did you not

tell

the boys parents

Leadbeater
these things.
I

wish

had.

But one does not

it

talk of

told

every parent

speak freely about sexual matters. tell the boy about such things because he was not pure enough himself.
of the parents to

was my practice to I was asked by one

Burnett

True, but he did not

know

it

was

to teach

the boys self-abuse.

Olcott
:

Mr- Bernard, on behalf of the French

Com

mittee have you anything to say ? Since Mr. Lead beater was teaching these Bernard
:

them in case of need, considering that men be in the same difficulty, has he ever taught this to may any grown-up men ? Has he taught the same thing in the
boys to help

same personal way

Leadbeater
in
life I
:

to
I

grown-up men
to

as to children ?

believe

that at least on

two occasions
as better

have given that advice my than the one generally adopted.

Olcott
:

young men

Leadbeater

Since you came into the Society ? I think not, but one case might have
:

are probably not aware that one at least of been. the great Church organisations for young men deals with the matter in the same manner.

You

Mead

Do you
:

Leadbeaier

deliberately say this Yes.

:

Mead &
the matter

Burnett
:

What
it.

is its

name

Leadbeater
first
:

am

not free to give

states then

this.

heard of

Mead

through Mr. Leadbeater

the

that

there

is

an

organisation of
self-abuse ?

Church

of

England which teaches

XIX

Okott

Is
:

it

Leadbeater

a seminary for young priests or a school ? It is not in a school but I must not give

definite indications.

Okott

Is it
:

found
I

in the Catholic
so.

Church

Leadbeater

expect

Okoit

know

that in Italy

Garibaldi found

many
is

terrible things.

Mead
Of
is

This

last

statement |of Mr. Leadbeater

I

one
It

the

most extraordinary things

to

have ever heard.

an organisation of the Church of England which teaches masturbation as a pre

incredible
that there
is

me

ventive against unchastity.

this organisation
?

ask,

what

is

the

name

of

Leadbeater

certainly should not

is

tell.

Mead
to secrecy
first

understand that it
I

and

take

it

an organisation pledged that Mr. Leadbeater received his

information from this organisation.

Leadbeater

suppose
it.

it

would have been better

if I

had not mentioned

Mead

absolutely refuse to believe that this

:

is so.

Leadbeater
Sinnett
:

decline to prove

What

it in any manner. shape do you want the advice to take,

Mr. President?

The form of a Resolution. Has Mr. Leadbeater anything further to say ? Me.ad I don t know that I have more to say Leadbeater
Okott
:
: :

than

said in the beginning.

entirely with the

see, of
I
I

course,
t

that

you

disagree

method.

but

repudiate anything
freely as
I

further.

object to that, have tried to tell the

don

whole thing as
Okott
:

could
is

think that there

no

feeling

on the part of
in

those present that you did not

have the feeling

your

XX

mind when you gave the

you gave.
Leadbeater
:

I think that every advice. here knows, you will think, your motive was the one body

ought

to say that of course

did

not
4

contemplate involving the Society in this doctrine or that The Society has no connection with our belief.
Olcoit
in
:

Of course not unless some one should believe

art.
I

house-breaking as a good

Mead

want

to
.

ask
.

whether the questions and

answers are complete.

Then Mr. Leadbeater should

(Mr.

withdraw and leave us

quarter of an hour.)

to deliberate.

Leadbeater
about a

withdrew and the Committee adjourned

for

The Committee resumed

presence of Mr. Leadbeater. I propose that Mr. Mead
:

its

sitting

without the

Leadbeater be expelled

from the Society.

Keightley
Sinnett
tion
: :

I
I

second

this,

move

as an

amendment

that his resigna

be accepted in the form given. I second that. Miss Ward

:

Olcott

He
:

wants

to

modify
"

it.

(The

Chairman

read the resignation again.) I should I place in Sinnett simply say your hands view of private circumstances, etc." my resignation," cr
"in

I should like to point out that we are trying the honour of the Theosophical Society. Such uphold a document will probably have to be printed in the public
:

Mead

to

press before long

and

it

is

not

sufficient

to

Why this man had gone out of be known among the members.
of

the Society
It

will

guard us have to

will

be

in the

hands

any one and

it

will

be spread abroad.

XXI

Thomas

We ought

to face

this

matter

in

a proper

think accepting the resigna tion is not sufficient condemnation of the For practice. the sake of the Society it would be better to take the
I

way. If we simply accept to answer to our members.

this resignation

we

shall

have

bolder course.

