'ENQUIRER. But "M. A. Oxon" (pen-name of William Stainton Moses) is a
Spiritualist?
THEOSOPHIST. Quite so, and the only true Spiritualist
I know of, though we may still disagree with him on many a minor question.
Apart from this, no Spiritualist comes nearer to the occult truths than he
does. Like any one of us he speaks incessantly "of the surface dangers
that beset the ill-equipped, feather-headed muddler with the occult, who
crosses the threshold without counting the cost." Our only
disagreement rests in the question of "Spirit Identity." Otherwise,
I, for one, coincide almost entirely with him, and accept the three
propositions he embodied in his address of July, 1884. It is this eminent
Spiritualist, rather, who disagrees with us, not we with him.'
The relationship between Theosophy and spiritualism (beside Blavatsky's distinction between mediumship and mediatorship) is complicated by the strong possibility that the adepts associated with the movement were also using similar means to communicate with certain people, such as William Stainton Moses, Mabel Collins, Anna Kingsford, and Laura Holloway. How does one distinguish between possible adept communications and the average spiritualistic fare? One way would be to examine the writings in question and ascertain if their teachings have a consistency among them. According to H. P. Blavatsky: 'The tree is known by its fruits; and as all Theosophists have to be
judged by their deeds and not by what they write or say, so all
Theosophical books must be accepted on their merits, and not according to any
claim to authority which they may put forward.' (Key to Theosophy, ch. 14)
There was a time when Spirit Teachings by William Stainton Moses was considered to be the 'Bible' of spiritualism. In its time, it had a considerable influence on the alternative spiritual movement, but it seems to have gone out of style and been replaced by more modern teachings. His original notebooks are still the prized possession of the psychic research organization that he founded.
Here is what Henry Olcott has written regarding the
identity of +Imperator and his band of loyal associates (Old Diary Leaves I,
chap. 20):
“It is now clear to me that one directing
Intelligence, pursuing a wide-reaching plan covering all nations and peoples,
and acting through many agents besides ourselves, had in hand his development
and mine, his body of psychical proofs and those given me by and through H. P.
B. Who “Imperator,” its agent, was, I know not–I do not even know who H. P. B.
really was—but I have always been inclined to believe that he was either S.
M.’s own Higher Self or an adept; and that “Magus” and others of S. M.’s band
were adepts likewise. I had my band also—though not of “spirit controls.” S. M.
had an Arabian teacher, so had I; he an Italian philosopher, so had I; he had
Egyptians, I had a Copt; he had a “Prudens,” “versed in Alexandrian and Indian
lore,” so had I—several; he had Dr. Dee, an English mystic, I also had one—the
one previously spoken of as “the Platonist;” and between his phenomena and H.
P. B.’s there was a striking re-semblance.” (p.320)
“In view of all the above (i.e., the facts and
arguments given in the original version of this and the preceding chapter), am
I far wrong in suspecting a close connection between the Intelligence behind
Stainton Moses and that behind H.P.B.?” (p. 323)
See what Mr. Sinnett’s esteemed correspondent had
to say about the identity of this mysterious +Imperator and his relation to Blavatsky (from Mahatma Letters 9):
Here’s an intriguing description of Imperator’s band of indefatigable agents. Notice the conspicuous sevenfold organizational structure:
Under me is my deputy and lieutenant, Rector, whose
business it is to superintend in my absence, and especially to control the
band of physical manifesting spirits. Associated with him is a third high
spirit, who is the inspiring spirit, Doctor, the Teacher. He guides the
medium’s thoughts, influences his words, directs his pen. Under his
general superintendence there are the spirits of wisdom and knowledge,
to be hereafter described.
Next come the guardians whose are it is to ward off
and modify the baneful influences of earth, to drive away the hurtful,
temper the painful, to shed around an influence. The inward yielding to
evil can alone destroy their power.
Yet again, there are two guardians whose care it
is to ward off the evil influences of the spheres, the allurement of the
lower spirits who would draw the medium from his allotted work and divert
him from his sacred mission. These four guardians are my personal attendants,
and these complete the first circle of seven, the whole band being
divided into seven circles of seven spirits; each circle composed of one
presiding spirit with six ministers.
The next circle of seven spirits is devoted to the
care of love–spirits of love. Religion, love to God; charity, love
to man; gentleness, tenderness, pity, mercy, friendship, affection (6);
all these are in their charge. They minister to the affections, inspire
feelings of gentleness and mercy; love to God, the Universal Father; love
to man, the common brother; tenderness for all who grieve; pity for all
who suffer; desire to benefit and help all.
