Hodgson Report

As Hodgson Hodgson report or report referred to a study conducted by Richard Hodgson investigation of paranormal phenomena around Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and the Theosophical Society (TG ). The investigation on behalf of the Society for Psychical Research (SPR ) was used in the years 1884/85 to clarify the Coulomb affair and came to the conclusion that Blavatsky wrote the Mahatma letters themselves. In the course of these struggles, the Theosophists were also made of the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor.

1986 Vernon Harrison published in the Journal of the SPR a critique of the methods of examination of the Hodgson report, which does not prove that the Mahatma letters were forged.

2.1 The Society for Psychical Research
2.2 The investigation
2.3 Examination by the SPR Committee

4.1 Unsuccessful tests
4.2 Renewed considerations
4.3 Vernon Harrison's criticism

6.1 per Blavatsky
6.2 Contraindications Blavatsky

Prehistory

The Theosophical Society

1875 was founded in New York by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Henry Steel Olcott, including the Theosophical Society (TG ). This moved its headquarters to Mumbai in 1879 in India and 1882 one more time after Adyar in Chennai. During this period, particularly from 1880 onwards in India and Sri Lanka, the TG expanded greatly. Numerous lodges were founded and introduced within a few years, the organization has a serious competition for the mission of several Christian denominations in these countries, since the TG mainly propagated the ethical and religious values of Buddhism and Hinduism. In addition to Olcott as President Blavatsky was the main person within the TG. They often made headlines by paranormal phenomena, often hyped as a veritable miracles, they should have demonstrated. Likewise Blavatsky, as well as the TG, talk delivered by several Masters of Wisdom, which allegedly provided answers to outstanding questions and problems, even though they were not present and were able to make in this regard letters appear out of nowhere. This master's certificates usually published in a particular cabinet, known as the " shrine " ( = shrine ) was called, and were then also a main object of both the Coulomb affair as well as the Hodgson Report.

The Coulomb Affair

Since 1880, Emma and Alexis Coulomb were employees of the Theosophical Society (TG), after a few differences but they were on 14 May 1884 (17th? ) Summarily dismissed. At a meeting held on May 18 inspection, the Theosophists who were present discovered a series of secret installations in Blavatsky's private rooms and the " shrine ". It was obvious that the devices were brand new, the operation of the installations was possible only with difficulty and considerable effort, there was considerable noise. This fact was later confirmed by Richard Hodgson in his study and mentioned in his report. After her release, found the Coulombs inclusion in the mission of the Free Church of Scotland in Chennai. The Coulomb gave then the chaplain of the church a series of letters, which is alleged to have written Blavatsky to Emma Coulomb. These provided Blavatsky is a fraud and forger of the master's certificates and pretend the secret fixtures as an aid to paranormal phenomena. The chaplain George Patterson published excerpts from these letters in the September and October 1884, the output appearing in Chennai Madras Christian College Monthly Magazine, the mouthpiece of the Reformed Church in South India. This news spread like wildfire in India and subsequently around the world, the reputation of the TG was thus severely and permanently affected. For details, please refer to Coulomb affair.

The Hodgson Report

The Society for Psychical Research

During this time, Blavatsky was along with Olcott and other Theosophists on a grand tour of Europe. For several years, reports of extraordinary paranormal phenomena had been published in the press on a regular basis. In England put forth Olcott contact with the Society for Psychical Research (SPR ), this organization founded in 1882, was concerned with the scientific study of psychic events. The SPR thereupon formed from among its members a committee, this was next to Hodgson from Edmund Gurney, Frederick William Henry Myers, Frank Podmore, Eleanor Mildred Sidgwick ( born Eleanor Mildred Balfour, often referred to as Mrs. Henry Sidgwick ), Henry Sidgwick and Herbert John Stack. The committee conducted from May to December 1884 series of discussions with Blavatsky, Olcott and other Indian as well as British Theosophists. The discussions raised in any case the interest from the SPR, as the Coulomb affair became known in September 1884 in England and the suspicion arose, Blavatsky was a fraud.