(The Chairman then read an Executive notice he had

drafted for publication in the
that in
"
"

Theosophist

intimating

consequence of charges of teaching boys selfabuse having been made and admitted, Mr. Leadbeater

was no longer a member

alternative as to

of the Society.

The

notice

was

resignation or

expulsion,
final

waiting the
decision of the

advice of the Committee

President.)
Sinnetl
I

and the

should be sorry to see that published.

of the Theosophical Society.
Is

It

would be the end

Miss

Ward

there

not a

third

course

tha{ the

resignation be received with some condition attached to it ? Burnett : The matter did not take official form but

what would be satisfactory to the American Executive would be that the resignation should be accepted because
of charges of teaching self-abuse.
If

we accept

his resig

nation

it

must include
it

that

statement.

He

admits the

charges and therefore

Mead

would seem to us necessary. You see you have had to get that out of Mr.

Leadbeater.

When

the thing gets

known

it

will

be the

We had. greatest shock the Theosophical Society has over the place all cannot lie about it. It has gone
already,
I

don

mean

to

say

that the

Colonel should

publish the announcement at once.

anything which makes to publish the Executive notice.

Glass
:

Is there

it

necessary

XXI 1

Miss Spink :take the straight

it in.

think with

Mr. Mead
than to

it is

better to
to

course rather

work
it

keep
the

Miss
journals
?

Ward:

Does

it

mean

publishing,

in

Mead i
Secretaries.

Send the Executive notice to the General If you say a single word of Mr- Leadbeater
thing will

not being in the Society the whole Your Resolution should be clear.
Sinnett
:

go out

It is

better that the thing should go out

in

in

the quieter
to

way. have been kept more secret than it is.

Burnett
:

way than
It

an

official

The

thing ought

was made known by the boy Raja. out now. I do not stick to the form Sinnett of the resigna I should like tion. to have some reference in terms of

Mead

It is

"

private

conditions."

If

he modifies these terms

in

any
.

way which you approve you could take the resignation

Olcott
:

you will give me a memorandum I will take it to him and ask him to modify it. Sinnett Take my amendment. Simply accept his
If
:

resignation.

Mead
tion

There

is

nothing

in

accepting

this resigna

which shows that the whole matter has been proved

Miss

against him.

Ward

did not speak in the favour of

it.

amend

ment but only seconded

But
is

we

should remember that he

I would like to say that not sane on these matters

and that he has for a number of years given his whole life to the movement and that a large number of people owe

him

help.

think

if

we can keep

the resignation in

we

should.

XX111

Kcightley

We have a greater

duty upon us than

we

owe

to the individual

the duty to the

movement.

We

stand here in the position of trustees representing the in terests of the movement throughout the world. have

We

to face the world.

The

thing must

come
I

out.

The

stand
that

should be doing our duty by any Resolution, should it not convey to the public our feeling in the way it ought to

we we

take must be clear and definite.

do not think

be conveyed.
but

we

not with any personal feeling I speak should be doing wrong to the Society by accepting
It is

a resignation whic*h simply means withdrawing from I still think our proper course is that the Society.

the

man

the world as a teacher of Theosophy and that teaching with teaching of this sort should be couples expelled, even if we all believe it is dictated by a Diseased
stands to
brain
.

who

Sinndt
a

If his

resignation

is

accepted he ceases to be

member.

would announce

his resignation.

The papers

are

We

not so keenly interested as to enter into the matter. are clear from all responsibility as soon as we accept

his resignation.

of the put in a word on behalf ? This is a most terrible thing. have some of the best women in the Society broken hearted about this. What do we do to defend them ?

Mead

May

mothers of these boys

We

Sinnelt

We
:

cannot defend them.

the measure
is

Bernard

If

not strong enough

it

will

not do. Mrs. Besant said he would not do

he has not given such a promise.

hardly right for

He

it any more but even said it was

him
I

to give

explanations.

If

my

collea
his

gues heard what

expulsion.

have heard they would demand

XX1Y

Thomas
cannot
Okoti
:

wish

could accept his resignation, but

A
:

cable

despatch has just been received

tell

which makes the case much worse than before.

Thomas
there
is

think he has tried to

of regret

the

truth

but

no expression
is

and he holds
that our

still

that the

practice

a good one.
:

Sinnett

It

seems
is

to

me

remarks are based

on the idea that there

act only

something behind.

