A Form of Disrespect for the
Real Masters of the Wisdom
John Garrigues
After the death of H. P. Blavatsky, psychics and mediums began to publish messages, contacts, visions, given to them as special privileges by H. P. B. herself in her astral form. A theosophical writer of that time exclaimed with humor, “There’s a wonderful amount of masquerading in the post-mortem realms nowadays.”
Today a similar masquerading is going on, with Saint-Germain as the one dressed up by the psychic’s imagination. According to the “experiences” of the present hour, the “Ascended Master” Saint-Germain, frequently descends, to “instruct” his obedient pupils. In fact, this “Master” has gone into business with these psychics and the firm is carrying on a lucrative commerce. [1]
It may not be hard to see some reasons why that courtly gentleman and high Adept of the eighteenth century should have become the target for twentieth century spiritualistic exploitation and commercial advertising. For one thing, he was “the greatest (Americans always like superlatives) Oriental Adept Europe has seen during the last centuries”. Besides, he is near enough in time to seem humanly close, yet far enough to be easily romanticized. General history, knowing nothing of Adepts, leaves him conveniently vague. Biographies of him are full of wild stories of adventure, well calculated to inspire superstitious credulity, and even to give perhaps to his present commercially-minded associates a valuable suggestion through the accounts of his being a transmuter of metals and a maker of diamonds.
Hence a modicum of learning about the man himself, about eighteenth century America and ancient Atlantis, plus a large degree of psychic imagination are producing for his present partners very satisfactory results. Using the word Master as a trump card is clever, for without that word the old spiritualism might be too easily detected. The intriguing suggestion conveyed by the word “Ascended” is a trump card to win the curious and the gullible.
This latest spiritualism borrows its very effective features from the most successful business of the day – advertising. “Descended” Master Count Saint-Germain does not appear “in person”, but stories are told by his able managers that keep eyes stretched and mouths agape, – stories claiming connection in former lives of the “Master” and the manager. This lures not only curiosity-seekers, but some honestly in search of satisfying truth. Some who have heard of but never investigated genuine Theosophy are caught by claimed signs and wonders. Moreover, to the general audience, gathered free, there is offered the further lure of “instruction” – exercises bringing “occult” results, personal proofs and “experiences”, by means of the select advanced circles, to which a sufficient fee commands entrance. In these séances the “Master” himself is the “control” and speaks through his “chosen vessels”. Think of possibly hearing His voice, and all this merely for a sufficient fee.
In her Theosophical Glossary, H. P. B. undertook to vindicate the calumniated character of the actual Count Saint-Germain. Seemingly she was unable to carry out her plan in full, perhaps because the calumnies that fell fast upon her own head occupied her too fully. But she succeeded in clearly showing that Count Saint-Germain was an Adept working in Europe for the betterment of people before and during the early French Revolution. Warnings and prophecies came from him to King, Queen, and councillors, with the hope of sane guidance and prevention of the worst. “But Europe knew him not”, says H. P. B. – any more than do the present psychics masquerading with His name. “Perchance”, she continues in a most arresting hint, “some may recognize him at the next Terreur, which will affect all Europe when it comes, and not one country alone”.
How much better, instead of joining in the spoliation of souls produced by a subtly disguised spiritualism – how much better it would be if Americans would work to raise the ethical status of themselves and their companions, and thus avoid bringing a Reign of Terror into their own country! We Western people need to learn that true Adepts, whether working in the Orient or the Occident, follow neither the aims nor the methods above indicated. They have no wish to produce phenomena or excite gaping wonder. Their purpose is to arouse in men real Altruism. All that our part of the world actually knows about genuine Masters came first through H. P. Blavatsky. The Masters she served, wrote of, and faithfully represented, showed over and again that Their wish is “to lead men to look for the one truth which underlies all religions and which alone can guide science in the direction of ideal progress”. Any group undertaking to find and teach this Truth, must flourish, They said, through “moral worth, and not by phenomena made so often degrading.”
NOTE:
[1] This imaginary Saint-Germain was initially fabricated by false clairvoyants of the Adyar Society, and he is still used today in the “Masonic” rituals adopted by Annie Besant, Charles Leadbeater and their followers. (CCA)
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The above text was published by the websites of the Independent Lodge of Theosophists on 27 February 2025. It first appeared anonymously at “Theosophy” magazine, Los Angeles, February 1936 edition, pp. 155-156. Original title: “St. Germain in Masquerade”. Regarding the criteria used to identify J. Garrigues as its author, read the article “Life and Writings of John Garrigues”.
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Read more:
* Why I Do Not Return to India (by H. P. Blavatsky).
* Searching for Truth (by José Ramón Sordo, an article containing significant information on the Adyar Egyptian Rite).
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Helena Blavatsky (photo) wrote these words: “Deserve, then desire”.
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