Boris de Zirkoff – USA
William Quan Judge
For many years past it has been customary in some Theosophical circles in various parts of the world to disregard the role played by William Quan Judge in the formation of the Theosophical Society, and often to belittle his personality and influence in the early history of the Movement.
The reasons for this attitude are somewhat confused, but there can be little doubt that they arise from the personal idiosyncrasies of the members and the ignorance which prevails among most of them with regard to the history of their own Movement.
Among the curious ideas which have been allowed to grow through the years is one which has been more than once expressed both verbally and in print, to the effect that Mr. Judge could hardly be considered as one of the Founders of the Society, and that H.P. Blavatsky and Col. Henry S. Olcott were actually the only people who should be called its Co-Founders.
We can afford to disregard such statements when they come from incompetent sources engaged, perchance, upon the pursuit of their own vested interests. But when the statement is made by people of wide erudition and high standing within the Movement, it calls for correction in the light of existing facts.
Even such a splendid and noble-minded Theosophist as the recently deceased Josephine Ransom, seems to have gone astray on this subject in her valuable work, A Short History of The Theosophical Society * (* Theos. Pub. House, Adyar, 1938, p. 78.) wherein, after a brief outline of the formation of the Society in 1875, she says:
"Col. Olcott afterwards reserved the word 'Founders' for those who worked hard and self-sacrificingly through the years to lay the Society's foundations, and described as 'formers' (sometimes 'institutors' by H.P.B.) those who gave in their names at this meeting, but for one reason or another ceased to be active or resigned. Only H.P.B. and Col. Olcott remained to the end. Judge, after years of fine work, seceded from the Society a year before his passing in 1896. The title therefore of 'Founders' usually means only H.P. Blavatsky and H.S. Olcott - who in time became known as the President-Founder ..."
Quite apart from the subject of the so-called "secession" which does not have to be discussed here, it would appear from the above curious statement that Judge did not work "hard and self-sacrificingly" enough to be called a Founder, which would have been contradicted even by Col. Olcott himself, to judge by various statements of his own on this very subject. In addition to being unjust to Judge, the statement is unjust to Col. Olcott himself. Printed as it is in a work which has official standing in The Theosophical Society [4] (Adyar), it carries far more weight than do casual pronouncements by people who hardly know what it is all about.
Now let us consider the evidence.
Writing to Mr. Judge from Ostende, July 27, 1886, at a time when she was rather sick and uncertain of the future, H.P.B. speaks of his magazine The Path, and says in part:
"... I will begin to work from this day to bring Olcott to let you have 50 monthly for your Path. They must be found - for if we were three original ones to this day, very soon we will be two ..."* (* From an unpublished letter of H.P.B.'s.) Meaning of course Mr. Judge and Col. Olcott.
In her letter to Mr. Judge dated from the same place on August 22, 1886, H.P.B. bluntly declares:
"... And you, you are one of the original Founders ..."* (* Originally published in The Theosophical Forum, Point Loma, Calif., Vol. V. November, 1933.)
H.P.B.'s important Letter to the Second Annual Convention of the Theosophical Society, American Section, held at Chicago, April 22-23, 1888, is addressed to William Q. Judge whom she calls "My Dearest Brother and Co Founder of the Theosophical Society."* (* See Report of Proceedings, Re-published many limes.) It is signed with the three dots emblematic of H.P.B.'s occult status, and should therefore be considered as an official document.
When The Theosophist published the official Report of that Convention, it gave some pertinent data about W.Q. Judge, as its President and Secretary. The writer stated:
"... He is one of the founders of the Theosophical Society, having been present at the social gathering in Madame Blavatsky's drawing-room when the idea of forming such a Society was broached by Colonel Olcott, and he moved the selection of the latter gentleman as temporary President ..."* (* Vol. IX, July, 1888, pp. 620-21.)
Writing to Richard Harte from London, September 12, 1889, H.P.B., strongly objecting to certain policies followed at the time in the pages of The Theosophist, mainly by R. Harte himself, expressed herself thus:
"... I will not permit Judge to be lowered or humiliated in it. Judge is one of the Founders and a man who has ever been true to the Masters ..."* (* Originally published in The Theosophical Forum, Point Loma, Calif., Vol. V, January 15, 1934, pp, 132-33.)
In her "Preliminary Explanations" to E.S. Instruction No. III, written by H.P.B. at the time of a grave crisis through which the Movement was passing in 1889-90, due to treachery within and relentless attacks from without, especially in America, she boldly comes out and states with regard to W.Q. Judge:
"... He is one of the three founders of the Theosophical Society, the only three who have remained as true as rock to the Cause ..."
Referring at a later date to her spirited defense of Judge in the pages of the above-mentioned document, she said in a letter:
"... Let them read Master's letter in the preliminary ... All that which I said about W.Q.J. was from His words in His letter to me ..."* (* Letters That Have helped Me, Vol. II, p. 117.)
In December, 1889, Richard Harte, reporting on Theosophical affairs in America, speaks in The Theosophist * (* Vol. XI, Suppl. to December, 1889, p. xlii.) of the consolidating process going on there under Mr. Judge. He says:
"... This is good news, for Mr. Judge is an old and staunch Theosophist, and is always acknowledged and treated by Madame Blavatsky and Col. Olcott as 'one of the Founders..."
A month after H.P.B.'s passing, her magazine Lucifer published a statement dated London, May 19, 1891, to counteract certain slanderous imputations on the part of some newspapers. This document was signed by ten prominent workers of the Movement in England, Mrs. Annie Besant heading the list of names. Among other things, it stated that:
"... In conjunction with Col. H.S. Olcott, the President of the Society, and Mr. William Q. Judge, a prominent New York lawyer, Vice-President and leader of the movement in America. Madame Blavatsky was the founder of the Theosophical Society, and this is a position that cannot well be carried either by a coup d'etat or otherwise ..."* (* Vol. VIII, June, 1891, pp. 319-20.)