We ought
that

to

on what
:

is

before us.

Thomas
this in

cannot accept the statement

I

ke did
a qase

good

faith.

think

the

whole of the evidence

it

shows that

if it

was not a case

of direct vice

was
to

of gratifying his
Sinnett
:

own prurient ideas. If we act on this idea^ we ought

cross-examination.
I

have the

text of these boys

We

have not the

means

of going into that.

want

to act

on the papers as
notes

they stand.

reading of the where Mr. Lead beater admitted actual deeds.

I

Mead

should

call for the

Keightley

believe the explanation

closely

is
it

sexual mania.

There are cases

analogous and

makes
feel
I

it

the

more necessary would absolutely

be discharging

that the decision should

be one which
should

clear the Society,

do not
if

my

duty to the Society

consented to

the resignation as it stands. The public will rise up and condemn the Society as a hot-bed of vice. It is not proposed that the Executive notice Mead
:

is

to

be put on record

in

Public-

Mr.

Sinnett

idea
is

is

that

you should publish at once that Mr. Leadbeater

:

no

longer a member. I should decline to Sinnett

tell

the cause.

XXV
Thomas
:

Mr. Sinnett does not know quite what Mr.

Leadbeater is to many of the members. Mr. Leadbeater is too nach of a family name in the North to keep things in.
Otott
;

think
i

we have
like

said enough. to say

Burnett

should

why
here

am

here and

aepport the expulsion.

We

are

not

to persecute

Mr

Leadbeater,
of us

we

are here to preserve

the good

name

of the Theosophical Society

before the

world and while

differ

some

may have

opinions that would

because

of our intimate
integrity has

relations with him, belief

in his personal

know how

the

no bearing on the world regards

;

present situation.
this

We
not

matter.

It is

supported by any doctor therefore, we must get out of our minds any idea of personality. I have no feeling against the man who sat here to-day and uttered the most

infamous things

have ever

listened to, but

say that

if

we do

not expel this

man

the world will rise

up against

the Society.

(The amendment was put and the Committee divided equally upon it, six voting for and six against it.)
In taking these votes the parliamentary the proper one to be acted upon. The Reso lution should be That these words stand as part of the
Simtett
is
:

method

"

question."

The Chairman

is

bound

to give

his casting

vote as to whether the words stand as part of the question. (After some slight discussion on this point, the original

Resolution as to expulsion was put and the Committee divided equally upon it, six for and six against.) Cannot we accept the resignation with Miss Ward
:

some
It

definite statement

which would meet the objection

surely can be

made

clear that

we condemn

the

action

or teaching.

XXVI

(The

President then read his

proposed

Executive

notice again.)
Sinnett
:

If this

is

to

be a public
is

document,

ttee

definite statement of the reason

undesirable.

Dr.

Nunn
:

We might
I

alter that.

Burnett

ment
and

as

drawn
the
:

suggest that we should accept the sta tup by the President-Founder and that tie

should strike
let

off

from the paper the word

"
"

"

resignatioi?

word

Olcott

stand. expulsion There are many things

to

be said for and

fact

against the course.

We

may adopt one

that

it is

impossible to surpress the

publication of this

case.

The

question is, how are we going to minimise ? Miss Ward How shall we stand with regard to our own members, some of whom will take action in defence
:

of

Mr. Leadbeater
in the

? if

Shall

we
to

not. run less

it

risk of dis

union

Society

we

allow

to

be resignation, and
of disuniting the

therefore give no

opportunity

arise

Society

?
:

and

had that same thing in the case, of Judge wrote the notice which wiped out the American I am never afraid of taking Section when I was in Spain.
Olcott
I
I

bold action.
Miss

should say,
:

Ward
?
:

do what it pleases. May we not learn wisdom from the

let

the Press

past troubles

Burnt tt

We

may have
members

learnt

wisdom enough from

left

the past acts.

In America

the action of the Colonel

of the Section

15 per cent, of the

and how the

is

15 per cent,

is

85 per cent, and 85 per cent,

of right always.

15 per cent.

So
us

it is

the principle

We

want
to

to

be

able to face the world

when we

leave this room.

It is for

to advise

the President- Founder as

what

we

XXV11

consider the right thing. can, I think, go before the of America, and the people question will be asked and we can say why he is no longer a member Because whea
"

We

his practices

were found out and confessed

Society."
"

to,

we

expelled

him from the

Sinnett
:

We

took action which led to his with

"

drawal from the Society

Kdghtley
notice read
:

covers the ground.

