Old Diary Leaves 1893–6

Henry Steel Olcott relates the conflicts and tensions within the Theosophical Society that led to its split in 1895.

Conflicts and long-standing tensions within the Theosophical Society led to its split in 1895. This volume (first published in 1932) gives Olcott's version of the clash between himself and William Judge, Vice-President of the Society, that precipitated the break-up.Henry Steel Olcott (1832–1907), co-founder of the Theosophical Society, was a versatile man. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of American agricultural education and also served in the U.S. War Department. Later Olcott was admitted to the New York Bar and became interested in psychology and spiritualism, travelling to India and Sri Lanka with Madame Blavatsky to explore eastern spiritual traditions, especially Buddhism. In this polemical volume (first published in 1932), Olcott describes his view of the history of the Society between 1893 and 1896: conflicts and long-standing tensions had led to a split in 1895, precipitated by a clash between Olcott and William Judge, Vice-President of the Society in America. After the split Olcott carried on travelling widely and lecturing, having established a study centre in Chennai, India, for the movement now known as the Theosophical Society – Adyar.