As a result of Richard Hodgson was determined to go as a member and representative of the SPR to India to conduct the investigation there on the spot. Meanwhile, published the SPR Committee in December 1884, an internal memo, the 130 -page First Report of the Committee of the SPR ( = First report of the SPR Committee ), on the results of the talks, doubts about the Coulomb affair and the reasons which justify the investigation. Hodgson met on 18 December 1884 in India, stayed there about three months, returning in April 1885 returned to England. The written by him, nearly 200 -page Report of the Committee Appointed to Investigate Phenomena Connected with the Theosophical Society ( = report of the Committee of the phenomena associated with the Theosophical Society ), was then examined by the committee unanimously for right and properly explained and provided with a conclusion. At the General Assembly of the SPR, on 24 June 1885 read, found the whole approval and was published in the Proceedings ( = meeting minutes ) of the SPR in December 1885. For the report, the name was later naturalized " Hodgson Report" one.

The investigation

The investigation Hodgson was devoted mainly two topics: 1) the allegedly brought forth by Blavatsky phenomena. In this context, Hodgson examined all the items and facilities that had secret devices and fixtures. To illustrate, he produced several drawings and plans of the premises with the locations of the studied furniture. 2) the Blavatsky - Coulomb letters and related to it the Master letters. Here Hodgson underwent the letters a font comparison with proven written by Blavatsky writing. Some of these incriminating letters he sent check of other persons whose statements finally agreed with his match. This part of the study were accompanied by two facsimiles of manuscripts.

The statements were supported by Hodgson Emma and Alexis Coulomb as the main witnesses, and took over by the Russian ex- Theosophists Vsevolod Sergeevich Solovyoff, from which the assertion Hodgson, Blavatsky was a Russian spy. As a result of his investigation saw Hodgson has evidence to show that Blavatsky was the Master letters, written in a disguised handwriting, as well as the letters to the Coulombs. The purpose of the secret devices and fixtures saw Hodgson is fake paranormal phenomena to produce certain sounds or how to make the Master letters appear out of nowhere. Summing up, he saw Blavatsky entangled in a significant way in deception and forgery fraudulent.

Examination by the SPR Committee

The SPR Committee, after investigation of Hodgson's investigation to a conclusion: 1) The Blavatsky - Coulomb letters were undoubtedly written by Blavatsky. This was proven that she and other persons using ordinary means of production seeming miracles to support the Theosophical movement. 2) That specifically the " shrine ", was alleged to the Masters of Wisdom were there ( let their letters the Master letters ) appear a specially mounted on the back of device had to insert the letters can secretly. This device was regularly used by Blavatsky and her helpers for this purpose. 3) This resulted in a high probability of the assumption that all the stories in the context of miracles, which are supposed to prove the existence of the Masters of Wisdom, either

4) After assessment, carried out by Richard Hodgson surveys, we ( the SPR Committee) of the opinion that the evidence of miracles are not sufficient, both in extent and character thereof, as. Well as in regard to the above-mentioned assumptions We think therefore that it would be a waste of time to extend the investigation.

With reference to Madame Blavatsky herself, the committee came to the conclusion: From our perspective, we think it 's neither the mouthpiece invisible prophet, nor an ordinary adventurer; we mean that it has a right to permanent remembrance as one of the most accomplished, ingenious and interesting fibbers history.

This sentence in particular, the conclusion of the whole investigation, formed to date, the public opinion and found its way into history and reference books. The Hodgson Report was often a prime example of a scientific work, he was masterpiece, honest, conscientious, impartial and so honored with the attributes.

Effects

On March 21, 1885 Blavatsky came from her position as Corresponding Secretary of the TG back. A few days later ( 26 March to 7 April 1885, there are different information on the date of departure ) she left India for good and moved to London, where she arrived on 1 May 1887, until her death there on May 8 1891 remained. In London, she co-founded founded on May 19, 1887 Blavatsky Lodge, which became a successful organization under their participation, and founded on 15 September 1887, the magazine Lucifer.