President)

(To the

How

would your
?

if it

said resignation instead of expulsion

his

(The President again read

"

notice with

the

word

Resignation
Sinnett
:

".)

This would not be

in

accord with the

facts.

He

resigns because something has come up. I am Keightley willing to meet this view so
:

far as

to substitute in the notice the

form of permitting him

His resignation
is

to

tender his resignation.

Mead

-That
:

is

not correct.
I

here-

Keigktley

Then
If

stick to the other point.

Burnett

we do
at

meet the matter

not expel him every convention.

we
I

shall

have

to

am

willing

to

consider everything which can be considered but we must go out of here, with a clean record and say that we will

have no association with any man

things.
Olcott
:

who

advocates such

Would
I
:

the Committee be willing to hold an

?

adjourned meeting to-morrow morning

Me&d

think

we should

decide now.

Sinnett

We are
If

divided and the responsibility rests

witk the President.

Olcott
:

you consider

it

will

be parliamentary for

me,

will act.

XXV111
Sinnett
I

the right way.

Council.
Olcott
:

do not think the thing has been dome in It should have been brought before the
it

Colonel and he could then bring

before the

Exeeative

That
I

is

what has been done.

should say that we are regarded as divided, the term resignation or expulsion should remain in your hands. The question is what further statement has to be

Mead

opinion that
support.

made and how it is to be made. I am most strongly of we must have a Resolution and give you our
It is

not fair to Colonel

Olcott to

leave

doubt on

this matter.

Our Resolution should be

on record
in

him in clear and

we should resolve
and
that a

that this be put

of
it

our archives

should be sent to every one of the copy General Secretaries of the Section to use at their discre
tion.

Then

thing

now

the question is, are we going to publish any If you say that Mr. Lead beater has resigned*

the thing will have to be explained.

Miss Ward L suggest that we accept hi^ resignation and put on record a Resolution condemning ihe practice. Mead The facts have to go on record and afeo the
:
:

position of the meeting.

Sinnett
I think the promulgation of any indecent most objectionable I would not use any term
:

phrases

is

like self-abuse or its equivalent.

Mead:

don

advise .you

to publish

anything.

am

asking for
I

sary.

don

something which can be published if neces ask that the Resolution or Mr. Leadbeater s

resignation should be published

now.
thing to
filter

Burnett

We must allow this

through

the minds of the people and get there will not be a furore.

them used

to

it

and then

XXIX
Situtett
:

am

sure that
in

we

shall

never

agree.

object to put

on record

any way which involves pub

protest against

lication any phrases such as self-abuse. I any document going out with such terms.

Olcoit
tive draft
I

have

Does the Committee approve of the tenta in my hand ? I put Executive notices"
"

m the
thing.

"

Theosophist."

It is

my custom

to publish

every

Miss

Ward
I

don

think that any

expulsion.

Church which

might expel would publish the

Sinnett
tion.
:

protest against any

possibility of publica

I agree that we do not publish until neces but we must keep faith with our members. This is sary a question which comes up, we have a family that, should

Burnett

we countenance
Miss Ward:

anything of

this,

would leave and publish

the fact of their leaving.

I

think something could be drafted or

would accept the Executive notice with the resignation in, if it would be for the archives of the Society and not for immediate publication.
Burnett
:

If

you

mean by

the

archives

that

the

members could see them. Mr. Thomas suggested

"

a fresh form of Resolution

Charges involving moral obliquitylhaving been made and substantiated against Mr. Leadbeater, resolved that he be
expelled from the Theosophical Society." I should not object to it being put on Miss Ward in our opinion his actions are inconsistent with record that
:

the professions of this Society and that he has accordingly resigned.

cxx
Stnnett
to the
I

will try to

go a
of

little

step further
"

and add

acceptance of the resignation,

Mr.

Leadbeater

has anticipated the request

resigning."

the governing

body by

Mead

In consequence of what
;

Sinnett

That

is

a thing to

be worded with care.

Dr.

Nunn suggested a

further Resolution,

and Mr.
:

Sin-

nett after
41

some conversation, drafted the following

That having considered certain charges against Mr. Leadbeater and having listened to his explanations
this

Committee

recommend
Committee
s

the

acceptance
already

by

the

President- Founder of his

anticipation of the-

resignation

offered in

decision."

Mead

Is this for publication ?

:

Sinnett

think

it

might

be

published

in

the

"Theosophist."