Reporting on the passing of H.P.B., and the arrival of various officials in London, The Theosophist published a letter received from London which described the events in the Society, and the reaction of the Press to the passing of H.P.B. The writer dwells on the arrival of Mrs. A. Besant and W.Q. Judge, and says in part:
"... Mr. Judge will remain in England until Col. Olcott's arrival early in July; his presence with us at such a sad time is most welcome, for all who have the privilege of Knowing the Vice-President and Co-Founder of the Theosophical Society will at once realize how we must value the sense of strength, courage and hope, which he inspires wherever and with whomsoever he is."* (* The Theosophist, Vol. XII, July, 1891, p. 634.)
After his arrival in London, Col. H.S. Olcott addressed the First Annual Convention of the Theosophical Society in Europe held there July 9 and 10, 1891. In his Presidential Address, he explained how he had heard of H.P.B.'s passing while he was in Sydney, Australia, and how he had altered his plans and had started almost immediately for Europe. He said in part:
"... I immediately determined to alter my plans and come on here, and summoned by telegraph my old associate and co-founder, Mr. Judge, to meet me here and consult with other friends upon the future of the Society ..."* (* Ibid., September, 1891, p. 707.)
This statement at least should settle once for all Col. H.S. Olcott's own opinion of whether Judge was or was not a "Founder."
On the 7th of October, 1891, Col. Olcott was in San Francisco, on his way back to India. Mr. Judge was there also, as he was touring the country at the time on behalf of the Movement. At the reception given to the President Founder, Mr. Judge was of course present. As the proceedings were about to start, Col. Olcott said to him:
"Take your seat by my side as you did at New York in 1875: we were one in the work then and are now."* (* The Path, New York, Vol. VI, November, 1891, p. 260.)
Reporting on the same trip West of both Col. Olcott and Mr. Judge, Allen Griffiths, one of the most indefatigable workers in America, describes the meeting of the two Officials at Oakland. He writes:
"... Here was a sight to cheer the hearts of all true Theosophists - the President and Vice-President, the two remaining Founders of the T.S., meeting on these distant shores of the Pacific, grasping hands and greeting each other as brothers bound by no common tie."* (* Lucifer, Vol. IX, November, 1891, p. 259.)
We have seen now that both H.P.B. and Col. H.S. Olcott entertained no doubt as to whether Judge was a Co-Founder of the Society with them, and they are supposed to have known the score better than anybody else.
But if any further evidence is desired, it might be useful and interesting, historically speaking, to quote in extenso the text of a Circular which was issued in printed form to the Members of the Blavatsky Lodge, on March 11, 1892, and signed by Annie Besant, as President of said Lodge. The occasion was the prospective resignation of Col. Olcott as President of the T.S., a resignation which he later withdrew. The Circular is as follows:
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BLAVATSKY LODGE
19, Avenue Road,
Regent's Park, London, N.W.
March 11th, 1892
My dear Colleagues,
For the first time in the history of the Theosophical Society we are called upon to elect a President. When the Society was founded in 1875 by H.P. Blavatsky, H.S. Olcott, and William Q. Judge, H.S. Olcott was appointed its President, and has held that office down to the present year. Now the office is vacant, by his resignation, and it devolves upon us to fill it.
Having in view the importance to the whole Society of a wise choice of our chief officer, I feel that you may fairly claim at my hands, as President of this Lodge, some expression of opinion, not as determining your votes, but as a factor in the formation of your judgment. I therefore frankly say to you that, in my view, the present Vice-President, and remaining co-founder of the Society, William Quan Judge, is the most suitable person to guide the Society, and one who cannot with justice be passed over. He is not only the Vice-President and a founder, but he was the trusted friend and colleague of H.P. Blavatsky from 1875 until she passed away. Belonging to the old country by his birth, he has gained the confidence of the American Section by his faithful work, and will doubtless command its unanimous support.
Having thus placed my own views at the service of the Lodge, I leave the matter in your hands.
Fraternally,
Annie Besant,
President of the Blavatsky Lodge
Against this background of historical data any uncertainty concerning the status of W.Q. Judge in the framework of the original Theosophical Society becomes entirely needless, and any reluctance to recognize facts for what they are, or any squeamishness in placing them in their correct light in the historical perspective, are not only useless but positively harmful to the cause of Truth and fair play.
On the day when everyone of the active Theosophical Organizations in the world will have emblazoned the name of William Quan Judge, side by side with those of H.P. Blavatsky and Col. Henry S. Olcott, on their official documents and letterheads, as chief Founders of the Theosophical Society, a major step will have been taken in the cause of Theosophical unification, goodwill and solidarity the world over.
It is indeed high time that this step be taken as an act of ordinary justice. It is called for, no less by historical facts than by our sense of fairness, truthfulness, and unimpeachable accuracy, as students of Theosophy, whose aim should at all times be strict adherence to Truth irrespective of consequences, and an undisguised eagerness to give credit where credit is due. It is better to have done this as a voluntary measure arising from a sense of fair play, than to have it forced upon some of us by the ineluctable logic of historical events, and the subtle workings of karmic justice.
Echoing our first and foremost flag-bearer, H.P.B., we demand "for a spoliated past, that credit for its achievement which has been too long withheld," and call "for a restitution of borrowed robes, and the vindication of calumniated but glorious reputations."
[From Boris de Zirkoff’s magazine THEOSOPHIA, Volume XVII - No. 4 (86) - Spring 1961]