For the TG itself the effects of the Coulomb affair and the Hodgson reports were devastating. There were mass resignations, numerous lodges were therefore abandoned or had to be closed, including the German Germania Lodge. Can not be estimated is the obstruction of the expansion in the following decades.

Criticism

Unsuccessful tests

Anticipation is worth mentioning that prior to the publication of the Hodgson Report was given neither Blavatsky nor the TG chance to see or even opinion. The appearance of the report called, mainly because of Blavatsky's reputation, a great stir forth. From the beginning there were some harsh opposition, both theosophical and independently. Several tests of the master's certificates and the evidence Hodgson led to different results and revealed serious discrepancies in the report on. So Hodgson saw in 1893 forced to publish a justification in the Proceedings of the SPR. In more or less regular intervals published papers or books that dealt with the subject and always encouraged new inconsistencies to light.

These are the works of Walter Adley Carrithers, Jr. (1924-1994), he published under the pseudonym Adlai E. Waterman, in the 1950s and 1960s. The focus of Carrithers investigation was on the first part of the Hodgson reports on secret devices and fixtures. In a meticulous textual criticism of the report and related events, he pointed to more than 100 contradictions, omissions, misrepresentations and false statements. He then claimed that it was impossible that Blavatsky or accomplices might have criticized the secret devices used for deception. This was hardly noticed.

Renewed considerations

On July 19, 1968 was published in Time magazine article Cult of the Occult. It said, among other things, the SPR had Blavatsky was accused of being an impostor, forger and spy. Then sent out the SPR with a dated July 25, 1968 letter to the editor of Time magazine, in which she asked for rectification and described the respective authors as responsible for all the publications of their society. The revocation was refused by Time magazine and as the SPR did not take any further steps, this had no consequences.

In the decades before and after this event occurred in the SPR gradually to a differentiated approach regarding the Hodgson Report. The criticisms against Hodgson and the increasing temporal distance allowed a re- examination of the whole affair. Nevertheless, it hesitated on the part of the official SPR with a revocation of the Hodgson Report.

Vernon Harrison's criticism

Early 1980s began Vernon Harrison from an examination of the Hodgson Report, later secured John Beloff, as editor of the Journal SPR, his support in the publication of this audit. Harrison published in 1986 his first investigation under the headline " J'Accuse " ( = I Accuse ) 1997, the second part of his work appeared under the title " J'Accuse d' autant plus" ( = I blame all the more ), both together was published in 1998 in German translation.

Harrison focused his studies on the second part of the report, so the Blavatsky - Coulomb letters and the master's certificates. He came to the conclusion that this part tendentious allegations and speculations having, had been omitted evidence and interpreted twisting and hypotheses were developed based on faulty arguments.

Literature and sources

Harrison, Vernon H. P. Blavatsky and the SPR, A study of the Hodgson Report of 1885 Theosophical Publishing 1998.; ISBN 3-930623-21-8
Hastings, Beatrice: Defence of Madame Blavatsky ( Volume 2). The Hastings press, Worthington 1937
Hubbell, Gabriel G.: Fact and fancy in spiritualism, theosophy, and psychical research. The R. Clarke Company, Cincinnati 1901
Kingsland, William: The real HP Blavatsky, a study in theosophy and a memoir of a great soul. J. M. Watkins, London 1928
Sinnett, Alfred Percy: The " occult world phenomena ". G. Redway, London 1886
Society for Psychical Research (Ed.): The Society for Psychical Research report on the Theosophical Society., Arno Press, New York 1976; ISBN 0405079753
Solovyoff, Vsevolod Sergeevich: A modern priestess of Isis. , Arno Press, New York 1976; ISBN 0405079761
Vania, KF: Madame HP Blavatsky, her occult phenomena and the society for physical research. Sat Publishing Co., Bombay 1951
Waterman, Adlai E. (pseudonym of Walter Adley Carrithers Jr. ): The " Hodgson Report" on Madame Blavatsky, 1885-1960, re -examination discredits the major charges against HP Blavatsky. Theosophical Publishing House, Madras, 1963

Ascended master Free Church of Scotland (since 1900) Frederic William Henry Myers Lucifer (magazine)

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