719] It is
interesting to notice that a leading member of the "Action Lodge," and
also of the "Order of the Star in the East," was recently reported in
the press to have been long connected with the Labour Party and to have
notified her intention of standing for it in Parliament.

This is, of course, not to say that all Theosophists are Socialists. The
Theosophical Society of America, in an admirable series of articles[720]
discussing the theory of world-revolution set forth in my books, pointed
out that:

The pupils of the powers of evil work ... untiringly to thwart
every real advance of the human race, to pull down whatever
civilization painfully builds, that makes for light and true
development and spiritual growth.... It would not be difficult to
suggest reasons why these pupils and co-workers of the powers of
darkness choose the chief clauses of their creed: Internationalism,
Communism, the destruction of the higher class through the despotic
rule of the lowest class, the corruption of family life. The attack
on religion hardly needs comment.

It will be seen, then, that Socialism and Internationalism are not an
essential part of Theosophical teaching, and that the more enlightened
Theosophists recognize the danger of these destructive doctrines. At a
Special Convention in England on April 6 of this year, seven Lodges
entered a protest against recent departures from the original policy of
the Society. Amongst the resolutions put forward was one urging the
President (Mrs. Besant) to establish a tribunal "to investigate matters
affecting the good name of the Society, and the conduct of certain
members"; this was lost by "an overwhelming majority." Another
resolution regretted that "the Administration, the Magazine, and the
influence of the Society have been used for controversial political ends
and sectarian religious propaganda." Unhappily these resolutions were
not met in the fraternal spirit that might be expected from a Society
setting out to establish Universal Brotherhood and were stigmatized in a
proposed amendment as "destructive motions ... at variance with the
objects for which the Society stands." This clause in the amendment was
lost by a small majority, but a very large majority supported the
further clauses in which the Special Convention affirmed "its complete
confidence in the administration of the Society and its beloved and
revered President Dr. Annie