Next comes a circle–one presiding, with six spirit
ministers–of wisdom. Under their care is intuition, perception,
reflection, impression, reasoning and the like (5). They preside
over the intuitive faculties and the deductions made from observable
facts. They inspire the medium with the spirit of wisdom and drive away
influences fallacious and misguiding. They plant intuitive wisdom.
Next in order is a circle which presides over knowledge–of
men, of things, of life, whose charge is caution and comparison, of
causality and eventuality, and the like (4). They guide the
medium’s steps through the tortuous paths of earth-life, and lead him to
practical knowledge, complement to the intuitive wisdom, of what is beneficial
and profitable.
To these kindred groups, wisdom and knowledge–which
are under the general supervision of Doctor, the inspiring
Teacher–succeed: A circle who preside over art, science,
literature, culture, refinement, poetry, paintings, music, language (3).
They inspire the thought with that which is noble and intellectual, and
lead to words of refinement and sublimity. They incline to that which is
beautiful, artistic, refined and cultured; which gives the poetic touches to
the character and elevates and ennobles it.
Last of all come the spirits who have charge of the physical
manifestations (1), which it is thought right at present to
associate with the higher message. This circle is composed principally of
spirits on their probation under the guardianship of Rector, lieutenant
of the band. It is his care to teach them and to allow them, by
association with the medium and his circle, to advance from a lower to a
higher sphere. These are spirits who from divers causes are earthbound,
and who, by the manifestations which they are permitted to work out, are
purifying and elevating themselves.
So you see the band divides itself into seven groups,
each with its peculiar charge. Spirits of love, of wisdom and knowledge;
spirits refined and noble; spirits bright and genial, who shed a ray of
that light which is not of your earth on the drudgery of existence in a
lower sphere; spirits whose privilege it is to progress from an
inferior grade to one higher and nobler through association with you, to
whom such manifestations as they furnish are yet necessary.
In all these various circles there are spirits who are
progressing, who are giving experience and enlightenment, who are living
the medium’s life, and mounting upward as he mounts; learning as they
teach, and soaring as they raise him to their sphere. It is a labour
of love, this guardianship of ours, a labour which brings its own reward, and
blesses us, even as we bestow blessings upon the medium and, through him,
upon mankind. May the Almighty Father bless you.” More
Spirit Teachings, pp. 4-5
Leslie Price gives some more details (See Mystery #5 Who was Imperator?):
Madame Blavatsky and the Seven Archival Mysteries - part two
Leslie Price, 15 March 2015
http://www.theosophyforward.com/theosophy/1408-madame-blavatsky-and…There’s actually an astral photograph of one of
+Imperator’s esteemed agents with Moses, taken by
the spirit photographer, Aksakov. The following explains the process of that
circumstance:
(There are several such photographs available on the internet. I could have included them, but since we are now in a period of strong skepticism regarding spiritualist manifestations, and because the agents in question are not as glamorous and flamboyant as the modern 'ascended masters' portrayals, I fear that these images would be disappointing to many.)
S. M. writes in Light of a letter received from
a French gentleman concerning the spirit photography of his sister and other
relatives during their sleep in America,
the photo being taken by Buguet in Paris.
Mentally, the Frenchman had asked his sister for her
family’s picture; and on one plate she was there with three girls, and on the
other with two boys. Another time she, in answer to his request, brought
her mother, who was living miles away from her. There were also messages written
on a card which she holds in the photo.
As a result, S. M. arranged to have a photo of a
friend taken in Paris
on a Sunday morning at 11 o’clock, hoping to be there in spirit. He awoke late,
heard church bells, then became unconscious till 11.47. The experiment was
successful. On the second exposure there was a perfect likeness of S. M.,with
eyes closed as in sleep. Also, on the plate, was an old man, a sage well-known
to him as one of his band, Prudens (Plotinus).
At a subsequent seance Imperator said that the
medium’s spirit had been carefully entranced, and was then transported by its
guides from London to Paris, the cord which unites body and soul
being extended from one city to the other. More Spirit Teachings, p. 66
Video Lecture:
The Ghost Club lecture
society set up in 1882 by William Stainton Moses & A. A. Watts, William Crookes
members & guests Conan Doyle, W. B. Yeats, Sir Harry Johnstone, Sir William Richmond, Arthur Lillie Charles Massey, A. P. Sinnett Dr. Stanhope Speer
A Spirit Explains Ectoplasm 15 August 2022
In the February 1905 issue of “The Annals of Psychical Science,” Ernest Bozzano, an Italian psychical researcher, offers an article titled “A Defence of William Stainton Moses.”
whitecrowbooks.com/michaeltymn/en
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