318
being accepted by them. The Society does not constitute a body of religions teachers, but is simply an association of investigators and inquirers.
These are the principles that are definitely laid down for the guidance of the Theosophical Society, with the approval and approbation of the great Himalayan Initiates, who are its real founders. Now as our Mahatmas have not offered themselves as the sole instructors of the members who join our Body, nor have they claimed "to monopolise for themselves their exclusive allegiance," therefore, no intention can be said to exist on their part to swerve from the above principles, or to interfere, in any way, with the work of any branch, so long as it acts within its prescribed limits. A doctrine, or fragments of a doctrine, although professedly emanating from the Mahatmas, has to rest on its own merits, and no other considerations are ever urged in its favour. Under such circumstances, there cannot be any valid reason for supposing that the system set forth in Mr. Sinnett's book "was intended by its compilers to supplant every other, and monopolise for themselves the exclusive allegiance of the Theosophical Society." It thus seems hardly necessary for Mr. E. Maitland to complain that the "choice of instructors" involved no exercise of judgment or that he was compelled to accept any one as an instructor, as nobody has yet, so far as we know, offered himself in this capacity. If Mr. Sinnett has positively prohibited any expression of dissent from, or criticism of, his book, or "of its supreme authority," as is alleged in the letter under examination, he is, no doubt, acting against the Rules of the Society; and it is fully competent for the London Lodge to prevent him from doing so, without any necessity for an appeal to the Headquarters. But if Mr. Sinnett has merely refused to accept the view taken of the doctrines, embodied in his book, by Mrs. Kingsford and Mr. Maitland, and has urged in their favour such reasons as he has thought proper, his position is unimpeachable. Mr. Sinnett has as much right to explain his Esoteric Buddhism to the members of the London Lodge as Mrs. Kingsford and Mr. Maitland have to explain their esoteric