Mead

want
?

to

know when

that

is

done what we

have met together and listened to certain things and a repord of these doings will have to be made. We cannot suppress what has been done in this
are going to

do

We

meeting.
Sinnett
:

should be guided by circumstances.

are that

Mead
what we

The circumstances

we are

left to

do

like.
:

Sinnett
Olcott
is
it.
:

It
I

cannot be otherwise.

am

crisis I

believe in going

opposed to all paltering and when there forward boldly and meeting

My

view

publicity

is that we cannot keep this back and all the we can have is nothing to the reputation of it

having kept

back.

XXXI
Burnett
:

do not ask

that this should be published,

but

it

should appear on the record.

:

Thomas

would appeal

to

the

Colonel not
others

to

publish it now. Mr. Leadbeater.

KeigKtley
is
:

The matter

involves

besides

It is the boys who must be considered. Unless in some public manner the Society
is

informed that Mr. Leadbeater

will

no longer a member,

he

visiting Branches and giving lectures and pick ing up boys, as he had done in the past. .1 cannot leave this room satisfied until I know that no member can be

be

taken unawares.

We

cannot allow there to be any doubt

that Mr. Leadbeater has ceased to be a

Society.
Olcott
:

member

of

the

There was the case

of

Madame

Blavatsky

second marriage and I deliberated a long time about the publication of it and finally concluded that the best thing

was

to tell the

whole truth and

it

told

the

truth

and

it

never did any harm, but

killed

some malicious

attacks.

My
I

idea would be to publish an Executive notice.

would agree to Mr. Sinnett s proposal, but terminates our business. don Mr. Sinnett s Resolution accepting the resignation and agreed to already offered was seconded by Dr. Nunn

Mead
t

think

it

unanimously.
I propose that a record of all that be placed in the archives of the Society, (seconded place by Mr. Thomas and carried unanimously). Resolution Mr. Leadbeater was then called in, and the

Mead

has taken

to him by the President. accepting his resignation was read is a desire to Olcott (To Mr. Leadbeater). There
:

avoid publicity.
"

It

will

have

to

be

printed

in

the

Theosophist."

xxxii

Leadbeater
will

understand that

May I make a little I am not thinking

Suppose
I

suggestion

Yo

about the Society.

about myself but make an announcement.

to other

Many
it

people will write to

me and

members and

will

be as well that we have some stereotyped form of

reply.

would you suggest doing it ? I was going to ask your advice, Leadbeater per haps saying over my signature that I had resigned and I don t know that the resignation was accepted, how to
Olcott
:

How
:

put

it,

but

I
:

don

want

to

have a fuss about

it.

Olcott

Sinnett

Write down your idea on paper. 1 don t think it would help the matter,

Mead
facts.

There

is

no explanation except

telling

the

Olcott

A man
It is
:

of

your prominence cannot drop out

I

without notice.
Leadbeater

a terrible case.

Would nothing
?

put

forward

make

things less difficult

Sinnett
Olcott
: :

The
I

less said the better.

should

like

to ask
?

Mr.

Leadbeater

if

he

thinks

have acted impartially

:

Leadbeater
I

Absolutely.

If

we

should consider later

can do anything,

Mead
?

let me know. Do you mean to

continue

this

course of

Seeing there is such a feeling on the matter by people whose views I respect, I do not. notice go without any I suggest that the Thomas
:
:

teaching Leadbeater

letter

from Mr. Leadbeater, unless the Committee.

it is first

submitted to

The meeting was then brought

to a conclusion.

XXXlll

We, George Robert Stowe Mead

London
S.

of 16

Selwood Place
Glass
of

W.

and

Archibald
N.,

Melville

291

Camden Road, London,

declare that
Official

do solemnly and sincerely the foregoing document is a true copy of the

Colonel

Report of the meeting presided over by the late H. S. Olcott and held at the Grosvenor Hotel,
S.

Buckingham Palace Road, London,

W., on Wednesday,

May

16, 1906.

And we make
believing the

this

same

to

solemn declaration conscientiously be true and by virtue of the Pro

visions of the Statutory Declarations Act, 183 5.

(Sd.) G. R. S.

MEAD,
.

(Sd.) A.

M. GLASS.

Declared
28
Lincolns

by both the above named Deponents

Inn
Fields,

at

London,

W. C M

this

llth

December, 1912.
Before me,
(Sd.)

SIGNATURE ILLEGIBLE.
A
Commissioner
for oath.